Caritas

 

 

 

 

New look website for Caritas Westminster

You may have noticed that our website has had a makeover! You can now find information on all our services under one site. It is still work in progress and a few things may still be missing. We’d love to know what you think. Can you find what you’re looking for? Is the site likely to attract more visitors? email your thoughts: caritaswestminster@rcdow.org.uk

Putting UK poverty firmly on the agenda for the 2024 General Election Let’s End Poverty is a growing, diverse movement of people united behind a vision of the UK free from poverty. The umbrella body for Caritas in England and Wales, CSAN, is part of this group. By working together to organise within communities across the UK, they aim to strengthen the movement to end poverty in the UK. This week, they’re encouraging people to write to their MPs to ask them what their priorites are for tackling poverty in the UK. In a week when the Joseph Rowntree Foundation launched a new report showing that six million of the poorest people would need on average to more than double their income to move out of poverty, now is the perfect time to invite people to call for change. Take part and write to your MP today! Let’s End Poverty!

Write to your MP

Dear friend, As we reach the end of the year – and I complete my first four months as Director – I want to thank you for all your kind support over the course of 2023.  You can see below just some of the things we have been up to.  None of this would have been possible without you by our side. Sadly, I fear the challenges we face as a diocese will continue to grow in 2024 and I hope that you will once again help us to walk alongside those most in need.   In the meantime, can I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. Yours in Christ,

Richard Harries Director

Food projects are benefiting from our Advent Giving Calendar

Individuals, schools and parishes across the diocese have been collecting items each day in Advent for their local food project.  As well as supporting these projects at a time of high demand, this generosity may keep many of them stocked up well into the new year. Thank You!

Photos show collections made by: (above) confirmation candidates at Holy Trinity Brook Green, for their local food bank; (below) St George’s Primary School, Enfield for Palmers Green Foodbank; St Mary Magdalene primary school, Willesden Green for Newman Catholic College Foodbank and items donated by diocesan staff, for The Cardinal Hume Centre and Pimlico Parish homeless projects.

Faith leaders call on Home Office to change the seven-day evictions of refugees practice.

Leaders from faith and belief institutions across London have come together to jointly call on the Home Office to re-examine a recent change in practice which has meant that, since August, refugees are being given much less notice than the stated policy of 28 days, that their asylum support will end. Some are given seven days or less to leave their accommodation. The letter was signed by Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Bishop Paul McAleenan, and many other faith leaders concerned about the rising numbers of refugees being forced to sleep on the streets.

The letter asked that the notice period should in fact be increased to 56 days. Read more here.

Warm Spaces and Warm Welcomes

Last winter 20 parishes, and three Church-linked projects from across the Diocese offered a warm space for members of their local community during the winter months.  If you are thinking of hosting a Warm Space in your parish,  please contact Sr Silvana. We have a number of grants available to help with the costs.

Finding a way through the Energy Crisis

On Thursday 18 January at 6pm We are hosting a webinar led by Olivia Mackay from the National Energy Action Project, on how to support people struggling with energy bills. It will include information on ways to ensure people stay on top of the situation, how to maximise income, how to find help if needed and some ways to save energy and money in general.

Find out more and sign up on Eventbrite

Festive news from our services

Seeds Hub

At Seeds Hub, it’s been a highly rewarding 2023. Over 40 business founders have been selected to be part of the two programmes dedicated to social impact businesses, the Start-up and the Accelerator. Our first marketplace event, held at the

end of November, helped these budding businesses find their market and become more confident in their product and services. Our office spaces and co-working desks dedicated to the third sector are now fully booked for 2024. We couldn’t be prouder.

Caritas St Joseph’s

Our carol service doubled up as a confirmation ceremony! Kayleigh is pictured above celebrating after her confirmation with Bishop Paul McAleenan and service manager Gail Williams. Read more here. A few days later, Santa and his elves were seen at St Joseph’s as the students enjoyed their Christmas disco.

Caritas Bakhita House

The guests at Bakhita House also collected items for a local food bank, using our Advent Giving Calendar. The donations are pictured here under the Christmas tree which was made by guests at the safe house a few years ago, using recycled newspaper. The guests – some of whom have been there for many months, and some of whom have only just arrived – will celebrate Christmas with good food, most likely followed by a few card games. It all helps to build a community of welcome and trust.

Caritas Deaf Service

We have been busy with signed Masses every Sunday in Advent and have today celebrated a Christmas party with our regular retired group. Those who attended enjoyed good food  and treats, and everyone received a small gift. On Christmas Eve a signed Mass will be broadcast on the Deaf Service YouTube Channel.

And finally…

Snoop Dogg teams up with Ooberfuse and the Central London Catholic Churches Homeless Project

David Fussell, a film director experiencing homelessness, together with with London band Ooberfuse, has joined forces with rap royalty’s Snoop Dogg to challenge hidden prejudices around homelessness.

The resulting song “Hard Times” is about weathering tough times and shining a light on actual lived experiences of homelessness.  Proceeds from the sales of the song will go to the Central London Catholic Churches who came together during the pandemic to support homeless people and their services are continuing as needs are growing. Could this be the Christmas number 1? Watch now on YouTube.

