Circuit Office -  01642  323924

Page last updated - 16 December, 2018 

Email mbrocircuit@gmail.com

Safeguarding Policy

STAND BY ME

The Middlesbrough & Eston Methodist Circuit has appointed Mr Fu Ho Lee to coordinate an exciting new project, working with students living and studying in Teesside.

In 2010 there were more than 800 Chinese students studying at Teesside University or the Stockton Campus of Durham University. As well as the usual feelings of students moving away from home, many of these students also struggle with ‘the language barrier’, ‘culture shock’, and feeling a long way from home.

The Stand By Me Project pairs up volunteers from the local English-speaking congregations, who are trained as Mentors, with these Chinese students – to offer them emotional and practical support.

There is also a Chinese Christian Student Fellowship which meets regularly at Teesside University.

For more information about this work among students, please contact Fu Ho.

Linthorpe Road also hosts a Resource Centre

The Good Samaritan Project

Adopt a Project – Volunteers urgently needed

Dear Friends,

I am writing to let you know about the Good Samaritan Project that is being developed at our town centre church. As you know, in February this year, the Circuit employed Amanda Bolderson to develop the mission of Linthorpe Road Church and its Resource Centre and project manage the activities and services we hope to deliver.

The fundamental aim of ‘Good Samaritans’ is to provide help and comfort to the town’s most needy including the homeless, the lonely and isolated, the unemployed and those in crisis. Over the months, Amanda has worked very hard to build partnerships with organisations working in the same field and has established many valuable contacts. She has also been very busy fundraising for the projects and activities we hope to start, and at last her hard work is paying off and we are starting to receive the fruits of her labour. The Job Club has started with the help of the National Careers Service Lunch and Games Club will start on the 9th January, lunch 12.00 - 2.00pm with games to follow on. This will be a weekly event and one of Linthorpe Road’s tenants, Millennium Meals, will be providing the meals. We are delighted to be able to support our tenant, who themselves are a not for profit organisation, in this way

A recent 40s event and afternoon tea was very well supported and went down a treat with all who attended. In addition, December 19th will be our Mulled wine and mince pie event. Look out for more of this type of social event and please come along – I guarantee you a good time will be had. There will also be other activities such as Bowls Clubs and opportunities for socialising.

As for the ‘serious’ business of our mission, once funding is in place we are planning to introduce school holiday meals for families. These will be free of charge to families accessing the food banks. Many schools offer free meals during holidays but only for the children. Our intention is to provide a meal for parents too, so that they can sit down with their children. We are also looking at implementing Life Skills Courses for the unemployed, and in partnership with Middlesbrough Environmental City we will shortly be delivering healthy eating cookery courses.

One of our main objectives is to work with people who are suffering hardship through debt and are in need of counselling and help. Over the next twelve months we will explore the work of Christians Against Poverty and other agencies working in that field with the view to developing a service.

AND NOW A PLEA FOR HELP. As you can see there is a lot going on at Linthorpe Road and much more is to come. We desperately need volunteers to help us deliver the services planned, especially to serve meals and help clear away – no food preparation is required. Also, we need volunteers to make a cup of tea for the activities afternoons or just come along and chat with people; for some such an afternoon will be the only conversation they will have had with another person perhaps for days. If neither of these appeals to you there are other opportunities for you to get involved in the town centre project that began in 2004. If you can offer two or three hours occasionally to cover the office when the administration staff are on holiday or in meetings, or even helping

Amanda with her events it will be gratefully received. All expenses will be paid, and training given if needed. If you are interested in helping us, please talk to Amanda on 01642 225396 or Pat 07342670320. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Love and Best Wishes

Pat Barrett