Reaching out in Grimsby

Take an area with significant social challenges and a handful of faithful and hugely committed church members and what do you get? Answer: Side Door Church in Grimsby!

Whilst lockdown was horrendous it gave the church members time to rethink about the worship and activities at Side Door with the result that several new projects are now developing.

Worship went online and now, following the purchase of some decent cameras, it is live steamed weekly. The children's ministry has also gone online and is gaining quite a following. Far more people are joining on line than in person and some local schools are even accessing the material for school assemblies.

In early 2020 a café was due to open in the church but this had to be put on hold until people were able to meet again however as soon as they could they started to serve take away food and drinks. The café has gone from strength to strength and is now open every day. Lots of people visit regularly. A new soft play area opens every time the café opens and families can use this for free. This seems to have been well received so far.

Having the café open every day also means that people can access the food bank every day. As well as emergency food parcels available at the church, members deliver weekly food parcels to 30 homes in the area. These typically contain bread, yoghurt, fruit and vegetables. The food is mainly provided by Tesco's as the church is registered to collect surplus food. Conversations on the doorstep mean that relationships can be built up. Families in the area often have no transport and probably couldn't come out to collect food and so going the extra mile to deliver the food really helps.

Another exiting piece of work from Side Door is supporting the Lincolnshire Refugee Doctors Programme based at Diana Princess of Wales Hospital. The charity helps refugee doctors gain the experience and qualifications to register with the General Medical Council. Side Door has been able to help by storing and donating furniture such as white goods which help the refugee doctors set up home when they relocate to Lincolnshire.

Members of Side Door are quick to see need in their community and are flexible in responding to it. This is another great example of faith in action.