Gift Days

Every fifth Sunday of the month at the our joint churches Eucharist we are inviting a charity to come and talk about their work. All of the collections and donations following the service will be passed to the charity.

Gift Day - 29 August Away From It All (AFIA) Holiday Scheme

Mothers' Union AFIA holidays are a practical and important way to help support family life. Each year the MU offers on average 550 families a holiday through the AFIA holiday scheme. The scheme is funded by the members of Mothers' Union and enables around 850 adults and 1200 children to get away for a break in the UK each year.

The scheme is open to anyone who is under stress. Applicants do not have to be a member of a church or any organisation. It is also possible for people to apply personally or on the behalf of someone else.

Each diocese has a team of Mothers' Union members who organise the scheme. They will normally help with part of the cost of a holiday or with travel expenses. In some cases they are able to pay the whole cost but diocesan funds are often limited.

Each application needs the support of one of the following professionals such as a clergyperson, doctor, head teacher or social worker. Other basic information such as when the family last had a holiday and the reason why they would like a break should also be included.

The holidays available take many different forms and vary from diocese to diocese. Some are more suitable for families, others for individuals, examples include:
• Specially organised family weeks with people on hand to help out with planned outings
• Time at a Mothers' Union caravan, usually on a site with full facilities by the beach
• Staying at a guest house or small family hotel
• Breaks at a holiday camp

The AFIA scheme tries to provide the most suitable holiday possible catering for everyone's needs to ensure all have a very enjoyable time. The scheme is also a very rewarding experience for everyone involved in the organisation and administration of the holidays. Practically all the dioceses in the UK run an AFIA holiday scheme and there are many thousands of satisfied holidaymakers as a result.

We shall be holding a Gift Day to support this worthwhile charity on Sunday 29th August. Jean Hoseason, who runs AFIA for the diocese, will be speaking at our joint service. Please be as generous as you always are!

 
Gift Day - 30 May - Step by Step

For most people, especially the younger members of our community, Spring often conjures up thoughts of new beginnings and a feeling of hope for the future. Unfortunately, for some young people the outlook does not always feel as positive as this.

It would be wonderful to report that the service provided by Step by Step had been so successful that youth homelessness in our area was a thing of the past and they were to close. Sadly for many people, even in our relatively affluent society, the reverse is true: while homelessness generally is declining, youth homelessness is on the increase. So demand for Step by Step’s services continue unabated and they work with around 300 young people every year who are disadvantaged in a variety of ways. Many become disaffected and socially excluded, abandoning hope, believing that mainstream society is not for them. They may use drugs or drink to dull the pain and this can lead to crime and imprisonment – a bleak picture, a downward spiral.
But it need not happen. Over the last year almost 8 out of 10 of Step by Step’s young people have escaped that downward spiral and achieved stability or real progress.
As a charity Step by Step are heavily dependent on their supporters and they are always enormously grateful for the continued support that our two churches provide.
From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank you all for everything you do for Step by Step from donating Easter eggs, Christmas presents, toiletries, to giving money donations and other gifts – all of this help goes towards enabling Step by Step to transform these young persons’ lives.

Since its inception, Step by Step has continued to improve its services and this year is no different. The newer services known as Dr Al and Employment and Education have achieved excellent outcomes and Step by Step have introduced two new services – Family mediation and Anger Management, which tackle two of the most common causes of homelessness.

Another exciting development for the future includes an ambitious plan to bring Step by Step’s services from five ageing Aldershot based premises into one new purpose built building (also in Aldershot).

However, while Step by Step strive to improve clients’ outcomes through the services and support they offer, success can only be determined by the young people themselves. It is enormously encouraging that they have the courage and determination required to seize those opportunities that can make for a better life not only for themselves but for the communities in which they live.

On 30 May, there is a Gift Day for Step by Step when I hope you will dig deep into your pockets (again) and give as much as you can afford for this worthy cause.
Many thanks for caring about the young people.

Amy Turner.

If you would like to know more about Step by Step and how else you could help them, please contact  Amy Turner, 811434 or why not have a look at their website www.stepbystep.org.uk .

On 31st January we held a gift day to support the work of the Hillcrest AIDS centre which is situated in the parish of Hillcrest, Durban, where Jennifer was Vicar. We hope this is just the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship with them.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported our gift day in aid of Hillcrest Aids Centre. We have raised £1532.73 so far and more is still coming in. If you missed it it is still not too late to drop a contribution off with a warden or to Charlotte at the parish office!

See Jennifers article in the Parish Magazine and on the Parish Blog

Your support has the power to keep people alive. Please pray for them, and if you would like to learn more about them please visit their website: http://www.hillaids.org.za/

For details of our previous Parish Gift Days see the Parish Blog

29 June 2008: Churches Together Fleet Town Centre Project

which raised £1,000 (See article in Fleet News & Mail)