Meeting Point, Christ Church Armley (Leeds)

Befriending, supporting and caring for asylum seekers though a drop-in centre attached to the church.

Centre Manager (before she moved on to other things), Catherine Beaumont tells the story of the service one woman experienced as, "I will always remember that you suffered with me."

The beginnings

It began when Park Lane College ESOL teachers found that they were spending so much time helping students with problems they didn’t have enough time to teach. The idea was that we would run a drop-in alongside the ESOL class and provide support. We also had some asylum seekers attending Christ Church with complex, time-consuming problems.

When the college funding ran out we moved it to the church to run it as a voluntary church-funded group. We felt the funding used by Park Lane was target driven and dehumanising and it taught us never to go for that type of funding again. We put together a management group and constitution and initially had funding for activities only. When we started to fund salaries we joined Leeds Christian Community Trust and worked closely with West Leeds Healthy Living Network.

We started with a handful of volunteers, a handful of beneficiaries, the church building and food for a meal each week.  First no-one came and but our enthusiasm and determination to do something kept us going. So we persisted - advertising at the college and making sure housing providers and health professionals knew about us.

If we made contact with an asylum seeker who did not respond to aninvitation to the drop-in we would visit them at home and befriend themand found they would then feel comfortable enough to come.

Seven years on…

The project is now flourishing and has 4 paid staff and around 12 volunteers. Each week there can be up to 100 people enjoying good food (prepared by and representing the nationalities who attend) football, ESOL classes, a clothing store – and always a warm welcome for everyone.

Hidden behind the scenes is a further service of care and support - often given beyond the call of duty: home visiting, advice with legal problems, housing and health: even a wedding service which helps couples arrange and enjoy their special day! And there is a regular Bible study which people are free to attend, without pressure, as a way of giving some spiritual nourishment.

The project remains closely related to the church with all the volunteers church members which helps to retains the strong Christian ethos. In a recent project evaluation by Livability, all the volunteers expressed a high level of motivation to be involved in the project and appreciation for what they learn and receive from those who come.  Both volunteers and attenders enthused at the opportunity to meet others and build bridges across different origins, cultures and faiths in a safe, supportive environment.

Challenges

The biggest challenge now is to adapt from being a new initiative to becoming an established organisation. Different skills and resources will be needed. Space is also a challenge.

The other major challenge is how to minister to people who have been so traumatised and are still facing danger and hardship. How do we encourage people to trust God even to and beyond the point of death, when we are safe and well fed. Each of us has worked this out differently , but it has been good for us to be in situations where we really cannot offer anything except prayer. It has increased our faith because when something unexpected happens we know it can only have been God’s doing and nothing that we have done. We have seen quite a few miracles: healings, people being released from detention centres, and people being given positive decisions when it appeared hopeless.

What makes it all worthwhile is what we receive from our friendships withthe asylum seekers and refugees. In times of discouragement God hasreminded me that it’s not my work it’s His and I shouldn’t take myselfso seriously! This has always been very freeing.

Top tips for others

1. Be very sure about your ethos - this is especially crucial in going for funding.
2. God is responsible for the work not us.
3. Enjoy it!


Catherine Beaumont, Meeting Point Centre Manager before she moved on, 2009.

For more information on Meeting Point visit www.christchurch-meetingpoint.org.uk