Hope and Future: 25th Anniversary Edition

Putting HOPE on the map!

Putting HOPE on the map!

Coaching Karis - a whirlwind of fun!

4 ways coaching is changing a community

Better out than in - the best way to be angry

The bread and butter of supporting families

The ministry of showing up - David’s Story

Pray with us

“I have no friends here, no family here, but Make Lunch are my family.”

- Bouchra, Tala’s Mum

Read Layan and Tala’s story on page 10

Strong roots make for incredible fruit

You might be wondering why I am introducing our 25th birthday edition by talking about roots. No, you haven’t accidentally picked up ‘Gardeners World’! Roots are something I’ve been pondering since before the inception of TLG in 1999. As the Sower and the Vine, Jesus showed us the importance of roots if we want to bear fruit. And we have been able to grow strong roots because you dug deep and invested in our vision to see fruit growing in the sometimesbarren wastelands of young people’s lives.

As we began to support these youngsters, we learnt about their roots. Did you know that, in nature, roots have three functions – to provide stability, the food needed for immediate growth, and nutrition for the future? During our work, we’ve met and helped

34,896

children and families for whom, through no fault of their own, roots weren’t even a possibility. Meaning neither was stability, nor growth. But with your help, these young people have been able to develop new root systems.

69,854

The programmes we planned, shaped, tweaked and rolled out with you and the local church offer children the prospect of stability and growth. And we have witnessed the fruit of those programmes, the profound impact felt in communities as individual lives have been transformed. As you read this special edition of ‘Hope and a Future,’ we hope you celebrate with us the fruits you’ve helped grow.

Rejoice at how our TLG Early Intervention coaches inspired radical change for Karis (page 6), Layan (page 10) and David (page 12). Be uplifted by the work of Terence and his team at their TLG Make Lunch club in Sheffield (page 10). Use the ‘Better Out Than In’ resource (p8) to help a child you know create emotional stability and growth around the knotty emotion of anger. Think about whether you might like to train as a coach yourself (page 7), start a Make Lunch club (page 11), become a Future Builder (page 9), or a Hope Giver (page 13). The information and links you need are all inside this magazine.

and compassion over the past decade, and for whom we are so grateful. You can read about Sheron on our website, where we invite you to get to

1,710,747 lives transformed over 25 years hours of TLG

Early Intervention coaching meals served through TLG Make Lunch

It’s amazing to think we grew, with your support, from one church in Great Horton in Bradford into a charity with national reach (page 4)! We hope, as partners in these stories of redemption and hope, that you too will feel the joy of this special birthday.

Every blessing,

Part of our most recent growth is the appointment of our new Chair of Trustees, Sheron Kantor. She has taken over from Andrew Burton, who led us with such wisdom

Tim Morfin OBE

Tim and his family celebrating Tim’s OBE award in April

on the map! PuttingHope

Last year, an incredible 5,454 children were supported through TLG’s Early Intervention and Make Lunch programmes. That’s 5,454 unique stories of children experiencing full tummies, more friendships and more fun! These are a few snapshots of the new stories being written around the country.

The number of people coming to City Church Make Lunch club has grown in the last year as word has spread from existing families recommending it to their friends and bringing them along!

Hosted in the local school for the past 3 years, there is a sense of confidence within the community that families will receive a warm welcome here.

Coaching is bringing hope to a young boy from Afghanistan, who arrived in Lisburn as a refugee along with his family. His coach has managed to overcome the language barrier through drawing and to connect with his coached child over their shared love of football! The difference this support has made to the young boy has been huge.

Welshpool’s five coaches are currently coaching five children and connecting with their families, all of whom are invited to their Church Camp this summer!

The Bethesda Early Intervention coaches were so encouraged by the blossoming confidence of one of their coached children. This young boy completed a paper aeroplane project, assisted by his coach, which he then presented to his class. Previously, he’d struggled with this type of schoolwork but, with the help of his coach, he’s grown in confidence and self-esteem.

