NEWS
Churches will play vital role in bringing communities together post-Covid-19
CHURCHES WILL PLAY VITAL ROLE IN BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER POST-COVID-19
Churches in the UK have a unique opportunity and rich resources to bring local communities together in a post-Covid-19 world where loneliness and inequality look set to rise, claims the Free Churches’ report on The Church and Social Cohesion.
The report calls on every church in the UK to assess whether it is using its resources to the best of its ability to improve social cohesion at the very grassroots level. It identifies the following assets that local churches may have, including the vision to serve, which is based on a local knowledge of and commitment to their neighbourhoods:
Buildings - to hold community events (which can foster everything from church events to mother and toddler groups or foodbanks).
Networks - that bring people together from different backgrounds and can be used to send information quickly into communities in times of need.
Leadership – not just faith leadership at a formal level but also encouraging and nurturing young Christians to lead, something which should be further developed.
Convening power – bringing people together offering conversational space.
Volunteering – providing and co-ordinating volunteers and events.
Vision - the desire to shape and transform communities, which is intrinsic to the core values of Christianity.
The Church, with its strong vision and desire to “love your neighbour as yourself”, has an important role to play in helping to bring communities together.
“Most Christians wouldn’t naturally think of the work they are doing in communities as “social cohesion” work, because that is the language of policy makers. However, in their quiet, everyday ministries of neighbour-love, they are building the links we rely on to call ourselves ‘a community’, all the time. We hope this research helps both policymakers and churches themselves to recognise this.”
The challenge for each local church is to look at what you’re already doing to encourage and support social cohesion in the places God calls you to serve.
What needs strengthening and where can you do more?
(Article adapted from press release by Theos Think Tank on 26th November. The areas visited for the research were: Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Cornwall, Croydon, Derby, East Lindsey, Haringey, Middlesbrough, Newham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Solihull, and Thanet.)
Student mental health and the pandemic: webinar on 14th December
We will be hosting a free webinar on Monday 14th December on the vital and timely topic of student mental health and the pandemic.
This is a free event aimed at supporting university chaplains and anyone else who is interested in this topic. It will take place from 10.30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
“The conditions created by the pandemic have taken their toll on the mental health of students. Chaplains are increasingly having to deal with issues connected with mental health, but may lack confidence to do so. This webinar aims to give chaplains access to the latest thinking from both institutional and student perspectives, and to signpost further sources of information and support.”
Our speakers will be Dr Ruth Caleb, MBE who is Chair of the Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education (MWBHE) Working Group and Pete Gaffney who is Student Engagement Officer from Student Minds.
The event will be chaired by Revd Dr Stephen Heap, Chair of the Free Church HE Working Group.
Please register for the webinar using the link below
(cover photo courtesy of Deniz Altindas at Unsplash)
Hidden sentences: the voices of prisoners' families...
Hidden sentence is a phrase sometimes used by those whose relatives are serving time in prison - although it is a member of their family who is serving the actual prison sentence, many say they also feel that they are serving a sentence too - a hidden sentence.
Our very own Rev Bob Wilson (FCG Secretary for prison chaplaincy and Free Churches Faith Adviser) had the opportunity to attend The Sir Harold Hood Memorial Lecture which covered a varied and thought provoking programme of materials. One of the most poignant and important aspects of this Lecture was the premiere of a brand new film ‘Hidden Sentences: Voices of Prisoners’ Families’, created for Prison Advice Care Trust (Pact) by Martin Freeth.
“The Lecture and series of events were really encouraging and the film - Hidden Sentences - was particularly inspiring”
You can find out more about the vital and life changing work that Pact undertake with prisoners and their families here:
The Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) is a national charity that provides support to prisoners, people with convictions, and their families. They support people to make a fresh start, and minimise the harm that can be caused by imprisonment to people who have committed offences, to families and to communities.
What they do:
Build stronger families and safer communities.
Reduce risk of harm to prisoners and their children.
Remove barriers and increase awareness in public services.
Influence commissioning, policy and legislation.
It's a warm welcome to two new team members to the Welcome Directory!
Things have been busy for The Welcome Directory lately! As well as recently recruiting a new project manager, Emily Green, we are pleased to announce there are two new team members to help in the work and mission of The Welcome Directory. The new staff are Rev James Seager and Serena Bailey. Here’s a little bit of background about them and what their roles entail.
James is The Welcome Directory's new Regional Lead. James joins the team with over 18 years of Church leadership experience and also currently works part time as a Free Church Chaplain at HMP Hull. He is currently studying for a Masters in Applied Theology and has held a number of different roles in the charity sector. His focus as Regional Lead will be to increase engagement with The Welcome Directory at local prison establishments regionally as well as raising awareness and encouraging registration amongst faith communities, especially those faiths not yet fully represented in the directory!
Serena is due to join The Welcome Directory as the new Communications & Fundraising Officer. Serena also currently works part time with ShelterBox, a humanitarian relief organisation, in the Partnerships Team and holds a BA in International Development with Spanish. She has spent a number of years working and volunteering in the development and charity sectors, and also has experience in developing donor reports and monitoring and evaluation. Serena's focus will be to increase awareness of the work of The Welcome Directory and seeking out funding opportunities!
On behalf of the Free Churches Group, we extend a warm welcome to you both and wish you all the best in your new roles!
They along with the other team members with the patrons and trustees (who pictured below) will be working to fulfill the mission and vision of The Welcome Directory : a simple yet powerful vision: to help faith communities become places where people who leave prison find acceptance. A place to belong that not only nurtures faith but also offers appropriate practical support… a story as well as hopes and dreams for their lives beyond the prison gate.
Patrons of The Welcome Directory
Trustees of The Welcome Directory
Student Mental Health | FREE webinar | 14th Dec
We will be hosting a free webinar on Monday 14th December on the vital and timely topic of student mental health and the pandemic.
This is a free event aimed at supporting university chaplains and anyone else who is interested in this topic. It will take place from 10.30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
“The conditions created by the pandemic have taken their toll on the mental health of students. Chaplains are increasingly having to deal with issues connected with mental health, but may lack confidence to do so. This webinar aims to give chaplains access to the latest thinking from both institutional and student perspectives, and to signpost further sources of information and support.”
Our speakers will be Dr Ruth Caleb, MBE who is Chair of the Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education (MWBHE) Working Group and Pete Gaffney who is Student Engagement Officer from Student Minds.
The event will be chaired by Revd Dr Stephen Heap, Chair of the Free Church HE Working Group.
Please register for the webinar using the link below
(cover photo courtesy of Sonaal Bangera at Unsplash)