Finance

St. Paul’s Solidarity Fund

St. Paul’s Solidarity Fund - for terms of reference

To be adopted from 20th May 2024

Approved by the Finance Committee 20th May 2024

Purposes

The fund should be available for the following purposes:

1. Responding to Disaster Emergency Committee appeals

2. Responding to other humanitarian disasters overseas

3. Providing humanitarian help to the poor and oppressed peoples of the world, mainly via Catholic charities

Operation

St. Paul’s Solidarity fund will be used to make donations to charities that are intended to address the above situations and objectives. It is designed in such a way that the parish can respond generously and rapidly to a disaster (whether sudden or ongoing) and then appeal for the fund to be “topped up” by parishioners. The fund is also available for ad hoc donations and legacies which will be used to meet the above purposes.

When the fund falls below £6,000, there will be a series of 2nd collections and appeals until the target balance figure is reached.

When appeals are made, it will be made clear that donations can be gift aided and the various mechanisms for making donations and gift aiding will be explained. Gift Aid rebates are added to the fund.

If the fund is significantly above £6,000, including as a result of legacies and donations, the excess money will be spent until the desired balance is reached, prudently balancing the desire to ensure that assistance is given as quickly as possible with the need to make appropriate checks to ensure that the money is well spent.

Decisions about the disbursement of the fund are taken by the Parish Priest, the chair of the Parish Finance Committee and two other members, normally by email if there is urgency. Decisions can also be taken the full Parish Finance Committee if a meeting is imminent. Decisions will be reported to the following meeting of the full Parish Finance Committee.

Receipts will be obtained from the recipients of donations.

Parishioners will be given the following information each year:

1. Annual total donated.

2. Annual Gift Aid rebate.

3. Number of collections.

4. Any legacies or other unusually large donations (though sources will generally remain anonymous)

5. All disbursements.

Collections, donations and disbursements will be included on the parish website. Disbursements will be reported in the Parish newsletter.

Where?

The fund operates in St. Paul’s Parish (including Our Lady of Fatima, Staplefield) until such time different arrangements are made for the financial administration of the new parish.