Dear Friends,

We have just celebrated our third anniversary!!!

When we started on this journey, I was told that we would struggle to get support because we were new and a church project, people don’t tend to back things with no track record and with such an obvious religious message.

I remember feeling very calm and thinking “this is in God’s hands, His will be done.”

By the grace of God we have been blessed and I know we have been a blessing to many with client numbers and interventions increasing continually. I would like to dedicate this update in thanks to God for His many blessings over the past 3 years and to all who have believed in us, supported us, worked alongside us and trusted us with some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

 

Finances

Financially we’re secure as we have received some new investments which illustrates confidence in our service and should support future grant applications.

I am so grateful that, even in the current climate, we have a group of individual donors who continue to give £5-£10 each month and for those who give occasional one off payments.

Some may see us on outreach and want to help. I like to ensure that what individual donors give is dedicated to our clients rather than to running costs.

It’s the little things that they provide that really help us to connect with our clients. It may be a couple of tins of dog food, honey and chamomile tea for a sore throat or a charger for a telephone. All these gifts help us to show the love of Christ and to reinforce that our clients are seen and valued.

 

Gifts

Alongside financial donations we regularly receive gifts for our clients such as woolly hats, socks, gloves, pants, toys, clothes, toiletries, Vodafone sim cards, dressings, sleeping bags, wool, office equipment, printers, and religious artefacts for the stall.

Thank you everyone for your generosity and kindness, every gift is valued, gratefully received and put to good purpose.

 

Prayers

I would also like to thank everyone who has prayed for us at the Parish Nurse celebration Mass and Masses throughout the year as well as for those who regularly pray for us at mass and the rosary, those who have prayed for us on pilgrimage, and all individuals who have committed to pray for us regularly.

We couldn’t do this without your support. Please continue to support us with your prayers, please see information below on how to get involved with our What’s App prayer chain!

 

Partnerships

We have established many valuable partnerships with the NHS, voluntary and statutory organisations within the city, we continue to be a strong Christian witness across Sheffield and many comment on the sense of peace they feel when coming to visit us in the church.

 

Volunteers

Our volunteers deserve real commendation for their dedication and long hours. For the past year alone, if translated into equivalent financial costs, our volunteers have donated a total of £11,593 worth of gifted hours, though of course the real value is far over and above what can be described in  financial terms. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Marjorie, Barry, Maria, Poppy, Judith, Scott, Holly, Simon, Ted, James, Liam and Jean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mentors guides and wisdom sharers,

We have key players who have been instrumental in encouraging and nurturing the project including Kath, our clinical supervisor, PNMUK, Fr Naylor and the governance group and the PCC.

 

Our Clients

I am so proud of our clients for being resilient and for trusting us enough to allow us into their lives. We reach a wide range of clients through outreach as well as through our stall in the Moor Market. The majority of those we have contact with are non church-goers and we are blessed to be able to bring the love of Christ to the wider community through offering help, support, advice and prayer for all.

 

Looking to the future

Building on this strong foundation we would like to do more:

  • To increase our market stall opening times
  • To develop a wellbeing café where people can get a healthy meal, develop friendship and community and explore ways of improving their mind, body and spirit.
  • To offer more group-work and training.

There are several ways you can support us in our mission to expand:

Prayer – Become a prayer partner, sign up for our prayer alerts to give immediate support to people in need, funding bids and expansion. Contact Holly on support@carverstreet.co.uk to join our WhatsApp prayer group.

Donations – We are very aware that we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis. All donations, not only financial, make a huge difference to our clients. A list of needed items is available in the nurses’ corner or contact Holly on support@carverstreet.co.uk

If you feel called to support us financially there are two ways you can help either with a one-off donation or by setting up a monthly standing order using the bank details below.

Please email Treasurer@carverstreet.co.uk for a gift aid form.

SORT CODE: 30-97-51

ACCOUNT: 03996810

Reference NURSE

 

Volunteer with us!

We would love to hear from you if you have previous experience of working with vulnerable clients, have lived experience, or are willing to learn.

Are you able to commit a minimum of 2 hours per week to enable us to open the stall 6 days per week and to develop our wellness café?

Are you committed to developing the team through attendance at regular team meetings and training events?

Are you a practicing Christian, sympathetic to our catholic tradition?

If so we have a number of volunteering opportunities.

 

Volunteer parish nurses

We are looking for volunteer nurses to support our clients attending the stall within the market and our wellness cafe. You must be a registered nurse and have at least two years post registration experience. You must be willing to undertake the preparation for practice course provided by Parish Nursing Ministries UK. See https://parishnursing.org.uk/

Volunteer assistants

We are looking for assistants to support our work on the stall and within the wellness café. Previous experience working within a healthcare setting or with vulnerable client groups is preferred but we are also supportive of those with a good understanding of the issues facing our clients and a willingness to learn. We would encourage those with lived experience to apply for this role.

Volunteer IT assistant

We are also looking for someone with IT knowledge and skills to support our ministry. This would involve helping to keep our computers secure and working well.

Volunteer funding applications officer

Do you have previous experience of writing funding bids? As we seek to expand we will be working on a number of funding applications, if you have previous experience and would like to support us in this please do get in touch.

 

Recent events

The governance group met at the end of April, and it was agreed that we will seek to recruit another employed Parish Nurse to enable our expansion plans. The application process for this role and further volunteer roles will go live at the end of June.

 

Other news

As many of you will know my husband, Rupert, was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and I took an extended period of carer’s leave. Sincere thanks to all those who have prayed for us and for your lovely cards and well-wishes. We have felt held and loved.

It was agreed with the governance group that my paid hours would be reduced and that carer’s leave can be taken as needed.

Special thanks go to the team who have stepped up so ably to ensure that our work on the stall, on the streets and through the walking group have continued and to Poppy and Holly for their invaluable admin and social media support.

With my heartfelt thanks and very best wishes this Eastertide.

Michaela

Lead Parish Nurse