As we start 2022 it is timely to look back and reflect on what the Justice and Peace Refugee Project has been able to achieve because of your help and support during the past year. While 2021 has been a very difficult one, the Project has still been able to:
- Distribute over 7,300 bags of food and toiletries – with a value of at least £36,500
- Provide over £40,000 of supermarket vouchers to those who are most in need
- Directly support over 300 clients each month and indirectly supporting a large numbers of babies and children in these families.
Although we can put a monetary value on some of the things we offer, it is impossible to quantify the value of a warm welcome, a listening ear and the kindness shown by volunteers at the project to those we serve. Not a session goes by without gratitude and appreciation being demonstrated in abundance by those who visit the project and leave feeling that people really care.
Notwithstanding the latest Covid challenges we hope to continue to develop the project in the New Year including by:
- Reintroducing English lessons as early as we can in 2022 – we already have over 30 clients signed up for these.
- Increasing involvement with parishes and engaging with more schools. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss how you can be involved.
We receive donations of food, clothing and footwear on Mondays between 10.30am and 1.30pm. The project re-opens after Christmas on 5th January with the first Monday delivery day in the New Year being 10th January. The list of items we are currently collecting is available here.
We heard the sad news in December of the death of John Marshall, the inspiration behind the Justice and Peace Refugee Project which, along with his wife Audrey, he helped set up in 2001. John served as volunteer manager of the project until 2016 when, due to ill health, he had to retire. Over twenty years later his vision of service to those in need continues to be lived out through the work of the project and its supporters.
We remember John for all he has done to make a positive difference in our local area and perhaps the greatest tribute we can pay is to carry on his work, speaking out, serving and campaigning for the marginalised in our society.
If you are able to offer financial support for our work, details of our bank account (DHN Justice & Peace Refugee Project) can be found on our webpage. If your donation is by cheque please send this to St Vincent’s Centre (address above) for the attention of Sara Harris. Please consider Gift-Aiding – a Gift Aid Declaration form is available here or you can request one from marjory.knowles@gmail.com or 07929343418.
For more details about our work and how you can assist, please contact Sara Harris, Project Co-ordinator at sara.harris@diocesehn.org.uk or 07407 091184 or visit our webpage.