TLG EARLY INTERVENTION IN BRISTOL

A coached child shares: “I love seeing my coach and talking to him. When speak to him I feel safe and seen. Coaching is fun! Because of coaching I feel calmer and more able to manage my emotions.” How amazing!

Two of the children being coached through this church are originally from Ukraine, now living in the UK with their mother after their father tragically lost his life in the war last year. The coaches are giving these children muchneeded space to work through their emotions at this traumatic time.

THE LIGHTHOUSE MAKE LUNCH CLUB

This year’s Pancake Party brought an incredible 81 children and families from the community together for fun, pancake-flipping and a personal testimony of God’s provision!

Because of coaching... (Tick the statements you agree with) I feel more able to manage my emotions I feel calmer I enjoy school more

This year’s Family Faith Fun Day, seed-funded by TLG, welcomed an amazing 85 people from the community! Each family, quite a few of them new to the church, were served an afternoon tea, which was apparently ‘better than Betty’s!’ The Make Lunch club is receiving equally lovely feedback from families, who feel welcomed into the space, and those running the programme are enjoying the opportunity to bless their community.

Families attending this club, held in St Barnabas Church for five years, love the welcoming, safe space it offers, with no pressure on children or adults to take part in activities and no judgement on those with special educational needs and disabilities. Families describe an atmosphere of acceptance and care, where the team connect with them in a supportive and gracious way.

A TLG SPEAKER!

Book a TLG speaker and hear the extraordinary difference that churches up and down the UK are making through TLG programmes.

Be moved to action as we tell powerful stories of hope. We're based all around the country and we'll do everything we can to reach your church!

Book a TLG Speaker! tlg.org.uk/speaking-events

BOOK

RIVER OF LIFE MAKE LUNCH CLUB

DARLINGTON METHODIST CIRCUIT

CITY CHURCH MAKE LUNCH

CHRIST CHURCH LISBURN

WELSHPOOL BAPTIST CHURCH

BETHESDA CHAPEL EARLY INTERVENTION

Coaching

Karis.

How a storm of unhappiness became a whirlwind of fun!

11 year old Karis felt utterly lost when her best friend left their school. She had no other friends and never recieved any invitations to class parties. How was she going to navigate her new loneliness alone?

Desperate for a friend, Karis got involved in things that she knew weren’t right, thinking this would make people like her. “I kept getting into trouble. The headteacher was getting tired of seeing me, very tired, and I wasn’t really proud of that.”

As TLG Early Intervention coach Fay, from Kings Church Catford, started to spend time with Karis, she noticed something special. “Although she was often in trouble and having problems with friendships, she was able to reflect on the incidents that were occurring. She was often saying I could have done things differently, but she needed support to know how.“

The coaching space became pivotal for Karis. “Coaching is a safe space where you can talk to someone and express your feelings. We did some fun activities, but each activity was related to something that would help me to cope.”

Fay spent valuable time with Karis thinking about healthy friendships. Karis loved using the emotions colour wheel.

“It was very important because it taught me how to regulate myself around people and it taught me that if feel upset with a friend, have to come clean. Being a good friend means you listen, and you respect their opinion,” Karis concludes.

Within a few weeks of coaching, Karis told her headteacher, “I’m not going to come to your office anymore.” When the coaching year came to an end, the head was able to say, “You really kept your promise didn’t you Karis?!” “She was so proud of me!” Karis smiles.

Fay is elated for Karis. “She’s the one that has

“

Every coaching session had a meaning for me. When I was sewing, it felt like I was punching negative emotions down, with cooking I felt like I was spreading my joy and when I shared my baking with people, they smiled.

”

- KARIS,

AGED 11

“

Karis is a whirlwind of fun! ”

- HEADTEACHER

made the change, she’s listened, and taken on board all the things we’ve talked about and put them into practice, and that takes a lot of maturity.”

Karis reflects proudly, “It feels great! I have a few people who invite me to parties now. I’m happy with that!”

- Karis and her coach, Fay

ways coaching is changing a community 4

Meet the Kings Church coaching team - they’ve been partnering with TLG and transforming the lives of children in South East London since 2018:

TLG is so needed, especially for the young men today. There’s a lot of influences and if there are broken homes and no fathers around, for example, I think it’s really important for men like myself to come into schools and let them know that there’s hope.

