It is time to review our mission strategy. This was last done two years ago and the result was our Mission Action Plan. Two things emerged from this: the Eco-Church project in Upper Dicker and Messy Church in Hellingly. Now we need some new ideas. We would like to form a Mission Committee to think about what mow we could do. Do you have ideas which we could put into action? Have you spotted some need in our community which we might be able to address? If so we need to hear from you. We envisage no more than three meetings to be held in January and February. The committee’s job will be to produce a new plan to submit to our PCC for approval. Anyone can join! If you are interested please contact us and we can tell you more.You can read our 2021 Mission Action Plan - file attached to this notice.
Family Support Work (FSW) – October updateI attended my first Dallington Deanery Committee meeting on 3 October 2023. It was good to meet some of the members I had previously met at the Waldron Car Show when helping with the refreshments, and some new faces. These included Alison, the new-in-post community engagement and volunteer co-ordinator for East Sussex, and Rebecca Hale, Family Support Practitioner for our area. Rebecca gave a summary of her casework and reported that family needs in our area are currently 22% mental health, and 22% special educational needs with parenting and finance amongst others. She gave a harrowing account of one family she is working with and is likely to need her support for the foreseeable future (unlike Social Services which is time-limited, FSW works with families for as long as the need remains). I hope to arrange an opportunity for Rebecca to come and talk to us at Hellingly as these real-life examples remind us of the importance of the work FSW does. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming and Janet and I look forward to continuing to be representatives for Hellingly Church and keeping you up to date with the latest news of this local church-based charity.The final share of the proceeds from serving refreshments at Waldron came to a massive £2,500. A fantastic amount for FSW and the Rotary Club have invited us to do the same next year on 11 August 2024. It was fun helping out but I hope there are not so many wasps next time! FSW also ran the tea and cake stand for the NGS Open Garden at Knightsbridge House, Hellingly in September. On one of the hottest days of the year we managed to raised just over £270 during the afternoon. Our next volunteer stint will be at Heathfield Christmas Lights where we will be serving hot food to raise funds.At the back of the church there are some copies of the 2022-23 impact reports. This highlights the challenges that families in Sussex are facing and how FSW has responded. Please do help yourself to a copy or contact me if more are needed.Family Support Work in action during August 2023: 201 visits to families 1017 phone calls/remote support to 220 parents and 215 children 17 supported meetings with other agencies 43 group sessions 127 food deliveries made plus picnics for days out We've had a hugely busy summer all across Sussex and our families have spent many hours enjoying our events. We kicked off the school holidays with our annual visit to Warnham Park and over 80 children who enjoyed the swimming, BBQ and teddy bear hunt. Later in the same week we welcomed 100 guests to our AGM at Holy Trinity, Hurstpierpoint, where we were also joined by the High Sheriff of East Sussex.Two further trips to Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation were greatly enjoyed as well as a day at Berwick Church where our families were able to get involved in a range of craft and art activities in this fabulous setting. Our practitioners arranged their own local trips for families including sailing trips, visits to local parks and play areas and picnics on the beach. It is really important to us to try and provide as many opportunities as we can during school holidays so that children can have new experiences and something fun to talk about when they meet up with friends. Thank you to all of our funders and volunteers who helped to make Summer 23 so much fun!FSW Winter Campaign - Warming Hearts and Homes this WinterFamily Support Work is now working with over 600 families across Sussex, most of which form the steadily rising number of over 53,000 Sussex households currently living in fuel poverty. The effect this has on the children and families FSW work with is huge - not only can cold and damp homes lead to illness, but the stress of finding and way to keep warm and fed can amplify existing problems and cause family relationships to become strained.A simple way that you can have a huge impact on the lives of local people who are going to struggle to keep warm this winter. If you are entitled to the government's winter fuel payment, and you are in a position to donate all or part of it, please consider passing it on to help a neighbour in need. A donation of £200 could keep a family warm for several weeks and provide respite from one of their many worries. At the back of the Church there are cards that you can fill in and send to FSW at Garton House with your donation, or you can give directly online via this link: www.justgiving.com/campaign/stw23, or contact FSW to make a payment directly into their account.Kind regardsMandy Pittman and Janet PerezFSW Coordinators for Hellingly & Upper Dicker PCC
