Franciscan Aid

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. Applications for tertiary education fees will be considered where there are particular difficulties. Detailed funding guidelines and an application form can be obtained from the Secretary or downloaded using the links below.

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:

1. Computers for a school in Beit Jala, Bethlehem –Practical Compassion for Destitute Children has a long association with this school. Through PCDC, we have been able to support their need for new computers.
   
2. Funding an emergency fund for desperately poor families in Palestine Members of PCDC have found families in Palestine with absolutely no food in the house. They also find students who cannot go to school because they cannot buy school uniform r pay fees. Franciscan Aid gave £1000 to be used for such emergencies.
3. Computers for CECON (Centro de Convivencia - Community Centre). This project is in a slum in Rio de Janeiro. The Centre opens daily and provides a shower, breakfast, lunch, chiropody and a haircut.  We have already supported their Franciscan Reading room. The computers enable them to provide training to young people who then are more likely to get paid employment.        
   
4. Under Tree Schools in Sudan –during the war in Sudan, children were taught sitting trees. This meant they were ale to see if militia were approaching and move. Now there is peace, the charity is trying to build permanent schools. More information and photos can be found at: www.undertreeschools.org
   
5. Delhi Brotherhood, India. This was originally a mission from Cambridge and there is still a link with Westcott House in Cambridge. They run many charitable projects in a poor area in East Delhi. These include 2 schools one of which has a hostel for boys who have no home, a night shelter for street boys (some of whom move not the hostel), a childline, work with sex workers, a home for elders. We have bought fans, chairs, greenboards (=modern blackboards) for classrooms, beds for the boys’ hostel and a pressure cooker for the night shelter which means they save on gas. More information can be found at : www.delhibrotherhoodsociety.org
   
6. Re-aforestation project in Solomon Islands –the trees are used for building and fuel so it is important they are replaced.
7. Western style toilets in Solomon Islands for some of the many leg amputees (there is a high incidence of heart disease and diabetes) who cannot use the traditional “squatties”. They had to drag themselves into the bush.
   
8. School fees for individuals in Solomon Islands, Zimbabwe and Tanzania

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 standing order form using the links below.

You can also download a Donation Form for Gift Aid using the link below or obtain 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 Rectory, 19 Abbey Street, Plaistow, London E13 8DT  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Donations to Franciscan Aid: Philippa Bird TSSF (Treasurer): 42 Ridley Avenue, London W13 9XW    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it