Monday, 7 December 2009

Friday, 27 November 2009

Livabilty event - 'We don't do God': keeping faith in your community project, Leeds, 3rd February 2010

 

 

 

 

 
Why do some Christian organisations lose their edge?

Does receiving secular funding always dilute spiritual purposes?

Are there community projects that have kept the flame burning?

 

"We don't do God…"

 

Keeping faith in your community project

 

 

 

This interactive and fun day will help you reconnect your work to your deepest

convictions and begin to integrate a down-to-earth theology into your frontline work

 

 

 

The day will include:

 

ü      Practical Ideas to help you and your team think theologically about your community work and integrate faith in your day to day work

 

ü      Examples of community projects that have not lost an active Christian faith

 

ü      Seeing success through Christ's eyes, rather than funders' monitoring forms

 

ü      The chance to be stimulated by new ideas and learn from your peers

 

Facilitators:

David Arscott, Ruth Smith and Jon Kuhrt from Livability's Community Mission team.  They work with a wide range of churches and Christian projects wrestling with these issues and bring experience and reflection sharpened by engagement and lively debate.

 

To book:      Contact Ruth Smith on 0113 350 8070 or email: rsmith@livability.org.uk

 

Date:        Wednesday 3rd February 2010               

Time:        9.45am – 3.30pm – starting promptly at 10am

Cost:        £20 per person including lunch to be paid on the day

Venue:    St George's Centre, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3BR

 

Directions:    St George's is in the city centre next to  the Leeds General Infirmary. We suggest that if possible you come by public transport - the railway and bus stations are about 8 minutes walk away. All day parking is limited to city centre multi-storeys.    Ask us if you need a map.

 

 

 

Wednesday, 14 October 2009

Invitation to Get Online Day at The Salvation Army on Friday 23rd October

 
Who is Get online day for? 

See http://www.ukonlinecentres.co.uk/consumer/getting-online/get-online-day-2009.html

Get online day is about helping people to get to grips with computers and the internet at their own pace with friendly people on hand to help; whether a complete beginner or someone who knows the basics but want to know a little bit more, Get online day is for everyone.

For people who are already online but know someone who's not, Get online day is the perfect opportunity to Pass IT on and encourage offline loved ones to attend a Get online day event for help and support with computers and the internet. To find out more about Pass IT on for Get online day, click here.

 

At The Salvation Army in Preston  have been very pleased that a large number of unemployed people have taken part in the Opening Doors to Work Course held here over the last six months. We know that most have found it useful as a way of improving skills and supporting their efforts to find employment.

 

As a way of marking the end of the course we are holding an evaluation event where we will be presenting a report on the achievements of the project. We are combining this with the Get Online open day event we are holding as a member of the UK Online Centres network where we are intending to promote the use of our computer suite to members of the public who are not yet regular users of computers and the internet. We are including a flier about the event.

 

The event takes place on Friday 23rd October from 10am -2pm. At about 11.30 we will be doing a short presentation of the report about the project, and hope to have the opportunity to present certificates to students who gained them on the course. We'd be delighted if you could be there for this. At the end of the morning there will be a light buffet lunch available.

 

I do hope you are able to attend.

 


Greg Smith
Community Co-ordinator
The Salvation Army Preston
Harrington Street
Preston PR1 7BN
Tel No (01772) 555425
 
www.sapreston.co.uk    
Note this is from my work email address Greg.Smith@salvationarmy.org.uk 

Ps 9 v 17 For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. 

Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Poverty & Homelessness Action Week 2010: free resources available now!

We are delighted to announce that a full range of resources is now available to help you plan an event for Poverty & Homelessness Action Week 2010. We hope you'll join us again in tackling poverty and homelessness between 30 January and 7 February.

Please visit www.actionweek.org.uk/html/resources.php now to download your free resources.

 

"There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold."

Acts 4:35

 

Our theme this year is that there is Enough For All – that we can tackle poverty and homelessness by rediscovering the wealth within our own churches and communities, and sharing more freely with those around us. Visit www.actionweek.org.uk/html/resources.php now to find out more about the theme, and explore the resources we have available. This year's materials include:

·         A special booklet, 12 Baskets, full of inspirational ideas for sharing with your community.

