Church Charity 2016

Boaz Trust – Frodsham Methodist Church charity for 2016 For generations, people fleeing hardship, violence or persecution have sought refuge in Britain. Many have quickly settled and integrated well. However, those contesting asylum decisions have no recourse to public funds, no benefits or housing and are not allowed to work; caught up in a cumbersome bureaucratic process, many fall victim to homelessness or destitution. To address this growing problem in the Manchester area, the Boaz Trust is a Christian charity set up in 2005. They provide accommodation, food and other essentials to those who are unable to access support from anywhere else. They also offer advocacy and pastoral support, and campaign on a local and national level for justice in asylum legislation.

The charity has a three-pronged approach to their support: CATCH, HOLD, RELEASE. The CATCH phase provides places for those who fall through the system (often referred on by agencies such as the Red Cross) in night shelters or in people’s homes through the hosting scheme. Once people are off the streets, in a safe place, they move on to the HOLD phase, where they are offered meaningful, often life-changing activities such as English classes, and gain access to legal services. The aim for the organisation is that those whom they help should become self-sufficient, the RELEASE phase. Those granted leave to remain in Britain are given help with accommodation, and any support they still need to enable them to live independent, fulfilled lives in their new country.
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In 2014-15, the Boaz Trust gave support and accommodation to over 200 asylum seekers, through 14 shared houses, the hosting scheme, and night shelters provided by local churches. Over 300 volunteers shared in the work alongside the paid staff. They have no government funding, and rely entirely on donations to maintain their work. The Church Council feel the Boaz Trust is a charity worthy of our support this year.

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