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Content linked below doesn't necessarily represent the views of the Jesus Army
volunteering
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Volunteering at the Coventry Jesus Centre is ‘life-changing’
Jo Morgan – “Auntie Jo” – talks about her experience working at the Centre.Published: 4th Apr 2014
Auntie JoCOMING to the Jesus Centre has changed my life completely. I have gained family, friends and a church. I worship here. It is more than just somewhere I come to, it is my life.
Having taken early retirement and then being widowed, I wanted more voluntary work, as I used to help in a charity shop. I was invited to come down to the Jesus Centre and this opened up so many more opportunities for me.
The first thing I did as a volunteer was cleaning the toilets! But then I was asked if I wanted to help with ESOL classes which I didn’t know much about at first. That led to the tutor asking me to run short courses where I had to research material and develop a plan for the course myself.
When helping in or...
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People First
Mim Beresford, 24, is volunteer co-ordinator at the Coventry Jesus Centre. She describes a typical day in the Coventry Jesus CentrePublished: 29th Nov 2013
Coventry lads swagger in; they wanted to use the computers, “Sorry they are both currently in use, I can book you in for later”. One lad starts singing away to himself, the other lad wants help from a support worker. I put an appointment in for that too and then he’s asking about bicycles. Ron is our bike man running the cleverly named ‘Re-cycle’ service – he helps repair bikes and does up donated ones to give to other people. I tell the lad Ron wasn’t around but I could take his details, I need his number for this. “You can have my number if you want, love” He and his mate laugh – I politely decline.
It’s a Monday morning and as part of my job I am filling in on...
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The rough with the smooth
Coventry Jesus Centre manager, Piers Young on the highs and lows of life serving Jesus on the front line.Published: 11th May 2010
THE ROUGH
Incident report, 10 March. People involved: Visitor A (let’s call him Alf); Visitor B (let’s call him Bill); Rob (staff); Anne-Marie (volunteer receptionist).
What happened: Alf was using a PC. He went to the toilet and Bill sat down at the PC and started using it. Alf came back and complained. Bill answered back; an argument ensued. Both went to the reception window and carried on and Anne-Marie was a bit freaked out.
Rob was nearby and he said to Bill, “You didn’t book in for the PC and you haven’t given your name”. Bill said “You know my name.” Rob said, “You haven't given your name.” Bill became abusive (F-words and so on) and went out. Then he...
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Seeing me helping there has given them hope
Client becomes volunteer at Jesus CentrePublished: 24th Sep 2007
Once a client at the Coventry Jesus Centre, John Walker is now a helper there. He is interviewed by Fiona Liston.
FIONA: How would you describe yourself a year ago?
JOHN: I had a job, but in the evenings was going out selling drugs. I was living with my fiancee and baby daughter. We were going to get married, but when she found out I was dealing, that was the end of the relationship.
Why did you come to the Jesus Centre?
Someone at the 'Cyrenians' told me that it was a place to get a cheap breakfast. I was homeless at the time so I went along. I thought it would be like the Oliver Twist scenario, but people were surprisingly friendly. I was amazed...
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Living on the edge
Piers Young describes some of the faith- challenges involved in running a Jesus Centre.Published: 17th Jan 2007IT'S FRONT line action at the Jesus Centre!
How do we get an abusive man out of the Bridge drop-in? How can we be fair and decide if someone is guilty of using drugs in a toilet when evidence is inconclusive (and they deny it)? What do we do when someone says we’ve lost their designer clothes in the laundry? (It’s always designer.) In this case, we replace it with whatever we have in stock, no more. One guy was abusive about this but later apologised: he had found the item.
We lost a member of staff at the start of 2006 and had to run the kitchen without them for six months, often not knowing how we would cover it from day to day. Then Hazel moved to the area and applied, despite health problems. We gave...
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