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www.ilkestonlife.com ILKESTON LIFE August 2021 7

I visit a place of initially the Aspire Trust. This later tents. Rough sleeping is but the
became the Canaan Trust and they
ice-berg tip of a bigger picture.
hope for people have been working in the commu- He explained “No one chooses
nity ever since.
to become homeless but losing
your job, a family or relationship
The Trust is run by a Board of Vol-
untary Trustees and has a staff of breakdown, (particularly with
in crisis Richard Parkin 12, operating out of Jordan House younger individuals age 16 to 25),
physical, mental health or financial
on Main Street, Long Eaton. The
uring June, I went to the and how they were coping with the was badly burned having been set Trust operates 24 /7, 365 days a problems and addictions (alcohol,
drugs, gambling, gaming) can lead
DCanaan Trust, the charity added challenges for their clients on fire. Although treated in the year and is open to anyone who to this. So many individuals and
may be homeless, in danger of be-
who help the homeless and vul- during the Covid pandemic and QMC, he was still homeless so the coming homeless, fleeing domestic families have been pushed over the
nerable from across Erewash. the lockdown. minister invited him into his home, abuse, in need of food. edge through the covid pandem-
to recover.
The Trust is an independent
Many of you may have heard Christian Charity, started 26 years This action led the parishioners of The Canaan Trust’s has two hos- ic – loss of employment, reduced
of the Canaan Trust but equal- ago in 1995 when a local church the minister’s church to provide tels which provide safe and secure income, mounting debt.
ly many may not. I wanted to minister who had heard of the accommodation for the homeless accommodation for 12 male home- Food Bank
know more about what they did plight of a homeless man after he of Erewash and to form what was less individuals. The hostels do The Trust provides accessible help
not simply provide safe and secure by way of Food Parcels, toiletries,
Calder’s Corner willing are we, to persevere in our Sci-fi type, spelt with a `K`, but the accommodation but are the base hygiene packs to all who may be
faith, against all the odds, solely Christian believer type spelt with in which the Trust delivers person in need. The fact that the Trust is
out of love for God? a `C`. centred holistic support and care. open 7 days a week means that
Stickability I must confess that hearing or When life proves difficult we must The ultimate objective is to enable regardless of when an individual
reading of the experiences that hold onto God with what I would each individual to address the of- or family may be in need, help is
ome years ago I was on some Christian believers endure in call `Velcro love`. The holding ten complex issues which led them always available. In an average
Sa caravan holiday at the life, I am left speechless that they power of Velcro is quite amazing; if to become homeless and help them week currently the Trust will assist
Jurassic Coast near Lyme Regis remain persistent in their faith! A you have Velcro fasteners on your to rebuild their lives so that they anywhere from 80 to 100 people.
in Dorset. wonderful example of persever- shoes or sandals, they will hook can achieve independent living During the course of the covid
One day I was out walking, high ance in the face of great person- and cling, ferociously, to any soft again in the community. The Trust pandemic the Trust has seen an
up on the rolling cliff tops. Sud- al suffering, is that of Horatio materials they come into contact runs its own education facility almost 100% increase in calls on
denly, over the brow of a hill, Spafford. He was a very successful with. Deuteronomy ch 13. vs 4 which provides an extensive range it resources for help and support.
