CHARITIES

CHARITY NEWS ...

Refugee Aid from Taunton (RAfT): Charity No:1180367

Unit 4, Enterprise Park, Priorswood Road, Taunton TA2 8FR (next to Grubs Up)
Opening times for donations are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10.00 to 2.00pm.
Dedicated RAfT mobile phone which is available to take calls during our opening hours: 07965245284.

Usually when I write the RAfT article it is to bring our Methodist Circuit up to date with the people and places we have been helping since the last report. However, I am breaking with tradition this month in view of the current media situation. The misinformation being bandied around creates a frightening situation for people already traumatised from the conflicts and abuses they have fled. I was sickened by an article I came across in a national daily paper and the emotions it was stirring up for purely political reasons.

You may find the following factual information helpful if you find yourself involved in a discussion:

19 countries in Europe have higher asylum application rates than the UK. Only 1% of the world’s refugees come to the UK and only 7% of UK immigration is from asylum seekers. Most of these already have family connections in the UK.

The Government has a legal obligation to house refugees. The hotels in which they are housed are most often budget brands with minimal occupancy. The manager of Epping for example, has said that it would normally be only 2-3% occupied. The food provided is not familiar to the majority of residents and many are losing weight as a result. They are not allowed to cook for themselves for safety reasons. Refugees in hotels receive £1.37 per day each – not the amount being quoted in the press.

In our area the hotel used houses almost entirely young women from 17 – 35 or women with children. They have escaped violent situations and do not want to be spied upon or further abused by protestors. They are eager to be part of society, but our slow asylum process does not allow them to work or support themselves. Instead, they engage in volunteering, extending their English language skills.

And if you are wanting to know the most desperate needs at the moment, it is for shoes sizes 36 – 39 (3 - 6), coats sizes 10 – 14, new underwear (small and medium) for women and wheeled suitcases for storing clothes (there are no drawers or wardrobes in their rooms) and for when they are moving on.

Elaine Dew

Care and Relief for Children (C.R.Y.):

September Newsletter

1. This features children from Madagascar stepping into schools from being in child labour

2. Children in Nigeria praying for our world.

3. Knitted dolls for children in Gaza.

4. Voices shaping the Conversation on Education in some of Uks most iconic institutions.

5. News on how global impact has expanded for children in various countries.

Further information about C.R.Y. available on website www.cry.org.uk
Postal enquiries to: Care and Relief for the Young, Upper Northam Road, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 4BZ.

Action for Children:

Highlights from September Communications:

1. Back to School highlighting the cost of uniform, lunches and equipment. Donations to help families unable to afford these.

2. Dedicated ambassador Ronnie Archer-Morgan (Antiques Roadshow) talks about remembering charities in wills. (Remembering Charity Week).

3. World Suicide Prevention Day – Changing Narratives. Story of Angharad who was depressed after leaving foster home at 18. She reached out for help from Action for Children ‘Skills for Living Service’. She is now a young Ambassador for Action for Children.

4. Story of Katie who sought help from Parenting Programme with her toddler son diagnosed with Autism.

5. Also, story of Ethan, who is severely autistic. He and his family helped by ‘Short Breaks Service.’

Full information on Action for Children projects etc. is available at news@actionforchildren-email.org.uk.

Somerset Community Foundation

May Newsletter received in a new-look format. News stories about organisations benefitting from Grants. Information about Somerset Social Investment Programme Opening soon with free virtual event on 6th June. Information about Grants for Groups and individuals. 

Contact details for information and making donations is Somerset Community Foundation, Yeoman House, The Royal Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6QN. Tel 01749 344949. Email: info@somersetcf.org.uk.

Francis Lewis

MHA Newsletter

Most recent newsletter end of July (held over from August Link)

1. Thank you to those who supported the MHA campaign during the General Election. 1200 parliamentary candidates received letters from MHA supporters urging MPs to address the crisis in adult social care. The Care and Support Alliance has launched the next phase of ‘Show Us You Care’ campaign with the focus on the new Government to act.

2. MHA Sunday in June has been a great success. This year the focus was Befriending and a special thanks was given by Pam Rhodes, who is a patron of MHA and much involved in the campaign. Information available on the Value of Befriending.

