What is Franciscan Aid?

Franciscan Aid is the charitable trust of the Third Order of the Society of Saint Francis, Charity Number 285413. Franciscan Aid works through local Franciscans across the developing world to relieve poverty and advance education in the world’s poorest countries when the needs may not be covered by other agencies.

Background

In 1982 a Charitable Trust was set up by Br. Geoffrey SSF (Minister General ), Mary Johnson and  Bob Diaper (Guardian  and Treasurer respectively) of the European  Province  of TSSF named, 'Franciscan Aid.'

It stated in the Trust Deed  that  the  objects  of  the  charity  " shall  be  to  relieve  poverty  and  advance  education  of  deprived people  from Third  World  Countries  whose  needs may  not  be  covered  by  other  agencies  and  those  with  whom  the  Franciscans  are   in contact and  whose  needs  are  known  so  that  they  can  be  aided quickly  and  precisely ".

Franciscan  Aid ,now  clearly  defined  as ' The  Charitable  Trust  of  the  Third  Order ' has  been  closely  linked   with  First  Order  brothers  and  Tertiaries  working  outside  the  UK  in  some  of  the  poorest  parts  of  the  world,  particularly  Africa, Palestine  SE Asia,  Melanesia  and  South  America.

All  office  holders  give  their  time  free  to  keep  costs  to  a  minimum. Great  care  is  taken  that  gifts  are  monitored  and  used  as  requested   and   all  accounts  are  viewed  by  Independent   Reporting  Accountants  every  year  in  line  with  charity  law.

How does it work?

Franciscan Aid is run by a group of UK Trustees in consultation with the Third Order Minster General and Ministers Provincial and the Minister General and UK Minister Provincial of the First Order. The Trustees meet three times a year in London to review applications and to disperse available funds.

Who can apply?

The needs of individuals and organisations are put forward by Franciscans of the First and Third Orders, in consultation with the local Anglican bishop. We generally do not fund building costs or tertiary education fees. Detailed funding guidelines and an application form can be obtained from the Secretary or downloaded. Please use Form I for Education Grants and Form II for other applications. If possible, please send the form by email.

The effect of a grant is monitored by the sponsoring Franciscan locally who sends reports to the Trustees.

Where does the money go?

Here are some recent examples:

• A refrigerator for a Boy’s Home in Beit Jala, Palestine to improve standards of catering and hygiene
• Part costs of setting up a Community Care Centre for battered women in the Solomon Islands
• Cost of schooling for children in sub-Saharan Africa and S E Asia whose parents have died of AIDs
• Sponsorship of two nurses for Enrolled Midwife training in Zambia by paying registration fees
• Retraining Sudanese refugees so that they could take up paid employment in Cairo
• Help for a visiting Chaplain provide basic health care in a maximum security prison in Zambia
• Franciscan Reading Room in Brazil’s largest favela (shanty town)

 How can I help?

Every donation we receive helps us help more people. If you can give regularly through a standing order it helps us to plan ahead and to extend grants beyond one year-particularly helpful in education. If you are a tax payer and gift aid your contribution, we can increase the amount received by 28% by reclaiming your tax making it go further.  You can donate:

• By CHEQUE direct to Treasurer. Whatever the amount (provided you are a standard rate taxpayer) we can recover the tax through the Gift Aid scheme. NB: If your cheque is paid through CAF or another charitable foundation the tax has already been received, so the above does not apply. 
• By BANKER’S ORDER, monthly, quarterly, six monthly or annually. 

You can download a Donation Form or obtained one from the Secretary.

Most Important - however you give, please DO NOT send cash through the post. Postal orders do still exist if you cannot pay by cheque.

Please send all donations to the Treasurer clearly marked Franciscan Aid.

What else can I do?

Please pray that we will receive the resources necessary to meet the needs before us. Please pray for our grant recipients and their futures. 
Please also pray for our Franciscan partners and the Trustees as they seek to carry out God’s work.

Who to contact:

• Enquiries about Franciscan Aid: Helen Mossop TSSF (Secretary): The Vicarage, 2B Margery Park Road, Forest Gate, London E7 9JY

• Donations to Franciscan Aid: Philippa Bird TSSF (Treasurer): 42 Ridley Avenue, London W13 9XW