Learn how you can get involved with Home for Good in the North West. Read about the success of our summer fundraising campaign, Walk with Me, and be among the first to access our new Christmas resources!

Welcome back to our North West England update – we’re excited to share with you what we’ve been up to over the summer, and what’s coming up in the months ahead. Before we get into the details, Regional Lead Mike shares this message:

As we at Home for Good enter into a new academic year, some of our activity will probably look a bit different, and some will be much the same. However, our vision remains rock solid – Together we can find a home for every child who needs one.

As we journey towards that vision, we need God’s strength, the power of his spirit, and the passion of his people, to make that dream a reality.

• Please will you pray. To help you pray for care experienced children and those who care for them, Home for Good publish a monthly prayer guide which you can access here.

• Please could you help us raise the issue and champion the cause in your church and other churches near you? May you could share our monthly prayer guide; invite a Home for Good speaker to your Sunday service or mid-week gathering; or think about becoming a Home for Good Church (more info here).

• Could you volunteer with Home for Good? We need people who will Champion our cause within church, people with experience of fostering or adoption who can help run peer support groups, and those who can get alongside people journeying towards becoming foster carers, adoptive parents, or supported lodgings hosts. Find our more here

September has seen the last few donations roll in from our summer fundraising campaign, Walk with me. On average, children in care are moved 18+ miles because there are not enough local carers. Every child and young person in care should be able to stay in their local area if it’s safe for them to do so. We’re working to find local homes for local children and teenagers so that no one is put in this position. This summer, we wanted to stand with them; we said we would walk with them. Amazingly, individuals, families, groups of friends and whole churches laced up their shoes and took to the streets, trails and mountains to demonstrate their commitment to children in care by walking, rolling, scooting – any kind of moving! – around 18 miles, raising vital funds for Home for Good in the process.

Karen and Martin, who took part in the campaign, share this:

“We heard about Home for Good and the Walk with Me initiative from a good friend in our church and life group. We love walking and this, combined with the reality that 18 miles is a long way, especially if it separates you from all you know and love, we felt we should take up the challenge. At a time in our lives when we are relying on God for so much, we felt we should try and make a difference just as Jesus did who was always available for children....Once we were signed up, we went to our church, family and friend groups knowing that some have adopted children and others would be happy to sponsor such a good cause. People’s generosity was more than we had expected as we helped them understand the need for children to have a place of safety, security, and stability where they can be nurtured and grown, and how this is fundamental to a healthy future.”

At the time of writing this update, we’ve raised nearly £20,000 – isn’t that incredible! And we know of a few more who are still to take on their walk. We want to say an enormous THANK YOU to everyone who walked with us this summer, and to all who donated. Your support will make a huge difference for children in care.

We are delighted to announce that we now have a new Home for Good Support Group in Northwich. Bec, who co leads the group shares:

“We are excited about being able to support other foster & adoptive parents in central Cheshire. Our hope is to be a support emotionally, practically and in prayer and to encourage our local church families to better understand the needs of the adoption and foster care community.”

If you are a foster carer, adoptive parent, or supported lodgings host – or if you are currently going through the assessment process – and would like more information about this group, please drop us an email at [email protected]

A big thank you to the folks at Christ’s Church Harwood, and Deane Church Bolton who welcomed Mike so well when he spoke at each recently. Mike is looking forward to speaking at St Pauls Church Longridge (1 October). JC Lytham (5 November), and All Saints Church Macclesfield (19 November). If you would like to invite Mike, or another speaker from Home for Good to come to your church, then please do get in touch with Mike or complete our Book a speaker form on our website.

While the summer may be drawing to a close, our resolve to secure better for children and young people remains strong. We know that this ‘back to school’ season can be really challenging for some children and young people with care experience; for some, it can be one of the hardest times of year. That’s why we’ve launched our Back-to-school fundraising campaign. With your support, we can find more foster carers, adoptive families and supported lodgings hosts – because it’s easier to go back to school when you know you’ve something stable to come home to. Donate today and invest in the lives of children and young people. Find out more here.

Finally, despite the recent heatwaves, Home for Good have started to put plans in place for this year’s Christmas resource package! We are so excited to share with you a brand new, free and flexible package of all-age resources for your church to enjoy this Christmas season. A promise of hope includes a brand new video, some inspiration for a talk or sermon, congregational prayers and activities for children and youth groups. The Christmas resource package will be released later in the Autumn, but you can sign up now to register your interest. As soon as the resources are available, you will immediately be sent a link to sign up to view and download them. Simply complete the form here.

What can I be praying for?

We would love you to stand with us in prayer as we continue to work to find a home for every child who needs one in North West England.

• Pray for care-experienced children who may be struggling with the return to school and for their parents/carers as they try to help them cope. Pray for peace, some good, strong friendships, and that they will be able to participate well in the lessons and activities.
• Pray for people supported by our Peer Support Groups or Peer Support Volunteers. Pray for good relationships and trust.
• Pray for more churches to engage with our Home for Good Church programme and that the congregations will grow in their understanding of, and passion for the part they can play in the lives of care-experienced children in the local community, and those who care for them.
• Pray for Bec and Fiona as they lead our new support group in Northwich, that it will indeed fulfil their hope to be a support emotionally, practically and in prayer, and to encourage their local church families to better understand the needs of the adoption and foster care community.

Check out our prayer resource, Let’s pray, for additional thoughts, inspiration and points to guide your prayers.

Are there any events happening soon that I can attend?

Head over to our North West England page to find out what is happening in the area and find all the local support groups.

Take me there

How do I get in touch with a member of the Home for Good team in North West England?

Mike Chesterton heads up Home for Good's work in North West England and he would love to hear from you! You can contact him through the button below.

Email Mike