UK: Catholic charities fight to survive government cuts

The Society helps more than 2,000 children each year

Research by False Economy, a campaigning group against cuts in public expenditure has found that more than 2,000 charities are closing services or reducing their staff because local authorities are withdrawing or reducing their funding to charities by £110 million.

Commenting on the findings and the impact of cuts upon charities supporting children and young people, Dr Rosemary Keenan, Chief Executive of the Catholic Children’s Society said: “Children are amongst the most vulnerable within our society, it is particularly worrying that charities working to support them are facing cuts of mre than £17.04 million with an average cut of 64% to the charities affected.”

The Catholic Children’s Society provides professional counselling and therapy services to children, young people and their families. Although the Society is not heavily reliant upon local authority funding, Rosemary Keenan added: “At a time when many people, who would usually donate to a charity, are cutting their own expenditure, the potential loss of income is considerable.

"It is also a concern that in many quarters there are those who are questioning the appropriateness of faith based organisations, such as ours, receiving any public funding to deliver services or to be heard in the public sphere. It follows that we value the support of individual Catholics and the Catholic Community, which share our beliefs and values.

"Now, more than ever, we need what our bishops in ‘Choosing the Common Good’ described as 'acts of willing generosity to help others.' Such generosity, whether in terms of financial donations or the gift of time and talents, is essential to the survival of our Catholic Charities. Together with our supporters we serve the Common Good and are an integral part of the Big Society.”

The Catholic Children's Society (Westminster) was established in 1859 and provides child care services to assist children and families in need, irrespective of race or faith, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster. The Society helps over 2,000 children, young people and their families each year and deliver services in every one of the 22 Westminster diocese deaneries.

For more information see: www.cathchild.org.uk/