Parish Office

Update

You may recall that Discretionary Funding was set up in 2004 to manage the surplus funds that had accumulated in the Parish as a result of parishoners generosity ,Gift Aid and excellent financial management. This has meant we are in a sound financial position to support the needs of our Parish as well as extending our reach to support the Christian community in other parts of the World.

The rules of the scheme are very simple and flexible to encourage applications from across the Parish and across a wide spectrum of activities.They can be to support the youth and relevant groups at one end to supporting the infirm at the other end. However, there is one common theme which is we are totally reliant on receiving applications otherwise the money stays in the bank!. The only condition is that the individual or group indicates how they are going to raise part of the required funding as part of their application. Nothing too complicated or overly demanding.

Application forms are available from the Parish Office and will soon be available from the web-site...what could be simpler!

You may be interested in where the funding has gone so far..

THE BOLIVIA TRIP SUPPORTING THE 2004 CONFIRMATION GROUP

THE TSUNAMI APPEAL

ST ANTONYS SCHOOL COACH

THE TENNIS CLUB

43RD WOODFORD SCOUTS

15TH WOODFORD GUIDES

THE ITALY TRIP SUPPORTING THE 2005 CONFIRMATION GROUP

SUPPORTING MARY ARCHIBALD ON HER MEXICO TRIP

As you can see, a wide range of activities.

A comprehensive list will be available with the next set of Parish Accounts.

So if you are reading this thinking you have a need for your group or a personal project you are undertaking, apply now. A small committee of Jim Hoban, Peter Larkin, Caroline Shirra, Derek Lobo and Fr Danny meets once every quarter to consider all the applications so make them work hard. Thay can only consider what is in front of them...so why are you waiting?

PETER LARKIN

Discretionary Funding

"I beg you out of great love,
to use with discernment the alms the Lord gives you."

St. Francis' letter to the Poor Clares of San Damiano.

Introduction

Over the years a surplus of funds has accumulated thanks, in the main, to the generosity of the parishioners of St Thomas's, St Stephen's and Chigwell Convent and the successful promotion of the Gift Aid scheme where tax relief is recouped from a tax payer’s contributions.

Whilst the financial pressures of running a parish of our size continues to grow each year, it is the view of the PPC, the finance committee and feedback from parishioners at last year's AGM, that a contingency fund equivalent to no more than 6 months of normal Parish expenditure should be maintained.

Consequently, a surplus of £50,000 has accumulated over and above this contingency fund and therefore it is the wish of the PPC to return these funds to the benefit of the wider Parish community.

Our community has many talents and if you are in need of some funds to support these talents in launching a project or enterprise that will benefit our community then we would like to hear from you. We are keen to support a wide variety of applications ranging from the youth, supporting existing parish groups, helping the elderly and infirm, to name but a few.

All we ask is that you match any request for financial support with an equal commitment and action plan to raise the same amount.

The PPC would welcome applications from either individuals or Parish groups and we have detailed the eligibility criteria and the application process on the reverse of this leaflet. If you require further clarification regarding the application process or the eligibility of your application then please feel free to contact any one of the Parish Council Members detailed below.

Jim Hoban 020 8504 9363

Peter Larkin

Margaret Hayes

Caroline Shirra

Eligibility Criteria

Applications to come from Parish groups and parishioners only.
Any request for distribution from the fund should be met by an equal financial contribution from the applicant.
Only permitted to make one application per calendar year.

Application Procedure

Application forms available from the Parish Office.
Completed application to be returned to the Parish office.
Sub committee of the PPC meets once a quarter to review applications.
Requires unanimous endorsement of all sub committee members before an application is presented to the PPC for approval.
4 out of 6 members of the sub committee must be present to approve an application.
Sub committee debates application; applicant's written explanation of the benefits of their application and the applicant's action plan to raise their own "match for match" contribution.
Sub committee to have the authority to approve applications below £250 without referral to PPC.
Sub committee decision is final and is not open to appeal or discussion.