twelve step groups at hinde street
Anonymous Support Groups w.e.f. 5 November 2020
The church will remain open for existing anonymous support groups during the Covid-19 Lockdown from 5 November until 2 December 2020, as far as we are able to staff it.
Re-opening TODAY
Update on 5 October 2020
Welcome back to anonymous group meetings today.
TRACK & TRACE
We encourage all visitors to Hinde Street Methodist Church to either
• scan the NHS Track and Trace QR code,
OR, if you don’t have the app on your phone to
• complete a Track & Trace slip with your Initial, Surname, date and time of your visit and your contact number and/or email*
Names of attendees will only be given to NHS track and trace at their request – names will not be given to any member of any group
About the NHS COVID-19 app
The NHS COVID-19 app is part of the NHS Test and Trace service and will be used, alongside traditional contact tracing, to help notify you if you have come into contact with someone who tests positive for coronavirus. The app will allow you to report symptoms, order a coronavirus test and check in to venues by scanning a QR code.
It is important to remember that the app helps the NHS track the virus, not individuals. Any data shared with the app is held on your phone. Nobody, including the government, will know who or where you are, or have been. You can delete the app and all data at any time.
The app uses Bluetooth so shouldn’t drain your phone battery, especially if you normally have Bluetooth enabled.
More information can be found at: www.covid19.nhs.uk.
*Data Protection
We are using paper slips rather than a list to protect anonymity.
For any paper contact slips completed, we keep all slips received on each day in a sealed envelope for 21 days. These will be held securely in the event of a contact by NHS Track and Trace. If we do not hear anything within 21 days the contact slips will be confidentially destroyed.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/maintaining-records-of-staff-customers-and-visitors-to-support-nhs-test-and-trace
Re-opening Hinde Street for Lettings
Update 14 September 2020
Hinde Street acknowledges the frustration and disappointment caused by this delay in reopening the church. Whilst we acknowledge that anonymous group meetings are exempt from the ‘rule of 6’ there remain some other reasons that are delaying our opening. We are now working towards opening on Monday 5 October. Further information and booking forms will be shared as soon as possible.
We sincerely apologise for this disappointment
Re-opening Hinde Street Lettings
Update 10 September 2020
We appreciate how keen so many groups are to return to meetings at Hinde Street Methodist Church. We had previously said that the church would be reopening for groups on 14 September 2020.
However, in light of the government’s announcement yesterday about it being against the law to meet people you do not live with in a group larger than 6 from Monday 14th September, we are postponing the reopening of the church. It is clear that there will be exemptions for example for education, however it is not clear yet about other groups including anonymous groups. We are awaiting the publication of the government’s legislation to provide further clarification on which groups are permitted to meet and will contact you again next week
Re-opening Hinde Street Lettings and operating with Covid-19 measures
Update 31 July 2020
We are pleased to confirm that we are making plans to reopen the church to groups on Monday 14th September. We do value you choosing to run your meeting from Hinde Street and really hope that we see you again very soon.
As you may imagine, we also have to put in place Covid-19 arrangements to help keep everyone safe. To reopen safely for everyone, we will have additional staff to facilitate extra cleaning, to help us meet our obligations under the government Test and Trace programme, remind people that masks are required to be worn inside the building, and ensure that the number of people meeting in each room does not exceed the Covid-19 room capacity, amongst other measures to minimise the spread of disease. Hinde Street hopes that you will understand that these changes are required to facilitate the safety of our guests and staff, and that some of these additional costs will be passed on to hirers.
As at 31 July 2020, treasurers/contacts for all existing groups have been contacted with this information and with further details about their group’s specific booking. We will be sending out revised Terms and Conditions in week commencing 17th August which will include details of room capacities under 1m+ physical distancing guidelines, new room rates, new payment terms and other Covid-19 related terms of hire.
Please be reassured that we have reserved all existing bookings for now and will allow time after issuing the terms and conditions for groups to confirm they would like to return and to accept both the lettings and the Covid-19 terms and conditions.
