Diocesan Building Fund
Dear Parents and Carers,
The Diocese of Shrewsbury Schools’ Building Fund – Please Help St. James’
Few things are more important than the education of our children and young people. Your choice of St. James’ shows, already, the high importance you attach to a Catholic education.
However that education does not come cheaply because Catholic schools have to find 10% of the costs involved in building and maintenance works. Within our Diocese this means that governors have to raise close to £1,000,000 each year to cover these costs.
Previously a high rate of Mass attendance ensured that weekly income was sufficient to meet the 10% contribution. Increasingly this is no longer the case and so, after a very wide consultation the Diocese introduced the “Schools Building Fund” in September 2000 as an annual invitation to all parents and carers to share in meeting these costs. The suggested annual donation is £15 per child per year, which is just over 28p per week or about ½ the price of a Mars Bar.
In total, during the seven years of its existence parents and carers have helped to fund the 10% costs for about 240 major building works in diocesan schools including a payment of £11,000 to St. James’, this year, to provide the 10% contribution for the cost of replacement windows. In the current financial year the Building Fund is covering the liabilities on building projects totalling six million pounds.
We at St. James’ have decided to raise the annual contributions of £15 per child via our Gift Aid Scheme, so please support this as generously as possible. A Gift Aid Form is attached. Please complete it as indicated on the form and return it to school. If you wish you can make a one off payment of £15 or spread the cost over the year by a regular standing order from your bank account.
Please do your best to help us in this initiative; not only because it reduces the pressures on parish and school budgets but because it unites us all in ensuring the future of our Catholic schools.
Finally, if you already contribute to the diocesan building fund, can I thank you for your continued support.
I remain, yours sincerely in Christ,
Brian Noble,
Bishop of Shrewsbury