Suggested Links
Social Issues
www.eauk.org Evangelical Alliance is an organisation who's purpose is to promote unity and truth and to represent evangelical concerns to the wider world of the Church, state and society.
www.christianadvice.net This website offers comprehensive help and advice for Christians on a wide range of issues.
www.evangelicalfellowship.ca The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) is a national association of evangelical Christians. It exists to bring Christians together for greater impact in mission, ministry and witness.
www.care-for-the-family.org.uk Care for the Family aims to promote strong family life and to help those hurting because of family breakdown. It seeks to come alongside people in the good times and in the tough times - bringing hope, compassion and some practical, down-to-earth help and encouragement.
www.christiananswers.net A vast website providing biblical answers to contemporary questions for all ages and nationalities.
www.pcusa.org/101/101-social.htm The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA speaks out on social issues.
www.pechurchnet.co.za/post/issues This section of Port Elizabeth Church Net aims to provide reports and insights into many of the social and moral issues facing the Church and society.
www.umc-gbcs.org/csamagazine/index.php Backlogs of Christian Social Action Magazines produced by the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, USA.
Counselling
www.ccef.org The mission of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) is to see hearts transformed as God applies his Word to the problems of life. God's grace, God's Word, and God's people are what Christians need for personal change, spiritual growth, and help with the pressing problems of life.
www.cascadechristiancounselling.com Cascade tries to thoughtfully integrate the best of the social science clinical research with our Christian faith commitment. The organisation was established by Christians to provide help for people suffering from individual, marital or family problems. Cascade is a Christian counselling and coaching service, but provides assistance to all people regardless of religious affiliation or ethnic background.
www.cguidelines.org.uk Christian Guidelines is an interdenominational charity that offers training and counselling to the wider community and seeks to serve and support those in need.
Students
www.tcd.ie/chaplaincy Chaplains' page for Trinity College Dublin.
www.ucd.ie/chaplain Chaplains' page for University College Dublin.
www.dcu.ie/students/chaplaincy/index.shtml Chaplains' page for Dublin City University.
www.ucc.ie/iona Chaplains' page for University College Cork.
www.ul.ie/chaplain Chaplains' page for University College Limerick.
www.nuigalway.ie/student_services/chaplains Chaplains' page for National University of Ireland, Galway.
www.stocki.ni.org Steve Stockman, Presbyterian Chaplain at Queen's, writes on topics such as music, art, poetry and of course U2.
Chaplains
www.irishmethodist.org/where/chaplains.htm The Methodist Church has appointed chaplains to many hospitals, universities and prisons. They provide pastoral care and support where it's needed most. This section of the Irish Methodist website contains the contact details of those chaplains.
ireland.iol.ie/~coieduc/schools.htm Provides information on Church of Ireland involvement in education, including contact details for university chaplains.
Physical Disability
www.crcna.org/disability Disability Concerns (Christian Reformed Church) promotes the full participation of people with disabilities in the church by challenging congregations to eliminate barriers to this participation, by assisting people with disabilities and their families to express their needs and offer their gifts to the church, and by providing information on disability resources and services.
www.ccpd.org The Christian Council on Persons with Disabilities is a consortium of Christian organizations working in disability ministry. It seeks to provide a platform and sounding board for communication and interaction between leaders interested in promoting the spiritual well being of people who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
www.throughtheroof.org Through the Roof's vision is to make the Christian message of salvation through Jesus Christ available to people affected by disability, by: - equipping and training churches to make the church and its life fully inclusive of people with disabilities; - encouraging and equipping disabled people for leadership in the church; - providing support and fellowship for disabled people and their families in the UK and overseas.
psalm121.ca Resources such as Bible-based articles, poetry and various links for the disabled believer or a caregiver of someone with a disability.
Learning Disability
www.care.org.uk CARE is a well-established mainstream Christian charity that undertakes a variety of social caring and educational programmes as well as research and lobbying on associated issues. CARE's concern is for the well-being of all in society but particularly for the most vulnerable and needy.
www.prospects.org.uk Prospects is a Christian voluntary organisation which values and supports people with learning disabilities so that they live their lives to the full.
www.mencap.org.uk Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.
