annualreviewcov11

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The Centre in the City’s heart

CoventryJesus Centre

Welcome to our Annual

Review. This is for all

of our supporters and

everyone else who is

interested in our work.

Annual Review for 2010

Annual Review.indd 1 31/03/2011 11:37:06

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Who we areThe Jesus Centre is for everybody, with a cafe for the public, rooms for hire, a drop-in for the homeless, church for spiritual seekers and Christians. There are also activities for friendship, support groups for special needs, skills train-ing for learners, computers for access - and more.

Jesus Centres are set up and run by the Jesus Army Charitable Trust. JACT is a registered charity (no. 1091912) and a Faithworks Affiliate. JACT is an initiative of the Jesus Fellowship Church (Jesus Army), which is a member of the Evangelical Alliance.

It is such a welcoming place, full of love and acceptance and we feel like we have already made friends.Volunteers at activity group

Mission statement - “Expressing the love of Jesus daily in worship, friendship and help for every kind of person.”

For videos, pictures, stories, news:

Local Website: www.covjc.co.uk

Facebook: facebook.com/coventry.jesus.centre

Blog: coventryjesuscentreblog.com


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A Message From The ChairForeword

Welcome to readers who haven’t followed the Centre’s e-magazines, web-site, Facebook,

blogs or tweets! Please don’t be offended. We find in this personalised world that each means of communication is a preference to someone. So we seek to promote our activities in as many ways as possible.

This creates a challenge for service development, too. We can’t just set up a one-size-fits-all programme, and wait for the crowds to march through the doors! So, we’re quietly pleased with the year’s progress. Your Weight, the Guitar class and Well Maker all targeted a wider local catchment. We’re boosting skills training with two days a week of Your Learning. Re-Cycle - fixing bikes – now has regular helpers, and almost qualifies as our first social enterprise.

Meanwhile, our context, in Coventry, has taken a marked downturn. Other agencies have cut back

SUMMARY OF AIMSThis review tells you all about what we do, and how well we have done against our charitable aims in 2010.Our aims in full - www.charity-commission.gov.uk (search for ‘Jesus Army Charitable Trust’)

AIM 1 - Page 4

MEETING NEED To give material and personal support

AIM 2 - Page 6

BUILDING CAPACITY To help people make real progress in their lives

AIM 3 - Page 8

PROMOTING CHRISTIANITY To advance the Christian faith, facilitate Jesus Fellowship events and provide spiritual services

AIM 4 - Page 10

DEVELOPING SOCIAL SKILLS To foster friendship and to provide recreational and community facilities

AIM 5 - Page 12

BEING AN EFFECTIVE CHARITY To work constructively with other agencies and to develop volunteers

sharply, and up to one in ten Council employees may face redundancy. Not an encouraging start to the Big Society project. Our emergency food parcels are an indicator of growing need, and we’re thankful for the partnership with other churches and donors. It was important to our Bond Scheme tenants that Supporting People renewed their funding.

The intended Café expansion got held up, but is back on track. We hope it will be a cosy meeting place for the city centre community. Come in the Spring, and see!

Our national governing body, Jesus Army Charitable Trust, is working on new Centres for Sheffield and Birmingham. As each Centre is self-supporting, we’re grateful that in Coventry we have so many friends and supporters who share our story.

Ian CallardChairman


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MEETING NEEDTo give material and personal supportA

IM 1

From a blog in December 2010 ‘A guy came in this morning. He came out of the army two years ago and has been on the streets since then. He slept in a block of flats stair-well last night, and his shoes had been stolen. He left a trail of wet sock footprints across the foyer. Fortunately we had some shoes his size, plus clean socks. He had a cup of coffee, took a loaf of bread and went on his way, grateful for our little help.’ It can happen to anyone.

For the homeless and disadvantagedThe Bridge drop-in has been meeting needs of the homeless and disadvantaged since 2002. Over 5,000 different people have used the service, and every week about 10 new visitors arrive. The £1 breakfast is a favourite to get many started on the day, and the shower, free clothing and hot drinks make many feel human again. The biggest thing is friendship, in an atmosphere of respect.

Helped me survive because I don’t get any moneyBridge Visitor

Jim’s better off“Found a lot extremely helpful. When down and desperate, someone to talk to, to solve problems. Good for socialising and catching up with people. When started on the street, suicidal and desperate and lonely. Now got new family (wife and child). Confident, look forward to life. Been housed. Majority of that is down to the Centre and the group.”

