Churches Together in Leatherhead - Christian Aid

Christian Aid is an agency of the churches in the UK and Ireland. We work wherever the need is greatest – irrespective of religion or race.

Because we believe in strengthening people to find their own solutions to the problems they face, we support local organisations, which are best placed to understand local needs. We also give help on the ground through 16 overseas offices.

We strive for a new world transformed by an end to poverty and we campaign to change the rules that keep people poor.

In Leatherhead the Christian Aid Committee is made up of representatives from the Anglican, Methodist and URC churches and the present coordinator is Frank Haslam, L379341. Each church has a team of collectors.

Christian Aid website

2006 - The Christian Aid Team in Leatherhead this year saw Anne Ray take over as coordinator for the URC from Margaret Dodds-Ely. Margaret has done a great job and we thank her very much. We are waiting to hear who is taking over from Jane Smith as coordinator for the Methodist team, again many thanks to Jane. The Roman Catholic Church concentrates on supporting CAFOD. A number of collectors are not affiliated to a particular church and are always welcome.

At Christmas our now traditional hour of Carol Singing in the Swan Centre raised £124.

Overall the total collected this year was £4169 (2005 was £4,479). We were short of collectors and the week was wet, which never helps, so in the circumstances it was a very brave effort. This included the Flag Day in the town (£154) and the Station Collection (£109). In total there were 56 door to door collectors. Nearly half the total collected was Gift Aided, which will further boost our giving.

If churches wish to organise an appeal in response to a need during the year, a supply of Christian Aid envelopes can be provided to give to congregations/magazines. This is a sensible way of collecting as it enables Gift Aiding

In 2007, when Christian Aid Week will be 13-19 May, we aim to recruit new collectors and widen the coverage of roads for the door to door collection, in what is for many in the town, the main way they see churches together in action.

Frank Haslam, Coordinator Christian Aid Leatherhead L379341

How you can help

• Come and join us to sing carols for Christian Aid - usually a Saturday close to Christmas, by kind permission of the Swan Centre.
  
• Become a door to door collector - deliver and a couple of days later collect Christian Aid envelopes during Christian Aid Week which in 2007 will be 13-19 May. The more collectors the lighter the load for each. Weather permitting we hope that you would be able to make more than one attempt to collect envelopes from the houses you delivered to. Collectors need not be members of a local church but have to be aged 17 or over to comply with MVDC requirements.
  
• Collect at Leatherhead Station - we collect from about 0630-0900, usually on the Tuesday of Christian Aid Week, by kind permission of Southern. In 2007 this should be 15th May.
  
• Collect for an hour in the Town - our flag day is usually on the Thursday of Christian Aid Week and so should be on 17th May 2007.
  
• See if your place of work in the town will accept having a Christian Aid collection poster and box during Christian Aid Week.
  
• Help us to count and bank the collections - all counting is done by a counter and a checker, and help with this is always appreciated, especially from those who may find it less easy to be a collector.
  
• If you are a school please also contact us for information about education packs and organising events for Christian Aid Week.

Contact: Frank Haslam L379341