Light for the Blind’ St Joseph’s Hospices Helping the Blind and Dying Destitute of South India U.K. Registered Charity No. 1085698
Chairperson's Report 2025
The Charity 'Light for the Blind' was constituted as a Charitable Trust in the city of Leeds in August 2000 by Fr Thomas Rathapillil and Mrs Myrtle Watkins. Its main objective is to raise funds for the continuing care of the dying and destitute people in our hospices in Tamil Nadu, South India.
Along with other organisations, the Charity is struggling to remit funds to India. The local Indian licence under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act was revoked based on unfounded accusations. This was successfully challenged in the court in India. However, the restoration of the licence is taking longer than we or Father Thomas would like. The local Indian charity has been successful in raising funds for operational activities. We have stopped new fund-raising activities and are monitoring the situation. We are also in the process of writing to the supporters of the charity, to keep them informed of this situation.
A new bank account was opened (after the end of the financial year) as the UK government’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) was capped at £85,000 (now £120,000).
I would like to take this opportunity to say a fond farewell to two of the trustees who have resigned over the course of the year. We thank Peter Hendricks for over a decade of sterling service, for his insightful input into our deliberations and especially or his work as Secretary of the charity. We welcomed Jill Harkin during the year. However, a new job opportunity, meant that Jill would be unable to carry on as a Trustee. We wish her well, in the next step of her career.
I also extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the donors, charitable trusts, churches and schools, whose valuable contributions form the bedrock of our success.
Sheila Margreaves Chair Light for the Blind
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
NOTE: One of a number of articles covering the subject of FCRA registration.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/04/india-fcra-ngo-world-vision-foreign-funding-close/
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