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Steph and Geoff
The mission now run three buses so gift towards the running costs
are most welcome.
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Meeting the Need
Dear Friends,
This project fund category was set up in 1990 to help a local couple Steph
and Geoff who established the Leamington Christian Mission. This organisation
which is patronised by many local volunteers reaches out to the poor and
needy in Leamington Spa and districts. We have a high number of homeless
people and many poor families living well below the poverty line. Steph
and Geoff set up their outreach originally to help those who are homeless
by providing soup and sandwiches to folk who were sleeping rough in the
bushes and in the shop doorways. The couple soon managed to obtain a van
which they use as a soup kitchen and who minister to more than 50 people
every night who come looking for soup and food and spiritual encouragement.
The couple work with local churches of most denominations and receive
the support from local businesses and supermarkets who supply short dated
food and other items.
Funds are needed for this project so that the operators Steph and Geoff
can receive modest personal support and pay expenses to conduct this ministry.
WHO ARE WE?
We are a small mission dedicated to providing help to the homeless and
those generally considered to be "down and out" in the Leamington and
Warwick areas.
Down they may be, but, as long as people care, they need not be out. A
little love and warmth and caring can soon restore dignity and the will
to go on. Many do care, but either cannot help or do not know how to do
so. With your help, we can be the hands and voices of society reaching
out to those in need and providing that loving care.
Our mottoes are "Meeting the Need" and "Love in Action".
WHY?
We believe that the love shown to us by Jesus should be shared.
HOW DID WE START?
In June 1990, an unbidden thought came to Stephanie's mind - that she
should go and look after the homeless. This was amazing as she didn't
even know that there were homeless people in Leamington and Warwick. Anyway,
she couldn't do the work on her own, nor could she afford to do so (in
money nor time) as Geoff had a business to run.
But the thought nagged at her until, on New Year's Eve, when she was asked
to give a testimony at her church, she mentioned that she thought God
had "something for her". On hearing this, a church member asked Steph
what that "something" was, but she was not, at that time, prepared to
say. So the church member said "well, I'll tell you what I think - that
you're to go and work with the homeless".
The thought could not now be ignored. But Steph still needed convincing
and said that if it was the Lord's work, then He would have to open all
the doors.
In mid-January 1991, they spoke to a number of churches, the Salvation
Army and the police. the first policeman to whom they spoke was a Christian
who encouraged them and told them where some people slept at night in
local public gardens. He obtained permission for them to enter the gardens
after hours.
Within a week, work had started. Along with a single helper, they set
out at 10 pm, going home at 2 am. Originally, they thought they'd just
be going round giving some comfort three or four nights a week. They soon
found that they were to work seven nights, the first week and almost every
week since (they once took a Bank Holiday off, but found that the people
ate nothing over those three days).
It was snowing that winter. The first people they found were two young
men and a girl, who kept themselves clean by washing themselves and their
underwear in the public toilets, using the hand dryers to part-dry the
clothes before putting them back on.
It was not long before an article about the work appeared in the local
press. This immediately caused a reaction from the council who denied
that there were any homeless. In fairness, as far as the council, as a
civic body, were concerned, this may have been true as all those on their
computer lists had been allocated homes. However, some of those in the
housing department realised where the problem was occurring and contacted
Geoff and Steph to explain how the system worked and to suggest that if
they could help the people fill out the appropriate forms and accompany
them to the office, they could probably do something. So the work expanded.
This highlighted another problem. Geoff and Steph did not want it known
as their work, but as God's. Everyone knew them as Geoff and Steph (no
surname, address or 'phone number). Now the council needed to notify those
who had been allocated homes - but how do you write to someone who is
sleeping rough? Geoff and Steph would have to be the contact. So, their
names were dropped and Leamington Christian Mission was born.
A logo was required. It was by now obvious that the need was greater than
just the homeless (which, in any case, is a degrading title to give to
a person), so the motto "meeting the need" was adopted.
In July 1991, the first bus was purchased and converted to a mobile soup
kitchen. Another was bought in January 1993 and converted for use as a
dry seating area and for furniture removal and other needs. The buses
are stationed outside Jephson Gardens every night for an hour or so. The
numbers who receive soup and sandwiches has grown from the original three
to over 60 -with the visits to families and others in their homes, over
100 people can be seen each night. The Salvation Army now provide shower
facilities, so some are provided with towels and clean clothes and sent
there for a wash.
It isn't just those who come to the buses - help is often requested by
other agencies.
Here are some examples:
Environmental Health - called for help with an 83 year old man whose rooms
were over-run with rats, mice and cockroaches. The mission helped with
re-furnishing.
Social Workers - an old man had shingles and was literally stuck to his
bed by his own dirt. No-one would help the social worker on Boxing Day,
but the mission was prepared to help cut him from his bed and get him
to hospital.
Hospitals - maternity ward sister asked for help for single mum who needed
a cot.
Citizens' Advice Bureau - called when a client, in his early 40's, had
only £1.73 and didn't know what to do. The mission provided a hamper
and looked after him for a fortnight until his next cheque came through.
Age Concern - called us in to an old lady who had no electricity, was
incontinent, and had a cat which never went out (no cat tray). An alcoholic
lived in the back room who frequently knocked his bottle over, so the
floor was permanently wet. She hadn't had a bath for 20 years! This lady
still receives regular visits and help with bathing.
Is the work worthwhile - does anyone actually benefit?
Well, not every story is a "success", but a number have been settled into
homes, and at least one now has a job and has married.
The community has also benefitted. One police superintendent pointed out
to a neighbourhood watch meeting that the crime rate has fallen as the
need to steal for food has been reduced.
In what ways is help provided?
To the homeless: Every weekday night we take our buses to Jephson Gardens
to serve hot soup and drinks together with sandwiches or any other food
(much donated by local restaurants or residents after functions).
We also help to find accommodation.
To those in poor accommodation:
Regular visits, sometimes with food, sometimes to help with bathing or
sometimes simply to listen.
To those having difficulty with modern life:
Help with form filling, budgeting, where to go for advice etc...
To the lonely:
By providing time and a listening ear.
To those who need a break:
By organising a day or week away for families, old folk or children. Children's
activity days are also organised locally.
How can I become involved?
By giving money? Well, that is one way. Like it or not, money is essential
to do all this work, but there are other ways:
Organising coffee morning, which not only raise money, but are fun and
can be used to inform others about the needs.
Praying for us, the people and the work. Allow us to put you on our monthly
prayer letter mailing list so that you can be kept up-to-date with the
needs and problems (and joys and successes).
Offering yourself if you are local, and your time to prepare food, provide
counselling, move furniture etc...
Would you like to know more? - Ring us on 01926 335037
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