CTI 2000

CTI 2000

CTI 2000 is a Churches Together in Ilkley (CTI) charity formed as a Millennium project to help people with learning difficulties obtain housing, employment, training and other support for independent living. CTI 2000 was the brainchild of Corinne Gregory wife of our previous Minister Reverend Brian Gregory.

In April 2000 a house was opened in Nile Road by the Bishop of Bradford for 3 young people and they continue to live there happily. The house is owned by a Housing Trust and care support is provided by a Care Provider. CTI 2000 maintain contact through 6 monthly meetings with the Care Provider.

In 2002 CTI 2000 were approached by Bradford College for help in providing space for their courses for students with learning difficulties. Following the closure of the Ilkley campus they were short of suitable teaching accommodation. After some discussion we were able to offer the Oasis café at Church Street, adjacent to All Saints Church and the allotment at St John’s Church . Over the years the courses provided have expanded and the facilities improved with grant fund financial assistance. The Oasis café is used by Bradford College 4 days a week and serves meals to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays. The St John’s allotment is used on Wednesdays and Fridays. Both the café and allotment provide structured courses for students both from the Ilkley area and inner city Bradford from where students travel by train after appropriate training.

CTI 2000 volunteers support both the café and allotment College course staff  but they play a wider role in the summer when both the café and allotment are kept operating with more extensive volunteer support. Also during the summer and during August in particular day outings are organised using the ICVS minibuses for which we have 4 trained volunteer drivers.

In October 2006 CTI 2000 took over responsibility for running an evening Contact group from Bradford College . Partial funding for this has been provided by the Bradford Care Trust and the group meet at Ilkley Baptist Church.

CTI 2000 is run by a trustee board of whom 3 are members of St John’s. St John’s also provide many of the volunteers for the café and allotment and support fund raising activities. We are always seking additional volunteers and Trustees to help with this important work. If you would like to know more about offering help in some way please contact us via the St Johns Church Office.