Social Justice

The king will answer them, ‘Truly, I tell you, just as you did it to the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
-Matthew 25:40

The Social Justice Working Group is chaired by Archdeacon Penny and considers issues and needs on a regular basis to keep the social justice programme up to date. Towards the end of 2020 the Social Justice Working Group identified the following priorities for concern and action, using the over-arching topic of ‘Fragile Lives’ as a way of capturing something of how it feels to be serving our communities in a time of pandemic. We welcome comments on how work on these and other areas might be developed.

• Environment: including the commitment to achieving Net Zero 2030 and achieving Silver Eco Diocese status. Find out more

• Sanctuary: work on welcoming and resettlement of refugees, and work on issues of racial justice. Find out more

• Hunger and poverty: with an emphasis on addressing underlying causes. Find out more

• Modern day slavery: a safeguarding issue that includes supporting young people connected with County lines. Find out more

• Support for older and isolated people: especially post-COVID through support for good neighbours projects and networks building on work done in parishes through lockdowns. Find out more

• Mental health: what might we be able to offer that promotes good mental health and wellbeing? Find out more

• Unemployment and the future of work: a suggestion for a project that might offer support to local churches offering space, connectivity, and wisdom, to people who may appreciate help with new patterns of working, or with identifying new employment opportunities or training. Is this an area in which you have a special interest or expertise? Do get in touch as we develop this idea into action.

News

• October 2021 - appeal launched to support refugees and asylum seekers in Wiltshire: here
• October 2021 - Community Foundations launch their annual Surviving Winter Appeals: Dorset and Wiltshire
• September 2021 - Welcoming refugees from Afghanistan - some information on requests for homes, donations, and prayer: here
• August 2021 - International Care Network, local organisation supporting refugees and asylum seekers, launches appeal towards their English language provision: here
• July 2021 - Homlessness Partnership in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole, launches innovative contactless giving points: here
• March 2020 - Local group supporting Syrian refugees reports on a year of progress here
• 2018 - National survey reveals how local churches are responding to local needs: here

Grants for social action in parishes

• Salisbury Diocesan Social Welfare Fund here
• Dorset Funding Database: Dorset Charitable Trusts here
• Wiltshire and Swindon Funding Database here
• Funding here

Find Out More

Environment and Sustainable Living

• Diocesan Environment Group here
• EcoChurch SouthWest here
• Ecochurch awards scheme here
• Church of England Environment Programme here
• Map of plastic free and sustainable shopping in Dorset and Wiltshire here

Sanctuary

• Canterbury Diocese resources here
• City of Sanctuary movement here
• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, City of Sanctuary here
• Manchester Diocese racial justice page here
• CTBI page racial justice here
• International Care Network here
• Blandford Cares Blandford Cares Facebook group here
• DEED, Dorset-based development education charity provides training and resources in global issues and cultural diversity here

Modern Day Slavery

• The Clewer Initiative here
• County Lines video filmed locally, based on a local story: Sam - In Too Deep here

Support for older and isolated people

• Directory of community support groups in Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole here
• Directory of community support groups in Dorset Council area here
• Directory of community support groups in Wiltshire here
• Prama: church-related domiciliary care provider based in Poole with a network of clubs and groups for older people – provides training on dementia friendly churches here
• Help and Care: Bournemouth-based organisation working across South-Central England promoting dignity and independence for people from all walks of life here
• Carer Support Wiltshire: Carer Support Wiltshire here
• Good Neighbours guidance South Gloucestershire Good Neighbours Network | South Gloucestershire Council here

Mental Health

• Mental Health access pack: Helping the church support those struggling with mental health issues here
• Dorset Mind here
• Dorset Mind Your Head: Supporting young people’s wellbeing in Dorset here
• Wiltshire Mind here
• Well City Salisbury project launched May 2021 here

Hunger and poverty

• End Hunger UK: a coalition of more than 40 national charities, frontline organisations, faith groups, academics and individuals working for an end to hunger and poverty in the UK here
• Trussell Trust: Nationwide network of foodbanks with its roots in Salisbury, and campaigning to end the need for foodbanks in the UK here
• Independent Food Aid Network: UK network for independent foodbanks and food-related projects here
• Feeding Britain: Continuing work begun by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger here
• Church Urban Fund look-up tool – short reports with statistics on issues of deprivation in your parish here