This Mothering Sunday, as you remember your mother, we are asking you to do something a little different. Instead of flowers or a box of chocolates why not buy her an ethical gift that [...]]]> Mothers’ Union is working through a grassroots membership of 4 million people to support families and communities around the world.

This Mothering Sunday, as you remember your mother, we are asking you to do something a little different. Instead of flowers or a box of chocolates why not buy her an ethical gift that will support another mother? A gift that gives twice over!

Your gift could be as small as £3 which will go towards supplying food, blankets, mosquito nets and other emergency supplies to an area affected by drought, violence or natural disaster. Your gift could be as large as £100 funding a mum where there is no mum, among the orphan’s of HIV/AIDS in Uganda. A £13 gift could train a Mothers’ Union member to support families who are coping with bereavement. There are many other choices among our ethical gifts, and they are all to be found HERE.

Whatever gift you chose you can know that it will be funding Mothers’ Union work in some of the world’s most deprived communities, each gift representing part of the cost of a crucial Mothers’ Union project.

For your gift card to be sent you in time for you to give it to your mother on Mothering Sunday (18th March) your orders need to be in by Wednesday 7th March 2012.

If you wish to advertise this form of ethical giving in your church, community centre or place of work, you are welcome to download this colour poster MAMD2012_DonationsAd

At an RAF base, on holiday, in word, through worship and with free cake, Mothers’ Union members across the Diocese are supporting families in fun, practical ways this month, as the [...]]]>

Mothers' Union free homemade cake stall at RAF Odiham Families Day, 10th August 2011 - with Apache Helicopter doing aerobatics above!

At an RAF base, on holiday, in word, through worship and with free cake, Mothers’ Union members across the Diocese are supporting families in fun, practical ways this month, as the organisation celebrates its 135^th anniversary!

More than 100 homemade cakes were collected by Mothers’ Union members at Old Alresford on Wednesday and transported to RAF Odiham where, with 100s more they served 1000s of RAF personnel and their families at the RAF Odiham Families Day on Wednesday 10^th August. For the second consecutive year a team of Mothers’ Union members made a gift of FREE tea, coffee, squash and cake to families who attended.

The idea for the gift grew out of the desire of local Mothers’ Union members to show their appreciation for the sacrifices made by RAF personnel as they serve tours of duty overseas, especially in Afghanistan, as well as their families. This year’s team of 16 Mothers’ Union members served throughout the day as families circulated watching the flying displays and other attractions.

Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester is also offering Relationship Counselling to support to any Armed Forces family connection with the Diocese that is struggling to cope with the pressures service life places on their family. More information about this pilot project is available here. 

Many of the cakes had been made by the 140 members who gathered on Tuesday 9^th August at Old Alresford to celebrate the 135^th Anniversary of the founding of Mothers’ Union by Mary Sumner. Holy Communion was celebrated in St Mary’s Church by Right Revd Peter Hancock, Bishop of Basingstoke. In his address he Bishop Peter reminded members of the words of Teresa of Avila, that they are the ‘hands of Jesus’ as they support of marriage and family life around the world. Later in the day Rosemary Kempsell, Worldwide President of Mothers’ Union gave a presentation showing how Mothers’ Union members around the world are still living out the original vision of Mary Sumner who founded the organisation at Old Alresford.

Another team of Mothers’ Union supporters are also preparing for the region’s biggest annual project which offers a week’s holiday to families who would otherwise fail to get a break from difficult lives. This year’s break starts on Saturday 13^th August at a new venue for the holiday, Pilgrim Hall in East Sussex. Approximately 19 families will be hosted by a team who provide children’s activities, youth events, a day out, baby sitting, a fancy dress disco and the chance to receive unconditional love whatever their circumstances. For more information click the link here: Mothers’ Union ‘Away From It All’ Family Holiday

More photographs of the Mothers’ Union stall at the RAF Families Day and from the anniversary celebrations at Old Alresford, can be found at our Flickr group

The schools are closed for summer, and families are hopefully looking forward to a good break from their normal routines. For some families, this is only possible with support from others.

For many years we have provided a week ‘Away From It All’ for a group [...]]]>

‘AFIA’ Family Holiday Week

13th-20th August 2011

The schools are closed for summer, and families are hopefully looking forward to a good break from their normal routines. For some families, this is only possible with support from others.

