Future Leaders
By Fiona Gosden – Deputy Church Inclusion Coordinator
I became a Christian through the CU at my University, so I was
excited to attend the Christian Unions’ conference this year,
facilitate a seminar on ‘Disability Inclusion in CUs’, and help
raise awareness of disability inclusion for our future leaders,
The session was well attended and the students came with
vision, enthusiasm and some challenging questions. It was
interesting to hear different ideas from each particular subject
area. I enjoyed sharing ideas with a Speech and Language
student on welcoming students with speech impairments to
their CU family.
I feel strongly that every student should have the opportunity
to hear the Gospel, serve and belong at their Christian Union.
As I was preparing to share my testimony, I reflected on the
access to my CU. We met in a lecture theatre that was not
accessible for wheelchair users, so I was only able to sit on the
back row. I was able to go to the meeting, but if someone
came who needed an interpreter or knew they had to sit at the
back, would they want to return? Would they feel like they
belonged there?
We chatted about how important it is to examine these
uncomfortable realities, share ideas and take responsibility to
makes changes so that CUs will be able to welcome everyone.
One of the Roofbreaker sign-ups from UCCF is a medical
student with a particular interest in learning BSL who was
motivated by the seminar to start a BSL course alongside her
studying (if a medical student can fit that into their diary I think
there is a lot of potential for more student interpreters!). This
would be just one fantastic way to serve the CU and welcome
more students. We also had a CU leader sign-up who wants to
develop her CU social media style to be accessible to every
student.
It would be great if you could join us in praying for the
students that came to the seminar, that they will have the
confidence to take back what they have learnt and share with
their CU leadership teams; that students will see lives of
disabled people impacted by even the small changes they
make to their meetings; and that stories will be shared with
other CUs to motivate them too.
A Birthday Gift
A big thank you to everyone who’s organised birthday
donations to TTR recently. If you’re a Facebook user, you can
set up a birthday fundraiser in lieu of (or in addition to!)
presents and help TTR’s life-changing work. Just visit Facebook
and use the ‘Create’ button to set up a fundraiser, nominating
Through the Roof as your suggested charity. Thank you for
your support (and have a very Happy Birthday!)
Help others celebrate by gifting your birthday
Thank You!
Margaret Bale would like to thank everyone who contributed to her farewell gifts
on her retirement. She was especially touched by all the kind messages she
received and would like to wish everyone God’s blessing in the future.
Thank you from (and to) Margaret
www.throughtheroof.org