ISR is a diverse organisation, engaged in a wide range of social, economic, environmental and other activities. Some are described here.

Living Ghosts

David Maggs
Church Action on Poverty launched a statement during Refugee Week for church leaders to show their outrage at the government system that leaves some asylum seekers totally destitute in the UK. Church Action on Poverty’s Living Ghosts campaign scored a success in December 2005, by sparking a public debate on government policies which are resulting in increasing numbers of people seeking asylum becoming destitute.

As part of this national concern, in March 2006 a local coalition of churches, groups and individuals organised a hearing to explore in detail the issue of destitution among asylum seekers.

People seeking asylum are ending up destitute rather than "volunteer" to return to poverty and/or persecution in their country of origin. Many end up on food parcel handouts and stretch the hospitality of friends. Others are on the streets, getting sicker -- both physically and mentally. In their desperation peiople are being forced into the illegal and informal economies, sexual exploitation and crime. The social, economic and criminal costs are felt by the whole of society.

Faith Forum

David Maggs
David Maggs, ISR's church and society officer is current chair of the Bristol Faith Forum.

From the Faith Forum Web site: "The Forum was inaugurated in April 2004 after a conference, the Faith Communities Conference, organised by a partnership of Bristol City Council and Faith organisations.  Attendees subsequently developed a Forum.

"The Faith Forum is comprised of representatives from Bristol's nine major Faith communities and is currently seeking representation from others.  As part of its development each Faith community is in the process of developing its own intra Faith Forum that will select members to the larger Forum.  However, membership at this stage is open to people of faith across the spectrum.  The Forum meets bimonthly.  Meetings are revolved between mornings and evenings to encourage participation."The Faith Forum is coordinated by Edson Burton who can be contacted at edson_burton@bristol-city.gov.uk

Family Life And Marriage Education

Alison Paginton
Flame is a voluntary network within the Church of England working for the enhancement of family life, marriage and human relationships. Acknowledging God's living presence, both in the traditions of the church and in all human experience, the FLAME Network seeks to promote understanding and the creative nurturing of relationships for the enrichment of all.

Since FLAME is a Network, the more people that are involved actively, the more effective the network can be. Most dioceses throughout England are members, and FLAME now want to encourage individuals to be more actively involved as members. Alison Paginton, as Marriage and Family Life Coordinator, represents the Bristol Diocese in the FLAME network. She is based with ISR at it Bristol Office

Social responsibility

Social Responsibility is concerned with the ways in which Christian communities can interact with the world around them. This includes encouraging churches to understand the political, economic, social, environmental and ethical issues of the wider world, and how these link with matters of faith and belief.

The social responsibility group at ISR seeks to promote opportunities for Christians to work with existing initiatives and to find or create ways to challenge injustice and social difficulty.

Social responsibility is implicit in the teachings of the Christian faith where concern for the poor and deprived, and for the welfare of all humans underpins the Gospel message.