This November, our ‘cluster’ met to prepare Christmas hampers for the Besom.  Rob Ainsworth set up the Besom to act as a bridge between people in the church who want to help others, and those who are genuinely in need.  You can’t very well go knocking on people’s doors asking if you can clear their garden or paint their bedroom, but there are plenty of people in our community who can’t do those things themselves and who are struggling to get by.
I hadn’t thought about the night much in advance, but I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it!  We  chipped in a couple of pounds each, split into groups, prayed for the families we wanted to prepare hampers for, and headed to tescos.  After a bit of a fight with the lads over whether kids toys or gravy granules were more important, we emerged at the end of the night with beautiful boxes full of lots of Christmas treats.
As I’m a student social worker, I’ve had placements at two organisations that make referrals to the Besom.  I get to see many sides to how the work plays out: the families in need, the professionals involved, and the people who give.
I can honestly say that giving to the besom is immensely rewarding and often meets needs that are difficult to meet in any other way.  I’d really encourage you to get involved!
Rachel is a student at G2 and is a part of Josh & Ellie’s Cluster.