Combining practical provision with pastoral care 

Local churches, under the banner of HOPE Nottingham, are now meeting the needs of individuals and families in their own homes. Each week, volunteers demonstrate practical kindness as a result of a link with someone who could do with a visit and a helping hand. After an initial pastoral visit from a trained Home Hope volunteer, they will return with a team to meet the need; painting, completing repairs or rescue gardening.

 

Home Hope launched six months ago and is the latest mission initiative which compliments a whole host of HOPE Nottingham’s word and action projects in the city including Healing on the Streets, furniture recycling scheme, Street Angels and a Foodbank.

 

Nigel Adams from HOPE Nottingham said: “This project has flourished and many of the referrals arise from people we meet or come directly from local organisations like the council or housing charities. 

 

“I think it works so well because it is a combination of practical and pastoral care with a personal touch. Often the most important thing to someone is that people have taken the time to value them and visit, talk or even pray with them. These pastoral links mean that local connections are made with the Church. 

 

“Budget cuts have affected everyone and there is a hole to fill – an opportunity. We invite the local churches to be good neighbours (Isaiah 1v17) and they are getting involved all the time and spreading news of the service by word of mouth and through ‘Healing on the Streets’. Volunteers for the practical teams are supervised by the trained Home Hope person who made the initial contact and include regular groups from the 6^th form college and Nottingham University.  

“Lastly, what I would say is that while there has to be a level of control and training, this isn’t a complicated project to run and you would be surprised how many might give up an evening or a weekend to be part of demonstrating God’s love in this way.”

 

If you are interested in finding out more about Home Hope and how you might do something similar, get in touch with HOPE Nottingham directly and let us know at HOPE if you need any more support.