For many years we have provided a week ‘Away From It All’ for a group of families, at a houseparty, hosted by a team of Mothers’ Union members and supporters who provide a range of activities and services.

With August nearly here, this years team are enthused and ready for their week with guest families that have been referred by Mothers’ Union members, Home-Start, local medical centres and clergy.

This year there is the added excitement of a new venue. Pilgrim Hall in East Sussex is a Christian Conference/Holiday Centre set in 12 acres with many on-site activities which will hopefully prove a real benefit to team and guests. We have approximately 19 guest families who will be able to have a wonderful time together in this relaxing environment.

The prayers of Mothers’ Union members and the team, underpins all aspects of our AFIA Family Holiday from the administration, to those raising money, through those providing small prizes and toiletries and those who come forward as team members and so, knowing just how prayerful Mothers’ Union members and supporters are, we would ask that you include the following in your prayers over the next few weeks:

Prayers pre-Holiday

Between now and when the holiday starts, please pray for all those involved in leading the holiday, particularly co-Leaders and for the Chaplain and other team members who are joining the project for the first time this year. Please also pray for the planning of children’s groups, quizzes, games night and other evening activities. Most importantly please pray for the guest families, that they will overcome any fear and apprehension they feel before coming, and be able to enjoy the welcome, friendship and ‘tlc’ they will find when they’ve got there.

Prayers during the holiday week

13th Saturday - for the new venue Pilgrims Hall in East Sussex and for the safe arrival of all the team and guests.

14th Sunday - for the Welcome Service, for the whole event that families will spend time meeting old friends and making new ones in the lovely house and grounds.

15th Monday - for the team and children working together in groups throughout the week.

16th Tuesday - for the fun afternoon and for visitors’day

17th Wednesday - for the teenagers and their leaders that they will enjoy new experiences and shared activities, whether on or off-site.

18th Thursday - for good weather and safe travel for the outing.

19th Friday - for the ‘Show and Tell’ Thanksgiving Service and the final evening gathering.

20th Saturday - that the guests leave feeling rested and more positive about the future, for farewells and safe journeys home.

We are now able to offer funding for relationship counselling to a small number of couples where at least one of the couple are currently serving in the Armed Forces.

Using a [...]]]> Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester is pleased to be piloting a new project to support the families of armed forces personnel.

We are now able to offer funding for relationship counselling to a small number of couples where at least one of the couple are currently serving in the Armed Forces.

Using a group of qualified therapists we can offer up to 6 sessions free of charge to those who are unable to pay for themselves. If the couple could contribute something towards the cost, this would enable us to help more couples.

At present, we are only able to make the offer to couples with some connection with the Winchester Diocesan area (covering parts of Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire). The “connection” can be that of birth, residence, posting or family residing within the Diocese.

If you wish to apply for this service, we ask that you contact the Armed Forces’ Christian Union (email office@afcu.org.uk, tel 01252 311221). Your application will be treated in the strictest confidence, although please note that AFCU will have to carry out a simple, basic check (NOT with your unit) that you and/or your spouse is serving. Applications can be taken from the spouses of serving folk even if they wish to attend sessions alone.

The project came about through the awareness of members in this Diocese of the number of military bases in our region, and contact with some forces families through other Mothers’ Union projects. One member, supported by the Mothers’ Union Trustees of this diocese, has worked closely with the Armed Forces Christian Union and senior chaplaincy staff, supported throughout the by Lord and Lady Dannett.

General Lord Dannatt and Lady Dannatt have expressed their “absolute delight at the launch of this pilot scheme” to provide funding for relationship counselling to armed forces personnel, and “wish it every success”.

Lady Dannatt’s own experiences as a counsellor and wife of the past head of the Armed Forces, have encouraged her to draw attention to the difficulties facing the families of our country’s Armed Forces and the lack of support currently available. She is convinced that making available professional relationship counselling is one of the ways in which we can help, and is particularly pleased that Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester has linked up with the Armed Forces Christian Union to try and make this possible.

Pilgrim Hall in East Sussex is a Christian Conference Centre with exciting facilities that will give all those who need a vital break from difficult circumstances, a fun and restful weeks holiday.

Full details of what [...]]]> We are delighted to announce that we have a new venue for our Family Holiday Project in 2011.

