Highbury's Monthly Charity

January Charity - St Dunstan's

2011-12-31T01:59:00.001-08:00

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.

Christmas Collection - County Community Projects

2011-12-10T11:38:00.001-08:00

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

November - The Langley House Trust

2011-11-12T08:43:00.000-08:00

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?

October - Listening Post

2011-10-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

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

September - Send a Cow

2011-09-06T05:12:00.000-07:00

‘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

August - Christian Aid Emergency Appeal for East Africa

2011-07-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

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.

July - Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice

2011-07-26T15:32:00.000-07:00

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

Cheltenham Open Door - our charity for June

2011-06-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

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

May - Myasthenia Gravis Association

2011-05-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

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

April - Cheltenham Youth for Christ

2011-04-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

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

March - The Multiple Sclerosis Society

2011-03-03T07:24:00.000-08:00

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

February - St Vincent's and St George's Assocation

2011-02-04T05:31:00.000-08:00

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

January: Cheltenham Street Pastors

2011-01-07T03:45:00.000-08:00

"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:

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

Christmas Collection for CHIKS Children's Homes in Kerala Statte

2010-11-27T09:23:00.000-08:00

Chiks was created in 1999 as a charitable trust as a result of personal connections between a Christian Indian woman and a caring English gentleman.

Sister Mary Mathew had worked for many years as a nun with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta. She later moved to take sole charge of a home for fifty disabled people in a poor community south of Madras.

Mary’s health was suffering severely when, in the early 1990s, it was decided to move the residents to a new, large, well-staffed home. This freed Mary to pursue a lifetime dream to rescue and care for the neediest children.

Through her friendship with Robin Radley, who offered support and fundraising opportunities, Chiks was founded

A cheap two-roomed stonecutters house was found near Chalakudy, Kerala. Work was undertaken to convert and extend it, and the first six children were welcomed in 1998.
The home was called Karunanilayam, meaning ‘Home of Mercy’ in the local language, Malayalam.

Over the years further extension with new buildings and purchasing an adjacent plot mean that now over fifty children are given shelter, are fed, clothed and educated in local schools.
Some are orphans, some from homes where parents are too poor or too ill to provide for them. All are victims of poverty.

A history of sadness, loss, deprivation may be behind a child’s arrival, but the fulfilment of their physical needs with loving care and compassion bring comfort, and then happiness.
Now, another two homes, in the hills of Kerala, have become dependent on the Chiks charity.
‘Little Flower Mercy Home’ near Chengulum, and ‘Carmel Matha Santhi Bavan’ in Wyanad district, both offer refuge to children permanently or temporarily.

The permanence will only depend on the goodwill and charitable donations raised by Robin Radley and his unstinting efforts.

Ambitious projects toward self-sufficiency had been an object, but the current economic situation has curtailed so many plans. Life has become very much ‘hand-to-mouth’ recently.
I am certain that, of any funds raised, every penny counts and not one rupee is wasted!
Any questions will be welcomed by Robin Radley when he visits Highbury for the morning
service on Sunday 5th December, or go to

http://www.chikschildrenshomes.org/

Sue Cole

November - Open the Book at Oakwood School

2010-11-12T06:41:00.000-08:00

Not to be confused with our Thursday Bible Study, ‘Open the Book’ is a national charity that provides school friendly materials to enable members of local churches to go into primary schools and share the story of the Bible with the children. Open The Book offers primary school children an opportunity to hear the major Bible stories, presented chronologically, during one school year. It is a free service given to each school by a team of Christians from local churches, who present a series of stories. Each presentation takes a maximum of ten minutes and can be incorporated into a wider school assembly, or can stand alone.

All the Year One stories are taken from The Lion Storyteller Bible written by Bob Hartman, and give an overview of the Bible from Creation to the Ascension. There is a further two years of themed material for those schools (and teams) that wish to continue. Open The Book fulfils both OFSTED and SIAS (Church School Inspection) requirements for Collective Worship, and has been successfully used in a multi-faith context.

