OUR COMMUNITY WORKS
The Redeemed Christian church of God, Winners Assembly Parish is a community church. Out of this burning desire to affect our community and contribute to its development, we decided to be involved in life changing projects in our host community. This is taken from the objective of the charity as contained in the trust deed with the charity commission; which is the advancement of the Christian faith and the alleviation of poverty.
We aim to achieve these objectives by working with any organization and people of our community.
Consequently, in 2008 we established our first project –The Aydee project for the benefit of those having drugs and Alcohol problems within the Lambeth borough. However, this project has served people across the whole of London.
Today we engage our community through the seven projects outlined below. All these operate from our centre called The Winners Assembly centre located in Brixton, London
THE CHRIST FOODBANK
The Christ Foodbank Project was initially called JIREH PROJECT until it was changed in 2017. Through this project we extend the love of God to the less privileged and struggling families within our borough and beyond. Initially commenced in 2008 as a quarterly project where we give out all sorts of dry foods to members of the public free of charge with the advent of the government cuts, we have observed that a lot more people now depend on Foodbank. To this end, we have now translated into Foodbank. Consequently, we hope to meet and support the need of struggling families and those with little or no benefit or without any income all.
Our food donations come from church members but with time members of the public who saw how successful this has been and how much it has helped people start giving towards it. The project has blessed so many homes, individuals and families since its inception in 2008. Testimonies of beneficiaries of this initiative have continued to gladden our heart and continues to spur us to do more. We use the voucher system which we have deposited in designated locations around our borough. These include other foodbanks, job centres and day centres for asylum seekers. We hand out bags of assorted dry food items between 1:00pm and 3:00pm every Sunday at our place of worship.
Every December, as an extension of this project, we give out one hundred boxes of hampers as Christmas gifts during our outdoor Christmas carol night. It is usually an amazing evening seeing children and adults alike collecting Christmas boxes from Santa.
It is not unusual to note that it may be the only gift that some people will receive at Christmas
CHRIST SATURDAY SCHOOL PROJECT
This project is basically for the children, we seek to capture their minds while they are still young and put them in the path of excellence. Parents are often too busy to give their wards the extra help they need to excel in their academic work, most especially when they transit from primary school to secondary school of education.
It is with this in mind that Christ Saturday school was established to help children in year 7 to adequately prepare for moving into higher level of learning. Our focus at Christ Saturday school is to help year 7 students settle into secondary school by providing extra help every Saturday between the hours of 11:00am and 1:00pm
During these times, we encourage them to ask questions on subjects that they are struggling with and take time to put them through. We also help them with their homework thereby taking that burden from busy and hard-working parents.
The subjects taught are Maths, English, Bible studies and Character values. Character values entails teaching the student about acceptable ways of behaviours that will help them as they journey through life. An example of which include showing respect for one another, responsibility, humility, honesty and forgiveness.
Tuition is free and limited to 20 students per session admitted based on first come first served. The duration of this course in one year
THE SENIOR COMPANION PROJECT
This is a ministry to the elderly in our community. Without any doubt we are in the times when people live longer and with this comes the problems that are associated with it. These are loneliness, lack of coordination and disability.
The seniors companion projects exist to meet this need; what with the council not being able to do more as we hear every day on TV. Essentially our well trained and DBS checked team visit homes that we partner with. During these visits, our team chat and play games with them. We equally organise activities for them, teach them how to use the computer, smartphone and organise summer events like BBQ or sea side trips. All these are to enable them enjoy this time of their lives when relatives, friends and children are too busy to remember them. We equally deliver quality sandwiches to designated residential homes at least twice in a week to help with feeding short falls. Consequently, anyone who is too weak to cook gets something to eat.
We believe that living to a ripe age is a blessing from God and the elderly need to enjoy their lives till the last day. We also recognise however, that with age comes weakness and the inability to function properly. This can be very frustrating to the elderly and their carers who may be family or otherwise. The senior companion project is established to fill this gap.
We have from experience picked loneliness as one of the worst things that the elderly face in this part of the world. We are able, through trained personnel to provide services such as shopping, cleaning, and gardening for as many that need our services. Collectively, we organise summer outings and BBQ events. We are currently working in collaboration with a community centre to teach a collection of seniors how to use the computer.
We are also currently working with a Housing Association in their residential homes in this regard
AYDEE PROJECT
The AYDEE Projects commenced in 2011 to cater for people with drug and alcoholic addition. We have observed with dismay the increase in addiction and its impact on the community. The Aydee project is a drop-in centre that opens every Saturday between 3:00pm and 7:00pm. At these meetings, we discuss freely the implications of substance abuse on individuals, families and the community and ultimately how to get help. In this regard, we work with two Christian rehab organisations who come around every week on a Tuesday to offer counselling. Through this, we have taken loads of people off drugs over the years.
During these times we serve tea, coffee, snacks and just before closing a proper meal. We also listen to some soothing music and have time to talk to one another. It is always a great company as one will always have someone to talk to.
Midway into the evening the project manager speaks on the issues of addiction from how to avoid it, consequences, coping and how to get help, the effect on loved ones and the danger of drug or alcohol dependency.
Through our partners and our prayers, many of our clients have been freed from addition and some are on their way to being cleaned. We have the privilege of being able to recommend anyone willing to quit drugs or alcohol to any of the two organizations we partner with and they will be accepted into a rehab.
"FOOD AND SHADE PROJECT”
The food and shade project is a soup kitchen. This has been in operation since 2013 and opens for the benefits of the homeless people and those struggling financially. It provides a place to eat lunch free of charge while staying in a warm and cosy environment from the cold. Good soul music is provided, and our friendly volunteers are on hand to listen to everyone who wishes to talk to us for further help. The environment is equally very good to them to make new friends as about 200 people pass the centre every week. We are very grateful to the metropolitan police who help us with security by dropping in from time to time. We are equally grateful to other food companies that have continued to donate sandwiches for us for this purpose.
We serve mainly sandwiches, savouries, juice, tea and coffee, between 12:00pm and 3:00pm Mondays to Fridays. This is accompanied with relaxing music that our clients have commended greatly. We also offer advice and give referral to our partners who solutions to accommodation problems when available.
YOUTH LEAGUE PROJECT
The Youth League is a gathering of young people between the age of 13 to 23, the goal of the youth league is to reach out to the youths of the community during school sessions and the holiday period. They meet every Saturday from 1:00pm – 3:00pm under the supervision of a qualified youth worker.
This gathering provides the young people with a place to hang out instead of being in places that could lead them to be involved in criminal practices. Whilst at the centre, they will receive mentoring, teaching lectures, counselling and carer advice. These covers all aspects of life.
Our emphasis however is on demystifying the gang culture and taking them out of gangs. It’s a lot of work but we are bent on changing Brixton one youth at time. In doing this we hope to work with any organisations that wishes to collaborate with us.
At winners Assembly we recognise that young people are strong weapons in the hands of the lord and should be encouraged to fulfil Gods purpose for their lives.
It is equally significant to know that because they are the future of their families, the church and indeed the nation, the enemy leaves no stone unturned in getting them off course.