Church Action on Poverty 40th Anniversary Pilgrimage and Conference in Sheffield

Pilgrimage: meet at 9:30am at Sheffield Canal Basin (Victoria Quay).
Conference: 12:45-16:00, Pitsmoor Methodist Church, 131 Burngreave Road S3 9DG.

The event marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the national ecumenical Christian social justice charity committed to tackling poverty. It is open to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of how poverty is affecting people in Sheffield and how various organisations are endeavouring to reduce its impact.

The Pilgrimage will cover a course of just over two miles to Burngreave, visiting several locations, including:

• The Emmaus Charity Superstore, which provides a home, support and work for men and women who have suffered homelessness.
• The Rock Christian Centre, one of the Sheffield bases of Christians Against Poverty, the charity which provides free, professional advice for people struggling with debt, and the Burngreave Food Bank.

Pilgrims will then have the option of joining local religious leaders, politicians and people on the frontline of dealing with poverty for a conference on The Cost of Living and Poverty in Sheffield, and a buffet lunch will be provided.

Speakers at the conference will include:

• Liam Purcell of Church Action on Poverty.
• Ruth Moore, Director of St Wilfrid’s Centre for the homeless, vulnerable and socially excluded.
• Nick Waterfield, of the Parson Cross Initiative which aims to create community and provide support and sanctuary for people living in Parson Cross, Southey, Longley and Foxhill.
• Sylvia Ward, chief executive of Citizen’s Advice Sheffield.