Westminster gives £1.6m to help people in need in London

Westminster Justice and Peace

Projects tackling knife crime, homelessness and support for those with disabilities are just a few of the groups that have received funding from the Diocese of Westminster's St John Southworth Fund since 2007. About £1.6m has been distributed to help some of the poorest and most disadvantaged across the capital.

The figures are included in the 2010-2011 Annual Report for the St John Southworth Fund, published this month, which shows that in the last year the Fund distributed £437,371.

The St John Southworth Fund is administered by the Pastoral Affairs Department for the Diocese of Westminster. The Director of Pastoral Affairs, Edmund Adamus, said: "The St John Southworth Fund continues to help many in London suffering various levels of deprivation. We are deeply grateful to all who have donated to the Fund, either individually or through parishes, to make this vital assistance possible. Supporting grassroots social action at the heart of communities has such potential for the mission of the Church, as these are the good works that serve the common good."

"From 2010-2011, it was a particular privilege to facilitate the award of larger grants exceeding £10,000 in the wake of the economic downturn which is having an increasingly adverse affect upon families and causing more individual cases of hardship. This has, however depleted the Fund's overall capital."

"The number of applications that the Fund receives is increasing. It is imperative that we maintain a sustainable grant fund for the future. One of the ways to achieve this is to build the Fund up through parish and private donations as well as legacies. Please help us to expand this vital work of building a deeper culture of practical love and charity by giving to the St John Southworth Fund."

The St John Southworth Fund is named after a priest, born in 1592 who was ordained in Douai, France, in 1618. Returning to England, Fr Southworth ministered in the area close to where Westminster Cathedral now stands. During the plague of 1636, he tended to the sick with devotion and courage.

Set up in 2007, the St John Southworth Fund assists the homeless, migrants and refugees, children in need, youth education, disability support, pastoral support for the elderly and other projects in London. Funds are available to provide help in all 33 London boroughs, in accordance with the wishes of the original benefactors.

These boroughs lie in the Catholic dioceses of Brentwood, Southwark and Westminster. There is specific provision to support charitable activities in the boroughs of Hackney, Haringey, Tower Hamlets and Islington. Limited funds are available for parishes in Westminster Diocese outside the London boroughs.

2010 - 2011 St John Southworth Fund - Grants awarded included:

* Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) Basic Caring Communities (BaCC) £5,000

* Beyond Food Foundation Freshlife project: personal development pathway programme for homeless people £5,000

* Small Steps: School for Parents Support sessions for pre-school severely disabled children and their parents, £4,860

* The Cara Trust Children's Project: Summer holiday scheme for children of parents living with HIV £1,300

* Parish of Holy Ghost and St Stephen W12 Towards a new parish minibus £1,000

* Parents in Touch Disabled Children's Benefit Advice Project - Chiswick-based £4,000

* St Mellitus Parish, Tollington Park Disabled Lift project at the church £3,000

* Westminster Drug Project Ltd Core Kids project in Marylebone £9,674

* Tower Hamlets Friends and Neighbours Befriending service for older people £5,000

* Jesuit Refugee Service Companioning Project £5,000

* Childcare (Brentwood Catholic Children's Society) Tackling culture of knife crime in schools £10,000

* Four grants to individuals to prevent or alleviate homelessness

* Five grants to individuals for items or courses leading to employment

Source: Archbishops' House