Benefact Trust supports planned Outreach to Asylum Seekers and Refugees
The diocese is delighted to have been awarded a generous grant of £7,000 from the Benefact Trust to support outreach work for Ukrainian and Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in Down and Dromore. This grant scheme is being administered by the Church of Ireland’s Representative Church Body.
Bishop David announced the diocese’s plan to begin a new Diocesan Outreach to Asylum Seekers and Refugees at the Bible Week at the end of August. There are a growing number of asylum seekers and refugees arriving in Northern Ireland from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria as well as from many other countries around the world. We want to welcome and support those who have arrived here with little or nothing and at the same time demonstrate the kindness and compassion of Christ in such a way that people will want to find out more about the Christian faith for themselves. To do this we plan to appoint a full–time leader of this outreach and seek active participation of volunteers from churches across the diocese.
Keith Gardiner, Fundraising Office for Church Growth said: “We need to raise £52,000 per year to cover the employment, property rental and programme costs of this new initiative. It is a real blessing to receive this £7,000 grant from the Benefact Trust meaning that we have now raised £11,500 towards the anticipated costs. We are really keen to welcome individuals and churches as partners in this pioneering outreach through their prayers, as volunteers and as supporters of the outreach financially.”
Donate
Donations to the Diocesan Outreach to Asylum Seekers and Refugees can be made through the diocesan CAF site.
Benefact Trust exists to make a positive difference to people’s lives by funding, guiding and celebrating the work of churches and Christian charities; empowering the most vulnerable and giving people, communities and places a renewed opportunity to flourish. (benefacttrust.co.uk)