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Transform Work > RESOURCES > Christian Workplace Group > News from Croydon Borough Council Christian Workplace Group

News from Croydon Borough Council Christian Workplace Group

Croydon council
Many local authorities have Christian workplace groups and recently Kay Oshin, a local authority worker contacted us to tell us a little about the Christian Workplace Group in Croydon Borough Council.

Kay is a good example of how
Christian Workplace Groups can encourage members, when they move on, to join in Christian Groups in their new places of work. Kay previously worked in both Greenwich and Islington Borough councils, prior to moving to Croydon in 2008. Both of these Borough Councils had thriving Christian Workplace Groups so Kay was keen to join the Croydon Christian Workplace Group.
 
The heartbeat of Croydon Christian Workplace Group is the weekly Wednesday lunchtime meeting when the Bible is studied and time spent praying for each other, in particular for those who are not yet Christians, and the overall Borough Council. The group passionately believes in the power of prayer. Sometimes prayers are said for ‘healing’ of colleagues. In this way, the group seeks to support the Council and Borough as much as it can and members believe that this helps reduce sickness levels. The group also seeks to be a caring support network which does its best to help reduce stress levels in the workplace.

Individual testimonies are shared at group meetings and Kay tells us that these meetings are a real joy and says, “It is a fantastic group!". Over the years they've also discussed topics such as trust, worry, marriage, healthy living and well-being and also money management. Recently the group has looked at ‘hope and grace’. They have also studied book reviews such as Grace Awakening by Chuck Swindoll.  

Croydon CWG makes every effort to be outward focused and seeks to serve the council in any way it can. Members are encouraged to identify and put into practice ‘good behaviour attitudes’ towards work, which it hopes will improve the organisational work culture. The group also organises a Christmas service for all staff. The Chief Executive and the Mayor are always invited to this event as well as everybody who works for Croydon Borough Council. During the service a collection is taken and the money given to the Mayor’s chosen charity for that year.

The Council has given permission for the Christian Workplace Group to advertise their events and the group is becoming more widely known and Kay is amazed at the reach of the influence of the group and tells us of an example. He was in the lift at work with a fellow colleague, just the two of them, and his colleague said to him, ‘You're the guy that leads the Christian group here aren't you?’  Although Kay recognised the colleague from working at the council, he didn't know him. Kay answered, "How do you know that I lead the Christian group?" and the colleague replied, "Because the lady sitting next to me receives your ‘Prayer E News’ and she often tells me what is written so I know who you are." Kay was amazed and thanked the Lord that more people know about the group than he knew.

When Kay got in touch with Transform Work he said, "I got in contact with you because we are just one small group and we wanted to be part of a bigger picture, a larger organisation that believes in the same Christian work principles that we do.  I came across your website and wanted to get in touch straight away!"  

Kay is networking with other leaders of London Borough Council Christian Workplace Groups through the London Councils Christian Network. The Network is aiming to put on events to bring leaders of the London Borough Council Groups together to worship, to share good practice and also pray for the councils, their chief executives and the needs of the boroughs.