Open The Book started in Bedford in 1999 where a group of Christians first started presenting Bible stories in school assemblies. Word reached other schools and areas and so grew from a local initiative into a national enterprise. In Gloucestershire Open The Book has grown from six teams in 2001 to over 160 teams in 2009 – that’s more than 1000 local volunteers. Phil Arnold, Jean Gregory and I became involved as part of Hope ’09 as a way of working together with St Michael’s.

Money raised helps to buy the books we use and to help with props and costumes. We also need funding to train other teams. As well as this month’s collections you are warmly invited to spend money on coffee and goodies at the URC in Prestbury from 10 – 12 on Saturday 20th November. If you really want to know what Open The Book is like come to church on the morning of 21st November.

Open the Book is a registered charity, number 1120425

Mary Michael

October - Listening Post, Counselling Service

2010-10-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Listening Post is a Christian Counselling Service, which is available to anyone over 18 living in Gloucestershire, regardless of their religion, race, gender or sexual orientation.

Many people go through a time when they unable to resolve their difficulties themselves. Sharing concerns with a counsellor can help to get them into perspective. The work aims to help the client gain a perspective that will enable them to move towards a solution to their problems that they find acceptable.

The service relies on donations and there are no fixed charges. There is an expectation that a realistic contribution will be made but no one is refused help because they cannot afford to make a donation. The recession has meant a huge increase in clients who are affected by financial problems which runs alongside a decrease in client and other donations.

All Listening Post counsellors have trained for at least two years on a nationally recognised course. Training is on-going and experienced, trained supervisors regularly supervise all counsellors.

Anyone seeking counselling can telephone Gloucester, Cheltenham or Stroud. A trained receptionist will take brief details and offer an initial assessment appointment with an experienced counsellor. If the person decides to attend regular counselling sessions a counsellor will make contact in a few weeks.

Listening Post invite individuals and churches to join them in their work. While trained volunteers do most of their work, they do need a regular income to pay for salaries, rent, heat, light and administration costs. Listening Post runs counselling courses which meet nationally recognised standards. Credits are currently awarded by the Open College Network. They also hold seminars throughout the year on a wide range of topics.

Financial generosity is essential to enable the good work of this local charity to continue. Listening Post also welcomes our individual and church prayer support both for it’s organisation and it’s clients.

Registered charity no: 1013442

Contact details: Tel 01242 256060 or 01452 383820

Email: lpostcounselling@tesco.net

Internet: http://www.listeningpost.org.uk/

September and Harvest Giving - Oné Respé

2010-09-09T13:20:00.000-07:00

This month, and particularly at our Harvest Service, the charity the church is supporting is Onè Respé, based in the Dominican Republic.

Onè Respé is a small Dominican organisation that works alongside some of the poorest people living in the Dominican Republic (DR). The DR shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti, and over many years, Haitians have migrated to the DR to look for work and to flee the desperate poverty that has long been endemic in that country. The DR itself is poor (the sun kissed beaches of the travel brochures only tell a small part of the story!), and the influx of up to a million Haitians over many years has put a strain on this small country and its people. Sadly, racism and prejudice are rife in the DR, and the migrant workers are the poorest and most marginalised members of society, living in appalling poverty and often unable to access basic services such as health and education.

Onè Respé (Haitian Creole for, "Honour and Respect") was established in an attempt to change this. Onè Respé supports these marginalised communities within both the capital Santo Domingo and the second city Santiago. It offers an education for children (running a number of schools), supports people as they seek to access health services (often denied them by the government because of their "migrant" status), and educates people in a range of life skills, from good parenting to HIV/Aids prevention. Perhaps most crucially, Onè Respé provides a focal point for these marginalised communities, giving them a sense of purpose and belonging. Community meetings are an opportunity to air views and share information, and these are led by members of the community themselves.

As you may know, the Congregational Federation has agreed to work with Christian Aid to support Onè Respé for a three year period. We are now in the third year of that partnership.
The events of the Haitian earthquake in January have only exacerbated the levels of poverty suffered by the Haitian people and are likely to stretch the resources of organisations such as Onè Respé. There can never have been a more important time for us to be supporting this important work.

Philip Clarke

Philip, is from Southam and Bishops Itchington Congregational Church, in Warwickshire, and he will be joining us for our morning worship on Harvest Sunday to share some of his experiences in the Dominican Republic, and to tell us more about the work of Onè Respé.