Please donate to support our work.

 

Caritas Bulletin  2023 – 6 Parish Bulletin (1)

Refugee Week 19^th – 25^th June: Compassion

Monday June 19^th is World Refugee Day, and kicks off Refugee Week. The theme for Refugee Week 2023 is Compassion. 

Attached with this email are a poster which you could print out and display, and a document containing more information and a short talk which you could ask a parishioner to read after your Masses on 18^th* or 25^th June, or during the week, to share the message of the CBCEW’s new teaching document ‘Love the Stranger’. 

We also have a set of bidding prayers which you can adapt and use during refugee week, which were created by the Justice and Peace group in Hanwell. These, along with other information about Refugee Week, and Caritas Westminster’s work with migrants and refugees, can be found on our website here.

Or click here for an alternative set of bidding prayers from the Westminster Justice and Peace web page (produced last year)

*We realise that 18^th June is the Day for Life which will of course take precedence in most parishes, but we hope you find time to think and pray for refugees, during and after Refugee Week

 Learning Disability Week

Next week is also Learning Disability Week, which will be celebrated at Caritas St Joseph’s with an exhibition of art and crafts on Tuesday.

The Outreach team at St Joseph’s are currently supporting 19 children with learning disabilities prepare for the their First Holy Communion across 14 parishes in the Diocese. We are also preparing 4 young people to receive their confirmation.  

On September 17^th 2023 there will be a relaunch of the Kingsland parish Saturday Club including an Inclusive Mass and lunch. The club will be open to all people with learning disabilities and their families in the parishes in the East End. More details to follow.

There are currently Saturday Clubs running in Burnt Oak, Palmer’s  Green and the Allotment.

Please let us know if there are any young people with learning disabilities in your parish who might need support in preparing for the sacraments in the new year.  We can also offer resources and training for catechists through our Symbols of Faith Courses.

For more information on all outreach work from Caritas St Joseph’s please contact Paul Christian: paulchristian@rcdow.org.uk

Caritas supermarket vouchers scheme – Summer voucher round for parishes is opening 26th June

Parishes will once again be able to request £300-worth of supermarket vouchers from the above scheme, that you can distribute as you wish amongst your community.

If you have not been on the scheme in the last 12 months, and do not receive emails from Niki Psarias at Caritas Food, and want to join, please email cfc@rcdow.org.uk (there may be a slight delay replying to you due to staff annual leave, but we will get back to you as soon as we can).

If you have been on the scheme and accessed vouchers in the last 12 months, you will automatically receive an email on 26^th June when the round opens.

The vouchers themselves will be sent via email in the week commencing 17^th July.

 

Appreciating those who serve in our parishes

Many thanks to all of you who sent thank you messages showing appreciation of your volunteers, to the Caritas Volunteer Service. You can read all the messages here. There are many different ways you can recognise the service of your volunteers and those who are in ministry in your parish – and anything you do to affirm people really does help with retention and recruitment. The Caritas Volunteer Service is here to help: email cvs@rcdow.org.uk

Cost of Living Corner!

Our monthly slot with tips for those supporting parishioners struggling with the rising cost of living.

We are working with some other organisations to provide expert online training sessions and support for people in parishes, schools, SVP Conferences and projects, who are assisting those who are struggling financially. At the moment you can sign up for:

Budget Coach training –  either in July or September. For volunteers and staff in parishes, schools and projects who want to help people who are struggling to manage their money

For more details and to register

July: https://www.caritaswestminster.org.uk/building-up-firm-foundations-budget-coach-training-1513.php

Sept: https://www.caritaswestminster.org.uk/building-up-firm-foundations-budget-coach-training-1512.php

Loan Shark Awareness: This session is designed to help you to understand exactly what a loan shark is, help you spot the signs that somebody you know may be the victim of a loan shark and how you can help them by working with the experts.

https://www.caritaswestminster.org.uk/loan-shark-awareness-training-1514.php

Recent research from Sustain, shows that over 200,000 families are missing out on the Healthy Start Scheme, which we mentioned in April’s bulletin.

This scheme provides help with buying healthy food and milk, and is open to people receiving Universal Credit or Child Tax Credits, who are pregnant or have a child under 4. Find out more here – https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

Read the research from Sustain here: https://www.sustainweb.org/news/apr23-families-miss-out-68-million-healthy-start/

Self-reliant Groups

These are ways to build community, connection, friendship and even income. If you are interested in looking into this for your parish, there is a webinar next Wednesday from Purple Shoots and Church Action on Poverty. Follow this link for more information and to sign up: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-introduction-to-self-reliant-groups-for-churches-tickets-625188213777

Free School Meals for All Campaign

We are supporting this campaign to ask the Government to provide free school meals for every child from nursery to sixth form – seeing this as an essential part of education just like books and desks. There is a Bill going through parliament at the moment which is aiming to achieve this for primary schools. See: Free school meals for all Primary Bill – led by Zarah Sultana MP for Coventry South. The second reading is on 30th June.

