Development Group
Our Development Fund - Events
Over the next few years we have to raise a lot of money, principally for major re-wiring of the church (without which it may be the church will have to close for insurance purposes), there are also roof works and other possibilities for improving our current facilities, in the pipeline. Please consider your support of the following (and future) events with these issues in mind. Saturday 7th June - Black Tie Diamond Dinner. A huge thank you, from the development team to all those who helped support this event . We had 93 guests here in church who dug deep in their pockets and together we have raised not only a lot of money, but also awareness of our situation to many people, around the community and the city.
Ladies - Sponsored Challenge Day - Sat 20th Sept
A wonderful day was had by those who took part and we estimate that over £800 was raised of which 50% will go to St Catherines Development Fund and the other 50% to Cancer Reseach UK.
The Ladies get ready!
The Development Group
For your information the Development Group are: Rachael Barber, Simon Bransby, Peter Daines, Brian Garner, David Knight, Ruth Lambert, Joyce Lincoln, Paul Mackay, Scott Marrison and Richard Proudfoot. Please feel free to speak to anyone in the group who will be able to tell you how we are progressing. Do you have any ideas you would like to put forward to the Development Group?
DEVELOPMENT GROUP REPORT 2008
PRAISE FOR PROGRESS IN 2008 From a standing start in March 2008 we have raised nearly £20,000 following various activities starting with a letter drop mostly to the Mile Cross community (see below), St George's Day Quiz, a black tie dinner (see below), sponsored bike ride (see below) a barn dance and a further letter drop to other parts of our parish. We have submitted a number of grant applications, none of which have, as yet, been successful but we are reliably informed this is not unusual. The group have also recently set up a sub committee whose purpose it is to concentrate solely on the grant applications. Three of the events are worthy of further discussion, namely the letter drop, the black tie dinner and the sponsored bike ride. Letter Drops We were astonished by the success of this venture, especially the first drop. A few hardy souls went out from St Catherine’s in March 2008 to the Mile Cross part of the Parish, then in September to the Catton Grove area. The idea was to ask members of the community to simply donate £1 to help with our fundraising. The church was then open for the whole weekend to enable donations to be givenA steady stream of money was received and the final result was in excess of £2400 (after gift aid).
Black Tie Dinner The black tie event was a resounding success with approximately 90 people in attendance. This was our main launch event, aimed at trying to spread the details of our fundraising aims predominantly to the local business community. Those in attendance included the Bishop of Norwich, Archdeacon, MP and Roy Waller. There was a charity auction on the night, with lots ranging from a diamond through to paintings, champagne, hot air balloon flight a flatscreen tv and other items, mostly donated by local businesses. The black tie dinner raised in the region of £5,000. Charity Cycle Ride The black tie dinner was swiftly followed by Rev Paul Mackay and Simon Bransby starting their sponsored cycle ride to Brighton. They set off in extremely wet and windy conditions. Fortunately the wind was a brisk north westerly which helped them on the first leg of their journey. They safely arrived in Brighton (having joined the annual London to Brighton Bike Ride). The cycle ride raised in the region of £4,200, two thirds of which went to St Catherine's and the other third to the British Heart Foundation (who organise the London to Brighton leg). GOALS FOR 2009 We have events planned throughout the year, starting with the Valentine's Dance on Saturday 14 February 2009, a further St George's Quiz (24th April 2009), another black tie dinner on 20th June 2009, a barn dance (10th October 2009) and no doubt others as the year goes on. As many of you will have seen, the church hall is in serious need of works to be carried out and, as it is a main source of income from hirers, this needs to be addressed urgently. It is the intention for roof work and window replacement to take place this year partly, utilising funds already raised, with the balance to be supplied hopefully through successful grant applications, or avenues which are being discussed within the PCC. Meanwhile we are not abandoning the works which need to be carried out within the church and this is the subject of ongoing discussions with English Heritage and Norfolk Churches Trust. PRAYER Please be prayerful and supportive with regards to the events coming up and in relation to any grant applications we submit for the year.