The Manna
The Manna is St Stephen's project to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people in our area. We do this by providing a strong community for them to belong to, and by offering practical, emotional and spiritual support.
The project has been running for 17 years now, led by a team of three part-time staff and more than 20 volunteers, most of whom are church members. The Manna has become a home to people struggling with addiction, loneliness, depression and poor health. We seek to strike the difficult balance between accepting clients as they are and challenging them to change.Three hundred people attended drop-in sessions last year - thankfully not all at the same time! We run small groups based on specific activities to build community and creativity. We also provide one-to-one mentoring and other practical support.
Manna users can often be seen in or around the church buildings throughout the week, as well as during services. Some longstanding church members came through the Manna.