All Saints & St Barnabas News

  World Mental Health Day was on Tuesday this week and we've been thinking a lot about those of us who might feel isolated or lonely and how this affects mental health. We have lots of community based activities going on in our churches, where we welcome everybody, regardless of age, background or faith. If you, or anyone you know, might be feeling lonely and want to come along and meet other people for a cup of something warm and a chat, we would be so very happy to see you. MONDAY Every 3rd Monday of the month, we have our Games afternoon at All Saints' Church Hall (1.45pm - 3pm). No experience necessary and no charge.  Just a lovely friendly atmosphere to come and share a cuppa and a few laughs together over a game of Scrabble, Jenga, Dominoes or even a Jigsaw Puzzle. WEDNESDAY CCC - Every Wednesday, 10am - 12 noon at All Saints Church Hall, is our Coffee, Company and Craft session. All are most welcome for warm drinks and cake. Feel free to bring a craft along to do, as yo...

October is Black History Month in the UK, an occasion to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of black people to British economy, culture, and history. At the beginning of October, as we continued our ‘Caring For Our World’ season, we discussed the devastating impact of climate change on the Global South. Due to shortages in crops and water scarcity, as well as the contamination of water sources,  citizens in the Global South are vulnerable to malnutrition and dehydration. Prolonged droughts and heatwaves are affecting 3.6 billion people in developing countries, who are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. The efforts that we can make here in the UK, to tackle global warming, will have the biggest impact on those more vulnerable than ourselves. Thought provoking stuff… especially as it’s sometimes hard to stay motivated if you don’t think what you’re doing can possibly make a visible difference. Later in the month we will focus on Black Music in Croydon...

  October is ADHD & Dyslexia awareness month.  These neurotypes often (but not always) go hand in hand, both causing executive function and processing issues, but also providing the world with incredible creative minds. It is estimated that 40% of people with Dyslexia, also have ADHD. With this combination, they use 5 times more energy to complete mental tasks, which can lead to fatigue. Both conditions are commonly misunderstood and ADHD is often thought of as a label for “fidgety” or “naughty” boys, whilst dyslexics are often dismissed as just “poor readers” or “not very academic”.  In fact, both ADHD and Dyslexia are gender neutral conditions, affecting biological males and females equally. However, women can present very differently to the stereotypical indicators and, as such, often go undiagnosed, in comparison to their male counterparts. Historically, it is thought that societal expectations of girls and women meant that “daydreaming”, disorganisation or “i...