‘Improving the wellbeing of those living around them’
Renew Wellbeing is the name of the overarching organisation that is helping churches around the country to replicate the Renew Wellbeing café concept.
Founded by Baptist pastor Ruth Rice, its vision is to encourage as many churches as possible to open up a space in which to be present, be prayerful and be in partnership with their local council for as little as two hours a week to improve the wellbeing of those living around them.
The charity is now in partnership with around 240 Renew spaces, and Baptists Together Mission Forum funding has supported its growth. A recent grant enabled it to deploy four new regional co-ordinators to cope with its expansion over the pandemic.
In 2022 Margaret Blakey, Renew co-ordinator in the West of England, gave an update. There are now 13 Renew spaces in Webnet, with several others in the region affiliated to other denominations.
She explained how it was really exciting to witness the opening of Renew 193 in Weston Super Mare, a partnership between Baptist churches in the town.
“Renew 193 is particularly inspiring in its simplicity of design, the friendships between the volunteers from the different churches, and the warm welcome that is extended to the guests who pop in from the High Street who already consider themselves part of the Renew 193 community.”
Over the summer Margaret popped in to one of the older Renew spaces, Renew 15 in Devizes.
‘It was so lovely to join in with a choice of activity and to chat with those sat around me,’ she wrote. ‘One of my favourite aspects of my job is the new and varied friendships that I make on a weekly basis.
‘I was particularly inspired to hear the story of one regular who has a history of significant trauma share the story of the impact that Renew 15 has had on her life, and how the regular rhythm of prayer has enabled her to sense that there is someone bigger than our understanding who cares for her.
‘She shared, with a real sense of pride, the various creative activities that the group have participated in, with plenty of variety and choice.’
‘I was particularly inspired to hear the story of one regular who has a history of significant trauma share the story of the impact that Renew 15 has had on her life, and how the regular rhythm of prayer has enabled her to sense that there is someone bigger than our understanding who cares for her. ’