Community & Links — All Saints' Church, Staplehurst

The Weald Family Hub

We’re hiring Two months after we launched the Weald Family Hub we are now ready to recruit for our first two posts.

What is the Weald Family Hub?

The Hub Coordinator will be a two day per week post and will focus on establishing the Hub as a key local network of practical hope for young people and families and on setting up parenting groups across the Wealden villages. This is a two day per week post and will be employed by St Mary’s church on behalf of the Hub. To find out more about the Hub Coordinator post, including the job description and person specification and the application form, please click here. The Parent Support Coordinator will focus on recruiting and training volunteers to run Fegans’ Parent Support Scheme. This is a one day per week job and will be employed by Fegans. Both posts will be based at St Mary’s and will operate across the whole of the Weald. To apply for the Parent Support Coordinator post, click here to go to the Fegans website where their application pack is available. These posts could be done by two people, or by the same person, and we welcome applications from anyone interested in doing all three days as a single post. Please note that there are two separate application forms and selection processes for the two posts. Anyone applying for both posts will need to complete both forms and attend both interviews. For more information please call 01580 211739.

There is an epidemic of mental ill-health amongst young people today. Research from Public Health England suggests that 1 in 10 young people have a diagnosed mental illness. 1 in 10 self-harm. 75% of those who need professional support will not receive it. Locally, many of us have been personally affected by the issues of mental illness, anxiety and self-harm amongst our own children, and those of friends and school mates. We know that these issues can only be faced and overcome as a community – no individual person or group has the whole answer. The Weald Family Hub is a local community response to this challenge. It brings local churches, schools and individuals together with Fegans, a highly respected charity that specialises in working with teenage mental illness. The Hub will do two things: first to raise money to subsidise local schools to be able to access counselling for children who are in need of expert support; secondly to run a variety of parent support schemes to help parents and families as we bring children up in a complex and rapidly changing world. Our launch event On 27 June we launched the Weald Family Hub with a talk by Ian Soars, the Chief Executive of Fegans and a leading voice in the field of young people, families and mental health. You can listen to his talk here – it covers a very wide range of issues, including why the statistics on mental illness are so dire, information about how the brain changes during adolescence and how we can best love and support teenagers and young people. It’s full of serious knowledge and practical advice and is well worth listening to. You can also listen to Hugh Nelson speaking about the plans for the Weald Family Hub, including its vision and how you can be involved. More information The booklet below explains the plans and how you can be involved. If you would like a paper copy of the booklet – or bulk copies to give out elsewhere, please contact us with your postal address. If you’d like to keep in touch, you can sign up to our mailing list here. It goes out every month with a mixture of updates, resources about young people and mental health and links to other local organisations. This is an entirely local initiative. We have no funding other than that which is given by people who want to make a difference to the lives of children, young people and families. We’ve raised £19,000 already and now need another £6,000 to get the Hub up and running. If you would be interested in giving to this work, or in investing in the Hub, please call 01580 211739 and speak to Hugh Nelson, or by email

Community Centre for Debt Advice Staplehurst

The Community Centre for Debt Advice Staplehurst has been running since 2009, supporting people from the local area who are struggling with unmanageable debt. We are a volunteer-led organisation, supported financially through local grants and donations. We offer one of the few ways that local people can access face-to-face debt advice, free of charge.

All volunteers at the Community Centre for Debt Advice in Staplehurst are trained debt advisers. The Centre is affiliated to Community Money Advice – a national charity supporting churches and community organisations to offer debt advice. The Centre is also authorised and regulated by the FCA.

All consultations for debt advice are by appointment and are completely confidential. Advisers will work with clients to understand their situation and decide on the most appropriate course of action. In most cases, this is either a reduced payment plan or a Debt Relief Order, depending on the particular circumstances and eligibility criteria. Alternatively, support can be given to clients who would prefer to address the situation themselves, as our involvement will have a negative effect on an individual’s credit rating.

For support and advice, please use the following modes of communication:

Phone: 07512 145707 / 07512 145704

Email: debtadvice@ccdas.org.uk

Mail: Community Centre for Debt Advice – Staplehurst, c/o Staplehurst Free Church, Station Road, Staplehurst TN12 0QQ

www.ccdas.org.uk

Winter Warm Rooms in Staplehurst

feet with socks on in front of fire

Looking for somewhere warm to spend some time?

