July 2016

In this issue:

From our Chair

FOMS Fundraises

Yarn in the Yards

Our Gorgeous Garden Party

Meet Leslie Campbell

Winter Shelter (yes, already!)

Dates for your diaries

Manna House Update

Manna House: spirit, not place

Manna House

is a spirit, not a place

Folks often ask what Manna House does, but that’s not necessarily the most illuminating question. Sometimes it helps us more to know what Manna House is before we answer the question of what we do.

Manna House began some 14 years ago with a small compassionate group of local people who had been touched by the plight of those who, for all sorts of reasons, had fallen onto hard times and for whom housing provision, state benefits and social care were limited or non-existent.

Driven by a strong Christian belief in a heavenly Father who cares for the helpless, homeless and poverty stricken, they set out with the support of local church congregations to do something about it.

The name “Father” speaks of one who provides for his home and family – hence ‘Manna House’ (a name chosen by our service users at the time). At its heart, Manna House is about caring, supportive relationships that enable people to get up from the floor and walk tall in the community.

Because of this ethos at the centre of our organisation, the team who work as Manna House keep the flame of compassion burning, even though at the moment it means “camping out” at the Salvation Army and the URC while struggling to move towards a more permanent solution to our present “homelessness”.

So let’s keep in relationship; let’s keep seeking a home; and let’s keep showing those who come to us that ‘we care’. We’ll do what we can to support your journey, and we’ll all look forward, in hope, to the place that I’m sure is prepared for us on the road up ahead.

Colin Greaves Chair of Trustees

Meet Lesley Campbell, our Housing Advisor Maternity Cover Lesley will be with us from May 2016 through March 2017. Originally from Middlesborough, Lesley has been in Kendal for the past three years. She comes to Manna House with a first degree in Psychology and Counselling and a Master’s degree in the field of Criminology. Lesley has already made her mark on our service with her thorough and kind approach to work and her positively ‘Can Do’ attitude. Lesley’s knowledge of Housing law and the resources available is top notch and we’re lucky to have her with us! The one thing Lesley said she’d like you to know about her is: she’s proud to be a single parent and is so proud of her daughter Jade!

Yarn in the Yards Manna House’s Sew What? Women’s group is proud to be a part of the Brewery Art Centre’s Yarn in the Yards project set to beautify and enrich the yards of Kendal in late July. We are excited about our work with Shannon Quigley from Lakeland Arts who is our regular seamstress volunteer and with Donna Campbell, community artist. We’re going to make the Shakespeare Yard in Kendal look glamorous and feel fabulous as we reflect our themes of homelessness, women’s work, the history of shoe making in Kendal and the history of Manna House itself. Above is Kaya Walker, our youngest volunteer, powerfully drilling through the sole of what will eventually be a sculpture of a Victorian boot. We don’t want to give too much away, but there was an old woman who lived in a shoe…..

Friends of Manna House (FOMS) Fund Raising

It’s been a tremendous start to 2016 for FOMS! Our Swim-a-thon raised £3500 (including bricks) and in addition, the Ambleside Rotary presented me with a cheque for £1500 when I recently represented FOMS as their after dinner speaker. A huge THANK YOU to the Rotary for their generosity!

We have asked the new Mayor, Stephen Coleman, who has chosen Manna House as one of his Charities this year, to present these cheques to Manna House for the Building Fund, when he opens the Garden party on 2nd July at 11am.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Thank you all once again for your wonderful support!

Nina Bale

Live

Music Face

Painting

Plant Sale

Petting

Zoo

Family

Fun

Garden Party At Abbot Hall Park

Saturday 2nd July

10.30am to 3pm Come and enjoy the fun and

help raise funds for our services

FREE Entry!

Original Art

To all our Friends in the South Lakes:

It is hard to believe, as the weather is so warm, that preparations need to begin now for this year’s Winter Shelter! Penny Severn, who has ably coordinated the Shelter from its beginning, is on maternity leave caring for the tiny and gorgeous Molly, born on 7 May. So this year our Winter Shelter Coordinator will be Fiona Nelson, who many of you will know from her work with the Kendal Flood Relief Centre. Fiona comes to us with loads of experience with the homeless sector in other parts of the country. She’ll properly begin preparations in July. At Manna House we look forward to working with you – some for the first time and many for another successful year! You can reach Fiona via email at:

info@manna-house.org.uk

Tiny & Gorgeous Molly Severn

Born 07.05.2016

Winter Shelter Achievements 2015/16

14 guests accommodated

280 beds made and 490 meals served by volunteers

70 nights open

63 volunteers and 5 members of staff gave support

5 church buildings (after the floods, 3 church buildings)

7 nights a week

This year, emergency accommodation is as needed as ever, especially in the coldest season. Facilitated and coordinated by Manna House, the winter shelter is run by volunteers from many different churches to offer a roof, a meal and a warm bed for the night to those who are homeless.

Will your church join us this year?

Will your members volunteer with us?

Express your interest as early as you can!

Please contact Fiona Nelson, Winter Shelter Coordinator, info@manna-house.org.uk

Current Programmes

Monday at Castle Lodge, Aynam Road Women’s “Sew What” 10-12.30

Men’s group 1-2pm Tuesday at Salvation Army

Advice surgery & Drop In lunch 10-2pm Wednesday at Salvation Army

Drop-in, Skills cafe & lunch 10-2pm Thursday closed to public Friday at URC, Highgate

Castle Lodge, Aynam Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 7DE 01539 725534 www.manna-house.org.uk

Manna House (Cumbria)1147785 Company Limited by Guarantee No. 8041948

IMPORTANT DATES

Next Edition Update Copy by 20th September for October edition please to the “Editor”

Contacts: email: info@manna-house.org.uk or 01539725534

2 July Garden Party at Abbott Hall Park 13 August Summer Concert at URC in Kendal 9 September Torchlight Festival on the streets of Kendal