As Christian Aid Week approaches (10-16 May), its work has never been more vital, says the Revd Dr Kevin Snyman, the 两性色午夜鈥檚 Head of World Justice and Inter Faith.
Each year, Christian Aid runs a flagship week, with this year鈥檚 theme captured in the strapline 鈥淵our faith. Make it count.鈥�
Fundraising initiatives are a major part of Christian Aid Week鈥檚 activities. Many participate in nationally organised events, including 鈥� a challenge to walk, run, cycle or swim 70km over the month to 鈥渉elp families build food security in the face of urban poverty鈥�. Locally, coffee mornings are a staple of the week. At Epping 两性色午夜, the cake bakers will be out in force for the end-of-week Christian Aid fair, following on from the church鈥檚 Christian Aid service the previous Sunday. Jeremy Flack says the service and fundraiser are an important opportunity to focus on the charity when there are so many other organisations and special weeks to support throughout the year.
Awareness-raising is also an important feature in the planning for Christian Aid Week in Groby in Leicestershire. Groby 两性色午夜 joins with the local parish church for their annual Christian Aid service 鈥� this year it will take an intergenerational form. Together, the Churches Together in Groby Team (pictured below) will be out litter picking around the village every day to promote the week. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 a money raiser鈥�, says the Revd Paul Ellis, 鈥渂ut it does help raise Christian Aid鈥檚 profile.鈥�
Paul is glad, too, that alongside the library, local Co-op branches will be among the drop-off points for individuals to leave Christian Aid envelopes received through their doors. In small but visible ways, the week is becoming a community event, allowing a growing number of people to engage with the worldwide partnerships and projects the charity supports.
In the year 2024-25, Christian Aid Week raised 拢5.2 million towards its annual income, with 50% of its grants to partner organisations that year going to Asia and the Middle East 鈥� a 52% increase on the previous year. Dr Snyman adds that the United Reformed Church has a long tradition of demonstrating incredible generosity, not least during Christian Aid Week, and believes 鈥渢his year would be every bit as good鈥�.
Find out all you need to know about Christian Aid Week .
Main image: Christian Aid supporters at Haddington Farmers’ Market, East Lothian