Bethany Project
St James’ actively supports the Bethany Project in it’s aims to help the vulnerable.
We are a small team of Christians working together to help the most vulnerable people in a rural area of Tanzania. East Africa. We are involved in providing financial support and volunteers to visit both long and short term to share in the work both here and in Tanzania.
Bethany’s aim is to help the most underprivileged, deprived and vulnerable members of society, especially orphaned children, providing education where possible. It will carry out this work with love, commitment and compassion.
We are looking for committed Christians to share in the work. If you have a heart to serve, live in the UK, are involved in your local church then we would be pleased to hear from you.
For more information see The Bethany Project website
Childrens’ Society
St James’ are actively supporting the Childrens’ Society
The most disadvantaged children rarely suffer on just one front. We work with these children to ensure that they are loved, valued and listened to. With them we fight childhood poverty, harm and neglect.
Our network of programmes includes drop-in services for runaways, children’s centres and support for young carers. We support children who are refugees from violence, and we give those in care a voice.
We transform children’s lives by pressurising central and local government to protect them, and we challenge attitudes that perpetuate harm and injustice.
In hard times, children are among the hardest hit. We don’t just help them survive – we help them flourish.
For more information see the The Children’s Society website here.
World Vision
St James’ is helping World Vision to improve the lives of children across the world.
Our vision is of a world in which every child has the chance to live life to the full; where they are loved, protected and cared for, and enjoy good health and an education. Where they can live free from fear.
For this to become a reality, we work alongside communities in close to 100 countries to bring about long-term change; we give children a voice in the places where decisions are made and we respond quickly to the emergencies that affect more than 250 million people around the world each year. As we do this, we focus on three key areas: child protection, child health and emergency response.
For more information about World Vision see their website here.
Toybox
St James’ is supporting Toybox to help street children in Central America.
Founded in 1992, Toybox has always identified itself as a Christian organisation, but what does this mean in practice? Essentially it means that the motivation for our work with street children is the direct result of the teachings and example of Jesus as recorded in the Bible.
We believe in one God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – who is:
◾Compassionate –with a particular focus on children and those living in poverty
◾Loving – welcoming of all
◾Forgiving – through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus we are given a perfect example of forgiveness
◾Just – seeking what is right and fair
◾Courageous – unafraid to push for change
Our Christian belief inspires and motivates us to engage with everyone, both with those who have a faith and with those who have none, and irrespective of race, culture, gender, age or social position.
For more information about Toybox please see their website here.
Foodbank
Like many organisations throughout Blackburn, St James’ are supporting the Trussell Trust and the Blackburn Foodbank
Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. Trussell Trust foodbanks provide a minimum of three days emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in the UK. Last year the network fed over 300,000 people.
All food is donated by the public and sorted by volunteers. Frontline care professionals such as doctors and social workers identify people in crisis and issue a food voucher. Clients receive three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food in exchange for their food voucher. Foodbanks also make time to chat and to signpost clients to other helpful services.
Foodbanks help prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems. A simple box of food makes a big difference.
The Trussell Trust partners with churches and communities to open new foodbanks right across the UK. With over 300 foodbanks projects launched, the Trust’s goal is for every town to have one.
For more information about Blackburn Foodbank see their website here.
Leprosy Mission
St James’ is helping the Leprosy Mission in their work to help those who suffer with leprosy.
We are an international Christian development organisation that diagnoses, treats and offers specialist care, including reconstructive surgery, to leprosy patients. Our aim is to transform and empower the lives of people affected by leprosy.
Leprosy is a disease of poverty and as well as providing healthcare, we offer rehabilitation, education, vocational training, small business loans, housing and fresh water supplies and sanitation to tens of thousands of people each year. We provide a springboard to restored health, self-sufficiency and renewed hope. Our services are provided regardless of religion or ethnicity, promoting equality and social justice.
For more information about Leprosy Mission please see their website here.