THE two Bishops of Portsmouth met some of the city’s most vulnerable this month—as part of a week of prayer for those serving people in need.

Bishop Christopher and Bishop Philip meet staff and volunteers at the asylum drop-in centre at All Saints Church, Portsmouth

Bishop Christopher and his Roman Catholic counterpart, Bishop Philip Egan, jointly visited a local advice centre and asylum drop-in, to talk to staff and clients.  

They joined together as a show of solidarity with the poor and destitute, fittingly timed for the run up to Holy Week, and reflecting similar joint visits by the Archbishop of Canterbury and RC Bishop of Westminster.

Bishop Christopher said: ‘Many of us have no idea what life is like for those who are genuinely at breaking point. Every day, these two organisations deal with those who face destitution’. 

The two bishops dropped in to Advice Portsmouth in Kingston Crescent. They heard centre manager Jane Henderson explain that it helps those who are often desperate for guidance on matters such as benefits, work, tax, or, who simply need to make a phone call, use a computer or get food. 

One client sitting waiting to use the free phone had seen her Jobseekers Allowance suspended for two weeks and had been without electricity or any fresh food for that time. She hoped to get food vouchers and then would walk two miles to a Foodbank.

Jane and chief executive Nicola Youern showed the bishops around the brightly decorated rooms, which are designed to set their clients at ease. These cheerful spaces are unlike the forbidding institutional ethos of yesteryear, said Jane. 

Seven solicitors are on hand to give advice and each client has an average wait of just 18 minutes. The centre prides itself on rarely having to send anyone to seek help elsewhere.   

The centre, funded by Portsmouth City Council, helps around 50 people a day, going up to 90 a day in a busy week.  In one year, it sees around 11,000 people. The bishops offered their prayers and blessings for the ‘wonderful work’ the centre does. 

At All Saints Church in Commercial Road, the vicar, th Rev Mike Pye greeted the bishops and explained that All Saints serves a huge range of needs—not least as a vital drop-in centre for the city’s asylum seekers. 

The Home Office ‘disperses’ asylum seekers who arrive at Dover or Folkestone, often fleeing persecution in their own countries, to places including Portsmouth. They usually turn up in the city alone, not speaking any English and with little or no money. 

The centre, run by the Red Cross and Haslar Visitors Group, supports them as they wait to hear the outcome of their claims. It provides clothes, toiletries, human contact and advice during the uncertainties of claiming asylum.

Here, in a bright yellow painted room, a serving hatch offered fresh teas, fruit and sandwiches.  Thirty or so men, women and children—of all ages, nationalities and appearances - sit at the tables. Some are in family groups, some alone. 

Some are clearly happy to have a chance to get out and chat. Others are sitting shyly by themselves waiting for the advisers nearby. 

 Jojo, 55, from Congo, volunteers at the centre. He has been in the UK for 14 years awaiting approval for his claim. 

He explained how he is not allowed to work, but survives using the state-given Azure card that can only be used in certain shops to buy food. It prevents him shopping at cheaper places and means he has no money for travel to visit his daughters in Manchester.

As the two bishops—who often meet to prayer together—concluded their visit they said how honoured they were to visit the centre and see its work up close.  

They gave thanks for the great job done by professionals and volunteers alike in centres such as this, and the many, many more in the city.  

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