RESTORE on the Road – Faith, Friendship and a Van Full of Welcome

RESTORE on the road – popping up at villages and summer agricultural shows around the Eden Valley.

RESTORE is a small group of charity shops in North Cumbria, established to build community with those who do not normally attend traditional Church. “There are lots of us who struggle to find a space where we belong, so we seek to include and empower those who may struggle to find welcome elsewhere,” says chaplain & pioneer lead Rev Beth Honey.

“We currently run five shops, each offering a wide range of pre-owned goods AND seeking to create a community around it where people can feel welcomed, valued and supported. There are opportunities to discover what it means to be valued and to regain a sense of belief in ourselves and in God. These opportunities include a Community Shed (woodwork & mental health) project, and regular spaces for reflection and prayer.”

Out of these communities has sprung ‘RESTORE on the Road’ – a new project taking the signature RESTORE community spaces on the road and into rural villages and summer agricultural shows in the Eden Valley. Truly committed to bringing people together and recognising the challenges of public transport in these village communities that can so often lead to loneliness & isolation, the charity have recently purchased an electric van.

I met with Tamara Morris, RESTORE on the road volunteer & van driver. She has first-hand lived experience of rural life and the challenges it can bring for everyday life. She is in recovery from several addictions and has found a renewed faith in God during this time too. Tamara’s face lights up when asked why she volunteers with RESTORE; “If it wasn’t for recovery I would never have met Beth and got involved. I turned up one Sunday at a local church, was introduced to Beth and the RESTORE project. I love driving and finally felt like I was in a good place in life where I could offer to volunteer and give something back. The vision for the van inspired me and volunteering has really helped grow my confidence.”

Skelton Show was Tamara’s first experience of an agricultural show, “It was such an amazing day, I didn’t want to leave! There was a real sense of community and welcome. People stopped to chat and engage in our activities. They were often surprised that we were offering it free and appreciated our generosity.” RESTORE on the road partnered with the local Network Youth Church and Methodist circuit to engage show-goers of all ages, offering prayer spaces, crafts, games including ‘bat the rat’, refreshments & more. With over two hundred great chats, shared postcards, sweets & handmade knitted animals (made by members of a weekly RESTORE on the road craft group in a local village) the volunteer team truly blessed and encouraged visitors to the agricultural show.

RESTORE on the road will be appearing at other local agricultural shows over the summer, as well as popping up in various villages across the Eden valley. Partnering with the local library and adult learning, they’ve already had conversations with nearly one hundred families across three villages in the first week of the summer holidays.

For further information about RESTORE, please see: https://restorecumbria.co.uk/

To view the highlights of RESTORE’s collaboration at Skelton Show with Network Youth Church and the local Methodist Church at Cottage Wood, please visit their Facebook page.