Via a group of dedicated men and women we provide a comprehensive weekly programme of activity from a Wednesday lunch for approx. 50 needy men and women to a twice weekly parent (and grandparent!) and toddler care facility for as many as 90 pre-school age children.

In addition, the Community Ministries Group seeks to serve the spiritual, physical and psychological needs of those in the community by holding monthly "New to You" sales, sending sympathy cards to the bereaved, assuring them of our thoughts and prayers and by the provision of toys and games, food hampers at Christmas for needy families in the area.

A further activity in which we have engaged is "Operation Christmas Child"; some 220 shoe boxes filled with soft toys, sweets, games, colouring books, pencils, hats, scarves and toiletries are wrapped in colourful paper and along with those from other volunteer groups in the North East, are dispatched to Romania in time for the children of that country to enjoy Christmas gifts that would otherwise be denied them.

In addition to this overseas service we also provide at Christmas time the distribution of children's toys to poorer families of the area.  These toys are donated by various local organisations.  The job of documenting them all and seeing that they go only to deprived children is down to volunteers from the Corps working with Social Services.  This service has been going on for many years.  The task of organising it for December 2006 is shown in pictures which may be seen by clicking here.

We are keenly aware of the need to expand and develop our community activities and several new activities have come into being with the opening of our new rooms after the completion of major building work. Several organisations in the community are taking advantage of these new facilities.  For details of room hiring rates click on the ‘Room Booking’ menu item.  In this way we aim to serve our town more effectively.