Following Bishop Martin’s pilgrimage around the deaneries last year, this year he is spending a number of days between now and Christmas visiting different people and places across Dudley Borough.
Yesterday he spent time at Black Country Radio, the Life Centre Debt advice in Stourbridge and Mary Stevens Hospice.
Black Country Radio is based at the Waterfront in Brierley Hill and can be listened to across two different FM frequencies across the Black Country and on DAB. They have relatively recently moved to new studios which were opened by Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands earlier this month. It runs through the support of over 100 volunteers who present a range of different live and pre-recorded shows. Bishop Martin was able to talk live with presenter Roy before recording a reading for the service of 9 Lessons and Carols which is planned to be broadcast in the run up to Christmas.
Life Centre debt advice is based in Stourbridge town centre. Started by Churches Together in Stourbridge, over the past 8 years it has supported 320 households, impacting 750 people. Those needing their help can walk into the centre or be referred by a third party, and the centre specialises in low-volume, long term face to face support for individuals.
Centre Manager, Martin said: “We can help people with their immediate needs through providing a food or fuel voucher as well as help long-term with money management. People often come to us when they’re at their wits’ end, we will sit and listen, reassure and provide hope as well as giving practical advice. We will also look at the issues which might have caused the debt to see how those might be resolved. Some of the elements might be outside of our scope, but we work closely with a wider network of organisations that we can refer people to.”
There is currently a team of 20 people helping at Life Centre and they are keen to recruit additional volunteers to support more people as well as partner with churches to offer support in other venues. There is already an off-shoot at Holy Trinity Church in Old Hill. To find out more and speak to the team about working with them, visit: www.lifecentredebtadvice.org.uk.
Bishop Martin also visited Mary Stevens Hospice where he met with the chaplaincy team.