·         The Enough For All manifesto, stating the values we want to promote through Action Week 2010.

·         Guidelines on planning and running a range of events, from bring-and-share meals to community asset audits and sustainable marketplaces.

·         Worship resources for churches marking Homelessness Sunday and Poverty Action Sunday.

·         Advice on using the media to promote your event.

·         Resources for activities with children and young people.

·         Assemblies and lesson plans for use in secondary schools.

·         Template posters to help you promote your event.

·         An information sheet from the YMCA about youth homelessness.

 

We hope you'll be inspired to make a real difference in your community for Poverty & Homelessness Action Week 2010. Visit www.actionweek.org.uk/html/resources.php and get planning now!

 

Thanks and best wishes

 

Liam Purcell, Church Action on Poverty

on behalf of the Poverty & Homelessness Action Week partners (Church Action on Poverty, Housing Justice and Scottish Churches Housing Action)

VISIT OF DR TONY CAMPOLO TO LANCASHIRE


Friday, 25 September 2009

Salvation Army Harvest Appeal

September 2009

 

The Salvation Army in Preston  responds as we are able to help people who are roofless or destitute.  This includes offering free meals, showers, clothing and bedding through our drop in for homeless people.

 

Throughout the year there is a large demand for Food Parcels which are only available on referral from a recognised agency such as Social Services or a supported housing project. These are given both to homeless individuals and to families in crisis.

 

For details of our referral procedures and guidelines please see our web page at http://sapreston.synthasite.com/helping-homeless-people.php

 

 

During the autumn we are grateful to receive many donations of food from churches, schools and other groups which are collected at

 Harvest celebrations.

 

Therefore we are sending out this appeal to churches and the community asking for immediate donations of non perishable foods; (especially items that require a minimum of preparation and cooking).

  • Canned food including, meat, fish, vegetables, soups, fruit, desserts etc.

·                                Dried staple foods such as rice and pasta.

·                                Instant dried meals such as savoury rice and pasta, even "pot noodles".

·                                Biscuits, cereal bars dried fruits and nutritious snacks

·                                Small packs of tea bags and instant coffee, sugar and dried milk or coffee mate

If you feel you can help us this way, please deliver your gifts to our centre in Harrington Street between 9am and 4pm on weekdays or after our worship service on Sunday (about 12.30 or 1pm).

With grateful thanks


Greg Smith
Community Co-ordinator
The Salvation Army Preston
Harrington Street
Preston PR1 7BN
Tel No (01772) 555425
 
www.sapreston.co.uk    
Note this is from my work email address Greg.Smith@salvationarmy.org.uk 

Ps 9 v 17 For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. 


The Salvation Army is an international Christian church working in 118 countries worldwide. As a registered charity, The Salvation Army demonstrates its Christian principles through social action and is one of the largest, most diverse providers of social welfare in the world.

Visit our ever-growing website to find out what The Salvation Army is doing across the United Kingdom and Ireland... and near you - www.salvationarmy.org.uk.

In July 2009 The Salvation Army produced its latest research into the underlying causes of homelessness and social exclusion. Download The Seeds of Exclusion 2009 report and research at www.salvationarmy.org.uk/seeds.

Thursday, 20 August 2009

There is Enough For All! Start getting ready for Poverty & Homelessness Action Week Jan-Feb 2010

From: "liamp" <liamp@church-poverty.org.uk>
Date: 08/19/2009 11:24AM
Subject: There is Enough For All! Start getting ready for Poverty & Homelessness Action Week

Dear friend

 

We wanted to let you know about our plans for Poverty & Homelessness Action Week 2010. We hope you'll join us again in tackling poverty and homelessness between 30 January and 7 February.

 

"There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold."

Acts 4:35

 

Times are hard, as the recession has hit individuals, families and communities throughout Britain. But in the gloom, we have found inspiration. Our message is that there is Enough For All if, instead of retreating into our shells, we greet our neighbours, give what we can, share our ideas, hopes, goods and skills. Action Week in 2010 will demonstrate what can happen when people share what we have.

·         Fed up of the trek to the dump with perfectly useful but unwanted goods? Put them on Freecycle!

·         Demoralised by empty church buildings? See about using them for affordable homes!

·         Suspicious of dodgy banking practices? Find out about your local credit union!

 

The gap between rich and poor has grown. This year's resource materials, free to download, will give up-to-date evidence of inequality and injustice in today's Britain. They will also include plenty of positive examples of groups which are making the most of what they have, living more simply, reaching out to others, changing their communities.

We encourage church groups, schools and projects to be adventurous. Use the materials in worship, put on special events. Let us know what you are planning, and use our resources to be part of something bigger. Some ideas in the pack:

·         Hold a bring-and-swap shop to share goods and ideas.

·         Assess your own community for the assets it can offer.

·         Host a bring-and-share meal to link people in your area.

·         Hold a 'justice fair' and invite other local organisations to share their ideas for a fairer, more sustainable society.

 

The full set of resources will be available to download soon. In the meantime, you can download the Enough For All manifesto at http://www.actionweek.org.uk/html/resources.php. Why not take a look now, and start thinking about how you could explore this theme in your community?

 

Thanks and best wishes

 

Liam Purcell

 

--

Liam Purcell
Communications and Supporter Relations Manager

Church Action on Poverty, Central Buildings, Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JQ
0161 236 9321  www.church-poverty.org.uk

Charity number 1079986   Company number 3780243

How just is your church?

Practise justice with the free Just Church programme at www.justchurch.org.uk


Monday, 17 August 2009

Jesus In the City/ Congress March 2010

Are you a Christian living or serving in an urban area? 
 
If so come and be part of the 6th UK Urban Mission Congress Jesus in the City in Belfast from 12th-14th March 2010.
 
Jesus in the City gathers together urban Christians from across the UK to share worship, bible study, experiences, passions and challenges. The congress will have seven streams focusing on di fferent areas of urban Christianity:
  • Growing Christians in tough communities
  • Church in the city centre
  • Christians as agents for justice and reconciliation
  • Identity and urban church
  • Ethnicity and urban church
  • Mission across cultures
  • Healing in our cities
In these streams you will get an opportunity to meet others working in similar situations to share experiences, encouragements and lessons learned.
 
Jesus in the City welcomes anyone with a heart to live, work and proclaim the good news of freedom and justice in urban areas and we would encourage you to be a part of it.
 
For more details on the Congress and booking go to www.jitc.org.uk
 

Thursday, 30 July 2009

Please can you help us do some important research? William Temple Foundation Online Survey on Religious and Spiritual Capital

Members of the list may be interested in participating in this survey themselves or may be able to help us in forwarding and circulating this email widely in the religious sector.

Do you have a religion or faith?
Please can you help us do some important research?


We would like people living in the UK, aged 18 or over and who have a religious faith or spirituality and/or are active members of religious or spiritual groups, such as a church, mosque, temple, meditation group, study circle or prayer network to take part in this survey. We are especially keen to secure good representation from people of Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist backgrounds.

 
As part of our Leverhulme funded research project we are inviting people from a wide range of faith communities in the UK to complete our survey. To do this survey online please click here  or paste this link in your browser
 

There are around 100 questions and the survey should take about 20 minutes to complete.

This survey is looking at how and why religious and spiritual groups make a contribution to their communities. Please try and answer all the questions and give your personal honest opinions

Everything you tell us is completely confidential and anonymous.

Thank you for your help


Dr Chris Baker and Greg Smith
William Temple Foundation,
Luther King House,
Brighton Grove,
Manchester, M14 5JP.
Telephone: 0161-249-2502

Alternative Contact
Greg Smith gregwtf@maister-smith.fsnet.co.uk

website www.wtf.org.uk

Wednesday, 8 July 2009

Migration seminar in Preston

 
Seminar title:                       Migration and Integration

 

Date:                                      Friday 24th July 2009

 

Venue:                                  Harris Conference Centre, 253 Garstang Road, Preston

 

Cost:                                      This is a free seminar

 

Who should attend:           This seminar is open to practitioners from any organisation in the public, private and voluntary sectors who have an interest in migration, cohesion and inclusion.

 

Booking:                              The places are limited to 60 so early booking is advised.  To book contact Jackie Singleton on 01772 906453, e-mail to J.singleton@preston.gov.uk, fill in and return the attached form by e-mail or post to J. Singleton, Preston City Council, Town Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 2RL

 

 

 

Background and purpose of the seminar:

 

This year Preston celebrates 20 years of twinning with Kalisz in Poland.  There are a number of celebrations taking place over the period 23rd to the 26th July. As a part of the celebrations, this seminar on immigration and the integration of immigrants in the community has been designed as an opportunity to discuss an issue of common interest with our colleagues in Kalisz.  In addition, it has a resonance with our other twin cities of Almelo in Holland, Recklinghausen in Germany and Nimes in France.

 

This seminar also provides an opportunity to showcase some of the work being done in Preston and as an exchange of ideas and learning with our twinning colleagues.

Sunday, 21 June 2009

FAMILY & CHILDREN'S LAY WORKER Job vacancy Please publicise

 

ADVERTISEMENT

ST. STEPHEN'S PARISH CHURCH,

 

Bird Street, Broadgate, Preston, PR1 8DY

Seeks to Appoint

 

A PART TIME (18hr per week)

FAMILY & CHILDREN'S LAY WORKER

18 month fixed term contract;

Approx. £20k pa pro rata; i.e. £10k actual

 

The overall purpose of the post is to develop the Christian outreach of St Stephens as a "Jesus Loving, Bible Living, People Serving Church" among children and their families living in the parish. This will include opportunities to share and teach the Christian faith in the context of community work in an urban parish. The person appointed will need to be highly motivated and a self starter, taking responsibility and initiative for programmes in the absence of full time clergy during our current interregnum.

 

The post is funded by external grants from Church Urban Fund, and The Church and Community Fund which allow us initially to appoint a person on a 18 hour per week contract for a fixed one and a half year  period to start September 2009 or asap thereafter. Hours are likely to be flexible with the need for some evening and weekend sessions.

 

For a full job description and person specification, with some background information on the parish please contact St Stephens Church via :

 

email… church@maister-smith.fsnet.co.uk     (Please note due to holidays
emails to this address will not be answered between 26th June and 7th July)

 

or phone… 01772 491900  on Tuesday or Thursday mornings only

 or…01772 824451 (after 6pm).

 

For an informal introduction to the church and look around the parish please feel free to attend any Sunday service 10.30am or 6.30pm and introduce yourself to our churchwardens or other leaders.

 

Applications will be by CV and a letter explaining why you would like the post, how you meet the person specification, and what you would bring to the work.

 

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 31st July

 

Short listed applicants will be called to an interview with a panel of 4 people appointed by the PCC. These are likely to take place as mutually convenient (probably in the evening) during the middle weeks of August. We would like the person appointed to start work immediately after the school holidays if possible,


Thursday, 14 May 2009

In defence of youth work workshop in Preston

WORKSHOP

IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK

FRIDAY 12TH JUNE 2009

12 NOON TO 3PM

THE FOXTON CENTRE
KNOWSLEY STREET,
PRESTON
PR1 3SA
Website www.thefoxtoncentre.co.uk

If you are planning to attend, please email kev jones
(getkev@gmail.com) or j.richardson@preston.ac.uk

Also see the blog on : http://indefenceofyouthwork.wordpress.com

The following Open Letter will kick off the discussion:

IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK:

