Charities
Showing God’s Love through supporting Charities
This page is retained temporarily for historical record.
This page is retained temporarily for historical record.
Charities we Supported Throughout 2015 and 2016
St Michaels church supports a selection of charities of both local and wider scope, as listed below. In most cases you can click on the name of the charity as a link to their website.
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Barnabas Fund provides help for persecuted Christians around the world by meeting practical needs, supporting the local Christian communities and tackling persecution wherever it occurs.
See also the article below (December 2016) |
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Tearfund is an international development and disaster relief agency working with the poorest communities worldwide, not only with immediate disaster relief, but with programmes to permanently remove them from poverty.
See also the article below (January 2017) |
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ReTrak works to transform highly the lives of vulnerable children; preserve families; empower communities and give each of them a voice. "We put children at the very heart of everything we do and will be fearless and tenacious in defending and promoting their rights."
See also the article below (November 2016) |
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Romance Academy exists to help young people build and sustain healthy relationships; to assist parents in understanding and supporting their children; and to lead the charge in establishing a framework of healthy relationships for young people.
See also the article below |
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Naomi House (children) and Jack's Place (young adults) are hospices that support families from seven counties in southern England, including Berkshire.
See also the article below (August 2016) |
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Berkshire Churches Trust (BCT) raises funds to help with the cost of repairs to the fabric of Christian churches of any denomination in Berkshire. It also aims to encourage churches to make use of their buildings for the benefit of the community at large, if this can be achieved without compromising the architectural quality of the church.
See also the article below |
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Sandhurst Day Centre enables older people in our community to have access to a facility that provides for their social needs and well being. This is achieved by providing a minibus service to collect and return members to and from the centre, and by providing social activities, hot meals and care facilities.
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Sandhurst Counselling Service offers counselling to anyone struggling with a range of mental health issues in the Sandhurst area. The counselling service, now a separate charity, is based at St Michael’s and was originally part of the church.
See also the article below (February 2016) |
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The Howard Stilliard Memorial Trust is a registered charity dedicated to promoting the welfare and enterprise of young people living in Sandhurst, Owlsmoor and College Town.
See also the article below |
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St Michael's Hardship Fund
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St Michael’s Hardship Fund is a restricted fund of our church where small one-off grants are given to people in need who either live in the parish or are connected with the church.
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The above list of charities was updated following a consultation at the end of 2014. Many thanks to all who made suggestions and comments.
As a church, the PCC has agreed to support these charities during 2015 and 2016. In addition to supporting them financially, we are aiming to include them in our prayers in worship.
We are looking at other ways of raising the profile of the charities and ways we can support them. If you feel strongly about one of these charities would you consider being their champion within St. Michael’s? If so, please speak to John Castle, John Martin or Emma Hodge.
As a church, the PCC has agreed to support these charities during 2015 and 2016. In addition to supporting them financially, we are aiming to include them in our prayers in worship.
We are looking at other ways of raising the profile of the charities and ways we can support them. If you feel strongly about one of these charities would you consider being their champion within St. Michael’s? If so, please speak to John Castle, John Martin or Emma Hodge.
Barnabas Fund - Helping Christian Children at Christmas
This Christmas the Barnabas Fund is appealing for help in protecting Christian children from the effects of war and poverty. Barnabas says: ‘At Christmas we honour our Saviour, born on earth to a human family to bring hope and salvation to the world. Please pray for Christian children who have learned at a tender age the reality of suffering for His Name’s sake.’
According to Barnabas Fund: ‘Children are often on the front line of anti-Christian persecution. When discrimination reduces their family to grinding poverty, and children have to go to bed hungry, their health is affected. Many Christian parents cannot afford to send their children to school. Those who do go to school may face discrimination, hostility or even violence. Some are failed in their exams, just because they are Christians. Some are pressured by teachers to convert to the majority religion.’
Barnabas helps families facing heartbreak and trouble. In Pakistan hundreds of families have had daughters kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam and into marriage under age. Barnabas helps these families and those where the main breadwinner has been killed. Barnabas provides food and clothing and the stationery that children need for school. In Aleppo, Syria, Barnabas cares for 193 fatherless children.