Mental Health
www.cause.org.uk C.A.U.S.E. for mental health provides peer-led practical and emotional support, carer advocacy, respite and education training for carers, friends and families of those with severe mental illness.
www.actionmentalhealth.org.uk Action Mental Health works to improve the health and well-being of people with mental health needs or learning disabilities, by creating opportunites for progression towards independence and employment.
www.aware-ni.org Aware Defeat Depression aim to assist that section of the Northern Ireland population whose lives are directly affected by depression.
Residential Trust
www.foldgroup.co.uk Fold exists to deliver accessible, affordable and quality housing and care services to people in greatest need in a way which achieves value for money and involves all stakeholders.
www.nihe.gov.uk The website of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive includes information on "Supporting People", a new government programme introduced on 1 April 2003 aiming to improve housing related support services to a wide range of vulnerable people.
www.shssb.org The website of the Southern Health and Social Services Board provides up-to-date information about the work of the Board, local services and your health and well-being. It covers District Council areas of Armagh, Dungannon, Craigavon, Banbridge, Newry and Mourne.
www.nhssb.n-i.nhs.uk The Northern Health and Social Services Board is responsible for assessing, planning, securing and monitoring health and social care for the 430,500 people who live within its area. The Board's area covers the Council boundaries of Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Cookstown, Larne, Magherafelt, Moyle and Newtownabbey.
www.whssb.org The Western Health and Social Services Board serves a population of over 284,000 people who live in the District Council areas of Limavady, Derry, Fermanagh, Strabane and Omagh.
www.ehssb.n-i.nhs.uk The Eastern Health and Social Services Board (EHSSB) is Northern Ireland's largest local health authority and has responsibility for the care of approximately 670,000 people who live within its area. Our purpose is to seek a comprehensive range of quality health and social services for local people. It covers Council areas of Ards, Belfast, Castlereagh, Down, Lisburn and North Down.
www.helptheaged.org.uk Help the Aged is working hard for a world in which older people arefor their contribution to society, involved in their local communities and fulfilled in their needs, hopes and aspirations.
www.ageconcernni.org Age Concern Northern Ireland is a voluntary organisation committed, though campaigning and service provision, to improving the quality of life of all older people and promoting their rights as active, involved and equal citizens.
www.crossroadscare.co.uk Crossroads has been providing a Home Based Respite Care Service for carers in Northern Ireland since 1984. In April 1996 the fourteen schemes in Northern Ireland joined together to become Crossroads Caring for Carers (NI) Ltd.
Kinghan Mission
www.deafchristian.org.uk
This organisation ministers to the deaf community through:
Growth - encouraging the growth of a network of churches where deaf and hearing people work in partnership and providing resources;
Renewal - encouraging spiritual growth and renewal through special events;
Access - providing information on issues relating to Christian and Deaf people;
Churches - supporting churches attended by Deaf people to enable them to become more inclusive and providing a place where Deaf people can gain confidence in the use of their gifts in order to build up and edify their local church.
Evangelism - reaching out to the Deaf Community through our Sign Cross Drama Group and Outreach programme.
www.irishdeaf.com The Irish Deaf website provides names of other relevant websites, and information about upcoming events, courses and training opportunities.
www.jireh.demon.co.uk "Hands Together" is an organisation for people with an interest in signing in a Christian context.
www.deafchurch.co.uk The website connects Christians from around the UK.
www.dareministries.org The mission of DARE is that "We DARE to service Christ to make the DEAF community ALIVE through a ministry of REVIVAL and EVANGELISM. It's objectives are to preach the gospel to the world, to share the gospel in American Sign Language, to reach the unreached, and to revive believers to whole-heartedly serve God.
www.deaf-edca.com The website of the European Deaf Christian Alliance.
Addiction Services
www.hopeuk.org Hope UK is a Christian charity providing drug education and training for parents, churches and voluntary youth organisations. Informative speakers and high quality resource materials address the difficult lifestyle issues facing children and young people today.
www.acet.ie ACET is the largest independent provider of community based Health Education and Training in Ireland on the combined issues of HIV /AIDS, Sexual Health, Drug and Alcohol Misuse. The Health Education and Training Services are designed to empower young people and vulnerable adults to reduce the risk of infection and damage to their health, the health of their partners, families and children.
www.emcdda.eu.int The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is one of the European Union's decentralized agencies. Established in 1993 and based in Lisbon, it is the central source of comprehensive information on drugs and drug addiction in Europe.
www.turning-point.co.uk Turning Point is the UK's leading social care organisation. We provide services for people with complex needs, including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems and those with a learning disability.
