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.
Charlotte Antonia Sulivan Charity
Our partner charity, CAS, have recently refurbished their halls next door to church and have four spaces available for hire. We hope that this partnership will enable us to offer space and resources for community gatherings and events, fostering connection and solidarity among Parsons Green residents. At the moment, we host a recovery course and will be starting a community cooking class where those in the community who are less experienced or lack confidence in making healthy food, can do so in an affordable and community-building way.
We're so excited to be partnered with CAS in our shared vision to bless Parsons Green.
IJM
IJM staff collaborate with 31 local authorities in 16 developing countries to end human trafficking, slavery, and violence. They work in the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Guatemala, and South Asia. St Dionis supports the Dominican Republic office, which has reduced child sex trafficking by 78%. IJM investigators, lawyers, and social workers intervene in abuse cases, rescuing victims, restraining criminals, and restoring survivors. Partnering with government authorities is the best long-term strategy for protecting the poor.
We contribute by raising funds, praying for their efforts, and hosting IJM speakers.
Please join us in prayer for the work of IJM.
Crosslight Debt Advice
Crosslight Advice is an independent, community-focused charity working to alleviate poverty caused by debt and lack of financial capability. Our partnership allows for them to host financial education courses throughout the year in our building. They also host fortnightly advice surgeries where we regularly book up to 4 clients in an evening. We provide regular volunteers who facilitate both the surgeries and the financial education courses.
Our shared vision is to restore dignity and hope 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.}
Safe Families
In partnering with Safe Families, a small number of our congregation connect with local families who require additional help and support; be that a friend to chat to, a spare room for one of the family members to sleep in, or someone to give practical help and advice; we extend a helping hand to families who feel disconnected and alone.
Can you
- Be a 'FAMILY FRIEND' offering simple advice & providing practical support?
- Be a 'HOST HOME' providing a child with a bed for a night or two?
- Be a 'RESOURCE FRIEND' providing useful items or skills such as cooking/gardening?
For local families who need our support?
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.
Contact
For any questions please feel free to contact our St Dionis Foodbank Champion, Steve, at steve@huxford.org
OR the other contact details are:
Head Office - Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank, c/o St Matthew's, Wandsworth Bridge Road, London, SW6 2TX
Support Hub - The Hub @ 75, 75 Bloemfontein Road, White City, W12 7DA
Warehouse - Gliddon Road, Barons Court, W14 9BH
Text: 0207 731 3693
OR Text:
- HUNGRY to 70460 to give £5.00
- ENDHUNGER to 70085 to give £10.00
NEXT COLLECTION DATE:
TBC
Items needed:
- TBC
Please bring along to church and put in the Foodbank tray under the stairs.
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.
Glass Door
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.
In 2023/24, we provided a twice weekly place (the CAS Halls) for those experiencing homelessness to commune together, have a meal, and sleep. Last year we hosted a mixed shelter on Tuesdays and a women-only shelter on Wednesdays and we hope to do the same in the 2024/25 season.
To volunteer at their winter shelters for 2024/25, please contact James Mackenzie-Smith (our volunteer co-ordinator).
Also...find out what items you can donate to Glass Door here: https://www.glassdoor.org.uk/things-we-need
Glass Door Sleep Out 2024
For one night, could you give up your bed to raise funds and awareness for Glass Door?
More information coming soon...
Verger
Fancy helping out at church setting up chairs and tables for services and events?
Please do get in contact:judith@stdionis.org.uk