Guardian Article to share with homelessness agencies

http://www.guardian.co.uk/housing-network/2012/dec/20/homeless-charities-at-breaking-point-2012

 

 

Wishing all a happy and blessed Christmas

^{We will be taking a break from now until early in the New Year.}

We hope the Scripture below will speak to us and inspire all our work in tackling poverty together in Lancashire in  2013 

^{2 Corinthians 8}

^{New International Version (NIV}

⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

¹⁰ And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. ¹¹ Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹² For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

¹³ Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. ¹⁴ At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, ¹⁵ as it is written: "The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little."^[b]

Shalom

Greg Smith

Development Co-ordinator Together Lancashire / Preston Christian Action Network

34 Broadgate, Preston PR1 8DU

Phone no. 01772 827987 Mobile 07726177044

Together Lancashire, registered office Church House, Blackburn BB1 5AA

Registered Charity no 1147848 Registered company no 07966145

Together Lancashire Website http://www.cuf.org.uk/together-lancashire

See also PCAN Website www.pcan.org.uk or and BLOG http://prestonchristianactionnetwork.blogspot.com/

Latest news, research and resources from Church Urban Fund

 

 

 

Every child deserves a chance In Benwell, Newcastle 44% of children live in poverty and violent crime is 18 times the national average. Watch our latest film to find out how some young people have grown up and the work that is being done to provide hope and to transform lives at www.together-newcastle.org It's not too late to make a difference this Christmas This Christmas morning, 70,000 children in England will wake up homeless. Sleeping on sofas and passed between bedsits, their lives and futures look bleak. By running a service or event and raising money for Church Urban Fund over the Christmas period, your church can help change these children's lives and give them hope for a brighter future. Make it a Happy New Year by nominating Church Urban Fund as one of your charities for 2013 and help us to transform more lives in our poorest communities. Coming soon: our free, downloadable, five week Lent course will be on our website soon. Let our course open your church's eyes to the reality of poverty in our country... Download our free Christmas resources at www.cuf.org.uk/christmas Survival Strategies Our latest research report examines the impact of the current economic climate on community organisations in the most deprived areas of England. It follows two reports published by Church Urban Fund in 2011, 'At the Cutting Edge' and 'Holding on by a Shoestring', which looked in detail at how public spending cuts were affecting people and organisations at a grassroots level. Returning a year later to the same organisations, we wanted to examine the ongoing effects of the economic climate. We found that the current economic climate is having a significant impact upon community organisations and people living in deprived areas of England. This impact can be seen in the rising demand for services and the difficulty of securing funding. However, in response to these difficulties, organisations are employing a range of survival strategies in order to meet rising demand with rising service provision. Read the report here Together Network – update Church Urban Fund now has Joint Venture partnerships with Anglican Dioceses and others in Birmingham, Cornwall, Liverpool, Lancashire, Bradford, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Southwark, Southwell and Nottingham and plans are in hand for others in London, Bath and Wells, Chester, Bristol, and Durham to name just a few. We are firm believers in the power of working together to tackle poverty and are excited about the growing network. To find out more, go to www.cuf.org.uk/joint-ventures Forward this email to someone else Bookmark with: Facebook Twitter Google+ Follow us on Twitter    Become a friend on Facebook    Visit our Youtube page    Church Urban Fund, Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ T 020 7898 1647    F 020 7898 1601    E enquiries@cuf.org.uk    W www.cuf.org.uk Registered Charity number 297483. Want to unsubscribe?

One off volunteer opportunity in Blackpool

Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 8:02 PM

Subject: One off opportunity in Blackpool

Dear All

 

As you probably know, we (Methodist Action)  have a drop in on North Shore Blackpool which operates on Monday evenings and Wednesday mornings. We are three volunteers short for Wednesday 2^nd January. The hours are 10 – 12. If anybody would like to help out for a shift assisting the Blackpool volunteers, please let me know a s a p  if you are interested as I need to make a decision at the earliest opportunity as to whether staffing levels are sufficient to open safely.   If transport is a problem, I could travel down via Preston on my way.

 

 

Thanks

 

 

Phil Moore--    I can be contacted by phone  mobile number - 07407760572.
or  email  phil.moore@methodistaction.co.uk

 

 

BBC radio 4 programme on foodbanks etc.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01p6ryz/Food_Programme_09_12_2012/

 

Listen on Iplayer to The Food programme Dec. 10th

Advent Appeal

We are circulating this as widely as possible across Lancashire in the run up to Christmas. If you don't already support a local foodbank service the service operated from Central Methodist Churchin Blackpool will be grateful for donations.

