| The first newsletter for 2008 has been prepared and printed copies have been sent out to those on our mailing list. If you would like to be added to the mailing list then please go to our 'Further Info' page using the link on the left. Below we reproduce the text of the newsletter for those who prefer this medium. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Several months have gone by since our last newsletter, for this delay
we must apologise. It can be explained, if not justified, by the amount of
activity that has occupied our team in other aspects of the work. Rest assured all is well, in fact, better than that,
don't rest - help us to ensure that everything continues to go well. RoAF is working with Asociatia Neemia, its Romanian partner, and other like-minded charities in the Dorohoi area to bring some relief to such people, by providing clothing, food and some limited help with fuel or medical costs. Reports from Beni and his team in Romania are also encouraging, with the team working well together, the shop doing well with no problems at the warehouse and with 9 full loads going out in the year, this means that the amount of aid distributed has exceeded previous records. The receipts from the shop were also a record this year; this enabled all the employment, property and distribution costs to be funded from locally generated income. In this newsletter we are concentrating on the UK activities which allow this help to continue. Further details of Asociatia Neemia's achievements will be included in our Spring newsletter, although by that time Beni and Ionela will no doubt be occupied with the new arrival in their family.
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A record yearIn 2007 we managed to send 9 full loads out, a record number! Thank you for all the hard work from all our many supporters who have packed and loaded their way through nearly 110 tonnes of aid. The aid consisted of some 36 tonnes of clothes and bedding including hundreds of duvets, 40 tonnes of tinned food, 30 wheelchairs, 150 bicycles, 40 prams and pushchairs, 6 tonnes of baby food, over 80 computers and 500 carpet tiles, plus of course, around 2,000 shoeboxes which arrived from many locations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A special mention for Wendy Dando and the team in south Wales who obtained refurbished wheelchairs, bicycles and computers from prisons in Swansea, Cardiff and Stafford respectively - it this a case of inside knowledge? All this adds up to our best achievement in a single year, and we finished the year with enough aid, ready to go, to fill another 2 lorry loads. 2007 was also a good year with our finances, although at times it was challenging. Total income was just over £25,000, of which around £17,000 came directly from gifts from our supporters, just over £4,000 from various fund raising events and the £4,000 balance from gift aid refunds. A big thank you to all our supporters from around the globe for making it all possible. We finished the year with a small balance and plan to send our first load of the new year out in early February. A special thank you to all the organisers and supporters of our fund raising events, as mentioned we raised just over £4,000 from these, also a record. Look out for the fund raising events planned for 2008, then put the dates in your diary and let your friends and neighbours know. These events are not just for fundraising, they give us an opportunity to meet many of our supporters and give them news firsthand. Another advantage is that these events can also attract corporate sponsorship, such as the £500 from ParcelForce following last year's Harp Concert.
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The price of progressOur expenditure in the year was just over £31,500, leaving us with a somewhat smaller bank balance than we started the year with. Of this around £6,500 went on UK costs, predominantly the rent for our warehouse space alongside Furnistore, but also a bit for insurance, postage and telephones. This is higher than normal because we were paying rent on two storage units whilst we transferred to Furnistore. We spent £4,000 towards an additional vehicle for Asociatia Neemia, reflecting the increase in activities there. All of the rest, some £20,000 in all, went on transport. With Romania joining the EU, we now have to pay VAT on all haulage costs, this has added £3,000 to our costs this past year. Reports from Beni and his team, Asociatia Neemia, in Romania are also encouraging, with the team working well together, the shop doing well with no problems at the warehouse and with 9 full loads going out in the year, this means that the amount of aid distributed has exceeded previous records. The receipts from the shop were also a record this year; this enabled all the employment, property and distribution costs to be funded from locally generated income. Further details of Asociatia Neemia's achievements will be included in our Spring newsletter, although by that time Beni and Ionela will no doubt be occupied with the new arrival in their family. So what are the challenges for the new year? It doesn't sound very exciting, but more of the same is the short term answer. Many people have been helped and are able to move forward on their own, but there are others who will never achieve that degree of success. The poverty doesn't go away, so neither will we. Thank you all for your efforts and support during the last year, please carry on, let's try to make 2008 an even better year for those who come to us for help.