The Bridge Drop-In

‘Coming here has kept me out of a lot of trouble. I meet good people here and I want to

become a volunteer.’

Diane Lawson Jim Lynes


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Anne-Marie smiles at reception where many come for information and help.

Giving Support

“The Jesus Centre has helped me tremendously with accommodation and alcohol problems. I can talk to a support worker if I need to. They have also helped me move and given me furniture. I have been given food parcels and clothing when I have needed them. I regularly go to Your Space to meet people and play board games. I am much happier now”.

Susan was referred to the Bond Scheme by another agency in the City in October 2008. She had just been released from prison and was living in temporary accommodation. We housed her in a tiny studio flat but she has now moved on to a one bedroom flat still under the scheme. Her alcohol consumption has reduced greatly.

The Bridge Bond Scheme The scheme helps people to get into rented accommodation. On average, since it started in 2005, it has housed a tenant every two weeks. 20 were housed in 2010, including several moved on to better places. We work with Housing Benefit and local landlords and give ongoing support to tenants. The rate of tenancy stability is high. The Bridge Bond Scheme and Support Workers are partly funded by the government’s Supporting People funding stream.

Things are

looking up

Kyle Frank and James Cowley get food parcels when short of cash and about to start jobs.

Reception

Our support workers, Tony Schelts, Val Hook and Barney Taylor, give one to one ongoing support for a

wide range of life issues, as well as accommodation.

Support workers

Food Parcels

Susan Robertson


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I really enjoyed the photographic lesson today. I will be along next Friday.Visitor

BUILDING CAPACITYTo help people make real progress in their livesA

IM 2

Your Art“‘The art class is great, appreciate Rune’s tuition.”

Rune has had over 80 different people at Your Art since it started two years ago. A painting by 84-year old Dilys was used for our New Year card, and we are planning to produce a calendar from pictures done at Your Art. A display of artwork is kept refreshed in the Bridge drop-in, adding colour to the room.

Your Future training coursesOut of 33 weeks courses run in 2010:Confidence Building by Adult Education - 4 certificates earned Cookery - 4 certificates earned Photography - 3 certificates earned Music Appreciation - 2 certificates earned Healthy Walks - 1 certificate earned

“I enjoy it, it’s brilliant. I come in three days a week. We fix bikes and sell them on to people who need them, usually for £20. It is good having visitors help me with it - it gives them

something useful to do.”

A cookery class

Iain leads a photography course

Rune leads Your Art

Ron runs Re-Cycle bike repairs


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Growing peopleI made lots of friends and went on a healthy walkVisitor

Julia is the Basic Skills Tutor at the Jesus Centre. She teaches literacy, numeracy, CV writing, conversation skills and other subjects, both one to one and in groups.

‘Your Learning’ student John Hughes said: “She is helping me doing my spelling - a wonderful teacher, I feel comfortable with her... going to help me to write a letter. It helps my confidence, brings me out. I’m taking steps.”

Bev Abbott leads the guitar class

A painting done by Dilys Olner, 84, in Your Art Julia with John

‘Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.’ (Chinese Proverb.) The Jesus Centre is about helping people to build capacity to do more with their lives.

Our services that major on capacity building include Your Future short training courses, Strum It guitar classes, Re-Cycle bike repair project, the Dig It allotment project, Your Weight weight loss support group, and Your Learning that our basic skills tutor runs (see below).

Julia Faire


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Ex-working girl’s story‘S.... is another girl that we have known from the prostitute beat for perhaps 15 years. A hopeless crack and heroin addict she was always scurrying along the streets and getting food from us to stem the ‘munchies’. Last year she ended up in hospital and at death’s door. She prayed and recovered. Then one day she was at Your Space talking to Tony about her experience and she told him that she had never thanked God for

saving her life. So he prayed with her and she said her thanks. Since then life has changed dramatically and she is living in a nice tidy flat and doing better than we have ever seen.’

PROMOTING CHRISTIANITYTo advance the Christian faith, facilitate Jesus Fellowship events and provide spiritual servicesA

IM 3

I have been befriended, accepted and helped, both practically and spiritually, enabling me to help others in a similar situation.Visitor

‘Agnostic, but

appreciates Christian

atmosphere, friendly –

helpful, many friends.’

“Habit Breaker helped a number of people in 2010. They have made real progress in faith

and in fighting their addictions” Andy Crisp

‘Used phone for Job

centre. Muslim, but no

problem! Tres bon.’

‘Sometimes use

the chapel and

do my prayers.’

‘Had spiritual

experiences. Felt

highly honoured,

fortunate.’

