Hazel had to move out of her flat because damp and mould were making it uninhabitable, especially with her disability and health conditions. She was housed in a local hotel week by week. Church family were trying to help her liaise with the council but it was proving difficult and extremely stressful. When someone from Grace Advocacy got involved, the council responded quickly and it became much easier to navigate communication on her behalf. Her hotel stays were extended and she was then given a temporary flat that was much more suitable.

‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

    for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up and judge fairly;

    defend the rights of the poor and needy.’

(Prov 31:8–9)

Grace Advocacy is a Christian charity that partners with churches to provide a free advocacy service for people struggling with problems like housing, benefits, social care and disability.

Speaking up on behalf of others – advocacy – is something many of us often do as we care for one another (like making sure family and friends have access to healthcare or education). In our church family at The Bridge, we are used to advocating for one another around social problems. But often it can be hard to know how to tackle complicated issues and make significant progress. At the same time we know many people in our wider community are facing hardship because they don’t have access to the right support, or are unable to navigate bureaucracies.

A few years ago, we were introduced to Grace Advocacy in action at a church in north London. The Bridge leadership began prayerfully considering if we could partner with the charity as a way of loving our hard-pressed neighbours and bringing more opportunities to share the gospel. Over several years God answered those prayers. In September 2024 we were able to trial a part-time Team Leader for Grace Advocacy Battersea (funded from our Deacons Fund for poverty relief). Training has been provided by the charity and there is ongoing support – access to specialised resources and advice. On a Monday morning you will now find Sarah in action at our weekly community breakfast as she meets with those seeking support.

A key aspect of Grace Advocacy is having a team of volunteer advocates who can share the load – building relationships, gathering information, researching, writing emails, making calls etc. A volunteer has recently joined us from another local church and is able to give a few hours every fortnight to support the team.

Hazel is one of multiple people who have been supported in the first few months of getting going. The partnership has also brought new people into our church who have been exposed to gospel community and conversations. Hanna, a local Muslim lady, came to get help filling out a form and was welcomed into our community breakfast. Liz came to see us to get help with a housing issue; she has been to church multiple times since and is getting to know us.

Grace Advocacy is not just a service we provide. It’s focused on relationships and integration into church family life. We are clear on this from the outset, inviting newcomers into the church community, offering to pray with them and taking opportunities to explain the gospel. We are praying that God will continue to grow this work, and that through it, more people in Battersea would ultimately know Jesus as their perfect advocate.

We are particularly praying for more volunteers – we’d love to hear if you might be interested, or if you’d like to know more about Grace Advocacy.

You can find out more about this great outreach by visiting Here or by emailing Rachel Roach