Mary Michael

August: County Community Projects

2010-07-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

CCP (County Community Projects), an independent registered charity, established in October 1989, exists to improve the lives of children, young people, families and vulnerable adults with multiple and complex needs across Gloucestershire. We promote and support healthy living, help maintain a safe and stable home environment, encourage and support learning and achievement, promote respect and positive social behaviour and encourage personal economic sustainability.

We specialise in engaging with people at the extremes, people who have nowhere left to turn. This includes people excluded from statutory services because they don’t fit the criteria, or who don’t score highly enough to qualify for help, or who are deemed as being too difficult to work with. We rely a great deal on the goodwill of volunteers to help us to help others. The following are just some of our current projects we need help with.

We have three outdoor activity sites that need the enthusiasm and gardening skills of as many volunteers as possible. The Breakthrough project is in Mead Road, Leckhampton; we have a large allotment at Hayden Road, Swindon Village; and at the Sue Ryder Hospice in Church Road, Leckhampton, we have the use of a small copse where we will be creating a woodland village. Volunteering at one of our outdoor projects will give you the opportunity to help and support young people by passing on your knowledge and expertise, not just of the task in hand, but life experiences too. We would love to hear from you! Contact Simon on 07890 947562.

It is a well-known fact that music can be of great therapeutic value. The CCP Musical Youth recording studio at our Education Centre in Grove Street aims to engage and motivate young people and make music more accessible to all. It is well used by disadvantaged youngsters, disabled youngsters, and community groups, and has already produced a number of talented musicians and singers.

On Friday 24th September we will be showcasing the talent of youngsters in Gloucestershire at the Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham Ladies College. There will be a drinks reception at 6pm, followed by an evening of entertainment from 7pm to 9pm. Headlining the evening, at which we will also be celebrating CCP’s 21st birthday, will be the original Musical Youth band, as well as music from some of the youngsters who use the recording studio, a raffle and an auction.

Tickets for the event can be bought for £15 (minimum). This would be a great way for you to support CCP and be entertained at the same time! All proceeds from the evening will go towards the continuing development of CCP Musical Youth so that more disadvantaged and disabled young people from Gloucestershire can benefit from this wonderful resource. Contact Heather on 01242 228999 ext 101 for tickets, to buy raffle tickets or to donate something for the raffle and auction.

For further information about these projects and other projects you might like to be involved in, please have a look at the CCP Newsletter (copies are available in the church), our website www.ccprojects.org.uk, or contact Semonetta, our Volunteers Manager, on 01242 228999 109.

Dr Heather Sheridan

July's Charity - the Knole

2010-07-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

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.

June's Charity - The Cheltenham Blind Club

2010-06-06T05:49:00.000-07:00

Cheltenham Blind Club meets at
Highbury on the first Wednesday
afternoon of each month. It’s aim is to
enable people who are blind or visually
impaired to meet for companionship
and friendship.

Members come through referral from
Social Services or by word of mouth,
perhaps through having a friend who
is also a member. Whilst the sociability
of the club is of paramount
importance, each meeting will have
activities or a special speaker.
Recent entertainment has included a
local poet, Dave Walton, a talk on
Japan and an opportunity to revisit
memorabilia from the 40s and 50s
brought along by two ladies who have
retired from their work in the museum.
The varied programme has also given
members chance to enjoy a musical
experience and a light-hearted quiz.
June will explore the origins of nursery
rhymes, and July will have a seasonal
strawberries and cream flavour.

The club has the potential for 25
members of whom the majority are
elderly. This means that besides the
problems of visual impairment many
also have hearing loss and mobility
problems. These general health
problems increase the risk of
loneliness and isolation.

Transport is needed to and from the
club and this is where the greatest
financial need lies. Members who are
brought by taxi pay £4 (which includes
their contribution towards
refreshments) whilst other members
pay £1. They are grateful for the
understanding and reliable services
given by the taxis that are used, the
drivers are described as “superb and
helpful”. Some volunteers also help
with the transport.

