CAFOD Trustees Report and Financial Statements 2011-2012

Aim 4Building our partnerships in the Catholic community ...so that Catholics in England and Wales are inspired to challengeglobal poverty through prayer, action and giving, so transformingtheir own lives.What have we achieved this year?As Bishop John Arnold, CAFOD’s Chair of Trustees, said in his homilyat CAFOD’s 50th anniversary Mass in Westminster Cathedral: “theCatholic community in England and Wales have been spectacularin their giving to CAFOD, year on year, and more so during times ofdrought, earthquake and tsunami. In so many schools and parishes,CAFOD is a familiar word and its work well-known and appreciated.”It is because of this reciprocal and generous relationship with Catholicsin England and Wales that we have been able to do our work, fightingfor a fairer world, for 50 years.65,180Supporters in Englandand Wales signed65,180 campaigncards calling on thegovernment to takeaction on access toclean water for thoseliving in poverty.The 50th anniversary Mass in Westminster Cathedral in January2012, celebrated with supporters, clergy and bishops from across thecountry, marked the beginning of a year of celebration. But it alsogave us a chance to look forward to a continuing working partnershipwith Catholic parishes, schools and individuals to tackle globalpoverty together.Lent 2012In an effort to make this the most successful ever Lent appeal,we worked hard to create a strong, integrated campaign, offeringsupporters clear ways to give, act and pray. We concentrated on tellingsimple, thought-provoking stories of people’s struggle to get thatmost basic and essential of resources – clean water – and supportersresponded in their thousands with unprecedented generosity, raising arecord £9.1million – almost £7million more than last year.Supporters also signed 65,180 campaign cards calling on thegovernment to take action on access to clean water for those livingin poverty. Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for InternationalDevelopment, accepted the cards at No 10 Downing Street and praisedthe campaign: “We love CAFOD. You are brilliant. Thank you very muchfor what you are doing: it’s really, really good.”The appeal will be further boosted by the UK government’scommitment to match our Lenten donations through UK Aid Matchfunding. We are currently in discussion with the government aboutthe total amount of Match funding we will receive, following theunprecedented success of the appeal. There were stringent criteriafor Match funding, including effectiveness, value for money andaccountability, so we were delighted to be amongst the first agenciesto be accepted.15