We currently donate to:
The Trinity Centre:
A Winchester-based charity which addresses the effects of homelessness and vulnerability through specialist practical and emotional support, and proactive prevention, empowering positive change. They help people who are vulnerable to the effects of homelessness, addiction, physical and mental ill health, poverty, social isolation and domestic abuse.
The Winchester Beacon:
The Winchester Beacon is open 365 days a year offering an essential lifeline and first port of call for those in crisis. They provide high quality accommodation and food, a safe and caring temporary home, and specialist support to restore self-esteem, develop skills, and support people back into long-term accommodation and independent living. Their aim is to enable people to rebuild their lives and escape homelessness for good.
Boaz Project:
Boaz was set up to help address the lack of facilities for people with learning disabilities once they have left full time education. Its aim is to create an atmosphere of the work ethic for people who otherwise cannot gain employment. Its long term desire is to be able to employ some of those who access its facilities. The Project's Christian ethos seeks to address the whole person, body, mind and spirit, aiming to release and realise each person's full human potential to the glory of God. Many volunteers choose to help at the project as part of their own healing journey following bereavement, relationship breakdown or redundancy.
Street Reach:
Street Reach is a charity working with young people in Winchester and the surrounding areas. Established in 1983 our work is open to all young people and is targeted towards those experiencing disadvantage. Our approach in working with young people is primarily through Detached Youth Work; outreach work in local communities.
Winchester Street Pastors:
Street Pastors are trained volunteers from fifteen local churches who care about the community in Winchester. Their volunteers are on duty from 10pm to 3am, every Friday and Saturday night. They stop and chat to anyone they meet while providing a peaceful presence on the night-time streets.
Karis Kids:
Karis Kids is an initiative between the Church of Uganda and a group of UK churches with the vision of bringing family and a future to vulnerable children and those orphaned by AIDS. The charity provides continuous support for the whole family through relationship, opportunity, encouragement and prayer, and has also started a number of community projects in the slums where families live, in order to bless the whole community.
The Downs Benefice is linked with the parish of St Paul’s in Kampala, and currently supports nine families. The majority of those in the parish live in the Okuvu slum, and this is one of the poorest areas of Kampala. In recent years, supporters from the Benefice have been to Kampala to visit our families and link church, and to help run the biennial Summer camp.
For more information, visit Karis Kids
Downs Benefice contact – Carol Coleman, email downs.benefice@kariskids.org