Centenary Fund reaches half its target

A fund launched by the Church in Wales to mark its Centenary in 2020 has reached half its target in just over two years.

The Centenary Fund was launched in 2019 with the aim of raising £100,000 over five years for two charity projects – one at home and one overseas. With nearly £50,000 raised the Fund is now being wound up, due to the adverse impact of the Covid pandemic on church fundraising.

The projects, one run by the Christian housing charity, Housing Justice Cymru, and one run by Christian Aid, have received nearly £25,000 each from the Fund to help people in need. The Housing Justice Cymru project was originally to support night shelters for homeless people. However, these were stopped due to the pandemic with the focus instead turning to securing tenancies for vulnerable people. The work undertaken by Christian Aid’s partner in South Sudan and supported by the Fund, has also changed substantially.

The Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, thanked all those who had donated to the Fund so generously.

He said, “We are immensely pleased to have raised almost half the sum promised and are very grateful to all who contributed.

A substantial amount of money has been given to the two charities, directly benefiting those in need at home and in South Sudan. That is a great achievement in such a short time.

“Unfortunately, the pandemic has taken its toll on all charities as social restrictions and church closures have made fundraising very difficult. While the original projects sponsored by the Fund have changed, we will continue to work closely with both Housing Justice Cymru and Christian Aid to support them in their important work.”

Bonnie Williams, director of Housing Justice Cymru, said, “We are hugely grateful for the financial donations we have received to date, via the Church in Wales Centenary fund. They have enabled us to help people experiencing homelessness to find and sustain homes across Wales. We fully understand the impact the pandemic has had on the Church and on fundraising, and we remain thankful for the significant amount we have received. As we move forward, we look forward to finding new ways of working together to support vulnerable people in our communities across Wales.”

Mari McNeill, head of Christian Aid Wales, said, “That the Fund has managed to raise half its target despite so many challenges over the past two years, is testimony to the passion and commitment the Church in Wales has towards the most vulnerable in the world. The Covid pandemic has hit countries like South Sudan too, where ongoing conflict and the climate crisis have compounded issues of extreme poverty. Against this challenging backdrop the Centenary Fund has supported vital peacebuilding work on the ground reaching men, women, young people and clergy across several provinces. Although this appeal ends, we express our biggest thanks to everyone in the Church in Wales for their unwavering commitment to Christian Aid’s work, and we look forward to continuing to work in close partnership as we stand together for dignity, equality and justice in a world disfigured by poverty.”