Want to meet people for a warm drink and a chat?

Like to help out and spend time with others in the warm?

Come and join us at one of our locations this winter for a hot drink and biscuit, soup and a roll, company, read or play a board game.

Each venue will have its own unique extras.

warm fireplace

Come and see us from Monday 21st November 2022


Mon 9 am – 3 pm	Guide Centre
Tues 12 – 5 pm	Free Church – Shepherd’s pantry
Wed 9 am – 6 pm	Guide Centre
Thur 10 am – 8 pm	West Hall, Community Centre
Fri 9 am – 6 pm	Guide Centre
Sat 10 am – 8 pm	West Hall, Community Centre
Sun 12 – 4.30 pm	Parish Room, All Saints Church

Just pop in, or for more information and to volunteer, call 01580 388155

We hope to see you there!

For further information

Winter Warm Rooms in Staplehurst visit: www.staplehurst-pc.uk

Other advice and support

www.maidstone.gov.uk/home/other-services/cost-of-living-advice

or Call 01322 602557

To help with budgeting due to the cost of living this winter call Local Debt Advice

07512 145704 / 07512 145707

Charities & Social Responsibility Committee

Committee Member	Office	Telephone	Email
Silke Tetzlaff	Ex. Officio	01580 891258	Rev. Silke Tetzlaff

Purpose and Scope

The Charities & Social Responsibility Sub Committee will be responsible to the PCC for:-

Compiling a list of charities to be supported through the monthly Charity Sunday scheme and ensuring the necessary promotion is placed in the Parish Magazine and weekly notice sheet.
Development of links with other agencies for charitable relief.
Other matters, as referred to it by the PCC.
Arranging speakers for Charity Sundays.
Bring to the attention of the PCC matters of social responsibility on both a global and local scale.
The development of schemes (with other bodies and churches, as appropriate) that respond to identified needs.
To raise awareness of issues on a global or local scale (notifying of demonstrations concerning peace, justice and social responsibility matters).
Working closely with other bodies with common aims (such as the Partnership Framework).

Social Responsibility

We have a social responsibility within the community to react to the needs of the Parish.

We have been successful in areas such as Bereavement Counselling, assistance with travel to and from Church and enabling worshippers from Mote Lodge to be involved in our services to name just a few.

One area that has proved helpful within the village has been the Remembrance Stars at Christmas available in Church for people to write short messages. These stars are then hung on the Christmas tree and blessed. A book is available for people to write additional messages. A large number of people have found this very helpful, especially as Christmas is a time when we all remember and reflect on family members no longer with us.

We also provide Lilies in Memory at Easter and with the generosity of the congregation, gifts for Homeless Care at Easter, Harvest and Christmas.

If you have any ideas or thoughts that you would like considered please contact the committee.

Charity Sundays

Making it easier for you to give.

Some of you have commented that the organisation of Charity Sundays has not always allowed you to give to those charities that you wished.

You have asked for more notice of which charities are to be supported and more flexibility in the way that the system operates.

With the agreement of the PCC, we have developed the concept more into a “Charity of the Quarter ”.

In practice, this means that, as long as you clearly label your gift, we will accept contributions to the nominated charity in collections at any time during the 3 month period.

We hope that this development will help give you more flexibility in the organisation of your charitable giving.

We have a list of well-known Charities (not exhaustive but growing) including contact numbers and Web Site links, please take a look at the Charitable Organisations Links Page

Ever wondered where to look if you have a problem and don’t know where to turn, well, take a look at the Pastoral Care Links Page

Thank you.

Charitable Giving

Charity Sunday is the second Sunday of the month, except in November when it is the first Sunday.

Please put any money you wish to give to CHARITY ON CHARITY SUNDAY in a BLUE envelope and write “FOR CHARITY” on the outside. You do not need to fill in all the details.

ORANGE ENVELOPES are used for REGULAR MONTHLY CHARITABLE GIVING. This is particularly helpful if you are a taxpayer, but anyone may use them as a reminder to donate to our charity. These may be put on the collection plate on any Sunday.

