Cheryl was about to get married and to everyone else her life looked good – but the 24-year-old medical student was hiding a deep depression.
The wedding came and went and things only got worse. Overwhelmed by dark thoughts, some days she even struggled to get out of bed.
‘My church had been incredibly supportive in helping to organise the wedding with many friends stepping in to help with flowers, food and decorations,’ recalls Dr Cheryl Hawkins (pictured above). ‘But no one realised how I was struggling.’
Eventually she got better and graduated as a doctor, quickly specialising in mental health. As a psychiatrist she saw Christians and non-Christians alike who struggled with the condition.
‘I also saw people in my church with similar issues and noticed they weren’t always well supported,’ she explains. ‘The church was great when someone had broken their leg, had a baby or were diagnosed with cancer, but when it came to mental health issues people didn’t seem to know the best way to help. They feared saying something wrong, or just failed to see that the person was struggling.
‘Like myself all those years ago, many people with mental health issues hide what they are going through, worrying about what people might think of them if they find out, so the issues are not even seen.’
Four years ago, Cheryl started delivering Mental Health First Aid training to businesses and schools. She has now produced a unique range of biblically-based courses to address the increasing number of mental health needs in churches. In 2022 she launched Encourage Mental Health CIC and this will be the focus of her stand at CRE Midlands 23.
She will also talk on ‘Bridging the gap: how to support mental health in your church’ (Thu 9 Nov, 3.30pm).
• Encourage Mental Health are on stand DS32 at CRE Midlands 23
Photograph: Dr Cheryl Hawkins
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
The Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice has published the first of six reports on how to implement cultural and structural change within the Church of England – and its chair, Lord Paul Boateng, will be at CRE National 2022 to discuss the project to date.
In a foreword, Lord Boateng said it was a painful process as the examination of racism was often met with denial and delay, which ‘must not go unchallenged’. The commission is asking for a minimum of £20 million to be set aside to deliver the 47 recommendations of the earlier taskforce report From Lament to Action, adding that it was disappointing ‘how little thought has seemingly gone into utilising existing funding streams’.
It is also advocating fundamental change to the process for removing statues and memorials associated with the slave trade. It says the guidance is inadequate and incomplete and does not give sufficient consideration to the communities impacted, or the authorities in charge of the buildings. The consistory court process is too expensive and the chancellors/judges should be drawn from a more ethnically-diverse pool and receive diversity training. The commission expects each diocese to develop a racial justice strategy by the end of the financial year.
Welcoming the report, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt Rev Justin Welby said: ‘It identifies the difficult and long path to eradicating the pain and injustice felt by so many but provides us with hope that, through the commission’s work, these issues will be addressed.’
Roy Francis, who will join Lord Boateng at CRE National to consider the commission and the Windrush legacy, said: ‘This initial report is timely and lays before us some of the issues the church and society must seriously confront. It offers some immediate, practical and workable solutions and I look forward to hearing Lord Boateng when he speaks on the commission’s findings at CRE in October.’
Book your tickets to CRE National 2022 for as little as £3 (£8 on the door)
CRE National 2022
11-13 October 2022
Sandown Park, Surrey
CRE North 2023
3-4 May 2023
Exhibition Centre, Liverpool
Dan Herbert, Distributed Sound and Video Ltd
Wed 9 Oct, 3.30-4.00
Talks 1 (sponsored by Action Planning)
Struggling to find or fund an organist? Is your organ in need of repair but you are unable to repair it? Introducing the Hymnal Plus
In this seminar you will:
The Talks Programme is free to CRE visitors
Tickets for CRE 24 are available now!
Organisations considering exhibiting at CRE 2024 should contact James Batterbee on 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk). Click here for a brochure, floor plan and price list.
World-renowned professional football freestyler Daniel Cutting (seen above) will open CRE 24 – and remind visitors how churches can use sport as a vital bridge to their local communities.
A 10-time Guinness World Record holder, Daniel, who lives in Milton Keynes, specialises in live entertainment, product launches, corporate events, social campaigns, commercials – and even the occasional school assembly! He has more than five million followers across social media and prides himself on providing the highest quality form of football entertainment.
He has been working as a full-time football freestyler since graduating from university with his skills taking him to more than 40 countries. He has the ability to provide entertainment and, depending on the occasion, tell audiences about his Christian faith.
‘I was delighted to be asked to open CRE,’ he said.
He has honed and perfected his skills, as well as developing his own unique style, and takes inspiration from other creative art forms, such as break dancing and gymnastics, which he incorporates into his shows.
He realised that the determination, discipline and dedication needed for football freestyle was not only something to be admired but could also inspire others. He therefore encourages individuals not simply to take up football freestyle but to share these qualities while emphasising the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle which, when embraced, will help anyone to succeed.
