Love Jesus, Love Hounslow West
Our aim is to bless our community by seeking to meet the spiritual, practical, emotional and social needs of our community. We care about our community and run kids, youth, family and older folks events and activities. We have fun days and street parties. There are a number of other partner agencies involved as well as the two lcoations of St Paul’s and the Church of the Good Shepherd.
The work of Hope Church Hounslow is funded almost entirely by charitable giving, a combination of grants from foundations, organisations in the community and personal giving. Donations from individuals account for over half the funds needed to support our community work, so your donation is important!
St Paul’s reopened in October 2012 (it had been closed for two years) to serve and meet some of the social, educational, relational and physical needs of the children, young people and families. Hounslow West is a multicultural community - 65% Asian (25% Hindu, 19% Muslim), 24% White, The borough is ranked in the 20% to 30% most deprived in Greater London with an estimated 120 languages spoken in the area. 37% of children are living in poverty in Meadows estate, Hounslow West compared with 20% across England. The Church of the Good Shepherd was added to the parish and the two locations became Hope Church Hounslow in 2020.
Over the last seven years Hope Church Hounslow and the team of: 3 full-time staff, 1 part-time staff and 2 Student placements, together with a team of approximately 75 volunteers, have established a range of social action projects:
Children and Youth work
When we reopened the church October 2012 we had 7 children attending LiveWire (Kids’ church) on Sundays. We have seen an encouraging increase in the number of young people involved in our church and in the activities we run. We currently provide the following services for young people:
- Kick Football Academy for children and young people – Sunday afternoons (15-16 average attendance)
- Mentoring for those at risk of exclusion at two local primary schools (5 mentors for 5 children per year)
- Pilot transition programme for Year 6 to secondary school
- Youth Group on Sunday mornings (average 15 -20 young people)
- Youth Club nights on the Meadows estate (Tuesday) and at St Paul's (Friday)
- Regular socials and trips out including Unity Project events
- Attendance at Soul Survivor and Solid Festival
- Fundraising sleepovers.
Good Company (Over 50s)
Anyone aged over 50 is invited you to join this weekly event on Tuesdays between 12 - 1:30pm, for Food, Fun and Friendship, in a friendly and caring atmosphere. Every week, a free light lunch is provided by volunteers. Good company has been running for over three years and has proved very effective in drawing older local residents into a community and giving them the opportunity to make new friends.
Food Bank
At Food bank, between 15-30 food parcels handed out weekly). It is run in conjunction with Community Café (25 – 30 visitors) ru on Wednesday mornings; on alternate Wednesdays four trained volunteers provide debt counselling and practical support with money matters. Social workers and staff from CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) also attend Community Café.
Food Bank is managed by 1 Trainee member of staff (part-time) and a team of 12 volunteers. The Community police representatives, social workers and staff from CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) who attend Community Café provide advice, information and referrals to other, relevant support services in the community.