Report to General Assembly (2017)

PRESBYTERIAN CHILDREN’S SOCIETY

Dr Paul Gray (Executive Secretary) reports:

  1. The Presbyterian Children’s Society exists to support Presbyterian children in Ireland.  It works mainly through Ministers to alleviate poverty and financial hardship for these children and their families.  This is done mostly through regular and exceptional grants.  The Society is currently assisting approximately 700 children in 370 families in over 200 Congregations throughout Ireland.
     
  2. The year 2016 was a significant one for the Society as it celebrated its 150th year.  To mark this occasion a number of special events were organised and publications produced.  Minister Simon Hamilton MLA opened the Society’s exhibition ‘Generations of Generosity’ in the Linenhall Library and Minister Heather Humphreys TD launched the Society’s DVD ‘Taking the Edge Off’.  In addition to these events there were regional events for the Society’s secretaries, breakfast events for Ministers, lectures, and a reunion of some of the ‘girls’ from Johnston House, the Society’s children’s home which closed in 1985.  The year was very successful and culminated in a special Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration with the Moderator of the General Assembly and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young people.
     
  3. The Society produced a range of new resources this year including a DVD which is available from the Society’s website [www.presbyterianchildrenssociety.org] and an information pack ‘A Journey of Generosity and Giving through the Generations’.  A history book on the Society was also published.  All these resources are available from the Society and two sets of eleven pop up stands which tell the story of the Society over 150 years are available to Congregations for loan. 
     
  4. Whilst the Society is not under the control of the General Assembly it works closely with the Church through its Ministers.  It is also working with relevant General Assembly Councils to ensure Congregations have appropriate resources to equip them in helping families in financial need.
     
  5. The Society’s work is independently supported by Presbyterian Congregations and the Society gives thanks to all those who support the Society in any way throughout the year.  The Society also welcomes enquiries about how it might assist children and families in need within any Presbyterian Congregation.  Finally the Society commends its work for the continued prayerful and financial support of the Church.