National Vision

For the first 10 years Eden was developed exclusively within the Greater Manchester region. Projects were launched in 5 of the 10 boroughs in the region: Manchester (4), Salford (2), Oldham (2), Tameside (1), and Trafford (1). There were great advantages to working this way, particularly the way in which teams could relate to one another and learn from one another. However, since the earliest days of Eden there has been a lot of interest from around the nation and even further afield. Whilst we've always held the conviction that Eden really ought to 'work' in any deprived urban neighbourhood this has been married with a feeling that it would be unwise to launch beyond the region we know so well until the model can truly be described as 'tried and tested'. Reaching our 10th anniversary was felt by all involved in leading Eden to be the milestone we'd been waiting for.  

We sense that now is the time to 'give Eden away' but we know that we need to do so responsibly. This isn't about some kind of corporate franchising enterprise, it's about working the way we've always worked - relationally - but stretching those relationships over longer geographical distances. We have no desire to own and operate Eden in any cities other than Manchester but we do want to make ourselves available to equip and empower other groups to take the Eden principles and put them into practice where they are. The key role for us is to act as a catalyst for an exciting new phase of urban pioneering around the UK with church planting as a very important aspect of that.  

Who knows what the next 10 years have in store? Our hope would simply be that Eden might be used over and over again as an effective intervention to turn around many deprived urban communities through the love of Jesus.

If you'd like to talk to us about bringing Eden to your town or city please do drop us a line:
eden@message.org.uk

Below are links to further pages relating to the growth of Eden nationally: