July's Charity - the Knole

I cannot prepare an article about this charity without having Adrian Stanley very much in my thoughts. He is an example of how someone’s life continues to influence others even after their death. Still remembered, still loved and admired.

The Langley House Trust is a Christian Charity and registered Social Landlord specialising in providing residential resettlement for ex-offenders, those at risk of offending and the marginalised homeless. I quote directly from their leaflet "How you can help us turn lives around" which is available, with other literature, in the porch this month.

"Since 1958 the Langley House Trust has been working tirelessly to draw alongside individuals nobody else wants to know. In the early days we worked exclusively with male prison leavers who had no family and lacked the skills to secure employment on release. Today we also work with women, have two dedicated Drug Rehabilitation Centres as well as our other projects, and have recently extended our work to include the marginalised homeless (men and women who may not have a background of offending).

As you can imagine, we do not attract he same sympathy as other charities, but our work really does change lives and we believe it is a practical expression of God’s redemptive activity. When we help an individual to make a fresh start, learn new skills to enable them to work towards employment and live responsibility in society, this also has a beneficial effect on relationships with their family and others around them.

We could tell you many wonderful stories of lives rebuilt and hearts changed! It is easy to turn away from this challenging, often demanding work and yet Jesus, our Saviour, offered a fresh start to the criminal crucified beside Him.

The Bible tells us He showed love and concern for those on the margins of society, including those who had committed offences and those who had nowhere to live. We often forget that ‘He made many such individuals His friends’. Whilst Jesus did not ever condone the offence (and neither do we), He did offer acceptance, forgiveness and the possibility of a new beginning. In essence, surely that is what Christianity is all about?"

Registered Social Landlord No. H4250 Registered Charity No. 290059

For more information about the Knole click here

For more information on the Langley House trust click here.