In response to the rollout of Universal Credit in the Scottish Highland town of Nairn, the local United Reformed Church sought a creative way of dealing with some of its well-documented negative effects, especially amongst the poorest in society and those who work to support them.
The serious concerns surrounding Universal Credit are well-known, as shown by the Joint Public Issues Team. It’s no wonder that Nairn URC members were concerned at the news of its introduction in their town. They knew something had to be done.
‘We were never going to resolve all of the issues,’ explains church secretary James Taylor, ‘but we wanted to alleviate some of the pain it causes.’ In conversation with the local Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) manager, Nairn’s Christian outreach voucher scheme came to existence.
Jim explains that, ‘the scheme is very simple. We give vouchers, each with a nominal value of £5, to CAB staff. The staff are then free, entirely at their own discretion and anonymously, to issue one or more vouchers to clients they meet who are desperate to feed themselves and their children.’
‘The town has a foodbank, but this service is not available every day. The vouchers, by prior agreement, are redeemable at a local fish and chip shop, a baker’s shop with a café and a charity shop with clothing for sale.’
‘The CAB staff report that the impact which such a small gesture can have on a recipient is remarkable. The realisation that someone cares can result in tears of gratitude. What was unexpected was the uplifting feeling experienced by the CAB staff and volunteers themselves. They feel empowered to take action on concerns which they would otherwise be unable to do anything about.’
‘Such has been the positive reaction to the scheme that we have extended our Christian outreach by giving ten Christmas and Easter cards to CAB staff, each containing a £20 note with an appropriate message. As with the vouchers, CAB staff then distribute the cards at their discretion. When you and your family are surviving on about £70 per week, £20 can seem like a fortune.’
Simon Peters, Walking the Way Project Manager, praised Nairn URC’s efforts. ‘Walking the Way of Jesus means thinking about practical ways of loving and empowering people in creative ways. By being aware of the suffering caused by Universal Credit and acting alongside workers and volunteers in the community to make a difference, Nairn URC is living the life of Jesus today.’
Could your church do this, or something similar? Contact us to learn how you can get involved in dealing with social justice issues affecting people in your local area.
