Another Year 2022-23
It has been another busy year at the Fund for Human Need, which has seen us handling over 880 applications for assistance. We have also been represented at carefully-chosen national events to get the Fund recognised by more people and generate more support and have written to every Methodist church in the UK. The applications received mostly came from 110 organisations but towards the end of the year we saw a rise in personal applications as the effect of the cost-of-living crisis made itself felt. The applications covered 1,459 individuals, a third of whom (481) were children. The number of applications from those who were homeless (144) was down on previous years following the ‘Everyone In’ programme during the pandemic; the majority of these were asking for help with basics such as food, bedding and mattresses. 65 people asked for help to enable them to stay in education. In the course of the year 679 grant payments totalling £74.200 were made, providing not only vital emergency support to people in all parts of the UK, but also expressing loving concern and offering hope.
During the year there has been a significant increase in the amount of donations made by individuals — the highest amount in the history of the Fund. We are very grateful to all who have responded by making one-off gifts and for the personal commitment of those who are giving regularly by means of a standing order. In the same period there has been a reduction in the total received from churches. This no doubt reflect the financial pressure felt by many congregations. While the grants are modest, responses received often express appreciation of the money given which for many is a life-line when they are so desperate. As important as is the money, which provides vital, short-term help, is the knowledge that through the generosity of our supporters we have been able to show concern, give hope and share God's love.
Plans for the Future
There are many people within and beyond the Methodist Church who might be expected to have sympathy with FHN's object "to relieve and remove hunger and poverty...without regard for politics, race, colour or creed" but who do not know of the Fund. Embarking on our 2023-24 programme of fund-raising we contacted every Methodist church in the UK with updated flyers which it is hoped will lead to an increased response from both congregations and individuals. We also continue to seek ways to cover the fund-raising and administration costs of the Fund by sponsorship and grants. This would result in all the money donated being given in the one-off relief payments to tide people over when they are destitute. The applications often describe the extreme poverty, abuse and despair experienced by people. What should encourage all who contribute to their relief by supporting the Fund is the sincerity of the gratitude of those who have received grants for the help they have been given. The trustees express thanks to those who have taken on the role of 'Friend of FHN' and who advocate the work of FHN in their area. They welcome opportunities to speak to groups of the positive impact our quite modest grant payments make to some of the most vulnerable and needy people in our society today.

Venue: St Chad and St Mark's Anglican Church, Wolverhampton WV3 0HG
Date: Tuesday 16th of April
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
 
The purpose for this meeting is to bring together organisers from across the West Midlands to organise for changes in the pathways to citizenship and other immigration issues.
 

On the evening of Thursday 25th April, amidst celebrating our diversity with powerful testimonies, communities from across our membership will come together to put specific asks directly to Andy Street (Conservative candidate) and Richard Parker (Labour candidate) on our priorities for Housing, Safety and Work.
 
This is not a public hustings event. We will publish written responses to our priorities received by all candidates on our website as well email them out to everyone on our mailing list.
 
Our priorities have been developed by our membership over the course of the past 18 months through listening events, workshops and local action. We are seeking a 2-way accountable relationship with whoever becomes the next Mayor of the West Midlands.
 
If you are from a member organisation or have received this specific invitation as a guest, join us then for what will be a moving evening of communities acting together for the common good and social justice.
 
For more information and to register your place, please visit:
 
https://actionnetwork.org/events/25april2024

Arrangements are being made to arrange a coach to take attendees from the Wolverhampton area to the Mayoral Assembly in Birmingham. If anyone is interested in attending the event, they should register via the link and contact me: Eddy Aigbe at ccorganiser@wsmethodist.org.uk