Rune, Pete and Andy


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Be the gospel

Finding FaithThere is no prejudice towards peoples’ beliefs. We promote the Christian faith mainly by how we help people.

We run services that are open to anyone who is exploring the spiritual side of life. Explorers is a relaxed video discussion group. Live At The Well is a monthly live music cafe event. Habit Breaker tackles addictions with spiritual means. We are always ready to pray with people for healing, comfort, and more faith.

‘My heart is still beating as I can get something to eat! Clothing has helped as I did not know how cold England was! Seeing the love of God working through has helped my faith.’ (Visitor)

A young woman experiences the reality of baptism as she affirms her personal faith.

Solid Rock Cafe is the Jesus Fellowship event on Sunday evenings with a free flowing style.

Sarah Kift from a project in downtown Vancouver, Canada visited the Bridge drop-in. She loved it

because it fitted her vision of social action combining with gospel work. She couldn’t stop smiling.

Christian baptism at a Jesus Centre


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DEVELOPING SOCIAL SKILLSTo foster friendship and to provide recreational and community facilities A

IM 4

I loved every minute of the anger management groupVisitor

Gundega is a trained counsellor. She first talked to ‘A’ in the Bridge when he was very low and on the streets, having been an actor in Latvia and Russia. As she spoke his language and had the skills, she started to help him and referred him to alcohol services. She also helped him to get a mobile phone (to enable him to get some agency work). He was hospitalised after a fit and a community nurse liaised with the Jesus Centre, arranging support. He abstained from alcohol with medication. He was baptised in the Jesus Fellowship and has made further personal progress. He has used Your Learning to improve his English and other services for social involvement.

Gundega said ‘I have had referrals from social services and the alcohol service for counselling, as they have seen people who benefited. There is a shortage of counsellors in town.’

‘I have a social

disorder so

every bit helps’

‘Given me

new friends’

Sam plays Jenga - life can fall apart too. Gundega Landmanis

We all need support


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Young At HeartI live on my own and get lonely. I really enjoy coming out for a good meal with new people and having a laugh, and not having to cook for myself! It’s something to look forward to. Getting to know other people of a similar age. I make friends, no one judges you - you could have six heads! (Joyce McDaid)

All comers are most welcome and their warm hearts go out to us, and the dinner is delicious. Linda is the cook but I also thank her helpers because they too are volunteers that give their time and effort to us. And we get to know one another so much so we do not feel isolated in this big world any more. (Betty Hughes)

I enjoy every Wednesday at Your Space, nice and friendlyVisitor

Meeting people, helping people We all need friends, and we need to feel useful. Group activities to join in with can make a big difference. Whether it’s Your Space activity zone, or a support group like Your Weight or Survivors bereavement group, people find encouragement in meeting others.

Developing social skills

Little Ark mums & tots meet on Friday mornings‘I get to socialise with adults and the kids enjoy being in a different environment and play with different toys, and being with other children, doing craft activities etc, that she doesn’t do at home. I like sharing advice and getting tips from other mums, borrowing books. This group seems a bit calmer than others I go to.’ (Lizi Mattacola)

Joyce enjoys Young At Heart

Lizi with her daughter Katie

Joyce


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Invaluable emotional support through times when I was contemplating ending my lifeVisitor

BEING AN EFFECTIVE CHARITYTo work well and constructively with other agencies and to develop volunteersA

IM 5

a

Richard Middleton of Hillfields Christian Fellowship, Coventry, won a £1500 grant for food parcels, and also ran two half marathons to raise money for it. We demonstrated that 200 people benefited from this help. Two recipients commented:

‘Funds are short. We’re starting work this week and we got bikes from Re-Cycle to get there. The food parcels are a boost for getting back to work.’

‘Thank you so much

for having our group

come help out at the

Jesus Centre’

‘You are doing such a great job. We have felt so welcome and so privileged to come and join in with the work you are doing. It is such a welcoming place, full of love and acceptance and

we feel like we have already made friends.’

We gave out 312 food

parcels in November

and December 2010

Sonya, Oral Health Team advisor with a visitor in the Bridge

A team from Westwood church help at Your Space

Jo Potts helping out


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Partnership works

Working togetherWe work with various local agencies that provide specialist services to visitors who could otherwise miss out. They cover things from dental health or job opportunities.

Agency outreachVarious agencies run outreach services at the Centre, complementing what we do and giving input to many visitors in need.

