Online Rally Against Poverty - TONIGHT!
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It’s time to put poverty on the agenda.
Now that the general election has been called for 4 July, we’ve
got six weeks to make sure that tackling poverty is a priority
for everyone with ambitions to be in government. Now’s the time
for us to come together to show that people across the UK want political
leaders who are willing to take action to end poverty for good.
Over the next six weeks, let's speak up and ask every candidate
standing in the election what they will do to tackle poverty if
elected.
📢 Join the Online Rally - Thursday 30 May
7-8pm 📢
Join our online rally next Thursday evening to build up energy
and action to put poverty on the agenda. Come together to hear
from inspiring speakers and learn what you can do over the next
six weeks to make a difference.
I’d love to see you there. Sign up below to book your place.
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Click here to register for the Online
Rally
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We
need as many people as possible to speak up. Could you invite
your friends to come along?
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In
the coming week we’ll be sharing actions you can take to ask
the parliamentary candidates in your area what they will do to
tackle poverty. Keep an eye out so that you can get involved.
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 Hannah
Anti-Poverty Movement Coordinator, The Methodist Church
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Part-time Families Outreach Worker needed
Stafford
Methodist Circuit seek someone to work alongside Berkswich
Methodist Church, to be a Christian presence in the community,
bringing the Gospel to children and families.
The Church is in an area comprising both existing, new, and
growing housing estates with several local primary schools.
The role involves:
- Working alongside the wider Church family,
- sharing the good news of the Gospel in the community,
- building on the existing relationships with the primary
schools;
- Supporting existent and developing new children’s, youth, and
family initiatives within the Church;
Are you able to develop friendly and supportive relationships?
Are you a good communicator and have a passion for sharing the
love of Christ with children, young people, and their families?
Are you willing to support Stafford Methodist Circuit’s overall
vision of an open and inclusive Christian Community?
If you would like to know more, please contact admin@staffmc.org.uk for
Job Description & Person Specification
Families Outreach Worker 25 hours per week Salary: £16,315 per
annum Fixed term – until August 2026
Closing date for applications: 23rd July 2024
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Chaplaincy talk at RAF Cosford event -
cancelled
Sadly
due to illness, the visit to RAF Cosford on July 1st
is postponed. We will seek to reschedule in the Autumn.
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District Testimony Service
All are
welcome to attend the District Testimony Service on Saturday 15th
June at 3pm at Central & Woods Methodist Church, Spring
Head, Wednesbury WS10 9AD. The service will be conducted by
the District Chair and the Preacher will be the Rev’d Edward
Sakwe. Parking is available in the public car park opposite the
church.
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Baby Bank
My name
is Patience, the Baby Bank Manager for the Wolverhampton Baby
Bank Project being run by The Women & Families Resource
Centre.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we have worked with pregnant women
and families living in poverty and have seen a growing need for
practical help for new mothers and families unable to afford the
basic essentials and equipment necessary to look after their
newborn and young children.
Wolverhampton Baby Bank works with some of the most disadvantaged
women and families with young children within Wolverhampton’s
deprived communities to alleviate child poverty and support
families in need.
WHAT
WE DO:
We collect donations of both new and nearly new baby clothing,
toys and essentials to be provided to families in need, after
making sure they are clean and safe.
Our newborn essential packs include nappies, nappy cream, wipes,
sponges, nappy sacks, cotton wool, bibs, bottles and toiletries
like bath soap and shampoo etc.
We liaise with a wide range of statutory, voluntary and commercial
organizations/professionals and we are reaching out to you should
you have those that would require our services.
Our referral link is below, you can refer a person or share the
link for a self referral.
Wolverhampton
Baby Bank Referral
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards,
Patience
Jonah-Ebong
Baby
Bank Manager
WFRC
Baby Bank Team
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The Well - Strategic Forum
Monday
17 to Tuesday 18 June 2024, Cliff College
Invitation
extended to Deacons involved in children’s, youth or family
ministry in their districts
This two-day event is for anyone (lay worker, minister or
volunteer) who is responsible for working strategically across a
Methodist district, with a focus on ministry with and for
children, youth, young adults, families or intergenerational
settings. It will be a chance to share your district's vision for
this work and map your provision, alongside exploring key areas
of the current Connexional plan for ministry to children, youth
and families (as agreed by the Mission Committee and Methodist
Conference). The hope is that this Strategic Forum will provide
opportunity to align the work that is happening across the
Connexion so that we can support one another and work more
closely and cohesively. Together we will co-create a plan for The
Well - and any future Connexional training and events. We will
also hear from keynote speakers to help us all learn together,
and share in worship, fellowship and networking.
If you think you know someone who should be a part of this
conversation, please ask them to register here: https://bit.ly/499tVfH.
If you have any questions, please contact Lynne (normanl@methodistchurch.org.uk).
There may be spaces available for those with strategic circuit
responsibility, please enquire through Lynne.
*The Well is how the Methodist Church talks about and brands any
activities or gatherings in the Methodist Church that aim to
equip, resource or support people working in the ministries named
above. This includes work done in this area by members of the
Learning Network team.
Thank you and kind regards,
Felix
Hanif-Banks (he/him)
Administrator, Children Youth & Families
Mobile: 07985334810
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Action for Children News
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Your
May District News from Action for Children
Dear friends,
It’s good to see Spring gradually emerging;
there’s something about this season that gives a
sense of hope. I look forward to sharing Action
for Children's plans for the coming months, and how
you can get involved.
We’d like to thank everyone who took part in Count
Your Blessings through Lent. We hope the
snippets of stories we shared inspired you and
showed you how your support makes a difference.