To answer Barnabas Fund’s Christmas appeal, please go to https://www.barnabasfund.org/appeals/christmas-appeal-2016.
According to Barnabas Fund: ‘Children are often on the front line of anti-Christian persecution. When discrimination reduces their family to grinding poverty, and children have to go to bed hungry, their health is affected. Many Christian parents cannot afford to send their children to school. Those who do go to school may face discrimination, hostility or even violence. Some are failed in their exams, just because they are Christians. Some are pressured by teachers to convert to the majority religion.’
Barnabas helps families facing heartbreak and trouble. In Pakistan hundreds of families have had daughters kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam and into marriage under age. Barnabas helps these families and those where the main breadwinner has been killed. Barnabas provides food and clothing and the stationery that children need for school. In Aleppo, Syria, Barnabas cares for 193 fatherless children.
To answer Barnabas Fund’s Christmas appeal, please go to https://www.barnabasfund.org/appeals/christmas-appeal-2016.
Berkshire Churches Trust
The Berkshire Churches Trust is an inter-denominational fund set up to help meet the cost of keeping the county’s churches in repair. It is one of the charities that St Michael’s supports and is the charity singled out to be remembered in our prayers during the week beginning 3rd of April.
Berkshire has a rich heritage of churches of all denominations. Many of them date from Saxon and Norman times. Later mediaeval buildings are plentiful, and there are many important examples of gothic-revival architecture from the 19th century. They stand as landmarks in their neighbourhoods and are an important focus of continuity in ever changing times.
The Berkshire Churches Fund says this about itself:
‘The trust was set up in 1984. Its objective is to raise funds to help with the cost of repairs to the fabric of Christian Churches in Berkshire of any denomination belonging to or associated with ‘Churches Together in England’. It also aims to encourage churches to make use of their buildings for the benefit of the community at large, if this can be achieved without compromising the architectural quality of the church. However, as its funds are small it can only grant aid [for] works other than to the fabric of the worship area if they are of some architectural or historical importance.
‘Between 1988 and 2012 the Trust has given over £400,000 in 173 separate grants, varying between £200 and £10,000.’
To read more, please go to http://berkschurchestrust.org.uk/.
Ride & Stride, the nationally sponsored walk and cycle event, is the trust’s chief source of income. In Ride & Stride people throughout England walk or cycle between churches, exploring and enjoying the countryside and visiting nationally around 10,000 churches. This is a wonderful event, in which you can keep fit while visiting some of the country’s most beautiful and intriguing churches, and at the same time raise money for their preservation. In 2016 the event will take place on the 10th of September. For more information go to http://www.rideandstrideuk.org/near-you/.
Berkshire has a rich heritage of churches of all denominations. Many of them date from Saxon and Norman times. Later mediaeval buildings are plentiful, and there are many important examples of gothic-revival architecture from the 19th century. They stand as landmarks in their neighbourhoods and are an important focus of continuity in ever changing times.
The Berkshire Churches Fund says this about itself:
‘The trust was set up in 1984. Its objective is to raise funds to help with the cost of repairs to the fabric of Christian Churches in Berkshire of any denomination belonging to or associated with ‘Churches Together in England’. It also aims to encourage churches to make use of their buildings for the benefit of the community at large, if this can be achieved without compromising the architectural quality of the church. However, as its funds are small it can only grant aid [for] works other than to the fabric of the worship area if they are of some architectural or historical importance.
‘Between 1988 and 2012 the Trust has given over £400,000 in 173 separate grants, varying between £200 and £10,000.’
To read more, please go to http://berkschurchestrust.org.uk/.
Ride & Stride, the nationally sponsored walk and cycle event, is the trust’s chief source of income. In Ride & Stride people throughout England walk or cycle between churches, exploring and enjoying the countryside and visiting nationally around 10,000 churches. This is a wonderful event, in which you can keep fit while visiting some of the country’s most beautiful and intriguing churches, and at the same time raise money for their preservation. In 2016 the event will take place on the 10th of September. For more information go to http://www.rideandstrideuk.org/near-you/.
