Saturday 31 December 2011
January Charity - St Dunstan's
Although we try to be quite specific that we support a local charity there are some whose work is so specific that it has to be centralised. This is the case with this month’s charity, as St Dunstan’s work is to provide an independent future for blind ex-Service men and women. The local link is that one of our members was very moved when she heard an account of how a Gloucestershire ex-serviceman had been helped by them.
Sir Arthur Pearson, a newspaper proprietor who owned the Evening Standard and founded the Daily Express, established St Dunstan’s in 1915. Pearson, who lost his own sight through glaucoma, was shocked at society’s attitude to blindness. He decided to help those who had lost their vision in the recent First World War by giving them the care and rehabilitation they needed to lead constructive, self-sufficient lives.
Nearly a century later, St Dunstan’s still cares for those blinded in action, but also supports blind and visually impaired ex-Service men and women who have lost their sight through accident, illness, or old age. They also help those who have served in the Emergency Services.
St Dunstan’s gives invaluable physical and emotional support to blind and visually impaired ex-Service men and women. With the help of their unique expertise, comprehensive range of services, and experience, they enable them to lead independent fulfilling lives. Rehabilitation is designed to help regain confidence and self-sufficiency by teaching new skills and fostering optimism.
Support from St Dunstans is available as long as it is needed, to help them and their families adjust to the loss of sight; and this support lasts a lifetime. Sometimes help is needed to resolve housing issues and assist with the difficulties of benefit claims. Social activities and access to sporting facilities add to the sense of belonging to the St Dunstan’s family.
Saturday 10 December 2011
Christmas Collection - County Community Projects
We are fortunate in having the opportunity of showing our real commitment to love in action through our close relationship with County Community Projects. As you can see from their ‘Thank You’ letter below, our involvement is really valued. They mention the opportunities to give food and we will put some of the money we raise towards the Food Share scheme as well as aiming to make a generous donation of food.
In the past I have had some professional involvement with the CCP Education Centre and can assure you that they do valuable and challenging work. It makes sense to let them explain what they do so I have taken this from their website,
“The aim with all our learners is to involve them in positive activities which are tailored to meet their individual needs and address the issues which have led to their exclusion from school. We give each child what is often their first positive learning experience, and help to build their motivation to take part and succeed. This raises their self-esteem, which in turn raises performance and aspirations.
Using subjects such as art, sport, exercise, cooking and conservation, we help young people understand that education can be fun and rewarding. We undertake work with them on anger management, communication, group working and rights and responsibilities. We prepare them for a return to full time school education or a progression to higher education.
The Education Centre has recently move to a purpose-converted building in High Street, Cheltenham. It offers a selection of learning environments, a well equipped woodwork room, IT and Multimedia learning facilities, a full kitchen and a leisure area with a TV, video and a selection of board and video games.”
To further improve their environment we hope to collect enough money to be able to buy some garden furniture.
A big focus this Christmas is also going to be on stocking up the Food Share scheme and the Hamper Scamper with tinned and packaged food.
Dear All at Highbury Church
CCP would like to thank you for your donations to the CCP FoodShare - the emergency food distribution service for Gloucestershire people and families in times of crisis, which relies on donations from members of the public, churches, schools and businesses, and distributes over 500 emergency food parcels every year.
More information at www.ccprojects.org.uk
Saturday 12 November 2011
November - The Langley House Trust
The Langley House Trust is a national Christian charity. At its centre are Christians who, recognising Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, desire to express the love of God to ex-offenders and those at risk of offending, with the aims of helping individuals lead crime free lives and protecting the public. It runs 40 sites throughout England providing support for around 300 people.
In Cheltenham the Trust runs The Knole, a registered care home which provides accommodation for sixteen men aged 30 years and over. Their aim is to enable and equip former offenders to address their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs within a caring Christian environment. Each person is assisted to progress towards more personal independence, learning life and social skills in order to live a fulfilling and crime – free life.
Staff provide cover twenty-four hours per day. They are committed to offering support for the full range of people’s needs within an atmosphere of support and security. Each resident is allocated a Key Worker and during the initial assessment period an Individual Personal Support Plan will be worked out. The Support Plan is reviewed so staff can work towards helping residents move on into independent or semi-supported accommodation. The Knole has its own property for this purpose.
Langley House Trust doesn’t work with a ‘popular’ client group. Many have never had a stable relationship in their lives, and have never known any other way of behaving or relating. Isn’t this the very group that Jesus wants us to love – the unloved and those who may never respond to our love?
In Cheltenham the Trust runs The Knole, a registered care home which provides accommodation for sixteen men aged 30 years and over. Their aim is to enable and equip former offenders to address their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs within a caring Christian environment. Each person is assisted to progress towards more personal independence, learning life and social skills in order to live a fulfilling and crime – free life.
Staff provide cover twenty-four hours per day. They are committed to offering support for the full range of people’s needs within an atmosphere of support and security. Each resident is allocated a Key Worker and during the initial assessment period an Individual Personal Support Plan will be worked out. The Support Plan is reviewed so staff can work towards helping residents move on into independent or semi-supported accommodation. The Knole has its own property for this purpose.
Langley House Trust doesn’t work with a ‘popular’ client group. Many have never had a stable relationship in their lives, and have never known any other way of behaving or relating. Isn’t this the very group that Jesus wants us to love – the unloved and those who may never respond to our love?
Wednesday 12 October 2011
October - Listening Post
Listening Post is a professional voluntary counselling service, Christian in foundation, founded nearly twenty years ago to meet the needs of adults in the local Gloucestershire community. Our mission is to relieve emotional distress in Christians and non-Christians alike and we do this primarily by means of offering professional counselling by qualified counsellors. We are unique in that we do not charge our clients any set fee, but rather ask them to make a donation to us based on what they feel they can afford. In this way we make counselling available to many who cannot be accommodated within the NHS and who cannot not begin to afford private counselling. Many of our clients have told us that without Listening Post they do not know where they would have turned.
We also provide trainings in listening skills, and offer a longer training which serves as a foundation course for people wishing to go on to train as professional counsellors. We also offer placements to counselling students to enable them to gain the practice hours necessary to qualification.
If you fall ill in modern Britain, you will, for the most part, receive medical care. If you are bereaved, for the most part, your family and community will respectfully support you. If you lose employment or you go bankrupt, distressing though this is, there are social support systems in place to give you food and shelter. But who addresses the vast isolation felt by so many as their lives privately crumble in the wake of broken relationships, either from the present or the past? In a culture that so often offers nothing but consumerism as a sop to grief or loneliness, what can be done to hold ordinary human beings in the midst of heartbreak?
Under these circumstances, the hour of compassionate and attentive listening provided by a counsellor can be life-transformative and is very often life saving. A single donation of £15 will cover the cost of one session, but any contributions are most gratefully received – particularly in this year where we anticipate facing a deficit that threatens the survival of the charity.”
Contact:
01242 2413
lpostcounselling@tesco.net
www.listeningpost.org.uk
We also provide trainings in listening skills, and offer a longer training which serves as a foundation course for people wishing to go on to train as professional counsellors. We also offer placements to counselling students to enable them to gain the practice hours necessary to qualification.
If you fall ill in modern Britain, you will, for the most part, receive medical care. If you are bereaved, for the most part, your family and community will respectfully support you. If you lose employment or you go bankrupt, distressing though this is, there are social support systems in place to give you food and shelter. But who addresses the vast isolation felt by so many as their lives privately crumble in the wake of broken relationships, either from the present or the past? In a culture that so often offers nothing but consumerism as a sop to grief or loneliness, what can be done to hold ordinary human beings in the midst of heartbreak?
Under these circumstances, the hour of compassionate and attentive listening provided by a counsellor can be life-transformative and is very often life saving. A single donation of £15 will cover the cost of one session, but any contributions are most gratefully received – particularly in this year where we anticipate facing a deficit that threatens the survival of the charity.”
Contact:
01242 2413
lpostcounselling@tesco.net
www.listeningpost.org.uk
Tuesday 6 September 2011
September - Send a Cow
‘Send a Cow’ works hand in hand with poor families teaching them the skills they need to build new lives free from poverty and hunger. By providing training, livestock, seeds and support, we restore hope and create stronger communities for the future. In turn, these families then pass on young livestock, seeds or training to others. And so on. And so on.
This ‘Pass it On’ principle not only builds stronger communities, it allows us to help even more people to develop skills, confidence and self respect.
People are happier and healthier, children are educated, wealth is created and communities are more harmonious.
‘Send a Cow’ doesn’t offer a quick fix solution to poverty and rural development. In for the long haul, we typically work with groups of farmers for five years to effect substantial and sustainable change.
We also acknowledge from the outset that issues such as gender equality, health and family harmony are just as vital to the success of development programmes in Africa as simple livestock provision.
So in addition to ongoing training in animal wellbeing, sustainable organic farming practices and natural resource management, our work also provides courses in subjects such as gender equality, conflict resolution, health and hygiene and HIV/Aids awareness. This balance of practical farming skills with social life skills is a potent mix and produces remarkable results.
Providing practical assistance that will last for generations to come, we support families through every step of their journey out of poverty.
‘Pass it on’ ceremonies bring whole communities together to see first-born calves, sheep, donkeys, seedlings, or even training, passed on in these emotional events.
