The Presbyterian Children’s Society exists to support children within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. It works mainly through Ministers to alleviate poverty and financial hardship for these children and their families. This is done mainly through regular and exceptional grants.
Regular grants are received by families throughout the year while exceptional grants are one-off short-term grants to meet an exceptional need.
The Society is currently assisting approximately 770 children in 390 families in over 190 Congregations throughout Ireland. Around 18% of the families we currently support live in the Republic of Ireland.
We help families with children from a wide range of circumstances including bereavement, divorce or separation, parental illness or disability, where a mother is single, a parent is in hospital or prison, or where there is unemployment or low paid work.
Families who may be considered eligible for help must be.
Under the pastoral care of their local Presbyterian congregation.
Have income within the Society’s income limits (Usually this will mean families with average earnings or receiving benefits).
Children are under the age of 23 and currently in either full time or part-time education.
A Small groups Grant Scheme is offered to congregations to assist them with limited financial help for a club or organisation which supports children and young people in their congregation, or to organise a workshop with one of our partners e.g. made for more.
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.
The Society has produced a range of resources 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 is also available.
The Society is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
