Shephall Relief-in-Need Charity (Charity No 238169)

Christmas charity – we have agreed to support Shephall Relief-in-Need Charity. This charity was begun over 400 years ago from the various bequests and wills noted on the Benefactors board in the north aisle. In the old Shephall Parish if the Charity finds, or is found by needy families who cannot get particular help from Statutory Bodies then after careful consideration this Charity may decide to give financial assistance.The old parish area now covers Shephall and Broadwater and it is a condition that the family lives in one or other area. In the past the charity has helped with the cost of school trips, clothing for children, bedding and equipment for single mothers in new accommodation, and food vouchers. Please contact our Vicar, who is one of the trustees, for more information.

Children’s Society

St. Mary’s Shephall Church supports The Children’s Society, a Christian charity to work with both young and older children especially working with teenagers and their families. There are parish boxes available to collect your small change and will be emptied annually or when full.  St. Mary’s – Shephall also supports through our Christingle Service held around Christmas time where small candle holders are given out at the beginning of advent and collected during the Christingle service, again collecting small change. To find out more about the Children’s Society go to their web page: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/

The Family Centre,  Stevenage is based within our parish at the Hyde. The centre offers support to local families with children under 5. To find out more about the Centre and the services they provide  go to their web page: www.stevenage.gov.uk/about-stevenage/childrens-centres

We are collecting donations of dry goods, tins and store cupboard staples which we are passing to the Family Centre for distribution; any contributions can be left in church.

Bridge Builders is a Stevenage based charity whose vision is that every child within our community will have opportunities to explore the values of the Christian faith. The trust works with primary schools to provide assemblies and materials for class work. The trust also provides mentoring and counselling services for individual children. For more information see:  http://www.bridgebuilderstrust.org.uk/.

USPG – United Society Partners in the Gospel 

Founded in 1701, we are the Anglican mission agency that partners churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential and champion justice. Environmental degradation. Turbulent global politics. Gender injustice. The desperate flight of migrants. Forced displacement of people at record levels. USPG believes today’s major challenges cry out for words and actions that express a love and solidarity that goes beyond narrow self-interest and national boundaries. We believe the churches of the Anglican Communion are called urgently in mission to be communities of resistance and hope, witness to the healing power of Christ’s love. https://www.uspg.org.uk/about/aboutuspg/