It’s a truly inspiring event, when very poor beneficiaries become donors.
Our work gets astonishing results because we don’t just provide isolated pockets of help; our experts give advice across the board, from agricultural training to environmental sustainability, from livestock care to social development.
Working carefully with each farmer, we identify a package of support that meets their needs perfectly and which can be adapted to meet the needs of different people, whether that’s young orphans heading up the home, disabled people or elderly widows.
Importantly, we support and share a family’s journey out of poverty for as long as it takes – typically three to five years. By that time, knowledge, skills, materials, hope and dignity have been passed on and on between even more families so that whole communities are transformed.
This year we will help almost 16,000 families along on their journey out of poverty. Each of those will go on to lend a hand to an average of ten further families, restoring real hope to communities in rural Africa.
Our Vision: A world without poverty and malnutrition.
Our Mission: To enable poor rural families in Africa to attain food and livelihood security, by developing strong community groups and sustainable agricultural systems which integrate crops and livestock.
“Now my family eats three times a day, and we are able to save in case of any future shocks. I am planning to support my kids until they complete school and also to train more farmers.”
Alemu Buka Birra, Ethiopia
This article has been taken from
the ‘Send A Cow’ website:
www.sendacow.org.uk
Mary Michael
This ‘Pass it On’ principle not only builds stronger communities, it allows us to help even more people to develop skills, confidence and self respect.
People are happier and healthier, children are educated, wealth is created and communities are more harmonious.
‘Send a Cow’ doesn’t offer a quick fix solution to poverty and rural development. In for the long haul, we typically work with groups of farmers for five years to effect substantial and sustainable change.
We also acknowledge from the outset that issues such as gender equality, health and family harmony are just as vital to the success of development programmes in Africa as simple livestock provision.
So in addition to ongoing training in animal wellbeing, sustainable organic farming practices and natural resource management, our work also provides courses in subjects such as gender equality, conflict resolution, health and hygiene and HIV/Aids awareness. This balance of practical farming skills with social life skills is a potent mix and produces remarkable results.
Providing practical assistance that will last for generations to come, we support families through every step of their journey out of poverty.
‘Pass it on’ ceremonies bring whole communities together to see first-born calves, sheep, donkeys, seedlings, or even training, passed on in these emotional events.
It’s a truly inspiring event, when very poor beneficiaries become donors.
Our work gets astonishing results because we don’t just provide isolated pockets of help; our experts give advice across the board, from agricultural training to environmental sustainability, from livestock care to social development.
Working carefully with each farmer, we identify a package of support that meets their needs perfectly and which can be adapted to meet the needs of different people, whether that’s young orphans heading up the home, disabled people or elderly widows.
Importantly, we support and share a family’s journey out of poverty for as long as it takes – typically three to five years. By that time, knowledge, skills, materials, hope and dignity have been passed on and on between even more families so that whole communities are transformed.
This year we will help almost 16,000 families along on their journey out of poverty. Each of those will go on to lend a hand to an average of ten further families, restoring real hope to communities in rural Africa.
Our Vision: A world without poverty and malnutrition.
Our Mission: To enable poor rural families in Africa to attain food and livelihood security, by developing strong community groups and sustainable agricultural systems which integrate crops and livestock.
“Now my family eats three times a day, and we are able to save in case of any future shocks. I am planning to support my kids until they complete school and also to train more farmers.”
Alemu Buka Birra, Ethiopia
This article has been taken from
the ‘Send A Cow’ website:
www.sendacow.org.uk
Mary Michael
Tuesday 26 July 2011
August - Christian Aid Emergency Appeal for East Africa
Christian Aid is responding to the East Africa food crisis and has launched an emergency appeal to help people affected across the region.
£130,000 has been released for partners to respond as the situation intensifies in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Please give now to help us reach those most in need.
UNOCHA reports that the situation is the worst food security crisis in the world today and some parts of the region are experiencing the driest conditions in 60 years.
After two poor rainy seasons in 2011, drought in countries affected has left 10 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
Even animals which are normally resistant to drought such as camels, donkeys and goats are suffering. Due to the lack of water, some schools and hospitals have been forced to close and people are travelling for miles to collect water to drink.
Christian Aid partners are responding
Our partners in Ethiopia, Sudan and Kenya are closely monitoring the situation.
This appeal will fund urgently needed life-saving measures, such as:
• emergency tanks and distribution of water for villages experiencing the worst of the drought conditions
• construction of additional water points • food for families who currently are not reached by the World Food Programme response • extra nutrition for malnourished children and pregnant women • animal feed to protect livestock that are so crucial to survival
• helping communities become more resilient to future crises.
