Our work is threefold:
- a diverse programme of projects is designed to the needs of people in communities at the local level.
- internationally, nationally and locally, MU policy work challenges the root causes of injustice and works for better conditions in society for children and families.
- all MU work is underpinned by the Christian faith of its members.
For more information about the work of the Mothers’ Union, both internationally and nationally, please visit the national website for Mothers’ Union news and for long-term projects.
Download the 2022 Southwark MU Annual Report
Southwark projects
Away From It All (AFIA)
AFIA is a scheme to provide holidays and breaks for people experiencing financial or emotional hardship who have not had a holiday in recent years. For some, it is their first holiday ever.
The generosity of Southwark Mothers’ Union members has meant that, to date, 234 people have been able to go on a trip, short break or holiday using the more than £12,000 raised by local branches.
Read further insights into the work of AFIA and the current Southwark AFIA information leaflet here.
Supporting prisoners' families
At Christmas in 2020, more than £1,000 was spent on 140 gifts for the children of inmates of Belmarsh Prison.
Communicating English
Our Communicating English programme offers English lessons to refugees and asylum seekers. The students are divided into three groups of men and older boys, children, and women. Around eight people attend each week, with two to three MU volunteers helping out. The students have expressed their thanks for the fun, learning and integration and for the opportunity to pray for each other.
Hospital links
Our members work in and for hospitals across the Diocese with a significant focus in the area of neonatal care (premature babies).
One of our hospital projects is Tea @ 2 at the Evelina (St Thomas’ Hospital). This project sees two members of our 20-strong team visiting the hospital nearly every week to offer tea, comfort and cake or biscuits. The hospital sees Tea @ 2 as a really welcome resource and supports the project as a key part of the volunteer service.
In addition, some branches help by making blankets from bonding squares, knitted octopuses and crosses for people’s pockets which are shared with the chaplaincy for wider distribution.
As well as the support for St Thomas’, a number of branches are also supporting their local hospitals with knitted items.
Our other local projects are many and various – you can read our Annual Report to find out the diversity of our local projects and activities.
Easy Fundraising
Sign up today and all your online purchases will help to support our work. Easyfundraising partners with over 7,000 brands who will donate part of what you spend to a cause of your choice. It won’t cost you any extra. The cost is covered by the brand.
Set it up today, shop for what you need and help support families around the world. https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/
MUeShop
Please visit https://mueshop.org/ to go to our online shop where you can purchase a wide range of Christian occasion and greetings cards, gifts, books and also Mothers’ Union resources.
‘Last year… we received almost half our community development budget from the profit on the income generated by MUe.’ Mothers’ Union
