Looking back on 2023... President's Report for the AGM held in April 2024

Although 2023 has been a year in which there has been slightly less call for emergency funds than in the preceding years, there is still a desperate need in many parts of the world. Sadly, rather then the conflict in Ukraine being resolved, it has dragged on through a second year and still shows little sign of any real abatement. A new flash point also occurred following an attack in Israel by Hamas militants and the subsequent devasting, and ongoing, response from Israeli forces. Getting aid into the worst affected parts of Gaza has been extremely difficult but ChapAid made donations to Shelterbox and Médecins sans Frontières to help with their efforts on behalf of people in Gaza itself and refugees on the Egyptian border.

It has been an established target that the amount of money raised by ChapAid each year should ideally represent the equivalent of 10% of the total net income for the Chaplaincy sectors. It is very pleasing, therefore, that despite the much-discussed ‘cost of living crisis’, the charitable donations through ChapAid , although lower than in 2022, have continued to meet, and surpass, our target. Thank you to all who have worked so hard to make this happen.

Trustees have, once again, reminded sectors that they need to take the utmost care not to inadvertently contravene the loi cultuelle by raising charitable funds in the name of the Chaplaincy rather than passing them through the auspices of the Trustees of ChapAid. Contraventions of this law could potentially result in the Chaplaincy losing its charitable status in France.

The Trustees are most grateful to all those who have put so much love and effort into raising money for our chosen charities. We have continued to received positive and thankful feedback from our various beneficiaries.

I would like to say a special ‘thank you’ to Liz Rolfe who is standing down after many years of service as a Trustee and seemingly tireless fund-raiser. Liz will be greatly missed and her departure, along with my own next month, means that the Board of Trustees is beginning to look a little thin on the ground. We would love others to join the Trustees. The role is important but not particularly time-consuming (4-5 meetings per year – mostly on-line). If you feel that you may be able to offer some help in this regard, please do contact me (before ), Iain McGrory or Sally Davies for more information.

Finally, I would like to offer my personal thanks to Iain McGrory for acting so effectively as our Treasurer and Vice-President through the year. My thanks also to Sally Davies, the Secretary to the Trustees, for helping to keep the administrative side working smoothly. And to all the Trustees and local representatives for the efforts that they have all made on behalf of ChapAid.

Rev'd Tony Lomas, Chaplain