You can support us by asking parishioners to sign their name in these two places:

From Sustain: Add your name to this map to show your support for universal access to free school meals for all children up to sixth form: https://www.sustainweb.org/school-food-for-all/

Signatures will be delivered to Government.

From the National Education Union: Add your name to this open letter to Rishi Sunak, calling for an end to the postcode lottery where some primary school children receive free school meals and some do not: https://freeschoolmealsforall.org.uk/take-action

Signatures will be delivered to Government.

Caritas Europa recently celebrated its 30^th anniversary and produced this 3 minute video, which gives a glimpse into the work of Caritas across the continent.

Upcoming Events

Please include the following in your parish newsletters if appropriate or forward to relevant parishioners

 

Praying for migrants and refugees, and for our policy leaders

You are warmly invited to join our monthly prayer vigil in front of the Home Office, particularly at the beginning of Refugee Week on Monday 19th June from 12.00 to 1.30pm.  Bishop Paul McAleenan, Bishops’ spokesperson for Migrants and Refugees, will lead the reflection.  Meet at 2 Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF.

If you can’t make it to Central London, you are invited to pray in local groups and churches.  Email barbarakentish11@gmail.com or johanmaertens@hotmail.com  to receive the prayer sheets, and join in solidarity with our prayers.

Summer Barbecue at Caritas St Joseph’s

A fundraising event for Caritas St Joseph’s. Saturday 15 July 12:30-4:00pm at St Joseph’s Grove, the Burroughs, Hendon, NW4 4TY. £15 , or £8 for carers, £5 for children. Email adelazahab@rcdow.org.uk to book your tickets.

Diocese of Westminster Seniors Network – Understanding and alleviating social isolation and loneliness

Tuesday 4th July 2023, 11:00 – 12:30, online.

At the Animating Seniors Groups conference organised by Caritas Westminster and the Irish Chaplaincy, combatting loneliness was one of the topics people most wanted to focus on. Join us to explore opportunities to address social isolation and loneliness in your community, especially among people in later life.

Summer Picnic for all involved with food projects

Saturday 8th July 2023, 1:00pm St James’s Park (meet at Charing Cross)

Everyone involved with any type of outreach project involving food in the diocese, is invited to join Caritas Westminster’s food network for a picnic in the park. Some food will be provided, RSVP is essential – please email cfc@rcdow.org.uk

Routes out of Homelessness – Dignified Work Series – introducing Beam

Friday 21st July 2023, 10:00 – 12:00, online

For anyone involved in outreach projects for those experiencing homelessness – this is a chance to find out about Beam, a charity which supports people into jobs and homes that lift them out of homelessness for good.  Find out more and sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/routes-out-of-homelessness-stepping-stones-dignified-work-series-tickets-479859752437

 

Caritas Bulletin 2023 – 3 Parish Bulletin

Financial Resilience and Cost of Living 

Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert, provides information about the recently announced cost of living support package. His website is regularly updated with this and other topical issues, and you can sign up for free weekly email round-ups

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/05/rishi-sunak-martin-lewis-living-costs/

Cost of Living Hub

Provided by the London Assembly, but relevant to those outside the capital as well, this portal helps people access information, support and advice about claiming benefits, dealing with debt, financial management and mental health support. To explore the hub, please visit https://www.london.gov.uk/cost-living-hub

One-stop information for people in Herts

Useful links and resources for people living in Herts

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/news/news-archive/help-to-manage-the-cost-of-living

HertsHelp

Call 0300 123 4044 to speak to an adviser, email info@hertshelp.net or visit https://www.hertshelp.net/hertshelp.aspx

Surrey Community Helpline

For signposting to the relevant local help and support:

• Community Helpline on 0300 200 1008 which is open Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm.
• SMS 0786 0053 465 for deaf and hearing-impaired residents only (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm).

Grants to help pay off energy debts

People who are in debt to their energy supplier might be able to get a grant from a charitable trust to help pay it off.

More details on this link – plus links to several advice providers

https://fuelpovertyresource.org.uk/focus-on/fuel-debt-and-trust-funds/

National Energy Action

Their Warm and Safe Homes helpline, 0800 304 7159 is open daily, 10am-12pm, to support clients with energy advice around topics such as reducing energy consumption, Warm Home Discount and Priority Services Register, fuel debt, water rates and benefits advice.

Green Doctors London

A charity that offers free and impartial energy advice to help residents stay warm, save money and live greener https://london.greendoctors.org.uk

Caritas Westminster seeks to bring about a society where everyone lives a life of dignity and worth.

They aim to help individuals in the Diocese of Westminster to use their gifts and talents to create inclusive and caring communities.

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Stepping Stones 

The Upper Room and Caritas are delighted to be working in partnership to deliver a new FREE online programme for volunteers in project interested to become Dignified Work Champions.  Called ‘Stepping Stones’, it will enable participants to learn how to address issues surrounding employability among people experiencing homelessness or hardship, and to take the lessons back to their congregations and communities.

