THE COMMUNITY NETWORK

Want to do more to help out where help is most needed? Or just want to stay in touch with your local community and make suggestions?
Then add your voice, and perhaps some of your time, through this new network …

Just want to be part of the Community Network Email List, and keep uptodate, help make connections, and suggest areas where help’s needed? Just send an email to say you'd like to be
added to the Community Network E-mail List now.
You will then receive the CN newsletter and occasional other email (roughly 1 email per month)

See latest CN Newsletter here.

See Community Homepage for details of Community Network initiatives now up and running - including opportunities to volunteer.

 What is the Community Network aiming to do?

• Serve – the community and individuals
• Support – existing initiatives and provide help where wanted
• Start-up - some valuable new initiatives for the community

The Community Network is growing into a large network of people across all 6 villages in the benefice. Anybody can join - primarily being an invaluable pair of ears to needs, and feeding back to the network where wider support, volunteers or promotion can be provided. Please tell anybody you know who you think would like to join in, keep in touch, and feel part of this community support initiative in some way.

What does becoming part of the Community Network entail?

• As much or as little involvement as you like. You can join the Network in different ways:
  1.as a volunteer who would like to do something extra and worthwhile, or
  2.as somebody who would just like to come along to the coffee gatherings, or just be part of the Network Email list, and just hear what’s happening, help make local connections, and suggest ideas and other areas where help’s needed. Or a bit of both!
• No expectations for members of the Network to undertake extra tasks themselves if they don’t wish to. No expectations for members to come to meetings – informal gatherings occasionally take place.
• 1 rep from The Community Network sits on the Benefice Council, ensuring CN’s plans and issues are communicated to the BC and PCCs for additional parish help and liaison.

If you would like to join in or find out more just register your interest and be kept in touch as part of the whole network via email and/or printed newsletter - please contact Sarah (771661)

 Examples of areas of focus for the Community Network
(existing and new initiatives to support and develop Benefice-wide)

• Five ‘Benefice Charities’ – local and global. Presently nominated as the 5 charities listed below. Ranging across issues of: Homelessness, Children’s Welfare, International Aid & Development, and Mission :
  1. Winchester Churches Nightshelter ( WCNS )
  2. The Children’s Society
  3. Christian Aid
  4. Uganda Lango Link
  5. Church Mission Society (CMS)
  For each of the 5 Benefice Charities: promote their work & issues (guest speakers, flyers, web); promote volunteering opportunities; fund/profile-raiser events; collection boxes; annual benefice giving; plus other items specific to the charities eg Christian Aid Week
• Fair Trade – promote in and through parish churches.
• Blue Benefice Buckets: Disaster Relief Collections -
  buckets for DEC collections in each parish church for latest disaster appeals across the Benefice on particular Sundays.
• Expand Guest Speakers for sermons or talks on various issues and charities eg the 5 benefice charities, plus others eg Open Doors
• Overseas Journeys – mission / aid related trips organised by benefice or link to others – Christian Aid? Lango? 4-Marks link?

 Local Community

• Support & help any local groups – eg parish elderly clubs, mother & toddler groups, link with WIs etc
• Winchester Cathedral Refectory – Benefice volunteer team
• Winchester Churches Nightshelter – Benefice cooking team
• Benefice Historic Churches Sponsored Cycle
• Expand Benefice Church links with Cheriton School
• Communications & Promotion – help with Benefice website and Church & Village mag; aid broad, open communications & publicity.
• Upper Itchen Voluntary Care Group – team of volunteers available to assist individuals needing transport and other help
• Monthly Benefice Lunch Club – social community gathering
• Villagers’ Benefice Welcome & Information Pack – potential to develop
• Promote wider community use of church buildings -
  eg coffee mornings/lunches in church space, art/music group use, exhibitions, concerts, author readings, use by groups for meetings/events, etc
• Village Club links for Benefice Churches Events eg Inter-parish Benefice Tennis Tournament
• Annual Benefice Seasonal Social events – (BB events ½ funds to a Benefice nominated charity; ½ to support Benefice finances)
  • Big Benefice Easter Egg Hunt
  • Big Benefice Summer Tea Party
  • Big Benefice Harvest Barn Dance
  • Big Benefice Advent Carols & MulledWine
  • Benefice Shout Out Quiz & Chips Night

 Church Community

• Coffee after services
• Many other areas already happening across the parishes
• Annual Benefice Seasonal Social Events – see ‘local’ section.
• Annual Church Helpers’ Thank-you Social  

Have you got other ideas?
please join in the Community Network via email and share your ideas
and help them to develop.

Serving the church, the local and the global community
Upper Itchen Benefice Churches in Action