FRIENDS OF MATTHEW RUSIKE CHILDREN'S HOME
Chair Carol Banham Secretary John Richer Treasurer Paddy Coles
Membership secretary Gail Richer
Who are the Friends?
The "Friends" was formed in 1996 to support the Matthew Rusike Children’s Home, Epworth, Hatfield, Harare by fundraising and spreading the news of the Home. Our original supporters were 25 people (or groups) in the UK, already aware of the Home. We now have over 270 members and supporters.
When we started most of us had visited the Home or worked there as volunteers. Some provided training, others worked as volunteers in the Home on a variety of practical projects.
The superintendent and his staff warmly welcome visitors and volunteers. There are plans being made for volunteers to go to the Home in 2010 to 2012.
Now we are a registered charity, the Charity Commission allows donations to be Gift Aided but requires that we list our “Members” and “Supporters” separately.
"Supporters” are those who send donations, often raised through specific events they have organised or who send in personal donations spontaneously, as events dictate.
“Members” are the same as “Supporters” but also register with us and pay an annual “members” fee of £10 per person which confers the right to vote at the “AGM” and any “Extraordinary” meetings.
The
Matthew Rusike Friends (Volunteers) by Trabby 19yrs
Written about the influence of the 'friends'..."We become free to each other and free from being isolated and lonely. Therefore it is of great sincerity for the children, the staff and everything that belongs to Matthew Rusike to have these friends around. The children feel cared for, loved, comforted and inspired when they have such friends who are there for them. May Gods love, care, comfort and blessing be with all the friends of Matthew Rusike...Once you become Matthew Rusike's friends you become our family member."
What do we do?
"Action for Children has worked in partnership with MRCH for many years, assisting with training of staff, payment for capital projects and supporting the development of the decentralised approach to work with children across Zimbabwe. In future, new partnership proposals will be channelled through the Methodist Church [Britain] for joint consideration between them and Action for Children".
We are also now in contact with Qantas Cabin Crew who also support the Home and visit whenever they can.
We issue 4 newsletters each year to our members and supporters and we are always keen to find new people who would like to receive these. Speakers are available in some areas to visit groups interested in having presentations about the child welfare work or we can loan video/DVD material and a photograph display to support your own fundraising activities.
We sell Christmas cards each year to raise more funds. Each autumn newsletter includes information about the cards available for the year. 5 packets are sent to people on the mailing list automatically, unless they have let us know otherwise. Recent designs are illustrated on this site and can be available any time.
Involvement of Friends
This varies:
In September 2007 we achieved charitable status and have our accounts audited annually. Our administrative costs over the years have been very low, as most items and people's time have been donated.
In our first year we raised £1000 rising to £21,000 in 2001.
In 2004 we raised over £ 45,000. In 2006 we raised £47,000.
There has been no Government help for the Home since 2002. The Friends of MRCH now contribute a substantial amount of the daily running costs of the Home.
Registered charity 1120944