How We Got Started
City Hearts was a dream that began in the life of Jenny Gilpin as she met so many young women struggling with life issues with no real help or support around them.
Jenny herself came from tragic beginnings and her story of restoration from brokenness to incredible breakthrough remains as powerful today as the first time she shared it. Jenny moved to England in 1991 with her husband Dave to set up a church in Sheffield. Over the past two decades Jenny and her husband Dave have established a church of over 1,000 people in 5 cities across the UK and a church in Accra, Ghana, as well as 3 Megacentres in Sheffield, Leeds and Liverpool. The flagship Megacentre in Sheffield houses a 700 seater Auditorium as well as a Conference Centre, a full time Day Nursery, a Leadership Academy, a Kids Play Centre and Cafe, Megalearn and lots of community initiatives including Megalearn, The Storehouse, Buzz Schools, Sheffield's Night of Honour and City Hearts.
The doors to the first City Hearts House opened in June 2005 after a year of planning and preparing with a team of volunteers. The journey of developing an organisation that is now being extended across the nation has been challenging but well worth it. Seeing the lives of young women restored and completely turned around is what motivates the team of staff and volunteers to keep providing the best possible care and support for each and every life.
City Hearts has gone from being able to care for 5 women in Sheffield to providing accommodation for up to 20 women, as well as offering a range of activities and sessions for many more women through the Day Programme. The volunteer base has grown from around 20 women to over 45 women from all walks of life and backgrounds giving anything from 4 hours to 40 hours per week to help in City Hearts.
City Hearts is now looking for a second property in Sheffield as well as extending the current property to house more women. The first franchise house is due to open in 2010 in Dudley and there other organisations also preparing to set up their very own City Hearts House.
About Meet the Team The Programme What the Girls Say
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