News

You may be encountering people over the age of 60 facing issues around their housing needs. Where can they and you turn for help in what are often complex situations?

‘STEPS to stay independent’ is a free, confidential, short-term support service funded by East Sussex County Council for people aged 60 or over with a housing support issue, to help them to stay living independently.

All STEPS advisors are trained to provide every aspect of the service and offer person-centred support, designed around the needs of the individual.

You can find out more here.

The service offers a range of support to eligible individuals including:

• Looking into more suitable accommodation
• Dealing with tenancy and mortgage worries
• Keeping warm and reducing energy bills
• Ensuring your home is safe
• Managing household bills and debts
• Obtaining daily living equipment

In addition to supporting with housing issues we can also help you with:

• Accessing benefit advice and debt management
• Managing long term physical health conditions
• Finding community transport.
• Taking part in healthy living activities
• Accessing local social groups or activities in your area.
• Accessing advice and support for your carer
• Approaching other organisations.
• Getting online.

It aims to directly support those who’ve experienced trauma in beginning a journey of healing and to support Christians more widely in walking alongside them.

Navigating Trauma is a proven, Bible-based approach to changing lives and transforming communities. As we heal the wounds inside, we change the world outside.

Book your free place at the Navigating Trauma launch event to find out how your church could offer this programme to your community.

A new poll has found an improvement in non-Christians’ perception of the UK church as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The survey, conducted by Savanta ComRes and commissioned in partnership by YourNeighbour and international Christian children’s charity World Vision, found since the start of the coronavirus pandemic found 25 percent of non-Christians agreed with the statement that the UK Church is making a positive difference in the world, compared with 19% three years ago.

The study, which surveyed 2,170 respondents, also found that 42% of UK adults agree that local Christian churches are making a positive difference in their community, with 24% disagreeing.

Read More

From Isolation to Community

Released in Kindle format on Amazon on Tuesday 2^nd February 2021, this book is a timely look at the impact of covid-19 on youth work in different contexts around the UK.

Jenni tells the story of youth work during the pandemic, showing how young people have been cared and provided for during some of the most restricting times in living memory.

This is a book which begins the collective conversation about where we might go from here. Tackling a blend of online and outdoor activity and demonstrating that ultimately it is themes of hope community and sanctuary that will prevail.

Buy the book here https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08VNCSK4Z

About the author: Jenni Osborn has been working with young people and children for more than 25 years, with a wealth of experience in both working with young people and also supporting those who support young people. She has worked in a variety of contexts including youth worker, teacher, school’s worker, school governor, trainer and mentor as well as currently hosting The Jenni Talks Podcast. Jenni attends The Gather Collective in Eastbourne.

For more information look at her website www.jenniosborn.org

Contact Details

Email: hello@jenniosborn.org

Phone number: 07594 331654

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jennitalks

Twitter: @JHOsborn

Instagram: @jenni.osborn

Join the team and save lives at Beachy Head

Being a chaplain is hugely rewarding, our Chaplains offer hope and support in a person’s darkest hour. It’s also a privilege for our Chaplains to represent the families, friends, and colleagues of those people who present at Beachy Head feeling there is no hope left in life.

BHCT are recruiting for 2 vacancies:

• a salaried full time (37hrs) Chaplain
• a salaried Part Time (20 Hrs) Chaplain

If you are a Christian and can get to Beachy Head by car and believe this maybe a calling you wish to pursue, we would love to hear from you.

Full training and equipment is provided. Our training of chaplains takes 3 months to complete and you will receive personal, one to one, mentor-based training, you will never be on the head alone and will always work alongside a more senior team member. We also always provide support and after-care counselling.

Find out more here

Here is an extract from their latest newsletter:

The chaplaincy sessions have been well-attended (nearly 600 attendances in the past 3 months!) and a really good way for residents to socialize safely in a time when it is easy to feel disconnected and alone. There have also been additional sessions at our lower support housing projects (usually tea, snacks and a chat) and it has been really good to be able to offer these. We have had lovely feedback from residents (“Wednesday, chaplaincy day, is my favourite day of the week” ) and staff (“it’s nice to see a different face”)  as well as external agencies such as social workers (“I think chaplaincy has really made a difference at the Foyer “).

Unfortunately, the latest lockdown has meant that we can no longer do shared meals and group activities have been put on hold at the projects in order to minimise the risk of Covid-transmission. We are exploring online chaplaincy sessions and we have also started having 1-1 walks with residents. Please keep our residents and staff in your prayers at this challenging time – we are so very grateful not to have had any significant Covid outbreaks at our projects, but the restrictions take a toll.

Find out more and how your church can support them here

Chaplaincy volunteering is temporarily on hold but if you are interested in finding out more about this for the (hopefully!) near future please contact one our chaplains:

West Sussex – Samantha Burton  : Work mobile: 07557855779 | Email: samantha.burton@ymcadlg.org

Brighton and Hove – Lucy McGrath: Work mobile: 07741240452 | Email: lucy.mcgrath@ymcadlg.org

East Sussex – Elly McKay-Smith – Work mobile: 07884 549308 | Email: elly.mckay-smith@ymcadlg.org