St Elizabeth's works with other local agencies to help tackle the needs of the homeless and poor in our neighbourhood.
We are part of a network of churches who offer Sunday lunch for those in need. Together we ensure that a hot meal is available every Sunday to those who would benefit from it. At St Elizabeth's we offer a Sunday lunch once a term in the crypt. We need volunteers to set up and clear away, to prepare the food, to serve it, to wash up, and to welcome our guests and sit with them.
We have teamed up with the OpenDoor charity to provide a weekly night shelter for the homeless during the winter months. Together with six other local churches we ensure the homeless have a hot meal every night as well as a place to stay that is warm and dry. By working with OpenDoor we can link our overnight guests with a trained caseworker who will help them find permanent accommodation and gain access to other agencies and services that could help them. We need volunteers to prepare the meals, to clear away, to liaise with OpenDoor, and to sit with our guests as they eat.
Roots is a project run to help those who have been out of the normal society networks for a long time. Guests get to develop practical skills such as cooking, gardening, and handiwork. They can then be linked with other local organisations to develop those skills further. At the same time, they are given an introduction to things like self-care, finance management, and social skills. Roots takes place in the parish crypt and is looked after by the Vineyard Community Centre.
