Working in The Province of Canterbury (including the Diocese in Europe)

The Canterbury Province consists of 29 dioceses in England and the Diocese in Europe.

The Diocese in Europe, part of the Church of England, has individual membership throughout and branches in Hamburg (Germany), Lanzarote, Torrevieja (Spain), Malta, Padua (Italy), Poitou-Charentes (France), and Oulu (Finland).

The most prevalent area of Mothers' Union membership within Europe is in the UK and Ireland. A vast array of projects, meeting many different needs in the local community are underway here, changing lives as they support family life.

Locally, members are involved with their parishes and communities, volunteer to help in prisons and contact centres, run parenting courses and are involved in a wide variety of family-supporting projects. These are to meet local needs - for example at Great Ormond Street Hospital members provide coffee and homemade cake, and a listening ear, for parents of very sick children, a brief moment of normality during a time of great anxiety.

Mothers' Union is also involved in campaigns such as Jubilee Debt Campaign, End Child Poverty and Fairtrade.

Parenting groups

People enjoy sharing experiences, learning from and supporting each other in parenting groups run in Canterbury Province.

In Oxford Diocese, the 'First Time Mums' project, was set up when Mothers' Union members found that in that particular area new mothers were feeling isolated and struggling to find supportive networks.

Work in Prisons

Building families, and strengthening parent - child relationships is so important, especially to those in prison. Mothers' Union has many prison work projects throughout Britain, frequently staffing play areas for children in the visiting hall during prison visiting hours, or spending time with mothers who have their babies with them in prison.

Another example is in Worcester Diocese, where it was felt that there was a great need for fathers in prison, especially those who are first time dads, to be given opportunities to learn skills allowing them to bond with their children. Mothers' Union provides children with the opportunity to bond with their imprisoned fathers through a joint pilot project together with the Learning Skills Council. Already those involved feel that is it having a dramatic effect on the prisoners and partners taking part:

"It's about teaching dads to practically play and to read stories to their children, sing songs, etc. It also helps the whole family play together and relate together. Changes in the families have been quite remarkable. The men have grown in confidence and resolve to take responsibility for their families," Joyce Bush, previous Diocesan President.

Other initiatives in the Province include the provision of AFIA (Away From It All holidays to help people who wouldn't otherwise be able to have a holiday, volunteering in Child Contact Centres, giving an estranged parent the opportunity to spend time with their children in a safe environment, assisting work in womens refuge centres, and providing support for marriage through marriage preparation and marriage enrichment courses.

To find out more about Mothers' Union in the dioceses of Canterbury Province please visit: www.canterburyprovincemu.org.uk.