A young single mum would have lost her baby into care through no fault of her own, if the Jesus Centre had not been available to help her out. A capable mum, she was threatened by her circumstances, being left alone on the streets to fend for herself.

The Northampton Centre was able to provide her with a temporary home until another agency in the town found her a flat. It took a month, but mother and baby are now safely installed in their own home and are keeping in touch.

"In Northampton, we're having an average of 130 visitors each week," says centre supervisor Polly Ferris, "and a great variety of needs are being met. All types and ages - young mums with their kids, teenagers, older people, the homless, people who are just new to the town and want information."

It can make all the difference in life to have a trustworthy friend beside you. This is just one of the simple ideas behind the Jesus Centre.