The club is now run by John Mould
with his wife Patricia who heard about
the club through a friend at Trinity
Church. John has expressed his
gratitude to the regular voluntary
helpers Lillian, Pat, Valerie, Jenny and
Claire.

Money that we raise will be especially
used to help with subsidising transport
costs as well as helping towards fees
and donations to the speakers. There
are currently places for some more
members so if you know of someone
(of any age) who would like to know
more, they should contact either John
Mould: 01386 443352 or Celia Kelly:
01242 221170.

Chosen Charity for June:
Cheltenham Blind Club
PRAYER CHAIN REQUESTS - please contact Lorraine Gasside (239838).
Please remember the Cheltenham Blind Club in your prayers -
its members, the organisers - John and Patricia, the taxi drivers,
all the volunteers, and those who speak or ‘entertain’

May Charity - Myasthenia Gravis Association

2010-05-01T03:33:00.001-07:00

This month we are supporting suffers of a disease that is not well known and that can be embarassing and frightening for its sufferers and their families.

Myasthenia Gravis is an auto-immune disease which is characterised by fluctuating, sometimes fatal, muscle weakness. This means that the body’s immune system attacks and damages the nerve signal reception areas on the muscles. 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. Our local support group is working to raise awareness of the condition in children since its rarity makes it even harder to diagnose. 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. Having established a contact it can be invaluable to have a friendly voice at the end of the phone in times of difficulty.

Fundraising is important to raise funds for research. Recent research has resulted in better understanding and management of the disease but there is not yet a cure.

Click here to go to the Myasthenia Gravis Association

April Cheltenham Youth for Christ

2010-04-04T15:53:00.001-07:00

As ever, Cheltenham YFC are busy

working away in Pittville, Kingsmead

and Christ College. Each week we

work with approximately 200 young

people, of whom we work more closely

with 50 young people. Our schools’

work continues to include lunchtime

detached, after school clubs, PE

lessons and other work as required.

Over the next term we will also be

starting our youth prayer initiative

called ‘Underground’.

We are currently trying to recruit

twelve young people who we will train

in personal evangelism and in how to

lead a small prayer group. These

young people will start a prayer group

with their friends, praying for their

friends to come to know Christ. Our

hope is to recruit a generation of

young people praying for their friends

and sharing the gospel with them. It

will take a number of years to

establish ‘Underground’ and finding

the right young people to start with is

a key part of this process. Please pray

for us as we find the first group of

young people, and pray that God will

strengthen them and equip them in

what could prove to be a key work

amongst young people in the town.

Following on from the Annecy

Challenge last year, when we raised

£15,000, we are looking to recruit an

additional member of staff who can

head up our new sports project. Whilst

being involved in our regular work,

especially the PE lessons, the new

worker will be responsible for

establishing a multi-sport club for

young people where we will use sport

to engage them with the gospel.

Initially the club will be launched in the

Hatherley area with a view to

expanding to other sites in the future.

Trying to launch two significant

projects at similar times is quite

ambitious, not least as we need to

develop our income over the next few

years to make them both sustainable.

Despite this we are convinced God is

in both these projects and are excited

at all that he will achieve through

them. Our top priorities for prayer are

a new treasurer, strength and favour

to ensure we can make everything

happen in time for both projects,

increased income to allow us to

expand our work to help us reach

more than 200 young people each

week, and that young people will

come to meet and know the living God.

For more information see Cheltenham Youth For Christ

March: Cheltenham MS Society

2010-02-28T13:45:00.000-08:00

The Cheltenham & North Cotswold Branch of the MS Society has been in existence since January 1984. This 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 support for the whole family. Funds are short at the moment and the group is anxious to be able to continue to help with respite care which gives such a valuable rest to the carer. 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. Young carers are being helped towards the cost of driving lessons, as this is such a valuable skill for them to acquire. 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. Carers are invited to coffee mornings at accessible local venues such as garden centres or supermarkets. The social group for younger or newly diagnosed people is thriving and they have regular meetings. Hydrotherapy classes are held at the Leonard Cheshire Home. Exercises groups include a conductive education class and a physiotherapy class. These are run by professionals and are therefore expensive for the support group to provide. Sadly the current shortage of funds means that some other initiatives have had to be put on hold to meet the identified priorities, so I hope we can play a generous part.

