Charity Work

Our Mission is:
"to be outward looking and responsive to the needs of others"
both in the United Kingdom and Internationally.

In practice this means that we give 10% of our annual offering as a Church to selected Christian causes
split approximately 50:50 to "Home" and "Overseas".
We also respond to emergency appeals as well as participating in the annual cycle of fundraising and giving through Christian Aid, Lent Appeal, Harvest Appeal and
Christingle Services for The Children's Society.

We support the following causes:

at Home

Chaplaincy to the Deaf - Ministry to the Deaf.

This Chaplaincy works to provide members of the Deaf Church in the St. Albans diocese with social & transport opportunities to widen their spiritual horizons and to deepen their faith.

Children's Society - Mission to Children.

This charity has been caring for children in the name of the Churches of England and Wales since 1881, reaching out unconditionally to children anywhere in the country providing safe houses to protect them and working to give them a decent chance in life. The contents of collecting boxes which supporters have throughout the year and the proceeds of both Christingle Services are committed to this work.

Church Army - UK Mission Work.

For further information: www.churcharmy.org.uk

Church Housing Trust - Housing the Homeless.

For further information: www.charitynet.org/~cht

Church Urban Fund (CUF) - Mission to the Inner Cities.

Social deprivation is not a thing of the past, nor of the third world. Founded in 1988 in response to the "Faith in the City" report, it supports innovative, new projects in some of the most needy communities throughout the UK & is another past Lent Project. Seen by charitable foundations as a "seal of approval", initial funding by CUF often enables projects to secure subsequent funding from other sources.

Crisis - "Crisis" Help for the Homeless.

For further information: www.crisis.org.uk

Emmaus Group - Help for the Unemployed.

For further information: www.emmaus.org.uk

Guaranteed Accomodation Payments (GAP) - Homeless Help.

GAP is a local rent guarantee scheme to ensure that those who would otherwise be homeless - particularly the young - are able to afford somewhere to live & improve their ability to obtain work. YMCA is one of the founding organisations and it is supported by all Churches in Welwyn Garden City.

Hestia Housing & Support - Help for the handicapped.

[previously known as St. Mungo's Trust] Our annual donation contributes to the cost of a holiday for residents, which has proven therapeutic benefits.

Noah Enterprise - Day Centre (in Luton).

Supported by the Church Urban Fund and run by a small community of nuns, the Centre plays an important role within a community less than half an hour's drive from our Church. It works with those vulnerable people who are excluded from mainstream society and services, providing help, including food, clothing and a drop-in centre. It also runs a work shop, where carpentry skills can be learnt with a view to obtaining a job and returning to an active role in society.

Shaftesbury Society - Help for the Homeless.

For further information: www.shaftesburysoc.org.uk

The Mixed Group - Friendship at Christmas

ALook Out was instrumental in recruiting helpers and transport, which are always needed.

Torch Trust - Christian help for the Blind.

Torch Trust works with the visually impaired mainly in the UK, providing Christian literature and fellowship.

Walsingham Community Homes - For those with learning difficulty.

The Homes provide quality care within the community for people with learning disabilities, trying to follow Jesus' example in placing a high value on everyone. The houses provide homes for adult sons & daughters whose parents can no longer look after them and also for patients from the long term hospitals - which are now closing - helping them to adjust from institutional life to life in a community.

Overseas

Barnabas Fund - Prevention of Christian Persecution.

Bible Society - Propagation of Bibles.

The Bible Society works to make the Scriptures available to people everywhere in the world, in their own language, and at a price they can afford.

Bishop's Harvest Appeal - Varies from year to year.

Children in Distress - Child Aid for Eastern Europe.

Set up by an Anglican priest to provide hospice care for orphans in Romania suffering, amongst other things, from HIV. At the request of the Albanian government its work has expanded into that country and was very visible during the Kosovo refugee crisis. 70% of the radioactive fall-out from Chernobyl fell on neighbouring Belarus & this charity now also works. Did you see the television coverage of its "Shoe Box" campaign to provide presents at Christmas ? We hope to get involved again this year.
For further information e-mail: info@children-in-distress.org

Christian Aid - International aid to the Third World.

For further information: www.christian-aid.org.uk

Christian Missionary Society (CMS) - Missionary Work.

One of the largest British mission agencies, sending priests, teachers and health professionals to work in partnership with Christian Churches in over 130 countries. In that time the work has changed in response to changing needs and it continues to answer God's calling. St. Francis has had retired CMS workers in the congregation for a number of years and have recently had two CMS missionaries staying with us.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide - Prevention of Christian Persecution.

For further information: www.cswusa.com

Khayelitsha - "Build My Church" - Year 2000 Lent Project.

For further information: Khayelitsha

Leprosy Mission - Missionary Work to help Leprosy.

Although now treatable, approximately a million new cases of this "biblical" disease are detected each year - 20% are children, 8% disabled. Sufferers not only need treatment but also rehabilitation and often re-training for a new method of earning a living. We hold a special collection on Leprosy Sunday - the last in January.

Lesotho Diocesan Association - Contact & Prayerful Support.

The Anglican church in Lesotho uniquely provides its services to communities, whether Christian or not, Anglican or non-Anglican, in the deep rooted belief that Jesus came to save all mankind. People come to know Christ better because they see Christianity in practice. Our support of the Anglican Church working in this small part of Southern Africa has lasted many years.

Mercy Ships - Travelling Aid for the Third World.

For further information: www.mercyships.org.uk

Mid-Herts Churches Romania Relief - Aid to Romania.

A local response to the on-going problems in Romania & neighbouring Moldova and the 1998 Lent Project. This year our donation helped towards the cost of further work on Fintinele Hospital, building cow sheds for two Moldovan villages & the running of holiday clubs in all three villages. A CowAID scheme is also operated.

Mission to Seaman - Help for those at Sea.

As an island nation, much of our international commerce continues to be by sea. This society of the Anglican Church cares for the practical and spiritual welfare of seafarers everywhere. Its chaplains are "There" in over 300 ports offering a welcome, friendship, & whatever help may be needed. Our 1998 Harvest Appeal was in thanks for the efforts of seafarers in bringing the world's harvest to our tables.

Society for Propagation of Christian Knowledge (SPCK) - See below.

For further information: www.spck.org.uk

Sightsavers International - Blind Aid in the Third World. (2001 Lent Project)

For further information: www.sightsavers.org.uk

St. Andrews Evangelical Mission - Home for Disadvantaged Children in Peru.

For further information: Hogar San Andres

United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG) - Missionary Work.

USPG serves God's people by trying to make sure everyone has the basic needs of life - fresh water, medical care, education, employment, pastoral care and theological education. St Francis has taken on support of the Open Book Education Project in India, which was our 1999 Lent Project.
For further information: Fax: (44) 171 928 23

Y-care International - YMCA's Mission Outreach.

For further information: www.oneworld.org/ymcacare