Our Charitable Giving

through our Charities Support Group 

Our Charities Support Group is responsible for deciding, on behalf of the PCC, which charities and organisations should be given money from the Charities Support budget.  This budget is made up of both funds that are entrusted to the Committee by the PCC for charitable giving (which amount to around 10% of the church’s general income), plus funds that are raised by specific Charities Support Group activities such as the annual Holly Fair.

Our aim is to give a tenth of our income (a tithe) to support the work of various missionary and charitable organisations working in the UK and overseas.

We see this as a practical way of demonstrating the gospel imperative to love our neighbours as ourselves.

In deciding which charities and organisations to support, the Charities Support Group is guided by the Charities Support Group Giving Policy, available for download here.

We also hold ‘Red Bucket Appeals’ in the case of natural disaster and international emergency appeals.

Red Bucket donations
The red bucket is partly a virtual one using electronic donations and can be done by BACS transfer.
Using a BACS transfer to the CSG account
Name - St Michael’s PCC Missions
Sort code- 20-36-98 (Barclays)
Account Number-33303519
(If you already gift aid contributions to the main PCC account then giving by BACS straight to this subsidiary account does not need a new gift aid form.  Please put your name in the reference when making the transfer).

Lent Appeal 2026

In Lent this year we will support two charities, through both our Appeal and our Lunches (on Tuesdays after our Lent Reflections at 12 noon).

Riding Lights
Founded in 1977, Riding Lights is a professional theatre company with a strongly Christian ethos.  Based at Friargate Theatre, York, it tours nationally to churches, theatres and other venues.  Its output is often explicitly Christian (e.g. Passion or Nativity plays) or at other times aims to give a Christian perspective on contemporary life, exploring topics such as dementia, artificial intelligence and supporting young people in the care system.  It also runs a drama group for adults with additional needs or disabilities and provides training in theatre skills for both amateurs and professionals through workshops and its residential summer theatre week.  Visit their website here.
Its new Passion Play, Night Falls, is touring during Lent and will be at Chelmsford Cathedral on 23rd March and Verso Vineyard Church, St Albans on 27th March (see more information on their play here ).

Holly Fair 2025 thanks

The Charities Support Group would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make the Holly Fair a big success. We have made approximately £3,900.  There was a welcoming atmosphere, including carol singing led by a group from the Choir. Thanks also to the Tower for contributing this year towards the total.

 

Lent Appeal 2025

In Lent this year we supported two charities, through both our Appeal and our Lunches (on Tuesdays after our Lent Reflections at 12 noon).  Many thanks to the congregation for your very generous donations.  We are delighted to report that the total was £787 and this was split between the two charities:

Supporting Dalit Children
 

Below is a selection of the 'thank you' letters that we've received from charities that we have supported recently:

 

Embrace

Grove Cottage

Hope and Homes for Children


Practical Action


Red Kite Support


Riding Lights

 

plus many others, including ... 

Alzheimer's Society (Hertfordshire)
Bishop's Stortford Child Contact Centre
Bishop's Stortford Youth Project/Thirst
Compassion
CHIPS
Christian Solidarity
Church Army
CMS
CPAS Falcon Camps
Freedom from Torture
Holiday Bible Week
Holy Trinity Night Shelter
Leprosy Mission
Mary's Meals
Meninadanca
Mercy Ships
Mosaic Middle East
Prison Fellowship
Stort Valley School's Trust
Street Pastors
Supporting Dalit Children
USPG
Whitechapel Mission
YMCA (Bishop's Stortford)