We are a ministry to those who give, as well as to those who are in need
The Besom is about much more than just meeting the needs of those who are suffering from various forms of poverty. It’s also about you!
Our focus rests on those who come to give and what God’s doing in and through them, rather than just on those in need. We love seeing hearts softened with compassion as they connect with the person behind ‘the need’. We long for more Christians to serve outside their churches, sharing God’s love through generous and sacrificial giving to those who they are unlikely to cross paths in their locality.
We are excited to announce a refreshed Vision and Mission which you can read about on our Network webpage.
The Besom in Esher
In 2010, Annie Emmins and Simon Rogers met and began praying about starting a Besom to serve the local area around Esher where they had moved from London. There were several Besoms established in northeast Surrey but none covering Elmbridge. After 18 months of faithful prayer, the initiative got off the ground and The Besom in Esher was formed. Since then a core team of volunteers from three Churches (Esher Green Baptist Church, Holy Trinity Claygate and St Mary’s East Molesey) organise weekly activities and pray to outwork the Vision and Mission. Christians from all church denominations now give and serve through Besom to those most in need across Elmbridge Borough.
The Besom is a ministry which is independent of but supported by local churches and is a registered charity.
What area do we serve?
We cover all of Elmbridge Borough. We accept referrals for recipients based in our catchment as well as those moving into Elmbridge from elsewhere. We can collect large/bulky donated items from within this area and love to work with any Elmbridge-based churches to help local Christians Give to their local community.
If you are outside our area but would like to give through the Besom or have a client for a referral, the details of other Besoms in Surrey or further afield can be found on our Network website here.
We cover these postcode areas:
KT6 – in part, Long Ditton only
KT7 – all, Thames Ditton & Weston Green
KT8 – all, West & East Molesey
KT9 – all, Chessington, Hook & Malden Rushett
KT10 – all, Esher & Claygate
KT11 – in part, Cobham & Stoke D’Abernon only
KT12 – all, Walton & Hersham
KT13 – in part, Weybridge only
How it all began…
The Besom was founded by James Odgers in 1987. Early in that year, James left law practice in London to go to Hong Kong where he served in a Christian ministry involved with heroin addicts. What particularly affected him was not so much the absolute levels of human degradation and poverty that he encountered but the ever-widening gap that exists between those of us who have and can give and those who are in need. On the plane leaving Hong Kong in September 1987, James wrote the original mission statement for The Besom – that it should ‘Provide a bridge between those who want to give money, time, skills or things, and those who are in need. It ensures that what is given is used effectively.‘
From its simple beginnings in his spare bedroom to The Besom HQ and warehouse near Clapham Junction for over 20 years, many, many Christians have given out of love to those in need to alleviate suffering. James ‘retired’ in 2020 from The Besom and the central HQ closed.
In 2019 the transition to the newly constituted charity, The Besom Network, began, led by individual Besomers from across the UK giving their time and skills. Over 20 Besoms following the same principles and a newly refreshed vision and mission – updated for the 21st century. The Besom Network is now committed to planting new Besoms across the country.