PLEASE NOTE:
There will be limited office staff until Monday 17 August, therefore if you do have any questions regarding an existing booking or a new booking request for the Church or meeting rooms, we will endeavour to respond to you during week commencing 17th August
Lettings Team
Hinde Street Methodist Church
NOTICE 18 JUNE 2020
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING HARD TO PLAN SAFE WAYS TO OPEN THE CHURCH, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE TO OUR REGULAR GROUPS AND HIRERS. THE METHODIST CHURCH UK ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE US WITH FURTHER GUIDANCE IN EARLY JULY AND WE WILL THEN BE WRITING TO ALL TREASURERS AND GROUP CONTACTS. WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN AS SOON AS WE HAVE ADEQUATE STAFFING AND SAFETY PROCEDURES IN PLACE.
UNFORTUNATELY THE LACK OF INCOME AND NO CHANGE IN RUNNING COSTS TO THE CHURCH OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND POSSIBLY OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS HAS LEFT US WITH SEVERE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, AS WITH MANY CHARITIES AND ORGANISATIONS. IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE ABLE TO DONATE A SMALL ABOUT TO HELP THE CHURCH RIDE THIS PERIOD WE WOULD BE TREMENDOUSLY GRATEFUL. DONATIONS CAN BE MADE VIA VIRGIN MONEY GIVING | HINDE STREET METHODIST CHURCH
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING HARD TO PLAN SAFE WAYS TO OPEN THE CHURCH, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE TO OUR REGULAR GROUPS AND HIRERS. THE METHODIST CHURCH UK ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE US WITH FURTHER GUIDANCE IN EARLY JULY AND WE WILL THEN BE WRITING TO ALL TREASURERS AND GROUP CONTACTS. WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN AS SOON AS WE HAVE ADEQUATE STAFFING AND SAFETY PROCEDURES IN PLACE.
UNFORTUNATELY THE LACK OF INCOME AND NO CHANGE IN RUNNING COSTS TO THE CHURCH OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND POSSIBLY OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS HAS LEFT US WITH SEVERE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, AS WITH MANY CHARITIES AND ORGANISATIONS. IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE ABLE TO DONATE A SMALL ABOUT TO HELP THE CHURCH RIDE THIS PERIOD WE WOULD BE TREMENDOUSLY GRATEFUL. DONATIONS CAN BE MADE VIA VIRGIN MONEY GIVING | HINDE STREET METHODIST CHURCH
Hinde Street Methodist Church has a long tradition of hospitality to 12 step groups. There are over 60 different anonymous groups that meet on our premises, and it’s important to us to make meeting rooms available at low cost for these groups, here in the heart of the West End. People struggle with a wide range of addictions, and this church is a safe space for them to find understanding and support from each other, and from the congregation that worships here. Many of the people who come to the groups during the week will never meet the people who gather here on a Sunday but we care about you, and we hold you in prayer.
We have also made a quiet space available in the entrance to the church, where you can sit before or after group meetings to think, to pray, or just to have a bit of peace in a busy city.
Every Tuesday lunchtime, from 1-2pm, a meditation group meets in the Quiet Room – many anonymous group members come along to share in our quiet time together, either every week, or just occasionally when they have time. Meditation is, of course, the 11th of the 12 steps, and this is a good place to practice quiet attention to the present moment. We find that the quality of the silence created by the group is really quite special. All are welcome – and there is no cost.
Every Tuesday lunchtime, from 1-2pm, a meditation group meets in the Quiet Room – many anonymous group members come along to share in our quiet time together, either every week, or just occasionally when they have time. Meditation is, of course, the 11th of the 12 steps, and this is a good place to practice quiet attention to the present moment. We find that the quality of the silence created by the group is really quite special. All are welcome – and there is no cost.
If you want to know which groups are meeting, in which room, and at what time, either call into the reception office at 19 Thayer Street to look at the weekly diary, or phone them on 07933 791602. Groups are arranged individually, so we encourage you to check with the group you are interested in to see whether they are meeting, and whether there have been any timetable changes. The most well-known of the 12 step groups that meets here is Alcoholics Anonymous: they meet every lunch time from 1-2pm in the main hall in the basement. Methodist churches are a good place for AA to meet, as no alcohol is allowed on the premises. Hugh Price Hughes, the founder of the West London Mission, was also a founder of the temperance movement, and worked hard at the end of the 19th century to support people struggling with alcohol addiction.
Here is a list of contacts and websites for some of the groups that meet here:
Click on the name of the group to view the website.