NetworkNorwich90010yr
The Norfolk and Norwich Christian community website

Norwich Christian charity celebrates new house

HIAPhileoHouseCF
Norwich Christian charity Hope Into Action (HIA) looks has had an eventful year, including an office move, a new house, the training of a new team of volunteers and they are recruiting for a new member of staff.
 



HIA partners with local churches to house the homeless and offer them the support they need as they integrate into the community.

HIA started the year with five houses and finish it with six – the first tenant was welcomed into Phileo house this week, he said “I will not forget this day” as his church support settled him in.  The sale for another house is due to complete in the coming weeks and will see a partnership with St Stephen’s Church begin. The team of volunteers from the church have been trained and are ready to get started.
 

HIAhelpersCF

Norwich Co-ordinator Kate Doran-Smith said, “As always, we have had amazing highs and difficult lows in 2016. From seeing two of our tenants win awards at our National conference and be blessed by Rowan Williams, to walking alongside those who unfortunately slip back into addiction. We’ve seen great move-ons and painful evictions. This is part and parcel of what we do and who we are.”
 
“Sometimes we feel the victory of the resurrection of Jesus, sometimes we feel the pain of the Garden of Gethsemane. Throughout it all, we remember that this is the kind of fasting the Lord requires, and we are blessed to be able to do it.”
 
The office moved from St Mary’s Works to new premises as part of Princes Street URC and the team held an open day to celebrate the relocation. HIA held a month of fundraising in October where they raised a grand total of £3,500 from events ranging from a ball to a shoe sale and also encouraged individuals to do their own sponsored events.

HIAshoesCF

HIA are excited to announce that there is potential for the purchase of two more houses in 2017 thanks to local investors and churches coming forward with the desire to join the HIA ministry.
 
Many people have volunteered in practical ways for HIA. Volunteers from the Norwich & Peterborough bank and the ’Just Love’ UEA students helped paint and clean at three of the properties this month.  Grass Roots, an ENYP venture, helped with the mammoth task of getting one of the gardens back into shape.
 
Emma, a tenant who no longer works as a sex worker in Norwich and has been clean for 12 months said, “HIA helped save my life, not only housing me when I needed it, but their continued support after I left. They have loved me at my worst and fought for me continually and encouraged me endlessly.”
 

Job vacancy

HIA Norwich is such a growing and ever changing environment that they are seeking a flexible, quick learner who has initiative and experience. They are always adapting to the referrals they receive and this position reflects the increase in family and refugee cases the charity is getting. Click here to view the job vacancy.
 
 
Dates for the diary

  • Saturday 28th January: FREE and open to all, a day of training and testimony related to domestic violence.  Guest speaker and HIA trustee Linda Huskisson & Christian charity Restored will be visiting. Venue:  St Elizabeth’s Church, Earlham. 
  • Saturday 4th February: HOPE training day for potential church volunteers. £20 per person. Venue: Princes Street URC.
  • Monday March 13th: Thanksgiving Service and Norwich city prayer walk. Come and hear from some of the team, tenants and volunteers and pray for the ongoing ministry and the city of Norwich. Venue: House of Prayer, Fishergate

If you would like to get involved with HIA, by fundraising, volunteering or offering your skill or trade, please contact Norwich coordinator: kate.doran-smith@hia.org.uk  07908202944 or Administrator: dani.horsfall@hia.org.uk    01603 927271

Pictured above: The friendship & support group from Old Catton toasting the opening of Phileo house, a team of volunteer painters and bargains galore at the shoe sale.


8268 views
To submit a story or to publicise an event please email: web@networknorwich.co.uk