Verso Care exists to equip you with the tools and support you need to move towards living a more independent life, empowering you to fulfil your God given potential.
Our emergency food bank FEED now partners with St Albans & District Food bank - part of the Trussell Trust network - but still runs at Verso Care every Monday morning.
FEED now offers pre-packaged boxes of food to those individuals who meet the Trussell Trust’s criteria.
** The Verso Care ‘shop’ is now devoted to our BRIDGE members **
FEED accepts applications through local and government agency referrals (e.g. Social Services) or self-referrals that meet the Trussell Trust’s criteria. Anyone is welcome to come along on a Monday 10am-12pm when the Care Centre is open to find out whether they qualify. We will need to ask a few questions about your current circumstances, so please bring some ID, some proof of your address and any other information you think is relevant.
We have a wonderful team of dedicated volunteers who work hard to make visitors feel at home. We aim to be more than just a ‘freehandout’, and strive to provide a safe environment where people are treated with dignity and respect. We are ready to welcome anyone at the Care Centre! Sit down with one of our friendly team for a chat over a coffee, some breakfast or lunch at our free Vineyard café.
Everyone is welcome to join us for some breakfast or early lunch at The Verso Café, completely free of charge - whether or not you are using Verso Care services. Our friendly team look forward to getting to know you over a cup of tea and a chat.
Guests can access several services at Verso Care that are available to offer support, whatever your circumstances.
Members from Christians Against Poverty (CAP) visit Verso Care to provide free debt advice. You may think the financial challenges you face are impossible to overcome, but there is hope.
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can assist you in accessing your benefits and make any necessary applications based on your eligibility. The CAB advisor can also provide advice on housing, legal, debt, grants, and a few other services.
Mind in Mid-Herts charity is here to provide prevention, recovery, and support services to help you regain and retain control of your mental health. Change Grow Live (CGL) an addiction support service, together with the Liver Screening Bank, can provide invaluable advice, support, and treatment plans. There is no need to feel nervous. Everybody’s experience is different and support workers will do everything they can to help.
We also run Family Play and Stay Sessions alongside KIT (find more info on page 11 for this). Should you need any family or childcare-related legal advice, Duncan Lewis run a free online clinic which we can signpost to.
Support workers from SAHWAR (Specialist Domestic Abuse) are regularly available should you need someone to speak to. Sopwell Family Centre also have representatives on hand to discuss any support you may need.
Our drop-in clinics are available to anyone – you don’t need to be a member to access these. Feel free to reach out to us if you need more information.
The FEED food bank began in 2008, starting with members of the St Albans Vineyard Church gathering food and essential items to give away to wherever it was needed in the local community. FEED grew into a much needed and popular ministry, partnering with over a hundred local churches, schools, businesses, charities and organisations, to provide thousands of people within the district who are living in poverty, with food and essential items. Other Vineyard ministries grew alongside, like KIT and REFUEL, under the Care Centre umbrella.
'VINEYARD' is a United Kingdom and European Union trademark registered to Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland. The 'VINEYARD CHURCHES' Logo, Vineyard 'grapes' device and 'VINEYARD' with 'grapes' device logo are all registered trademarks of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland. Used here under license. All rights reserved.
