Get Involved + Get Out There!
There are lots of opportunities to 'Get Involved' within the context of the church, but also to 'Get Out There' with our linked social transformation charities and projects listed below. Find out more about the charities we support and community projects we are involved with below.
Crosslight Debt Advice
Crosslight Advice is an independent, community-focused charity working to alleviate poverty caused by problem debt and lack of financial capability. We host free fortnightly Crosslight sessions at St Dionis throughout the year.
Our shared vision is to restore dignity and hope to those in need by reducing debt-poverty and improving financial capability through the provision of free face-to-face advice, money education, and ongoing support. Our heart is to meet people at their point of need and support them through to full restoration, however long that takes.
Could you volunteer to help?
Take a look here or email Fiona for more information. {You do not need any prior experience, as we will provide all the training you need.}
The Money Course is a simple, effective, online budgeting and money education resource run by Crosslight Advice designed to equip you with tools to get on top of your finances.
Courses are regularly taking place. Find out more & sign up here
And click here for access to helpful resources to help manage your finances.
Glass Door Outreach
2023/24 Season - Tuesday & Wednesday nights
Glass Door has been providing winter shelters since its inception in 1999, for thousands of men and women to find safe shelter and the support needed to leave homelessness behind.
This winter, we will provide a twice weekly place (the CAS Halls) for those experiencing homelessness to sleep; on Wednesdays this will be a women-only shelter and Tuesdays will be mixed (starting from Feb 2024).
Volunteers will arrive around 7pm to chat to guests, prepare and serve hot drinks and an evening meal, then clear up for 9pm.
Rota slots for Glass Door fill up fairly quickly, so if this is a ministry you'd like to join please contact James Mackenzie-Smith (our volunteer co-ordinator).
For more information on Glass Door click HERE.
Also...find out what items you can donate to Glass Door here: https://www.glassdoor.org.uk/things-we-need
Glass Door Sleep Out is back!
Sign up to be part of the 2023 St Dionis Sleep Out team here!
In 2022, as Glass Door Sleep Out returned for the 10th time, 75 people gave up their beds and gathered at Duke of York Square. Many more got together at remote events, at their churches, schools or back gardens, all to raise crucial funds for Glass Door’s guests, and awareness on homelessness ahead of winter.
To date, participants have raised more than £70,000, all of which could run our shelters for one month this winter.
Safe Families
Can you
- be a 'FAMILY FRIEND' offering simple advice & providing practical support
or
- be a 'HOST HOME' providing a child with a bed for a night or two
or
- be a 'RESOURCE FRIEND' providing useful items or skills such as cooking/gardening
for local families who need our support?
Find out more here: www.safefamilies.uk/volunteer/
Foodbank
Foodbank provide three days of comprehensive emergency food supplies to those who need it, and during recent months, they have been experiencing unprecedented demand for their services. The numbers of people who benefit from their food parcels has risen from an average of 250 people per week to over 200 people every day.
Having moved their operational base to the National Hall at the Olympia Exhibition Centre, they are now rehousing to the old PC World by Wandsworth Bridge. Please, if you can, donate your items to here.
https://hammersmithfulham.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food
Alternatively you can donate cash via their website
https://hammersmithfulham.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money/
– or with the below link:https://hffb.charitycheckout.co.uk/Donate#!/
OR via
https://www.bankuet.co.uk/hammersmithandfulham
Contact our Foodbank Champion Steve with any questions at steve@huxford.org
OR
Text:
- HUNGRY to 70460 to give £5.00
- ENDHUNGER to 70085 to give £10.00
Unfortunately, the council provision of taxi drivers to deliver the food boxes has now stopped so Foodbank are trying to recruit volunteers to help them deliver the boxes. They need people who are available at some point during the week for 3 roles:
1. drive a hire van - here volunteers will be paired up with a volunteer passenger and deliver in 3 hour shifts to residents
2. volunteer passenger in van - as above
3. drive your own car: the shifts are 9am - 12pm or 1pm - 4pm
(you can sign up for just one shift a week or more).
Contact Sian (info@hammersmithfulham.foodbank.org.uk / 020 7731 3693) if you can help out in this way.
NEXT COLLECTION DATE: 8th and 15th October
Items needed:
Tinned meat/fish
Tinned Soup
Long life milk/juice
Also accepting donations of:
Rice
Canned Tomatoes
Canned Chickpeas
Jams and Jellies
Please bring along to church and put in the Foodbank tray under the stairs.
Local help with tasks in the community
The church continues to respond to requests to help local elderly, isolated and vulnerable people referred to us by the NHS during this challenging time. So far, we have supported over 30 people in our local community, but to continue doing so, we need your help.
Are you able to:
- Make regular phone calls to check in with someone?
- Run errands, like shopping, picking up prescriptions or other small tasks that mean that person can stay home and stay safe?
You can do this by being paired with an individual who you will support on a weekly basis, or by just volunteering a few hours/days here and there on an ad hoc basis. It's helpful if you have a car but not at all essential.
If you are able to help, drop Judith an email on hello@stdionis.org.uk to discuss options and capacity!
Kids Matter
Volunteering opportunities available
Kids Matter aims to reduce the impact of poverty on children through community-based programmes which connect parents and carers and strengthen family relationships. Kids Matter programmes are restarting this autumn and you can get involved by praying, baking cakes for the programme, or helping with the creche (Friday mornings from 9-12ish).
If you are interested in any of the above, please email Jo Stilwell for more information on how you can get involved!
Fulham Memories
The Fulham Memories programme is part of our Fulham Teammates initiative and aims to provide participants with a fun social session which includes some light level physical activity to improve mobility and overall health while also reducing loneliness in our local communities.
The weekly Fulham Memories sessions are 1 hour 30 minutes long and consist of two halves. The first half involves quizzes, puzzles and reminiscence activities to stimulate cognition. This is followed by chair-based exercises ranging from strength to flexibility, as well as games such as boccia and bowling.
The Fulham Memories programme has been developed over several years, working with key stakeholders and experts. The unique curriculum engages participants and can be tailored to suit the needs of different groups.
The programme typically works with older adults, or those with less mobility. Our coaches are experienced in working with people facing social isolation and low levels of self-esteem.
THE CURRENT PROGRAMME HAS BEEN PAUSED. Please watch this space for details of the new course.
Verger
Fancy helping out at church setting up chairs and tables for services and events?
Please do get in contact:judith@stdionis.org.uk