This is a text-only version of an article first published on Thursday, 16 February 2017. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
WHILE the Oxford Diocese is less deprived than England as a whole, there are 13 neighbourhoods that are in the 10 per cent most deprived in England - nine in Milton Keynes, two in Oxford and two in Reading.
In addition, 42 neighbourhoods are in the 10 to 20 per cent most deprived category with 70 more in the 20 to 30 per cent of the most deprived in the UK*. Of the £3. 3m the Diocese receives as glebe income, in 2017 £900,000 has been for the support of areas of deprivation which are mainly urban.
This money is used to reduce the parish share in poorer neighbourhoods.
This allows churches in those neighbourhoods to focus their resources on support for the individuals and families they aim to serve. Here the Door presents just a few stories of urban churches working to serve poorer people in their communities. *UK Government, Index of Multiple Deprivation 2015 data supplied by Miso to Jane Perry for the Diocese's For Richer, For Poorer report. (Publication forthcoming. )
Fresh fruit and veg in Rose Hill
ONE afternoon each week the Community Cupboard in Rose Hill, Oxford, helps people by serving a cuppa and a snack and sending them home with a loaf and a nutritious bag of fresh fruit and veg.Visitors can chat, colour and play games while waiting to choose some groceries at the drop-in centre at Rose Hill Methodist Church.
The project started after the Revd Sarah Northall, the former curate from St Mary's in Iffley, and methodist Deacon Carole Smith, realised how many people in the area were going hungry. "People were coming into the Rose Hill Advice Centre saying they hadn't eaten in days.
We wondered what we could do about it.
We'd prayed about it and someone from the Oxford Food Bank offered the opportunity to partner with them to get food into homes in Rose Hill," says Carole. The food bank collects surplus fresh food from retailers and wholesalers and distributes it to projects across the city but wanted to get the food into the homes of people in need.
People are given invitations to visit the Community Cupboard to collect food by agencies such as the Rose Hill and Donnington Advice Centre, but people can also drop in for a snack and a chat.
At the end of the session people are welcome to share in any food remaining once people with invitations have taken what they need. "We didn't want it to just be handing out a food parcel but about hospitality reflecting God's welcome," said Carole.
"It started in the Advice Centre but outgrew the facilities so moved to the Methodist Church, where it's evolved into a real social space for people to meet.
It's been about building relationships as well as distributing food.
The food is surplus and the people who use it are doing something wonderful, stopping waste and helping the environment too. "The Community Cupboard is run by St Mary's Church (which has responsibility for the project) and Rose Hill Methodist Church.
Sarah has now left Iffley and Carole is due to move on in the summer so new people are needed to run the project. For more information contact Carole on carole. smith316@gmail. com or 01865 712880.
Investing in an urban culture
The Revd Tim Norwood.
Jo Duckles FROM visiting local secondary schools to working with refugees, the Revd Tim Norwood's (pictured above) role as the Area Dean of Milton Keynes allows him to invest in the urban culture of the town. Without responsibility for a specific parish, Tim gets involved in all sorts of projects and campaigns, and helps churches to plan on a more strategic level.
Milton Keynes has nine neighbourhoods that are in the 10 per cent most deprived in England according to the overall index of multiple deprivation referenced in the introduction above. "Quite a large chunk of my job is about supporting the parishes and developing the Deanery.
But there has been real value in having someone available with a city-wide mission focus and I have been able to do things I couldn't possibly have done from a parish base. "Without responsibility for a specific parish, Tim gets involved in all sorts of projects and campaigns, and helps churches to plan on a more strategic level.
Milton Keynes has nine neighbourhoods that are in the 10 per cent most deprived in England according to the overall index of multiple deprivation referenced in the introduction above.
"Quite a large chunk of my job is about supporting the parishes and developing the Deanery.
But there has been real value in having someone available with a city-wide mission focus and I have been able to do things I couldn't possibly have done from a parish base. "One example of Tim's work has been with one of the most deprived parishes in the Oxford Diocese.
St Frideswide's Church in Water Eaton has not had a priest for the last 10 years, but this is changing after three years of 'interim ministry'.
Tim has helped the parish plan and prepare for the future.
As a result, the Revd Catherine Butt, who serves in the Bletchley Benefice, is about to become the Vicar and will be bringing a new team with her. In the community, Tim gets involved in Citizens MK (www. citizensmk. org. uk) - an organisation that campaigns for the common good in Milton Keynes.
Projects include working with refugees and encouraging local employers to pay their workers the 'Real Living Wage'. "One of the things that has struck me is that I have never been invited into the local secondary schools as a minister, but I've been into a number of them to do community organising, helping young people to think about what they could do for the benefit of others.
I did a season with a secondary school thinking about a refugee project and helping them to put together a social enterprise. "I've been able to get involved in city-wide projects and that has helped me to craft the agenda into more urban and deprived areas.
I've been able to focus on areas of high need. "
'Grow your own' food and a theatre school in East Reading
A GARDEN project in East Reading is providing a practical alternative to food banks.Tree planting at the community garden.
The Revd Graeme Fancourt, the Vicar of the Reading St Luke with St Bartholomew Benefice, said his congregations are very involved with alleviating food poverty. "We give to the foodbanks.
I recently took three estate car loads of food, but we see them as a temporary measure.
It is de-humanising for people to be reliant on one. "So, a grant from the Church Urban Fund has allowed the development of a community garden, which is just reaching the second stage of development.
A co-ordinator has been appointed in partnership with a group entitled Food4Families (www. food4families. org. uk).
Food4Families helps Reading residents manage land for growing food, encourages healthier eating and lifestyles. Weekly gardening classes are planned for people growing food in the garden, and for those living in flats to learn how to grow food on their balconies.
We try and ensure the gardening sessions are multi-generational.
There are young children who have no grandparents and older people with no grandchildren so this is building community among people of different ages.
They enjoy that. " A free monthly Sunday lunch is also held for everyone and Graeme hopes that can be expanded. The Benefice is also working in partnership with Read College - a theatre school for people who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford to study performance arts.
(http://www. rdtc. org. uk) The college holds its classes in St Bartholomew's Church, working closely with the church and holding events including an annual Christmas Carol-oke service. "50 per cent of their students are on bursaries, many of which cover all of the tuition costs.
They were looking for new premises and decided that this was the right way forward.
It's a residential school with students living in rooms rented from the university.
They offer foundation degrees in music, dancing, acting or singing.
It is fantastic the way it is serving young people from economically or socially disadvantaged backgrounds. "
An update on South Reading
A year ago the Door ran a piece on a variety of projects in South Reading.Since then the Revd Vernon Orr, the Vicar of St Agnes with St Paul and St Barnabas, said his PCC voted unanimously to take on running the Whitley Wood Community Centre.
The centre was previously run by the local council, but would probably have been forced to close due to austerity cuts.
"The PCC prayed and prayed and we all felt God was calling us to do this," said Vernon. "We have signed a lease for five years and are responsible for the running of the building and its management.
It is the only civic building in Whitley Wood. "The benefice with other South Reading Churches, also holds a free annual fun day for families that attracts around 5,000 people and a community banquet in January where people pay just £2 for a two course meal, among other projects.
It is also involved in an ecumenical project entitled Social Action Link Together (SALT) which has just employed an officer to help link people to relevant church-based social action ministries.