The Upper Room has been working with people experiencing homelessness and other disadvantaged groups in West London for over 30 years. They will be working with volunteers to share their knowledge and experience to enable practical and meaningful interactions with beneficiaries. This will include common simple fixes, understanding the benefits system and Universal Credit, CV preparation and interview practice, establishing where you can access funding for training and vocational qualifications among a number of other topics. Throughout the course there will be peer support sessions to consolidate any learning and understand better what works in the real world.

Sessions will be delivered online each month over a period of 12 months, and will include the chance to feedback and ask questions, and to lean on the experience of The Upper Room’s caseworkers.

Current suggested dates are below. (Exact dates/times to be confirmed by Doodle poll with applicants)

Date (w/c)	Session	Proposed topic
25.04.22	1	Introduction
23.05.22	2	Measuring impact
27.06.22		Peer support session
25.07.22	3	Common simple fixes
22.08.22		Peer support session
26.09.22	4	Benefits and Universal Credit
24.10.22	5	CV preparation and job interviews
21.11.22	6	Training and qualifications
12.12.22		Peer support session
23.01.23	7	Signposting and collaboration
20.02.23	8	Recap
27.03.23		Peer support session – follow up

Anyone interested to join, or who would like to find out more, should please register their interest here.

We look forward to starting this programme and working together to positively impact the lives of the people who are experiencing difficulties and seek our support.

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Parish News from Caritas Westminster  March

The Caritas Volunteer Service 

We like to encourage volunteering at this time of year, as an alternative to the traditional “giving something up” for lent. Now that all restrictions caused by the pandemic are over, it is an especially good time to take up volunteering.  The Caritas Volunteer Service supports people every step of the way.

• please promote our one-to-one sessions with the Volunteer Coordinator, which can take place by Zoom or phone – details below.
• Alternatively use the following or similar message in your newsletters:

If you want to start volunteering this Lent, the Caritas Volunteer Service is here to help. We aim to make volunteering as easy as possible for the Catholic community in London and Hertfordshire. Go to www.caritasvs.org.uk to find the perfect opportunity for you.

 Caritas Deaf Service 

The Caritas Deaf Service is helping enable the full participation of Deaf people in our communities throughout Lent and Easter, with Signed Stations of the Cross each Friday afternoon at Westminster Cathedral, and all the Holy Week services at Maria Assumpta Chapel in Kensington Square. Do ensure that any Deaf people in your parish are aware of this valuable service. Find out more at https://www.caritaswestminster.org.uk/deaf-service-events.php

“Up-skilling” community workers 

Please pass information about the following training events onto anyone in your parish who is involved in social outreach projects, particularly working with those who are struggling financially or who are experiencing homelessness.

Managing Utilities 

This one-off information session will be useful for anyone in a parish, school, SVP or outreach project supporting people who are struggling financially, especially with utilities bills. They will learn tips they can pass on about saving energy, and about help that is available for people.

Two identical sessions will be held: on Monday 21st March at 6:30pm or Thursday 24th March at 10:00am 

This event is hosted by Caritas Westminster, and delivered by the Head of Financial Inclusion at Advice 4 Renters Money, and advisers from National Energy Advice and Green Doctors.

Anyone wishing to attend can find out more and sign up online at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-utilities-tickets-274146388227  for the Monday session or https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-utilities-tickets-274177260567for the Thursday session, or email silvanadallanegra@rcdow.org.ukto find out more.

Stepping Stones – supporting people back into work 

Caritas Westminster is partnering with Homelessness Charity The Upper Room to deliver a training course for those working with people who are homeless or otherwise struggling and finding it hard to get dignified, decently paid work. Participants will learn useful information and skills to enable them to help people back into work. This is a one year course with sessions once a month. Find out more here: https://www.caritaswestminster.org.uk/stepping-stones-1310.php

Stations of the Cross 

If you are looking for a new Stations of the Cross resource, we can recommend this one from PACT: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/stations-of-the-cross

 Symbols of Faith 

Symbols of Faith Workshop

Caritas St Joseph’s is facilitating a Symbols of Faith Workshop, hosted by the parish of St Mary and St Michael, Commercial Road, on Saturday 30th April 10am-2pm.

This workshop offers parents, priests and catechists creative insights and ideas on the faith formation and sacramental preparation of people with learning disabilities.

The workshop will enable you to:

Develop an understanding of faith formation for people with learning disabilities

Understand how people with learning disabilities can be prepared to celebrate the sacraments of baptism, first communion, and confirmation

Share experiences of good practice

For information and booking, or to find out about other upcoming Symbols of Faith workshops, please contact Gail Williams, email: gailwilliams@rcdow.org.uk   or phone: 020 8202 3999.

Upcoming Events 

Please include the following in your parish newsletters when appropriate.

Volunteering one-to-one consultations 

Mondays and Wednesdays throughout Lent 

To help you ‘spring into action’ this Lent, the Caritas Volunteer Service offers a series of appointments for individual guidance for anyone interested in volunteering in London or Hertfordshire.

You can choose between a 30 min phone call or a ‘Zoom’ online meeting, and slots are available on Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings throughout Lent.