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Financial Summary (UK Activities)In 2007 over £25,000 was raised for the work of the Romanian Aid Foundation and this is summarised below, together with a comparison with last year:.
The figures for 2006 are taken from the audited accounts for that year, and may differ from the estimates given this time last year. The figures for 2007 are preliminary and are subject to confirmation. In 2006 we had the benefit of a legacy, and although we don't want to lose any of our supporters, please remember RoAF if you plan to rewrite your will in the coming year, this could make so much difference to the work in some future year. The unexpected opportunity to send more lorries than before resulted in a large increase in transport costs but it has also meant that the normal operations in Romania have been entirely funded locally. Extra storage costs during the transfer from Smallfield to Horley have resulted in higher warehousing costs during this past year. Warehousing and transport are expected to cost about £26,000 this year. In 2006 we had the benefit of a legacy, and although we don't want to lose any of our supporters, please remember RoAF if you plan to rewrite your will in the coming year, this could make so much difference to the work in some future year.
Many
thanks to all those who have made donations of time, goods and money to help
this work continue.
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How you can help …We are always in need of clothes, bedding and other items as shown on our priority items list. These can be brought along on Friday afternoons or Saturday mornings in Horley, or by arrangement with the team in Lampeter. Your financial support is vital, if you are a taxpayer please remember to make a gift-aid declaration which increases the value of your donation. Your prayers, especially for those working in Romania, are very much appreciated. To those who live in the Horley area: We sort and pack at Horley Baptist Church every Friday afternoon starting around 2pm. Having moved into the Furnistore building on the Bridge Industrial Estate (beside the Balcombe Road railway bridge) we have the facilities to sort and pack on a Saturday morning as well. Please come along and help. To those who live a short car journey from Horley or from Lampeter: Several supporters collect and pack on a small scale using their own garages as a store, and then bring a complete carload to Horley or Lampeter. It has become quite usual for clothes to arrive by the carload just as the lorries are being loaded. Horley depot: Unit 10, Bridge Industrial Estate, Balcombe Road. RH6 7HU South Wales centre: ‘Oaklea’, Temple Bar, Lampeter. SA48 8BQ
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It is with sadness that we report the death of Kathleen Dann aged 84. Kath
and her sister Muriel have been ardent supporters of RoAF's work for a
long time, and were particularly involved with the Friday packing team.
Our picture shows Kath and Muriel checking knitted blankets prior to packing.
We extend our condolences to Muriel and Kath's wider family, and give thanks for her contribution to the work in Dorohoi. |
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Joy in a Box, 2007Some 2,000 boxes were distributed before Christmas, to needy families and individuals, and to children in schools, institutions and churches. The printed newsletter contains an insert showing some of the recipients of the Christmas gift boxes. This link will take you there - link to 2007 report
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Forthcoming Events
Lorry 2008#01 - 2nd February. Lorry 2008#02 - Bulk food and bedding, 22nd February. Lorry 2008#03 - 10th April, from south Wales.
Lorry 2008#?? - Early Summer Lorry - first Saturday of May.
Launch of 'Joy in a Box' for 2008 in June.
Jazz Concert with Dennis Hickman, usually in May or June 2007, at Oakwood School, Horley.
Duck Race - usually the third Saturday in June, River Mole, Horley.
GLIA Holiday Club in Dorohoi - 4th to 7th August.
Lorry 2008#?? - Target date for Christmas Boxes - first Saturday of October.
Harp Concert with Keziah Thomas, late November or early December, at St Francis Church, Horley.
Lorry 2008#?? - Christmas Lorry - first Saturday of December. Look out for details
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This newsletter is published on behalf of the Romanian Aid Foundation and Asociatia Neemia. For further information or to be added to the newsletter mailing list please use our response page or write to us using the contact details below: The Romanian Aid Foundation 179 Albert Road, Horley, Surrey RH6 7HS or Oaklea, Temple Bar, Lampeter, Ceredigion, SA48 8BQ The Romanian Aid Foundation is UK Registered Charity No. 1060828.
Asociatia Neemia Str Spiru Haret nr 9, Dorohoi, Botosani 6850, Romania.
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This newsletter is © Romanian Aid Foundation, January 2008. Link to this newsletter in pdf format ... oOo ... Link to previous newsletter: Spring 2007 |
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