Agencies that worked here in 2010 included:

• An Anchor medical team nurse • A Swanswell Alcohol Service advisor • PeopleServe and Next Step job advisors • The Oral Health Team • The Council’s Health Development Service carrying out biometric health tests • The Hepatitis C Trust advisor • The Discretionary Housing Payment advisor • The Podiatry service team • The GUM sexual health team • PALS NHS Patient Advice and Liaison Service advisor

• An NHS Living with long term health conditions trainer

Other agencies, such as Terrence Higgins Trust or Community Drugs Team, sometimes send new staff to us to learn about our work as part of their induction.

Cost effectivenessThe Centre costs about £200,000 per year to run. This is raised from public appeals, business donations, Supporting People funding and other grants, our own church giving, cafe and other takings, sale of breakfast vouchers and hire of rooms. For instance we hired out rooms 374 times, which raised £15,000 in revenue.

These funds were used to achieve the following in 2010:

• We have 13 staff (8.6 full time equivalent) and about 70 active volunteers. • 500 service uses were recorded each week, and about 250 different visitors accessing them. • 24 active services were maintained. • 11 agency outreach services ran here • We provided 20 new tenancies on the bond scheme, moved some on, and had use of furniture storage facilities funded by Supporting People • About 600 food parcels were issued • Outcomes - 40 counts of significant progress made in lives as a result of our work were recorded each week.

Jean, Mick, Chris, Tony, Carmel, Paul, Rune workers together


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BEING AN EFFECTIVE CHARITYTo work well and constructively with other agencies and to develop volunteersA

IM 5

bMy team in the Bridge today was made up of five trained volunteers who are ex-visitors.Team Leader

‘We had 75 visitors in today, some very needy... one client in particular needing help with accommodation. I sought advice then I called the hostel ... very helpful and willing to accept him...’ Ex-visitor, now volunteer on reception doing an NVQ in customer service.

‘Years back I felt strongly about injustice, so I love to show people justice and fight for it. I started as a volunteer in the cafe but I took the support worker job, as it was what I really wanted to do. I love it.’ Val, Support Worker

Tony FernandezIf you are rebuilding your life, becoming a trained volunteer can be a very valuable step. Tony Fernandez was an asylum seeker from Cuba. He is a volunteer in the Bridge drop-in (and a very good cleaner).

‘I came to the Jesus Centre two years ago. After a few days I met Tschaka who invited me to a church event. I was baptised in water a week later. After about eight months of using the Bridge and Your Space, I was trained to be a volunteer. It has relieved my mind, I can forget my stress, and it has made me learn a lot in a personal capacity. I make friends in the drop-in and help people with advice, etc. It makes me feel good to be there for people. I learn a lot here every day.’ Tony received leave to remain in the UK in 2010, and continues to volunteer.

Visitor to Volunteer11 visitors became trained volunteers or helpers in 2010. 49 visitors have become full volunteers since we opened and 10 were active at the end of 2010.

‘Meeting so many people and

feeling of help to them. I had

a real feeling of ownership

and being part of a wider

team.’ Former volunteer

Val Hook


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Benefiting volunteersI love helping no matter what it is. It’s my second home, I can’t walk away.Volunteer

Growing by givingThe Jesus Centre is here for everyone, and that includes our staff, volunteers and helpers. It is often a very rewarding experience to work here as people learn new skills and gain new confidence. In 2010 we had 13 staff and inducted 36 new volunteers (plus helpers) and 29 moved on. Two volunteers gained NVQ level 2 in customer services.

We couldn’t do it without your supportWe are very much aware of huge support and goodwill from Coventry people. Practically every day people bring in donations of clothing, toiletries, bicycles, cash and much more. Local schools and churches give tins and dried foods for making up food parcels. Churches also give bibles for us to provide. Legacies are a big help too. It is all greatly appreciated by us and those that we pass it all on to.

We also ran various bits of extra training and one special training day that 40 attended.

We put on an annual event to big up our staff and volunteers and 42 volunteers, 8 staff, 1 trustee, 12 helpers and 6 others were there. 10 had first come

as visitors to the Centre.

Pete Bayliss sends thank you letters to donors: ‘It’s rewarding to be involved in the donations that are coming in from such a wide range of peope in Coventry and elsewhere, and it never ceases to amaze me what we receive. It is a great encouragement to us at the Centre and to me personally to be involved.’

