Make economic recovery ‘green and just’ PM urged

THE former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Williams, the Bishop of Oxford, Dr Steven Croft, and the Area Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Olivia Graham, are among the more than 100 “prominent parents” to have signed a letter to the Prime Minister, calling for a low-carbon revival of Britain’s economy in the wake of the pandemic. The letter describes the consequences of not doing so as “catastrophic” for children. It was published on Sunday by the groups Mothers Rise Up and Parents for the Future.

Bishop of Bristol takes up safeguarding post

THE Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, was this week appointed additional deputy lead bishop for safeguarding. She will work closely with the lead safeguarding bishop, the Area Bishop of Huddersfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs, and the other deputy lead bishop, the Suffragan Bishop of Southampton, the Rt Revd Debbie Sellin. She described safeguarding as “an urgent concern”. She said that she was “aware of how much the Church still has to learn, and will do my best to contribute to debates and to enable fellow diocesan bishops to participate fully and be supported in their roles.”

Grant given to expand to Covid Cash Course

THE Allchurches Trust has made a £100,000 grant to expand the Just Finance Foundation’s Covid Cash Course. The aim is for 10,000 people in churches and community organisations to receive training to help those whose finances have been seriously affected by the pandemic, be it through low pay, insecure work, unemployment, or high personal debt. So far, 300 people have completed the training. Of these, 96 per cent said that it gave them a “clear plan” for the next few months, and 74 per cent reported that it reduced their sense of stress around money and finances.

Get knitting — appeal for Albanian children

THE former director of Friends of Albania, Primrose Peacock, is calling for people to knit hats for children in Albania who were left homeless by the 2019 earthquake in Durres. The hope is that the hats will be distributed in time for Christmas. The project follows a similar scheme organised in the 1990s. Miss Peacock has asked for hats to be the pull-on type, bonnet, beret, or balaclava, to fit children aged two to 12. The request is for no pom-poms, bobbles, and tassels, to save weight. Further details are available from Miss Peacock at 4 Crescent Rise, Truro TR1 3ER, or email primrose2.peacock@gmail.com.