Data Protection Breach.A message from the Vicar, Revd Andrew Birks.The Diocese has been notified of a data breach that has occurred involving personal data processed by Access Personal Checking Services Ltd (APCS), acting as the data processor for those using APCS for Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) applications. In addition to many parishes across the Church of England, the breach has also affected a number of separate Dioceses and also the National Church institutions (NCIs), all of whom also use APCS.Please note that the Church of England central systems and Diocesan Information Technology (I.T.) systems have not been hacked, nor has any of the parish systems, and those respective networks are unaffected by this data breach. This breach is only in relation to the use of APCS.APCS has provided some details of the breach, including the nature of the incident and the types of personal data involved. We are expecting further details will be provided as the investigation progresses. If you haven’t received an email from APCS, or the Diocese, or the Parish Safeguarding Officer, then you are unlikely to have been affected, though you should continue to check for emails from them over the coming days.If you are concerned the Diocese have a dedicated website page which is constantly being updated with all of the latest developments, and also offers guidance on what to do if you have been told your details have been ‘hacked’. The website page can be found here…. www.elydiocese.org/parish-support/privacy-and-data-protection/data-protection-and-gdpr/apcs-data-breach.php
Joe and his Fiancé Michelle are getting married in All Saints’ Melbourn in January 2026. Joe is responsible for the wonderful pictures we are using in our display screen near the door. In August, Joe and Michelle will be doing a wing walk - that’s right! Strapping themselves to the wings of a plane!!!. They are doing this for the charity PAPYRUS which is a charity set up to prevent suicide of young people. Below is Joe’s story about this event, and also you can follow this link to a beautiful tribute to Joe’s brother Jack or watch it from the link at the bottom of this messageThe Man Behind The Lens | SHORT Documentary - YouTube“Hi my name is Joe, and I lost my younger brother to suicide in December 2022. In September 2023 I decided to start my own business named after my younger brother, called JACKsBACK Media, a video production company, as Jack always wanted to become a filmmaker and loved anything film related.Jack was 26 years old when he passed, a young, extremely bright, creative soul, who lost his way in this world early on, Jack loved anything film related, and could recite his favourite films off the top of his head, he was quiet, kind and gentle and loved music. He started off his journey through life on the wrong foot and unfortunately never managed to gain his balance, after many silent years battling his demons and struggling with his mental health, Jack decided to leave this world, without warning, without a goodbye.This year myself and my fiancé Michelle will be taking part in a wing walk where we are strapped to a planes wings and flown through the air at 700ft of speeds up to 110mph on the 9th of August!Last year I took part in a 10km run in the Easter 50 Ultra Challenge on the 06/04/2024 followed by a tandem skydive on the 28/04/2024 in the hope to raise money for Papyrus, so that they can help others like Jack, in their time of need. PAPYRUS is the national Charity for the Prevention of Young Suicide.Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK, every year over 1800 young people took their own lives. PAPYRUS provides confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person through their helpline, HOPELINE247.” If you would like to support this wonderful cause please follow the link here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jacksback-media-2025?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
The Revd Andrew Birks, Vicar of the Benefice of Melbourn and Meldreth, has been appointed an Honorary Member of the Java Far East Prisoners of War (FEPOW) Club 1942 in recognition of his dedicated service to the memory and welfare of Far East Prisoners of War.The JAVA FEPOW Club is the United Kingdom’s largest and only remaining national FEPOW organisation. Established by veterans who endured captivity in the Far East during World War II on Java, the Club’s mission is to preserve their histories, support their families, and ensure that their legacy endures.Revd Birks has received this honour for his extensive pastoral care, commitment to remembrance initiatives, and ongoing support of the Club’s outreach activities.As part of his continuing dedication, Revd Birks will conduct a Service of Commemoration on Friday 15 August at 6pm to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Japan (VJ Day). The service, to be held in Melbourn, will feature an address by Sir David Wright, GCMG LVO, former British Ambassador to Japan (1996–1999).Commenting on this recognition, Revd Birks stated, “It is a profound honour to be welcomed into the JAVA FEPOW Club. Marking VJ80 with a service that unites remembrance, gratitude, and a commitment to peace is particularly meaningful. I am privileged to help uphold the stories of courage, suffering, and resilience demonstrated by FEPOWs and their families. These accounts must continue to educate us about the importance of avoiding war and conflict. The pain experienced during captivity was immense, and, sadly, its trauma endured for many. Through my ministry, ‘We Will Always Remember Them’.”One of the functions of the JAVA FEPOW Club today is welfare, and the club asks that anyone aware of any FEPOWs, civilian internees, wives or widows contact them, as they may be entitled to grants to support them (they do not need to have been taken prisoner on Java). For further information about the JAVA FEPOW Club, please visit the official website: www.thejavafepowclub42.org
Please donate to help us reach our target and provide the space and facilities we need to provide a church building for our communityIf you would like to discuss the project, please do get in touch with Revd Andrew Birks on 01763 230178 or rev.andrew.birks@hotmail.comYou can donate using the link below:https://givealittle.co/c/7TArHXWDcM2dE5b2vnWc0T
