Caring for Life meets Riding Lights
On Saturday 19 April supporters of the Leeds-based, Christian charity Caring for Life (CFL) met up with Stephen Guy Daltry and Selina MacDonald – two members of the York-based, Riding Lights Theatre Company. Riding Lights aims at communicating Christian truth through theatre (www.ridinglights.org).
CFL was walking the walls of York to raise funds for its work with homeless and vulnerable younger people. The meeting between the two organisations was an opportunity for each to introduce its work to the other.
CFL was established in 1987 with the aim and logo of ‘Sharing the love of Jesus’, by offering security, love and respect for the socially excluded. It has grown over the last 21 years and now runs two supported homes for adults with special needs and a housing support project. The latter offers therapeutic activities and helps over 100 vulnerable people to live independently in the community.
Based on a farm in Cookridge, CFL (www.caringforlife.co.uk) offers over 12 different daytime activities for residents and day visitors. These include: agriculture and horticulture projects; a catering academy; work with small mammals; a conservation project; an equestrian project; egg and meat production; woodwork, arts and crafts; numeracy and literacy classes; and an expressive arts project that includes music and drama.
CFL was granted the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2005. Its patron is HRH The Countess of Wessex. There is currently a major building development under way at CFL, with the construction of a new barn for the safe handling of cattle and sheep, and a new learning centre with increased space for arts activities.
Joanna Cooper