Tickets for CRE 2024 are available now!
Organisations considering exhibiting at CRE 2024 should contact James Batterbee on 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk). Click here for a brochure, floor plan and price list.
The Church of England wants to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its 32,000 buildings by 2030 – but how much will it cost and where will the money come from?
With a huge number of buildings to consider – cathedrals, churches, halls, housing stock and diocesan offices – the C of E Environment Team consulted CRE 24 exhibitors Action Planning for advice on fundraising.
‘We pulled together a multi-disciplinary team to cover all the angles,’ said Action Planning’s Sean Tully. ‘These included environmental funders (UK and international), faith-based funders (institutions, trusts and foundations), community funders (The National Lottery) and major donors, e.g ultra-high net worth individuals with an interest in faith and the environment. The picture is broader than you’d think!’
One standout insight from Action Planning’s research was the potential of statutory funding, local authorities and central government – a pot likely to be increased over the next decade. The company is preparing to deliver fundraising support for around 70 parish churches over the next two years and also delivering a series of free fundraising training webinars for Anglican churches and associated projects for individual dioceses.
‘It has been a real privilege to have been chosen to work with the C of E on such a big and important project,’ said Sean, ‘tackling a challenge that is evolving all the time, but which is also time critical.’
The C of E’s head of giving, Eleanor Stead, said: ‘It has been a genuine pleasure to work with Action Planning on this important project. They have delivered a thorough and thought-provoking feasibility study which their team should be very proud of. It asks some serious and challenging questions, but most excitingly highlights the opportunities available to make NetZero 2030 happen.’
• Action Planning will be on stand P20 at CRE 24 and contribute talks on fund-raising
Tickets for CRE 2024 are available now!
Organisations considering exhibiting at CRE 2024 should contact James Batterbee on 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk). Click here for a brochure, floor plan and price list.
After almost 40 years as the UK’s leading exhibition of church resources, CRE comes to Milton Keynes for the very first time (9-10 October 2024).
Alongside our many and varied exhibitors, covering all aspects of Christian life and church ministry, you will be in the heart of the home counties just 40 miles from London. The Marshall Arena is a purpose-built venue offering visitors easy access by road and rail, with plenty of onsite parking.
Almost 50 per cent of the visitors at our exhibitions outside Greater London tell us they have never before been to a CRE. Anywhere. Still more tell us it is their first visit for years. We expect similar statistics in Milton Keynes.
Join us at CRE 2024 where key purchasers from hundreds of churches across the south of England will go.
To discover you.
Click here for the official CRE 2024 brochure, floor plan and price list.
Contact
If you would like to exhibit, please contact:
James Batterbee
james@creonline.co.uk
0161 250 2306
Ninety-six per cent of the UK’s 163,000 charities are small, working with an annual income of less than £1m. Nearly half have an income of less than £10,000.
‘Small charities often struggle to find support that is right for them and meets the need of the organisation, yet doesn’t smash the budget,’ said Sean Tully, associate consultant with Action Planning, a company with more than 30 years’ experience in helping thousands of not-for-profit organisations, including churches, achieve their aims.
‘When it comes to providing consultancy support for charities, we believe one size doesn’t fit all,’ he said. During Small Charity week in June this year Action Planning, based in Tadworth, Surrey, launched a new small charity support service designed specifically to meet the needs of smaller organisations.
‘Our experts will be at CRE Midlands to talk to small charities about it,’ said Sean. ‘We have a network of 150 experienced consultants. Many have worked with and for small charities and church ministries. They understand the strengths, adaptability and impact that small charities offer their local communities.
‘At CRE you can find out more about how the Action Planning small charity support package could help you. The service is designed and delivered around the needs of small organisations at two levels – our small charity analysis tool, a written report based on the analysis, and half a day of consultancy support.’
Lesley Gladwell, chief executive officer for Rebuild East Midlands, said: ‘The small charity analysis was very easy to use and the questions caused me to think about some aspects of our organisational health in new ways. The sessions were so useful and left us with a real buzz of excitement.’
Action Planning will lead a training session on both days of CRE Midlands, entitled ‘Raising funds for capital projects in your church’ (12pm, Wed 8 and Thur 9 Nov).
• Action Planning are on stand B15 at CRE Midlands
Photo: The Action Planning team in action.
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Churches across the UK are being urged to take steps to prevent metal theft following a spate of incidents.
The warning comes from specialist insurer Ecclesiastical following theft of lead from the roof of churches in Bath, including All Saints Church in Weston, which was targeted multiple times in one month.
High demand for copper and lead, driven by an increase in metal prices, saw several churches affected by theft in the first quarter of 2023. Ecclesiastical, exhibitors at CRE Midlands 23, are urging churches across the country to carry out reviews of their security arrangements as a result of the recent increase.
