In this Year of Engagement, we'll be discovering examples of where engagement is working across the diocese. Sometimes engagement can mean working ecumenically for maximum impact.
In Ledbury, community organisation LEAF (Locally Encouraging All to Flourish) is blossoming in partnership with churches of other denominations in the town. It’s a collaboration of Anglicans based at St Michael and All Angels with the Baptist, Methodist and Roman Catholic churches and the Orthodox community.
Rev’d Tony Hodder, Pioneer Associate Minister at St Michael’s and a practicing psychotherapist, leads the organisation. He is pictured above outside Ledbury Primary School where he is a familiar face. The partnership’s engagement and action is most visible, perhaps, as mentoring and counselling in the local primary schools, and soon to be at John Masefield High School. At Ledbury Primary School, Head Teacher Rachel Ussher says, “LEAF is doing amazing things here, literally life changing. We invest as much as we can in pastoral support, but we would never be able to afford what we get through LEAF.”
After working with children for several years in the primary school. LEAF mentors and counsellors are now providing continuity at the high school. “What matters, “ continues Rachel, “is that specific moment on that specific day, when a child needs support, and LEAF is there, in the school, ready to help. We had a boy in Year 6 a few years ago, who should have scored well in SATs, but wasn’t coping well on the day. A LEAF mentor happened to be there, had a chat with him and he completed the tests which set him up well for high school and future life chances. Another mentor works currently with a boy with an erratic home life which affects his ability to regulate his emotions. Another time they have brought in a cake and candles to celebrate a birthday for a child in social care. And a LEAF worker delivers Alternative Provision classes to a small group; they have built a new structure in the playing fields which will be used as an outdoor classroom, giving these children aspirations and a sense of achievement and a positive role model when they really need it.”
LEAF also leads formal assemblies in the schools through Open the Book, and provides regular youth groups at their base at St Katherine’s Hall on the High Street. Beyond youth work, they also offer one-to-one listening and guidance sessions through the local GP surgery, a Thursday morning tots group, family work support, family success seminars, emotional wellbeing courses through Kintsugi Hope, friendship circles with crafts, Christmas lunches and family fun days. They also work in collaboration with Christians Against Poverty, and last year alone helped to release people from the burden of over £100,000-worth of debt, through advice sessions.
It's an extensive – and perhaps exhausting – list but working together with other churches in the town spreads the load and adds important resources. Financially, the churches have been able to do more together, including attracting significant funding boosts such as a grant from the Safer Communities fund from Herefordshire Council and West Mercia Police. The diocese also contributes financially and the Dean and Chapter of Hereford Cathedral, who own St Katherine's Hall, has recently renegotiated a favourable lease. This support has enabled LEAF to hire a team of seven, mostly part-time staff, including a family worker, an administrator and a youth group leader, in addition to Rev’d Tony.
The Hall itself, a gem in the middle of Ledbury, but until now much under-used, includes a beautiful medieval chapel and is a massive asset to the group. “But it’s not about the building,” says Tony, “it’s a huge mistake that we associate the word ‘church’ with a building rather than with the people who meet there and go out into the world to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. It’s not about getting people through the doors first and then converting them. Worship only makes sense if you are a believer – so we see Sunday as a refuelling day, the start of the week, and a church service as providing the energy and motivation for the team, to take out into the world for the rest of the week. It’s out there that we can show God’s love and inspire others.”
And where, you might wonder, does God come into all this? “It comes up naturally” says Tony. “We engage people through conversation. When they see us working in the community, they want to know what motivates us, not only what’s behind LEAF, but why each of us individually is inspired to do this work – and it is hard work! That’s when we get to tell our own personal stories about God, about our faith. And that’s what inspires some of them to ask more questions and, sometimes, come along to a service, join an Alpha group, or want to be part of the work. It’s a simple message about God’s love at work in the world and it’s showing by doing, not so much by telling. It’s God who draws people in. I have to be present for God to work through me. God shows up when we show up, as simple as that.”
According to Tony, congregations are growing and Alpha groups are filling up. As people continue to ask, “Why do you do all this?” one answer has to be "Because it is working!"
You can find out more about LEAF here. More information about the diocese’s funding for mission is available here.
For information about Year of Engagement events, please visit the website page here.