there appeared what looked like American businessman, living in says, “You shall follow the Lord of life skills and employability This has placed enormous pressure
a young man! As a person he was Chicago in the days of the famous your God and fear Him; and you classes. The Trust, uniquely, has on the Trust’s resources as it is
barely recognizable because he evangelist D.L.Moody. Spafford lost shall keep His commandments, its own fully qualified counsellor heavily dependent on charitable
was festooned with every conceiv- all his fortune in one night, when listen to His voice, serve Him, and on the staff as so often the issues donations to enable it to undertake
able item required for camping; a number of houses he owned cling to Him”. Does that remind us faced by the clients are often its work and provide support to all
hanging from his shoulders and went up in flames during the great of Velcro love? A love that in the emotional relating to their mental who call on it for help. The Trust
swinging at his waist there were Chicago fire. face of pain, suffering, loneliness health. receives no formal funding for
bulging rucksacks, sleeping bags, After that, Horatio booked his or grief, really `hangs in there`, No one will be left the majority of its work across the
ground sheets, pots and pans, family on a ship bound for England, At one point in the New Testament unsupported community. During the lockdown
clothing, torches and umbrellas. intending to join them at a later the Apostle Paul throws out this it has not been able to organise and
Only the kitchen sink seemed to be date. That ship struck another challenge to Timothy, his young In parallel to the hostels for male undertake any of the fundraising
missing! vessel in the ocean and sank very protege, “Join with me in suffer- clients the Trust is equally open events or collections which nor-
He tottered past me and bravely quickly. His wife was saved but ing, ...like a good soldier of Jesus and available to support and assist mally help to provide essential and
pushed on up the steep slope, his their four children were lost at sea. Christ”. So, let us follow the mil- females and families who may be vital funding. Despite this hole in
ashen face peering out from all Spafford immediately took ship, itary idiom to a conclusion: Have homeless or in danger of becoming its funding, and the fact that calls
that gear as he struggled to put to be with his wife. As the ship we received our spiritual `call-up homeless. No individual or family on it have almost doubled, the
one foot in front of the other. But passed through the area where his papers`? In facing up to the trials will be left unsupported – every- Trust has remained resolute it will
there was still a long way to go dear children perished he went to and traumas of life, are we good one will be fully safeguarded at all leave no-one who seeks its help
before that `clapped-out` youth his cabin and wrote the words of soldiers of Jesus Christ? Do we times. Whatever is the cause of a unsupported.
could rest and recover. I just stood that beautiful hymn: “When peace stand ready for active duty, willing person’s potential ‘housing crisis’
and marvelled at the tenacity of like a river, attendeth my way, to serve God through our `local the Canaan Trust is here to ‘listen’ Can you help?
that young fellow. What made him When sorrows like sea billows roll; barracks` (the church building)? and to help and support. The Trust always welcome sup-
persevere? To keep going and not Whatever my lot, you have taught And what of our orders? Jesus tells I met Kevin Curtis, Project Man- port, however small, in kind or
give up? me to say, it is well, it is well with his disciples, in as many words, ager, who is well experienced by as a donation. Mr Curtis said, “I
Then it came to me – love! Skip- my soul”. “Your mission, if you choose to his 12 years at the Trust. once was asked by a lady, a senior
ping along beside him, travelling Obviously, from time to time, accept, is to make disciples of all Kevin explained that homelessness citizen, whether £1 is any use and
light, with not a care in the world, things will go wrong in our lives; at nations, baptising them in the is greater than those individuals I replied yes it goes towards a bed
was a beautiful young woman, home, at work, even at church. We name of the Father, and of the Son, that may be seen to be ‘street for the night. Since then this the
who was obviously the Baden may feel low, hard-done-by, sick, or and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching homeless’. Over 60% of homeless- lady has regularly called at Jordan
Powell, outdoor type. “Ain`t love lonely. We may be overwhelmed them to obey everything I have ness is ‘hidden’ – individuals or House with her £1 in hand saying
wonderful?” by temptation or like Horatio Spaf- commanded you and surely I am families who may be sofa surfing, she hopes it will help.”
For the Christian believer the high- ford we may experience suffering with you always, to the very end of sleeping in temporary overcrowd- If you can help in any way,
est kind of love is, of course, love in the extreme. It is then, par- the age.” ed conditions, fleeing domestic however small, this WILL make
for God and Christ our Saviour! ticularly, that we need to join the Ken Calder abuse, sleeping in cars / sheds / a difference – every tin of food
So, how tenacious are we? How `Cling-ons`. No, not the Star Trek,
can bring a smile to a face that
is hungry. Every £1 can contrib-
ute to helping a mother and her
JESUS children receive the help they
might need when fleeing domestic
TEACHES abuse. It may provide emergency
accommodation when all other
HIS options are unavailable. It may
help safeguard a young female
DISCIPLES who for a myriad of reasons may
find herself alone and out on the
ABOUT streets at short notice. It will help
provide those who are found to be
PRAYER rough sleeping. You can help make
a difference!
Look for and follow the Trust on
Artwork by Facebook - https://www.facebook.
com/longeatonhomeless/
J C Legare