Tony Henley is able to supply you with these envelopes.

Any LOOSE MONEY in the collection plate on Charity Sunday, and BLUE envelopes NOT marked “For Charity” will go to the church. White weekly offering envelopes continue as usual.

PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE MONEY YOU WISH TO DONATE GOES TO THE CORRECT FUND.

Audrey Bullock – Charity Convenor.

Charities for 2023

2023
Month	Charity Website	Church Page
Charity for April 2023 to March 2024 inclusive
	The Children's Air Ambulance	The Children's Air Ambulance
Remembrance Sunday 12th November	Royal British Legion 10:45am Morning Service
Service of Remembrance. Date not yet available.	Cruse
Christmas Eve 24th December - Christingle	The Children's Society
Christmas Cards	Demelza House
Easter, Harvest & Christmas	Maidstone Homeless Care

Charities for 2022

2022
Month	Charity Website	Church Page
9th January/13th February/13th March	Centrepoint (speaker 9th January)
Charity for April 2022 to March 2023 inclusive
2022 3rd April 8th May 12th June 10th July 14th August 11th September 9th October 6th November 11th December 2023 8th January 12th February 12th March	Dandelion Time (speaker at the 10am Service 11th December 2022)	Dandelion Time
Remembrance Sunday 13th November	Royal British Legion 10:45am Morning Service
Service of Remembrance. Date not yet available.	Cruse
Christmas Eve 24th December - Christingle	The Children's Society
Christmas Cards	Demelza House
Easter, Harvest & Christmas	Maidstone Homeless Care
2023
8th January 12th February 12th March	Dandylion Time

Charity

The work of the Charity Committee is wide-ranging. We select Charities each year to receive the collection plate offerings over a 3-month period. The Charities are selected to give a balance between local, national and Worldwide causes, as well as secular and non-secular organisations.

We also react as necessary with special collections during times of crisis i.e. major disasters such as Floods or Earthquakes.

If you have a Charity that you actively support and would like us to consider, please get in touch with the committee.

Thank you.

Church Related Links

panoramic view of all saints church

Who to Contact in our Churches and Chapel

Church related links for Staplehurst Village

Church	Contact	Telephone Number	Email Address	Website
Church of England	Rev. Silke Tetzlaff	Church Office 01580 891258	Church Office
Free Church	Peter Brook Church Leader Administrator Office open Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. Messages picked up on other days.	01580 893993	Peter Brook	Staplehust Free Church
Providence Strict Baptist Chapel	Pastor Marcus Funnell	01580 891297	Church Office	Providence Chapel Staplehurst
Roman Catholic Church. Saint Theodore, Cranbrook	Fr Barry Grant	01580 713364		St Theodore Cranbrook
URC, United Reformed Church	Revd Andrew Royal			Staplehurst United Reformed Church

Staplehurst Parish Council

Acting Parish Clerk – Richard Griffiths

Parish Office, Village Centre Staplehurst

Telephone/Fax (01580) 891761

If you are visiting Staplehurst in person and would like to talk to us, then please pop into the office for a chat. Our office opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday – 09:00 to 13:00. Thursdays by appointment only.

Email – Parish Clerk

Staplehurst Village Related Links

Village Web Site
Primary School Website
Genealogy and Local History from Rootsweb.com Includes Parish Registers

Weald Deanery

Weald Deanery is part of the Diocese of Canterbury and is situated in the Weald of Kent – the Garden of England.

Weald Deanery Heart Logo

The Weald Deanery comprises the Churches of:-

St. George’s Church, Benenden St. Dunstan’s Church, Cranbrook St. Mary the Virgin’s Church, Goudhurst with Christ Church, Kilndown St. Laurence’s Church, Hawkhurst St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church, Headcorn St. Michael and All Angels Church, Marden Trinity Church, Sissinghurst with St. Mary’s Church, Frittenden All Saint’s Church, Staplehurst St. Michael and All Angels, Chart Sutton St. Peter and St. Paul, East Sutton St. Mary’s, Sutton Valence

The Parochial Church Council