Counselling Service wins Big Lottery Funding
Sandhurst Counselling Service has been awarded nearly £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to pilot delivering psychotherapy services, in addition to its normal counselling service. This will enable clients with complex psychological and mental health needs to receive therapy, addressing issues such as eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and similar conditions. The Big Lottery funding from the award will enable treatment of up to three clients for a period of one year.
Three years ago St Michael’s launched the Sandhurst Counselling Service (SCS) as a separate charity, building on the work carried out by the church for over 18 years. The award is a great credit to the counselling team, and builds on the tireless work they do in our community. Over the next year, SCS will be seeking further funding so as to be able to continue the pilot project in years to come.
The successful application drew on data from a survey of local health professionals and patients, which found that 85 per cent of respondents who had had counselling or psychotherapy found it helpful; when asked about the availability of NHS counselling and psychotherapy, 51 per cent thought it was poor, with gaps in provision and long waits for services.
Welcoming the award, Mrs Diana Taylor, SCS Clinical Manager, said: ‘This is a wonderful opportunity to pilot a wider range of services, and to help people suffering the more serious, complex and entrenched problems who are least able to function within their relationships, their families and within society in our area. The funding will enable us to draw in the best qualified professional help to make a real difference in people’s lives, improving the way they function, resulting in significant benefits to the individuals, their children, their families and to the local community.’
Three years ago St Michael’s launched the Sandhurst Counselling Service (SCS) as a separate charity, building on the work carried out by the church for over 18 years. The award is a great credit to the counselling team, and builds on the tireless work they do in our community. Over the next year, SCS will be seeking further funding so as to be able to continue the pilot project in years to come.
The successful application drew on data from a survey of local health professionals and patients, which found that 85 per cent of respondents who had had counselling or psychotherapy found it helpful; when asked about the availability of NHS counselling and psychotherapy, 51 per cent thought it was poor, with gaps in provision and long waits for services.
Welcoming the award, Mrs Diana Taylor, SCS Clinical Manager, said: ‘This is a wonderful opportunity to pilot a wider range of services, and to help people suffering the more serious, complex and entrenched problems who are least able to function within their relationships, their families and within society in our area. The funding will enable us to draw in the best qualified professional help to make a real difference in people’s lives, improving the way they function, resulting in significant benefits to the individuals, their children, their families and to the local community.’
Syrian Christians released
Recently Barnabas Fund (one of the charities that we support as a church) have reported the release of Christian prisoners who were taken from their villages by IS (Islamic State) almost exactly a year ago. Below is an extract of their report.
"It is with great thanksgiving that Barnabas Fund can report that the final group of 43 Syrian Christians who were abducted from their villages in the Khabur River area of northeastern Syria one year ago, were released today (22 February) by Islamic State (IS) militants. These 43 were the last remaining Christian hostages being held from this large group of 253 believers who were snatched from their homes last February.
"It was in the early hours of 23 February 2015 that IS militants raided the Khabur River villages, torching churches, destroying houses, and capturing all those who did not manage to flee.
"More Syrian Christians who have been kidnapped in other parts of the country are continuing to be held by cruel IS militants. Barnabas Fund sources believe that 37- 38 Christians taken from the city of Aleppo are still being held hostage, and some of these have since been moved to Raqqa, the so-called capital of IS territory.
"According to the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA), 179 Syrian Christians remain hostage to IS after militants raided the town of Qaryatain last August and seized 250 Christian residents. Other militant groups have also kidnapped Syrian Christians. For example al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda’s Syrian wing, abducted two Archbishops in 2013 - nothing has been heard of them since.
"Unable to return to their villages, the freed hostages from the Khabur River area have lost both their houses and their livings. Barnabas Fund has been supporting these released hostages, providing for their basic material needs and sustaining them in their time of need."
The full version of the report can be read by searching for "Barnabas: Syrian-Christian-hostages-released-after-one-year-of-captivity"
We must remember our Syrian Christian brothers and sisters in our prayers and pray for the release of those still in captivity. We must also pray in thanks for the work that the Barnabas Fund does to maintain Christianity in the Middle East.
