We want to invest time and resources in our town. Here are the projects and charities in Swindon that we support.
Filling Station
Every Thursday evening, around 15 volunteers turn up at a car park in Swindon and run a soup kitchen, providing hot dogs, hot drinks, cakes, biscuits and tinned goods for 50-or-so men and women who are facing homelessness. The team are also able to hand out a ‘care package’ which contains a variety of basic toiletries – a service that’s supported by local homeless centres.
A network of local churches, St John’s included, provide a team of 200 volunteers to run this on a rota basis. When it’s our turn we make hundreds of sandwiches and contribute towards costs.
Pregnancy Choices
Pregnancy Choices offers free help through pregnancy, pregnancy loss, abortion, miscarriage and stillbirth. It offers women – and men – a space to explore thoughts and feelings in a safe, confidential environment.
Swindon Foodbank
Along with other Food Banks up and down the country, Swindon Food Bank is there to help people in crisis, through the provision of emergency food. Local care workers in the Swindon area supply people in need with a voucher for the Food Bank. There, people not only receive food for three days, but a cup of coffee and assistance in finding professionals who can help them further. In rural areas emergency food can be delivered. Other agencies that help the homeless can receive food in bulk from the Food Bank.
Swindon Youth for Christ
Swindon Youth for Christ (SYFC) has been working in Swindon since 1950 – its mission to take and be good news, in relevant ways, to young people in Swindon. It’s dynamic and innovative, working in schools, running lunchtime and afterschool clubs, leading assemblies, supporting school lessons, and delivering a relationships education programme. SYFC also works in the community running youth clubs and a monthly music night for young adults.
Willows Counselling Service
Open to all adults, Willows is a North Swindon-based counselling service. It’s a charitable trust set up to provide a caring response to people who live in Swindon and the surrounding area facing issues in their lives, and to assist churches, groups, organisations and agencies. It also acts as a debt advice service.