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Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week and the pictures show the wild flower meadow flourishing at St Aidan’s Centre.

The Mend Minds Group helped develop the area 2 years ago but unfortunately many of the men can’t enjoy the fruits of their labours due to social isolation.

All is not lost however, as we helped finish off the building of nest boxes the men had been making before lock down. As you can see a Blue Tit is now using the nesting box to rear their family.

In many imaginative ways, Caritas is maintaining connections with people during these challenging times. 

In line with current guidance, we are working virtually and trying our best to continue offering support to our service users. We are happy to connect via Zoom, WhatsApp, phone conversation and text message, with adaptable times available, as we appreciate it is difficult to access our service during the daytime when you are home educating children.

Please, remember, stay home, stay safe and follow guidance given

We are here if you need us and remember, we are in this together. This too will pass.

Contact us on 0151 652 1881 or email info@caritasshrewsbury.org.uk.

Over the last few weeks a group of local people have been meeting to discuss how to secure investment for the Parish Centre.

The aim is to keep the facilities that people are keen on now but also introduce new space and facilities for community groups and services.

This is a very simple survey to get your views – there are just two questions!

We would be very grateful if you would take a minute to complete it… please just click here to be directed to the survey.

Many thanks!

We all had a wonderful Christmastime here at Caritas… and here’s to 2020!

As you may have already seen, the Home Secretary has confirmed the UK’s plans for resettlement set to commence in 2020.

The announcement marks the UK’s continued commitment to resettling refugees in need of protection, and our commitment to enable community sponsors to continue welcoming and supporting refugees. A significant development of the announcement is that refugees resettled through Community Sponsorship will be in addition to the Government’s resettlement commitment.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-global-resettlement-scheme-for-the-most-vulnerable-refugees-announced

From 2020, the new resettlement scheme will consolidate the Vulnerable Persons’ Resettlement Scheme, the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme and the Gateway Protection Programme into one global scheme.

The new programme will be simpler to operate and provide greater consistency in the way that the UK Government resettles refugees. It will broaden the geographical focus beyond the Middle East and North Africa, allowing for greater flexibility in how the UK responds to humanitarian crises.

Following the announcement, the Home Office will be reaching out to sponsor groups and stakeholders on how the new developments within Community Sponsorship will be implemented and delivered.

We recognise the positive difference community sponsorship has made to the lives of refugees resettled in the UK, and to the communities that have welcomed them. On 17th June, the Home Secretary met with faith leaders on resettlement, asylum, and faith-based persecution, and the Immigration Minister also met with resettled refugees in Lambeth and those who support their integration into communities. We take pride in the positive and collaborative relationship that we have with community sponsors and appreciate the valuable input that your groups have had in supporting its development. It is only made possible by the dedication, hard work and compassion of community sponsor groups across the UK and we thank you for this.