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Delighted by the response of members of the United Reformed Church (URC) to its “Give Thanks for Your Vaccine” appeal, Commitment for Life provides an update on how the money is being spent.
Since the appeal launched in February, more than £30,000 has been raised through generous donations and distributed to Christian Aid which has been on the ground helping poor and vulnerable communities across the world.
On the United Nation’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, marked on 30 July, the Joint Public Issues Team launches a new campaign to shine a light on forced labour in the textile industry in Xinjiang province, China.
According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, around 80 brands are “potentially directly or indirectly benefiting” from the forced labour of Uyghur muslins in Xinjiang. This includes Adidas, Nike and Gap.
At its General Assembly, meeting between July 9-12, the United Reformed Church (URC) agreed to take steps towards developing policy and guidance to help tackle modern-day slavery.
Two resolutions, tabled at the request of the URC West Midlands Synod, centred around a clear denomination-wide policy statement protecting the Church from benefitting from modern-day slavery through direct actions and supply chains; a commitment to educate and inform members about the topic, reflecting the topic in safeguarding policies; and taking adequate steps to screen out from its investments any companies without adequate regard to modern-day slavery.
Shrewsbury Food Hub has been named one of four community groups in Shropshire to be awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.
The hub was founded in 2016 by Howard Hutchings, a member of Shrewsbury United Reformed Church (URC), Katy Anderson, the Hub’s manager, and Ali Thomas.
During the past year alone, the Hub has delivered around 195,000 meals to members of its community.
It received the QAVS on 7 July.
The UK Government has updated its guidance on Places of Worship for England:
The Revd Steve Faber, Moderator of the United Reformed Church’s West Midlands Synod, who has been leading on the church’s advice during the pandemic, says there are no surprises, and offers the edited highlights:
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