Christmas Food Boxes

Last year we supported the YMCA by providing each resident with a Gift Bag.  We’ve approached them again this year but they have asked us to join with them in supporting local community projects.  The obvious choice is the Northfield Food Bank which will be putting together Christmas Food Boxes.  

As the food bank storage centre has just moved to Kings Norton it would be much easier all round if we gave them money.  This will give them the flexibility to buy a variety of items so each box isn’t just mince pies……  

So if you’d like to give a donation (we were going to suggest about £4 per bag when it was for the YMCA)  you can do it in the following ways:  

Account Name  
St Laurence PCC
Account Number 
00095606
Sort Code
40-52-40
Quote Ref
XmasFood 
1. Bank Transfer 




2. A cheque made payable to Elaine Clements with XmasFood written on the back.  If you need to post, please use the Pastoral Centre address.   
       173 Church Road, Birmingham, B31 2LX

3. Or cash in an envelope marked XmasFood dropped through the letter box at the Pastoral Centre 
       (the post is checked most days.) 

Deadline 30 November

St Laurence Safe Spaces

This is an after school club for children of secondary school age.  The aim of the club is to provide a safe haven for those who are vulnerable to knife crime.  We now have just over £5,800 for this project and we are seeking a further £1,650.  It is hoped to start in February / March 2021 depending on the COVID situation.   Even if this activity is permitted, we will only start after a careful consideration of the risks and making a full risk assessment.

The club will be part of the Diocesan Safe Spaces initiative.  
Their principles are:
Place:	An accessible space(s) open at the same time every week for young people to engage with.
People:	Open to young people in the neighbourhood regardless of circumstances and or situation offering positive activity and friendship with the right ratio of staff and/or volunteers.
Presence:	A place where young people can feel safe, actively listen to one another, form friendships and relationships including with those who are ‘other’, treating each as a unique individual.
Provision:	Positive relationships and activity engaging young people, supporting and signposting young people to more specialised provision where appropriate. Seeking the holistic development of young people physically, economically, emotionally, socially, spiritually.
Participation:  Recognising that each young person will bring talents, experiences and skills and encouraging those to be used at the Safe Spaces for Young People or in wider community projects and activities.

We plan to provide snooker / pool, air hockey, table tennis, football, cricket, and computing and a “tuck shop”.  

We now need volunteers to help run the sessions which will be once a week, probably on a Thursday from 3.30 pm to 5:00 pm.  In addition 15 to 30 minutes will be needed before and after the session to set up and clear away.  Other possible days are Monday and Tuesday.  Volunteers do not have to commit for the full 2 plus hours; a commitment of 1 hour or more would be appreciated.  The plan is to have a trainee youth worker from Youth Work Europe with us and to provide youth work training for those who would like it.  

Please contact Fr David if you would like more information or to volunteer.
Fr David

M: 07821 151 484 
or E: David.Pycock@Blueyonder.co.uk