If anyone would like to help on a voluntary basis please ring the Branch Contact on: 01452 862822.

For more information click here to find out more about the Cheltenham and Cotswold Branch of the MS Society

February: Christian Aid's Haiti Appeal

2010-02-12T01:31:00.001-08:00

As you will be aware, a massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti late on 12th January. The epicentre was just to the south of the capital Port-au-Prince, causing devastation across the city and beyond, wrecking buildings, and thousands of people are reported homeless, missing or dead. This is the worst earthquake to hit Haiti in two centuries, and is a terrible event with wide ranging consequences for the people and country as a whole. As well as being a humanitarian tragedy, the impact will be all the more severe on Haiti given its position as the poorest country in the western hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world.

Christian Aid has an office in Haiti, based in Port au Prince, from which it co-ordinates work across the country. It also has an office in the Dominican Republic and the two offices work together on a range of projects. When the Congregational Federation Team visited the Dominican Republic in November they spent a week with the two Christian Aid Managers, Prospery Raymond (Haiti) and Sophie Richmond (Dominican Republic). Amongst the many buildings destroyed in the earthquake was the Christian Aid offices in Haiti, but thankfully Prospery was not injured. His concern now is that there is not enough food in the country to feed the people, nor drinking water.

It is too early to say how long it will take for the country to get back on its feet, but it is estimated that the cost of repairs could run into billions of dollars.

What can we do? Our response at Highbury is to make the Christian Aid Appeal for Haiti our Chosen Charity for February.

Also, to pray for everybody affected by the earthquake; to give thanks for the safety of Christian Aid staff in Haiti and ask for them, and all those helping with the disaster effort, to have strength and courage to deal with their own personal and country-wide loss ....

Loving God of creation,

at this time of devastation we hold before you the people of Haiti.

When the damage is unimaginable, and the suffering seems overwhelming, remind us that every person affected is loved,

honoured and precious in your sight.

We remember all those who have been hurt;

all who have lost their homes, livelihoods and loved ones.

Work through us to bring healing to broken and distorted lives,

peace to those who have been thrown into despair,

light to those in darkness, and hope to those who fear.

We ask this in the name of Jesus in whom all life and grace is found. Amen.

“Prayer for Haiti” comes from Christian Aid.

January - Cheltenham Street Pastors

2010-01-17T12:42:00.000-08:00

Cheltenham Street Pastors launched on the town’s streets on Saturday 5th December 2009 after a Commissioning Service for volunteers on 1st December.

The project came about as a result of God’s call on four lay people in Gloucestershire a little more than eighteen months ago. It was clear to these individuals God was calling them to bring new and effective Christian work to the streets of our County. Church leaders in Cheltenham were working towards ecumenical cohesion and outreach too, and God pulled everyone together in prayerful action.

Cheltenham Street Pastors are based on the work of the Ascension Trust which began in London in 2003 as an inter-denominational church response to urban problems. They aim to engage with people on the streets to care, listen and enter into dialogue.

A Street Pastor needs to be over 18, a church member and able to commit to a twelve session training course. The course includes subjects such as counseling skills, drugs awareness, sociology, knowing your community, role and responsibility, and street safety.

Each Street Pastor will have a concern for society, in particular with young people, and will be wiling to engage with people where they are in terms of their thinking and location. They will be working with other agencies and projects to look at collaborative ways of working on issues affecting young people and building trust. The role is not about preaching but is one of listening, caring and helping in an unconditional way.

We have supported the vision of forming a team of Street Pastors with our prayers since it was first brought up at Church Meeting for our consideration. Now is the appropriate time to offer our financial help as our chosen charity.

Recruitment and training of a second team is under way and funding is needed to help with training expenses and necessary equipment for the volunteers.

