Information about the churches’ work in the community.
St Silas on the Green
Members of St Silas church have for four years been providing a weekly soup run at two hostels for the homeless near Glasgow Green. The church is not in the city centre and the volunteers live well outside the city, but they have seen and responded to the need.
The three or four volunteers prepare the soup and hot chocolate in the church kitchen and take it out using giant vacuum flasks in a private car. They are allowed inside the women’s hostel but not into the men’s hostel.
They meet an average 70 or 80 individuals each night, typically in their late twenties or early thirties. All are grateful for the hot food, and those who want to talk stay around afterwards. They are always open, never negative, despite very difficult circumstances.
They often ask why do you do this, are you being paid? The volunteers talk to them of the love of God. They cannot solve the problems of homelessness, broken families and addiction, but the message of God’s love is always welcomed.
Other Action
- Most charges have some Fairtrade involvement though only about half have obtained the Fairtrade Certificate.
- Several charges conduct a monthly service in a local residential home for the elderly, and visiting the housebound is carried out by both lay persons and minister.
- Links with local hospitals include providing toiletries’ bags and manning the Tea Bar for a week four times a year. At St Michael’s Helensburgh members are involved in Sailing for the Disabled, Riding for the Disabled and Lifts for the Disabled.
- Youth projects include after-school projects for primary pupils in Drumchapel, trusteeship for the Helensburgh Youth Project and chaplaincy for Parklands School for children with special needs.
- Some churches share in welcome and hospitality schemes for international students - there are over 6,000 of them in Glasgow from almost every country you can think of.
- Church halls are used for a variety of community activities for all ages, e.g., Tots and Co, Glasgow Welsh Society, Friendship House, annual Flower Festival, Keep Fit classes.
It seems that we only have to keep our eyes open and use a little empathy and imagination.
Useful links
- Contact the Elderly
- Fairtrade
- Friends International - works for international students
- Glasgow City Mission - works for the homeless
- Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector
- Public Action in Housing - including failed asylum seekers
