Non-profit Partners Support Poverty Conference at St Mary's with £10,000 of Grant Funds

Professors Chris Keith and Steve Walton have successfully applied for £10,000 from non-profit partners for the upcoming Engaging Poverty in the Early Church and Today conference at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Hosted by the Centre for the Social-Scientific Study of the Bible (CSSSB) at St Mary’s on the 4^th and 5^th December, the £10,000 total consists of two separate £5,000 grants, one of which is from Caritas, Diocese Westminster and the other of which is from Bible Society. The conference will explore poverty from international and interdisciplinary perspectives. Speakers will address issues in accessible ways for those involved with charitable bodies, social work, churches, and mission and development agencies. Each session will focus on a theme seen from both the modern world and early Christianity and will feature leading academics and social work practitioners in dialogue. The grant funds will cover the costs of hosting the conference. The Bible Society grant is specifically dedicated to providing three bursaries for postgraduate students from the developing world who are working in the area of poverty, as well as bringing to campus Dr Christopher Hays from Fundación Universitaria Seminario Bíblico de Colombia. The grant will cover all of their expenses for the conference. Director of CSSSB Prof Chris Keith said, “CSSSB is ecstatic to be partnering with these non-profit agencies in order to provide a context in which leading thinkers and leading practitioners get together to discuss how best to address poverty. The fight against poverty has stood at the core of St Mary’s University’s identity as a Catholic university since its founding. We are honoured to be able to carry on that tradition.” CSSSB is also partnering with TearFund and Hampton Fuel Allotment for the conference. Part of the registration fee for the conference will contribute to the work of the Riverbank Trust, a local charity that works with vulnerable single mothers and their families in the London Borough of Richmond. There are still limited placed available for the conference; tickets cost £75, including lunch and refreshments. To find out more or to book tickets please click here.