Bishop’s Charity 2024
I am designating Manna House as the Bishop’s Charity for 2024. Confirmation collections, and any donations received by the Bishops’ Office, or by bishops in the course of their ministry, will go to this very good cause.
Manna House are a Christian counselling charity providing access to counselling for everyone in Northamptonshire and for 2024 covering all of Peterborough Diocese irrespective of faith background or ability to pay. Their mission is to provide safe spaces for people to talk to a professionally trained counsellor about whatever is on their mind. They also offer wellbeing workshops and deliver CPCAB accredited courses to students training to be future counsellors and supervisors.
Manna House began life in 1982 as the Northampton Christian Centres Trust seeking to serve the local community. This then became the Manna House Trust in 2003. It has had a number of iterations – coffee shop, bookshop, flats for the homeless and counselling service. Over the years it has always focussed on serving those most in need physically, psychologically, socially and spiritually.
They currently can offer 1,115 free counselling sessions across the county to over 93 people, as well as 11 wellbeing courses.
Their challenge is to maintain their centre in Northampton (currently costing £22,500 per calendar month) and to raise sufficient funds to further extend their services across the county and beyond.
I am delighted to do whatever we can as a diocese to help Manna House continue and grow this vital service. Please support this charity generously.
+John
More information on Manna House can be found here