Freedom Celebrates 10 Years as a Charity

The Freedom Community Project has celebrated it's 10th anniversary of being a Charity.

Sixty guests including donors, volunteers and local dignitaries gathered at Bolsover Methodist Church to hear how Freedom has been making a difference to local people for more than a decade.

Chair of the Board Brian Evans, Revd. Sean Adair and Project Manager Mark North gave short talks about the support given over the last ten years.

Freedom began working from Bolsover Methodist Church in September 2008 and has now grown and works from 14 centres, has 14 full and part time staff members and has over 200 volunteers.

During this time, Freedom has supported 9,300 local people and families and has distributed 39,000 food parcels to those living in poverty.

Also, within the decade Freedom has recovered and written off £100,000 worth of debt.

63 homeless people have been housed in the last ten years, and this year Freedom have teamed up with Derby City Mission in the winter provision for homeless people from December 2021 until March 2022.

Freedom has raised a massive £1.2 million pounds, which is being used to support people living in poverty.

The work of Freedom continues to grow and as well as face to face support through our free café's it now offers online support through seven virtual centres located as far north as Darlington to London in the South.

Freedom continues to:

• offer advice and support in debt, financial crisis, housing, addictions and dependencies, food poverty, domestic violence, unemployment, homelessness, counselling and mental health.
• Working in 14 communities Monday to Friday.
• provide food for those who are hungry.
• engage with other organisations to deliver holistic support.
• deliver fun activities in deprived communities.

Margaret Rowley, Deputy CEO for Freedom, said:"We have engaged with post mining communities for the past 12 years and researched and listened to the needs of the people.

"Listening to what God is saying and what we are being called to do plays an integral part in everyday happenings within Freedom.
"We never know who will cross our threshold and what their needs may be, but our aim is to journey with them to healing and wholeness.
"Everyone is held in the love of Christ for the time they are with us, as we extend to them all 'outrageous hospitality'."

To find out more about the Freedom Community Project please visit https://freedom.charity/