The support services available for children are quite sparse and children often have to be really, really struggling to be able to receive a service. The idea that TLG is there is such an amazing gift.

The good thing about TLG coaching is that it’s a partnership with the school, the parents and the coach as well. At the end of the day, we all have the same objective: we’re looking for the best for the child.

Watch Karis’ Story! tlg.org.uk/karis

TLG Early Intervention has really helped us as a church to reach into the local community so I would encourage you: go for it, do it, get involved. It’s such a good thing to do.

- ANDY,

Find out more about coaching! tlg.org.uk/coaching

- NORMA, TLG COACH

- SUSANNA, TLG COACH

CHURCH LEADER

- ADRIAN, TLG COACH

Better out than in: teaching a child the best way to be

angry

TLG has 25 years of experience supporting vulnerable children in a trauma-informed way. We’ve learnt a thing or two about how young people experience anger. Here is a quick guide on how to lead the children in your life through this tricky, oftenmisunderstood emotion.

GETTING PRACTICAL

Try these different suggestions for helping the child in your care learn positive ways to express their anger. Encourage them to:

• Share their feelings with someone they trust, who can hold those emotions with them in a healthy way. Remember, their feelings are valid and need to be heard.

• Do an active movement - something as simple as a walk, a toilet break, or playing with a fidget toy gives them a chance to calm down.

ven as adults, we might regard anger as an undesirable emotion that we need to push down. Because anger can lead to negative behaviours, our logical brain perceives it as a wholly negative feeling and we may need to remind ourselves, or learn for the first time, the purpose behind this important emotion.

Commonly arising out of injustice, fear and disconnection with others, anger can be a helpful signal. Particularly in children, it may be a way of communicating something they can’t articulate. If we take the time to understand the reasons behind it, it can teach us more about a person and be a catalyst for positive change.

The pressure reduces and the drink loses its fizz.

Although this causes less mess on the outside - as generally nothing much is said or done - the person involved will probably withdraw for a while and learn not to ‘feel’ the emotion that needed expressing. This appears to be a controlled response but it’s unhealthy as the anger gets absorbed into the physical body, potentially leading to physical discomfort, such as stomach pain, nausea or sleep disturbance.

Imagine that getting angry is like a bottle of fizz being shaken up. There are three ways to deal with pop that’s about to pop!

You may have heard the expression ‘They’ve flipped their lid.’ This is when someone has let their anger boil and boil until it all explodes out, probably in destructive language and behaviours. This is an unhealthy way to deal with anger, usually causing a loss of control with regrettable consequences/shame/further upset.

Let some of the pressure out, close it slightly again- repeat until you can fully open the lid without the drink going everywhere.

This is the healthiest way to deal with anger. It involves noticing angry emotions and using controlled ways to let them out in a way that won’t cause regret or discomfort.

• Get a drink of water or healthy snack. We’ve probably all heard of the expression ‘Hangry’- it’s a real thing!

• Take some long deep breaths to calm the body and brain.

• Find a regular outlet that requires them to be noisy or active!

Some suggestions: singing, rapping, beatboxing, sport/exercise, playing an instrument, drama, whistling, talking.

• Have a good yell! Chat about an appropriate place to do this: outside in nature where they can yell to a lake, sea, woodland, field, or inside into a pillow.

NEXT STEPS

Emotional First Aid

Do you want to learn more about how to support children and families who are struggling with their emotional and mental wellbeing?

TLG’s Emotional First Aid course offers FREE online training to help you spot the signs of emotional distress in children and adults, and know how to respond to them effectively.

Visit: tlg.org.uk/efa

Transform lives through your business! “

I love my food and hate the fact that children, in 2024 in the UK are going hungry. To me that’s a huge injustice. It’s really important to us to do good through our business. Being a Future Builder means we can see real impact by partnering with a charity which shares our Christian values.