Pilgrim Hall in East Sussex is a Christian Conference Centre with exciting facilities that will give all those who need a vital break from difficult circumstances, a fun and restful weeks holiday.

Full details of what the Family Holiday includes are here, and you can click on the link to find out more about the facilities at Pilgrim Hall.

The Mothers’ Union Family Holiday will be running between
13th and 20th August 2011.

If you think you know of a family who could benefit from the Mothers’ Union Family Holiday, and they live in the area covered by the mainland parts of the Diocese of Winchester (North Hampshire down to Southampton and stretching West into parts of Bournemouth), please

• Contact us in confidence to obtain the relevant application forms;
• Identify through us, or your local Anglican church, a Mothers’ Union group and contact who will help the family complete the application form, raise money and possibly keep in touch after the holiday;
• If possible, make a donation to, or arrange a fund-raising event for our Family Holiday fund;
• Pray for the family, and ask others to do the same.

Travelling Festivals are enjoyable projects, enabling local groups to reach out to families with young children.

They can bring the stories behind major Christian festivals into the homes of families connected to your church, in the midst of what are becoming increasingly commercial times of year.

Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester [...]]]>

Travelling Festivals are enjoyable projects, enabling local groups to reach out to families with young children.

They can bring the stories behind major Christian festivals into the homes of families connected to your church, in the midst of what are becoming increasingly commercial times of year.

Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester think the original idea came from Bridport, and came to us via Mary Sumner House, the head office of Mothers’ Union.

There is a Nativity Crib and also an Easter Basket and details of how you might work these projects in your local community are on the information sheet here: Travelling Festivals Sheet

If you are involved with, or interested in learning more about Street Pastors the following events might be of interest:

REGIONAL STREETLIFE GATHERING Saturday 18th September 2010, 2pm [...]]]> Several Mothers’ Union groups and members across the region covered by the Diocese of Winchester, support Street Pastor schemes including in Southampton, Chandlers Ford and Basingstoke.

If you are involved with, or interested in learning more about Street Pastors the following events might be of interest:

REGIONAL STREETLIFE GATHERING
Saturday 18th September 2010, 2pm to 6pm
This is an event for everyone involved in, supporting or interested in, initiatives like Street Angels, StreetLight and Street Pastors! We are expecting about 400 people from along the south coast!!!

VISION AND PRAYERS – SOUTHAMPTON STREET PASTORS AGM
Southampton Street Pastors is becoming a charitable company. This will lay a foundation for continuing the work well into the future. As they set off on this next chapter of their journey, the trustees have called a general meeting for Wednesday 13th October at 7.30pm.

This will be a time for praise and worship together, a review of the year, and a prayerful look ahead.

At this meeting the existing management committee will have the opportunity to stand down and the organisation will adopt a slightly different structure made up of working groups reporting to the trustees. We will be recruiting people to lead these working groups during September.

Who should come to the AGM? All those who share the vision of Southampton Street Pastors and want to join in thanking God for it and committing the future of the work to him. Please spread the word so that all volunteers and supporters and friends from local churches, both old and new come along.

Please put the date in your diaries now, and publicise the event in your churches.
Wednesday 13th October, 7.30pm, Central Hall, St Mary Street, SO14 1NF.

The gift of free tea, coffee, squash and cake, grew out of a desire by local Mothers’ Union members to [...]]]> On Wednesday 11^th August at RAF Odiham’s Family Day, Mothers’ Union members from across the Diocese of Winchester distributed free drinks and homemade cake to the family members of serving personnel at the base.

The gift of free tea, coffee, squash and cake, grew out of a desire by local Mothers’ Union members to show their appreciation for everything the RAF gives our country, and the sacrifices made by its personnel and their families as they serve tours of duty overseas.

The event attracted more than 2000 people to share in all sorts of family activities and events, including a flying display featuring the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Home made cakes were the big feature of this feeding of thousands. Thanks to the generosity of many people in local Anglican churches around Odiham, Hartley Wintney and Yateley, and Mothers’ Union supporters from across the Diocese of Winchester, these were given away free, with absolutely no charge or donations to the charity being taken.

