Wednesday, 25 November 2009

The Apprentice Tour: Cancelled









All dates for The Apprentice tour with Steve Chalke have been canceled. For more information please check press.

Tuesday, 17 November 2009

Putting faith to work – supporting ex prisoners in Bristol. 28th Nov

Putting faith to work – supporting ex prisoners in Bristol.
Come and find out more about an opportunity to make a real difference.

When: Saturday 28th November 2009 10.00am – 1.30pm
Where? ISR - 162 Pennywell Rd, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0TX Tel: 0117 955 7430

We are looking for people motivated by their Christian faith to work with us to support prisoners being released from prison in Bristol. Could this be you, or your church?

“Basic Caring Communities” in Bristol is a new initiative which will provide genuine support to prisoners trying to settle back into the community. The intention is to offer regular supportive contact from a group of concerned volunteers committed to helping the ex prisoner resettle effectively in the community and not re-offend. Coming out of prison can be a frightening and lonely experience. The wish to “go straight” can be very strong, but often the support and help is simply not there. Many prisoners walk out of the prison gate with no one to welcome them back into the community. No wonder then that 3 in 5 prisoners are re-convicted within two years of leaving prison.

What can we do? The “Basic Caring Communities” initiative is a partnership between ISR, PACT (Prison Advice & care Trust) and the Prison Service and we will provide training support and encouragement to volunteers. The role of the volunteers is to work as part of a co-ordinated group to provide a warm human experience of community and practical support.

This is a real opportunity for people motivated by their Christian faith to make a difference to the lives of others and we would like to invite you to become involved in the scheme.

To find out more and consider whether this is for you we are holding a taster session” on Saturday 28th November from 10.00am to 1.30pm when you can come without commitment to find out whether this is for you or your church.

All are welcome to attend but it would help if you could let us know you are coming for catering purposes.

Single Parents Fair 5th Dec

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

Mental Health & Healing in the Life of the Church: Sat 21st Nov














On Saturday 21st November, we are privileged to be hosting Dr Jo and Rev Gavin Knight, authors of Disturbed by Mind and Spirit: Mental Health and Healing in Parish Ministry, as well as Marvin Rees, for a regional conference on Mental Health and Healing in The Life of the Church.

We will be joined by representatives of the national organisations Premier Christian Lifeline, Mind and Soul and Anorexia Bulimia Care in what will be a unique gathering of Christians who have a passion for mental health.

To download the information leaflet: http://www.bcan.org.uk/downloads/211109.pdf
For more info contact kate@wholeminds.org.uk

Urge World Leaders to Vote No on U.N.'s Biased Goldstone Report

This from UN Watch:

I'm here at the emergency session of the U.N. Human Rights Council, facing a draft resolution by the Arab and Islamic blocs that seeks to endorse the biased Goldstone Report—a 500-page document that falsely accuses Israel of “deliberate attacks” against civilians during its defensive war against Hamas rocket attacks last January. (For details, see www.unwatch.org/goldstone.)

Adoption of this dangerous text will trigger proceedings toward the indictment and prosecution of Israeli leaders and officers in the International Criminal Court. What’s at stake is the very survival of democratic societies under the assault of terrorists—enemies of human rights who cynically invoke its protective cover.

The debate began yesterday and reaches its climax today. UN Watch will be there to address the assembled delegates. Representing us will be none other than Col. Richard Kemp, former commander of the British forces in Afghanistan, an expert in military strategy, and a hero of our time. Col. Kemp will tell the U.N. exactly what he told the BBC: “During Operation Cast Lead, the Israel Defence Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.”

Then comes the critical vote. We need your help. The U.S. will oppose the resolution, but the influential European Union votes -- UK, Germany, France -- are still undecided. Act now: Click here to take action and urge E.U. leaders to Vote No. I thank all of you around the world who have already done so.

Thank you for helping to make a difference —

Sincerely,

Hillel C. Neuer
Executive Director


To sign the petition go to http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/NoToGoldstone/

Thursday, 8 October 2009

BCAN Using Business to fight poverty & transform communties TBN














Here is the audio from the event:

Part One MP3 (29MB)

Part Two Q&As * (3.3MB)


* Part Two is edited as the recorder did not pick up the questions

(Mac users: Please control-click and “Download Link to Disk”)
(PC users: Please right-click and “Save File as…”)

Wednesday, 7 October 2009

“Being White in the helping professions”

TO MARK THE UPCOMING WORLD MENTAL HEALTHDAY 2009

THE DELIVERING RACE EQUALITY IN MENTAL HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORKER NETWORK BRING YOU

QUESTION TIME

Date: Thurs 8th Oct
Time: 7-9pm
Venue: Easton Christian Family Centre, Stapleton Rd., Easton (next to Easton Sports Centre)

Opening Lecture and Questions:

“Being White in the helping professions”

Judy Ryde PhD is a founder of Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling. She is the co-founder and past chair for Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility. Her doctoral research thesis is entitled Exploring White Racial Identity and its Impact on Psychotherapy and Psychotherapy Organisations. Since then her book based on her research, ‘Being White in the Helping Professions: Developing Effective Intercultural Working’, has been published. She leads a project for psychotherapy and counselling with refugees and asylum seekers.

Followed by

Question Time
Theme: Race, Identity, Inequality and the Bristol Story
Hosted by Ujima Radio Presenter and
NHS Bristol Health Trainer Coordinator Mandy Shute

Panellists
Joi Demery, Community Partnerships Manager, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Trust
AWP is the major provider of specialist mental health services operating across Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Gary Williams, Nilaari
The Nilaari Agency is a community based drug treatment provider that administers accessible high quality culturally appropriate services.

Phil Harrison, Turning Point
Turning Point is the UK's leading social care organisation. They provide services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems and those with a learning disability

Simon Newitt, Director, Off the Record
Off The Record offers counselling support and information service for young people aged 11 - 25

To be sure you maximise the possibility of having your questions asked, we ask you to send them ahead of time to: mandyshute@nhs.net

For more information on the evening contact: Marvin Rees 0117 900 2207

Note:
This is or chance to question and debate some of the most pressing race, health and equality issues with key people in the voluntary sector and our public services.

Marvin Rees
Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health
Programme Manager, Public Health Directorate, NHS Bristol

marvin.rees@bristolpct.nhs.uk