Vision & Values

Our values are pioneering, love, generosity, unity and justice. Our vision is to help create a mission movement across Edinburgh by stimulating and strengthening the church’s mission.

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Edinburgh City Mission’s vision is to help create an unstoppable mission movement across Edinburgh by supporting churches across the city as they pray for and serve their local communities, and share their faith in Jesus with their neighbours.
Our mission is to stimulate and strengthen the church’s mission in Edinburgh. As we help to create momentum, we are praying in faith to grow by more than 30 Mission Strengtheners… and God is answering!

Pioneering

Jesus was a pioneer – He pioneered our salvation. The early believers were so full of passion for spreading the good news about Jesus’ resurrection that they were accused of turning the world upside down!

Edinburgh City Mission have always had a pioneering spirit! We are not content with the status quo in our city. We are constantly seeking the direction and dynamic power of the Holy Spirit to help us love our neighbours and lead us into mission across the city. We are committed to helping churches who want to engage in their local community by getting involved in starting new church-based outreach projects.

We do this through envisioning, praying, connecting, planning, training and supporting them as they get started and beyond.

In 2019 we helped to pioneer a Soul Food meal in partnership with Soul Food Edinburgh with City of Edinburgh Methodist Church in Newington; Salaam refugee and asylum seeker support work; a new Foodbank+ with Lighthouse Central Church in Prestonpans; a Clothesbank+ with Central Church in Tollcross; and Nations.

In 2021 we launched An Open Hand, a toy delivery service for families who are struggling, in partnership with Greenbank Parish Church.

In 2022 we launched Two’s Company, a befriending service for older people in partnership with Linking Lives UK.

Vision & Values Feature Image
Vision & Values Feature Image

Love

When we talk about love, we focus on self-sacrificial love for others as modelled by Jesus when He touched lepers and ultimately, died on the cross on our behalf. We are to “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God”.

Love is a high calling: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  (1 Corinthians 13)

Generosity

Our commitment to generosity flows from the generosity that God has shown us: He has lavished the riches of His grace on us with all wisdom and understanding.

We show God’s generosity in various ways:

  • The amount of food we place in people’s bags in our Foodbank+ locations.
  • The quality of hampers given to refugees and asylum seekers and of food served at Soul Food.
  • The amount of time we invest in people who want our input.
  • The kind words we say about others as we all seek to play our part in our inter-connected relationships.
  • The generosity of spirit that is displayed in the prayers we pray for churches and their communities across the city and the surrounding area.
Vision & Values Feature Image
Vision & Values Feature Image

Unity

God is one and so are we in the church. And yet, God is diverse, having revealed Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the same way, there is unity and diversity in the church, as can be seen in Romans 12 in the Bible.

Unity exists amongst all Christians because we call on the same Father, we have all been adopted into the same family through Jesus, who is the head of His church and every church, and we all have the same Spirit who has given us faith and prompts us to pray.

Living out our unity requires humility, love, effort and prayer. While we each have our own convictions and distinctive church traditions and cultures, we actively recognise and affirm the diversity of other Christians’ beliefs, experiences, worship styles, gifts, practices and viewpoints, wherever they differ from our own. And we rejoice when the good news is shared by whoever, wherever and whenever, regardless of what motivates sharing of faith.

Justice

God is just. This is at the very core of who He is. We trust that He will bring justice to the nations. Jesus underlines the centrality of justice: demonstrating that justice and love, what Jesus called the weightier matters of the law, are more important than religious practice.

We express our commitment to justice by praying God’s kingdom rule and influence will come in Edinburgh and by showing compassion and care for those who lack housing, money or food – referred to as ‘the poor’ in the Bible – and those who are disadvantaged in other ways such as widows, orphans, prisoners, outsiders or because of ethnicity, gender, education, health, abilities, sexuality and/or age.

Throughout the Bible there are many examples of those on the margins being cared for and drawn in by the wider community. We are warned of the danger of ignoring justice and there are clear exhortations to come alongside and lift up the weak and bring justice.

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These values shape our culture.

As we humbly seek to live out our values, serve Jesus and the church, we aim to help individuals flourish and communities thrive, trusting that many people will find forgiveness and hope in Jesus.

 

Please get in touch with us if you are considering starting new community work through your church. We would love to hear about it and support you as you seek to love your neighbours.

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Applications for this position are now closed.

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An Open Hand Referral Application
This form may be used by support workers and other professionals to apply for gifts for families in Edinburgh from An Open Hand (we cannot accept self-referrals).

Our aim is to help the families that need it most. We would be grateful if you could ensure that families fall into an area of need listed below before applying. We won’t be able to accept applications out with the below criteria.