"It is with great thanksgiving that Barnabas Fund can report that the final group of 43 Syrian Christians who were abducted from their villages in the Khabur River area of northeastern Syria one year ago, were released today (22 February) by Islamic State (IS) militants. These 43 were the last remaining Christian hostages being held from this large group of 253 believers who were snatched from their homes last February.
"It was in the early hours of 23 February 2015 that IS militants raided the Khabur River villages, torching churches, destroying houses, and capturing all those who did not manage to flee.
"More Syrian Christians who have been kidnapped in other parts of the country are continuing to be held by cruel IS militants. Barnabas Fund sources believe that 37- 38 Christians taken from the city of Aleppo are still being held hostage, and some of these have since been moved to Raqqa, the so-called capital of IS territory.
"According to the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA), 179 Syrian Christians remain hostage to IS after militants raided the town of Qaryatain last August and seized 250 Christian residents. Other militant groups have also kidnapped Syrian Christians. For example al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda’s Syrian wing, abducted two Archbishops in 2013 - nothing has been heard of them since.
"Unable to return to their villages, the freed hostages from the Khabur River area have lost both their houses and their livings. Barnabas Fund has been supporting these released hostages, providing for their basic material needs and sustaining them in their time of need."
The full version of the report can be read by searching for "Barnabas: Syrian-Christian-hostages-released-after-one-year-of-captivity"
We must remember our Syrian Christian brothers and sisters in our prayers and pray for the release of those still in captivity. We must also pray in thanks for the work that the Barnabas Fund does to maintain Christianity in the Middle East.
Romance Academy
The Romance Academy is the charity supported by St Michael’s that we perhaps hear least about. It is, however, the one that St Michael’s could be said to be most closely associated with. Until recently Sarah Long (née Percival) handled project development for the academy, ‘shaping the future of our youth and transforming their lives for the better’ - an important objective.
Romance Academy was set up in 2005, following a TV programme called ‘No Sex Please We’re Teenagers’, which followed the lives and loves of the very first Romance Academy - 12 teenagers from north London who were challenged to give up sex for five months, so that they could explore the true value of relationships and the positive and negative effects of delaying sexual activity.
Romance Academy is now a national project, affecting the lives of hundreds of teenagers every year. Youth workers all over the country are trained to replicate the Romance Academy model in their home town. Through creating a positive community where young people can appreciate themselves and others, Romance Academy instantly removes them from external sexual pressures and allows them to ask simply: ‘who am I?’
Romance Academy is passionate about seeing lives transformed for the better. Not only does it want to help young people make informed choices about sex and relationships, it also wants to see them grow in confidence and self-esteem and to have a positive vision of family and community life.
Romance Academy says: ‘If we want young people to make wise choices, we need to work with them to change the culture that shapes all our values and attitudes. We need a shift in our education and in thinking that relates to every aspect of our society.’
Romance Academy offers a credible alternative for young people. As it strives continually to give young people a supportive peer group, it hopes that their knowledge of sexual health-related issues will increase, as well as confidence to take responsibility and make intelligent choices. The charity also offers support to parents through events and a regular newsletter.
If this has struck a chord or is something that you feel strongly about, please get in touch! Romance Academy would love to hear from you. See the website link above
Romance Academy was set up in 2005, following a TV programme called ‘No Sex Please We’re Teenagers’, which followed the lives and loves of the very first Romance Academy - 12 teenagers from north London who were challenged to give up sex for five months, so that they could explore the true value of relationships and the positive and negative effects of delaying sexual activity.
Romance Academy is now a national project, affecting the lives of hundreds of teenagers every year. Youth workers all over the country are trained to replicate the Romance Academy model in their home town. Through creating a positive community where young people can appreciate themselves and others, Romance Academy instantly removes them from external sexual pressures and allows them to ask simply: ‘who am I?’
Romance Academy is passionate about seeing lives transformed for the better. Not only does it want to help young people make informed choices about sex and relationships, it also wants to see them grow in confidence and self-esteem and to have a positive vision of family and community life.