Thirty years ago Youth Work aspired to a special relationship with
young people. It wanted to meet young women and men on their terms. It
claimed to be 'on their side'.
Three decades later Youth Work is close to abandoning this distinctive
commitment. Today it
accepts the State's terms. It sides with the State's agenda. Perhaps we
exaggerate, but a profound
change has taken place.This shift has not happened overnight. Back in the
1980's the
Thatcherite effort via the Manpower Services Commission to shift the focus
of Youth Work from social
education to social and life skills was resisted. In the early 90's attempts
to impose a national
curriculum on the diverse elements of the Youth Service ground to a halt.
However with the accession of New
Labour the drive to impose an instrumental framework on Youth Work gathered
increasing momentum.
With Blair and Brown at the helm youth workers and managers have been
coerced and cajoled
into embracing the very antithesis of the Youth Work process: predictable
and prescribed
outcomes. Possessing no vision of a world beyond the present New Labour has
been obsessed with the
micro-management of problematic, often demonised youth. Yearning for a
generation stamped with the State's seal of
approval the government has transformed Youth Work into an agency of
behavioural modification.
It wishes to confine to the scrapbook of history the idea that Youth Work
is volatile and voluntary,
creative and collective – an association and conversation without
guarantees.
For many within the work this has been a painful period. For many there
has seemed to be no alternative to making the best of a bad job. But History
is an unruly
character. In the space of only a few months everything has been turned
upside down. Capitalism is
revealed yet again as a system of crisis: 'all that is solid melts into
air'. Society is shocked into
waking from 'the deep slumber of decided opinion'. The arrogant confidence
of those embracing the
so-called 'new managerialism',which has so afflicted Youth Work, is severely
dented. Against this
tumultuous background alternatives across the board are being sought. We
believe this is a
moment to be seized.Our contention is that we need to reaffirm our belief in
an
emancipatory and democratic Youth Work, whose cornerstones are:
• The sanctity of the voluntary principle; the freedom for young people
to enter into and withdraw from Youth Work as they so wish.
• A commitment to conversations with young people which start from
their concerns and within which both youth worker and young person are
educated.
• The importance of association, of fostering supportive relationships,
of encouraging the development of autonomous groups and 'the sharing of a
common life'.
• A commitment to a democratic practice, in which every effort is made
to ensure that young people play the fullest part in making decisions about
anything
affecting them.
• The continuing necessity of recognising that young people are not an
heterogeneous group and that issues of class, gender, race, sexuality and
disability remain
central.
• The essential significance of the youth worker themselves, whose
outlook, integrity and autonomy is at the heart of fashioning a serious yet
humorous,
improvisatory yet rehearsed educational practice with young people.
Such a definition is at odds with much that passes for Youth Work
today. But, as we have suggested, this is the time to challenge anew the new
managerial
attempt to make Youth Work the servant of the Market. To give some examples,
we need to question:
• The shift from locally negotiated plans to centrally-defined targets
and indicators.
• The growing emphasis on identifying the potentially deviant or
dysfunctional young person as the centre of Youth Work's attention.
• The increasing incorporation of youth workers into the surveillance
of young people, perceived as a threat to social order.
• The insidious way in which delivering accredited outcomes, even if
only on paper, has formalised and thus 0undermined the importance of
relationships in the
work.
• The distorting effect of identifying individuals as suitable and
urgent cases for treatment and intervention, 'to be worked on rather than
worked with'.
• The changing role of the youth worker, from being a social educator
to a social entrepreneur, submitting plan after bid after plan, selling both
themselves and young
people in the marketplace.
• And finally, but not exhaustively, the delicate issue of to what
extent professionalisation, hand in hand with bureaucratisation, has
assisted the suffocating grip
of rules and regulations upon the work and played a part in the exclusion of
the
volunteer, once the lifeblood of the old Youth Service [see Jeffs and Smith
2008: 277-283].
Of course it is easy to spout rhetoric on paper. Doing something solid
with this analysis is another matter altogether. This is especially the
case, given the very
different settings occupied by youth workers today. Without doubt the space
to duck and dive, to argue and
criticise, varies enormously.
Yet this very diversity lends weight to the proposal we would like to
make, which is quite simply that we must come together to clarify what is
going on in all its
manifestations; to understand better how we can support each other in
challenging the dire legacy of these
neo-liberal years.
If we possess the wit and energy to do so, we will not be alone.
Organised, dissident resistance is growing. Adult Education, devastated in
the name of vocationalism, is
reviving at the grass roots.
The Social Work Action Network opposes managerialism and marketisation,
the stigmatisation of service users . Closer to home the Federation of
Detached Youth Work
describes its members as neither social entrepreneurs nor social spies, but
democratic
educators. The National Coalition for Independent Action campaigns to
reassert the autonomy of voluntary
groups. The Youth Work unions are having to counter savage attacks, as in
Coventry, upon young
people's provision and workers' conditions. All such opposition offer the
chance to 'join up
services' under our own steam, under our control, on our and young people's
terms.
If you sympathise with and support the position set out in this Open Letter,
we ask you to join with
us and sign up to its intent. In doing so, you are not agreeing to some
party line. There is so much to think through together. However, in doing
so, you are lending your
voice to what might be a radical revival of a form of Youth Work that
wishes to play its part in the
creation of a just, equal and democratic society.
Criticisms welcome, but if you feel able to put your signature to this
Open Overture, please inform
Tony Taylor mailto:tonymtaylor@gmail.com
Reference
Jeffs, A and Smith, M. [2008] 'Valuing Youth Work', Youth &Policy,
100:277-302.


