What is the vision of your Church?
To be more than places of worship: we aim to act as community hubs where social action and faith meet, enabling local people to thrive.
Why has your Church signed the ‘End Poverty Pledge’?
We have adopted the pledge as an organisation because it aligns closely with our values and existing work.
What examples can you give of your organisation/business putting the ‘End Poverty Pledge’ into practice?
We host a range of projects that respond directly to local needs, such as Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Debt Centre (advice), Advice Café (advice and support), Make Lunch/SPARKS (hot meals and activities for families), space for partners to meet (Action for Carers, Sunnybank Trust, Gamblers Anonymous, mental health support groups) Toddler Groups & Coffee mornings.
We have adapted our building by removing pews and creating flexible, welcoming community spaces.
We were part of the East Surrey Poverty Truth Commission. We have been encouraged to address stereotypes and have run exercises with our congregations to help them “walk in someone else’s shoes,” building empathy and understanding.
As Employers, we commit to paying at least the Living Wage to staff.
What would you hope to be able to do more of in the longer term?
Active exploration of a permanent café space at St Barnabas in the future, further strengthening our role as a community hub.
Expanding community space – exploring potential ideas to create more opportunities for the community to gather in a safe and welcoming environment.
Summer social action week – planned for 2026, creating visible impact in the community and engaging new volunteers.
Innovative projects – ideas such as a clothes bank with beauty treatments to offer dignity and choice, and a community choir to address isolation and mental health.
Because of our location and building, one of the roles we can play is to build relationships, build community and enable other people doing really good stuff we could never do ourselves, to thrive and have an impact.