Criteria for application:

  • Families (both parents/carers) who are facing severe hardship because of job loss or benefit delays/interruptions and have no other means (e.g. savings) of helping their child celebrate their birthday
  • Families who have no recourse to public funds
  • Families facing unexpected bills/costs/debt repayments around the time of their child’s birthday which prevent them from buying their child a present.

We are keen to help as many families as we can through this project, whilst still ensuring that each individual child feels treasured and receives a gift they will delight in. We will evaluate the funding for each gift on a case by case basis according to the financial needs of the family, the age of the child and the funding available. A general rule of thumb is that we anticipate most gifts along with the family bag to be in the region of up to £45.

Please ensure this application is submitted at least two weeks before the first child’s birthday to ensure there is sufficient time to deliver to the family.

Applicant's Details

Parent/Carer's Details

Address
Address

Children's Details

To add more children's details, please click the Add button. To remove details, please click the Remove button.

Details of Application

Please give details of why you are applying for this family and what impact a present from An Open Hand may make.

N.B. - The more information you can give, the greater the chance your application will be accepted

An Open Hand Disclaimer

All the gifts given to parents/carers from An Open Hand are new, and in new working order.

Once the gifts are given to the parent/carer, it is their responsibility to check the item is suitable and safe for their child, in good condition and used according to the manufacturer’s advice.

An Open Hand will keep all details of this application protected in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

An Open Hand is not a business or trader and has no ongoing responsibility for the gifts, once given, and takes no responsibility for loss, damage or injury sustained from the gifts or their use.

  • I confirm I have read the above disclaimer to this child’s parent/carer and they understand and agree to it.
  • I also confirm the parent/carer knows An Open Hand will be in contact directly with them, prior to the birthday, to discuss the gift and arrange a suitable time for delivery or collection.
  • I confirm that the parent/carer knows An Open Hand will be in contact directly with them, after the birthday, to receive feedback about the gift delivery, as well as our wider service.

Disclaimer and GDPR

Disclaimer
GDPR Compliance
Once we receive your application, we aim to be in touch with you within 5 working days to let you know if your application is successful.

Many thanks for your application!

Edinburgh City Mission Gap Year


Gap Year

Section 1 - Personal Details

Address
Are you involved in any activity that might limit your availability to work or your working hours?
Have you any convictions (other than spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974?)
Do you need a work permit to take up employment in the U.K.?

Section 2 - Education

Starting with the most recent, please list any education, qualifications and / or training.
In the format MM/YYYY.

Section 3 - Work History

Please list your recent work history. We want to know about your work experience, paid and unpaid. Please include your current/previous employment, voluntary work, community activities and time spent caring for dependents. Starting with your current employment, please state name and address of employer(s) and/or voluntary agencies and describe main tasks, responsibilities and achievements.
In the format MM/YYYY.
Hours/week*

Section 4 - The Gap Year Role

Please answer the following questions.

Section 5 - References

Referee 1 (Professional e.g. teacher / tutor / pastor)
Referee 2 (Other leader e.g. Church group leader)
Additional Information
Can we approach your referees before an offer is made?
Is your church supportive of your application to Edinburgh City Mission (ie would they be willing to take an active interest in our work and pray for you in your role?)

Section 6 - Declaration

I declare that the information given in this form is complete and accurate. I understand these details will be held in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. I undertake to notify the company immediately of any changes to the above details. You agree that Edinburgh City Mission may use the details provided to contact you for purposes of the job application and nothing more.
Do you agree to the above Terms?

Monthly Prayer Newsletter (click to expand)

Volunteer Now


Volunteer Application

Section 1 - Personal Details

Please note: you must currently live in or near to Edinburgh if you wish to volunteer with Edinburgh City Mission.
Address
Do you speak any languages other than English?

Section 2 - Role

In what part of the work of Edinburgh City Mission would you be interested in volunteering? (Pick up to 3)
Do you have a Full UK Driving Licence?
Have you had any accidents, regardless of fault in the last 5 years?
NB - This will help us check your details with the DVLA and reduce the number of questions we need to ask you later.
Please tick your available days.

Section 3 - Belief

For some of our volunteer roles we require the volunteer to have an active Christian faith. Please tick which of the following applies to you.
Do you currently attend a church?

Section 4 - References

We will take up references once we’ve agreed a suitable volunteering role. Please provide us with the details of someone who has known you in a professional capacity for more than a year. For example, someone you have volunteered for, an employer or a teacher.
Additional Information

Section 6 - Declaration

I declare that the information given in this form is complete and accurate. I understand that any false information or deliberate omissions will disqualify me from employment or may render me liable to summary dismissal. I understand these details will be held in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. I undertake to notify the company immediately of any changes to the above details. You agree that Edinburgh City Mission may use the details provided to contact you for purposes of the job application and nothing more.
Do you agree to the above Terms?

Monthly Prayer Newsletter (Optional - click here)