Church Related Community Worker (CRCW) Jo Patterson reflects on the past 18 months and shares her insights on the importance of food and how it has brought communities together in Peckham.

We are in a time of dramatic change where we are supposed to let all the restrictions of the past 18 months go and enjoy our “freedom”. While this is easily said, this change of liberty doesn’t mean freedom for everyone and many are nervous and anxious.

Does this mean we have had our time for Coronavirus? Sadly not.

Delighted by the response of members of the United Reformed Church (URC) to its “Give Thanks for Your Vaccine” appeal, Commitment for Life provides an update on how the money is being spent.

Since the appeal launched in February, more than £30,000 has been raised through generous donations and distributed to Christian Aid which has been on the ground helping poor and vulnerable communities across the world.

On the United Nation’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, marked on 30 July, the Joint Public Issues Team launches a new campaign to shine a light on forced labour in the textile industry in Xinjiang province, China.

According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, around 80 brands are “potentially directly or indirectly benefiting” from the forced labour of Uyghur muslins in Xinjiang. This includes Adidas, Nike and Gap.