Kidderminster & Stourport Circuit
 
Are you doing Bible Month on Genesis this year?
A special Study Day on Genesis, the Bible Month book for 2024, has been organised by Kidderminster & Stourport Circuit’s LP&WL Meeting:
Saturday 4 May
at
Trinity Methodist Church Centre, Churchfields, Kidderminster DY10 2JL
10.00 for 10.30 – 15.00
[Tea & Coffee provided – please bring your own packed lunch!]
Open to the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury and Birmingham Districts, this study day will be led by Dr Andrew Mein, Director of Research at the Queen’s Foundation, Birmingham. 
Whilst aimed primarily at preachers, the day will be of interest to those leading the study of Genesis in small groups – and to anyone who wants to get to grips with the pivotal first book of our Bible!
The venue is a 15 minute walk from Kidderminster railway station and also has ample free parking on site.  There’s a map on the church web site:  trinitymethodistkidderminster.org.uk
To reserve a place on Saturday 4 May, please contact:
Mike Dernie
Secretary
Local Preachers & Worship Leaders’ Meeting
Kidderminster & Stourport Methodist Circuit
Email: mikedernie@aol.com
Tel.  01299 400284
 
The Kidderminster & Stourport Circuit will be having themed preaching on Genesis throughout October 2024.
 

Could St Peter’s Saltley Trust help support your bright idea?
We’re dedicating a third of our annual grants budget to fund grass-roots projects being developed by individual local churches, schools or colleges (or small local partnerships of these).
Grants are available for new work which is creative, innovative, experimental and exploratory in nature, and focused upon either:

• Religion (particularly Christianity) in school education
• Religious literacy, church-college partnerships and spiritual development in Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges
• Christian learning and discipleship within church and community settings

We particularly want to support the development and trialling of new initiatives which could become the model or inspiration for work elsewhere.
For more detail on funding priorities and eligibility criteria, see: www.saltleytrust.org.uk/what-we-support/.    
You can also contact: director@saltleytrust.org.uk
 

Do you love working with children and families? Do you have the passion, patience and commitment to help them develop their faith? Could you nurture them in their spirituality through interesting and exciting activities, discussions and worship? If so, this role could be what you are looking for.
We are seeking a full-time Pioneer Children & Families Worker. Responsibilities include
· Working with under 11’s (with a possibility of working with 11 – 18 year olds) and their families
· Initiating and leading schools based work and outreach into the community
· Developing appropriate activities and forms of worship for families
· Developing work with volunteers enthusiastically and inspiring them
We are a welcoming and inclusive church with a toddler group, uniformed organisations and a Sunday School. Could this be you? If so please get in touch. Warley Woods Methodist Church. Contact details https://www.warleywoodsmethodistchurch.co.uk/ or email warleywoods6@gmail.com)
Closing date 12 noon, Saturday 6 April 2024

St Peter’s Saltley Trust offers funding and support for creative projects in Christian learning/discipleship and religious education.  Come and hear about our new grass-roots grant opportunities, and help shape our new programme of discipleship projects by telling us what you think helps people go deeper in their everyday walk with God.  Meet us at the following time/place, and we’ll buy you a coffee (or similar)! 
 

*             Wed 24 April, 10-12 - Hummingbird Cafe, Meeting Point House Telford TF3 4HS
 
Open to anyone - not just church leaders/ministers.
 
No need to book, but dropping us an email would help us know who to expect. Look out for the Saltley Trust logo when you arrive.  Contact Ian Jones (director@saltleytrust.org.uk) <mailto:(director@saltleytrust.org.uk)> 
 
 
Ian Jones
Director, St Peter's Saltley Trust
director@saltleytrust.org.uk
 
 

The Methodist Church has recently launched a new candidating process.  Now is the time for anyone who is beginning to discern a call to ordained ministry to apply for ‘Discerning Ordained Vocation 1’ (DOV1).
The application period is from January 1 to March 31.

Full information about the new process is available here: https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/ministries/candidating-for-ministry/candidating-process/

The process begins with a period of accompanied discernment as applicants discover God’s calling for themselves. It involves working with an accompanist, deep discernment on a facilitated retreat, and then meeting with an Advisory Group. 
 

Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District - The Methodist Church

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