Activities will be carried out by partners across the region. Our partners Christian Community Services Mount Kenya East, Northern Aid and Ukamba Christian Community Services are responding in north eastern and eastern Kenya. In Ethiopia, our partners Action for Development and Agri-Service Ethiopia are currently working with local communities in the south to help them to withstand the effects of crises such as drought.
To Gift Aid your contribution please use a Christian Aid envelope.
£130,000 has been released for partners to respond as the situation intensifies in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Please give now to help us reach those most in need.
UNOCHA reports that the situation is the worst food security crisis in the world today and some parts of the region are experiencing the driest conditions in 60 years.
After two poor rainy seasons in 2011, drought in countries affected has left 10 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
Even animals which are normally resistant to drought such as camels, donkeys and goats are suffering. Due to the lack of water, some schools and hospitals have been forced to close and people are travelling for miles to collect water to drink.
Christian Aid partners are responding
Our partners in Ethiopia, Sudan and Kenya are closely monitoring the situation.
This appeal will fund urgently needed life-saving measures, such as:
• emergency tanks and distribution of water for villages experiencing the worst of the drought conditions
• construction of additional water points • food for families who currently are not reached by the World Food Programme response • extra nutrition for malnourished children and pregnant women • animal feed to protect livestock that are so crucial to survival
• helping communities become more resilient to future crises.
Activities will be carried out by partners across the region. Our partners Christian Community Services Mount Kenya East, Northern Aid and Ukamba Christian Community Services are responding in north eastern and eastern Kenya. In Ethiopia, our partners Action for Development and Agri-Service Ethiopia are currently working with local communities in the south to help them to withstand the effects of crises such as drought.
To Gift Aid your contribution please use a Christian Aid envelope.
July - Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice
We had planned to support this charity later in the year but have brought it forward as we wanted to use the opportunity to express our thanks for the care given to Christine Wallis and her family during her time at Leckhampton Court. The charity has given us this description of the range of service they offer, not surprisingly it cannot convey how valued they are by people they have touched.
“Sue Ryder — Leckhampton Court Hospice provides compassionate care and support to people from across Gloucestershire living with serious illnesses and conditions. The hospice offers support for patients, their carers and families. Our specialist palliative care includes assessment and management of complex symptoms as well as compassionate and dignified end of life care.
“We have a 16-bed inpatient unit that provides specialist palliative care for people with life limiting illness and our day hospice provides complementary therapy, art and music therapy, rehabilitation and psychological support. We have also recently started to offer blood transfusions and drug infusions within our day patient unit.
“Our Hospice at Home Service is a flexible and responsive service aiming to compliment existing health and social care services and support patients to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.
“All care is provided free of charge. Every year we need to raise over £1 million in voluntary contributions to provide this care and we therefore rely on support from the community to continue providing services at the hospice for the people of Gloucestershire.
“Your kind support and recognition of our vital work is invaluable.”
Sue Ryder –
Leckhampton Court Hospice.
Sue Ryder is a charity registered in
England and Wales (1052076)
and in Scotland (SCO39578)
Mary Michael
“Sue Ryder — Leckhampton Court Hospice provides compassionate care and support to people from across Gloucestershire living with serious illnesses and conditions. The hospice offers support for patients, their carers and families. Our specialist palliative care includes assessment and management of complex symptoms as well as compassionate and dignified end of life care.
“We have a 16-bed inpatient unit that provides specialist palliative care for people with life limiting illness and our day hospice provides complementary therapy, art and music therapy, rehabilitation and psychological support. We have also recently started to offer blood transfusions and drug infusions within our day patient unit.
“Our Hospice at Home Service is a flexible and responsive service aiming to compliment existing health and social care services and support patients to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.
“All care is provided free of charge. Every year we need to raise over £1 million in voluntary contributions to provide this care and we therefore rely on support from the community to continue providing services at the hospice for the people of Gloucestershire.
“Your kind support and recognition of our vital work is invaluable.”
Sue Ryder –
Leckhampton Court Hospice.
Sue Ryder is a charity registered in
England and Wales (1052076)
and in Scotland (SCO39578)
Mary Michael
Sunday 5 June 2011
Cheltenham Open Door - our charity for June
Originally founded in 1992 as ‘Open Door at Christmas’ the charity gradually expanded and developed their work, taking the new name of Cheltenham Open Door and becoming both a registered charity and limited company. They have been operating from their Grosvenor Street base since 1998.
Cheltenham Open Door supports vulnerable, disadvantaged and lonely people. They are working to relieve poverty, hardship, and social or emotional distress. Their guests are men and women who have been deprived of the comforts and security most of us take for granted and they offer them hospitality, warmth, food and somewhere to relax. Some guests lost jobs through injury or sickness and are not fit to work again. Some read and write only with great difficulty. Some are coping with mental health issues. Some are in a programme to get off alcohol or drugs. Many come from broken homes, were in care as children or have experienced broken relationships. Some are sleeping rough, or are among the hidden homeless in a temporary hostel, or sleeping on a friend's floor.
Cheltenham Open Door does not judge, and they make no charge for any of their services.
It is their policy to never demand names of their guests.
Each year they run a Christmas Shelter at St Luke's Church Hall, this is open to guests 24 hours a day from midday on Christmas Eve until after lunch on 27th December. All this is completely free. Teams of volunteers working in shifts under experienced shift leaders man the shelter and they serve three hot meals a day, with hot and cold drinks continually on tap. They aim to provide companionship, food and warmth to those in need at this special time of year making it a real Christmas for everyone.
All year round they offer: hot meals and drinks, a clothes store, a shower with soap and towels provided, a TV room for relaxation, access to a telephone and companionship and respect. If appropriate, their guests can receive visits from health professionals, and links can be made with expert agencies. The weekday service runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10.30am to 1.45pm. Self-service hot drinks are on tap and a meal is served from 12 noon to 12.45pm. On Sundays they open from 9.45 to 11.45am, to serve a continuous hot breakfast, self-service hot drinks are again on tap. Attendance varies between about 30 and 50. Additional activities for guests have included art and cookery classes, and a day trip to a wildlife park.
Cheltenham Open Door: 39 Grosvenor St, Cheltenham, GL52 2SQ.
A Company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No 3379241. Registered Charity No 1063434
Cheltenham Open Door supports vulnerable, disadvantaged and lonely people. They are working to relieve poverty, hardship, and social or emotional distress. Their guests are men and women who have been deprived of the comforts and security most of us take for granted and they offer them hospitality, warmth, food and somewhere to relax. Some guests lost jobs through injury or sickness and are not fit to work again. Some read and write only with great difficulty. Some are coping with mental health issues. Some are in a programme to get off alcohol or drugs. Many come from broken homes, were in care as children or have experienced broken relationships. Some are sleeping rough, or are among the hidden homeless in a temporary hostel, or sleeping on a friend's floor.
Cheltenham Open Door does not judge, and they make no charge for any of their services.
It is their policy to never demand names of their guests.
Each year they run a Christmas Shelter at St Luke's Church Hall, this is open to guests 24 hours a day from midday on Christmas Eve until after lunch on 27th December. All this is completely free. Teams of volunteers working in shifts under experienced shift leaders man the shelter and they serve three hot meals a day, with hot and cold drinks continually on tap. They aim to provide companionship, food and warmth to those in need at this special time of year making it a real Christmas for everyone.
All year round they offer: hot meals and drinks, a clothes store, a shower with soap and towels provided, a TV room for relaxation, access to a telephone and companionship and respect. If appropriate, their guests can receive visits from health professionals, and links can be made with expert agencies. The weekday service runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10.30am to 1.45pm. Self-service hot drinks are on tap and a meal is served from 12 noon to 12.45pm. On Sundays they open from 9.45 to 11.45am, to serve a continuous hot breakfast, self-service hot drinks are again on tap. Attendance varies between about 30 and 50. Additional activities for guests have included art and cookery classes, and a day trip to a wildlife park.
Cheltenham Open Door: 39 Grosvenor St, Cheltenham, GL52 2SQ.
A Company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No 3379241. Registered Charity No 1063434
Sunday 1 May 2011
May - Myasthenia Gravis Association
Did you see the posters outside Sainsbury inviting you to smile? You may have been puzzled by the fact that the faces on the poster seemed to show no emotion. It’s impossible to smile if your facial muscles have become weak. This is only one of the symptoms that can make Myasthenia Gravis an embarrassing condition to endure. Myasthenia Gravis is an auto-immune disease which is characterised by fluctuating, sometimes fatal, muscle weakness. The body’s immune system attacks and damages the nerve signal reception areas on the muscles so that the nerve is not able to cause muscle contraction and the result is apparent weakness. As any muscles can be affected the symptoms can vary greatly and can be triggered by the onset of infection or stress of any kind, physical or emotional. It can be difficult for a GP to diagnose, and it is also hard for family and friends to understand that someone can seem perfectly normal one moment but droopy and listless only a few hours or even minutes later. Simple things that we take for granted like eating, seeing, talking and laughing can become difficult or even impossible. Although it is rare under the age of 10, Myasthenia Gravis can affect anyone of any age, sex or race. Approximately one person in every ten thousand may be suffering from this disease in the UK at any one time.
