ROBY URC, LONGSIGHT

The Roby United Reform Church in Longsight has for some years been the base for The Roby Project, provided help and support to the area, running drop-in centres, parent and toddler groups and counselling sessions. St. Luke's arranges a collection of good condition used items and clothing which is taken monthly from Goostrey and is much appreciated. The Roby outing to Goostrey each summer is enjoyed by many who seldom have the opportunity to spend a day in the country, visiting a farm, fruit picking or simply playing and picnicking in a garden.

Goostrey parish has had links with the Outreach Project at Roby URC in Longsight almost since its inception in the late 1980's. Over that time, the project has changed in many ways but our involvement has always been largely with the drop-in sessions (Welcome In). We have provided clothing and small household items for the monthly Nearly New Sale run by project members (and some not so small ones direct to individuals!); we have supported their Christmas events with produce and presents and we have welcomed them on an annual summer visit here. Nor has the traffic been all one way. We are regularly invited to their special events, we have been given hand-made cards and crafts for our Church fair, and Goostrey always figures prominently in their Annual Report (a copy of which is at the back of the Church).

In the summer, however, we reviewed the nature of the link to see if our support could be more helpfully targeted. The focus of the Project has now changed considerably, with far more official referrals and one of the activities that has been dropped is the monthly second-hand sale. Nonetheless, the need may still be there and so if a particular requirement arises, the project leaders know that they can ring one the Outreach team and we will do our best to supply it. (we recently found an unwanted men's bicycle for someone, for example). We will still continue to host a visit each year and help where needed at Christmastime.
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BUT - the main need now is for continued support for the Destitution Project. You will remember that this initiative provides a food pack and travel expenses for refugees who have NO other means of support. The URC church is currently supporting 12 such individuals and asks its own inner-city congregations for help. We here in comfortable Goostrey can really make a difference here! There is a box permanently at the back of St. Luke's for donations of foodstuffs and cash offerings may be given to the churchwardens, Outreach members or David. They will be taken up to Longsight once a month. Please make this an ongoing expression of service.
Meanwhile, any unwanted clothing, goods etc. are needed - in the same way as at Roby in the past - at the Tree of Life centre, based at St. Marks Presbytery, Oatlands Road, Wythenshawe (M22). If you have anything to offer, please contact them on 0161-437-7623. Your unwanted items still don't have to go to waste. Thank you