Volunteers, Naomi and Becca, receiving certificates from Gillian Bayliss, Volunteer Coordinator

Stuart, Adrian, Sandeep, Connor, Keith

Karen, Rachel, Bev, Ann

Pete at his desk


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COVENTRY JESUS CENTRE7 Lamb Street

Coventry CV1 4AE

Tel: 0845 166 8205

Fax: 0845 166 8204

Email: [email protected]

• Albert Hunt Charitable Trust (administered by Coutts) - money

• Alderman’s Green Primary School - foods

• Aldemoor Farm School - foods

• Bablake School - foods

• Bhandal Dentist - money

• Bewley CT - money

• CHK Charities Ltd - money

• Clifford Bridge Community Association - clothing

• Community Dental Team - dental resources, clothing

• Coundon Primary School - foods

• Courthouse Green Primary School - foods

• Coventry Cathedral Knitting Group - blankets

• Coventry City Council & Supporting People - money

• Coventry North Inner Wheel - tolietry packs

• Ecover - cleaning materials

• Eveson Trust - money

• Foleshill C of E School - foods

• Grange Farm Primary School - foods

• Hillfields Christian Fellowship and Richard Middleton - food parcels

• His Church - foods

• HJHall, Hinckley - socks

• Holbeck Charitable Trust - money

• Holyhead Road United Reformed Church - foods

• Hollyfast Primary School - foods

• Holy Trinity Church - toiletries, bedding etc

• Jarman Charitable Trust - money

• Jubilee Church - volunteers

• Keresley Newlands Primary School - foods

• Keresley United Reformed Church - foods

• Lawrence Saunders Baptist Church - foods

• Leigh C of E Primary School - foods

• Limbrick Wood Baptist Church

• Lime Tree Park Methodist Church - foods

• Living Rock Church, Stoney Stanton - money

• Marks & Spencer - foods

• Meredith Road Baptist Church - foods, clothing etc

• Next Plc - clothing

• New Horizons Church - mugs

• NHS Podiatry team - clothing

• Park House Charitable Trust - money

• Quinton Park Baptist Church - money etc

• Radford Primary School - foods

• Richard Cadbury Trust - money

• Roger Vere Fund - money

• Rotary Club - money

• Sacred Heart Catholic School - foods

• Sainsbury’s - foods

• St John’s Westwood Church - money, volunteers, storage etc

• St. Laurence’s Church - foods

• St Mary Magdalen - foods, toiletries

• Seedfield Trust - money

• Silver Spoon - sugar

• Stivichall Primary School - foods

• The Souter Charitable Trust - money

• Southfields Community Primary School - foods

• Subway - bread

• Voluntary Action Coventry - advice etc

• Walsgrave Baptist Church - toiletries, clothing etc

• Whitefriars - storage

• Willenhall Community Primary School - foods

• Many other private donors.

Thank youWe gratefully acknowledge the following donors of goods or money to the Jesus Centre (sorry if we have missed any out):

Thanks too to Voluntary Action Coventry for help with promotion of services etc. To receive our quarterly news mailing, write to us and we will add you to our list. For the email version, just email [email protected]. To donate online go to coventry.jesuscentre.org.uk

OPENING HOURSMonday ...........10.00am - 1.00pm

Tuesday ...........9.00am - 4.00pm

Wednesday .....9.00am - 4.00pm

Thursday ..........9.00am - 4.00pm

Friday ................9.00am - 4.00pm

Saturday ..........9.00am - 12.00noon

Sunday .............9.00am - 10.30am

WHERE WE ARELamb Street is a one-way street off Bishop Street (turn off

the ringway next to the canal basin) and leading to Upper

Well Street near the Belgrade Theatre.

Not to scale

Ringway Hill CrossRingway St Nicholas

Lamb St

Tower StBishop St

Well St

Chapel St

Upper Well St

Silver S

t Cook StChauntry Pl

Hales St

GIFT CARDSYou can get gift cards to send out that tell someone you have made a donation

instead of sending them a gift. Go to the Jesus Army website and find Jesus Centres,

Coventry, and How you can support us to find details of these attractive cards.

www.coventry.jesuscentre.org.ukThere are Jesus Centres in Northampton (0845 166 8202) and London (0845 8333 005). Sheffield and Birmingham Centres are in development. National Jesus Centre information is available on request. © Jesus Army Charitable Trust 2011

VENUE FOR HIREWe hire out rooms at the Jesus Centre as a social facility,

and to raise revenue. Information about lettings is available

on request, or at www.covjc.co.uk.

HEARTCRY APPEALJesus Army Charitable Trust

Nether Heyford, Northampton NN7 3LB

Tel: 0845 166 8174 Fax: 0845 166 8178


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