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.
If you would like to help with the Swindon Filling Station please contact them directly at:
Angus Macpherson
Tel: 01793 812259
e-mail: macpherson.angus@btopenworld.com
Telephone updated 20th November 2023
Their website is no longer in use.
Swindon Food Collective
Along with other Food Banks up and down the country, Swindon Food Collective 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 Collective. 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 Collective.
Shine Pinehurst
Shine Pinehurst is a local community based project working with other local residents to improve the opportunities and activities available to local people – especially young people.
Many of the people they work with face a number of challenges due to the effects of deprivation including poor housing, low income, risk of exploitation and low aspiration.
They provide pastoral and practical support to families facing crisis as well as supporting community projects including holiday activities, a community garden project and a big community fun day each summer.
Weekly they run a variety of after schools clubs, detached work and a Youth club which has over 60 young people a week attend with a variety of activities including art, music, sports, cooking as well as Internet access, pool table etc.
Shine Pinehurst is an initiative of the diocese of Bristol.
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.