The Myasthenia Gravis Association has headquarters in Derby. It works through regional organisers and local branches to offer support to people suffering from Myasthenia and their families. The Gloucestershire branch meets every four months when they will aim to address any problems that have arisen, share news of national events and, not least, go out for a meal together. The aim of meeting as a group is to create links with other people who understand what the sufferer is going through. It is also a valuable opportunity to share experience of available treatment. A safe support network can offer that priceless service – someone at the end of a ’phone who really knows what you are trying to cope with.
Fundraising is important to raise money for research. Recent research has resulted in better understanding and management of the disease but there is not yet a cure. The Institute of Molecular Medicine in Oxford is hopeful of a breakthrough if the momentum can be maintained. Money is also spent on producing and distributing leaflets in order to share information and raise public awareness of this disease. The chairperson of the local branch has asked me pass on thanks and appreciation for our continuing support.
The web site is www.mgauk.org
Helpline: 0800 919922
The Myasthenia Gravis Association has headquarters in Derby. It works through regional organisers and local branches to offer support to people suffering from Myasthenia and their families. The Gloucestershire branch meets every four months when they will aim to address any problems that have arisen, share news of national events and, not least, go out for a meal together. The aim of meeting as a group is to create links with other people who understand what the sufferer is going through. It is also a valuable opportunity to share experience of available treatment. A safe support network can offer that priceless service – someone at the end of a ’phone who really knows what you are trying to cope with.
Fundraising is important to raise money for research. Recent research has resulted in better understanding and management of the disease but there is not yet a cure. The Institute of Molecular Medicine in Oxford is hopeful of a breakthrough if the momentum can be maintained. Money is also spent on producing and distributing leaflets in order to share information and raise public awareness of this disease. The chairperson of the local branch has asked me pass on thanks and appreciation for our continuing support.
The web site is www.mgauk.org
Helpline: 0800 919922
Sunday 3 April 2011
April - Cheltenham Youth for Christ
We continue our close links with Cheltenham Youth For Christ as we raise funds for them this month. New offices in Hatherley Lane has also meant some staff changes and with fresh initiatives this year the work continues to grow.
"Underground” was officially launched in February and involves young people praying in triplets for three friends who they would like to see come to know Christ. The initial target is for 30 young people to be involved in prayer after the first year growing to 500 in five years. Early responses have been very encouraging.
A sports project will begin this summer which is called Kinetic and will be for students in year 5 or 6 of primary school. The group will seek to encourage participation in sport and the application of good sporting values. In the process the young people will be supported in questioning what relevance Jesus has to sport and their lives. As always our prayers for the work of Cheltenham YFC are valued and if you would like to offer help they can be contacted on 01242 524408 or by emailing office@cheltenhamyfc.co.uk
"Underground” was officially launched in February and involves young people praying in triplets for three friends who they would like to see come to know Christ. The initial target is for 30 young people to be involved in prayer after the first year growing to 500 in five years. Early responses have been very encouraging.
A sports project will begin this summer which is called Kinetic and will be for students in year 5 or 6 of primary school. The group will seek to encourage participation in sport and the application of good sporting values. In the process the young people will be supported in questioning what relevance Jesus has to sport and their lives. As always our prayers for the work of Cheltenham YFC are valued and if you would like to offer help they can be contacted on 01242 524408 or by emailing office@cheltenhamyfc.co.uk
Thursday 3 March 2011
March - The Multiple Sclerosis Society
Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive disease of the central nervous system. The severity of the disease varies markedly among sufferers and is characterised by a multiple, patchy pattern of disabilities. These may vary in site and time with unpredictable episodes of disease activity and remission. It often starts in early adult life and the type of long-term damage it causes will depend on which part of the nervous system has been affected
Our local group aims to be self-supporting although allied to the national society and are very appreciative of our help. They are very clear that any money raised locally is used locally. There is a very strong emphasis on welfare and they provide respite care or holidays that benefit both the person with MS and their families. The reduction of funding to Social Services makes this a particular problem as they rarely have suitable respite provision for young sufferers. What young person would consider it a holiday to be accommodated with elderly frail people? Help can be given towards adaptations, appliances or aids that are not supplied by statutory bodies and again, more people will be looking to charities as Social Services provides less. With the awareness that suffers of MS may have young families there is concern for the needs of these young carers and they have a specific young carers fund. Money is also made available for people with MS who want to access further education.
The Society wishes to be accessible for anyone affected by MS and can be easily contacted. A monthly Newsletter is produced and they are very active and hold regular meetings for members. Coffee mornings for carers are usually at garden centres, and the next one will be at the Fosseway Garden Centre, Moreton in Marsh on Thursday 24th March. They also organise art classes at St Marks Methodist Church, hydrotherapy sessions at the Leonard Cheshire home, an exercise class for the less disabled, and have become involved with Conductive Therapy which a number of members find very beneficial.
