Ripple Effect
In 2023, we established a partnership with the Ripple Effect charity. The charity works alongside families in rural communities in eastern Africa, so they can grow more food, earn a living, educate their children and break the cycle of poverty - for good. In turn, these farmers share their knowledge with others – hence the ‘ripple effect’. Collections from our Lent soup lunches and from our Harvest festival are often contributed to this charity.
Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal
The congregation at All Saints has been involved in the Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal for almost 15 years. In this time, we have donated over 800 shoeboxes full of gifts to children who don’t have much. They may be living in poverty because of drought, sickness or war. In the past, our shoeboxes have gone to places as far apart as Zambia and Albania; Ukraine and Liberia. Samaritan’s Purse, the charity which organized the appeal, also works with local churches in these communities to spread the good news about Jesus.
Operation Christmas Child shoebox appeal
Street Kids Direct
Founded in 2001, Street Kids Direct works in partnership with local projects in Guatemala and Honduras that help children either living on the streets or at high-risk of living on the streets. Duncan Dyason MBE, its founder, has shared with All Saints Church congregation and students at Altwood School how he came to set up the charity. Street Kids Direct works in partnership with other organisations to reach the most vulnerable young people. It has a mentoring programme that encourages people to make positive life choices and to see that God desires that we enjoy life in all its fullness. Young people have found vocations as doctors, teachers and youth workers having been lifted from despair on the streets.
Altwood School, alongside support from St Peter’s and All Saints churches, has hosted a sleepover at the school for the past four years to raise money for the charity. https://www.altwoodschool.co.uk/page/?title=Charity&pid=213
Fairtrade Foundation
We support Fairtrade because we believe we have a part to play in ensuring better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. As a Fairtrade church, we seek to use Fairtrade products, where possible - for example for tea and coffee after the service. We promote the use of Fairtrade products, particularly during Fairtrade fortnight which falls in September during Creationtide. We challenge our congregation to buy something Fairtrade that they wouldn’t usually buy. Sometimes we have a raffle of Fairtrade products during this fortnight with proceeds going to the Fairtrade Foundation.