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Gillian Beeley

To: gillian.beeley@together-lancashire.org.uk

Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 4:42 PM

Subject: Advent Appeal

Good afternoon!

You may have seen all the publicity about foodbanks recently.  Many Churches are already getting involved – maybe yours too - by organising foodbanks, by providing distribution points for parcels, by encouraging volunteers to pack or distribute parcels or by collecting food.

 

Together Lancashire has been working to support foodbanks across the county; it is clear that the need is going to grow – a tsunami of need is being spoken of.  For example, in Burnley, 17 parcels per week were being provided in February – now it's gone up to 95 per week.  Other areas are experiencing a similar increase in demand.  Changes next year to the welfare system will have an even more significant impact.  It is also clear that the need is now being felt by those who have not felt it before, for example, families who have experienced benefit changes, become unemployed or have had their hours reduced.  

 

Most foodbanks have clear processes in place to ensure that those in need are properly supported, rather than just getting a hand out.  As a follow up to this email, as soon as possible, we shall let you have information for your local area regarding your local foodbank details and the referral process.   We are further working up an information sheet for clergy (if this does not already exist in your local area) – as we expect that by April there will be more people approaching clergy for help.

 

Together Lancashire was established earlier this year by the Diocese in partnership with the Lancashire Methodist Circuit and Church Urban Fund to help churches to understand and respond to the effects of poverty in the Diocese.  We are therefore trying to encourage churches to support local foodbanks by collecting donations of food suggested on the attached shopping list.  We would appreciate your help (particularly if you are not already involved) by putting up the attached posters.  It would be good if any food collected be put in a box in church and if you let me know, arrangements will be put in place to get them to the nearest foodbank/collection depot. 

 

We have attached a couple of posters – one to put foodbanks in context, the other is a shopping list of items which would be welcomed.

 

If you have any queries, please do contact me or my colleague Greg Smith.  It would be good in any event to hear whether you are participating and whether you have or support a foodbank.  If you do not know your nearest foodbank, again contact me and I'll find out for you.

 

Thanks and best wishes

Gillian

 

	Greg Smith Development Co-ordinator Together Lancashire / Preston Christian Action Network 34 Broadgate, Preston PR1 8DU Phone no. 01772 827987 Mobile 07726 177044

 

Gillian Beeley

Development Co-ordinator (East Lancashire)

Tel: 07904 919413

 

TOGETHER LANCASHIRE

 

Registered Charity Number 1147848

A company limited by guarantee. Registered in Cardiff No: 07966145

Registered office: St Mary's House, Cathedral Close, Blackburn BB1 5AA

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:

This message is intended solely for the addressee(s) in the first instance and may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender, delete the message from your system immediately and do not disclose the contents to any other part

 

 

 

Serve Newsletter -Good tidings we bring

Note the link to Blackpool's Mulberry Project...in text below http://vimeo.com/46292208

