- Bethel Community Outreach Northern Ireland End of Year Report 2022/23
Child Sponsorship
It is obvious as in previous reports the current economic climate is still a cause for concern. As it is having an effect on child sponsorship programmes for many charities, none more so than our own charity however we remain reasonably optimistic thanks mainly to our faithful sponsors
Total number of givers
This year has seen the best financial intake in the history of the charity with a income of £17929 beating the previous highest in 2018-19 of £15074.50 so we are seeing improving numbers close to pre pandemic.
This year saw 11 new sponsors added to our books, balanced by 7 of our sponsors having become inactive during this financial period
The current active givers this period has therefore increased from 60 to 71 and balanced by the decreased from 71 to 64 in real terms This I believe is due to short term commitments and financial constraints on peoples budgets.
The decrease in sponsors and therefore donations shows again the important part played by Bishop Samuel Kawalya in keeping sponsorship awareness to the forefront during his visits to us here in N.Ireland and the UK and therefore keeping the balance a positive one
A special word of thanks to all our child sponsors and to those organisations that helped in any way to improve those lives in Uganda, we cannot do it without your help, especially in what has been a difficult few of year for everyone
Social Support to the Community
Through Bs. Samuel guidance we have been able as in previous years to support (through private & corporate donations) small numbers of families with mattresses, blankets, food and a number of their children through the sponsorship programme and hopefully even more in the future.
Projects
The ongoing building targets at the Bethel Learning Centre in Masaka have now been built and completed including new toilet block
The latest project saw 4 acres of land purchased for growing crops in order to provide food for the children at school has produced its third maize crop. Currently the coffee plantation is coming along nicely. Hopefully this will eventually bring in an income when the plants mature.
Bs. Samuel and his teaching staff had worked tirelessly to deliver an education during what has been a very difficult few of year during and post the Covid epidemic, which led to the cost of many everyday items increasing dramatically.
Information Night
We are hoping to hold our information night again next year in autumn 2023 when we get Bs. Samuel availability.
Social Support to the Community
Through Bs. Samuel guidance we have been able as in previous years to support small numbers of families with mattresses, blankets, food and a number of their children through the sponsorship programme and hopefully even more in the future.
Pastoral activities
As always we continue to build up relationships with local Ministers and Pastors so when Bs. Samuel visits us again he is able to shares his vision for the work in Uganda at their churches.
We believe that these meetings open up the opportunity to ask if they would consider sponsoring a pastor, a teacher, children or a project in Uganda.
This is again is an area we hope to support more in the future, at present our main aim is to reach our target of 200 hundred sponsors for the children’s education programme.
The aim in the next few years is to continually improve our strategy both in the short medium and long term.
Conclusions
In summing up the BCONI 2022/23 year Robin McAleese (Sec) concluded that even in what has been a difficult and challenging time it had been another reasonably successful year for the charity in particular the area of small but needed projects.
With the aim to find more child sponsors and our commitment to the projects foremost in our thoughts and prayers
Closing comments
Robin McAleese (Sec) concluded the report by thanking Kenneth Wilson (Chair) Wesley Kerr (Tres) for their continued support and help over the past and previous years, in particular as both of them are heavily involved with their own respective charities and of course our faithful sponsors especially during the current financial situation.
Trustees present
Kenneth Wilson (Chair) Robin McAleese (Sec) Wesley Kerr (Tres) Friday 28[th] April 2023 @ 2 Castlehill Close Ballymoney Co. Antrim BT53 6RP