The Marginalised

Christians have always had a special concern to care for those in need, especially those excluded by society.

Money

OCC maintains a fund for the purpose of alleviating poverty, particularly for refugees and asylum seekers, and especially failed asylum seekers who are destitute. It can be used for the following:

  • Prescription charges for people not eligible for free prescriptions, and other medical requests (i.e. eye tests, glasses, dentist etc.).
  • Good quality sleeping bags, etc. for the homeless
  • Bus passes
  • Grant towards deposit required for accommodation (that fall outside other Government or local authority grants)
  • Educational materials and resources for destitute people still in education.
  • Cost of furniture (for example from the furniture recycling scheme) for people unable to obtain furnished tenancies or community care grants, or for whom the community care grant awarded does not cover all their basic needs.

The fund is kept topped up as necessary by donations from within our congregation and grants are made solely on the basis of need, without discrimination. Applications may be submitted by a referring organisation working with people in poverty, or by an individual acting as a sponsor for another person who is in need. More information and application forms can be obtained from us be emailing oxford@occ.org.uk

Food

We also support the Community Emergency Foodbank, donations of suitable foods left at The Kings Centre are always welcome.

Also, every month we put on a free cooked lunch at The King's Centre for the homeless, vulnerably-housed, and the needy in and around the city of Oxford. The lunch starts at 1:15pm with a hearty meal, a short talk and time for prayer. We welcome volunteers to help cook, clean, and mingle amongst guests.

The remaining lunches in 2012 will be on:

  • Sunday 13 May,
  • Sunday 17 June,
  • Sunday 15 July,
  • Sunday 19 August,
  • Sunday 16 September,
  • Sunday 21 October,
  • Sunday 11 November,
  • Sunday 16 December.

If you'd like to get involved in this, or would like information about a social enterprise company currently in development, please contact Stuart Waddington.