This month we are focusing on two of the smaller charities which we support through our Mission giving. Maybe you are not aware of either?
Galloway’s Society for the Blind:
I came across this charity first, as a subscriber to the URC Reform magazine. I noticed that there were occasional adverts about the work of Galloway’s; one of their tasks is to tape Reform Magazine and the Methodist Recorder for people who are visually impaired. Some of you will remember Avril Colville, a former elder, who lost her sight as a result of multiple sclerosis; she received many Christian publications on tape: a real lifeline for her and others. This year we have given £50, a small but worthwhile donation for the work they do. They sent the following press release, which you might find interesting:
Methodist Recorder Talking Newspaper digital hopes
Every Thursday for the past seventeen years a group of volunteers from the Preston and South Ribble Circuits have gathered at Galloway’s Society for the Blind in Penwortham, Preston to record extracts from the Methodist Recorder on to tape free of charge for the benefit of blind and partially sighted people. The tapes are sent out to people in all parts of the UK and returned to the charity the following week for recording of the next edition. Now all that is set to change as Galloway’s, the 143 years old charity, is going digital.
Galloway’s Director and member of Ashton Methodist Church, Peter Taylor said, “We’ve known that the end was in sight for the cassette tape for some years but have been reluctant to make a change until whatever replaced tape offered us some degree of longevity, in return for the expense involved. We did consider CDs but whilst these were cheap, they could only be used once and therefore were not environmentally friendly. Consequently, whilst we’ve been recording digitally for a few years, we have now taken the decision to produce the recordings on memory stick rather than cassette”.
Despite the demise of the cassette tape itself, the main worry facing the charity is the maintenance of its tape copying equipment which is no longer supported by the service agent. The readers will record one master tape but then this has to be fast-copied 32 tapes a time taking about three minutes to complete each cycle, if a machine breaks down it can only now be repaired by using second-hand parts from another broken machine.
The memory sticks can be player via a computer but for anyone without, Galloway’s will be providing small radio type digital players. The new system has been trialled with a number of listeners, many remarking on the improved sound quality of the recordings.
The only obstacle facing the charity is meeting the cost of the transfer, in addition to improvements in the studio it is anticipated that the overall cost of supplying each listener with a digital player and two memory sticks will be just over £14,000. Peter added “We do have a number of people who make donations to us via our annual appeal in the Recorder and we are supported by several Churches who appreciate the value of our work, people are generous and it won’t be the first time we’ve trusted that the funds will be provided.” Galloway’s Society for the Blind was founded in Preston in 1867 by amongst others, the Temperance Reformer Joseph Livesey. In addition to the Methodist Recorder the charity records a number of publications including The Catholic Universe, Reform Magazine and the War Cry. Further information regarding the Charity’s work can be obtained by visiting www.galloways.org.uk
URC Retired Ministers’ Housing Fund (RMHF):
Ministers are provided, while working, with a manse. On retirement many are unable to purchase a property, because they have never earned enough to get on to the property ladder, nor can they afford a commercial rent. The RMHF is a response to this situation. They help ministers find a suitable retirement property. Whenever possible ministers help towards the purchase costs and have an equity share. Rent is also paid to meet the cost of maintenance and administration. One retired minister said the following: “Like many of our contemporaries, the stipend was our sole household income and the thought of finding a retirement house was a cause for concern, Thanks to the Society, we have been happily housed for 23 years and it is now possible for us to move to Yorkshire to live near our daughter.”
By giving to this fund, we show our practical care and concern for retired ministers.
Margaret Gateley
