St Andrew's

Psalter Lane

Church

Charity Policy

St Andrew’s Psalter Lane Church, Sheffield

Charitable Giving for 2025/6

 

We were asked by the Chair of ECC to make a recommendation for SAPLC’s

charitable giving this year. The figure of £10,000 has been suggested by the Treasurer.

This equates to approximately 5% of our income to give to charities and is over and above

the individual gifting that takes place for various appeals throughout the year.

We give not because we must but because we want to, and as a response to one

of the many ways in which our loving God blesses us. This is part of our service.

It is usual to consult the wider congregation periodically on the charities we

should support as a church. Due to other priorities in this challenging period we have not

been able to do that this year. We have therefore not changed the suggested position

radically as we feel that to make a more significant change we should consult the

congregation and have a wider and more considered discussion. We have, though, been

mindful of the need to ensure that what we give can have real use and meaning. We have

therefore reduced slightly (by 2 this year) the number of charities the money is proposed

to be split between. Most churches give to between 10 – 12 charities. Last year we gave

to 15 charities and this year we are proposing 13 charities.

We have changed our focus away from specific charities this year and have looked

instead at what is important to us as a church, and then which charities support this

ethos. This year we have kept to the same charities as last year however for next year it

may be that we would wish to support other charities who are also aligned to the priorities

of St Andrews Psalter Lane. We suggest that the question is raised at the Annual Church

Meeting next year to allow the wider congregation chance to participate in discussion.

With this in mind we have focused on mission both home and internationally,

local charities reflecting our desire to help others including refugees and those seeking

asylum in this country, national charities reflecting amongst other things our message of

inclusivity and eco church, and also those charities with a Christian focus for

international development and helping communities out of poverty. We have kept

charities we have, as a church, a personal connection to also such as Fir Vale Food Bank

and the MHA.

We have changed the split slightly this year and reduced the percentage given to

some of the larger charities, in practice this will only reduce slightly the amount given to

each of the bigger charities and provide greater benefit some of the smaller, local

charities instead.

 

Mission based charities:- 20%

USPG (Church of England Mission Society)  10%  £1,000

World Mission Fund *  5%  £500

Mission in Britain Fund **  5%  £500

 

*previously Methodist Fund for World Mission

**previously Methodist Home Mission Fund

 

Local Sheffield based charities:- 30%

Fir Vale Food bank  7.5%  £750

City of Sanctuary  7.5%  £750

SYRLI (South Yorks Refugee Law & Justice)  7.5%  £750

Parson Cross Initiative  7.5%  £750

 

UK based charities with a Christian focus:- 30%

MHA  7.5%  £750

Church Action on Poverty  7.5%  £750

Arocha UK  7.5%  £750

One Body One Faith  7.5%  £750

 

International Development:- 20%

Christian Aid  10%  £1,000

All We Can  10%  £1,000

 

 

Report prepared by Jan Owen & Rachel Morris

June 2025

 

 

Reviewed and approved by the Ecumenical Church Council, 22nd July 2025.

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