Social Action

Social Action

The 2011 Social Action team consists of Street Project Reps Jack Wragg, Emma Feldman and Tim Gaston, and Social Action Reps Hannah Purdy and Marcus King. We believe that one of the most important aspects of our faith is demonstrating God's love to all people. So, as Social Action Reps, we aim to encourage and inspire people to get more involved in local and global issues. To do this, we are trying to put on a range of projects to reach out to people on campus, in the local community and the universe in general! We’re committed to organising more opportunities for you to get well and truly stuck into loving and serving our neighbours! Please read on to find out what sort of things we’re getting up to, or else contact us on socialaction@uycu.org.uk.

Street Project

If someone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18.

On Monday and Friday evenings, we meet together to pray and then walk through town delivering food, hot drinks and warm clothing to the homeless people that we meet - basically just showing them how much Jesus loves them!
It is a great opportunity to witness to them and share the Good News, and we meet some really amazing people every week.
For more information or to get involved, email streetproject@uycu.org.uk or find us on Facebook (York Christian Union Street Project).

The Besom in York

However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you. Deuteronomy 15:4

The Besom helps to provide people in York with things that they need. Check out the website link below. A Besom project usually involves doing something like painting a flat for someone in need, or sorting out an overgrown garden for someone who is unable to do it themselves. We really encourage you get involved with your housemates, small group or College CU- doing a Besom project is a great way to directly serve God by serving people in need. It’s also a great way to get to know other people in your college better. So ask your CRep for more information about whether your college is doing a Besom project this term. Alternatively you can contact the Besom project directly to get involved by helping out on their delivery runs, or you can get a group of friends together and do a project! Follow the links on their website to get in touch. The Besom also take Gift Packs, which are an easy way to make a difference in someone's life. Why not get together in small groups or with some housemates and bless someone in York this term?

Operation Christmas Child

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress... (James 1:27)

Operation Christmas Child sends a message of hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes. The CU has contributed to OCC in previous years, and we’re really eager to do it again this year. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to show God's love in a practical way, and it is so easy to make your contribution! Look out for more information on how to get involved this Autumn Term.

Speak

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice... to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked, to clothe him and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? The your light will break forth like the dawn..." Isaiah 58:6-8

SPEAK is a national network of groups praying and campaigning against issues of injustice. The York group meets weekly on Fridays, 6:30pm to 8:00pm at More House to chat and pray together about things such as poverty and environmental issues. Check out the SPEAK website to find out more!

Societies

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5:24

As well as SPEAK, there are some great societies active on campus here in York that are campaigning for global issues of justice and ethics. People and Planet are a student-led organisation campaigning for an end to world poverty, the defence of human rights and the protection of the environment. The well-known and influential charity Amnesty International also has a society presence here in York. As well as a fantastic opportunity to make a stand for justice and equity, getting involved with these groups would be a fantastic witness to other campaigners to the love of Jesus and His compassion for this world!