Venerable Ray Pentland, RAF Chaplain-in-Chief receiving a free copy of 'Families First' (the magazine resourcing family life published by Mothers' Union) accompanied by Revd Colin Weir, Padre RAF Odiham

18 Mothers’ Union members were able to help serve at this event, but many more had been involved in baking the cakes. Over the previous two days, approximately 100 additional full sized cakes had been collected from as far afield as Southampton, Brockenhurst and Winchester as Mothers’ Union supporters in different parishes had responded with great willingness to this chance to show their appreciation to a sector of the armed services.

1000s of pieces of cake were given away (we ran out of our 1500 paper plates and distributed the rest on platters and paper napkins), 1500 hot drinks were served, and litres of soft drink concentrate were used. Mothers’ Union members were also able to give away 250 free copies of ‘Families First’, the magazine that aims at encouraging stong marriages, good parenting, and an active faith – produced by Mothers’ Union enterprises. Many expressed their surprise at the generosity being shown, and the quality and variety of the cakes (especially the supply of allergy-free cakes), and the up-to-date, helpful material in the magazine.

After all this, just as in the Biblical story of the feeding of the 5000, there was some food left over. The few remaining cakes have been stored carefully and will be used on the Mothers’ Union Family Holiday, and to provide a welcome to mourners at the funeral of a Royal Marine in Yateley. Both of these events take place next week.

At 10.30am on Monday 9th August , a small group of members gathered at the grave of [...]]]> As the Anglican calendar remembered Mary Sumner, the founder of the Mothers’ Union, members and supporters across the Diocese of Winchester were actively living out her desire to support family life, in a whole variety of ways.

At 10.30am on Monday 9th August , a small group of members gathered at the grave of Mary Sumner, to laid flowers in her memory. Mary Sumner, is buried with her husband Bishop George Sumner, in The Close where they spent the latter part of their lives, at Winchester Cathedral.

A larger group then gathered the same day for prayer, worship and study at Old Alresford, where Mary Sumner founded Mothers’ Union in 1876. In the very room where the first meeting was held, the current Diocesan President of Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester, led approximately 30 supporters through some material that focused on the Mothers’ Union theme for this year ‘Relationship Not Rules’.

Mean while, many more Mothers’ Union members and supporters were hard at work around the Diocese prepararing for two special events taking place over the next fortnight.

The members who had gathered in Old Alresford Place had brought with them nearly 50 cakes to help members from Odiham Deanery provide free tea, coffee and cake to the families of RAF personnel at RAF Odiham’s Family Day on Wednesday 11th August. These were collected up and will be added to by many others in the area, in time to help say ‘thank you’ to RAF families who spend months at a stretch with their loved ones away from home, serving primarily in Afganistan.

A press release for this event is available here: RAF Families Day Press Release

Other Mothers’ Union supporters were putting the finishing touches to arrangements for the Mothers’ Union AFIA Family Holiday, held again this year on the Isle of Wight. This starts on Saturday 14th August and will provide nearly a hundred people with a seaside holiday with their family that they would not otherwise be able to have. A prayer calender for those wishing to support this major project during the week it happens will be available on this website as the holiday starts.

The North Hampshire Child Contact Centre has been initiated by, and the management committee is made up of, members from the North Hampshire Downs [...]]]> This weekend sees the opening of the North Hampshire Child Contact Centre in Hook. It will be opening on the first and third Saturday’s of March to its first clients.

The North Hampshire Child Contact Centre has been initiated by, and the management committee is made up of, members from the North Hampshire Downs Mothers’ Union. They live in the villages just outside Basingstoke and the Child Contact Centre is being held at Hook near M3 J5 and the mainline train between Basingstoke and Fleet. Both Basingstoke and Fleet have child contact centres with waiting lists.

The volunteers to support the project have come from the village church congregations and from local school connections. This has enabled outreach by Mothers’ Union members to other supporters, and from the whole community (led by the Mothers’ Union) to the communities across the area.

The Child Contact Centre’s sole purpose is to enable parents, and sometimes grandparents, to rebuild relationships with children residing with estranged former partners. Contact is usually ordered by the courts. Those who have volunteered to help with sessions have been specially trained to facilitate resident parents who are reluctant about letting estranged partners have access to their children, and also care for children who may be very torn over which parent to please.

The North Hampshire Child Contact Centre would welcome your prayers for its volunteers and clients as it starts providing this vital and much needed service to the local community.

More information about how the project has been set up will be available on this website soon, and in the summer edition of our Diocesan Newsletter ‘Archway’.