If you would like to apply to become a Street Pastor in Cheltenham or to support the teams through prayer or other practical help please contact Howard Bartlett on 01242 231644 or cheltenham@streetpastors.org.uk

For more information on Cheltenham Street Pastors go to the Cheltenham Page on The Street Pastors Web Page

Steps for Stephanie - Our Christmas Collection

2009-11-28T09:23:00.000-08:00

Introducing Stephanie Stewart

As Stephanie’s mum I have decided to start a charity for her called ‘Steps for Stephanie’. The aim of the charity is to raise funds to enable Stephanie to have access to aids that will make her more independent and give her a better quality of life. As a mum I worry about who will care for Stephanie if her parents are not around.

In May 2008 Stephanie collapsed at home and was rushed to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital her heart had stopped beating and she had to be shocked to restart her heart, and suffered a loss of oxygen to the brain (a stroke). Strokes are the major cause of childhood deaths in Britain.

Stephanie was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at Bristol Children’s Hospital where she was put on a ventilator. She was found to have an undetected hole in the heart as well as a condition called Arhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia. This basically means her heart does not beat regularly and will at times stop for short periods. No one quite has the last piece to the jigsaw as to why this happened.

I remember clearly one Sunday morning a consultant telling us that this was as good as we could hope for, and the feeling of blame, grief and despair that washed over us. However as we now know Stephanie is a fighter, and coupled with the excellent care she received she fought back. After many operations including repair of the hole in the heart, tracheotomy and the fitting of an internal cardiac defibrillator Stephanie started to make slow progress.

In late September 2008 Stephanie was moved to the Barbara Russell Unit at Frenchay Hospital for rehabilitation. This is a specialist unit for children with neurological problems and each child has a personalised programme of rehabilitation. Stephanie goes to school in the mornings, followed by Speech and Language Therapy (this has enabled her to learn to swallow again and she can now managed three liquidised meals a day. After that comes Physiotherapy sessions, where Stephanie learns to re-build herself to help with balancing etc.

We are all hoping that she will be discharged in January 2010. We would very much like her to be granted a place at St Rose’s School in Stroud, which has a warm family feeling to it and we believe will be of great benefit to her.

Our first fundraiser is a Quiz Night in Leonard Stanley which has amazingly sold out, and a Barn Dance is planned for June next year hopefully in the Cheltenham area. I am also in training for the Bristol and Stroud Half Marathons.

Louise Cooper

November - Highbury Day Centre

2009-11-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

The Day Centre continues to meet at Highbury every Thursday and Friday. We think of it as “our” day centre and are glad to feel that the staff and clients are part of our church family.

We like to collect for them during November so that money raised can be used towards their Christmas festivities and to buy presents for the clients. It is now unfeasible to go out for a meal due to the frailty of most of the people who come to the centre.

In the past transport had been a problem, since volunteer drivers need to be aware of the importance of reminding clients to lock their doors and pick up their handbags, but now the use of a community transport minibus means that clients are collected by a member of staff and driver, offering a much more personal service. The current consistency of staff adds to the stability and continuity for the clients.

Day Centres are rarely used now solely to give elderly people social contact and most of the clientele have dementia and therefore a high level of dependency. Attendance at a Day Centre gives their carers respite as well as offering social support. Clients usually arrive between 9.30 and 10.00am and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. There are various activities during the morning. Lunch is an important opportunity for social interaction as well as a good meal.

During the afternoons there may be games as well as other group activities. A relaxation corner has a fish tank and aromatherapy, and the offer of a manicure. Tea or coffee with biscuits are offered again at 2.30pm and people usually leave between 3.00 and 3.50pm.

As part of our family the Day Centre have enjoyed Harvest celebration. As usual there will be Christmas services whilst the Day Centre is open, and it is lovely for anyone who is free to join with the clients and their carers for these celebrations.

If you would like to offer help to the Day Centre please contact the manager Ruth Pearce on 01242 581713.

Cotswold Downs Group - Friends of Daniella

2009-09-25T02:16:00.000-07:00

Jenny King set up the Cotswold Downs Syndrome support group in memory of her daughter, Daniella, who died before her fourth birthday.

When Daniella was born there was no group available to people in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds. Jenny says, “You are a bit shell-shocked when you’re first told you have a child with Downs Syndrome. You don’t really know what the future will bring, and it’s helpful to meet other parents in a similar situation. Parents realise the potential their children have. They realise there is light at the end of the tunnel and that they can grow to have a fulfilling life”.

