Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care at The City Church is outworked in different ways. We have a Pastoral Team working to support vulnerable adults and others in our membership when they have needs, they train regularly to extend their pastoral tool kit and faithfully pray when needs arise. The Pastoral Team are available to offer support, guidance and prayer when significant pastoral needs arise or during a time of crisis. We also recognise the importance of sensitivity, discretion and a need to keep people safe, by working closely with the Safeguarding Team.
There are a number of courses that we run to support people walking through different seasons of life. You can sign up for these using the links below.
We are also able to signpost to different services that we believe will provide some expert support, advice and guidance in different pastoral situations. These can be found at the bottom of this page.
Courses we run
Mental Wellbeing Group
We run a support group for those who are overwhelmed in a peer mentoring style setting
The Bereavement Journey
The Bereavement Journey is for anyone who has been bereaved at any time and in any way.
The Parenting Children Course
Practical wisdom for parenting children aged 0–10
Keys to Freedom
An 8-week discipleship journey to help you grow in emotional, spiritual, and relational wholeness.
The Pastoral Team
Signposts to other services
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All Saints Church Food Larder:
Open every Friday 10:00 to 12 noonMilitary Road, Canterbury CT1 1PACanterbury Food Bank:
www.canterburyfoodbank.org 01227 936 450Canterbury Baptist Church - The Hub Cafe:
Community Fridge and £2 parcels - every Thursday and Friday 11:00 to 14:00
Next to the church building, St George’s Place, Canterbury CT1 1UTCanterbury Umbrella Community Centre:
Supporting those who need food and warmth. Food Pantry open Wednesdays at 10:00
St Peter’s Place, Canterbury CT1 2DB
www.canterburyumbrella.org 01227 767 660The City Church in Chartham Food Pantry:
Food parcels available through self-referral for collection at Under1Roof, Chartham CT4 7HB, on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 to 11:15 (delivery on request)
www.facebook.com/thecitychurchinchartham/
or
www.thecitychurch.org.uk/chartham-pantryConnecting Canterbury:
For help with debt, housing, benefits, finances, budgeting and mental health
Email: connectingcanterbury@gmail.comHerne Bay Food Larder and Community Hub:
Drop in for food, community support and mental health supportSt Andrew’s Christchurch, William Street, Herne Bay CT6 5NR
01227 749 762
Tuesday and Friday morningsSt Vincent de Paul Society (SVP):
Responding to direct requests for help from individuals and families
Canterbury - 07902 855 622
Whitstable - 07842 550 998
Herne Bay - 07869 509 804Salvation Army:
Food support and warm spaces
Canterbury - 01227 472 781 Whitehorse Lane, Canterbury CT1 2RU
Herne Bay - 01227 742 719
33 Richmond Street, Herne Bay CT6 5RHSSAFA (The Armed Forces Charity):
Practical, financial and emotional support for service personnel, veterans and families
www.ssafa.org.uk
0800 731 4880 (Freephone) -
Breakeven Gambling Support and Counselling:
www.breakeven.org.uk
Head Office: 01273 833 722Christians Against Poverty (CAP):
Free debt advice at home - Whitstable, Canterbury, Herne Bay and Birchington
0800 328 0006 (Freephone)DWP Debt Management Customer Service:
Help with repaying Universal Credit advance payment
Open 08:00 to 18:30 Monday to Friday
0800 916 0647Step Change:
Debt advice, debt management plans; debt relief orders; benefits and budgeting
www.stepchange.org
0800 138 1111Turn 2 Us:
www.turn2us.org.uk
0808 802 2000
09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday -
Citizens Advice:
Canterbury 01227 740 647
3 Westgate Hall Road, Canterbury, CT1 2BT
Herne Bay and Whitstable 01227 740 647
185/187 High Street, Herne Bay CT6 5AF
Text: 07742 566 478 for a call back
National Advice Line 0808 278 7846 (Freephone) 10:00 to 16:00 Monday to Friday
Webchat: www.citizensadvice.org.ukCitizens Advice Help to Claim (Universal Credit):
0800 144 8444
Textphone: 18001Kent Law Clinic:
Free legal advice including asylum and immigration, employment, family, housing and welfare benefit issuesUniversity of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NZ
