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In this edition, we reflect on the relationship between community engagement and discipleship and the power of being real and open in addressing mental health issues in
church. Finally, we look at what motivates volunteers and ask if our volunteering opportunities sufficiently reflect the needs of the individual rather than the organisation. Introduction and reflection
Live it out! - the best way to learn about community engagement is by doing it.
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Heather Buckingham is Director of Research and Policy at Church Urban Fund. Sharing her own experience and referring to some recent research of 1000 churchgoers in the Midlands, she argues that if we want to grow in our faith and get involved in our local community, there’s no substitute to just getting stuck in.
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Christians in Practice - connecting discipleship and community engagement | |
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Recent research by Church Urban Fund and the Saltley Trust examined the impact of community activities on the personal growth of 1000 churchgoers. 78% felt their community engagement had helped them grow as a Christian and 65% said it had helped them understand their faith better. The Christians in Practice report examines these and other findings and looks at what churches and church leaders can learn.
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Lifting the Lid: Six bible studies exploring Gods heart for mental health
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Lifting the Lid is a six week Bible study course focused on faith and mental health. Created with small groups in mind, drawing on well-known Bible stories, it's a free study resource to help churches explore the topics of emotional and mental wellbeing, using the Bible as a guide.
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// Click here to get your free copy by email
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What’s the one thing you wish the Church understood about mental health?
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‘What one thing do you wish the Church understood about mental health?’ is a question Mat Ray – author of Livability’s Lifting the Lid – has asked people living with ill health. In this article Mat shares his inspiration and hopes for Livability’s new mental health resource for churches.
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Let's change the culture of our churches by lifting the lid on mental health
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David Primrose is a Social Responsibility Officer working in the Diocese of Lichfield. David talked to Livability about his involvement in the development of the new course ‘Lifting the Lid’ which aims to raise mental health awareness in churches.
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Want to transform lives? Offer person-centred volunteering | |
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This article, from the Guardian Voluntary Network explores the benefits of volunteering to health and wellbeing, tackling social exclusion and improving social integration. Quoting research on what different groups are looking for from volunteering, it calls charities and voluntary bodies to shift their approach towards the needs and motivations of individuals rather than those of the organisation.
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Events supporting community
work
A Place to Belong: A Church and Disability Workshop
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Saturday, 17 March 2018 Bondgate, Darlington, UK Is your church one that welcomes everybody? This interactive day from Livability will explore how a church can welcome and include disabled people.
It will include Bible teaching and lots of practical advice.
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// Find out more and book online
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Creative Responses to Dementia
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Wednesday, 25 April 2018 Middlesbrough, UK Livability, in partnership with Faithfully Ageing Better and Communities Together in Middlesbrough and Cleveland, offers this event to churches wanting to support people affected by
dementia and their carers.
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// Find out more and book online
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The Happiness Course Leaders Training Day - London
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Thursday, 26 April 2018 London, UK A training day to enable you to run Livability’s Happiness Course in your community. The course was developed to enable churches to have meaningful conversations around happiness and
wellbeing.
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// Find out more and book online
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The Trust focuses on small charities in deprived areas. Grants of £500 or £1,000 for one to three years are offered for different areas or work including the repair of Grade 1 listed churches. There are no deadlines.
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More charities can now enrol and benefit from purchases made via smile.amazon.co.uk. Online customers select a charity and Amazon will then donate 0.5% of the net purchase price of eligible purchases.
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// Read more
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Woodward Charitable Trust
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As well as providing grants for other activities, the trust offers small grants for summer playschemes running for a minimum of 2 weeks or 10 days across the summer holidays. The deadline will be in April.
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