Find out more and register here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/volunteering-1-2-1-tickets-254712601247?aff=ebdsoporgprofile  or by calling 07738183833 or emailing cvs@rcdow.org.uk.

 Homelessness and the Pandemic – What Have We Learnt? 

Monday 28th March 2022, 18:45 – 20:15

Farm Street Church, 114 Mount Street, W1K 3AH (and livestreamed at www.farmstreet.org.uk )

The Diocese of Westminster Justice & Peace and Caritas agencies are hosting a panel discussion to discuss the topic of ‘Homelessness and the Pandemic: What have we learnt?’

Find out more at https://www.caritaswestminster.org.uk/homelessness-and-the-pandemic-what-have-we-learnt-1314.php

Network meeting for anyone involved in food projects in the diocese 

Tuesday 26th April 2022, 11:00 – 12:30; Online

This is an opportunity for anyone involved with a school, parish or community food project to meet and share ideas and best practice. At this event we will hear from Niki Psarias, Caritas Westminster’s new lead staff member on Food. She will be sharing her experience of the link between food and community-building. The meeting is open to anyone who is interested, and you can find our more and register here:: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/diocese-of-westminster-caritas-food-collective-tickets-251164338297?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

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Parish News from Caritas Westminster  February 2022

Energy Crisis

If you know of parishioners struggling to pay their heating bills:

Caritas has been talking to National Energy Action, who can provide support to households facing energy stress. Their Warm and Safe Homes helpline, 0800 304 7159 is open daily, 10am-12pm, to support clients with energy advice around topics such as reducing energy consumption, Warm Home Discount and Priority Services Register, fuel debt, water rates and benefits advice.

If you are interested in hosting an energy advice session, whether remotely or in-person, for members of your parish community, please contact molly.chambers@nea.org.uk

Green Doctors also provide free, impartial energy advice and support to households in several London boroughs – https://london.greendoctors.org.uk/ 

Post-Synod, are we Journeying Together as a Poor Church for the Poor?

By now your parish will have submitted its local synodal response. All submissions have been carefully collected from parishes and schools across the Diocese for discernment in Westminster Cathedral this Saturday.   However, is that the end of your synodal journey or just the beginning?

Meriel Woodward, our deputy director, has written this blog here to emphasise that our listening needs to not only continue, but to widen and grow; to include people who find themselves on the edges of our communities. With the help of the Holy Spirit, it also needs to inform our actions as we journey together.

If your parish is keen to continue its synodal journey, do consider using our Love In Action resource. It’s an ideal way to engage parishioners; providing a whole parish formation in Catholic Social Teaching. This can be delivered as part of the Sunday Mass, in your schools, as well as in your group activities. It is designed to help parishes to focus on those who find themselves on the margins. You can find out more, and sign up for the resources here: www.stepforwardinlove.org/

The Caritas Volunteer Service

We like to encourage volunteering at this time of year, as an alternative to the traditional “giving something up” for lent. Now that all restrictions caused by the pandemic are over, it is an especially good time to take up volunteering.  The Caritas Volunteer Service supports people every step of the way. You will be receiving some flyers through the post within the next week or so – please do display these prominently, and please promote the volunteer service in your newsletter in at least one way each week in the next month or so:

• Attached with this email is a poster you can use to advertise our Volunteering Fair at Westminster Cathedral Hall – please use this, especially if you are geographically close enough to the cathedral, alongside the newsletter entry below
• if not please promote our one-to-one sessions with the Volunteer Coordinator, which can take place in person, by Zoom or phone – details below.
• Alternatively use the following or similar message in your newsletters:

If you want to start volunteering this Lent, the Caritas Volunteer Service is here to help. We aim to make volunteering as easy as possible for the Catholic community in London and Hertfordshire. Go to www.caritasvs.org.uk to find the perfect opportunity for you.

Support for those running Food Relief Projects

Our best estimate is that one in three parishes in the diocese are involved in some kind of food-relief work among their communities, and well over half have signed up to Caritas Westminster’s emergency supermarket voucher scheme.

All who are involved in food relief can join our Food Collective, and start a journey towards providing more sustainable support to people who are struggling. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 26th April at 11am (online), but in the meantime, do contact your Development Worker to find out more.

Interested parishioners can register for the event here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/diocese-of-westminster-caritas-food-collective-tickets-251164338297

Upcoming Events

Please include the following in your parish newsletters when appropriate.

Volunteering Fair

Saturday 5 March, 12-2pm
Westminster Cathedral Hall

Whether you want to try volunteering for the first time or are looking for a new role, come and find out what volunteering opportunities are out there at the moment. Find out more here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/caritas-volunteering-fair-tickets-250053004267

Volunteering one-to-one consultations

Mondays and Wednesdays throughout Lent

To help you ‘spring into action’ this Lent, the Caritas Volunteer Service offers a series of appointments for individual guidance for anyone interested in volunteering in London or Hertfordshire.

You can choose between a 30 min meeting in person, a phone call or a ‘Zoom’ online meeting, and slots are available on Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings throughout Lent.

Find out more and register here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/volunteering-1-2-1-tickets-254712601247  or by calling 07738183833 or emailing cvs@rcdow.org.uk.

