Board of Trustees Update

Each year I sit down to write this I stop to reflect and each year I find myself blown away and thanking God for his generous provision and blessing. It is so easy to get caught up in the daily activities of running a charity to miss the continuation of God’s blessing.

We’ve had numerous occurrences this year where people have volunteered into roles, funding from stakeholders has arrived to meet the needs and we’ve received financial gifts that arrive just at the time we’re making decisions. These affirmations are such an encouragement to the Trustees, Staff team and Volunteers as we see the demonstration of God blessing the ministries of Derby City Mission.

While I don’t want to paint an overly optimistic picture of our year, I can personally testify that God has again put the right people in the right place at the right time to counsel and provide wisdom through some difficult decisions. Over the last couple of years, we’ve deliberately consolidated our activities in the City, providing advice into the shire when requested, but our focus has concentrated on activities in the City, our city. This has resulted in the commissioning of the Ark; but that’s not my story to unpack.

What is my story to unpack is the journey to get it in place to thank the team and funding agencies. This is a development, building out of our existing ministries, giving us opportunities to demonstrate God’s love and care. Looking forward, I’d love for a straightforward “boring” year. I know that’s not the journey we’re on as God stretches our faith as we adapt to the changing needs and opportunities to testify to God’s love to all those in the City of Derby.

Thank you all for your support this last year.

Nigel Town Chair

Our newly refurbished Community Café and Shop reopened in July this year. The lighter, brighter environment is more welcoming and better meets the needs of those who use the facilities.

In the last 12 months

3245

People visited the Community Café and Shop

2184 emergency food parcels have been given out. This includes the period where both Café and Shop were being renovated. Hours of volunteering are happening in the Café each week.

The Community Café has continued to be a safe place where people can come to find peace and a caring, compassionate, listening ear from our volunteers. We are blessed that Stevie Davies, an artisan craft expert who specialises in fused glass, comes in regularly to lead craft sessions. We make it clear that we are a Christian Mission and that Jesus is central in all we do. Prayer is offered at every session and Bibles are always available and free if requested.

Supporting the work in the Café and Shop is a team of volunteers who take and sort the donations, ensuring all items are in date and stock the Community Shop on a weekly basis. Even more volunteers collect throughout the week from the various supermarkets who support us. We are, as always, incredibly grateful for the tireless work our volunteers do and would like to offer them a huge thank you. May God bless them.

In the past twelve months, our Jubilee Clinic advisers have:

Meetings with 3753 Clients which included working with 1345 New Clients

Members of the Jubilee team have:

Prevented bailiff action, homelessness, disconnect ion from utilities and court action for 80 cases.

Recorded a whopping £1,357,521.31 of record ed outcomes in twelve months. Have started a one-to-one budgeting course wit h some clients, to help them manage their money.

We thank God for this amazing provision and for the skill and wisdom of those serving God as part of the Jubilee team.

Secured a total of £50,594.47 charitable payments for items such as washing machines, cookers other essential items, along with shopping vouchers and help towards gas and electricity bills, helping 422 people.

In January 2023, construction began, bringing to life our vision of emergency accommodation for Derby’s homeless. The Ark, with its eight bedrooms and shared facilities, now stands as a beacon of hope. But it’s more than shelter; it’s a place of compassion and community. Along this journey, God’s providence has been evident, with timely funding and the right people stepping in to help. The community’s unwavering support, through donations, prayers, and volunteer hours, has been our driving force. As we welcome our first guests, we do so with gratitude, hope, and an unshakeable faith for what is to come.

This equates to:

This year, we have provided emergency overnight provision for different people who would have otherwise slept outside. over the year

2150 vulnerable individuals have been given a warm, comfortable and, most importantly, SAFE place to sleep.

A big thank you to our fantastic builders

ByMySide acts as a support system, a surrogate family for those who may have little or no family care. Trust is built and bonds are formed among clients and the dedicated team working alongside them. For many of our clients, several of whom have faced addiction and challenging life circumstances, the chaos of addiction and life on the streets has left them yearning for a sense of normality. So, every Wednesday, the clients of ByMySide are offered the opportunity to come together for a weekly workshop, hosted in partnership with the team at Derby’s ArtCore. These serve as a haven of creativity where art becomes therapy and begins the healing process, as well as providing an outlet for buried emotions. Through the act of creation, individuals can express themselves, confront their struggles, and begin to heal. Beyond the art itself, these workshops foster a sense of community and connection that is often missing in the lives of those who have faced addiction and homelessness. We are grateful to see God moving powerfully in the lives of our clients. The journey is ongoing and we are excited to witness the transformations yet to come.

On leaving prison, many of our guests find it difficult to secure housing as landlords are unwilling to give them a chance. Even if they do, often their addictions and lack of budgeting skills mean they fail in their tenancy and go back into the cycle of homelessness and offending behaviour. Ultimately, we aim to build relationships with them and help them rebuild their lives. We also aim to engage our clients in activities that will reduce their offending behaviour and allow them to continue in their tenancies after their involvement with the project has ended.

£45,000 worth of gifts were donated and distributed in December 22 were offered by 75 volunteers who gathered, sorted and distributed the toys, right up to Christmas Eve

Children received an average of five gifts to the value of £40-£50.

Parents were able to choose from a category that met their child’s interests, giving them dignity through choice, and gifts were distributed unwrapped so that parents knew what they were giving to their child.

We expect Christmas Connection 2023 to be even busier as more parents struggle financially as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. We thank God for His hand in this work and for the success of the project.

Alongside our regular, amazing volunteers, we were blessed to have helpers from Rolls Royce, Alstom & Pinnacle Surveyors.