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Creating Safe Community

By Nigel Copsey.

The Christian church is central to any community. It is one of the few places which is an ‘open door’ to those living within the area. Most Christian communities have also been given the stewardship of a set of buildings which can be used to serve the community. Our Father, through Isaiah (see chapter 58), provides us with a true vision as to how we should respond to the needs of those in our community. So often we only provide support to those who attend our churches. I believe that the Lord places a demand upon us to serve those who are need.

In our society a very high percentage of our local community will be trying to cope with emotional distress, mental health problems or mental illness. For more information on these issues, the very best resource is the MIND website which always provides all the basic information which it is necessary to be aware of. The organisation also publishes a comprehensive range of booklets all related to this area which are a perfect resource for any church.

Any Christian community has the opportunity to establish a ‘drop in’ which could take the form of a lunch club, coffee time, community evening or a week long café. The important point to make is that any such activity should be open to anyone. It is not helpful to name such an activity as being for those with mental illness! All this achieves is an increase in stigma. The ideal is to open such a ‘drop in’ to the whole community for anyone who is alone and needs friendhip.

There are a number of important principles in establishing such a place.

1. The core aim is to create a place of safety where anyone feels free to join and to be themselves no matter what they are feeling. In order for such a community to ‘feel’ safe, there needs to be a group of committed volunteers who are present at every session to create that deep sense of safety. The volunteers will be there to welcome all who attend. They will be available to listen and be alongside everyone. If someone needs to sit alone, then there would be safety for that also.
2. The role of the coordinator and volunteers is crucial to the success of such a project. They need to be a team who are motivated by a desire to care and love in the traditional understanding of ‘compassion’. Training is a very important requirement for volunteers as this enables them to feel recognised. There is a danger in our modern society to see volunteering as a form of second class helping with the real helping only given by the professionals. Nothing could be further from the truth: the type of community which I am proposing provides something which no professional can possibly provide.

1. Having established the infrastructure for a motivated team of volunteers with a co-ordinator capable of inspiring the team, there also needs to be a working partnership with the local community mental health team and/or the local social or community workers. The reason for this is that such groups are able to provide essential training, but are also able to provide the team with a safety net if there should arise any situation which needs extra support. Establishing a close working relationship with even one such person could prove to be indispensable. The team of volunteers need regular training and support. This would be the responsibility of the coordinator to organise such activities. There is currently such a wide range of statutory requirements that need all to be aware of. For example, all volunteers would need to be CRB checked.

Once the infrastructure is in place then it is possible to create a safe and healing environment.  It is important to never underestimate the power of creating meaningful relationships. Lonely people are longing to be loved. There will be times when practical matters will come to the centre of the support. Many churches have a fund of money and resources to help those who are in crisis. It is no good listening with love if the person leaves our community and does not have enough money for food! I have known many who have been helped by the provision of washing facilities when they cannot afford the cost of a visit to the laundrette.

In conclusion, I would say that Christian churches have a central role in any community in creating and providing a ‘safe place’ for those who need support: a place to be themselves and belong. A ‘sanctuary’ in the best sense of that word. Creating such a community is demanding and needs a group of highly motivated people. Such people need to show the love of God rather than see such a community as an opportunity to ‘preach’! Who we are is more important than what we say!

I know of a number of   such communities . If you would like some support, feel free to contact me on Nigel.Copsey@ELCMHT.NHS.UK