By Joe Burns, Commission Treasurer
SPARK PROGRAMME GAINS ADDITIONAL FUNDING
For nearly 6 years now our programme working with younger people, SPARK Social Justice, has been supported very generously by Porticus UK (which is the UK arm of Benevolentia – the trust fund set up by the owners of C&A). However, their funding will be coming to an end at the end of this year.
However, aware of the impact that the programme of activities is having, both the SPARK Steering Group and the Commission itself are determined that the work should continue.
We are delighted that for the next two years the Diocese will be providing £5k towards our SPARK work, in addition to the £5k we already receive. This is not enough to keep the activity levels at their current level. However, it gives us more confidence in seeking funding support from other trusts and foundations to enable us to do this.
We have already secured £1k from the Sisters of Sion for the work that SPARK does with the Palestinian Film festival. Additionally, we have just heard that we are receiving a £2k grant to do a specific evening event for the SPARK community on Friday 10 October and to lead a retreat day on Saturday 11th October (see more details below).
Other applications are in the pipeline and we are hopeful that the great work that Kathy Shaw is doing on the SPARK programme of work will be able to continue, if not expand, from what is happening today.
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SPARK RETREAT DAY @ Hinsley Hall
SPARK Social Justice and the Spirituality of J&P action group are in the process of organising a retreat day on Saturday 11 October. It will take place at Hinsley Hall.
We are absolutely delighted that Fr Luis Orlando Perez Jimenez SJ will be returning to Leeds to lead this day. Fr Luis was in Leeds earlier this year to present the Romero Lecture. Those who went found what he had to say very moving and thought-provoking. Although studying at UCL at the moment, he is Mexican and has much experience of working with families of the disappeared in both Mexico and other countries of Central America.
The theme of the day will be “Sustaining Hope in Today’s World” – so a deliberate attempt to link the day with the Pilgrims of Hope Holy Year theme.
Although organised by SPARK, it will be open to others.
Spaces will be very limited (25 maximum) so please make a note of the date now if you think you are interested in coming to this day. We will be setting up an Eventbrite page in due course, but this will probably not be available until early August.