“

JON COBB Director of Trinity Wealth Management

Do you own, manage, or work for a business? Did you know that your business could transform lives?

By joining our corporate Future Builder community, you’ll open new possibilities that benefit you, your staff, and children across the UK facing the toughest starts in life.

Use this link to explore the many ways your business could partner with us, and offer struggling young people hope and a future.

Become a Future Builder! tlg.org.uk/corporate

Gold Future Builder

Bread & Butter

The of supporting families

You’re 7 years old; you’ve been forced to leave your home country; you’ve arrived in an unfamiliar city with your little sister and your parents; your mum is pregnant; you’ve virtually nothing, only a succession of temporary addresses; now Covid is unfolding. Who is going to help you and your family?

This was the nightmare that Layan and her family found themselves in when they were forced to leave their home in the UAE and seek asylum in Sheffield.

When a health visitor referred the family to a nearby Make Lunch club serving hot meals and distributing baby clothes, Layan’s family met Terence Williams, Associate Pastor and Make Lunch Co-ordinator at City Life International Church (CLIC). The TLG Make Lunch community stood in the gap between Layan’s family and despair.

‘TLG Make Lunch to me is working with families that are in need, meeting whatever their need is but the main thing with TLG is providing hot meals for children, plus having fun at the same time!’ explains Terence, who started CLIC’s Make Lunch club in 2021.

Layan describes how she felt about her new life back then. ‘Before came to Make Lunch, felt a bit lonely. didn’t know anybody. I didn’t know what was happening and didn’t know anything about this country.’

Layan’s mother, Bouchra, found it equally hard: ‘ I left my family and my country, my everything there and came here. It was very difficult for me.’

‘We went to their house, a government house,’ says Terence. ’The situation wasn’t good. They had 28 days to move out and find somewhere to go. We supported them in whatever way we could.’

‘We met Terence and his wife, Vivian, and they helped when my wife gave birth in terms of providing clothes, nappies, a lot of things,’ explains Wissam, Layan’s father.

‘I really like being around Terence and Vivian,’ says

“ I

have no friends here, no family here, but they are my family.

- BOUCHRA “

Before I came to Make Lunch, I felt a bit lonely. I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t know what was happening and I didn’t know anything about this country. ”

- LAYAN, AGED

10

Layan. ‘They always help us with everything, like if we’re in the house, we needed something, we didn’t have it...‘ ‘They would come and bring it for us!’ Tala, Layan’s little sister finishes.

‘We have seen the journey and the children and the joy when they come in here. We gave them a safe place at Make Lunch. They are part of our family,’ says Terence.

Bouchra agrees. ‘I have no friends here, no family

Bouchra, now mother of three after the safe arrival of Sara, looks to the future: ‘I hope that the time will come for myself to volunteer at Make Lunch so I

You know something is fruitful when those who

Watch Layan’s Story! tlg.org.uk/layan

You’ve read Layan’s story. Maybe you’ve also watched her video. You’re wondering if your church could help people like Layan and her family but you don’t know where to start.

- TERENCE, MAKE LUNCH COORDINATOR

Join the national movement of TLG Make Lunch clubs being hosted in churches all around the UK. Be the difference in a child’s life by starting a Make Lunch club at your own church!

For more information about how it all works, get in touch. We’ll give you a peek into the TLG Kitchen Cupboard, jam-packed full of resources, training, TLG news and updates to inspire and support you.

We would love to support and equip you with everything you need.

‘It’s simple. It works,’ Terence encourages. ‘Don’t make anything too complicated. Just be you in what you do!’

tlg.org.uk/makelunch

The of showing up ministry

Meet Pat, one of our amazing Early Intervention coaches who has been supporting children in Scotland for several years. Read her inspiring, ongoing story of transformation.

call the coached child David and Mum can be Mum.

David’s family had been relocated from another part of the UK due to traumatic circumstances. He was 9 when met him, the youngest of six children and my first coaching experience.

David was disengaged from learning and often spent time outside the classroom. He wasn’t particularly interested when told him about the coaching programme but he didn’t say ‘No’.

