The campaign highlights the diversity and unity of volunteer work across the UK – and it’s a time to focus on inspiring more people in our communities to make a difference.
Volunteers carry out a variety of roles –and responsibilities within their parishes. They are people of all ages, backgrounds and skill sets and their contributions to the life of the Church are immeasurable.
Across these pages, you can read about some of the volunteers in our diocese, who selflessly give their gifts and time, going above and beyond in leading and serving their church communities.
Growing faith with children, young people and families
Tamara, Children and Young People’s (CYP) volunteer at St Peter, Brockley
Tamara volunteers at the children’s Sunday sessions and summer club led by Kylie and supports the youth Sunday sessions and youth club, led by Elisha at St Peter’s Church.
Tamara said, “I have been at St Peter’s for my entire life (22 years). Volunteering with young people allows me to actively live out what I’m learning through discipleship while also investing in others on their own faith journeys. It’s a space where my faith is not only reaffirmed but continually stretched. I often hear God speak in unexpected ways through them. There’s something powerful about the simplicity with which children approach scripture; their childlike faith strips away the complexity we often add as adults. Their passion for Jesus is contagious and constantly inspires me to seek him more deeply.”
Encouraged by Kylie’s approach to create creative and meaningful ways for children to connect with God and Elisha’s genuine heart for young people, she said, “Both Kylie and Elisha embody the love and inclusivity that Jesus calls us to experience and extend to others through their faithful and compassionate leadership.”
In talking about what motivates her to volunteer, Tamara said, “Young people have a raw and honest faith that constantly challenges me to keep pursuing God with a childlike curiosity.”
Mothers’ Union volunteers
Sally Steele, Mothers’ Union (MU) Trustee and Coordinator of ‘Away From it All’ holidays
Sally has a real passion for the Away From It All (AFIA) holiday scheme. It is primarily funded by MU members and gives the opportunity of a break to those who may be experiencing stress or difficulties in their family life – helping 2,500 people on average to have a holiday each year.
As the first point of contact for families or advocates, Sally volunteers behind the scenes to help with the application process.
Sally said, “All the families are vulnerable in a variety of ways but on the whole, they have never had a previous holiday. Often, they struggle financially, and quite often, have a child with additional needs, either learning disability or autism. Given that many of the families we support have children who attend Special Educational Needs schools, they share the information of the scheme with friends. Whether it’s a church community or a school or families with the same social worker, all are welcome to apply. We have also arranged day trips for women and children who may need the support of a women’s refuge.”
Janice Clarke, MU Branch Leader at St Barnabas, Sutton
Janice is an active member of her church community and within the wider MU. She plans and leads ‘Bible Stories for Children’ every Sunday during the morning service with their parents and carers. The sessions include a Bible story, prayer, colouring, crafts, quizzes, games and songs.
Janice said, “There is so much that children can learn about Jesus and the Bible from the stories we share and it is a great way to reach out to our local families.”
Supporting refugees and asylum seekers in our communities
Cynthia Smith, MU member at Christ Church, Purley – ‘Tea and Talk’
Cynthia has developed an initiative – ‘Tea and Talk’ – to support refugees and asylum seekers staying at a hotel in South Croydon. Each Thursday, a group of seven volunteers from three different churches meets at the hotel to offer support, tea and a chat. The group helps those for whom English is not their first language, using various resources.
Cynthia said, “Many do speak English and so we chat and do craft. If we have children present, we play games with them or do craft work. Some of our helpers keep in touch with those who have left us and moved away. When we are at the Hotel, we take in food treats each week and gifts at Christmas.
“We do all this as we want refugees to feel welcomed and we know it makes a difference in our community.”
Penny Locke, MU President and Margaret Simmons, Croydon Women’s Refuge
Penny and Margaret said, “At St Mildred, Addiscombe we have supported the Croydon Women’s Refuge for many years, initially by collecting toys and books at our Epiphany Gift Service.
“Latterly, we have tried to concentrate more on day-to-day essentials since clients often arrive in the Refuge with nothing in the way of personal possessions and equipment. So, this year we sent more than 300 items of toiletries, hygiene products, clothing and nappies.
“We also try to meet any emergency requests during the year. For example, during Lockdown everyone kept a look out for formula milk which became scarce. Also, during 2024, we provided two Moses baskets of toiletries and clothing for newborn babies. Sue, the Refuge manager, is very willing to come and speak to groups about their work.
“Although this is co-ordinated by the MU, the congregation is very generous, and always happy to support any additional requests we receive. In fact, so generous, that after our Epiphany service were able to split the 600 gifts between the Refuge and the Croydon Refugee Centre.”
Working with refugees
Danny Simpson, Commissioned Pastoral Lay Minister (CPLM), St John the Divine, Upper Norwood
Danny has been a CPLM (formerly known as a Southwark Pastoral Auxiliary) since June 2019.
