Financial Update

I mentioned in my last article the Make a Wish Foundation charity supported by our young people at St George's, and since then I have received another letter explaining specifically who will benefit. I reproduce the contents of the letter dated 27/9/04 for your information.

Thank you...

I know you have already received a letter from our Head Office in Camberley, but I personally wanted to thank you on behalf of Make-A-Wish Foundation UK South Region for your kind donation of £502.50 that you recently sent us from your sponsored swim and various other fundraising events. Please will you thank all the caring young people who made this donation possible for their generosity and kindness, and for choosing us as their charity for 2004.

The money raised will go towards granting a wish for Adam who is 14 years old and has Tricuspid Atresia. Adam lives with his family in Chichester and his wish is to go on a cruise. We are arranging all the details now so Adam and family should be off shortly.

We grant wishes for children living with life-threatening illnesses. We are in the process of granting 42 local wishes at present, ranging from having A Bob The Builder Birthday Party to going on a 'What Not To Wear' makeover weekend. Other wishes waiting to take place include meeting Busted, having a computer, to be a zoo keeper looking after the monkeys, to have a castle playhouse in the back garden, driving lessons, visiting the Ferrari factory in Italy and meeting Jenson Button.

Our aim is to grant a wish a day. It is only with assistance from people like yourselves that we can continue to bring a little joy and magic into these very special children's lives. There are many ways in which you can help including donating empty ink cartridges, using Charity Flowers, becoming a volunteer, or making a regular monthly payment from as little as £2 per month. If you would like further information please call me on 01962 820302.

Frances Heath, Area Manager South

PO Box 333, Winchester, SO22 4WA

I also reproduce a letter from Christian Aid explaining how donations are being used in Sudan.

Thank you for your donation of £559.83 towards our Sudan emergency appeal. Your support is very much appreciated.

The conflict continues to have a devastating effect on people in Darfur, western Sudan and Malakal, southern Sudan. More than a million people have been forced to flee their homes.

In Darfur, we are working through a joint programme involving Action by Churches Together (a global alliance of churches and their aid agencies) and Caritas International (a similar network of Catholic agencies). The Sudan Development Organisation (SUDO) is implementing this ecumenical programme.

SUDO is helping people who have fled Darfur to the refugee camps around Mershing. Your donation is enabling them to install hand pumps for water and to build pit latrines and shelters. Materials for the shelters are brought by SUDO to the camps, preventing people from having to go outside where they are vulnerable to attack.

In addition, SUDO are training displaced people to build their own shelters. These are large enough to sleep a family and take about a day to build. Your kind support is vital in enabling this work to continue - thank you so much for your gift.

Our website is updated regularly with news about our response to this crisis. You can find out more at www.christianaid.org.uk

Caroline Lubale, Supporter Relations.

A further £44.01 has since been sent to Christian Aid and the September retiring collection raised £102.26 for the Portsmouth Samaritans.

The PCC have met the 2nd instalment of the Southern Water rates charge for the Vicarage of £170.07 and Father Mike Sheffield, our new Vicar, is submitting detailed claims for his expenses with supporting invoices on a monthly basis. The practice of paying a fixed allowance is no longer acceptable for tax reasons. Cheques have been written for the quarterly photocopier charge £88.79, piano tune church and hall £90, work on the church heating boiler also £90, and outlay on flower bulbs supplies for subsequent resale £553.43.

Income has included £400 from the Friday coffee mornings and £571.95 interest/dividends from investments at the end of September.

Linda Wainwright
Honorary Treasurer to the PCC