Diocese of Westminster Network meeting for all who welcome and support asylum seekers, migrants and refugees.

Thursday 10th March 2022, 2pm- 3:30pm – online

Join a community of support, hosted by Caritas Westminster, to share ideas and skills to help your parish and school become even more of a place of welcome and inclusion for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

At this session we will be hearing from Megan from Schools of Sanctuary, Anjali from Newman Catholic College, as well as Ines from the Notre Dame Refugee Center and Ed from ESOL provider, Twin. Please sign up on this website: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/caritas-volunteering-fair-tickets-250053004267

Please also include this announcement, especially for parishes in easy reach of Hendon:

Looking for Garden improvements this Spring? 

The Garden Enterprise at Caritas St Joseph’s, facilitates the employment of young adults with learning disabilities by engaging them in all aspects of garden maintenance. In addition, the Garden Enterprise can provide garden design services, and supply garden furniture, made out of recycled wood by adults with learning disabilities, at Caritas St Joseph’s. To discuss your garden maintenance and design requirements, please contact Gail Williams, the Centre Manager, at: gailwilliams@rcdow.org.uk

January 2022

Parish News from Caritas Westminster 

Happy New Year!

I hope that you all had a good Christmas and your church life wasn’t affected too badly by Covid. For those of you who have managed to have a break since then, I hope this has rested and revitalised you, ready for the challenges and joys that await us in 2022.

Looking ahead 

Caritas Volunteer Service 

We will be giving the Volunteer Service a big push during Lent this year, starting with the production of new leaflets and posters which you will receive in your parishes in mid-February. The Volunteer Service runs a website: https://www.caritasvs.org.uk/  where potential volunteers can find suitable roles, as well as providing support to volunteers and to project staff who manage them.

Saturday 5 March – Volunteer Fair – Westminster Cathedral Hall 

This is a chance for anyone in the diocese who feels they are called to give of their time and energy, to come and meet representatives of charities who are recruiting volunteers. More details will follow but please be prepared to promote this during February.

Upcoming Events 

Please include the following in your parish newsletters when appropriate.

Diocese of Westminster network Meeting for all who work with older people.

Thursday 3rd February 2022, 11:00 – 12:30 – online 

The event is for anybody who journeys alongside older people, perhaps by organising events or running projects. It is an opportunity to share ideas, discuss issues, and meet others who are engaged in the same mission.

Please contact Rosa Lewis for more information rosalewis@rcdow.org.uk

Diocese of Westminster Network meeting  for those involved in projects serving those who are homeless. 

Thursday 10 February 2022

An opportunity for all parish and school homelessness projects to meet together, share best practice and ideas, receive training and agree main advocacy issues. Let’s use our strong network of Catholic charities, homeless projects and enthusiastic volunteers to tackle homelessness in the Diocese of Westminster.

Please contact Liz Wills for more information elizabethwills@rcdow.org.uk

 Looking for Garden improvements in the New Year? 

The Garden Enterprise at Caritas St Joseph’s, facilitates the employment of young adults with learning disabilities by engaging them in all aspects of garden maintenance. In addition, the Garden Enterprise can provide garden design services, and supply garden furniture, made out of recycled wood by adults with learning disabilities, at Caritas St Joseph’s. To discuss your garden maintenance and design requirements, please contact Gail Williams, the Centre Manager, at: gailwilliams@rcdow.org.uk

Listening to and the empowerment of those on the margins, is at the centre of the mission of Caritas Westminster, as the social action arm of the Diocese.  As such we are keen to support any parishes to identify and listen to those on the margins as part of the ongoing Synod.  In the first place we would encourage parishes to consult the Diocesan Synodal Resources here. The leader’s guide, has a strong focus on how to include those on the margins, and the guide for facilitators encourages, and provides resources for, different small group discussions.  However, we can provide specific additional support on request, based on our Love In Action/ Catholic Social Teaching tools and drawing on our specific experience working with the Deaf Community, those with intellectual disabilities, and our food poverty, homeless, refugee, seniors and youth communities of practice.

We encourage parishes to continuously ask who isn’t included in the discussion and to look at different ways to approach these individuals.  We urge parishes to be as innovative, nimble and flexible as possible, keeping Pope Francis’s intentions of listening, inclusion and participation firmly in sight.  Where possible we are advising a cyclical process; continuously bringing more people from the margins into the centre (much like the process of mixing cake mix or kneading dough, inspired by a paper by Timothy Radcliffe OP ‘Kneading the Dough of the Eucharist’) at every stage of the synodal journey.

Longer term our focus at Caritas is on how we can build on the synodal process; looking to the future ‘dream’ [link to article] of a poor church for the poor.

If you would like support of how best to identify those on the margins, and how to engage them, in the synodal process and beyond, please contact your Development Worker.’

Addressing the scandal of food poverty Along with footballer Marcus Rashford, Caritas Westminster welcomes the Prime Ministers pledge to provide an extra £170 million for struggling families to feed their children during the Christmas holidays.

