Update on Home for Good, our national mission partner

https://homeforgood.org.uk/

Our first visit from our local Home for Good representative, Imogen, was on Sunday 18th May. She spoke at the 8am and 10am services to introduce the charity and provide an overview of the need for providing homes for children in care.

On a very warm evening on 1^st July, Imogen returned to St. Andrews to lead an interesting vision evening. This was open to all churches, and a couple of people from Christ Church attended, including a current foster parent. A few of us enjoyed holding the baby that she is currently looking after! The evening gave more information about Home for Good, and discussed the current situation locally regarding fostering, adoption and supported lodgings (the latter is to help teenagers gain independence).

It is worth realising that even if you are not considering becoming a foster parent, there are ways in which we can all support the charity. E.g. Prayer, as well as supporting the charity financially, and importantly, being supportive of any family who does choose to start providing a home for children in care. This could be emotional and /or practical support, and Imogen spoke about respite care and other types of support such as driving people to appointments.

The charity Home for Good aims to empower and support parents (so that their children don’t need to go into care) and carers (when children do enter care), and to equip churches to be supportive.

One of our young church members, Livvy Thomas, made and sold cakes one Sunday morning in June, and raised about £30 for Home for Good. This was a great example of how we can all play a part in supporting this cause – thank you Livvy!

It can be helpful to read about people’s experiences of growing up in care, so here’s a reminder that Caroline has a copy of the book ‘Looked After – A Childhood in Care’ by Ashley John-Baptiste, which you are welcome to borrow.

Your Home for Good contacts are Valerie Littleford, Caroline Riches and Jenny Tomlinson – please feel free to come and chat with us if you’d like to know more about how you can get involved.

To find out more, watch this video: