2008 Lent Project

Church presents a cheque to R-U-Safe?

During Lent, our church adopts a charity on whose behalf we raise awareness and funds. By tradition, we alternate year by year between an international and a local organisations. This year we supported R-U-Safe?, a local charity which works with young women suffering from, or at risk of, sexual abuse and exploitation. You can download their flyer for more information, or visit the new R-U-Safe? website.

In 2008 we raised £1700 and Michelle Kukielka of R-U-Safe? was our guest at the Parish Communion on 20th July to receive the cheque - there's a picture on the News page.

What R-U-Safe? means to those it helps

By its nature, the work that R-U-Safe? carries out is confidential and it is impossible to relate any details of who is helped and how. One way that the value of the work can be shown is the following poem, which was written by one of the young women whose lives have been touched by R-U-Safe? It was read by Michelle Kukielka when she spoke to us on 10 February.

A thank you from one of your girls

Thank you for helping me and telling me a thing or two,
Thank you for helping me with the things I find hard to do.
Thank you for helping my confidence raise,
Thank you for encouraging me and giving me praise.
Thank you for making me see what life is about,
Thank you for helping me stay when I wanted to find a way out.
Thank you for your time and your care,
Thank you for taking me for me and just being there.
Thank you for all the hard work you have put in for me,
Thank you for mending the relationship with my mummy.
Thank you for helping to get me out of that relationship,
Thank you for telling me advice when my life’s about to slip.