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The Diocese’s Refugee Crisis Fund was established by Bishop Richard in 2015. Since its inception, the resources generously donated to the Fund have helped people all ages and backgrounds across our community. By donating financially, giving of your time as volunteers and offering your prayers and intentions, our many parishes have helped to promote the important mission of the Church and make the lives of refugees and asylum seekers living in our Diocese more hopeful.

Donations to the fund have helped a range of projects to flourish, including a local refugee football team who received a small grant from the Diocese last year. Fiona, a representative from the team recently contacted East Brighton parish to share the impact your donations have made:

"Our work has grown. As well as the [football] session we were running with the unaccompanied minors we now have a Saturday session in conjunction with the family hotel. It's all men playing at the moment but any wives and children also come along to watch and socialise in the park. We had about 18 players today and we could almost offer another session as demand is high. I was there and had a lovely chat with two women from El Salvador. One told me she has been going to church on Sunday, she said she is not religious at all but finds being there comforting. The women don't want to join in with football but they told me they like basketball so I'm going to see if I can get them a ball so they can play... Your generous support has helped us run these sessions. Not only do the participants get to forget their worries for an hour, they are keeping fit and socialising. When they were in the park today they were just like all the other groups playing football and enjoying the space, it helps with creating that sense of belonging.”

Bishop Richard is hosting a coffee morning to explore our diocesan response to the refugee crisis in Billingshurst next Saturday June 25 11.30am -1pm. Everyone is very welcome to attend. To reserve your free place please click here.

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