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Lent course: Are we washing our hands of England's poor?

When we read the tabloids, we get the impression that there is no real poverty in this country.

Those who claim they are poor are condemned as scroungers and benefit cheats; lazy freeloaders taking advantage of our generous welfare state.

Perhaps that's why, according to the latest research from Church Urban Fund, only one in five of us think poverty is a result of social injustice.

Faced with constant news stories about rising debt, unemployment, homelessness and child poverty, the problems in this country may seem insurmountable; even unavoidable. What is the truth? Is social inequality eroding social well-being? And if so, what’s the solution?

The issues are never black-and-white, but Church Urban Fund’s new Lent course brings them into sharp relief.

Our new five-week Lent course, written in partnership with best-selling Christian author David Rhodes, aims to break down the barriers of prejudice and misinformation, stimulate debate and bring poverty in England back into the forefront of public consciousness.

  • Search for the truth behind the news headlines
  • Think honestly about your own feelings and beliefs
  • Explore how the Bible suggests we should respond to those in need
  • Discover the reality of life for people living on the margins of society
  • Ask yourself: ‘what should we do?’

We’re asking some serious questions. Can our society afford not to answer them?

Download your free Lent course today:

Sign up for personalised poverty information

Poverty in England varies from place to place. To help bring your Lent course closer to home, we can provide personalised information about poverty levels in your parish, and how these compare on a local and national level and we'll send you poverty statistics about your area.