The group had eight members when it was set up in 2004 but now supports 38 families in the area, with regular social and fundraising events. Parents are able to meet and learn from each other because they are experiencing the same thing. “It’s knowing that you’re not out there on your own. It’s just bouncing ideas off each other, and knowing where to go for information”.

A siblings group is valuable for its peer support and understanding to the other children in a family.

The group raises about £1,000 per year to fund its social activities and is hoping to raise £18,000 for members to go on holiday next year. The trip would be to a facility on Exmoor run by the Calvert Trust which enables people with disabilities, together with their families and friends, to take part in outdoor adventure activities. Charitable status has been applied for, and to achieve this they need to show that they have raised, or have monies pledged for £5,000. “As a charity we will be aiming to expand our support for children with Downs Syndrome, working alongside the relevant services to provide appropriate support for them”.

If anyone would like to make a donation beyond our collections in church, cheques should be made payable to ‘The Cotswold Downs Group’ and sent c/o Jenny King, 1 Rowan Way, Up Hatherley, GL51 3YF.

September - County Community Projects

2009-09-05T05:21:00.000-07:00

We are used to supporting County Community Projects with our donations of tinned and dried foods for which they are very grateful. They thought we would like this insight into another aspect of their work whilst we are remembering them this month.

One of CCP’s most heavily used services is that of the Appropriate Adult. Each year, we answer more than 500 calls to accompany juveniles held in police custody when their parents cannot, or will not, attend. The service, staffed entirely by trained volunteers, operates 365 days per year between 8.00am and 11.00pm at locations across Gloucestershire. The role of the Appropriate Adult is to monitor the rights and welfare of young people, some of whom can be as young as 11 or 12, whilst they are held in custody. The service is also available to vulnerable adults who may have mental health or learning difficulties and may not fully understand the reasons behind their arrest.

John Evison, a CCP Appropriate Adult volunteer who is “retiring” to spend more time with his grandchildren after almost 12 years on the role, recounts some memories from his time with CCP.

“I joined CCP as a volunteer in the autumn of 1997. It has always been rewarding to know that, at the very least, your presence enabled the custody procedure to be completed as quickly as possible, allowing the juvenile to be released and returned home. You always hoped to be able to say something which may have helped the juvenile to change the direction of their life. Every call, of course, is different. You never know what to expect and the following cases remain in my memory to illustrate that.”

“Once, I was asked to accompany a juvenile member of a notorious Gloucestershire gang while he was driven around Oxfordshire by the police, having agreed to cooperate by identifying ‘high society’ homes at which he had kept watch while the gang broke in and stole valuable artefacts.”

“On another occasion, a juvenile was reported to the police by a local shopkeeper for stealing a pot noodle and a packet of crisps, valued at £1.50, on his way home from school. He found himself arrested and locked in a cell, thereby involving two policemen, a solicitor, a member of the Crown Prosecution Service, and me, for several hours.”

“Finally, I have seen that our Police and Criminal Evidence Act offers offending juveniles, other offenders with mental health issues and learning difficulties, and people with an inadequate command of the English language, a fair hearing and treatment whilst in custody. I am proud to have been associated with that through CCP.”

For further information on becoming an Appropriate Adult volunteer, or to book a “Seeing is Believing” tour of our main services, contact CCP on 01242 228999, or visit our website at www.ccprojects.org.uk

August's Charity - National Star College - Star Appeal

2009-07-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

National Star College at Ullenwood was founded in 1967 as an independent specialist college offering educational opportunities to young adults with a range of disabling conditions. Over the years we have given our students the opportunity to take control of their lives and achieve a degree of independence and personal fulfillment which they and their families could not have thought possible.

Over the last 40 years the National Star College has achieved great things, but now we are faced with new challenges. The survival of premature babies with long term disabilities, acquired brain injuries through accident or illness and the opportunity for education that new technology can offer means that our students needs are more complex and diverse than ever before. Our facilities are now outdated and ill equipped to cope with the considerable and intensive demands of this changing population.

