Hereford Quakers Newsletter

February 2018

(Andre Gide, 1869-1951)

Events are at the Friends Meeting House, 21 King Street, Hereford HR4 9BX unless otherwise stated

9th – 11th February

Our Quaker Roots

Area Meeting Residential Weekend at Cleobury Mortimer

Tuesday 27th February

Education Meeting: What Do We Want From These Meetings in the Coming Year?

19.30 – 21.00 Do come with your ideas and suggestions. We will also hear about the Philippines from Julian Rutherford.

Dates for your Diary

Saturday 10th March

Friends Spring Social

From 17.00, Friends and families come and welcome the Spring with games and quizzes and a delicious shared tea. Please bring food to share and your plates and cutlery to wash at home. Everyone is welcome. If you’d like to help, please contact Christine Oxley or Kyrle du Heaume.

Saturday 10th March (please note – changed from Sunday 11th March) Area Meeting at The Pales

Tuesday 13th March

The Bundle

A play about the experiences of some asylum seekers. Wednesday 11th April

Millichap Peace Lecture – Scilla Elworthy

Saturday 21st April

Peace building in our Quaker community

A workshop with Rhiannon Grant from Woodbrooke 10.30- 16.30

Sanctuary Meeting

Jane Straker writes: We have been sent copies of a Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) booklet “Race and Privilege”. In the introduction, the Director, Andrew Lane writes: “I am experiencing a growing awareness of racial injustice as an aspect of many concerns brought to us by members. Forced migration has become an increasing focus of QCEA’s work with quiet diplomacy, political advocacy and practical work all taking place from Quaker House Brussels. Many other concerns, from military violence to climate change are linked to the maintenance of global inequality by those with greater privilege and all have racial injustice as one of their roots.” Do borrow a copy from the periodicals rack.

Universal Credit

Jane Straker writes: At our education meeting in January, Alan Wheatley gave us a real insight into the problems associated with being a benefit claimant. We did our best to look at how the roll out of Universal Credit, due to happen in March in Hereford, will affect people. It is very difficult to obtain information about the principles to get a general picture of what the impact will be. However from national news we know the transfer to this new benefit involves delays, typically a 5-6 week wait. This can clearly cause real hardship. We know there are some discretionary powers to make loans to help over this period. As a Meeting we can write to the Job Centre urging them to use these powers to the full. There is a need for an advocacy service, supporting claimants. Alan told us he learned it is unwise to go to interviews alone. We will continue to explore the facts and also possible co-operation with others who are concerned. Watch this space!

Hay Festival

If you are willing and able to support the Quaker presence at Hay Festival (24th May – 3rd June), please ask for the information and form.

For further information about Quakers, please contact: Clerk: Ruth Stanier – ruth.stanier@smquakers.org.uk

smquakers.org.uk www.quakers.org.uk

Please submit copy in writing for the next newsletter (March 2018) to the editor, Liz Chave – liz.chave@smquakers.org.uk by 19th February.