Grant From Bishop’s Fund Helps Support Those In Need In Stoke Ward

Published on: 7 Dec, 2020
Updated on: 5 Dec, 2020

A community project that provides support to families grappling with financial insecurity and food poverty in the Stoke ward of Guildford has received a £5,000 grant from The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund.

The The Stoke Community Support Project reports that for many families in the area the Covid-19 pandemic has made their situation worse. And those who are vulnerable and their carers are suffering from insecurity and social isolation.

A member of the Stoke Community Support Project makes a delivery of food.

The project provides two free meals a week to families most affected by the pandemic, helping them through a difficult time until they can become self-sufficient again.

Delivering the meals also gives an opportunity for the team to provide pastoral support.

The project is being led by St John’s Church, Stoke Road and St Peter’s Shared Church, Bellfields, with support from other churches and local schools. Families who need a helping hand can be referred by contacting the project at admin@stokecommunitysupport.com

The chairman of the project, Peter Curran, said: “There are many people in our part of Guildford who are suffering at this time as a result of redundancy, loss of income or having to self-isolate. For others, the pandemic has made their illness or disability more difficult to cope with and carers often feel isolated.”

The Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, added: “Having visited this project twice over the past few months, I am really impressed by the work our two churches are leading in their community, bringing both healthy meals and pastoral support to those who are vulnerable at this very difficult time.”

The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund reaches out to disadvantaged and vulnerable people across the Diocese of Guildford in the name of Christ.

Grants and practical support are offered to projects initiated by Church of England churches (and those in active partnership with them), to assist them to fulfil Goal 6 of the diocesan vision, Transforming Church, Transforming Lives: ‘Together to increase the range, professionalism and spiritual fruitfulness of our partnerships with the local community, to help create a stronger, fairer and more sustainable society.’

To donate to the Bishop’s fund go to www.bgcf.org.uk, click on Donate to the Foundation, and use the link DONATE.