International trips in 2025
Wheels for the World trips
Kolkata , India : 19th – 29th March 2025 Partner : Sathyam Ministries
Jinja , Uganda : 16th – 26th July 2025 Partner : Petra Foundation Christ Ministries
Contact : Kathy @ throughtheroof . org to apply or for information .
International Roofbreaker trips
Lagos , Nigeria : 19th February – 1st March 2025 Partner : Tarela Aghanti of OIF Nigeria
Kayonza , Rwanda : 16th – 26th April 2025 Partner : FH Rwanda
Entertaining waiting children with puppets in Rwanda .
Contact : Shaun @ throughtheroof . org to apply or for information .
Luke 5 Award for Rich Tea Community
The Rich Tea Community , a group for adults with additional needs meets in the Countess Free Church in Ely , Cambridgeshire . The community and its Cofounder Cate Allen received our Luke 5 Award for disability inclusion .
Beyond the barriers
Access to church isn ’ t always easy for adults with additional needs . Many are dependent on others to bring them to church .
Church services may also create barriers to understanding and a feeling of belonging – such as complex and figurative language , few visuals to help with processing information , and sensory extremes from silence to loud music ... All these factors can be difficult .
Friendship , faith and fun for all
Rich Tea Community ( RTC ) was founded to overcome these barriers and to create accessible church in Ely . RTC gathers monthly on a Sunday , at Countess Free Church for friendship , faith and fun for adults with additional needs – plus volunteers , family , friends and carers . An engaging short talk is accompanied by sensory objects and visual aids .
The award was presented at RTC alongside parachute games , table tennis , craft and music .
Cate Allen ( left ) with co-founder Margaret Human ( right ) and RTC member Sarah Best ( centre ).
Co-founder , Margaret Human , gave the certificate to Cate Allen and flowers were presented by Sarah Best , an RTC member and nominator for a previous Luke 5 Award .
Margaret , who has additional needs herself , made the award nomination because she really enjoys RTC . She said :
“ At Rich Tea , I lead prayers and do readings . I feel part of the church and like I really belong and am valued . We started the group to share about Jesus with people with learning disabilities and let them know God loves them and church is a welcoming place for them .”
Cate Allen , a Roofbreaker and Baptist Minister awaiting ordination , said : “ The need is huge for reaching people who are often left out of church and society , yet have amazing gifts to offer . We have been running Rich Tea sessions for people in local care homes , as well as providing small-group faith-building sessions for current RTC members .”
Luke 5 Award nominations are welcomed from disabled people wanting to celebrate the positive experience they have had in a church or Christian ministry .
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