StreetWise November 2009 – Quarterly Newsletter In This Issue – Christmas Party! Its almost here.. News on the new building. and much more... Contents p.2 Dear Friends. p.3 Volunteer Coordinator. p.3 Office Manager p.4 Alan's Update. p.5 Thank you!.... p.6 Christmas party p.6 Thanks from Jeff p.7 Supporting CCM Dear Friends, It seems that everybody these days is interested in results. It doesn’t matter what you do, the only thing that matters is: what was achieved? Of course, it is a good idea to look at what was achieved. There is little point is working your socks off if you are actually making no difference to the people you are supposed to be helping. The obvious question is the inevitable one: what achievements are you interested in – how do you define success? When you are working with homeless people, the answer is not simple or obvious. We find it easier to talk about progress – ‘success’ has a final feel about it, which is often not appropriate – and progress is something we can recognise, even if it means something different for each individual we meet. So achievement does matter, even if we can’t quite define it. We have an obligation, like every other charity, to ensure that we work as effectively as possible. Apart from anything else, we don’t have the time or money to spend on things that are not going to make a difference. We like achievement, we celebrate the progress achieved by each individual. But we don’t want to slip into the mistake of thinking that achieving results and meeting targets are the only things that matter. When you start to focus on achievements and targets, something else happens. You have to describe what was achieved in ways that can be measured. Your achievements have to be counted, or they don’t count. Sometimes, if I am feeling naughty when I am in a meeting and people are talking about Outcomes and Targets and Key Performance Indicators, I sometimes throw this thought in: of course, as we all know, nothing that matters can be measured. It is interesting to see the reactions as people try to disagree, and slowly discover they can’t. Money can’t buy me love, as the song tells us. And accountants can’t measure love. You can’t measure happiness or peace of mind, you can’t measure the joy and freedom which comes from knowing you are forgiven, loved and accepted, just as you are. As an advert might put it – putting a good, hot meal inside you: five pounds; having a fresh start in life: priceless. Paul Hazelden, General Manager Volunteer Support Coordinator Volunteers are at the heart of what we do and quite often the first line of contact with our customers. It is volunteers who can befriend people, talk with them, feed them in a welcoming environment, and share their faith. All of which might then encourage them to take some steps forward in their lives. We have people wanting to volunteer from all sorts of situation. Many people of goodwill who think we are doing a good and worthy job would like to help, but we need to maintain the Christian focus and distinctiveness. Most are happy to accept this as being true to our calling and also to our supporters who see us as a clear ministry of the local churches. If we are unable to accept anyone, I can usually refer them to another organisation that works in a similar field. That said we do have one or two people on the edges of faith, and others that we are trying to help off the streets by giving them value as helpers here. It is not always an easy balance to maintain so we would value your prayers for all our volunteers and potential volunteers that we are all sensitive to God's leading in this important area of our work. Steve Smith Volunteer Support Coordinator Tel: 01179423088 Office Manager So it's been a few months now since I started and I am just about starting to find my feet. This office is a very busy one, there is always something going on, people coming and going and no two days have quite been the same. There is a fair amount of organising still to be done and I am still finding plenty to shred and recycle, I am trying very hard to get things organised and up to date before we move. More about that on page 6. I am really looking forward to the Christmas party, please do see if there is something that you could help us with it would be a great blessing to us however small a contribution it all adds up. Sian Morgan Office Manager Tel: 01179423088 Alan’s Update! Quite recently I got into a conversation with a couple of friends and they talked about not enjoying their jobs and hated going into work on Monday mornings. I suppose this made me think how blessed I was having the feeling that Monday morning was no different to any other day and I look forward to each one of them. When chatting to the clients at the Crisis Centre I am very often asked what day it is, as all days seem to roll into one for them. Our clients very often have such chaotic lives that they lose time and days. One of the things I believe in is windows of opportunity. When clients are ready to change they need someone who is going to listen and have the desire to help them in any way they can. This is the reason I would like to see the Wild Goose café open 7 days a week. The Wild Goose has now been open on Saturdays for the past month and we have seen the numbers of client grow from 40 to 85. On Saturday morning between 9 am and 12 midday we serve take away breakfast rolls. This still gives plenty of opportunity to listen to the hopes, dreams and disappointments of our clients. We are still looking for volunteers for Saturdays and Sundays. Please pray that volunteers will come forward. Quite recently we took the decision to take a special interest in one of our clients. He is only 22. Both his parents are dead, his brother is a drug dealer and is in prison. We will call this man Nigel (not his real name). Nigel is on a high dose of methadone, valium and is drinking strong alcohol on top. Last week we decided to take him out for the day and took him down to Blue Anchor, near Minehead, fishing. It was fantastic to see the excitement in his face and he started to share all his past experiences. I am glad to say he caught two fish and hasn't stopped talking about it since. We will be doing similar things in the weeks to come to see if we can tap into his hopes and dreams and give him a real purpose for change. Please pray for Nigel. We will give you a regular update of his journey in life. For those of you who were able to make it to our AGM in October, you would of heard Georgie Horner singing. Georgie volunteered for us around Christmas time last year and was so moved by the work of the Crisis Centre she decided to have a professional CD made which includes a collection of well known folk songs. The profits from the CD will be donated to the Crisis Centre for the new building. The CD is being sold for £10 and would make and ideal gift or for personal listening. Copies are available, by order, from the Crisis Centre. If you are unable to collect or know someone in your your area who could collect it for you, postage would also be charged. Georgie is due to travel for 3 months, leaving in January. She is due to be doing work in orphanages etc. Please pray for Georgie during this time. