St James The Great
Old Milverton, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Churches Together in Leamington have put together a magazine called Hope, which contains the details of many wonderful Christian organisations who offer help and support to the local community. See www.hopeleamington.org.ukfor more information.
If you feel you need help in any aspect of your life please continue to read below to find a group that may be able to offer support.
The charities below all run on the generosity and dedication of volunteers. If you feel you can offer any time to any one of these groups, do get in touch.
New Hope Christian Counselling
Centres in Warwick, Leamington and Stratford, www.newhopecounselling.org.uk
A counselling service for people in Warwick, Leamington, Stratford and the surrounding area. We use volunteer counsellors and operate on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis. We offer a variety of counselling techniques including person centred, cognitive behavioural therapy, psychodynamic and integrative, addressing many issues including anxiety, grief, confidence and relationship issues.
Helping Hands Community Project
Working across Warwickshire, www.helpinghandscharity.org.uk
We run Leamington soup kitchen three nights a week for the homeless and vulnerably housed adults, along with offering NVQs in retail, customer services, barista, catering, food hygiene, hospitality and warehousing to help people back to work. We offer maths, english and computer courses in partnership with national charity Crisis. We also have a House2Home project which gifts donated furniture and household goods to families in need, The Lighthouse charity shop and The Gateway cafe in Warwick.
Flourish
Working at Campion and North Leamington schools, www.youcanflourish.co.uk
We have an exciting vision to see a generation of girls aged 11-18 know their true value, be confident in their unique identity and released into their God-given potential. Our team provides group courses and one to one mentoring support to girls referred to us through parents, churches and social care, to help them cope with the challenges they face.
Way Ahead Project by the Salvation Army
Chapel Street, Leamington Spa, yvonne.mckinnon@salvationarmy.org.uk
Supporting people with advice around homelessness, accommodation, addiction issues, mental health problems and employment. We work in partnership with local agencies such as CGL, Probation, Jobcentre, Citizens Advice and local charities.People who drop in can make themselves breakfast, shower and use the laundry facilities, use the computers to job search, and access social media. Phone calls can be made to necessary agencies with the support of staff. We can provide food vouchers, clothing vouchers and have various local services who volunteer such as a podiatrist an barber. We support people into paid and voluntary employment and have close links with detox and rehab facilities to help people on that next step to recovery.
Warwick District Foodbank
Seven centres across Whitnash, Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth www.warwickdistrict.foodbank.org.uk
Part of the Trussell Trust, a national network of food banks providing emergency food to people in crisis. Open to people of any faith, visitors can get a cup of tea or coffee and a friendly chat. In exchange for Red Food Vouchers you can receive a food package of 3 days worth of emergency food.
Leamington Night Shelter
Wednesday and Sunday nights at Radford Road church, Leamington, www.leamingtonnightshelter.org.uk
We serve the homeless and vulnerable adults, in fact everyone is welcome, from any faith. We provide a non-judgmental space for hot drinks and food and a bed, although you don't have to stay the night. Entry is from 9 - 11pm and people can turn up without a referral. We can provide toiletries, donated clothing, socks, food bank vouchers and food parcels and a listening ear.
Nightlight
By the main door of All Saints church, Leamington Spa on Friday nights 10pm - 2am, nightlightchurch@yahoo.com
Offering free hot drinks and a listening ear to anyone out on Friday nights. We have bistro tables for anyone who needs a rest, and we welcome general chat or deeper questions, but don't preach. We have volunteers for all denominations and welcome all visitors.
The Well Christian Healing Centre
Based at 20 Augusta Place, Leamington www.wellhealing.org
Open six days a week for people from far and wide, we offer a safe environment for healing prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. We offer regular events and learning experiences for people to discover more about God's healing powers that we equip people to further Jesus's healing ministry throughout our hurting world.
There is weekly prayer ministry, twice monthly 'resting and receiving prayer' and training in Christian healing ministry. There are also Pathway teaching events which focus on specificities issues, eg. cancer, depression, anxiety and anger, and also quiet days, women's evening sessions and a Travelling Well, where we visit churches around the UK to help lead healing services.
Street Pastors
Around the streets of Leamington on Saturday nights, www.leamingtonspa.streetpastors.org.uk
We are a group of volunteers from local churches who walk the streets of Leamington on Saturday nights offering help to anyone who needs it. We have developed relationships with the door staff at the night clubs and bars, and are contactable by the CCTV night staff should someone require our help. We offer lollipops and water, and even flip-flops to people we meet, and attend to those who may have had too much to drink and need assistance to get home. We may have to calm down people who feel unfairly treated by door staff and are happy to chat with anyone who needs help.
