As Christian Aid Week approaches (10-16 May), its work has never been more vital, says the Revd Dr Kevin Snyman, the URC’s Head of World Justice and Inter Faith.
Each year, Christian Aid runs a flagship week, with this year’s theme captured in the strapline “Your faith. Make it count.”
Fundraising initiatives are a major part of Christian Aid Week’s activities. Many participate in nationally organised events, including 70k in May – a challenge to walk, run, cycle or swim 70km over the month to “help families build food security in the face of urban poverty”. Locally, coffee mornings are a staple of the week. At Epping URC, the cake bakers will be out in force for the end-of-week Christian Aid fair, following on from the church’s 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 URC joins with the local parish church for their annual Christian Aid service – 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. “This isn’t a money raiser”, says the Revd Paul Ellis, “but it does help raise Christian Aid’s profile.”
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 £5.2 million towards its annual income, with 50% of its grants to partner organisations that year going to Asia and the Middle East – 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 “this year would be every bit as good”.
Find out all you need to know about Christian Aid Week on their website.
Main image: Christian Aid supporters at Haddington Farmers’ Market, East Lothian