St Swithun’s Church’s Tapestry Project has been recognised for its work with local people with addictions, receiving an award for outstanding contribution by the Charter Trustees of East Retford and outgoing Mayor, Councillor Dan Henderson.
Set up and run by Lawson Main, the project operates ‘Drop In’ sessions.
Arriving at Retford Police Station as a Police Detective Sergeant in late 1999, Lawson was given permission to combine his policing career and his faith to support addicts and offenders towards Christian rehabs.
Three years later, because of the successful results, his Superintendent asked him to do it professionally in a multi-agency team. At the same time, with his wife Ellen and some volunteers from local Worksop churches, Lawson opened a drop-in providing food, support and direction for addicts and offenders.
He said: “It was amazing work, and as ever the best results were through Christian resources. After five years I felt called to retire early from the Police, and after a short contract with Probation, I eventually went full time ministry with the project under the umbrella of our church at the time.”
He ran the drop-in in Worksop for 16 years, the last 12 at St John’s Church, before stepping down in 2019 as a result of a health issue.
In the autumn of 2022, Lawson and Ellen transitioned to St Swithun’s Church (STS) in Retford, where with the amazing encouragement of the new Rector, Reuben Crossley and his wife Portia, they rebirthed the work as The Tapestry Project, and opened the drop-in on a Thursday afternoon at the church. They provide care and support through the Tapestry ‘Drop In and Connect’ to those who are lonely, homeless, marginalised or who are seeking to break free from their life controlling problems, such as addictions and offending. They provide information on and preparation toward residential Christian hostels and rehabilitation programmes, as well as signposting towards other treatment and support agencies in the Bassetlaw area. Refreshments and snacks are also available, as is a very good pool table.
“We have an amazing team of volunteers, to whom I am immensely grateful for, a number of whom have recovered from addiction and offending and are currently at Mattersey Training Centre studying for NVQs in social care or have graduated from this,” Lawson said. “They are the next generation of support workers!
“We take referrals from a number of local services and support agencies, and work closely with them weaving together a multi-stranded tapestry of recovery. I would particularly like to thank our local East Bassetlaw Police, Change Grow Live and Bassetlaw Probation Service for all their support and encouragement since we started the project at Swithun’s. I would also like to mention and thank the invaluable support and generosity we have had from Bacon and Sons, the butchers on Carolgate, Retford.
“Over the past 24 years we have built up excellent working relationships with many of the local statutory bodies and agencies, from whom we take referrals. This has come about as a result of having a real appreciation of the benefits of inter-agency cooperation and working together. I love the results you get when people genuinely work together. “
St Swithun’s Church (STS) are looking to resurrect Ebsworth Hall at the back of the church to be able to expand the work of ‘The Drop In’ and also run a ‘Youth Drop In’ and other groups that benefit people in the community and the area as a whole. If you are interested in supporting this project with pledges of support, grants and donations please do get in touch by emailing portia@stsretford.org.