St Bart's made contact with local refuge

St Bart's MU, Long Benton

St Barts Long Benton purchased 10 coats for boys and girls ranging from 1 year old to 15 years old with the proceeds of their Afternoon Tea. They donated them to the Harbour Refuge as part of the First Internet branch's project.

As part of our continued support for the RISE UP campaign, we have made a connection with our local domestic abuse refuge. We collected a large pile of children's clothing, as requested by them. This was delivered in July. Our grateful thanks to Sylvia Hickey for helping us to make this contact. We will continue to provide support as best we can.

Internet Branch & Habour Refuge

Christmas food First Internet Branch

For the fourth year running the First Internet Branch provided a complete Christmas Day Menu of food for the families at Harbour Refuge. We were supported financially by member from Ponteland and St Columba`s branches plus donations from many who are not MU members but wanted to help with the project which they felt was so worthwhile.

This year for the first time we supplied both Harbour Refuges, North Tyneside as usual, but also, by request, the Northumberland Refuge too. This meant that we actually provided food for 26 family units in total.


Friends and members ready to fill the bags	Bags ready to be delivered to the Refuges	Each bag contained a complete Christmas Day menu

Concert & Afternoon Tea - February 2024

The internet branch and St Francis’ MU led a concert and afternoon tea on Saturday 24th February at St Nicholas’ Church in South Gosforth. The Eclectic -Lite Trio with singer Jonathan Worthy entertained us with light classical music and songs from the musicals. Afternoon tea was delicious and shared by all with much chatter and time to catch up for many friends. It was a delightful afternoon with good music, food and friendship.
£691 was raised and after expenses the remainder was shared between St Francis and First Internet branches for the Sensory Room at the Refuge and M.U. projects in the Diocese.

Women’s Refuge Christmas 2023

Action and Outreach at the Northumberland Women’s Refuge Christmas 2023

I was able to deliver a fantastic load of goodies to the Northumberland refuge in time for Christmas.

We are usually able to source many of the toys for the refuge from the toys donated by the congregation of St Cuthbert’s, Blyth at our Toy Service. However, this year the refuge was hosting several older teenage children, in fact three 17-year-old boys as well as two older teenage girls. This meant we needed to find suitable, more personal gifts for them, which we did, thanks to the generosity of our members. Every child also received a Selection box and other stocking filers.

Each family received extra special gifts, in the form of a hamper bag containing mince pies, biscuits, Christmas cakes, chocolates and much more.

I also took the usual toiletry bags which are kindly donated by St Bede’s MU.

I also received some monetary donations from the Deanery towards some of the extra gifts we donated.

A splendid effort by Bedlington Deanery.