In recent years, Kelston has run summer work camps, giving assistance to projects in the poorer districts of Eastern Europe. In the summers of 2004-2007, groups from Kelston and Westpark spent two weeks working in Transylvania, Romania.

The work included damp-proofing a hostel used by youth groups and painting the parish church next door with weather-proof varnish. We also started building a light shelter next to a children’s playground for which we laid the foundations, and carried out other improvements to the site of the parish church.

Those who took part in these trips thoroughly enjoyed this unique experience. Some later went a second time, while others have since taken part in similar projects in other parts of the world.

In 2007 the centres ventured out on a new project, helping to build a church in Poland. The volunteers flew to Poznan in Poland and then travelled by train to Przemysl, just a few miles from the Ukrainian border. They were one of several groups of young people helping with the project throughout July and August.

This region of Poland is very beautiful. Since Eastern Europe is poor compared to the standards in the UK, the group did not expect very comfortable living conditions. Yet they were housed in a recently-built school, ate well and, by the end of their stay, felt they had made a helpful contribution to local needs.