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Serve Enews

To: Greg Smith

Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 5:02 PM

Subject: Good tidings we bring

Email looking squiffy? Read the online version here. December 2012 Dear Greg Bringing people together to share good stories is what we love to do, and it was our privilege to host the recent Serve.Transform event in Bradford on 12th November.  Around 60 people from a mixture of organisations and churches including Torch Trust, Salvation Army, Mercy Ministries, CAP, Street Angels, as well as Tearfund, TLG and Prospects.  We were delighted to hear from Tani Omideyi from LJM Group speak passionately about his lessons learned in delivering social justice.  LJM Group serve their community in loads of different ways, engaging with youth through music festivals, providing a top rate restaurant, a furniture outlet and a debt advisory service.  What a fantastic way to bless their community!  Always give the best of what you have - doesn't God deserve the best? And we heard great words of wisdom from the Former Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Neil Wain – currently the National Partnership Development Manager for Redeeming Our Communities - on working with local authorities and building strategic relationships. Often there are plenty of organisations active in our communities: churches, local authorities and schools.  The great thing about ROC is the partnerships they build. They build trust, strengthen existing projects, and by working together, we can do more.   There was plenty of time to meet, share and network with others and the whole day buzzed with positive conversations and a great atmosphere.  Let's get together again soon! Mike Royal is the National Director for TLG and a member of Serve.   In this edition you'll find... Funding opportunities New resources Latest news Stories and Events     Funding opportunities If you're after some extra funding, visit The Goldsmiths' Company Charity website. They offer grants for loads of causes, from the disadvantaged in society to churches, heritage and the arts. Their average grant was £3,000 last year, so it's well worth a look. Find their website here. Back to top of email    New Resources Compelled to counter poverty in your neighbourhood? Get stuck in with Poverty and Homelessness Action Week from 26th January to 3rd February 2013. The week is all about raising awareness, raising funds and involving people in tackling poverty and homelessness in the UK. The event's website is packed full of free resources including an event guide, video clips and loads of extra material so that you and your church can get involved. Check it out here. With thanks to Housing Justice for sharing this resource with us. Passionate about getting young people off the streets and into a better future? Have a look at Springfield Lodge Lifehouse, an exciting new initiative which provides young people with a safe place to live. They currently house 16 young people and provide activities like busting beats in a recording studio, becoming the next big cheese in cooking classes and learning important life skills too. We think it's a great example of serving the local community. Find out more in the clip here. With thanks to the Salvation Army for this great link.  If you're a church leader and interested in visiting this initiative, please contact us on info@serveuk.org and we can put you in touch with them. Back to top of email   Latest News A housing charity which gives a sense of worth to vulnerable people in Peterborough has won the Serve award for most inspiring project in this year's Inspire Awards. Hope Into Action, based in Peterborough, was set up to help the vulnerable in the community and particularly ex-prisoners. The project works by investing in houses to provide homes for up to two vulnerable people, and also encourages and equips churches to do the same. The Inspire Awards are run by the Evangelical Alliance and Inspire magazine. Krish Kandiah, executive director of churches in mission at the Evangelical Alliance and Serve award judge, said: "We loved the holistic approach that Hope Into Action have taken to being good news to the homeless and vulnerable. "Having a home is not just about having a roof over your head, it's about security and about having a sense of worth. We also wanted to celebrate Hope Into Action's passion to get involved with churches and see them playing a part in helping to house the homeless." Find out who else has been awarded here. Back to top of email   Stories Green Pastures work with partners around the UK to provide housing for the homeless.  They aim to house 1,000 people by 2015 and dream of every church in the UK having one house to house the homeless.  One of their partners is the Mulberry Community Project, and you can follow their inspiring story here. Your stories - We'd love to hear what's going on in your local community. If you'd like to share an inspiring story, visit our stories section. Back to top of email     Events Unlocking the Prodigal Unlock Urban is hosting a discipleship development event to give you creative opportunities to engage with the story of the Prodigal Son in relation to your own everyday experiences.   There will be lots of activities to help you experience Unlock's creative approach to Bible engagement in action and help you think about how you could replicate this in your own church and community projects.   Date: Saturday 12th January 2013 Venue: St Alban's Church, Windy Nook Road, Felling, Gateshead, NE10 9RJ Time: 12.30pm - 3.30pm  Click here to download the event flier. Strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation Don't miss the Tearfund IMPACT UK workshop on strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation. It's a two day training event full of tips and great advice for church projects and Christian organisations. You can come along to one or both days but we'd recommend both; day two will build on content covered from day one. You know what they say - two days are better than one... Date: Tuesday 12th – Wednesday 13th February 10.00am – 4pm Venue: Tearfund, 100 Church Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 8QE To find out more and to register your place, visit our webpage. Raising Our Game Throughout 2013, we're hosting a series of seminars on Tearfund's '10 keys for impact'. The keys are all about transforming your local community and are taking place from Carlisle to Colchester (and a few places in-between too). Each one will focus on one or several keys but will refer to the others. It's a great chance to be inspired, equipped and empowered for change in your community. Visit our website for more info. Back to top of email

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CUF & CTC LENT/GROUP STUDY COURSE - INPUT REQUESTED

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Tim Bissett

To: Tim Bissett

Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 4:49 PM

Subject: CUF & CTC LENT/GROUP STUDY COURSE

Dear Friends,

 

The Church Urban Fund is partnering with the Contextual Theology Centre to produce a five-week Lent/Group Study Course on how Churches can make sense of, and respond in a Christ-like way to, the continuing economic situation.

 

If you have any thoughts or ideas for what you'd like this course to include, it's not too late to have your input!

 

-How has the recession affected your local area?

-What are the possible barriers to your Church engaging in these issues?

-What one thing would you love to see in this Lent Course?

 

We'd love to hear from you, so please just reply to this email and give us your ideas!

 

Best wishes,

 

T

 

Tim Bissett                                                       

CEO 

 

T  020 7898 1090

M 07957 611 203

E  tim.bissett@cuf.org.uk   

W  www.cuf.org.uk

Twitter   @timbissett

 

 

 

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2634/5427 - Release Date: 11/29/12

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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2634/5427 - Release Date: 11/29/12