Churches filling gaps in Devon Services as recession bites

Churches are stepping in and filling in the gaps they see in services in their community, as the recession continues to bite.

A survey by the Church Urban Fund of projects run by Anglican churches found 54 per cent of parishes run activities like debt centres, counselling, children's groups or lunch clubs to address the needs in their communities.

And 82 per cent of parishes have been asked for help by people in the community - and have responded to that call. Parishes offer a wide range of actitivities: 69 per cent of parish churches provide support with school work for children, 54 per cent offer activities to care for the elderly and 51 per cent run parent and toddler group.

Rt Revd Nick McKinnel, the Bishop of Crediton, said he was not surprised by the statistics and that churches in Devon were actively involved in helping their communities, in villages, towns and cities.

"Its great to have confirmed by the Church Urban Fund’s report what we here in Devon know is going on across the county in our churches. So many of our churches are working hard to build up and support their communities. Many run debt advice centres, provide cafes some of which give away free food, offer relationship and other counselling, house job centres, run foodbanks and meeting points for the lonely or bereaved. Our churches are actively working to fill the gap in provision we see more and more around us, as the welfare cuts begin to bite.

"Churches really are the glue that builds community in so many areas."