Leamington Vineyard Learning Centre
Four centres across Leamington and Rugby, www.lvlc.org.uk
We work with students who are excluded from school and/or suffer from school refusal - an anxiety related disorder, predominantly those in years 10 and 11. Students attend the centre during term times and the centre aims to help students fell safe, happy, learn how to learn, use their imaginations, supported to learn at their appropriate levels, fulfil their potential and attain their GCSEs in English and Maths.
Churches Together Walking Group
A different walk every month, ctlwalkers@gmail.com
We meet up on the 3rd Saturday of every month for a 10am start and enjoy a gentle 3.5 - 4 mile walk followed by an optional lunch at a nearby pub. Each month the walk is led by a volunteer member of the group for around 15 - 20 walkers. Everyone is welcome to our friendly group.
Action for Children
Kenilworth, www.actionforchildren.org.uk
Action for Children is a national Christian charity, founded by and in partnership with the Methodist church, they work with hundreds of children's programme across the country, and give online support as well. The local initiative is Warwickshire Disability (short breaks) which provides short breaks for children and young people with disabilities, in partnership with social services.
Thrive Youth Ministries
Based in Whitnash, www.thriveym.org.uk
We work with churches to offer training, mentoring and practical support to those who run youth groups, Sunday clubs and other youth ministries. We also offer weekend retreats for those working as youth or children's workers. And, we run an annual weekend away which aims to gather together youth groups from across Warwickshire to worship God, build friendships and have fun, with activities such as climbing, abseiling, archery and prayer, discussions on life the Bible and faith.
Christians Against Poverty
Debt centres across the UK, www.capuk.org
Offering a range of help such as food bank parcels, one off gas and electricity top-ups and a debt management process to help people become debt free. Starting with home visits to assess relevant details and produce budget advice we then consolidate their debts with a CAP plan to help them pay off their debt more easily.
Thirst
Christ Church, Priory Terrace, Leamington Spa, www.christchurch.org.uk
A worship and prayer evening for students, 20s and 30s. We meet on the third Saturday of every month at 7.30pm, and believe that as we faithfully pray and worship God as a united local church we will see this community transformed in the name of Jesus.
Abounding Dance Company
Meet every other Sunday 6 - 8pm, facebook.com/aboundingdance/
A place where all dancers can explore God, their faith and opportunities for evangelism through dance. We offer workshops, worship improvisation and performances that explore a range of topics for Christians and non-Christians, inviting everyone to consider God and His place in their lives.
Crossteach
Across the Warwick area, www.crossteach.com
A team of Christian schools workers whose aim is to enable pupils in the Warwick aerate have an opportunity to critically engage with he Christian faith. They seek to encourage, support and equip Christians in their faith within schools and facilitate relationships between schools and their local churches. They teach RE lessons, run lunch clubs and organise church based activities at Easter and Christmas.
Germinate Arthur Rank Centre
Since 1972 Germinate: The Arthur Rank Centre, an ecumenical Christian charity, has served both the spiritual and practical needs of the rural community through a programme of community and social projects, resourcing and training. We provide hundreds of resources for rural churches including a comprehensive range of worship resources and rural stories, ideas and inspiration though our magazine, Country Way. Our highly popular Rural Ministry Course has been running for over 30 years. Newer projects include Germinate Enterprise - a rural business start-up programme, Germinate Groups - learning communities for multi-church groups, and Germinate Leadership - a training programme developing the creative and entrepreneurial skills of rural church leaders. We also run a biennial Germinate Conference, a major national day conference for all those involved in rural mission and ministry.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon Network aims to make it as easy as possible for local churches to transform their communities by reaching out and building life-giving relationships with those in greatest need. We are faith-based but not faith biased; motivated by Jesus to serve people of all faiths and none. We work through local churches to deliver community projects. Churches can apply for a grant towards running one of many excellent community projects, and receive help and guidance to run those projects.
All great local church social action projects have to start somewhere. A single act of love and generosity can easily turn into a local project. And a local project, with the right nurturing, can be replicated through local churches into a national (or even international) movement. So, in 2016 we launched the Cinnamon Project Lab, a Dragon’s Den style competition to find remarkable social action projects with the potential to be replicated in churches across the country.
Leamington Christian Resource Centre
2 Radford Road, Leamington, www.leamington-crc.co.uk
An independently owned Christian bookshop selling books, CDs, cards and gifts. We also have a small cafe. We can often beat internet sources on price and service, including on bulk orders. We can supply churches on a sale or return basis for special events and bookstalls.
Christian Resources
Ali Foster © 2013