Outreach

Outreach at Lion Walk Church is about raising awareness of human need and supporting community projects worldwide. We regularly support projects in our local community and across the world, with funds raised from our lunchtime concerts and from donations from members.

Under normal circumstances, we collect for the Christian Aid door-to-door collections during Christian Aid Week. Through the period of Harvest Thanksgiving, we have gathered in donations for the local Soup Run, which teams from our congregation support each month, as well as our substantial contributions from the congregation for Commitment for Life. At Christmas-time we raise funds from the Christmas Tree Festival and from Christmas services for the Colchester Night Shelter and the Colchester and Tendring Women’s Refuge, which is now called Next Chapter.

In 2019 we raised the following:
Our spring/summer Christian Aid house-to-house collections raised £816.39
We raised a total of £8773.50 for Commitment for Life, for Christian Aid partners’ work in Bangladesh.
We raised £3,115.24 in the Christmas Collections (including the Christmas Tree Festival, Art Exhibition, and concerts). Half of this went to the Colchester Night Shelter, and half to Next Chapter (formerly the Colchester and Tendring Womens’ Refuge).

We normally support one ‘focus charity’ which changes once a year in the autumn, and then we also donate smaller sums of money to other charities, with a particular focus on those based in our own community or smaller charities. Our focus charity is Acorn Village.

Here are details of charities supported in May 2020, to a total of £1450

Acorn Village
Acorn Village (Lion Walk Church’s Focus Charity) offers high quality care and accommodation to adults with learning disabilities. Within two models of care, residential and supported living services, they provide support to meet a number of needs within large or small care packages.

Colchester Food Bank
“We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That’s why we provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis. We are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.”

UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency
“We strive to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to eventually return home, integrate or resettle. During times of displacement, we provide critical emergency assistance in the form of clean water, sanitation and healthcare, as well as shelter, blankets, household goods and sometimes food. We also arrange transport and assistance packages for people who return home, and income-generating projects for those who resettle. Our help transforms broken lives.”

Sue Ryder
“We support people through the most difficult times of their lives. Whether that’s a terminal illness, the loss of a loved one or a neurological condition – we’re there when it matters. Our doctors, nurses and carers give people the compassion and expert care they need to help them live the best life they possibly can.”

Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation
“Founded in memory of Tom Bowdidge who died of cancer at the age of 19, The Tom Bowdidge Foundation provides clinical, practical, financial and emotional support to help young people cope with their cancer diagnosis. Working closely with social workers we are able to reach teenagers and young adults who need support at this time and provide grants.”

The Rob George Foundation
“The Rob George Foundation was founded in loving memory of Rob George, who died aged 21 following a long battle with leukaemia.
The Rob George Foundation has been set up to:
1) provide practical and/or financial support to young people with life threatening or terminal illnesses.
2) provide financial support to young people who demonstrate exceptional commitment and/or ability in the worlds of sport or the performing arts but may be held back by their financial situation from pursuing their goals.”

Friends of St Joseph’s School, Sierra Leone
“St Joseph’s is more than just a school – it’s a community where those with disabilities have a place and are valued. For some deaf pupils, sadly, a return home can mean isolation and discrimination. For the children of St Joseph’s from the very poorest families, being provided with basic items means more than just food and practical help – it’s a sign of being valued and not forgotten.”

Concern Worldwide
“We are an international humanitarian organisation that strives for a world free from poverty, fear and oppression.
We deliver life-saving and life-changing interventions to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. From rapid emergency response to innovative development programming, we go to the hardest to reach places to make sure that no-one is left behind.”

Charities supported in February 2020, to a total of £1000

Acorn Village

Ethiopiaid

Malawi Association for Christian Support (MACS)

Citizens Advice Colchester

Anne Robson Trust (Butterfly Volunteers)

Re-cycle

Donations made in December 2019, to a total of £1400.

Acorn Village

Catherine Bullen Foundation

CBM

Jubilee Debt Campaign