Everyone can help make a difference
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Everyone can help make a difference | |
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A Besom is a twig broom and the motto of the charity is 'sweep away suffering'. The Besom Foundation aims to help people make a difference by providing a bridge between those who want to give time, money, skills or things and those who are in need. Everyone can be involved in some way, whatever age, and whether they feel they have a lot or a little to give. | |
| The Besom Foundation was started by a successful city solicitor on his return from working with the poor in Hong Kong. Founded in 1987 it is a UK registered charity based in London. | ||
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A few members of St Giles' and St George's Church heard the founder of Besom, James Odgers, speaking at a conference in the summer of 2000. "We were inspired by James' vision to have a network of Besom projects set up across the UK, helping to show love to our communities in very practical ways," says Anna Barham, who now helps co-ordinate Besom in Ashtead. "We spent a day at the headquarters, meeting the team there, and learnt more about setting up and running a Besom locally." In Ashtead, the needs are not as obvious as those in Hong Kong or Inner London. Consequently the team has had to adapt the Besom model to suit this area. "One of the key principles of Besom is prayer," says church pastoral assistant Sharon Seal, "we met regularly to ask God for wisdom and provision whilst building on our ideas." As the Besom has taken shape in Ashtead, the team has formed links with local social services, councillors, health visitors, charities, mental health organisations and churches nearby. The first task was to explain that the volunteers planned to do one-off practical projects, such as gardening, painting, sewing and deliveries. If this was going to work, the team needed advice from people with local experience so that they could best serve the locality. "All our projects come through a referral and therefore we can monitor safely how the projects are carried out," says Matt Barham, Anna's husband. The Besom in Ashtead was launched last May after James Odgers had spent a day teaching at some of the church services. Several groups and individuals expressed a keen interest in being involved and the organisers began to match their skills with identified local needs. |
Cynthia Ling: Sanding down and ready to paint | |||
The first project came through the medical sector and involved some of the youth group at St George's Church. The young people worked for three days last July to transform a community home in Ashtead. One of them commented that they hadn't liked gardening before but really enjoyed coming together with others to make a difference for people living in the home. More recently another adult group has gone inside the home and been painting the hallway that was in much need of re-decoration. Of course not all of the projects are large but they are still vital to those who are helped. One of the team did some sewing for an elderly blind lady. A cooker, which had been donated, was given to a project in Leatherhead that helps single parents. In addition they have shifted several trailer loads of rubbish from a garden, helping the residents to make a safer environment in which their children can play. They have also co-ordinated lifts for a lady whose husband was terminally ill and helped change a small dreary bedroom into a colourful haven. In November two more teams tackled clearing a garden and levelling it with a rotivator. "We are now going back to roll the ground and re-seed for the spring," said one of the volunteers. On the same day another group cleaned and painted a hallway, leaving it bright and clean for the family and yet another group of slightly older helpers provided much needed soup and sandwiches. "Everyone can be involved in helping Besom, it's a great way to bring people together of varying talents and age," says Matt. So far eighty-five people have helped with Besom projects and others have donated funds to buy paint, plants etc. "It makes such a difference to people to know that we will actually do what we say," he adds. "We will do it safely and efficiently and help them make a new start. We also follow up to make sure that everything is all right and that they were pleased with the end result." 
Young People: many hands make light work
If you would like to be involved in Besom or have something to give please contact us: The Besom in Ashtead on 278042 Further information: www.besom.com | |||||
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