By Andy Dalton
An Armley based charity was thrilled to receive a visit from Leeds West and Pudsey MP Rachel Reeves this week.
Staff and volunteers at the Leeds City Mission (LCM) Compassion Centre in Mistress Lane welcomed Ms Reeves on a recent visit to their premises.
The LCM team had invited her to visit so that she could discover more about their work with marginalised people in West Leeds.
LCM Coordinator Andrew Dalton was able to explain how its projects were helping local people in need and those struggling with life.
These included their Pantry Project foodbank and how it is meeting the rising demand from hungry families; their shower facility for rough sleepers; its charity shop providing a range of items to enable low-income residents stretch their limited budgets; work experience for people seeking to reconnect with mainstream living after experiencing difficulties in life; clothing and household items grants for destitute individuals.
Ms Reeves also heard about other projects organised by the City Mission.
MP Rachel Reeves with some of the staff and volunteers outside the City Mission Compassion Centre.
She was introduced to a staff member who has spent the last two decades in prison.
Claire Newton works as the LCM prison chaplain in HMP Leeds and Wetherby Young Offenders Institute. Ms Newton was able to relate to her some of the pressing issues faced by inmates serving sentences and the importance of support for people after release.
Staff were able to share the significance of their Christmas Kids Present Project. This annual event ensures that scores of children from deprived backgrounds wake up on Christmas morning with a guaranteed present to celebrate the season.
Ms Reeves had a brief tour of the Compassion Centre premises where she was shown the painted mural on the side wall of the Compassion Centre. On a background of painted trees are a list of key words taken directly from the Bible such as love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, goodness.
Mr Dalton explained that these reflected the values and purpose of all the projects undertaken by Leeds City Mission.
The inspiration for all their work was inspired by their personal Christian faith and they expressed this in word and deed in many ways.
The mural had been painted by a volunteer enabling the 100-year-old red brick building to gracefully blend with the surrounding grassed area, vegetation and trees.
Ms Reeves commended the work of the City Mission and its volunteers. She said: “It was wonderful to meet with the Leeds City Mission team in Armley and hear about the fantastic work they do supporting people in need across the city. A huge thank you to Andrew and all the volunteers for their warm welcome and for everything they do in our communities.”
Chairman of the Management Committee Paul Crossley said that Leeds City Mission were grateful to Ms Reeves for her visit.
He said that her dual role as constituency MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer meant that she carried an enormous amount of responsibility and had an incredible amount of pressure on her time. Nevertheless, she had found a window in her busy schedule to visit their Compassion Centre and encourage staff and volunteers in their vital work. This had been very much appreciated.
MP Rachel Reeves being presented with a bunch of flowers by Michelle Pawson – one of the LCM staff.
She was presented with a book “The Houses of Parliament – Cradle of Democracy” as a memento of her visit. LCM staff thought that the richly illustrated book would be of great interest as it provides the history and background to the palace of Westminster where she spends so much of her time.
Leeds City Mission is one of the oldest charities in the city and has been in continuous existence since 1837. Its Compassion Centre is opposite Armley Library. It is a multi-church agency and seeks to meet the physical, social and spiritual needs of Leeds residents.
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