The main source of revenue for the local branch is the annual street collection which will be in Cheltenham on Thursday 12th May. They would be very grateful for offers of help with this please. Another way that that you may be able to help would be to serve on the committee, anyone is welcome to the AGM that will be held at Season Conference Centre, Swindon Village at 2.30pm on Saturday 12th March.
If anyone would like to help on a voluntary basis please ring the Branch Contact, Avril Hastings ( 01452 862822 )
To find out more about the local MS Society click here.
To find out more about the national MS Society click here
Please let us support this cause generously this month.
Mary Michael
For
Our local group aims to be self-supporting although allied to the national society and are very appreciative of our help. They are very clear that any money raised locally is used locally. There is a very strong emphasis on welfare and they provide respite care or holidays that benefit both the person with MS and their families. The reduction of funding to Social Services makes this a particular problem as they rarely have suitable respite provision for young sufferers. What young person would consider it a holiday to be accommodated with elderly frail people? Help can be given towards adaptations, appliances or aids that are not supplied by statutory bodies and again, more people will be looking to charities as Social Services provides less. With the awareness that suffers of MS may have young families there is concern for the needs of these young carers and they have a specific young carers fund. Money is also made available for people with MS who want to access further education.
The Society wishes to be accessible for anyone affected by MS and can be easily contacted. A monthly Newsletter is produced and they are very active and hold regular meetings for members. Coffee mornings for carers are usually at garden centres, and the next one will be at the Fosseway Garden Centre, Moreton in Marsh on Thursday 24th March. They also organise art classes at St Marks Methodist Church, hydrotherapy sessions at the Leonard Cheshire home, an exercise class for the less disabled, and have become involved with Conductive Therapy which a number of members find very beneficial.
The main source of revenue for the local branch is the annual street collection which will be in Cheltenham on Thursday 12th May. They would be very grateful for offers of help with this please. Another way that that you may be able to help would be to serve on the committee, anyone is welcome to the AGM that will be held at Season Conference Centre, Swindon Village at 2.30pm on Saturday 12th March.
If anyone would like to help on a voluntary basis please ring the Branch Contact, Avril Hastings ( 01452 862822 )
To find out more about the local MS Society click here.
To find out more about the national MS Society click here
Please let us support this cause generously this month.
Mary Michael
For
Friday 4 February 2011
February - St Vincent's and St George's Assocation
This local charity is coming to the end of celebrating its 125th anniversary year, so it is timely that it should be Highbury’s chosen charity for February.
The following information has been taken from the charity’s annual review 2009 / 2010 and copies are available at Highbury if you would like more information, or have a look at the website; www.stvsandstgs.co.uk
St Vincent’s and St George’s joined into one organisation in 2009.
St George’s has a long history starting in London in 1885 as a mission to support homeless women and orphans. It was run by the sisters of St Peters and included a training school for household and employment skills. The school was evacuated in the 1940s to Gloucestershire, still being run by nuns.
In 1985 our present centre, Well Close House in Cheltenham, was purchased and this became a residential care home for women with moderate learning difficulties. We have since been able to add independent living units in the grounds, which consist of four single bedsits and a two bedroomed bungalow. Two additional supported living houses have been established, one in Hatherley and the other in Brockworth. Each of these properties can take four tenants.
Today St George’s is a secular organisation offering both residential and supported living to people with learning difficulties.
There are a number of other services which have been developed. Domiciliary Care and Support is provided for people in their own homes. Day activities are provided at a day centre in Bennington Street by St George’s Windows. A wide range of activities can be enjoyed including jewellery, needlework and other crafts. At the same site we run a Café ‘George’s Organics’ which offers work experience opportunities in the kitchen and in the café itself. ‘George’s Organics’ also offers catering for your special event.
St Vincent’s has offered Therapeutic Day-care for over fifty years in Cheltenham. The centre in Central Cross Drive, works with people with profound multiple disabilities, a consequence of cerebral palsy. Activities include a large multi-sensory room, Jacuzzi Hydrotherapy Tub, specialised computer suite, Music Therapy including Sound Beam, a vibrant craft room and a professionally designed Sensory Garden giving opportunities for therapeutic gardening. Some fifty members attend each week on a day basis, and a similar number come for shorter sessions mid afternoon or evening. Members of our trained staff carry out a range of medical and therapeutic interactions, in partnership with Gloucestershire NHS professionals.
In all, the charity supports over 140 people in the county.
Our vision is to offer opportunities for all the people we work with to achieve their full potential, thus leading to richer and more fulfilling lives.
Our golden rule is to put the individual at the heart of all our efforts and empower them to achieve their aspirations.
