Charitable giving
As a Christian community we aim to give 10% of our income to other charities during the course of the year.
This year we are supporting the following five charities (click on each to find out more):
HARP (Homeless Action Resource Project)
St Saviour's Housing Association
The Olive Tree Counselling Service
We also support a number of other charities though collecting boxes and special collections including:
Christian Aid
The Childrens Society
Kisiizi Hospital
Fairhavens
CMS
HARP (Homeless Action Resource Project)
HARP (Homeless Action Resource Project) is a new and progressive charity combining the services of the former Southend Centre for the Homeless and Southend Night Shelter for the Homeless. This exciting and innovative venture offers a broad range of services aimed at tackling the issues facing Southend's homeless.
Their main objectives are to provide homeless people with help and advice in securing accommodation, and to alleviate homelessness through the provision of short-term emergency accommodation. This is done in conjunction with other statutory and non-statutory agencies such as Southend-on- Sea Borough Council, Social Services and the Citizens Advice Bureau.
St Saviour's Housing Association
St Saviours Housing Association is a registered Charity. Two paid managers and a team of volunteers and trustees run a Christian housing project in Westcliff on Sea. Up to 5 men are offered accommodation on a medium to long term basis. They work closely with other local Churches, especially Southend Vineyard, to provide practical, financial, emotional and spiritual care and support for our residents.
The residents are referred by the Prison/Probation Service and a variety of government departments and voluntary associations. Some have been living rough on the streets, all are in need of safety and protection
The aim is to get the residents back on their feet, into employment and to encourage them to find their own rented accommodation. The Association are seeking to make a difference to our local community for the better.
Funding comes from St Saviour's Parish Church, the Church Urban Fund, Essex Community Fund, Southend Borough Council as well as from numerous others. We also receive some housing benefit (although not all residents are eligible).
The Mission to Seafarers, formerly called The Missions to Seamen, is a missionary society of the Anglican Church, which cares for the spiritual and practical welfare of all seafarers regardless of nationality or faith.
Through a network of chaplains, staff and volunteers in 230 ports worldwide, the Mission reaches out to them by visiting them on their ships, offering a welcome and whatever help may be needed.
In over 100 ports they run centres where seafarers can relax away from their ships, get local information, find help with problems, share worship and telephone or email home.
The Mission's flying angel logo is inspired by a verse from the Book of Revelation:
"Then I saw an angel flying in mid-heaven with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those on earth, to every nation and tribe, language and people"
The Olive Tree Counselling Service
The Olive Tree Centre is a counselling agency run by a registered charity, The Olive Tree Centre Trust (South East). The trust was set up specifically to provide a counselling service to those in need in South East Essex. The objectives of the trust are:
- To relieve persons in need of spiritual and psychological support by the provision of counselling
To provide training for those involved in counselling