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Upcoming
events
Action for Children Sunday
Action for Children Sunday is on 14 July and the
theme is 'Justice for vulnerable families'. We
would be delighted if you can hold a special
service to remember our charity on that date or
another one. Resources for all-age, children
and young people services will soon be on our
website here: actionforchildren.uk/faithFR
New quarterly online forum
On 10 July, we are launching a quarterly online
forum for Methodists and other church supporters
to hear first-hand about our work and how their
support makes a difference. In just under an
hour, you can hear interesting updates from our
staff who work in frontline services, young
ambassadors, and fundraisers. You will also be
able to sign up to take part in our petitions and
give us direct feedback.
Sign up to get invitations to each forum: https://forms.office.com/e/y2701CkN5e
Honouring our Heritage
Join us in June in honouring our heritage by
looking at how our residential homes have changed
over the years. A lot has changed since 1869, but
our ambition – to give children safe and happy
childhoods – shines just as bright. Alongside
learning about our history, you can enjoy four
Bible reflections on the importance and impact of
legacy gifts on your own or within a group.
We're blessed to have such loyal and generous
supporters stand with us, making our work
possible – especially Methodists. So, we are also
launching an exclusive offer for you to write
your will for free.
All the information will be online here: actionforchildren.uk/heritage
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Fair Traid Chair needed
Advert
for interest in the roles of Chair of Board of Directors and
Company Secretary with Wolverhampton Fair Traid
Wolverhampton
Fair Trade Supplies CIC, trading as Wolverhampton Fair Traid
(WFTS), was established as a community interest company in the mid-2000s,
evolving out of a less formal group of volunteers.
It
is governed by a Board of Directors which currently comprises
nine members and the day-to-day oversight of work is done by the
volunteer coordinator. We have approximately 20 volunteers who
work in our shop.
At
its inception WFTS acted as a catalyst for fair trade sales and
education and sales were mainly to account customers such
as churches and schools but the Board had a vision to increase
its reach to retail customers across the city.
Despite
major setbacks (including a major fire at its then premises in
Darlington Street Methodist Church in 2014 and the closing of the
church which coincided with the beginning of the Covid pandemic,
when the shop was in a healthy position and beginning to see good
profits) WFTS made a successful transition to permanent premises
in the Mander Centre in July 2022 where it is beginning to see a
growth in retail sales. At the same time WFTS found a willing
host at Beckminster Methodist Church both to be our storeroom and
from where we serve our account customers.
We
are currently looking for two people to take on the roles of
Chair of the Board of Directors and Company
Secretary.
If
the geography is right for you, we would love to hear from you.
Job descriptions and application forms are available from shop@wolvesfairtraid.org.uk. If
you would like an informal conversation, please contact the
volunteer coordinator, Brenda Shuttleworth, either at the above
email address or on 07845 007931.
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Young People's Pilgrimage to Taize
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New Lay Stationing Representative needed
The
Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury District has an immediate vacancy
for a Lay Stationing Rep (LSR) to work with the Chair on
Stationing in 2024/25. With the new West Midlands
District expected to begin from September 2025 and the LSR for
the Birmingham District indicating a desire to then step
down, the person appointed to this role is expected to become
LSR for the new District. Both District Policy
Committees have agreed to this, subject to this appointment being
open to people in both Districts. Indications of
interest from both District are therefore invited.
The LSR plays a very significant part in the life of a District.
The role involves working alongside the Chair during the
Stationing Process offering a Lay perspective. It
includes meeting with Circuit Invitation Committees and with
ministers and those who share their journey. More
information is on the attached role
description.
Could this be for you? Or for someone you know whom you
could suggest it to? If, after reading the information, you
would like to explore this further, please contact the W&S
District Administrator, Richard Lockley, as soon as possible and
by 2nd June at the latest so that further conversations can take
place admin@wsmethodist.org.uk
Appointment will be subject to safe recruiting procedures.
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Safeguarding Advanced Training Dates
Advanced Courses arranged in the following
Circuits in 2024.
Please contact Stephanie Bradley to book or for venue information
and times via the following email address: stephaniebradley@birminghammethodist.org.uk
01 Jun - Solihull
08 Jun - Wednesbury Black Country
19 Jun - Birmingham West & Oldbury
22 Jun - Telford
06 Jul - Shropshire & Marches - Ludlow
13 Jul - Bromsgrove & Redditch
05 Oct - Vale of Stour
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District Children's Activities Support Fund
As
we have now spent all of the surplus District Children's Holiday
monies I wanted to share with you some details of where and what
it has funded in the hope that Churches will still apply for
funding which is now available through the District Advance Fund.
Total amount Paid out to Churches since 2020 £16202
Number of Projects supported 39
Number of Churches supported 32
What types of projects have been approved?
Pop up Spaces
Holiday Clubs
Christmas Activity bags
Breakfast Clubs
Lego clubs
Books for reading initiatives
Summer Clubs
Special needs groups
After School clubs
So if you have a project coming up please apply for funding (up
to £500) using the application
form linked to this and forward to Tim Lorimer at childrensfunding2024@gmail.com
Note the change of email address.
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3Gen bookings
Volunteering
for 3Generate is now open! There are plenty of different ways to
join the team and help make the event happen.
Here’s Jude Levermore sharing why volunteering matters: https://youtu.be/iWCUqrTfEBU
Let’s share the news far and wide and encourage those we know to
get involved. And why not consider the opportunity yourself too?
Check: www.methodist.org.uk/3Generate for
further information and to book your place as general booking is
now open.
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