What were you doing 10 years ago? That’s a pretty long time ago, right? In Greater Manchester, 10-15 years is the usual wait time for a council house. That’s a decade someone could spend rebuilding their lives and thriving in society. Like Helen who came to us when her future looked bleak, Helen now works full time in a care home, is doing an IT course and feels secure and confident in what the future holds.As Christmas approaches, we reflect on the greatest gift of all: the birth of Jesus Christ, a story of new life, peace, and giving. This season, we invite you to share in that spirit by giving the gift of a new home and a fresh start. Just as the nativity began with finding shelter and safety, your generosity can offer someone in need the promise of a new life.Last month we shared the exciting news that, in 2025, thanks to supporters like you, Embassy is growing to support more homeless people on Manchester’s streets! With the Village opening and new homes for nine additional women, you’re helping to more than double our capacity, providing life-changing support to men and women waiting for a fresh new start.As we reflect on the gift of God’s love at Embassy, we ask if you would consider giving again this Christmas to help someone else get back on their feet? It is because of your generosity we have changed lives, and we are deeply grateful. Here’s what your gift could mean:£10 could cover a welcome pack for a new resident providing toiletries, teabags and other essentials£25 could deliver a one-to-one mentoring session improving our resident’s mental health and wellbeing£50 could contribute towards a group outing for residents to build social connections and reduce feelings of isolationIf you can, please donate here www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/freshstartchristmasWe are eternally grateful for your ongoing generosity. You enable us to continue making this journey possible for so many.Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for journeying with Embassy, and more importantly, helping us get men and women off the streets and into a new home to make a new start.With heartfelt thanks and Christmas blessings,Sid, Tess, and the Embassy TeamPS - Your gift will help ensure homelessness does not become a tradition.Embassy is one of the charities (Mission Partners) that St Andrew's Church supports through prayer and donations. You can follow the charity on @ Instagram and Facebook, as well as see the latest news on their website.
Kimbilio has an ambitious project to construct a new purpose built Day Centre. This is the building adjacent to the main road and has a toilet and shower block at the far side of the site. As well as providing food, medical care and clean water, the building will include a hair dressing salon where teenage mums who have trained in hair dressing skills can set up their own hairdressing business, enabling them to support their babies. It will also include a craft shop where parents who have completed our tailoring training can sell their amazing products. This will provide them with an income to feed their children, preventing them from coming back to the streets. It is an exciting project and will really improve the quality of care that the Kimbilio team can provide for street children in the DR Congo.The Congo Children Trust is making a tremendous difference to the lives of young children, families and communities in Congo, and we are fortunate to have a fantastic Congolese team delivering the Kimbilio project. However, our success is a reflection of the energy, generosity and dedication of our supporters from around the world; and each individual is a valued member of our Kimbilio communityPlease consider telling your friends and family about our work which will help us increase the work we can do in our community.Many lovely Christmas gifts with a Congolese flavour are now available from our Etsy shop. All funds raised directly support the hugely valuable work of Kimbilio with street children in DRC: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KimbilioShopThank you once again for all you have done to help children in D.R.Congo have a more positive future.With gratitude,Ian HarveyFounding Director, Congo Children Trustian@congochildrentrust.org www.congochildrentrust.org https://www.facebook.com/groups/kimbilio/St Andrew's Church supports Kimbilio through donations and prayer.
St Andrew's Church has strong links with St Andrew's Junior School, Hadfield. One of the ways we support them is by nominating three Foundation Governors. We currently need a volunteer to fill a vacancy. Is this something you feel called to do?Derby Diocese Board of Education has more information about the role of Foundation Governors. Or download the attached file about being a school governor at St Andrew's Junior School.
Hadfield and Padfield Churches Together are running an Advent and Nativity trail around the village between 1st - 22nd December. There is a free trail booklet following Gabriel's story with questions to answer, all of which can be found on posters in the village which showcase artwork from children at St Charles RC Primary Academy and Hadfield Infants School. If you've not already collected a booklet from Carmel Church or Hadfield Methodist Church, you can download a copy here to print it out for yourself.Completed booklets can be exchanged for a goody bag at Hadfield Methodist Church, Station Road, on Sunday 22nd December, between 11.45am-12.15pm. If you've completed the trail and can't collect then, please get in touch to make other arrangements (email: hadfieldmethodist@yahoo.com)
