Advertisement ICNICN Would you like to advertise on ICN? Click to learn more.

Shrewsbury Caritas awarded Covid crisis funding, welcomes new CEO


Ben Gilchrist

Ben Gilchrist

A new Chief Executive Officer, Ben Gilchrist as been appointed to Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury. The agency has also received two grants totalling more than £100,000 that will allow it to offer crucial lifelines to people plunged into poverty and other problems by the coronavirus crisis. The grants are £62,000 from the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation and £47,000 from the National Lottery.

The money will be used to support people in states of personal crisis because of the Covid-19 public health emergency.
The grant from the Gubay foundation means that the social care agency of the Diocese of Shrewsbury can launch the Caritas Crisis Fund to provide one-off grants to support families who would benefit hugely from a small amount of funding.

Applicants must be in exceptional circumstance and live within the Diocese - which covers the Wirral, nearly all of Cheshire, Shropshire and Greater Manchester south of the River Mersey.

It is anticipated that the fund will help people to better address personal problems caused or often accompanied by loss of income, unemployment, domestic violence and abuse, neglect, poor relationships, autism and ADHD, addictions, anxiety and depression.

The Caritas Crisis Fund can be accessed after the completion of two-page application forms by head teachers, representatives of a parish, support agencies or by Caritas employees on behalf of a family or individual. The witnesses will detail the difficulties applicants are experiencing and explain why they might require one-off financial support.

The fund will give Caritas support workers an option to pay a key utility bill or provide extra food to relieve pressure. The agency will also be linking with diocesan food banks to ensure that families have enough food and hygiene products but will also work with families over a period of months to support the mental health of their members and to help them to address any long term issues they face.

Trish Spencer of Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury said: "This fund will ensure the most vulnerable don't sink into poverty and desperation during this pandemic but maintain a foundation from which lives can be rebuilt."

The money from the Lottery will be used to support clients with mental health problems, as well as to provide practical assistance with vouchers for basic hygiene and household needs for those who have had to move out or have no benefits in place.

The funds will also be used to purchase vouchers for food when foodbanks cannot supply enough for bigger families; help with Internet subscriptions so children may continue to be home-schooled and adults can access online support, and pay for transport for families with hospital appointments or ongoing crucial treatment.

It will also fund bereavement programmes and resources, parenting programmes, domestic violence programmes and behaviour strategies and resources.

The crisis funding is necessary because there has been an increase in domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and bereavement following months of lockdown.

Caritas has recorded a threefold increase in the number of people approaching the agency to ask for help.
Many families are also experiencing problems related to children's behaviour and parenting issues and to loss of jobs, with some people finding themselves without money because of delay or inability to apply for benefits.

They include people who have been abandoned by their partners or were compelled to leave their homes because of domestic violence, sometimes leading to a delay in benefits of up to 10 weeks.

Caritas can provide support through such social media platforms as Skype and Zoom and also by telephone and will ensure deliveries of food and prescribed medication to the doorsteps of families when necessary.

The two awards come as Caritas prepares to welcome Ben Gilchrist as new Chief Executive Officer following the retirement of Mary Kilcoyne earlier this year.

The Rt Rev Mark Davies, the Bishop of Shrewsbury, said: "As we emerge from the long months of lockdown with many anxieties about the future, let us not forget the poorest. Many of the neediest and most vulnerable are facing severe challenges in a post-lockdown world. I am delighted that thanks to your support and generosity we have in Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury our own social action agency already working in the field.

"I want to welcome Caritas's new Chief Executive Officer Ben Gilchrist who arrives with a wealth of experience and at a critical time for our work and witness.

"I also wish to record all our thanks to the Gubay Foundation and the National Lottery Fund who wished to support the work of Caritas in the Diocese of Shrewsbury at this time of crisis for many."

Ben Gilchrist said: "I am excited to be joining Caritas Shrewsbury. This is a very challenging time for families and communities but it is exactly when the work of Caritas is so vital. I'm looking forward to helping develop and grow the impact of the charity and the range of partnerships through which to do that.

"A huge thank you to all our supporters, volunteers and staff for all you are already doing. I am really looking forward to working with you."

LINKS

Caritas Shrewsbury - www.caritasshrewsbury.org.uk
Diocese of Shrewsbury - www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org

Adverts

Your Catholic Legacy

We offer publicity space for Catholic groups/organisations. See our advertising page if you would like more information.

We Need Your Support

ICN aims to provide speedy and accurate news coverage of all subjects of interest to Catholics and the wider Christian community. As our audience increases - so do our costs. We need your help to continue this work.

You can support our journalism by advertising with us or donating to ICN.

Mobile Menu Toggle Icon