Since March, Caritas Westminster has witnessed an incredible response to shocking increases in food poverty and insecurity. We have seen schools becoming foodbanks, priests becoming food delivery drivers, and thousands of volunteers giving up their time to  help. The foodbank at St Mary’s in Finchley has reported a 400% increase in users since March, and the Borehamwood Foodbank had given out more food parcels by August 2020 than they had in the whole of 2019. Projects which previously served mainly individual homeless people, have seen more families asking for support – people who have never needed help before. The number of children going to school hungry is on the increase.

As well as backing the campaign campaign to provide food to children during the school holidays, we are also calling for the extension of Free School Meals to the children of migrants with No Recourse to Public Funds. No child should go hungry because of their parents’ immigration status.

In our last newsletter we asked you to write to your MP regarding the provision of free breakfasts in schools. We are pleased to say that enough MPs supported Emma Lewell-Buck’s School Breakfast Bill that it will go forward for a second reading.

All these policies are important in ensuring hunger does not disrupt any child’s education but they are not, by themselves, a solution to the issue of food poverty.Cardinal Vincent Nichols last week joined 20 faith leaders in writing to the Prime Minister to call for a ‘coherent, cross-government and cross-party strategy to tackle the underlying causes of child poverty, including low pay, educational disadvantage, and the shortage of affordable housing and childcare.’ Read more about the extraordinary response from projects in the diocese, including the incredible number of meals provided in just three months.

At Caritas Westminster we are always excited to be able to support projects which put the community at the heart of food provision, especially when they are run by a talented and energetic person like Aina Omo-Bare, who started Idia’s kitchen in Hoxton, East London. Aina and her volunteers serve cooked meals three times a week to around 40 people. Everyone is welcome, and people from all backgrounds come and find company as well as expertly cooked food. One customer stated that Aina’s food is “the best in the East End”. Find out more, including what happened when Aina invited a passing city worker to share the food.

Support for the road ahead

15th November 2020 will mark the Fourth World Day of the Poor, which Pope Francis has given the theme “Stretch forth your hand to the poor” (Sir 7:32). We have seen this theme lived out in projects like Idia’s Kitchen, foodbanks, and the many other services reaching out to the marginalised. However, it is crucial that we look not just to feed the hungry and help the poor, but to help them tackle the factors causing their situation. The hand we stretch out must not just be a hand-out but also a hand up out of poverty. Caritas Westminster are launching the Road to Resilience – a new programme of work focussing on helping people out of poverty and empowering them to be more resilient to the shocks and challenges that cause insecurity. If you are involved with a social outreach project, you can join us on the Road to Resilience. You will be part of a network, attend training events, reflect on Catholic Social teaching and access resources to help you build on the long term success of your project. To hear news specifically about the Road to Resilience Programme, click here toupdate your preferences and select the option “Road to Resilience”

Join us on the Road to Resilience

Get Involved

Every Christmas Caritas Westminster partners with PACT, the Catholic charity supporting prisoners and their families. Hundreds of people from across the diocese buy presents for prisoners children. Every Christmas – except this Christmas. The coronavirus pandemic means that the locked up, are locked down. Christmas family events will not be able to happen, making the delivery of presents extremely difficult.

But PACT, which has been helping prisoners’ families for 120 years, are not going to let a pandemic stop them. They are asking people to send them book tokens to be delivered to prisons so that the prisoners can send them to their children for Christmas.

Yes, I will send a book token for a prisoner’s child

Could you make face masks for the homeless? We are collecting home made masks to be distributed by the SVP find out how Remember those who struggle for food this Christmas season with theCaritas Food Collective Advent Giving Calendar.

Mourning migrant deaths

image: Bishop Paul McAleenan in Dover-  credit Mazur/CBCEW.org.uk All of us at Caritas Westminster were deeply saddened to hear that a migrant family with small children lost their lives attempting to cross the English channel last week. John Coleby, our director said that the tragedy: ‘once again confronts us with the risks people are prepared to take to escape conflict, exploitation, violence and poverty…People fleeing their countries do not do so lightly; they need our support to find their way safely to the refuge we call the UK” Bishop Paul McAleenan, who leads on Migration issues for the bishops of England and Wales, also commented – read both statements in full on our website

Twice isolated – the Deaf Community in lockdown

signing choir in Walsingham 2019, image from Caritas Deaf Service Did you ever wonder how Deaf people, for whom Sign Language is their main language, can learn about a pandemic from TV news? Or how people reliant on lipreading, cope seeing everyone in facemasks? And how does a Deaf person feel when told they can only speak to their doctor on the phone? The Caritas Deaf service has interviewed five members of the Deaf Community and the stories they told are a fascinating eye-opener into the lives of a group already marginalised.

We are running a series of online events to inspire and skill volunteers. Check out our events page.

Your support goes further than you might think

As well as managing Caritas Bakhita House, which does incredible work for its guests who are all women victims of slavery or trafficking, Karen Anstiss spends a lot of time working with other organisations to raise awareness and lobby for action on trafficking. In recent months she has been working with St Mary’s university, Twickenham, to produce a training framework for anyone in a position of caring for victims of slavery and trafficking. This manual is published by Skills for Care and was launched on 22 September.

