“Children Speaking”, St Andrew’s, Roundhay, United Reformed Church’s annual appeal for others, launched in November, has raised £12,100, including Gift Aid to be paid by the government. The church raised the money among the congregation for two Leeds-based charities, the Sylvia Wright Trust in India, and KOST, the Kenyan Orphan Sponsorship Trust, and for the United Reformed Church’s own charity, Commitment for Life.
Rev David Pickering, Minister of St Andrew’s said:
“Despite the recession, people have dug deeply. We thank God for their generosity. Wonderful work is done in God’s name by the three charities with many of the poorest children in the world. We heard some of them 
speaking when we launched the appeal. Today I gave the charities presentation cheques. More will follow when the Gift Aid is received.”
Jane Throssell, trustee of the Sylvia Wright Trust, said:
“St Andrew’s kind gift will help the Sylvia Wright Trust in maintaining its school in Tamil Nadu in India for over 200 profoundly deaf children, who all come from very poor families. They depend on the school. The Trust also serves God by providing a hospital, and in other ways.”
KOST trustee, Gill Waterhouse said:
“KOST cares for 80 children in the Homa Bay area of Kenya, who have nowhere else to go. All their daily needs are met by KOST, and KOST helps them go to school every day. Keeping going is always a struggle, and St Andrew’s support is a great help.”
For Commitment for Life, Jane Murray said:
“One of the ways this gift is likely to help is in the Commitment for Life and Christian Aid supported centres in Israel and Palestine, where traumatised youngsters can play safely and be helped with their problems. Commitment for Life also serves God in Bangladesh, Jamaica and Zimbabwe.”
In conclusion, David Pickering said:
“Through these three charities, St Andrew’s gifts will make a real difference to many people.”
Notes
1. Attached is a photograph of the three charities’ representatives with their cheques, showing left to right:
Jane Throssell, trustee of the Sylvia Wright Trust; Gill Waterhouse, trustee of KOST, the Kenyan Orphan Sponsorship Trust; Jane Murray, representative of the United Reformed Church’s charity Commitment for Life; Rev David Pickering, Minister of St Andrew’s.
2. It is expected a second payment will be made to each of the charities after the government’s Gift Aid is received.
3. For more information, please contact:
Andrea Varnavides, St Andrew’s Communications Elder, on 0113 266 2132.
St Andrew’s, Roundhay, United Reformed Church
1 February 2011