Roof alarms have been proven to especially deter criminals. Other measures such as installing additional lighting to increase surveillance levels, use of anti-climb paint and CCTV can help deter thefts. Making life difficult for metal thieves by removing easy means of access onto roofs, such as waters butts, benches, bins and ladders.
Some churches and heritage properties that have been victims of metal theft incidents have replaced stolen materials with alternatives, such as stainless steel, which are less appealing to criminals.
The insurer requires customers to have security marking systems such as SmartWater, which has been proven to help with successful prosecution of metal thieves, in place as part of its policy and for policy conditions to be followed.
Jo Whyman, risk management director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: ‘Theft of metal can have a devastating impact on churches. It is critically important the right cover is in place. We’re urging churches across the country take steps to protect themselves and follow our guidance which is available through our website. We will be at CRE Midlands 23 to advise churches on a personal level.’
• Ecclesiastical are on stand P29 at CRE Midlands 2023
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
Essential support to churches and their communities is now available through new grant-giving programmes from Ecclesiastical, Benefact Group and their charitable owner Benefact Trust.
The Building Improvement Grants programme helps protect and enhance churches and Christian buildings – ensuring their continued use for generations to come. The programme will support capital costs such as essential repairs and improvements, conservation and restoration and energy-efficiency measures. Also, the new Community Impact Grants Programme, which helps projects making a positive and transformative impact on lives and communities, is also now open for applications.
These initiatives come at a time when the Benefact Group has been named the UK’s third-largest corporate donor to charity, according to the Directory of Social Change – The Guide to UK Company Giving 2023/24. This has been achieved by donating all dispersible profits back to churches, charities and communities.
In fact, the Benefact Group finished higher in the rankings than corporate giants such as Vodafone Group plc, Goldman Sachs International and ASDA Stores Ltd. The group has given almost £200m to good causes since 2014 and is aiming to reach its ambitious cumulative target of giving £250m by 2025.
Mark Hews, group chief executive at Benefact Group, said: ‘Owned by a charity, here at Benefact Group all available profits go to good causes, helping to transform thousands of lives for the better. The more the group grows, the more we can give and make an even bigger difference in society.’
Their flagship Movement for Good Awards is now in its 5th year and enables individuals to nominate their favourite charity (or charities), putting them into a draw for a chance to receive an award. This year they will be giving away over £1m in three main ways:
£1,000 draws – nominate a favourite charity at any time for the £1,000 draw. There will be three £1,000 draws this year, giving away between £120,000 and £150,000 in each.
£5,000 special draws – four themed special draws over the year, giving 10 awards of £5,000 in each. The first draw will be launching soon, so keep an eye out on their website for these limited time themed draws.
Larger Grants – These £10,000+ grants are available from July to support larger transformative projects get off the ground.
• Ecclesiastical are on stand P29 at CRE Midlands 2023
Book your ticket for CRE Midlands 2023 here from as little as £3
Organisations looking to book a stand should contact James Batterbee 0161 250 2306 (E: james@creonline.co.uk) or Carol Malpass 0161 250 2467 (E: carol@creonline.co.uk)
Click to view the latest floorplan and price list for available stands
As churches face soaring heating bills this winter, a pew cushion that automatically warms up when worshippers sit on it will be introduced for the first time at next week’s CRE National.
The cushion has proved popular in VIP seats at football stadiums, on boats and particularly in the catering industry where some customers prefer to sit outside in all weathers. Anthony Gerard of Sit & Heat has worked for more than 30 years working with designers, architects and catering organisations all over the world.
‘Our cushions have proved their worth in many outdoor settings and I believe churches will find them very useful in these days of rising energy prices,’ he said. ‘The cushion only gets warm when someone sits on it. The heated back and seat receive power via a battery, which has an effective sitting time of three hours. As soon as the seat is free again, the heating turns off after two minutes. Re-charging is easy, too.
‘Despite the fact that the heating is turned on long before the service, the central heating of a church building causes extremely high energy costs. In addition, the central heating of a church building can cause damage to the historic interior. With the Sit & Heat heating system, churchgoers are heated directly with no more unnecessary energy consumption!’
Catherine Ross, the Church of England’s Open and Sustainable Church Officer – a role which includes energy efficiency – said: ‘Using approaches such as heated seat cushions, which heat the people not the whole church space, can, in the right circumstances, be a great way to cut both the energy use and carbon footprint of a church.’
• Sit & Heat are on stand J4 at CRE National 2022
CRE Midlands 2023
8-9 November 2023
Cranmore Park, Birmingham
Christian Resources Exhibition
1 and 2 Ellison’s Cottages
Crank Road
St Helens
Merseyside
WA11 7RQ
Christian Resources Exhibition is a limited company Reg No. 02549188