3. Information about leaving a gift in your Will to MHA.

For further information visit info@mha.org.uk

Francis Lewis

Taunton Welcomes Refugees

Thank you to all of the individuals and churches who have continued to support our work at TWR – by fund raising, gifts, offers of household items, and general support – not to mention your prayers. Thank you too, to all those churches or individuals who have befriended those who are far from home and in a strange culture. We should not underestimate the value of a smiling and welcoming face, or of a safe and warm place!

Only 30 months ago we were a very small charity supporting about 20 Syrian families. Now we have ‘grown like Topsy’! At the last count had over 60 volunteers, are probably supporting about 200 individuals, and find ourselves offering eight different types of activities. We continue to support all those who are seeking refuge (both those who are resettled refugee families, and those who are currently hoping to be given refugee status) without distinction or discrimination. Our work with the Syrian families has moved on to general encouragement, as they apply for ‘indefinite leave to remain’ and then, in many cases, British Citizenship (which is not as easy as it might sound!). They are making a fantastic contribution to our communal life here, and we are so proud of them. Likewise, we continue to support Afghan and Ukrainian families as they have come to live among us. Our work among asylum seekers is also on-going, either through our Coffee & Conversations Session, thorough individual befriending, or through working alongside other charities and the statutory agencies with asylum seekers in pre-dispersal accommodation.

Most of our work is just about ‘being there’ and listening, sometimes it is giving practical help – and nearly always it is also helping with language.

As ever, more work requires more people! We still need new trustees who can help us consolidate or expand our work, plus I will be standing down at the end of the year, so we are also seeking a new training co-ordinator. If you are able to help (or know anyone who might be interested) in the role of either

Chair of Trustees or Training Co-ordinator please contact admin@tauntonwelcomesrefugees.co.uk for further information. Thank you.

Lynne Mayers

Charities and other Organisations Needing Your Support
or That Can Offer Support to You ...

LOCAL PANTRY ROWBARTON:

The Rowbarton Local Pantry is continuing to be successful with 45 households currently holding membership. We have still been doing our fortnightly give-away with recent prizes being state of the art mixing bowls, chopping boards and pot & pan sets. They have been very well received.
If you know of anyone who may need the help we can offer or if you would like to join the scheme as a volunteer or member, please contact the team, by emailing Rowbartonpantry@gmail.com. You can also visit our Facebook page.

Heidi Williams (Team Leader)

WORK-WISE:
Work-Wise is a Somerset based charity which offers free support to job seekers.
It was founded by Temple and Taunton URC in April 2014, and since that time (and having recently celebrated our 10th birthday!), Work-Wise has worked with nearly 200 individuals a year.
Work-Wise provides use of laptops with free WIFI in a safe and friendly atmosphere, and volunteer job–seeking mentors that offer as much or as little advice, mentoring or help as is required. There is always a warm welcome, tea and toast, and a safe environment to offer support.

How we support our members:

CV creation - We have a standard template to help get started. We can help create a CV and we will provide a copy saved to a memory stick so it is always to hand!
Help with cover letters - We will help with adapting a cover letter to suit the job our members are applying for. A standard copy of this can also be saved to their memory stick.
Searching/applying for jobs - If members are less confident on a computer, we will sit with them and navigate the job sites to help them find what they are looking for.
Mock interviews - We can provide a quiet and private room to help members practise for their job interview. We provide feedback to help build and improve interview skills.
Help with benefits - Our Mentors have experience with different benefits and can provide information and help in applying for the appropriate benefits to fit our members’ situations.
Help with applying to further education - If our members are looking to get some extra training, we can help them find and apply for further education/courses.
Regular Job Fairs with local employers - Working with Taunton Job Centre, Work-Wise hosts Job Fairs for local employers and the public. Our Job Club runs alongside, so should people need a copy of their CV (or any other help!), we are ready and waiting!

Ultimately, Work-Wise is here without judgement or pressure, to help any person seeking employment. We provide a listening ear, and sound advice to aid those needing support.

How might YOU help?
We are funded through support from our founding churches and members, but additional donations are always very welcome. If you can offer a one-off donation, or would like to make a small monthly contribution, please would you speak to our Treasurer, Graham Dickinson. We are often grateful for offers of help on our volunteer rota. Some of our volunteers like to spend time preparing the tea and toast; others, with appropriate skills and experience are able to volunteer as a mentor for our members.
If you would like to offer, please email our Manager at manager@workwise-taunton.org.uk. 

Supporting Our Community, Growing Our Mission

Work-Wise began as a joint project between Temple Methodist Church and Paul Street URC funded by the churches, with grants from our District and the URC Synod as well as individual donations.

