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Smiles Foundation | Christian Aid

At St John’s we are very aware that we have a responsibility to those around us in our community, our country and in our world. Through our giving and our involvement with mission organisations we demonstrate our care and love for others especially those who are disadvantaged by their circumstances. At St John’s we have an active World Mission team who ensure that the church is kept up to date with information about the organisations we support and who make opportunities for us to increase our support to those in need.

We commit ourselves to:

• Give at least 10% of our income to mission organisations
• Pray for the organisations we support
• Promote the organisations through planned events and publicity
• Respond to emergency situations as needs arise

We also support Fairtrade at Church. Fairtrade certification is a product certification system designed to allow people to identify products that meet agreed environmental, labour and developmental standards.

Tearfund is a UK Christian relief and development agency, working with a global network of local churches to help eradicate poverty, transform lives and bring justice.

They work to inspire the church to transform communities. They mobilise the local church to work with poor communities to bring material and spiritual transformation: to speak out in advocacy, and to prepare and respond to disasters.

They are addressing a wide range of issues including HIV, water and sanitation, reducing the impact of disasters, economic injustice and climate change.

Mildmay's mission is to improve the quality of life of those who live with HIV+AIDS through building in-country capacity to fight HIV+AIDS.

• They do this through the creation and delivery of:
  Comprehensive model holistic care services for adults and children, their families and communities
• Specialist training and technical assistance to health workers and institutions, thus empowering others to improve standards of care in their communities

As a Christian charity, they are dedicated to transforming the hopes and lives of individuals challenged by the illnesses, disability, prejudice and deprivation that HIV+AIDS can bring.

Pathways was opened by former Beirut hostage Terry Waite in 2006, to provide positive support, advice and a refuge for homeless people with a variety of physical, social and emotional needs.  Pathways has now moved to 1 Stand Road, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield, S41 8SW.  Tel 01246 622990.

The centre has a larger kitchen, dining area, lounge shower and generally larger rooms which means that they can provide more facilities for clients and can open longer hours.

The centre is open:

Monday:	10am - 3pm
Wednesday:	10am - 3pm
Thursday:	10am - 3pm
Friday:	10am - 1pm
Saturday:	12:30 - 3:30pm
Sunday:	12:30 - 3:30pm

Registered charity number 1118638

Visit the website at www.pathwaysofchesterfield.com.

If anyone would like to know more about Pathways, become a volunteer or has any donations, please contact Angela Smith on 239809 or Centre Manager Emily Clarke on  01246 622990 or email emilyjclarke@hotmail.com

In 1990 – just months after the fall of Ceausescu in Romania – the Smiles Foundation’s founders, Kevin Hoy and Nia Jones visited State orphanages in several major cities of Romania. Of the thousands of children seen, one common observation was noted with them all – a total lack of Smiles.

Founders Hoy and Jones vowed to return to Romania to make a Smile appear on the faces of children and parents struggling for life within this impoverished nation.

After several years of regular visits to Romania, supported by many from the UK and America who were providing significant ‘aid’ for distribution and funding for several ongoing projects, Kevin and Nia decided to establish an official Charity - The Smiles Foundation. They and an army of like-minded people began the work to help bring Smiles, once again to the Romanian people.

The Charity seeks to relieve poverty, promote education and provide hope & opportunity for many through a variety of projects which include Evangelistic Outreach, Food Distribution, Medical Support, Social Assistance, Education, Child Care, Life Skills Training and Housing provision.

Christian Aid is a very well established charity.Their aim is to help the world’s poorest people begin to help themselves by establishing sustainable projects.  They also provide emergency relief for natural disasters, like the recent cyclone in Burma.

St John’s organises an annual house to house collection in the parish.

New volunteers are welcomed: Contact Lindsay Gutteridge 01246 234696.