We have been contacted by Age Concern regarding their new Help at Home service. This service assists older people in the area to live independently within their homes.

Chaplains are back on the streets and visiting shops and other work-places.

Look out for us and feel free to chat!

We are particularly keen to support shop workers, especially those whose jobs are in jeopardy. The stresses and strains of the uncertainties of the last year are taking their toll and it can be healthy to talk to someone about the pressures you are feeling. Chaplains will listen and help you express yourself so that you can view your situation more clearly. We will seek to signpost you to others who can provide advice or practical support. Help is available.

Or, you might just want to have a ‘normal’ conversation with someone after so long not meeting people. We all, chaplains included, feel slightly uncomfortable at meeting people now restrictions are being lifted. So no one need feel alone and we will get back into the routines again, perhaps more appreciative of others after these enforced separations.

One Chaplain wrote of his experience: I went out this morning in my chaplaincy uniform and had 5 or 6 reasonably good conversations as well as lots of other smaller encounters. There was a definite spring feel in the air and people were sauntering about. There are always people willing to talk! I spent a bit of time at the URC where they are giving out food, and they appreciate our presence as Chaplains there for a while if we can. I also went to places I had visited regularly and spoke with some old friends. I saw one or two familiar faces generally about in town and there is often someone you know or can reconnect with, which is nice. I think people are feeling a little more optimistic now. Heading home I spoke with a 90-year-old gentleman on his scooter. He is an ex-serviceman who now lives on his own. He has restricted sight and hearing and I offered to visit him and gave him a Chaplaincy card with information about supporting organisations and churches.

 So you never know what God is doing or what encounters can happen! It’s just good to be there.

 If anyone fancies giving up a couple of hours on a routine basis each week please come and give it a try.

We see that keeping safe and getting vaccinated are still high priorities and encourage everyone to wear a mask indoors, keep some distance from others and wash their hands regularly.

We will also be on London Road at lunch time and in the afternoon to support the cafe and food table at the church.

And on 3^rd April we will be supporting local churches as they present the meaning of Easter – and it is not just about bunnies and eggs, however cute they may be! 

May God bless you and watch over you.

John Hayward

Chair of Trustees

Dear churches,

As Basingstoke Foodbank works towards opening in 6 centres around the Basingstoke, and Tadley area this July, we are focusing on 3 perceived areas of support that our clients will need alongside emergency food.  Namely: 

• Mental Health Support
• Job Hunting Support
• Debt Advice and Advocacy

With this in mind, we are exploring how we can make this support available in our 6 church centres when clients drop in to collect their referred emergency food packs.

We would like to have available someone from the Mental Health profession who could chat to clients experiencing levels of stress, anxiety and depression and signpost them to the most relevant services, be that charitable or statutory.

We would be interested in hearing from professionals in our churches if they have any suggestions of organisations who could offer this support, or who have a background of mental health training and would like to explore what they might be able to offer themselves in the way of volunteering during one of our 6 x half day opening sessions.

Please email Paula Vallance on [email protected] if you would like to discuss this further.

www.basingstoke.foodbank.org.uk 

We’re still delivering weekdays to homes throughout the Basingstoke & Deane region. 
Delivery slots:  10.30am – 12.30pm, & 1pm – 3pm
Find us on Basingstoke Foodbank Facebook page!  

Can you help people in debt? Additional volunteers required.

Money Lifeline wants to recruit additional volunteers to work with people facing debt crises in Basingstoke.

As the pandemic restrictions reduce, we are seeing more and more people seeking help and advice because of overwhelming debt. Money Lifeline offers free and friendly advice to help people address their debts but we would like to expand our capacity to deal with the increased demand for debt advice.

Our friends at the Basingstoke Foodbank share our concerns and have kindly volunteered to sponsor the training of additional volunteers.

If you are interested in this work, please contact us at [email protected] to find out more.

Debt advisers are responsible for giving budgeting and debt advice and offering practical assistance in accordance with the Christian ethos of ML. A debt adviser is expected to be: a committed Christian, a good listener, compassionate, and able to explain information simply and clearly.

We are looking for people who can commit to a regular weekday involvement. Experience is not necessary as full training will be provided but you would need to be computer literate, and have a reasonable command of basic arithmetic and business English. Advisers normally work in pairs to provide support and continuity.

The role is not for everyone. It involves dealing with distressed individuals – as well as debt collectors and creditors. It can be frustrating and demanding. There is significant paperwork, computer work and telephone calls required to address a client’s situation and implement the right solution. But it is rewarding: here are some recent comments from clients –

‘Money Lifeline have turned my life around, I cannot thank them enough’

‘Words cannot express how grateful I am for everything ML have done for me’

‘Without the help I received, I honestly do not know where I would be today’

‘Money Lifeline have been more than supportive, recommend to anyone’

‘I was surprised that I wasn’t judged, as I thought I might have been. I’ve found the advice and support very helpful and useful’

‘A wonderful service’

‘Fantastic support, amazing people, great help, understanding, no judgement – without their help I would not have gone from sobbing my heart out to how I am today’

If this is something you think would be right for you or if you want to know more, please get in touch by emailing [email protected] Thank you.