There has always been one simple but important aim: to stand alongside people who are searching for work, struggling with confidence, or unsure of the next step in their journey. Over the years, we have been privileged to support hundreds of people across our community—not only by helping them into employment but also by offering encouragement, mentoring, and a place to be listened to.

Our work has always been about more than just CVs and job applications. It’s about people. Whether someone has been unemployed for a long time, is facing barriers such as low confidence or poor digital skills, or simply needs a boost in their job search, Work-Wise has been there to provide practical tools and personal support. We are proud to say that our approach has helped many individuals move forward in ways they didn’t think were possible.

The coming new year marks an exciting new chapter for us. We are delighted to announce the opening of a brand-new Job Club in Bridgwater. This new club will bring the same supportive, friendly environment that Work-Wise has become known for, offering local people access to mentoring, signposting to beneficial courses, and guidance to help them reach their goals.

The launch of this new club has been made possible thanks to generous funding of £20,000 over 3 years from Hinkley Point, for which we are truly grateful. This incredible support has given us the means to extend our reach, widen our impact, and ensure that more people in our community have the opportunity to thrive.

As Work-Wise grows, so does our vision. We want to continue building safe, welcoming spaces where people can share their challenges, learn new skills, and gain the confidence to take positive steps forward. But just as importantly, we want to remind everyone that no one has to walk their journey alone—there is always support, and there is always hope.

How You Can Help 😊

With the opening of the Bridgwater Job Club, we are looking for volunteers who would like to be part of this exciting journey. In particular, we welcome those who are computer literate and able to offer guidance with online applications, CVs, and email. But equally valuable are those who simply have a listening ear, a heart for encouragement, or experience they’d like to share.

If you feel you could give a little of your time to help someone else take a step forward, we would love to hear from you. Your involvement could make all the difference in helping someone find hope, confidence, and meaningful work.

We would like to thank everyone in the community who has supported Work-Wise so far, and we look forward to sharing updates as the Bridgwater Job Club takes shape. Together, with the kindness of our supporters and the resilience of the people we serve, we believe we can continue to make a real difference.

Lucille, Manager Work-Wise

FURNITRUST

At some point last Autumn, I was asked by a friend if I would consider becoming a Trustee of the Taunton charity FurniTrust. You may have seen the shop in Bridge Street, you may even have used their services, but apart from buying a coat stand from them for the church entrance at the bottom of the side stairs I knew nothing. Neither did I know anything about any sort of commerce but after due reflection I accepted. And, hey-ho, I discovered there were people on the board who knew all about commerce and employ a very able manager who maintains a happy and very worthwhile concern.

The charity was set up to relieve need, hardship and distress by providing furniture and other household equipment to people of limited means resident within the Taunton district at affordable prices, and to keep the items reused rather than in landfill. In order to achieve this, the charity has two vans which collect donated items at no cost to the donor. The items are then made into a saleable state if need be, electrical items are PAT tested, bedding etc. is washed and made up into “starter packs” for people such as refugees who are starting from nothing. The charity Refugee Aid From Taunton (RAFT), for example, gives a £150 voucher to such people who can then spend this at FurniTrust on the items they need. When ready, the furniture is then available for display in the Bridge Street showroom.

The charity employs twelve staff, both full and part-time, augmented by volunteers who have regular commitments. As with all charities, the wage bill has seen a sharp rise so it means that sales need to be increased; hence more donations will be required.

So now the sales pitch!

Please remember FurniTrust if you have any unwanted items of furniture you want to get rid of (for free!). The current shortage is:

White goods, beds, sofas, and armchairs.

But there is storage for other items!

Tony Bell

DISASTERS EMERGENCY  COMMITTEE (DEC):
Launched in 1963 the DEC is made up of 15 member charities who are experts in humanitarian aid and specialise in different areas of disaster response. They come together to speak in one voice and make fundraising more efficient when we launch an appeal. Our members fund our running costs, and we give them back the money we raise in our appeals to carry out their vital work. In these times of crisis, people in life-and-death situations need our help and our mission is to save, protect and rebuild lives through effective humanitarian response. We use a set of criteria to decide when we launch an appeal in response to a disaster overseas and ensure we work effectively. The UK government often agrees to a limited matched funding, and UK taxpayers can 'gift aid' their donation adding a further 25% at no cost.

Active appeals where you can donate online include the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal, the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal, and the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. There are additional methods of making a donation that can be found on the website.

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