Romance Academy says: ‘If we want young people to make wise choices, we need to work with them to change the culture that shapes all our values and attitudes. We need a shift in our education and in thinking that relates to every aspect of our society.’
Romance Academy offers a credible alternative for young people. As it strives continually to give young people a supportive peer group, it hopes that their knowledge of sexual health-related issues will increase, as well as confidence to take responsibility and make intelligent choices. The charity also offers support to parents through events and a regular newsletter.
If this has struck a chord or is something that you feel strongly about, please get in touch! Romance Academy would love to hear from you. See the website link above
Retrak: Emergency Appeal November 2016
Bulamu, a transition centre for street girls in Kampala, Uganda, provides them with a safe and hygienic place to sleep, access to education and medical care, and counselling. Current funding finishes at the end of November, and they are appealing for help to meet the centre's £5,500 per month costs. To find out more and donate, please follow the link above to the Retrak website
News from Tearfund
Yemen!
The civil war in Yemen is today’s forgotten conflict, overshadowed by horrific events in Aleppo, Syria, and elsewhere. According to the monitoring group ACAPS (Assessment Capacities Project) the world’s worst humanitarian crisis today is in Yemen. Tearfund says that around three-quarters of the Yemeni population (18 million people) need humanitarian assistance. Save the Children says that one third of children under the age of five are malnourished. Even water is in short supply.
Why? Like many middle-eastern quarrels, the war has conflict between Sunni and Shia, the principal Muslim sects, as an important element. At its base is rivalry between Houthi tribesmen (Shia) and the Yemeni government (Sunni). The conflict began in 2014 with the Houthi gaining control of Sana’a, the capital, and confining the president to his residence. The war has been exacerbated by support of foreign powers – the government by Saudi Arabia and allies, and the Houthis by Iran.
Tearfund launched an immediate response that is part of the Disaster Emergency committee (DEC) appeal. The DEC brings together 13 leading UK aid agencies to raise money at times of humanitarian crisis in poorer countries. They have distributed food and hygiene kits to reduce the risk of deadly disease and prevent its spread, and plan to bring medicines and water. For a true picture, see the DEC Yemen Crisis Appeal video. In their recent newspaper advertisement DEC said that demand is overwhelming and the country is collapsing … more than seven million people don’t know where their next meal is coming from.
Tearfund recalls the experience of one woman: ‘I ran out of the house with nothing in my hands except my children. I could not take any clothes or possessions as there was no place in the truck.’ She had nothing to protect her children from the sun and says that they were in great danger because air strikes target any moving vehicle.
If you would like to contribute directly to Tearfund, which is a charity that St Michael’s supports, please click on give now. The need is very great.
The civil war in Yemen is today’s forgotten conflict, overshadowed by horrific events in Aleppo, Syria, and elsewhere. According to the monitoring group ACAPS (Assessment Capacities Project) the world’s worst humanitarian crisis today is in Yemen. Tearfund says that around three-quarters of the Yemeni population (18 million people) need humanitarian assistance. Save the Children says that one third of children under the age of five are malnourished. Even water is in short supply.
Why? Like many middle-eastern quarrels, the war has conflict between Sunni and Shia, the principal Muslim sects, as an important element. At its base is rivalry between Houthi tribesmen (Shia) and the Yemeni government (Sunni). The conflict began in 2014 with the Houthi gaining control of Sana’a, the capital, and confining the president to his residence. The war has been exacerbated by support of foreign powers – the government by Saudi Arabia and allies, and the Houthis by Iran.
Tearfund launched an immediate response that is part of the Disaster Emergency committee (DEC) appeal. The DEC brings together 13 leading UK aid agencies to raise money at times of humanitarian crisis in poorer countries. They have distributed food and hygiene kits to reduce the risk of deadly disease and prevent its spread, and plan to bring medicines and water. For a true picture, see the DEC Yemen Crisis Appeal video. In their recent newspaper advertisement DEC said that demand is overwhelming and the country is collapsing … more than seven million people don’t know where their next meal is coming from.
