Bishop Rose, in her YouTube clip entitled ‘Three Bold Outcomes for our diocese at Easter’, encouraged all churches in Canterbury Diocese to ‘pray for opportunities to serve your community’. As part of reaching out to serve our community, St. Francis Church worked in partnership with Ashford Borough Council, to host the ‘Eat Well, Spend Less Roadshow’. This missional opportunity was a wonderful way to support our community, which serves an Ashford Borough Council Ward in the top ten percent of social deprivation nationally.
Outside agencies at the Roadshow included the NHS Kent Community Health Foundation ‘Health Bus’ providing free health checks, South East Water providing advice on saving water, the Department of Works and Pensions, Neighbourhood watch, Christians Against Poverty (CAP), Montfort Manor Care Home promoting living well with dementia and KOOTH Mental Health Service for young people between the ages of 11 – 25 years. Also present were a number of Ashford Borough Council Services; for example, the Welfare Intervention Officer, the Tenancy Engagement Officer and Ashford Mediation Service. The day also included a visit from Ashford’s Mayor Cllr Larry Krause and his Consort Revd. Dr. Sue Starkings. Also in attendance was our Ashford Borough Council Ward member and Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Lyn Suddards.
Our vision statement is ‘being a living, loving church without walls’. The Roadshow was a wonderful way to reach out to our community, offering practical support and building relational bridges. The Eat Well, Spend Less Roadshow will now be a regular visitor to St. Francis Hub. It also gave a fantastic opportunity to signpost the Roadshow to all of our local schools, via the Family Liaison Officers. News of the Roadshow went out to all parents via social media and flyers went to other local organisations
All providers said that they were really keen to work in other areas of Kent. For us, this was a fantastic vehicle by which we could serve our community. Frankie’s Café (St. Francis Hub Café) was open all during the session and this too gave another way to raise awareness of our Community Café.
Over the years and months leading up to the launch of St. Francis Hub, we have been praying for opportunities both to serve our community, but also to work in partnership with other agencies. Glory goes to God for all that he is doing and all those who are working in partnership with us, to serve this area of South Ashford.
The Revd Cathie Aldis-Saunders
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