Churches Together in Reading
Park URC is a well established member of Churches Together in Earley & East Reading (CTEER), a local arm of Churches Together in Reading (CTR).
CTEER brings together most local churches, the majority of which are within a three mile radius of Park URC, including Anglican, Baptist, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army, The Society of Friends, Methodist and Trinity Local Ecumenical Project in Lower Earley.
CTEER established the successful schools’ work project which is now known as REinspired.
Park URC is also a part of the overall body representing Christians in the town – Churches Together in Reading.
Street Pastors
Reading Street Pastors was launched in 2009, training started in September, with a commissioning service on 10th October 2009 and then onto the streets every Friday night.
Street Pastors has been made possible in our area mainly through Alan Magness, who bought together the committee consisting of various church leaders from different backgrounds, and other Christian social action project managers. Since the launch, Reading churches across the town, the Reading Safer Forum under Reading Borough Council, the local Pubwatch group and Local town centre specialist Police, have all been fully committed to the project. We have a team of about 60 committed volunteers from around 20 different churches, with more people in the pipeline who are interested.
Reading town centre is a popular destination for party goers at the weekend attracting thousands from all over the area. With many bars, pubs and late night venues, Reading becomes a very busy town, especially during term time with its big university and influx of students. The need for Street Pastors to be out and about the town centre late at night is significant.
Please visit Street Pastors Reading or contact the co-ordinator, Sally Leonard, if you are interested in finding out more.
Communicare
Communicare is an advice and support centre based in the community of East Reading. The service offered is confidential and free.
Communicare provides all sorts of practical help and information, including:
- Benefits checking and welfare rights
- Form filling for claims
- Housing advice
- Debt Advice
- Employment advice
- Information on living with disabilities and advice for carers
- Local community information
- Details on health issues and services
- Dealing with divorce and separation
- Free Internet access during drop-ins
- Legal advice
CIRDIC Drop in Centre
Park United Reformed Church supports the Churches Together in Reading ‘drop in centre’ (CIRDIC) by collecting and delivering a range of food products to help provide essential meals for those in need.
The ‘drop in centre’ at St Saviour’s Church Centre provides meals for homeless and vulnerable people three times a week. They also offer other services and training programmes including cookery and gardening courses. The centre is almost entirely funded by donations from local churches.
Collection ‘crates’ are placed in church each Sunday for members to bring gifts.
CIRDIC is open:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays 10am – 3:30pm, and Saturdays from 6pm – 7pm for all our usual services.
Sunday mornings 9am – 10am for quiet time, and our guests spiritual needs.
The Midweek Club, provides opportunities for those of our guests who are ready to take steps to improve their lifestyles. So far we have held sessions on budgeting, cookery, job-seeking and schemes of maintenance of Centre – watch out for the improvement in our gardens! We are constantly seeking to involve our guests in the running of CIRDIC so that a significant proportion of the man hours it takes to run the Centre is now worked by people who originally came for help.