Mothers' Union
As a Christian mission charity the Mothers’ Union seeks to support families of all kinds. Wherever we work in the world the need to support families is now greater than ever. In over 80 countries, 4 million members worldwide share a vision – to bring about a world where God’s love is shown through loving, respectful and flourishing relationships.
Our objectives are:
â— Promoting and supporting marriage
â— Encouraging parents in their role to develop the faith of their children
â— Maintaining a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service
â— Promoting conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children
â— Helping those whose family life has met with adversity
The Mothers’ Union launched the Bye Buy Childhood campaign against the commercialisation and sexualisation of children in September 2010. This led to Reg Bailey, the Chief Executive of the Mothers’ Union, being appointed by the Government to lead an independent review. The recommendations in the Bailey Review - ‘Letting Children be Children’ – published in June 2011 were accepted and have been widely implemented. Significant steps taken include:
â— The introduction of free parental controls and filters by four internet providers
â— The removal of exemptions to the Video Recordings Act so videos are now age-rated if likely to be unsuitable for children
â— Filtering of wi-fi internet in public places
â— The creation of a new website, ParentPort
The Mothers’ Union branch at St. James’ Church currently meets once a month on Tuesday afternoons. We usually share communion then follow a varied programme. We sometimes have a speaker or go on an outing and we enjoy an annual Christmas lunch and a restaurant meal in the summer months.
More importantly we raise funds for various Mothers’ Union projects, supporting families in this country and abroad.
Projects such as:
Parenting groups
Away from It All – to enable families under stress to have a holiday
Prison work – to help families whose lives are affected by imprisonment. The MU in Southwark has a link with Belmarsh prison and provides Christmas presents for visiting children
Domestic violence - Mothers’ Union in Southwark has formed a link with Croydon’s Women’s Aid, to help women and children who are victims of domestic violence
Evelina Children’s Hospital at St. Thomas’, London – the MU in Southwark supports parents in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit
Literacy and Financial Education Programmes – run in Malawi, Sudan and Burundi
We welcome new members.
For more information on our branch, please email stjamesriddlesdownmu@outlook.com or ring Lesley Frankham on 020 8660 9081
For more information on the Mothers’ Union visit www.themothersunion.org