Mount Zion is a charity company working nationally and internationally to improve outcomes for individuals and families through a range of initiatives and support services.

The organisation provides a range of learning, support and advocacy services to individuals and families aimed at actualising the potential of people so they are better able to participate in personal and community initiatives, letting their voices be heard.

At Mount Zion we believe in the principle of ‘togetherness’, the work is delivered in partnership with beneficiaries and other service providers across allied professions, in order to enable a wider geographical reach, maximise resources and provide the environment to share and learn from good practice.

 

WHO WE ARE 

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VISION & MISSION

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Vision Statement
Our hope is to create justice and respond to injustice at the personal, social and structural levels in church, government, business and society. 

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Mission Statement
To work with and on behalf of people who are marginalised and experiencing a range of personal, social and organisational challenges, increasing opportunities for them to access inclusion, economic wellbeing, justice and connection within their community of choice.

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Guiding Principles
Mount Zion will work within local, national and international frameworks to provide better outcomes for individuals and families, ensuring as far as practicable increase access and participation, and opportunities of choice.

In particular the organisation will work collaboratively to ensure:

• Work with and for its members to voice their aspirations, concerns on a range of issues

• Increase opportunities of access and participation to those not access existing services or whose uptake of those services is low

• Ensure Equality & Quality are guiding principles which underpins and informs all areas of activities

• The organisation’s work has a direct impact which is measurable and can demonstrate a marked difference in the lives of individual and families

• Develop meaningful partnerships aimed at maximising interventions and responses to direct needs

Ensure ongoing service and organisational improvements to remain relevant and ensure its sustainability in the third sector   

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MANAGEMENT 

Executive Board: The organisation is a registered company and charity and is governed by a Board of Directors and Trustees who have ultimate responsibility for Governance. The Board comprises local people who have a range of knowledge, skills and experience which is both the ‘anchor’ and ‘rudder’ to manage the organisation and direct its vision and mission.

There is representation from service users on the Board.

Board meetings are regular and robust, enabling leadership, accountability, transparency and support for the work of the organisation.

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STAFF & VOLUNTEERS

The organisation’s programme of activities is currently delivered by the following:

• Volunteer Manager – who is responsible for the management and administration of the organisation and its programmes.

• Volunteer Team – a body of volunteers with a range of knowledge, skills and experiences work to deliver the current programmes to a very high standard.

The plan is to access funding to employ a range of paid workers to respond to the ongoing pressures for personalised, quality services based on identified needs. 

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FUNDING

The organisation has been funded to deliver specific projects such as Men’s Health, Working with HIV Women & their children, Supplementary Education, Training & Workforce Development, Community Wildlife and Conservation.

Core Funding: support for this area to date has been on a total cost recovery basis.

There is a fundraising strategy in place which addresses all areas of the organisation’s activities and this is currently being rolled out.

Past funders include: London Borough of Lewisham (Children’s Fund & Community Sector Unit), Primary Care Trust, Mount Zion United Church and the Big Lottery.  

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SERVICES:

 

Education, Training & Employment Initiatives

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Individuals are supported in accessing social, vocational and educational resources, opportunities and services in the community with our support and advocacy workers.

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For the past 8 years Mount Zion have provided a combination of personal and community learning with a diverse range of learners to build learning and education capital to increase their attainment and achievement levels and develop economic wellbeing. The project works with individuals and families to build education and learning capital and economic wellbeing. 

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Projects promote personalised learning, with learners working in partnership to shape, deliver, monitor and evaluate services. These services include: 

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Supplementary Education:

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Every Child Matters 

The project works closely with children and young people, parents, schools and communities to promote equal opportunity for all children and young people to succeed to their highest potential.

 The service is for young people aged 8-16 years; operates on Saturdays between the hours of 9.30-12.30pm. Extended project days are introduces to support family learning, trips out and learning outside the classroom activities. The overriding aim is to work with young people, schools and families to raise achievements & standards.

'Enjoy & Achieve' is the school's motto and is based on creating positive and enjoyable experiences which develops transferable education & life skills. Subjects: English, Maths, Science, ICT, Humanities, Mentoring & Personal Development.

 

Every Parent Matters

Family Support and Family Learning initiatives are part of the service offered.

Family Learning workshops supports parents and children to learn together and develop learning capital within families. The subjects cover ICT and core subjects, as well as the Arts and learning outside the Classroom activities.

Family Support provides advice, support and signposting to parents so they are better able to support their children. Support addresses a range of areas presented, such as housing, family relationships, welfare rights, consumer rights.

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Workforce Development

The aim of the project is to increase access to education, training, volunteering and employment. The overriding aim is to reduce economic inactivity and increase economic wellbeing and activity.

Activities include: basic skills in Literacy, Numeracy, ICT, completing CV’s and employment applications, interviewing techniques and providing a range of volunteering activities.

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Learning Sets 

This is a forum which enables the giving and receiving of support to workers from partner organisations, areas of work and related issues are discussed and advice given. The benefit of this enables continuous organisation improvements, ensuring organisations are organic learning environments. Additionally, it helps to build understanding of each others work and supports collaborations and partnerships, which ultimately benefits beneficiaries.   

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Health & Wellbeing

Work is conducted with individuals and families to provide services which link people into opportunities, resources and other services in the community which addresses their health needs and support. There is ongoing work of providing support to individuals in managing long term health conditions.

Services are person centred, trauma sensitive and recovery oriented in practice. The areas include work in the following areas:

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• Men’s Health

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• Family Health

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• Managing Long Term Conditions: Living with HIV, Coronary heart

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Mount Zion is a member of the North Lewisham Stakeholders Group, a collaboration of allied professions across community, faith and statutory sectors, working to improve health and related outcomes through the implementation of the North Lewisham. Mount Zion chairs this group, as a voluntary sector representative.

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Information, Advocacy & Signposting

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The areas covered include:

• Welfare Rights

• Consumer Advice

• Information

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Advocacy: Mount Zion has 8 years experience advocating for vulnerable individuals and families, supporting them to secure housing, strengthen their parenting and be included in community life. We recognise the unique composition and characteristics of families - including their unique strengths and aspirations; their vulnerabilities and needs; and their goals for their future. We particularly recognise the unique challenges and aspirations of young women who are parents.

 

At Mount Zion we focus on working together honestly and respectfully with individuals and families by outreaching, listening, developing understanding, building relationships and creating responses and realistic plans and to provide opportunities for people to achieve their aspirations as individuals and families.

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We are committed to providing services to individuals and families which is appropriate to their age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religious affiliation, economic and social status, geographical location; ensuring that they have the best possible opportunities to:

• Access existing services through participation in decision-making, influencing and shaping services which addresses their needs

• Strengthen their voices in ongoing debates and discussions

• Building social networks
   

We are committed to advocating with individuals and families to access services, resources and opportunities in the community, providing support to meet their identified aspirations and address concerns.

We subscribe to the ‘working together’ framework and ensure we signpost to appropriate services where additional support and opportunities can be gained which will significantly impact on peoples’ lives.

Signposting, where relevant, to other services such as safeguarding and domestic violence support, education and training, healthcare and mental health support, volunteering and leisure initiatives.

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