To address these issues a five-phased development plan has been developed. Through a combination of new buildings, conversion and refurbishments, we are making significant improvements to therapies, nursing and support facilities, teaching spaces, and social and welfare spaces, together with the provision of residential accommodation that will enable students to access education and develop their life-skills within supported small groups of students.

To turn these plans into a reality we need to raise £15.4 million and this is being raised through a capital appeal – the ‘Star Appeal’. The development work began in 2006. As a charity we have always depended upon support of individual donors, trusts, business and the wider community. Every penny does count and any donations or fundraising you can do will make a difference to the lives of our students.

Thank you to Highbury Congregational Church for supporting the Star Appeal.

To find out more please contact the Caroline Annfield, Community Fundraiser on 01242 524478 or go to www.natstar.ac.uk

July's Charity - Langley House Trust

2009-07-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

Langley House Trust is a charity specialising in providing residential resettlement services for the marginalised and disadvantaged, including ex-offenders and those at risk of offending. The Knole is Langley House Trust’s project in Cheltenham, which provides accommodation together with support and care for 14 men who would otherwise be homeless. They have sent us this update of their work.

“Over the past year we have had several residents successfully move-on to independent living provided by local housing providers in Tewkesbury and the Cotswold area. One resident stating that he knew he would have got into trouble if it had not been for the support he received from his key worker and staff at the Knole.

Other residents stay at the Knole for longer periods due to their care needs or support to deal with the issues which led to their previous offending behaviour. They are involved in a programme of activities aimed at developing life skills to deal with independent living.

We have had great success in finding opportunities for resident’s to engage in volunteering, two at a charity shop, one in the kitchen of a local care home and another engaging in group garden work. This brings new skills and social interaction for the residents and helps them gain self worth; it also gives them an external interest and contributes towards the community.

Residents have monthly trips which have included a steam train ride, a visit to the Black County Museum, Lydney Docks and Taurus Crafts. Other activities have included art session every Thursday; this has enabled four residents to be part of the Cheltenham Arts Festival, Open Studios, exhibiting their work across the road in St Mark’s Church. All four residents have sold a piece of art work. Not only have Art sessions been offered but also Craft activities, which have proved equally popular and have included, tie dying, transfer printing, mosaic tile mirror frames and mug painting.

Another activity to engage the residents and boost their self esteem is a drama group. They have performed a few short simple sketches including ‘Hello’, ‘Have you seen him?’ and ‘Pass it on’ – the Trust were so impressed with the powerful impact of the play they were asked to perform in front of Princess Ann at the launch of the Trust’s Annual review which was a fantastic once in a lifetime experience.

The Knole residents and staff are very grateful for the prayer support and gifts that the local churches give every year to our cause.”

See Langley House Trust

June's Charity - Listening Post Counselling

2009-05-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

Listening Post is a Christian Counselling Service, which is available to anyone over 18 regardless of their religion, race, gender or sexual orientation. The work aims to help the client gain a perspective that will enable them to move towards a solution to their problems that they find acceptable.

The service relies on donations and there are no fixed charges. There is an expectation that a realistic contribution will be made but no one is refused help because they cannot afford to make a donation. Trained volunteers do most of the work but there is also a need for a regular income for salaries, rent, heat, light and administration costs. It is a matter of great concern that there is a projected deficit of £16,000 for the coming year. A 10% increase in rent for the Gloucester premises has already been made and it is likely that there will be a considerable increase in Cheltenham when the current lease ends next February. The recession has meant a huge increase in clients who are effected by financial problems which runs alongside a decrease in client and other donations.

In the past two years there has been a significant rise in the number of people self-referring who have severe mental health problems. These people are often unable to engage in one to one counselling and the Cheltenham Centre has been exploring other ways to help. A small grant has been made by Cheltenham Health and Wellbeing Partnership which has enabled a five month pilot study to research and run a 10 session group in problem solving and anxiety management for clients with enduring mental health problems. This work will start in July.

Contact details: Tel 01242 256060 or 01452 383820

Email: lpostcounselling@tesco.net

Internet: www.listeningpost.org.uk

Financial generosity is essential to enable the good work of this local charity to continue. Listening Post also welcomes our individual and church prayer support both for its organisation and its clients.