What a Christian Aid Week!
Thank you so much to all our incredible supporters and volunteers who made it possible.
Throughout May you baked, planted, spoke, Big Pea Challenged, cycled, organised, prayed, walked, ran, quizzed and so much more. We’ve been so delighted to hear your stories and we’re so grateful for your amazing support.
Christian Aid Week happens because of you. An enormous thank you to everyone who came together to help more of our global neighbours transform their lives.
We have been celebrating all the wonderful stories we’ve heard. We’d love to share them all here, but you might be reading until next May! So, here’s a handful of the inspiring things you did this Christian Aid Week…
Seven days, so many ways. How will you make lasting change this Christian Aid Week?
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Arthur’s tea party
10-year-old Arthur and his family raised almost £800 with their afternoon tea!
Arthur from Birmingham helped organise an afternoon tea in his garden. He and his family invited people from local churches, the Quaker meeting house, neighbours and friends. There was cake, sandwiches, scones with jam and cream – all homemade – and a donation table and quizzes for all ages! They raised £771.17. Arthur has been an active Christian Aid supporter his whole life, helping at fundraisers from the age of two. Thank you, Arthur!
Andy Murray's 95th birthday
Andy Murray celebrates his 95th birthday with a house-to-house collection in Belfast.
Just 3 days after turning 95, Andy Murray took part in a local house-to-house collection in Belfast. Andy was involved in the first-ever Christian Aid Week in 1957. Over the last 66 years, he's raised tens of thousands of pounds, supported by his late wife Edna and their daughter Heather.
As Rosamond Bennett, the Chief Executive of Christian Aid Ireland, said: 'We’ve all heard of Andy Murray, the tennis champion. But for almost 70 years this Andy Murray has been a champion within his church and community for people living in poverty and crisis overseas.'
Image credits and information
Image credits and information
Bible readathon
Woking United Reformed Church raised over £11,000 with a Bible readathon!
Woking URC held an 82-hour Bible readathon. Live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook, the readathon involved more than 100 readers from the town and further afield, including Canada and Australia. There were readings in Afrikaans, Cantonese, German, Korean, Mandarin and English. There were musical versions of the Psalms, the youth group and leaders held a sleepover in the church to do the overnight slots, and the younger children held a Zoom storytime. Revered Lucy Brierley said: 'There’s been a tremendous spirit of unity and purpose'.
Plant sale and strawberry tea
Mearns Kirk in Newton Mearns, Glasgow, organised a very successful plant sale and strawberry tea.
In fact, it went so well that the plants had all sold out by the end of the morning! Over £1,000 was raised. Thank you to all involved.
Image credits and information
Image credits and information
VIPeas in Wales
VIPeas in Wales bring hope and make a difference.
Supporters in Wales stood in solidarity with farming communities in Malawi, planting seeds and using many of the crops grown to raise funds during CAW.
Alun Roberts, from Caernarfon, grows produce in his garden and shares it with community projects. He said: 'I was happy to take part in this moment ahead of Christian Aid Week. These tiny seeds are vital to farmers in Malawi and by planting our seeds here we can show how small acts done together can make a big difference.'
Traditional East African meal
People from Long Eaton, Eritrea and Ethiopia fundraise with traditional East African meal.
Members of Trinity Methodist Church have been getting to know asylum seekers staying nearby and held their latest get together as part of fundraising efforts during Christian Aid Week. They wanted to do a social activity to get more people together and decided on an East African meal with traditional dishes – including flatbreads and stews.
Church member Richard Jackson explained: 'About 40 people came, including some who hadn’t been to the church before. It was lovely with a warm, inclusive atmosphere of friendship and fellowship and a span of generations and cultures.' The event raised a fantastic £330.
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Thank You!
To everyone who supported us in any way over Christian Aid Week and throughout May, thank you. It's you that makes our work possible. Your support will make a huge difference to people like Jen and Esther, giving more families the opportunity to transform their own lives. We won’t stop until everyone has the chance to live a full life, free from poverty.
A thank you from Jen
Thank You!
To everyone who supported us in any way over Christian Aid Week and throughout May, thank you. It's you that makes our work possible. Your support will make a huge difference to people like Jen and Esther, giving more families the opportunity to transform their own lives. We won’t stop until everyone has the chance to live a full life, free from poverty.