The Boaz Trust
A number of people from St James and Emmanuel work with the Boaz Trust to help some of the most vulnerable people in Manchester.
What is the Boaz Trust?
The Boaz Trust is a local Christian organisation serving destitute asylum seekers in Greater Manchester. The Trust works primarily through local churches to provide a crucial mix of care, education and prayer for some of the most vulnerable people in our city. There is much more information about the Boaz Trust and their excellent work on their website.
Seven of the things the Boaz Trust does:
1. The Trust directly runs 8 houses providing accommodation for refugees and asylum-seekers
2. It coordinates a network of people who open their homes to host destitute asylum seekers
3. It arranges eduational activities for asylum-seekers: english classes, sewing classes, gardening, IT etc
4. It supports for a Red Cross destitution project at St Bride's church old Trafford
5. The Boaz winter night shelters (see below)
6. Asylum-seeker advocacy
7. It works to empower the local church to help etc
Where does St James and Emmanuel fit in?
There are about twenty people from our church family who are involved in some way with the Boaz Trust. This ranges from helping with the Boaz night shelters to being one of the 'Boaz Hosts'. Boaz Hosts open their homes and providing short term accommodation for people who would otherwise be destitute. If you are interested in finding out more then please contact Mike.
How can you get involved?
This winter the Boaz Trust will again be running its night shelter for destitute asylum seekers. Last year, 94 men from countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran and Zimbabwe benefited from this service over five and a half months. These people would have risked a cold night on the streets without the Boaz night shelter.
This year the shelter is due to begin on 1st November and will rotate around seven local churches in Manchester, who will each provide 10 bed spaces for one night a week. The shelters will offer these vulnerable people two good meals together with support. . One of the shelters will be at Kingsburn Hall in Burnage and St James and Emmanuel has undertaken to provide volunteers to staff it for one night every fortnight.
This is where you may fit in! We are currently in need of volunteers for the night shelter. Roles include driving asylum seekers to the venue from a central meeting point, cooking and serving meals, providing friendship and emotional support, and supervising the shelter overnight. Of course appropriate training will be provided. If you would like to get involved, please email the Boaz Trust directly or contact Mike.