The Church of the Ascension has a long established tradition of outreach within the local community.  Between 1885 and 1940, it ran a Mission Hall in Lethbridge Road where the Heathside and Lethbridge estates now stand.  Members of the congregation have continued to work on the estates.  Since 1991 the have been involved in funding and running the Wash House Youth Club for 8 -15 year olds working in close conjunction with Lewisham Youth Service and in partnership with other local organisations notably the Quaggy Development Trust.  A registered charity set up for this purpose is supported by Friends of the Wash House and various local charities.  The club is based at the Heathside & Lethbridge Estates and is open twice weekly on Monday and Thursday evenings throughout term time.  There is also a programme of activities during the summer holidays, which includes day trips and outings.  Over the last few years the club has expanded its activities with football sessions on a weekly basis held at Morden Mount Primary School.  For further information contact David Smith ( DLSMSmith@msn.com ) or Joan Baptiste (020 8694 8480 during opening hours).
 

Glebe Court is a residential home for the elderly run by the Salvation Army, on the borders of our Parish.   Our Pastoral Auxiliary set up an inter-Parish pastoral team to visit the home.   There are currently 5 members of the Ascension who regularly visit the residents, and there is a monthly Eucharist every third Wed. afternoon, to which we are all invited, celebrated by Fr. Peter Hudson, of St. Stephen's.   From time to time we organize informal meetings for the visitors to share their experience.
 

Cygnet Wing is a Psychiatric Unit within our Parish.   Our pastoral auxiliary has set up an inter-Church Chaplaincy team for regular pastoral visits to the Unit.   There are now four visitors:  our Vicar and one of our Readers; a Catholic Sister from the Convent in Hyde Vale; and the Methodist Minister from Deptford.   A Friend of Blackheath Quaker Meeting House, who is a retired psychiatrist, offers monthly supervision to the visitors.

The Church of the Ascension regularly donates cash and food (and children’s presents at Christmas) to LEWCAS (Lewisham Churches for Asylum Seekers).  Lewcas helps destitute asylum seekersby providing weekly parcels of basic foodstuffs for 14 families, and fares for those needing to travel to English classes.  It supports local Charities for Asylum seekers ( e.g. Lewisham Refugee Network),  regional and national organisations ( e.g. London Churches Refugee Network), and national campaigns for justice for asylum seekers (e.g. the ending of detention for children. The Ascension has two representatives on the Lewcas Committee.

Once a week during school term times, some 8 of our members take part in running an ESOL (English for Speakers of other Languages) class at the Holy Trinity Centre. With so many nationalities living in the parish, we provide free basic language teaching to help people integrate better with their local community and also to help equip those seeking employment. To enable parents benefit from the programme, there are also creche facilities provided.

All this is part of the ‘Thrive’ project set up by our joint church in the Ravensbourne Team, designed to help improve the quality of life in a highly deprived area, not simply to exist but to thrive.

The Friends of the Ascension is an organisation formed 4 years ago for people who are interested in the church but are not necessarily memebrs of the congregation.  Many people appreciate the beauty of the church, attend occasional services and support events like the Christmas Market or Christian Aid plant and produce sale.  If you are one of these and would like to be kept in touch regularly with what is going on by receiving a twice yearly newsletter and being invited to an AGM/drinks party each December, please get in touch with the convenor, Margaret Offerman - 8852 7063 or the membership secretary, Judith Sternberg - 8692 1916.
 

Events in the church which are open to the local community include Start the Month.  This  is the name we give to a series of free talks, presentations and recitals held on the first Sunday of the month from September to April.  It covers topics of social or political concern and attracts an audience which includes people who are not regular members of the congregation.  In addition, the church is used by groups such as students from Trinity College of Music for small-scale concerts which give them valuable performance experience.

Our commitment to the developing world is through the "Begging Bowl" so named because it is the kind of bowl used by beggars in Africa. It was brought back to London by one of our incumbents in the 1970’s and has been used ever since to take a retiring collection at our main service on Sunday.  The money is sent to a variety of charities working to end poverty in the developing world through education, farming, supply of clean water and other innovative projects.  Information about the projects is publicised at the end of the service.  We not only raise funds but also keep ourselves informed about issues affecting the poor of our world.