Tearfund recalls the experience of one woman: ‘I ran out of the house with nothing in my hands except my children. I could not take any clothes or possessions as there was no place in the truck.’ She had nothing to protect her children from the sun and says that they were in great danger because air strikes target any moving vehicle.
If you would like to contribute directly to Tearfund, which is a charity that St Michael’s supports, please click on give now. The need is very great.
Naomi House and Jacksplace
Naomi House & Jacksplace is a charity that St Michael’s supports. It provides expert hospice care to more than 280 life-limited and life-threatened
children and young adults. It makes available all manner of care, including family and community support.
I’m afraid this charity has received little newsletter coverage in comparison with other charities, such as Tearfund and Barnabas Fund, that we also support. Naomi House & Jacksplace last appeared in the newsletter in April 2015, where a short article described what it does and its history. It deserves greater coverage and I [Jim Somerville] shall make a greater effort to keep up with developments in future.
In April 2015 we said:
"Naomi House was set up first, in 1995, in the grounds of Sutton House, Sutton Scotney, Winchester and offers respite care for children, and end-of- life and bereavement support on a 365-days-per-year, 24-hours-per day basis.
"Jacksplace, named after a benefactor, was set up in 2010, to provide care for young people once they have reached the age of 16. An important role for Jacksplace is the provision of transitional care in the move from Naomi House. With advances in palliative medicine, more children live long enough to move to Jacksplace and need this care."
Since then Naomi house has been completely refurbished and now has ‘everything you could possibly need,’ to quote one young resident.
Our support is greatly needed because currently these charities are the only ones in existence offering this standard of care, which costs around £7 million per year. (Jacksplace is the only establishment in the south of England offering respite care for young adults.) With only ten per cent of income coming from government and statutory sources, Naomi House & Jacksplace relies heavily on charitable support from organisations such as ours.
On its website [follow link above], it describes in detail the importance of this charity to young people and, under the events tab, the activities you can take part in to raise funds for this unique charity.
children and young adults. It makes available all manner of care, including family and community support.
I’m afraid this charity has received little newsletter coverage in comparison with other charities, such as Tearfund and Barnabas Fund, that we also support. Naomi House & Jacksplace last appeared in the newsletter in April 2015, where a short article described what it does and its history. It deserves greater coverage and I [Jim Somerville] shall make a greater effort to keep up with developments in future.
In April 2015 we said:
"Naomi House was set up first, in 1995, in the grounds of Sutton House, Sutton Scotney, Winchester and offers respite care for children, and end-of- life and bereavement support on a 365-days-per-year, 24-hours-per day basis.
"Jacksplace, named after a benefactor, was set up in 2010, to provide care for young people once they have reached the age of 16. An important role for Jacksplace is the provision of transitional care in the move from Naomi House. With advances in palliative medicine, more children live long enough to move to Jacksplace and need this care."
Since then Naomi house has been completely refurbished and now has ‘everything you could possibly need,’ to quote one young resident.
Our support is greatly needed because currently these charities are the only ones in existence offering this standard of care, which costs around £7 million per year. (Jacksplace is the only establishment in the south of England offering respite care for young adults.) With only ten per cent of income coming from government and statutory sources, Naomi House & Jacksplace relies heavily on charitable support from organisations such as ours.
On its website [follow link above], it describes in detail the importance of this charity to young people and, under the events tab, the activities you can take part in to raise funds for this unique charity.
Howard Stilliard Fund
The Dr. Howard Stilliard Memorial Fund was set up in memory of the late Dr. Stilliard, who was a member of St Michael's church, by his widow in 1994. It is a registered charity No. 1058643 with trustees representing Sandhurst Parish Church, the Sandhurst Group Practice and the Stilliard family. The aims and objectives of the fund are to promote the welfare and enterprise of young people resident in Sandhurst, College Town and Owlsmoor, by making financial contributions towards the cost of projects, courses and equipment, especially where statutory funds are not available. In general small projects which will benefit the local community are given priority. On behalf of the fund the trustees thank St Michael's congregation for your support.