Ex-Offenders
www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/dvsequl/exoffenders/crimrec.htm?IsSrchRes=1 This downloadable document from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development makes the case for employing ex-offenders and dealing with concerns. Produced jointly with the Criminal Records Bureau, it sets out the legislation that covers the employment of ex-offenders, provides guidance on implementing fair and responsible policies and practices, and offers employers a 'how to' guide to make use of this hidden group within the workforce.
www.langleyhousetrust.org The Langley House Trust is a national Christian charity that provides accommodation, training, education and other relevant services to ex-offenders and those at risk of offending within communities, with the aim of reducing and preventing crime. Our services are open to all, welcoming those of other faiths and those of none.
www.steppingstonestrust.org.uk Stepping Stones aims to help ex-prisoners get their lives together by finding a home, a job and a church.
www.nihe.gov.uk The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has provision for the accommodation needs of ex-offenders. The project seeks to assess the demand for temporary accommodation from those leaving prison. It is a partnership project with Probation Board and Council for the Homeless with matching funding from the Probation Board.
www.caringforexoffenders.org The aim of this organisation is to help reduce the re-offending rate by reintegrating ex-offenders into society through the local church. It aims to do this by providing ex-offenders with: - a person to meet them at the prison gate upon release; - basic provisions: clothing, food etc; - accommodation; - work; - pastoral support through integration into the life of the church.
www.niacro.co.uk The vision of the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders is to be acknowledged as making a unique contribution to the creation of a society in which communities can live without fear of crime and in which the rights and needs of everyone, including offenders, are equally respected. NIACRO works to reduce crime and its impact on people and communities.
Other sites useful for ex-offenders
www.caj.org.uk The Committee on the Administration of Justice; for a just and peaceful society in Northern Ireland where the human rights of all are protected.
http://www.pfi.org/db_directory/affiliates/6470 The Prison Fellowship of Northern Ireland is a Christian ministry responding to the spiritual, emotional, social and physical needs of prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families by demonstrating Christ's love to all affected by imprisonment.
www.valleyofhope.co.uk The Valley of hope project is based in the Valleys of South Wales and works with prisoners, ex offenders, homeless people and people with substance misuse problems. The project obtains accommodation and supports people in maintaining a tenancy.
www.pscf.org.uk The Probation Service Christian Fellowship aims to: - express the unity and fellowship of Christians in the National Probation Service; - pray regularly for the work of the National Probation Service; - provide a witness of Jesus Christ in the work setting; - stimulate and express Christian thought on theory and practice of social work; - promote interest in the National Probation Service within Churches and Christian groups.
www.ccjf.org The Churches' Criminal Justice Forum aims to uphold Christian values in the field of criminal justice. It encourages churches to see the relevance of Christian teaching on respect, justice, repentance, forgiveness, healing and restoration in the criminal justice field and engages with politicians, particularly to urge policies that address those aspects of social exclusion that are major factors in offending. It also asks churchgoing people to get involved in practical ways, explores alternative approaches to sentencing, such as Restorative Justice, develops local Community Chaplaincy schemes and promotes prison family visiting initiatives, to help families keep in touch, which is another important factor in reducing re-offending.
www.prisonsweek.org Prisons Week provides a focus to pray for those in prison, those serving community sentences, those who care for them, the families of prisoners, ex-offenders, the victims of crime, and those involved in programmes of rehabilitation, mediation and restoring community harmony.
www.clinks.org Clinks was established in 1998 to strengthen and develop the partnerships between voluntary and community-based organisations and the Prison and Probation Services in England and Wales. This continues to be the basis of their work with an additional strand that now focuses on developments relating to the introduction of the National Offender Management Service.
www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk Action for Prisoners' Families promotes the just treatment of prisoners' families by the prison system and society across the UK. It encourages the development of , and acts as a voice for, organisations providing support for these families.