Friday, 02 July 2010

Mark Wiggin, the new director of CARITAS Diocese of Salford, reports on a recent successful garden party.

Good weather and good company blessed the annual ‘Rescue’ garden party held in the grounds of our East Didsbury offices on Saturday 19th June. 

It was a great success with many friends old and new enjoying dozens of stalls and activities that helped to bring so many of our supporters together. This year’s party was unique. It heralded the transition from the former Catholic Children’s Rescue Society to the new charity, Caritas Diocese of Salford.

The high attendance ensured that takings on the day exceeded £8,400 and the total figure will shortly be announced. The event is a great fundraiser but money isn’t everything! Every penny does help to ensure we can provide high quality services to some of the most vulnerable children and families in our society, but what is equally important is the generosity of time and commitment that our supporters and well-wishers bring in abundance to the event. What comes with this generosity is a sense of family and belonging. It is a wonderful sight to see so many people, friends, beneficiaries, grandparents, parents and children who have such a close and personal association with this charity coming together to support us. The garden party is indeed a visible expression of the affection and the high we are held by those people whose lives have been touched in someway by our services to children and families.

We decided to dedicate this year’s garden party as a mark of respect and thanks to the Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph who began the pioneering work of the Rescue Society. I am sure that Alice Ingham, their founder and Mother Elizabeth who first came up to Salford in 1886, at the request of Bishop Vaughan, would be proud of the work and achievements of ‘Rescue’ and I believe they would approve of Caritas Diocese of Salford as the inheritors of their legacy so that together we take forward this wonderful work.

As the new Director of CARITAS Diocese of Salford, one important part of my work will be to ensure that the spirit and legacy of the Catholic Children’s Rescue Society continues to flourish within the new charity that brings together the work of Rescue with the work of the Catholic Welfare Societies.  Our challenge at Caritas is to be the good stewards of that legacy and to develop it further to meet the needs of the communities in which we live and serve.

A heartfelt and warm ‘thank you’ is offered to all the volunteers and partner organisations who gave up their time to make the day a tremendous success. Appreciation and thanks is also expressed to the staff of Caritas and their families for contributing to such an enjoyable day through their enthusiasm and passion for our vital work. With your help and support we will continue and build on this fundraising event next summer.