_____________________________________
___________________________________
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Monday, 23 March 2009

Street Pastors: New Volunteering Opportunity

 

Street Pastors is an inter-denominational Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue. It began in London in January 2003 and has now grown to 111 projects across the country with another 70 in development. Each project is run by a local management team with support from the Ascension Trust, local churches and community groups, in partnership with Police, Council and other statutory agencies. Here in Preston and South Ribble, the project grew out of Hope 08, and started on the streets in December 2008 with 24 volunteers from 10 different churches from across Preston and South Ribble. Already we are seeing fruit from our work, with relationships being built, trust established and a sense of a safer Preston developing within the community.
 
We are therefore really pleased and excited as a management team to be able to let you know that we are now opening up the work for more people to be able to volunteer and get involved. This year we have produced a downloadable Volunteer Application Pack which contains information about the project, what is involved with volunteering and all the necessary application forms in order to apply to become part of our growing, fantastic team.
 
We are holding an open evening for people to find out more about this on Tuesday 5th May at Leyland Methodist Church, where there will be an opportunity to hear from the police, volunteers and others about the real difference the church can make within our communities. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions and find out more before the application deadline of 15th May 2009.
 
Training for new volunteers will then begin on 21st June for 4 consecutive Saturdays, and we are working to having the new teams on the streets in September.
 
What about you – is this something that you, or people you know might be able to get involved in? Why not be part of something amazing as ordinary men and women of all ages join together to share the love of God with people outside the walls of the church?
 
We have produced a downloadable poster with details of the open evening on, and we would very much appreciate if you might circulate and/or display this and details about the new volunteering opportunity within your churches to let people know we are now looking for new volunteers.
 
For details about how your church might support the work if you are unable to volunteer for patrolling the streets, please feel free to get in touch.
 
Thank you for your prayers and support
 
God bless                                                                                        
 
Chris Drury
 
Chairman, Preston & South Ribble Street Pastors Initiative
preston@streetpastors.org.uk
Pastor, Fulwood Free Methodist Church
Lightfoot Lane, Fulwood, Preston. PR2 3LT
Tel: 01772 861597 
 

Friday, 13 March 2009

Funding for Children's Summer Playschemes (UK)


The LankellyChase Foundation has announced that it is seeking applications from registered charities to support summer playschemes for children between the ages of 5 – 17 years. Preference is given to small local playschemes lasting 4 - 6 weeks, and groups planning special activities for youngsters who are disadvantaged. In 2009 the Foundation will be supporting specific activities for children and young people living in Refuges and for young carers. This year the Foundation will be making approximately 120 grants of around £500, to organisations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Preference will be given to applications from organisations affiliated to a relevant nationally recognised body and adhering to national standards of practice. The closing date for applications is the 8th May 2009.

Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Street Pastors: Area Coordinator Role Required............ From Chris Drury

Dear all
 
As you may be aware, the work of the Street Pastors scheme is rapidly expanding both nationally and locally as God leads us into new areas of Preston and South Ribble and to reach out to those in need. As a result, we are looking to recruit a Volunteer Area Coordinator to work with the Preston & South Ribble Street Pastor's management team in administering the project, assisting with the operational management of the work and helping us to develop the work longer term.
 
Full details of this volunteer position are outlined in the attached document, and anyone interested in applying for the position should complete the attached application form and return with a covering letter and a copy of their CV to the specified address to be received by 12:00 midday on Thursday 9th April 2009, after which shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview.
 
We would be extremely grateful if you could help us with this by making this opportunity known and available to anyone you are aware of who may be interested in it, and/or if you are a church leader including it within your church notices/bulletin so that your congregations can be aware of the opportunity to be a part of this project in a capacity that is not an "on-the-streets" capacity. If you also have access to your own interchurch networks and would be willing to circulate this through these, we would be very grateful for your support in this as well.
 
Should you wish to discuss this in any detail,  or if you want the full application pack, please feel free to get in touch with me.
 
Thank you and God bless                                                                  
 
Chris Drury
 
Preston & South Ribble Street Pastors Initiative
preston@streetpastors.org.uk
 
Pastor, Fulwood Free Methodist Church
Lightfoot Lane, Fulwood, Preston. PR2 3LT
Tel: 01772 861597

Email: preston@streetpastors.org.uk

Website: www.streetpastors.org

11 March 2009

Volunteer Area Coordinator Wanted

As you may be aware, the work of the Street Pastors scheme is rapidly expanding

both nationally and locally as God leads us into new areas of Preston and South

Ribble and to reach out to those in need. As a result, we are looking for a

volunteer area coordinator to work with the Preston & South Ribble Street Pastor's

management team in administering the project, assisting with the operational

management of the work and helping us to develop the work longer term.

The volunteer would be expected to work a minimum of 8 hours a week, mainly

during normal office hours. However, part of the role is to help with securing

funding for the work, and it is hoped that if this is successful, the role would

change and be advertised as a funded full or part time position.

 

Applications must be received by 12:00 midday on Thursday 9th April 2009, after

which shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview.

God bless

Chris Drury

Chairman, Preston & South Ribble Street Pastors Project

Monday, 23 February 2009

A PRACTICAL GUIDE to using church land and property for affordable housing

Faith in Affordable Housing is a free web-based resource, giving practical and technical information to assist churches in providing affordable housing. The guide presents nine case studies from different denominations and from urban and rural areas.

'As President of Housing Justice I am delighted to commend this initiative to all faith communities who are seeking to respond to the needs of the homeless or poorly housed. In both urban and rural areas there is evidence of spiralling hardship which can lead to the loss of a basic requisite of human dignity – shelter. As people of faith we are called to address injustice in all its forms. This research presents a practical resource for those considering a preferential option for the poor in their mission to the wider community.'
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor

Faith in affordable Housing

  • demonstrates practical Christian concern and action in the community at a time when many young people and low-income families are experiencing great hardship
  • gives practical help to churches by sharing good practice and showing what can be done
  • provides solutions to some of the problems faced by churches wishing to develop affordable housing
  • reconciles the dilemma faced by many churches – balancing social objectives such as valuing everyone, justice for the poor and placing morality before wealth with the pragmatic objectives of meeting the duties of trustees and maximising investment returns
  • highlights options for the stewardship of church assets
  • encourages churches to make the most of partnership opportunities
  • provides sound advice and explains what action church property and finance personnel can take both to contribute to affordable housing and to benefit church and community.

DOWNLOAD the guide here >>

Housing Justice can help!

If you would like further help or advice about an affordable housing scheme using church land or property, please contact Alastair Murray at

HOUSING JUSTICE
209 Old Marylebone Road , London , NW1 5QT
Tel: 020 7723 7273 • Fax: 020 7723 5943
Email: info@housingjustice.org.uk


 
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