For the first month of coaching, I turned up and David sat under a table in the open area outside the classroom.

“

For the first month of coaching, I turned up and David sat under a table.

I asked if I could join him. He said nothing. By week 3, I asked if I could join him and he moved to make space under the table. played solitaire, deliberately making mistakes, which knew got to him. By week 4, he couldn’t take it any longer. When I messed up again, he exclaimed, “Pat, you’re doing it wrong. I’ll show you!“ Breakthrough!

Coaching grew slowly from there and David began to engage. We did rock painting, woodwork, clay name plaques, and made an advent tree. Gradually, we were able to talk about thoughts and feelings.

Early in our coaching, I met David’s Mum. She was willing to do anything for her children, loving and capable but overwhelmed generally, by financial worries, and her children’s behavioural difficulties. Life held a lot of

darkness for the family - stuff that I certainly couldn’t fix. But could listen and be present.

Over the years, I’ve done life with David’s family, moving sofas, lifting carpets, providing transport, celebrating birthdays. David is now in third year in secondary school. Our EI coaching ended several years ago now but we still meet at least once a term. We go to a fast-food establishment of his choice… and we chat!

“

We can show faithfulness, stability and consistency to those who don’t have that in their lives.

”

- PAT, DAVID’S COACH

Relationships we build with those we support (in any ministry) are often just pinpricks of light in their darkness but pinpricks of light make a difference. In some training we did once, TLG was described as “the ministry of showing up”. like that. We can show faithfulness, stability and consistency to those who don’t have that in their lives. We can show up and make ourselves available to God, believing that He will use us.’

We call our generous supporters Hope Givers. Why? Because their donations give hope to struggling children like David by funding the coaching they so desperately need.

Join the collective of people rooting for them with a better vision for their lives. Be the missing link between a young person experiencing poverty or trauma and the love, acceptance, and support of our coaches.

- PAT, DAVID’S COACH

- SABRINA

Pray with us!

Over the last 25 years, one thing that’s never changed is our belief that prayer is vital. We know that many of you share that belief and we’re so thankful that you’re praying with us.

25 years of faithfulness

For a quarter of a century now, through faithfully answering our prayers, God has enabled TLG to support over 34,000 struggling children and young people. Praise Him for the generous-hearted folk in churches around the UK who pour their time, skills and love into our TLG programmes. Thank God for the many youngsters who are taking brave steps with TLG towards changing their lives.

A time such as this

The ongoing aftermath of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis is perpetuating an unprecedented mental health crisis for children and young people in the UK. Last year, the Department for Education reported 1 in 5 under 18s has a probable metal health disorder. Please join our persistent and urgent prayer for their well-being and for God to touch many of their lives through the work of TLG.

Hope and a future

Pray that God will raise up the UK church to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families across the country. Pray that more Christians will be moved to support TLG and reach more young people in need of urgent help. Where life has robbed youngsters of mental and physical nourishment, may Jesus fill them with the abundant life He promises.

- JOHN 10:10

We rely on our generous community of Hope Givers to reach children like Karis, Layan and David, who you’ve read about in this magazine. But we URGENTLY need more people like you to become Hope Givers. If you’re already one, we kindly ask you to consider increasing your monthly donation so we can continue to provide vital support to those children that need it most.

Just £8 a month will help transform a life for good.

X

Sometimes the hardest stories...

the most important ones to tell.

To mark 25 years of bringing hope and a future to struggling children across the UK, we’re collaborating with Riding Lights Theatre Company to share their stories with you.

Churches across the country will be hosting this one-off, one-of-akind theatre production to lift the lid on childhood trauma, giving a glimpse into the deepest and most extraordinary stories to come out of TLG Early Intervention.

Invite your church family to be challenged, surprised and inspired!

To host a performance in your church, get in touch with us for more details.

Coming this Autumn are

“The ability of Riding Lights to take an audience deep into the struggles of children and young people is incredible. This window of opportunity to see the difference one caring adult can make will be transformational in the understanding and call to action for audiences across the UK.”

- TIM MORFIN OBE