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ElderLink Manager, Catherine Tresham, talked to their worker, Micah Deegan. He and fellow church members (pictured right) regularly visit Kerria Court along with ElderLink staff. Micah said:

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'My job is to help the church think through evangelism and outreach, and to support them in developing projects, programmes, events and personal connections. I see my role as building bridges from the church into the community and from the community into the church. We have a youth ministry, a prison ministry and connections with local schools as well as our work in Kerria Court.

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I first became involved with BCM as a student when I volunteered for Youth Camp, as did my wife, and we still volunteer in BCM's youth work. The Gate had previously served in Kerria Court from 2014 to 2016 but we found it difficult to build traction with the work, so Youth Team Co-ordinator, John Platt linked us up with ElderLink.

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We now visit the care home once a month and deliver a service uniquely tailored for people living with memory impairment. We sing familiar hymns, have multi-sensory teaching from the Bible and pray. I go in with members of our staff ministry team and a couple of church members who are free during the daytime, such as parents and children. The care home encourages this. One or two ElderLink staff members also accompany us. We have confidence in the materials that BCM produces for us, without having to come up with them ourselves. It is a ready-made gospel opportunity.

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The residents can be perhaps 30% engaged in what is being said. There might be some slightly spicy conversations or occasional heckling! But we are encouraged by the freedom afforded to us by the care home staff and the engagement we do get from the residents. Each time we go in and turn off the TV I wonder if we are getting in the way, but people sing along and are overjoyed to be able to chat afterwards.

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Partnering with ElderLink has made it easy to do the things we want to do. In church life these things can fall on the same people, who are already doing a lot, which makes it harder to commit regularly. With ElderLink we are able to embrace the opportunity without substantial commitment from people who are pulled in many different directions. The material is thoughtful, engaging and clear in the message of Jesus. It is neither patronising nor over people's heads.

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We are hopeful for other ad hoc opportunities to be a blessing to Kerria Court. Staff have recently told us that they are happy for us to come in when residents are in difficulty or at the end of life and we have made ourselves available to be there at short notice and pray with someone. We are also keen to facilitate visits to our church which is very close by.'

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If you or your church would like to visit your local care home with ElderLink on a regular basis, please email Catherine at elderlink@birminghamcitymission.co.uk or call 0121 707 9422.

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