As part of the l
Danny said, “Our refugee café is a good example of the power of engaging with our local community to support others. Donations of clothes, kitchen equipment and toiletries all come from the generosity of our neighbours. Most do not have a Christian faith, and it is a joyful experience to see how safe and welcoming people feel in our church environment. It is a joy that, like us, they can share in the outworking of the love of God in action – and a privilege that the community can open their hearts to share their struggles, history, culture, education and skills with us.
“Many others had seen my vocation, but from that moment Bishop Christopher anointed my hands, I felt affirmed by the church and, more-so, called by God to bring his ‘living water’ to my community of faith and wider community. What I love about Jesus’ inspiring commandments is the relationship that we as volunteers develop with all who attend our projects. I am blessed by all the opportunities that God gives me to promote his kingdom.”
Danny also volunteers to support projects for children, young people and their families, as well as sharing in the ministry of taking communion to those who are sick, housebound or in nursing homes.
Hospitality at the heart of the parish
St Francis and St Mary of Nazareth, West Wickham
The community lunches at St Francis have been running since 2012. Primarily aimed at catering for the elderly and those living on their own in West Wickham and surrounding areas, the lunches run four times a year in February, June, September and December. Around 40 people attend to enjoy a two-course meal for between £8–£15.
They are run by a team of volunteers and with occasional help from the Youth Club – everyone does different jobs, including food preparation, setting the tables, serving food, clearing away and washing up.
A raffle takes place during the lunch, with proceeds going to Southwark’s Link Dioceses in Zimbabwe.
St Mary’s lunches have been running since 1982 as an outreach to those who were elderly or living on their own. They are monthly and held on the first Wednesday of the month. People enjoy a traditional British two-course lunch, followed by tea and coffee. Those of all faiths and none are welcome.
All food is freshly prepared and cooked on site by the team of 12 volunteers.
Holy Trinity, Redhill
The Club is held at 7th Reigate Scout Hut, Timperley Gardens Estate, Redhill – the meeting place for Timperley Church, part of Holy Trinity Church, Redhill.
Run by a team of volunteers from the church community, it is currently funded by the Raven Housing Trust Brighter Community Fund, which supports local community projects and activities for their residents.
Members of the club not only share budget-friendly recipe ideas each session – they also learn to cook a new meal which they take home for their family to enjoy. This club brings together confident home cooks and those who want to improve their cooking skills.
Clare Horsfall, who co-ordinates the group, said, “Most members live locally in Timperley Gardens, but we’re also delighted to partner with Redhill Food Club and St Matthew’s Food Bank, welcoming referrals through these connections. Each session at Timperley Cookery Club celebrates food, friendship and the joy of sharing as well as providing practical help for mums and caregivers who need to feed their families. We are also grateful to Holy Trinity PCC and the Croydon Episcopal Area via an Area Mission Grant for generous financial support to sustain the Club going forward.’
The Timperley Cookery Club is also supported by Eli Karlicka-Cook, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s Community Development Worker (Redhill West).
Last year, in addition to the monthly cookery club, Timperley Church, hosted its first Thanksgiving meal led by long term volunteer, Hazel Gray. The meal was an opportunity to experience the American traditions of Bev Holmes, a former church volunteer who has now returned to the United States. In her testimony, Bev shared what Thanksgiving means to her, speaking about the gift of sharing food and her Christian faith.
The Revd Mick Hough, Vicar at Holy Trinity said, “Clare and her team do an amazing job of creating community by gathering people together around food, and the testimonies of the participants bears witness to that. Jesus did something similar – he has many of his key encounters around meals!”
Ringing in the congregation
Southwark Cathedral and St James, Bermondsey
Edward said, “I enjoy my bellringing because I go to different churches to practice ringing the bells, and also to ring for services and events. These churches have rings of five, six, eight, ten or twelve bells, and each ring of bells has a lovely sound.
“St James’ is one of many churches where I regularly ring the bells and I am the Tower Clerk. I also steward at special services and events and volunteer in various ways at the Cathedral. Earlier this year, I took part in the Conservation Housekeeping Week at the Cathedral, this involved attending to the housekeeping needs of the Retrochoir and the Chapel of Reconciliation.
“I sometimes attend the bell-ringing practice sessions at the Cathedral and I occasionally ring for the Choral Eucharist on Sunday mornings. At my most recent practice session, I practiced ringing plain hunt caters and plain hunt cinques. These can be quite tricky to ring!”
Conserving the Cathedral
Sharda Rozena, Volunteers Officer at Southwark Cathedral said, “The volunteer conservation team at Southwark Cathedral have been working incredibly hard since January using special equipment to dust the friable stone and monuments. They have collected samples of crumbling stone for an archaeologist to observe and samples of paint dust for the conservators to study.
We are incredibly grateful for Andrew, Edward and Robert, and a special thank you to Larisa (pictured) – who worked continuously in this role with great enthusiasm, while also recently joining the Cathedral Stewards too. The hard work and skill of this team are invaluable to protecting and maintaining the fabric of the Cathedral for future generations.”
For more information about volunteering visit:
navca.org.uk
gov.uk/volunteering
This blog is taken from page 6-7 in the June edition of The Bridge – our diocesan newspaper.