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Georgie for the part she took at the AGM and for her commitment to our work. May I also thank everyone who attended and helped at the AGM and made this evening possible and a joy. A little while ago we began helping a mature lady who was deep in alcohol addiction. She came to us for help through some people she knew from attending AA meetings. Following several meetings with her and assessing her needs we managed to get her on a home detox. She has since been attending a course at Serenity House in Bristol that explores the twelve step programme which she has nearly completed. We were overjoyed and praising God this week, as we have heard she has now got funding through for residential rehabilitation. This is a huge answer to prayer. She hasn't drank over the time we have been helping her and is determined to stay that way. Rehabilitation will give her to opportunity to look at the reasons for drinking in the past and to remain free from alcohol in the future. We thank God for this lady and for all those who have shown commitment in helping her. Please pray for her as she continues her difficult journey. If you have weekly meetings, men's breakfasts, ladies meetings etc. I would be very happy to come and talk about our ministry. If you know of anyone who may benefit from our help please contact me Alan Goddard Coffee Shop Manager Mobile: 07967 596589 Thank you for all your giving!! We try and acknowledge all donations, but would like to say a particular thank you to all who give by standing order. We are working on a system for thanking you all individually on a regular basis but have got there yet. Faithful regular giving is a great blessing to us. Also we do get a number of donations given anonymously that we are very grateful for but unable to acknowledge – so if you are reading this - THANKS!! Training Course The Helping Vulnerable People course is starting again! If you haven't had a chance to complete this year long course already then now is your chance! The Course will cover many aspects of working with vulnerable people and each section is monthly with 2 opportunities to attend each month. Saturday daytimes will be at Trinity Tabernacle and Wednesday evenings at Crisis Centre Ministries. Please note that the dates in March have now changed to Saturday 6th and Wednesday 10th this change is due to the Jesus in the City meeting. New Building Help us make the Wild Goose Fly! I hope that you have heard the good news that our offer for the Queen Vic pub on Stapleton Road in Easton has been accepted, and we are well on our way to buying it! We now have the mighty task of raising over £400k for the complete project, if you have any ideas or would like to hold a fund-raising event then that would be amazing. Please feel free to contact Sian in the office if you need any help or information. Thanks from Jeff Since I last wrote to say thank you to CCM for their help my life has changed so much. While being on the restore course, held at Clevedon Baptist Church, I started to ask questions about God and becoming a Christian. After thinking long and hard I thought that all these people cant be wrong. So on 15-06-2009 I became a Christian. I have also been working as a volunteer down at the Wild Goose Café, City Road Bristol. I was asked to speak at their AGM this year and I agreed, and shared my testimony. It was a very humbling thing to do, but it filled me with a tremendous feeling. After this I decided that I needed to make myself complete with myself and God so on the 18-10-2009 I was Baptised and to this day my life has never been better. There are 2 thinks that I am looking forward to doing, firstly, I would like to go to schools and share my experience and strengths and hope that my past addiction. I want to get the message across about how serious it is. Secondly I would like to help run a restore group at the Wild Goose on Friday afternoons, maybe I will see you there? My final point is that the Wild Goose helped me turn my life around and so they could help you too. So why not get in touch and see what they can do? God Bless you all! Jeff (Seven months a recovering alcoholic) Christmas Party This years clients Christmas party will be held on Thursday 17 December at Elim @ Bristol in Jamaica Street. To ensure that this event is a success we will be needing LOTS of help could you spare some time to help out? Could you help us decorate? Serve food? Entertain? Or clean up after the event? Getting involved is easy and promises to be lots of fun! If you can't make it to help out on the day could you donate any items towards the gift parcels we hand out? For a full list of items is on the back page or contact Sian in the office who will be delighted to give you some information. Please note that we do not need any more toothpaste or soap this year. Items for the Christmas Party!! Man (210 needed) Essential Pants Socks Toothbrush Chocolates Hat, gloves, scarf (either or all) Optional Minimum of 4 items from list below Deodorant Razor Shaving foam Aftershave Handcream Woman (40 needed) Essential Pants Socks Toothbrush Chocolates Hat, gloves, scarf (either or all) Optional Minimum of 4 items from list below Deodorant Razor Sanitary towels Perfume Handcream Supporting the Crisis Centre Want to support us? You can make a difference too. PRAY! – Subscribe to our prayer emails to keep you up-to-date on current prayer needs. Follow the instructions on the ‘Email List’ page or the web site or email us. You could pray for the staff and volunteers, or you may be challenged by something you have read in the newsletter and want to pray for that person or situation. DONATE REGULARLY – For a standing order form please visit our web site or contact us. Regular giving gives us more freedom to plan for the future. Through Gift Aid your gifts mean even more! VOLUNTEER – Come and be a part of what is happening here. We need volunteers to help serve in the Wild Goose, to help Andy on the LITE course, to fund raise for us and to support our clients and their families. Speak to us and see where you could get involved. FUND-RAISE – Please encourage your church, school or youth group to make us one of their preferred charities and then fund-raise for us. INVITE US TO SPEAK – We would be delighted to visit your church, home group, youth group, women’s group, or any other kind of group, and speak about the work of CCM. DONATE FOOD – Please donate tins and dried food. For details please call us, or see the list on the ‘Current Needs’ page of the web site. SURF THE INTERNET – Go to our web site and visit the ‘Support via Web Search’ page. Bookmark one of the search engines on that page and use it as your default Internet search. We get a small donation for every search performed via either of these sites. REMEMBER US IN YOUR WILL – Please contact us for details. BUY BOOKS ONLINE – Again, you can do this by visiting our web site. Amazon give us a percentage of the sales via our web site, and it costs you nothing.