St. Augustine's - Tunbridge Wells

The Soup Bowl

The Soup Bowl, now in its fifteenth year, opens daily and offers hot drinks, sandwiches, cakes, crisps and fruits to anyone in need. (They also provide a “take away” service). Their clients include the homeless, squatters, the poor, the lonely and the “hidden homeless” who drift from friends’ floors and sofas, to car parks and the Common. Many of them suffer from alcohol, drug or mental health problems. The Soup Bowl works closely with the Salvation Army, the Bridge trust, www.thebridgetrust.org.uk and the Crisis Recovery Centre, in their attempt to make a difference in their lives. Funds are generously provided, mainly by St Augustine’s Church, but also by other local churches and schools.

Amnesty International

The Amnesty International Group meets at St. Augustine’s Church and its members are made up of both parishioners and non parishioners. It does not do parish work.

Amnesty International www.amnesty.org.uk is an independent worldwide movement, working for the international protection of human rights. It seeks the release of people detained anywhere because of their beliefs, colour, sex, ethnic origin, language or religious creed, provided they have not advocated violence. These people are termed: prisoners of conscience. The organisation works for fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners and works on behalf of such people detained without charge or trial. It opposes the death penalty and torture or other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners. The Tunbridge Wells group has a core of active members who attend the monthly meetings and “Write-Ins”, where the day to day running of the group is sorted out. They have some members who they can always call on for special events and a huge group of people who are members of Amnesty, and therefore pay their subscription but are not involve in the activities. Amnesty’s biggest and longest lasting campaign is “Stop Violence against Women”. There are many interesting links on their website above.

Life

LIFE is a voluntary organisation helping women with unplanned pregnancies. They offer free and confidential pregnancy testing and counselling, including post-abortion counselling, as well as providing advice and help with accommodation. The parish supports LIFE with a twice-yearly outreach collection, and parishioners are involved with other local Christians in providing the service there. As a Catholic parish community, we are totally committed to support the life of the unborn child, and also to care for young women who have been through the trauma of abortion. For more information on LIFE, click HERE.