The CEO of Christian Aid, Patrick Watt, met supporters of the charity in Worcester on Saturday for a special event to mark Christian Aid’s 80th anniversary.
The event was organised by Alison Clarke and Paul Robert, members of the Worcestershire Christian Aid Group. The Bishop of Dudley and Acting Bishop of Worcester, Martin Gorick hosted a Q&A with Patrick, and Bishop Olivia Graham, Interim Dean of Worcester was also present.
The event was opened by Paul who talked about his visits to Ethiopia and Sierra Leone with Christian Aid. He said: “As a Climate Justice Activist and Volunteer Speaker for Christian Aid, I am hugely grateful to have had the opportunity to meet people whose lives have been affected by climate change and seen the difference that Christian Aid projects can make.”
Alison is Chair of the Worcester Christian Aid Group and spoke of the difference that volunteering for the charity has made to her. “I have spent many happy hours with the Worcester group, travelling to London to lobby our MP, fundraising together and enjoying our annual fish and chip supper! We all hope that we are changing the world, but working with Christian Aid has changed me and been a part of my faith journey. In today’s society, organisations like Christian Aid are even more important.”
After watching a short film on the ‘unstoppable power of hope,’ which is the theme for Christian Aid’s 80th year, Patrick Watt spoke about the history of Christian Aid and the charity’s current focus.
He explained that Christian Aid began in 1945, set up by British and Irish Churches to help with displaced refugees after World War 2. The week after VE Day in May, services across the country, prayed and raised money for ‘Christian Reconstruction’, with Christian Aid Week still taking place in May on the anniversary of these services. Throughout its 80 years, Christian Aid has worked in partnership to support those in poverty throughout the world, helping to found the Disasters Emergency Committee in the 1960s and the Fairtrade initiative with Oxfam and CAFOD.
Patrick said: “A huge amount has changed over the years, with positive changes including a reduction in poverty, but also changes in Britain’s place in the world and churches’ role in the UK. However, much has also remained constant: Christian Aid remains an ecumenical charity which is rooted in the life of churches, working in partnership for and with people other all faiths and beliefs. We continue to work on the underlying causes as well as symptoms of poverty, from offering a humanitarian response, to development, to advocacy. We also continue to rely on our local volunteers for their giving, campaign action and prayer, which is very powerful.”
Patrick explained that Christian Aid works cross four main thematic areas:
- Supporting communities to deal with the climate crisis
- Strengthening the voice and agency of people in poverty
- Achieving equality for women and girls
- Creating peace where there is conflict and violence.
The charity works in 25 different countries across the world and has a wider reach through the ACT Alliance, a global family of church-based organisations. Supporters provide 70% of the charity’s funding, which is becoming even more important with many Governments cutting aid budgets.
Patrick continued: “Christian Aid exists because we believe everyone is equal in the sight of God. It has been an extraordinary 80 years, and huge amounts has been achieved. Together we are putting Christian Hope into action for a just world.”
Following Patrick’s presentation, there was a chance for those present to ask questions in a Q&A facilitated by Bishop Martin. Patrick then cut a cake which had been baked especially for the occasion.
