Scottish Christian charities unite to respond to coronavirus
The leaders of 12 Christian charities are today alerting the Scottish Government to the unique role they and the local church are playing during the coronavirus outbreak.
In a letter to the First Minister, charities describe how in the weeks and months ahead, many more people will feel the need to call upon their organisations and the churches they resource. They also emphasised their willingness to work in collaboration with the Government to help those most in need.
Fred Drummond, director of Evangelical Alliance Scotland, said, "Our local churches are made up of compassionate and motivated people, who love their towns, cities and villages. They have already been making a huge difference in their communities to bring practical support and hope since the crisis started."
Working with the local church in communities across Scotland, the charities, which include Christians Against Poverty, Glasgow City Mission and Bethany Christian Trust, wrote in their letter that they "stand ready to work strategically in partnership with the Scottish Government and agencies at every level to ensure the best possible national response at this time".
Emma Jackson, national director of Christians Against Poverty Scotland, commented, "The work that all of our charities do is vital and our reach across Scotland is significant. Together we are helping thousands of people, regardless of their background, at every level. We are feeding and supporting vulnerable children and adults, helping with personal finance and finding work, providing hope and social connection and, most of all, linking up those who want to give or volunteer with those in need."
The charities end the letter by reinforcing their commitment and need for government support: "We are committed for the long haul, but with this changing landscape we will also need the Scottish Government to stand with us in the coming months – not for our own sake but for those we serve – to ensure this valuable work can meet the growing needs of the coming months and years."
Media enquiries
Kieran TurnerEmail: k.turner@eauk.org
Notes to editors
For further comment please contact;
Kieran Turner, Evangelical Alliance 07825 214875
A number of spokespeople will be available for interview and local projects can be signposted across the country including Aberdeen, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness among others.
About the Evangelical Alliance
We are the Evangelical Alliance. We join together hundreds of organisations, thousands of churches and tens of thousands of individuals for the sake of the gospel. Representing our members since 1846, the Evangelical Alliance is the oldest and largest evangelical unity movement in the UK.
We love Jesus and we want everyone in the UK to be given an opportunity to know Him.
We love His church, and we will do all we can to unite evangelicals, building confidence in the gospel and speaking as a trusted voice into society to see it changed for Him.
Working across the UK, with offices in London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast, our members come together from across denominations, locations, age groups and ethnicities, all sharing a passion to know Jesus and make Him known.
