President's Summer Letter 2024

My dear friends,

I hope that this finds you well. At last the weather is beginning to feel a little more like summer. The sea of umbrellas on the television for the King’s Birthday Trooping of the Colour was a lesson to be stoical and to carry on, regardless! What a splendid spectacle of precision and colour it was, despite the rain. We wish the King and the Princess of Wales well in their cancer journeys. I’m sure many of us can identify with the effects of chemotherapy as the Princess of Wales described. May they both soon be well again, and to those of you who are unwell, have had recent surgery or broken bones, may God bless you with a swift recovery.

I am delighted to announce that we have some new Trustees in our Diocese. We are very grateful to Rosemary Spada (Brislington), Gill Beer (Oldland), Valerie Bishop (Henleaze) and Jim Bradshaw (Yate) for stepping up. I know that they will be a great addition to our leadership team. As this is the last year in this Triennium several of the current leaders will be stepping down, so we are looking for a new President, Vice President (Bristol end), some Deanery leaders, Treasurer, and a Minute Secretary. Rev Chris Dobson will also be stepping down as Chaplain. If you think you know someone who would be suitable for any of these roles, please get in touch with me. I have nomination forms.

A huge thank you to Linda Rawlings who has been looking after our valued Indoor members and

leading our faith and prayer group. Valerie Bishop will now be taking over some of the Indoor Member Communication. Linda will continue to lead a brilliant team on prayer and faith. Thank you for the thoughtful prayers and worship that you prepare for us.

We have made great strides in the Bristol Diocese, transforming and growing into an organisation that is actively caring for families and for the vulnerable in society. The latest news is of 6 coaches that have been booked to take families to Weston-Super-Mare in the summer holidays. To fund raise for that, Yate Branch is holding a Cream Tea and Promises Auction on Friday 19th July from 2pm at St Mary’s Yate. All of you will be welcome to that.

I look forward to seeing some of you at the Provincial Gathering in Oxford next Saturday 22nd June. It should be a good day.

Our membership numbers are just about stable, which is a huge development, and I thank you all and welcome all new members. We are taking on the Central Mothers’ Union challenge for growth and I’m looking forward to sharing more of our ideas and thoughts at the Autumn Gathering on October 12th.

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We are looking at growth of numbers of members and even more importantly, growth of ourselves as disciples, growing towards becoming the people God would like us to be.

I have enjoyed attending two Deanery Festivals this month. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to gather with a common purpose, to worship and enjoy fellowship together. I am enormously proud also of three of our Branches who have achieved the Bronze Award in the RISE UP Challenge.

Congratulations to Horfield, Corsham and Yate as they receive their certificates. Any Branch or

Church can apply for this, and I have a ‘Step by step guide’ available for anyone who would like more details.

I am also happy to come to Branches or Churches, by arrangement, to talk about the RISE UP against Domestic Abuse Campaign. I would like to be able to say that I have visited every branch, where possible, before the end of the year. If I haven’t been to visit you yet, please get in touch.

Presenting the RISE UP Bronze Award Certificate to Carolyn from Horfield Branch. Please note the new Diocesan flag ‘Wendy’s Flag’ in the background! This flag, donated by Jim Bradshaw in memory of his wife Wendy, is available to borrow for any MU event that you might be planning.

(Something to think about! We have been asked to start planning special events for the 150th Anniversary of Mothers’ Union in 2026- ideas welcome!)

Special greetings to our many Diocesan members. It has been lovely to see you at some of our events, at our Spring Gathering and at the Cathedral lunchtime Eucharist on the first Thursday each month. I will just mention that as Diocesan members you are, of course, eligible to apply for any of the leadership roles as described.

Work towards the new South West Cluster MU is going well with a great deal of legal detail, Bristol ably headed up by Rev Sarah Wyman. There will be a separate newsletter for all members in all the 8 SW Dioceses being sent out shortly with all the information about the changes that will happen from next year. I don’t believe that it will make any noticeable difference at Branch or member level, apart from that the payment of subscriptions by Direct Debit will become an option, making life much easier for Treasurers at every level.

This comes, as always, with my love and prayers for your wellbeing, peace and joy that comes from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. God Bless you xxx

Jacky

Jacky Fredrickson MU Diocesan President Bristol

Reflection

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the

wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

God of unchanging power, your Holy Spirit enables us to proclaim your love in challenging times and places. Give to all members of the Mothers’ Union steadfastness, fresh understanding, and a clear vision, that together, we may continue the mission to which we are called. Amen.

MU June Prayer.

Download and print this letter here.

Summer of Hope

Here in the UK, my personal opinion is that many of this population hope that this summer the economy continues to improve. Along with that, Many people will hope that their own financial position will improve.

The rate of inflation has fallen, but not the prices which remain high. Please do not confuse the two things. It is unlikely that with perhaps a few notable exceptions, prices will remain high. But what is a high price?

In some countries people who make or supply things that we moan about the price of, cannot afford to buy the things they export to us.

In places in Africa, Like the Democratic Republic of Congo, what we in the UK consider poor or in poverty, would be considered comfortably off. They would be able to feed a family and send children to school.

The Mothers' Union (MU) Summer of Hope Campaign aims to help at least some of these women. Many women in African countries are illiterate. An initiative of the MU is to improve literacy and numeracy amongst women. This in turn helps them understand some basic business and agricultural skills.

Where this has already been tried it has lead to improvements in living standards for many African women and their families. Some have started small businesses. In UK terms, maybe they'd be considered micro business. But this tiny business raise women's independence and reduce dependence. Their children are healthier and once they have a small business, after some time they are often able to expand their business. This in turn helps not only their own family but frequently their villages as they are able to offer work to other women, so supporting more poor families.

This 2024 Summer, the Mothers' Union wants to build on their work that is already helping transform the lives of women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa.

AFIA

In January and February of 2023 YouGov conducted a survey on the basis of what should living standards be like for people on benefits, minimum wage and average income. The way the question was phrased was ambiguous. A second survey by YouGov, commissioned by Carnegie UK asked clearer questions. The Resolution Foundation’s Living Standard report in 2023 largely corroborated Carnegie’s findings.

Carnegie’s survey indicated that in 2023 two thirds of parents had trouble taking part in leisure activities with their children. This included taking the children away on holiday.

Before the pandemic and in the cost of living crisis about a third of families had no annual holiday. They could not afford one. This is where the Mothers’ Union (MU) can sometimes help, at least a few families.

The Away From It All, or AFIA scheme aims to give families without much hope of a holiday or day out help by taking them somewhere for a break. AFIA is a Mothers’ Union holiday scheme, primarily funded by MU members, to give the opportunity of a break to those who may be experiencing stress, money troubles or difficulties in their family life.”

Here in Bristol, the MU’s AFIA project has taken local families on visits to the seaside at Weston-Super-Mare. In 2023 we were able to supply 5 coaches and give families comprising 126 parents/carers and more than 170 children a day at the seaside. This year, 2024, we are planning to provide 6 coaches for a similar number of families.

MU doesn’t make a charge for the trips but, does require a £5.00 deposit. Deposit! But you don’t charge you say. Well we don’t. The deposit is returned on the coaches, on the way to Weston’Super-Mare. It is simply a way of helping reduce the drop-out-rate by incentivising people to show up to get their deposit returned.

Would you or someone you know benefit from a day out? You can apply or nominate someone by following this link to the MU website. Scroll down the page until you see “How To Apply”, or ask a local MU member to put you in touch with the AFIA scheme coordinator for your area.