Would you be interested? Watch this space!
JLR Workplace Conference 2024
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Aviva at No 10 Downing Street!
Brad McLaughlin from Aviva and a team of people from other industries had the opportunity in July to go to Westminster and Number 10 to discuss the role of faith in the workplace, representing Aviva and the Faith Friendly Workplaces initiative.
Christians@UU
Transform Work facilitate 3 online meetings a year where leaders of Christian Workplace Groups in the water industry sector come together to share good practice and pray for this sector. Find out more and read a testimony
Andy Smith represents Rolls Royce @ No.10
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We are constantly amazed at how God goes before our Christian workplace group and provides ways we can benefit our Council.
Buddy System for New Starters
Joining a new organisation can be a daunting and lonely experience, so it can be helpful for one or two people in the group to specifically look out for the new starter for a month or so.
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The GLA Christian Network based at the London Mayor's office is delighted to invite you to the 2022 hybrid Christmas celebration to be held on 14th December from 12:30-2:00pm.
Leaving Your Christian Workplace Group 
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Workplace Alpha Online Testimony
Steve interviewing his colleague on why she went on the Alpha course the Christian Workplace Group ran in her workplace and the difference it's made in her life.
Local Authority Workplace Alpha Online
The journey of one Christian Workplace Group leader's online alpha course...
University Testimony 
When I started at the University it took me a year to find another Christian. We started to meet together with one of her colleagues who was also a Christian....
Our Plan B was God’s Plan A.
Plans for our traditional carol service at the Council have had to be put on hold. Most people are working from home. How can we be good news to our organisation and our colleagues at a time like this during the Christmas season?
Facebook 12 hour Worship + Prayer 
Facebook employees given the green light for 12 hours of worship and prayer on the campus in the Silicon Valley. Live links available.
Sri Lanka Easter Attacks Remembered at Rolls Royce 
A fine example of all faiths coming together to the benefit of the company occurred at Rolls Royce in Derby, where staff gather to remember the recent atrocities in Sri Lanka
Easter Display at Sefton Council
The Sefton Council Christian Workplace Group put on a varied Easter display for staff at the Council - as suggested by their Personnel Manager!
Sukkot Comes to Bedford
The Bedford Council CWG recently arranged an event to celebrate Sukkot - the Jewish feast of Tabernacles or Shelters. It was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the Jewish roots of the Christian faith with in the council
Thames Water Learning at Work Week 
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Ealing Council Christianity Awareness Week
A report on the Christianity Awareness Week held in Ealing Council just before Easter
A report on the Barclays Christian Workplace Group Annual Conference 'The City Lights are On'
A report on the highly successful Barclays Christian Workplace Group conference 'The City Lights are On' held in Canary Wharf.
Good News at Sefton Council
The Christian Workplace Group at Sefton Council have taken steps to become recognised as a staff network, and are seeing the rewards, as they show God's love to the workers in the Council
E.ON Bedford CWG Ready to Launch
Ros and Adrian visited the new group at E.ON Bedford recently, and saw they were 'ready to launch'
Great things are happening in the Department for Education Christian Network
Ros went along to the Department for Education Christian Network and found the group to have grown considerably, and loved the way they work together as a group
Christians in Royal Bank of Scotland Step Out in Faith 
The Christians Workplace Group in Royal Bank of Scotland organised an interfaith panel discussion. It turned out to be a thought-provoking look at the factors shaping both individuals' morals and the company values
Competition and Markets Authority Christian Group - Bringing the Word to life
The CWG at the Competition and Markets Authority, in central London, arranged a visit to the nearby British Museum recently. They were inspired by seeing the artefacts from biblical times on display at the museum
Action for Children -  A 'Newbie' Sets up a Christian Network
Karis at Action for Children helpfully takes us through the steps she followed in setting up a Christian Workplace Group there
Council Group Looking Outwards at Easter!
Sefton Council CWG looks outwards and holds an Alpha course together with nearby groups and provides Easter eggs for council employees
Bromley Christian Fellowship 
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E.On's Diversity Noticeboards - Are You Using Yours?
Could you use a Diversity and Inclusion notice board in your workplace to advertise the presence of your Christian Workplace Group? Find out more...
Reverend at Work! How Wearing a Collar got Colleagues Talking 
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Re-launch of the Southwark Borough Council Christian Workplace Group
Rapid growth has followed the re-launch of the CWG in Southwark Council in London
Early Growth of the new Christian Workplace Group at the Office of the Public Guardian
News of the first meetings and amazing growth in the new Christian Workplace Group at the Office of the Public Guardian in the Birmingham
Easter at North Bristol NHS Trust 
Christians at the North Bristol NHS Trust have been getting to know one another, and marking Easter in a special way
Kay Oshin, 24/06/2013