The charity is very grateful for Highbury’s support. Thank you.
Jean Gregory
The following information has been taken from the charity’s annual review 2009 / 2010 and copies are available at Highbury if you would like more information, or have a look at the website; www.stvsandstgs.co.uk
St Vincent’s and St George’s joined into one organisation in 2009.
St George’s has a long history starting in London in 1885 as a mission to support homeless women and orphans. It was run by the sisters of St Peters and included a training school for household and employment skills. The school was evacuated in the 1940s to Gloucestershire, still being run by nuns.
In 1985 our present centre, Well Close House in Cheltenham, was purchased and this became a residential care home for women with moderate learning difficulties. We have since been able to add independent living units in the grounds, which consist of four single bedsits and a two bedroomed bungalow. Two additional supported living houses have been established, one in Hatherley and the other in Brockworth. Each of these properties can take four tenants.
Today St George’s is a secular organisation offering both residential and supported living to people with learning difficulties.
There are a number of other services which have been developed. Domiciliary Care and Support is provided for people in their own homes. Day activities are provided at a day centre in Bennington Street by St George’s Windows. A wide range of activities can be enjoyed including jewellery, needlework and other crafts. At the same site we run a Café ‘George’s Organics’ which offers work experience opportunities in the kitchen and in the café itself. ‘George’s Organics’ also offers catering for your special event.
St Vincent’s has offered Therapeutic Day-care for over fifty years in Cheltenham. The centre in Central Cross Drive, works with people with profound multiple disabilities, a consequence of cerebral palsy. Activities include a large multi-sensory room, Jacuzzi Hydrotherapy Tub, specialised computer suite, Music Therapy including Sound Beam, a vibrant craft room and a professionally designed Sensory Garden giving opportunities for therapeutic gardening. Some fifty members attend each week on a day basis, and a similar number come for shorter sessions mid afternoon or evening. Members of our trained staff carry out a range of medical and therapeutic interactions, in partnership with Gloucestershire NHS professionals.
In all, the charity supports over 140 people in the county.
Our vision is to offer opportunities for all the people we work with to achieve their full potential, thus leading to richer and more fulfilling lives.
Our golden rule is to put the individual at the heart of all our efforts and empower them to achieve their aspirations.
The charity is very grateful for Highbury’s support. Thank you.
Jean Gregory
Friday 7 January 2011
January: Cheltenham Street Pastors
"Street Pastors" was founded in 2003 by the Ascension Trust and has grown rapidly, with more than 180 teams established around the UK. The teams have seen a decrease in crime in some areas and a great deal of good will generated between church, the police, local authority, and consumers of the night time economy.
A local committee runs each project with support from Ascension Trust, local churches, local government, and other groups. A Street Pastor is a church member willing to engage, often in very practical ways, with those (especially the young) using town centre bars, pubs, and clubs. To be a Street Pastor you need to be 18 or over (no upper age limit and many teams consist exclusively of over 50’s), a church member, and able to commit to the training programme.
The Cheltenham Street Pastors scheme currently consists of fifty trained volunteers from twenty different churches who, as a team of six, go out one Friday and Saturday night a month between 10pm and 4am. Prayer backup is provided at "team base" throughout the night. The first anniversary was celebrated in December and good relationships have been established with police, pub and club staff, medics and taxi marshals. Teams are now out every Friday and Saturday night and on other occasions such as Cheltenham races and University Freshers’ week.
We are asked to pray for:
A local committee runs each project with support from Ascension Trust, local churches, local government, and other groups. A Street Pastor is a church member willing to engage, often in very practical ways, with those (especially the young) using town centre bars, pubs, and clubs. To be a Street Pastor you need to be 18 or over (no upper age limit and many teams consist exclusively of over 50’s), a church member, and able to commit to the training programme.
The Cheltenham Street Pastors scheme currently consists of fifty trained volunteers from twenty different churches who, as a team of six, go out one Friday and Saturday night a month between 10pm and 4am. Prayer backup is provided at "team base" throughout the night. The first anniversary was celebrated in December and good relationships have been established with police, pub and club staff, medics and taxi marshals. Teams are now out every Friday and Saturday night and on other occasions such as Cheltenham races and University Freshers’ week.
We are asked to pray for:
- Encouragement, stamina and wisdom for the teams on the streets at night
The on-going training programme for more Street Pastors in our town
More people to hear of the Street Pastors’ work in Cheltenham
More Prayer Pastors to support and encourage their work
Understanding that all is done in Jesus’ name to offer him glory
If you would like more information you can make contact in any of these ways:
www.streetpastors.co.uk(current location, South, Cheltenham)
cheltenham@streetpastors.org.uk
01242 231644
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