The Hand in Hand Group

During the International Year of the Disabled in 1981, a small number of parishioners from St. Francis of Assisi got together to form a group to enable the elderly, disabled and housebound members of the parish to take a fuller part in the activities of their local community. This group became known as the “Hand in Hand” Group. Although it originated in the parish of St. Francis of Assisi, its activities are now open to any elderly, disabled or housebound person living in the local community of Notting Hill, irrespective of their colour, creed or class.
We provide a regular schedule of activities that especially help our housebound members to relieve their isolation and also enable and encourage them and all of our members to make their own contribution to community life.

Our activities include:

• Taking people to Mass every Sunday and other special occasions such as Christmas and Easter etc.
• A monthly tea/coffee morning at the Community Centre
• Organising outings to the seaside, gardens and parks, museums and the theatre
• Regular shopping trips to nearby supermarkets
• Befriending and visiting the sick both at home and in hospital

Today the group comprises of 85 elderly and/or disabled members and 30 volunteers who include minibus drivers and helpers, visitors and committee members. The group is run by a Committee and each member of the Committee has a specific area of responsibility.

If you need help or could offer assistance in any of the above areas please contact the Committee member concerned.

Chairperson: Anne Bonavero
Treasurer: Hugh Richards
Secretary: Susan Murphy
Befriending &Visiting Co-ordinator: Sr. Yvonne Coudurier Tel no. 020 7243 2844
Transport Co-ordinator: Veronica O’Leary & Sr. Yvonne Coudurier

visit the Hand in Hand website

Altar Servers

Altar Serving involves the integral ministry of assisting the celebrating Priest during Mass. Altar servers must approach the ministry with the required reverence and may be in primary or secondary school.

Cleaning

Teams are responsible for cleaning the Church, vestments, liturgical linens and the courtyard. This ensures the Church and liturgical linens are prepared for Mass always and is therefore an essential element in the maintenance of the Church. If you would like to help with cleaning, please contact the Parish Priest or the Parish Administrator.

Welcoming & Hospitality Team

The Welcoming and Hospitality Team are responsible for preparing the Community Centre on Sunday mornings and providing tea, coffee and biscuits after Masses. The teams operate on a rota system. If you would like to help with welcoming, please contact the Parish Priest or Parish Administrator.

Mary’s Meals

MARY’S MEALS is a charity that sets up school feeding programmes in communities where poverty and hunger prevent children from gaining an education. Mary’s Meals feeds children one good meal every day at school in over 16 countries. Because of the charity’s low costs they can do this for as little as £10.60 per child per year! Mary’s Meals is a no-frills charity committed to spending 93p in every £1 received on its charitable activities with only 6p spent on Fundraising and 1p on Governance. As well as holding an annual collection of clothes and two second collections after Sunday Masses for this charity every year, parishioners from St Francis volunteer to help with the administration and appeals of Mary’s Meals in the London area. The London office of Mary’s Meals is based in the Parish Centre. To find out more about Mary’s Meals and to volunteer to help please see   www.marysmeals.org.uk

Kensington & Chelsea Foodbank

Some of our parishioners are actively supporting this initiative as volunteers or by donating goods to this Foodbank that is organized by Notting Hill Methodist Church. Here is a list of items that the Foodbank needs most:

Long-life milk, long-life juice, tinned meats, tinned fish, tinned fruits, tinned tomatoes, tinned vegetables, tinned tomatoes, custard/desserts, Rice pudding, tinned soups, Sweet biscuits, spaghetti in tomato sauce, Breakfast cereals, pasta sauce, Coffee, Hot chocolate, Tea bags

Deodorants, shower gels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary pads, Toilet paper.

If you’d like to donate any of these items, please leave them by the blue door to the left of the Presbytery front door and they will be taken to the Foodbank for you.

https://kensingtonchelsea.foodbank.org.uk/

Al-Anon

Al-Anon offers understanding and support for families and friends of problem drinkers, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not. Alateen, a part of Al- Anon, is for young people aged 12-20 who have been affected by someone else’s drinking.

The parents, children, wives, husbands, friends and colleagues of alcoholics could all be helped by Al-Anon and Alateen whether or not the drinker in their lives recognises that a problem exists.

At Al-Anon group meetings members receive comfort and understanding and learn to cope with their problems through the exchange of experience, strength and hope. The sharing of problems binds individuals and groups together in a bond that is protected by a policy of anonymity. Members learn that there are things they can do to help themselves and indirectly to help the problem drinker. Changed attitudes, which come from greater understanding of the illness, may result in the drinker seeking help.

Al-Anon is self-supporting through members’ voluntary contributions and the sale of its literature, The groups are non-professional and have no religious affiliations and no opinions on outside issues.

There are approximately 1000 groups meeting regularly throughout the UK and Eire. Worldwide more than 30,000 Al-Anon and Alateen groups meet in over 100 countries. For further information and details of meetings please phone the Al-Anon helpline 10am to 10pm daily on 020 7403 0888 or visit www.al-anonuk.org.uk

Kalayaan

Kalayaan is a charity that aims to improve the quality of life of all migrant domestic workers residing in the UK. Migrant domestic workers have accompanied employers from overseas to work as part of their private household in the UK, typically as nannies, cooks, chauffeurs and housekeepers. Unfortunately, migrant domestic workers frequently experience abuse, exploitation, discrimination, racism and social exclusion.

We aim to reduce these problems through offering advice, services, advocacy and project work that will benefit migrant domestic workers. We also aim to influence policy affecting migrant domestic workers through negotiation with policy-makers and campaign work. Kalayaan is especially concerned that all migrant domestic workers are aware of their rights in the UK and are ble to access these rights in practice.

Kalayaan is staffed by paid workers, Management Committee members and volunteers. Immigration and employment advice is given by paid workers and Management Committee members. Advice given by appointment only. To contact the office please call 020 7243 2942 or email: info@kalayaan.org.uk

Staff Members:
Project Co-ordinator: Rita Gava/Kate Roberts
Community Support Worker: Jenny Moss
Health & Advice Worker: Camilla Brown

Opening Hours:
Monday: Employment 11am – 4pm, Advice 1pm – 5pm
Tuesday: Advice & Registration 10am – 8pm
Wednesday: Advice & Registration 10am – 4pm
Thursday: Advice & Registration 10am – 4pm
Friday: Emergencies only 10am – 4pm
Saturday: Closed all day
Sunday: Office open 11am – 8pm, Advice & Registration 1pm – 5pm