Our Associates

Associates are organisations that exist to serve the people of our town in practical ways and generally involve people from many different churches in the town, sometimes alongside people of other faiths or none.

Bishops Stortford Child Contact Centre

Based at the Hub Church, The Child Contact Centre is a community based, not for profit, child-focused charity that supports families directly impacted by separation or divorce.  We believe that every child has a right to build a relationship with both parents and other family members when families live apart.  Their wellbeing – now and for their futures is at the heart of what we do. We currently offer supported contact and are soon to introduce supervised contact between the child and the parent/family member they don’t usually live with in a safe, neutral, family orientated space. The centre is currently active every Saturday morning between 10:00m and noon. For more details visit https://bsccc.co.uk/ or contact admin@bsccc.co.uk

We may also be able to arrange midweek contact sessions in other locations in East Herts and West Essex if required, to help us provide contact services to as many local families as possible.Christian Aid

The Churches of Bishops Stortford support Christian Aid week with a town wide collection. For more information about this national charity visit http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Company at Christmas

In order that people are not alone on Christmas Day the churches organise a communal Christmas dinner and entertainment at the Methodist Church Hall and also provide a Christmas dinner to people who are shut in at home. For more details see here

Food Bank

Also based at the Methodist Church, Bishop’s Stortford Food Bank provides emergency food to people in need.  It is staffed by volunteers from all the churches in the town and other members of the community with no church affiliation.  Clients are referred by professional agencies that are aware of their situation, such as CAB.  If you are unsure of where to direct someone, please contact the Food bank on the contact number (07432 785976).

The food bank is open at the rear of the Methodist Church on Monday 10am-1pm, Tuesday and Thursday 10am-4pm (closed Wednesday and Friday).

Email enquiries@bishopsstortfordfoodbank.com

Holiday Bible Week (HBW)

Holiday Bible Week is a community effort put together by members of churches all over Bishop’s Stortford, Thorley and further afield. There’s a central committee with members from these churches that meet regularly to plan and organise everything that is needed for each years event.

As a community of churches together we invest heavily financially, in time and in effort to enable the 500+ children to take part in a wide variety of activities – all centred around Jesus Christ and the Bible. We have now run the event for more than 30 years.

Our Aims

  • To build up relationships between the churches and the local community.
  • To bring children into a caring and loving environment where they are valued and relationships matter.
  • To present Christian teaching in a relevant way through the activities, and to reflect it in team relationships.
  • To encourage the development of social skills and moral values.
  • To introduce children to Jesus and the church.
  • To provide interesting, stimulating and creative activities outside of the school environment.
  • To offer the opportunity to develop new skills and discover new interests.
  • To let children discover positive ways of having fun.
  • To enable people from churches to work together and display true Christian unity.

For more information visit :https://holidaybibleweek.co.uk/

Stort Valley Schools Trust

SVST offers a free chaplaincy service to both primary and secondary schools across the Stort Valley area. Schools Workers support children and young people through 1:1 mentoring sessions and also provide Collective Worship, Christian input to lessons, seasonal workshops, lunchtime clubs, chaplaincy drop ins and help for year six pupils as they transition to secondary school. The Trust also runs prayer and reflection spaces and are on hand to offer pastoral support to both staff and students. Learn more at svst.org.uk

Street Pastors

Street Pastors, affectionately known to some as Street Pastilles exist to be The Church in Action on the Streets. Street Pastors is an inter-denominational Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen, help and dialogue www.streetpastors.co.uk

Thirst Youth Cafe (and Bishops Stortford Youth Project)

Bishop’s Stortford Youth Project’s vision is to welcome, engage, encourage and empower young people and the youth culture in Bishop’s Stortford and surrounding areas by providing:

  • a youth cafe (Thirst)
  • a targeted mental wellbeing project
  • a mentoring project in local secondary schools
  • school holiday activities
  • opportunities for youth volunteering and social action.

They provide safe places for young people to flourish and grow

More details from http://thirstcafe.com/

YMCA

Based at 4 Northgate End, CM23 2EX, Bishops Stortford hostel has 27 self-contained flats for local and out of area people aged between 16-30, who may otherwise be homeless. Each flat is let on an 18-month Assured Short Hold Tenancy agreement.

By addressing the need for security and stability, we give our service users space to focus on rebuilding their lives. Our Resident Programmes help with practical life skills like budgeting, shopping and cooking, whilst our Personal Development Programs offer support to help develop confidence, address low self-esteem and improve problem-solving skills. See https://oneymca.org/what-we-do/accommodation/hostels/bishops-stortford-hostel/ for more information