Lincolnshire welcomes refugees

The Compassionate Lincoln campaign started in the summer of 2015 when the press coverage of the refugee crisis was at its height. We believe that there is enough love to go around - if we all play our part. It isn’t about ‘us’ or ‘them’, it’s about humanity and supporting those who are struggling in their time of need. Using our voices to speak up. Using our collective resources to make change. The press coverage might have lost energy but the refugee crisis is real and is still absolutely devastating.

To date, Lincolnshire County Council has refused to respond to the Government ‘invitation’ to Local Authorities to offer their support.

We know that there are massive social issues affecting our community in Lincoln and this campaign is absolutely about developing effective, community-led responses to these - we’re all working on it together through the Big Soup, the Warm Rail, the collections, raising awareness of local charities, showing our support for each other. However, we think our community cares enough to be able to support refugees too. If you had lost everything, had to run for your life, had to leave everything behind for the hope that somewhere new might be safe, wouldn’t you hope that someone would see you for you and help you to find your way?

Please sign this petition to show your support for Lincolnshire offering its help to refugees. It’s right to care, it’s important to reach out - that’s what makes a community. Let’s play our part.

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/lincolnshire-shows-support-to-refugees?source=facebook-share-button&time=1530130220

What a wonderful Big Soup

What an incredible buzz, everyone seeking out ways to support each other's project.

There has to be a winner, but thanks to The Lincolnite's sponsorship none of the pitches went away empty handed.

Compassionate Minster was started by school students who gathered round them willing teachers and parents and are determined to make a difference. They made a fabulous collection for one of CompassionateLincoln's collections for refugees. Now they have a project to invite lonely older people to afternoon teas. They have done their research: many of us can expect to live alone once we approach our mid seventies, but alone need not be lonely.

Let Them Eat Cake began an one man's response to the plight of homeless people in Lincoln. Each Saturday night of the winter groups of volunteers provide food and warmth. When the snow came, they went our every night. Next winter they now hope to provide good from the Mint Lane Cafe.

A Perfect Day is a music festival planned for 11 August for people with disabilities and their carers. The organisers have received a good deal of support from the team at Lincoln Drill Hall which runs the Butterfly Club. You can find out more and buy tickets from the Lincoln Drill Hall box office.

We received feedback from last time's winner Rhubarb Theatre on their work in care homes and also from Clean Lincoln Everywhere and Now.

Thanks to Lincoln Drill Hall for the venue and Cafe Shanti for the soup

Find out more about CompassionateLincoln

We made a video setting out the Charter for Compassion and this tells something of our beliefs and aspirations.

More recently we asked people what they thought about the Big Soup

The Big Soup 16 June 2018

You are invited to join us for lunch (soup of course!) and hear pitches from local people with big ideas for making a difference in our community.

The formula is simple: 5 x 5 x 5 - Buy a £5 ticket - Hear pitches of no-more than 5 minutes in length - Dig a bit deeper with 5 questions from the audience. Once all the pitches have been made, lunch will be served and audience members can discuss the ideas they’ve heard - which one will make the most impact? which is the most exciting? which do we want to support the most? Then we vote! The winning pitch will receive all the ticket money from today’s event to turn their idea into a reality.

“When local people invest in the enthusiasm of others, making a positive difference becomes so much easier.” - Steve Kemp, CompassionateLincoln.

The Big Soup is organised by CompassionateLincoln - a campaign to encourage community-led action in response to the challenges our city faces: https://vimeo.com/171755688 

If you have a project for which you would like support please
e-mail compassionatelincoln@gmail.com

The Big Soup will be held at Lincoln Drill Hall from 11.30 until 13.00 on 16 June. If you would like to come along and vote, follow this link to tickets.

We are hugely grateful to Cafe Shanti for providing the soup, to Lincoln Drill Hall for providing the venue and for The Lincolnite for sponsoring the event.