As we enter into another lockdown, we are convinced that the generosity we saw from volunteers and donors back in March will continue. We are inspired by those across the diocese and beyond, who are proactively building up community, strengthening bonds between those who have more and those who have less. We pray too that the loving commitment of all who work in social outreach projects will bring about lasting change in our society. In his recent encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis wrote “It is an act of charity to assist someone suffering, but it is also an act of charity, even if we do not know that person, to work to change the social conditions that caused his or her suffering.” Please continue to support the work of Caritas Westminster in whatever way you can, through prayer, volunteering, campaigning for justice or giving financially.

Click here to donate to Caritas Westminster

We know that love makes families and friendships flourish; but it is good to remember that it also makes social, cultural, economic, and political relationships flourish, allowing us to construct a “civilization of love”… A virus that does not recognize barriers, borders, or cultural or political distinctions must be faced with a love without barriers, borders, or distinctions. This love can generate social structures that encourage us to share rather than to compete, which allow us to include the most vulnerable and not to cast them aside.     Pope Francis, 9 September 2020 Dear friend, In the past six months at Caritas Westminster, we have been amazed by the love shown by our partners and volunteers as they have stepped up to the greater needs exposed by the pandemic and the economic difficulties it has caused. The words above come from one of a series of addresses by the pope on love – or “caritas” – which underpins all the church’s teaching on how to live in society. We are greatly looking forward to reading more along these lines in the forthcoming encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” due to be published on 3 October. Feeding our children. The pandemic has both increased need and made it more apparent, especially when children stopped going to school in March. Yet so many volunteers stepped up in solidarity, and projects set up for one purpose swiftly changed course to help in other ways. A school holiday hamper delivery scheme, that has been run by Radlett Churches Together for five years, began delivering food, as usual in the Easter Holidays. And they did not stop! For 23 weeks, hampers were lovingly put together and delivered to 40 families. Parishioners donated food, and a school library gave books. Caritas Westminster provided supermarket vouchers and helped the project gain grant money of over £5,000. Now that children are back in school, those entitled to free school meals will get a hot meal each lunchtime. But this doesn’t include some of the most vulnerable children. The Caritas Food Collective has supported calls for free school meals to be provided for all children, regardless of immigration status. Did you have a good breakfast this morning? Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1.8 million school age children were at risk of starting the day hungry. On October 14th, supported by Caritas Westminster and Magic Breakfast, Emma Lewell-Buck MP will introduce The School Breakfast Bill in the House of Commons. Support the School Breakfast Bill – Write to Your MP This Bill askes the govenment to give schools with high levels of disadvantage the support they need to provide a free breakfast to children at risk of hunger. The aim is simply to ensure that children start the day ready to learn.. Please write to your MP and asking them to support the School Breakfast Bill. By taking this small action you will be acting in accordance with Catholic Social Teaching which  tells us that a just society is one which puts the needs of the most vulnerable first. Welcoming students back to St Joseph’s Staff and students at Caritas St Joseph’s had a happy reunion earlier this month, when doors were opened at the pastoral centre – a college for adults with learning disabilities – for the first time in nearly six months. The team have been working hard to ensure that the site is “COVID-secure” and are really pleased that 135 students have returned. Changes include making more use of a marquee to help with social distancing in dance classes, and employing another cleaner to work during the day. The students that are back are happy and safe and we are all adjusting to the new way of working. They love seeing their friends and laughter once again is ringing in the classrooms! Plans are in place to connect online with students who are still locked down in care homes. Introducing Young Caritas Each fortnight for the past two months, a group of young people (18-30) have been meeting online to discover more about social justice and to discuss what our faith teaches us about human dignity and solidarity. Topics so far have included racial inequality and youth leadership, and this week they discussed the vital issue of the environment. If you are interested in attending, or know a young person who might be, please emailcaritaswestminster@rcdow.org.uk Get involved!

The Season of Creation lasts until the Feast of St Francis, 4 October. Westminster Justice and Peace are running an exciting video competition – find out more. Are you a Caritas volunteer? Would you like to be? We are running a series of informal online events –find out more on our events page

In looking ahead to World Day of the Poor, which is November 15th, and reading the Pope’s message these words jumped out: This pandemic arrived suddenly and caught us unprepared, sparking a powerful sense of bewilderment and helplessness. Yet hands never stopped reaching out to the poor. This has made us all the more aware of the presence of the poor in our midst and their need for help. Structures of charity, works of mercy, cannot be improvised. Constant organization and training is needed, based on the realization of our own need for an outstretched hand. Could it be that the Pope has been listening into our virtual meetings? These are precisely the issues we are working on – how to respond with love but also good organisation. We encourage our projects to not only provide for people’s physical needs, but to become supportive communities which, in time, allow people to address long term problems, and become more resilient. Our outstretched hands do not only offer food, but solidarity and friendship Below are some messages of gratitude received by the volunteers in Radlett, but which have been echoed across the diocese. Thank you for your support of Caritas Westminster. Click here if you feel able to support us financially.