Message to attendees of Faith Action in Bristol
This is a short follow-up from the 'Faith Action in Bristol' meeting last Tuesday. I would like to say thank-you to all those who came, to those who took part in some way, either by speaking or bringing exhibition stands, and all those who worked behind the scenes to make it all possible.
We have an event report on the Faith Action Bristol web site, which includes a link to the Bristol Audit Report, summaries of some of the talks and the group photograph. It also includes some suggestions for the way forward and details of another meeting you might be interested in.
The Audit Report demonstrated the quantity, range and quality of the work being done by faith-based groups in Bristol, and the exhibition stands showcased a number of the key projects involved in doing this work.
A number of the participants spoke powerfully about both the work already being done and about the potential we have to do so much more. As the Bishop said: we are here because we want to do better, and we want to do it together.
The only way we can respond to the scale of the need – and the opportunity before us – is if we work together more effectively: both within the faith communities and between the faith communities and the statutory authorities.
We have some ideas of how to do this, but we need the involvement of many more people and groups to turn the good ideas into reality. If you would like to be a part of shaping what we do in Bristol to meet these unprecedented challenges, please sign up to one (or both!) of the email lists below.
One of the next steps is being taken by Christian Action Bristol: the coming 'Prayer and Planning' event will focus on our response to asylum seekers and refugees. Everyone is welcome!
There will soon be a significant increase in the number of people arriving in Bristol, and the city is already struggling to cope with the people who have already come.
We have invited representatives from all the groups working with refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol to share what is happening – what they are doing, what they know about, and what the major challenges are right now.
Please come to City Road Baptist Church at 12.30 pm on Wednesday 21 October – come along to help us find better ways of responding to this urgent need, or just come to be better informed.
For more details, please visit the event page on the Faith Action Bristol web site, or just register with Eventbrite.
If you have any other ideas about how to take things forward, please get in touch with me.
Thank you again for making the event such a success. All the best,
Paul Hazelden
Contact the Organiser