Thriving Life Church programmes in County Down

Thriving Life Church provides two main assistance programmes in County Down. They include advice on dealing with all types of debts, including credit cards or automobile loans, as well as a free parcel of groceries from the food bank. While those are the two main services provided to families on a ow income, they also work with the client to help them with other needs they may have as part of the Care scheme.

The demand for assistance in County Down area continues to increase. It has grown so much that Thriving Life Church had to move into a larger office in order to care for as many people as possible. The charity has been helping hundreds of residents every month and passes out almost 3 tons of food per week.

Half of the clients of the church are either children or they are families with a child. That group is the most vulnerable as if they do not get the healthy food they need, it could even impact their growth and development. While anyone can drop in for a caring, listening ear, the two main programmes are listed here.

Food Bank – This is available to anyone with a voucher. It is not restricted by faith or religion. Thriving Life Church was the first organisation in County Down and across northern Ireland to open a Trussell Trust sponsored site and it would not be successful without the work of volunteers.

Thriving Life Church accepts donations of non-perishable food from the community. There are no restrictions to what is accepted, as long as it is in date. What they see most frequently are tinned goods such as meat, fruits, and vegetables. Those goods are then passed out to eligible families. Since so many of the clients of the food bank are children, baby nappies are also in high demand.

Meals on Wheels – This is for residents of County Down that live in a rural area and can’t make it to the church. Maybe they are ill or a senior. Others may have a disability or maybe they do not own a car.

No matter the reason, Thriving Life Church volunteers will try to deliver a parcel of food to them. The driver will also meet with the client to understand their challenge. If it is possible for the church to do more to help, such as signpost the person to government benefits or a GP, then that will be done. Find more information on how Meals on Wheels works and other agencies that offer it.

Debt Help from Thriving Life Church – This is provided as part of their partnership with CAP. This is a free service for anyone from Newtownards or other area that is struggling with paying their bills, loans, or other expenses they have due. There are many parts of this service.

The client will be assigned a “coach”. Together they will review the challenges being faced by the family. A holistic approach will be taken. This will include an assessment of the client’s household income, any welfare or benefits they receive, total debts due to creditors, and much more.

Based on the results of that assessment, the client may be entered into a debt management plan that is part of the Thriving Church, and Christian Against Poverty, programme. This will over time help the person regain control of their finances.

Care is another service from the church. This provides families local to County Down with a place to turn to for non-judgmental support. Whether connecting the person to another local charity, or signposting them to benefits, many services are part of the Care process.

Supporting the region of County Down, Thriving Life Church has a post of 80 Ballyreagh Rd, Newtownards, BT23 8RP. The phone number is 028 9181 3205.