I feel impelled to tackle issues of poverty, deprivation, exclusion and marginalisation, not because I desire to follow the teaching of Jesus, but as I consider it the correct thing to do. Neverthless the teaching attributed to Jesus is persuasive so I accept that the relationship between what I believe and the message of Jesus is a symbiotic one that determines my action. I, along with many others, tackle issues not because we are followers of Jesus but simply because we consider it imperative to engage in such issues. Engaging in activities simply to promote your faith betrays an ulterior and ultimately unworthy motive.
An example of such a background is to be found in a community interest company formed by three individuals, two of whom were of an atheistic disposition and the third from a faith background. Orginally the plan was to develop foodbanks but in the event something quite different developed: a community cafe in a healthy living centre!
Capital costs were met by an interest free loan from a local authority and revenue costs from a small number of charitable trusts. The cafe opened for business with a paid manager/chef and an assistant. Food was secured from Fareshare, an organisation distributing surplus food donated by food manufacturers, wholesalers and supermarkets. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provided individuals on long-term benefits to work at the cafe and the cafe organised a 13 week day-release course at a local further education college. Individuals completing the course successfully were guaranteed a job interview at a major shopping centre. The DWP was delighted with the success of the venture and there was hope that it might be rolled out to other locations: sadly this did not happen. The cafe manager supported course members and customers with a signposting service to agencies.
Although the DWP was a major beneficiary of the project it offered no financial assistance. The cafe income did not meet running costs, so after repayment of the loan to the local authority, it was decided the struggle to secure revenue grants from charitable trusts was too much and the project closed, a fate that has befallen many local charities.
As I was an independent contractor working for a churches' social responsibility group I was in a position to assist with the formation of the company and its early work. However, there was no other faith organisation involvement.
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