New contact: www.kent.ac.uk/law/kent-law-clinic Email kentlawclinic@kent.ac.uk Voicemail 01227 823 311 for a callbackNo Recourse to Public Funds Network:
www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk -
Better Housing, Better Health:
Supporting residents to keep warm, stay safe and live well in their homes
www.bhbh.org.uk
0800 107 0044Canterbury Housing Advice Centre (CHAC):
Free and confidential housing advice. Outreach in Whitstable and Herne Bay by appointment. www.chac.co.uk
01227 762 605Catching Lives:
Supports people sleeping rough, homeless and insecurely housed. Open Centre, Station Road East, Canterbury CT1 2RB
Open 09:00 to 14:00 every day
www.catchinglives.org
01227 464 904Porchlight:
Supported Housing, mental health, community supoort, ‘Be You’ LGBTQ+ support project www.porchlight.org.uk
Email helpline@porchlight.org.uk
0800 567 7699 (Freephone) -
Children’s Centres:
Parenting and support groups
www.poets-corner.org.ukKCC Youth Hub Directory www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/kent-family-hub/your-local-family-hub
Members of Parliament:
Canterbury and Whitstable - Rosie Duffield MPEmail rosie.duffield.mp@parliament.ukHerne Bay - Sir Roger Gale MP
Email - galerj@parliament.uk
01843 848 588 -
Cruse:
Bereavement support and counselling
Webchat: www.cruse.org.uk
0808 808 1677Forward:
Community drug and alcohol services
Email support@forwarduk.org.uk
0208 960 4000
ext 1 / 07834 168 141Hub of Hope:
A comprehensive national online register of local community mental health services.
www.hubofhope.co.ukLive Well Kent:
Mental and physical health support
www.livewellkent.org.ukMIND:
Information and support
www.mind.org.uk
0300 123 3393NHS Kent and Medway Mental Health Crisis Line:
Single point of access team for worries about mental health
www.kmpt.nhs.uk
0800 783 9111NSPCC Childline:
Under 19s can confidentially call, chat online or email about any problem big or small.
0800 11 11
Opening times 24/7Release the Pressure:
Helpline for people with mental health problems, their carers, families and friends
0800 107 0160Restored:
A handbook for survivors of domestic abuse and guidance with faith questions
https://www.restored-uk.org/survivors/i-need-help/survivors-handbook/order-a-survivors-handbook/Rising Sun:
Domestic abuse support and advice.
Email admin@risingsunkent.com
www.risingsunkent.com
01227 452 852Samaritans:
Emotional support and information
Email jo@samaritans.org (Email is not an emergency service)
116 123
Opening times: 24/7Young Minds:
Advice and helplines for young people, parents/carers and professionals
www.youngminds.org.uk
Parents/carers line: 0808 802 5544 -
The City Church Safeguarding Policy. www.thecitychurch.org.uk/safeguarding
Complete a Cause for Concern Form if worried about someone’s welfare. -
Thirtyone:eight
03030 03 11 11Children’s Social Services:
Daytime: 03000 41 11 11
Out of hours: 03000 41 91 91Adult Social Services:
Daytime: 03000 41 61 61
Out of hours: 03000 41 91 91Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
03000 41 08 88Police:
(non-emergency) 101
(emergency) 999Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership:
03000 42 11 26 -
ACTS 435:
Grants available for specific items of need.
www.thecitychurch.org.uk/acts-435The Alpha Course:
Opportunity to explore the Christian faith
www.thecitychurch.org.uk/alphaThe Bereavement Journey:
A 6/7 week course with others who have been bereaved. Peer support.
www.thecitychurch.org.uk/the-bereavement-journeyCoffee and Chaos:
A fun, welcoming baby and toddler group. Open term time on Wednesdays 10:00 to 11:30
The Scout Hut, 37a Heaton Road, Canterbury CT1 3QA
www.thecitychurch.org.uk/coffee-and-chaosCoffee Mornings:
A monthly opportunity for a warm welcome and chat. See church calendar for opening times.
www.thecitychurch.org.uk/coffee-morningsKintsugi Hope Wellbeing Groups:
An 8/9 week course to look at ways to manage our mental wellbeing.
www.thecitychurch.org.uk/kintsugi-hope-groupMake Lunch:
Free nutritious meals for families with school aged children to enjoy games and crafts during school holiday times.
www.thecitychurch.org.uk/make-lunchThe Marriage Course:
A six week course to enrich marriages.
www.thecitychurch.org.uk/marriagecourse