A resurgent SVP group rallies to support ASHA

Vincentian Concern Issue 55 inter 2017

When she responded to a call from Father Michael Miners of Our Lady of the Angels and St Peter in Chains (a large church on your right nearing the bottom of Hartshill Road in Stoke) to re-establish a local SVP Conference Carol Lovatt chose supporting Asha as a priority.  Below is her report on progress so far::

‘One of the first connections we made was with Asha, a local organisation in Stoke-on-Trent that works with refugees and asylum seekers coming into the city.  It support hundreds of individuals and families from a range of countries who are in need of acute and long-term help.  Most of the people who use their services arrive in the UK with nothing and need basic necessities such as food and clothing.  Our SVP work has involved organising monthly congregational collections of these and the generosity of our congregation has been overwhelming. It is always a pleasure to drop off the itens which are clearly appreciated.  Father Michael also kindly donated £700 raised from a classical concert he organised in church which helped to replenish Asha’s food supply. Some of our group have helped teaching English  and attended a course in conjunction with Keele University to ensure they understood the criteria for engaging in this activity.

‘I also personally helped a young boy  who had arrived from a Balkan country to get involved in a local football team as he did not know how to develop his love of and his talent for football.

‘I  foresee the Asha connection continuing to gain strength as we expand our help for those who are in real poverty and desperation and who need a caring hand to stretch out and wecome them.’

Carol (on the right, outside) Asha with

Volunteer Sylvia Richards

Asha says thank you Carol and Father Michael

POST SCRIPT Father Michael had another concert arranged for 9 December to raise money for Asha but this was the weekend when much of the city ground to a halt due to snow and storms.  We understand that concert is to be rescheduled, possibly in  the spring.