In the November
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Formerly known as "Romania Link" to which the people of Gamlingay and the Hatleys have so generously contributed in the past. Unfortunately, Gill Bowden, who has been the contact point is no longer able to collect and forward your gifts. However, your help is still needed and appreciated. Gilly has given us this short outline of the work "Heart For You" is doing and asks that you continue your generous support by contacting the charity direct. Contact details are given at the end of the article. "Heart For You" background It was following the revolution in 1989 and the subsequent fall of communism in Romania that the Pastor and members of Biggleswade Baptist Church, like the rest of Europe, became aware of the desperate needs of the Romanian people. In those early days the Church organised aid and had it sent in the most convenient manner. The Church quickly realised the enormity of the issues and problems and set up a separate unit to act as the centre of aid distribution, this was known as Biggleswade Baptist Church Romania Link (BBCRL). It soon became clear that whilst BBCRL was effective in collecting, packing, co-ordinating and arranging the distributing of aid it lacked the financial resource to arrange suitable transportation. It also became clear that some methods of transportation were far more effective than others. From these frantic beginnings a more co-ordinated policy was emerging. Clearly finance was a major issue and to this end a Charity Shop was brought into place. The shop enabled goods, not suitable for Romanian aid, to be sold locally and the income generated used to fund transport. As the business grew it was apparent that larger shop premises were needed and then even larger ones. These moves and the development that went with them have enabled the operation to hone its activities and to become an effective force in supplying aid and support to the area of Arad in Romania. The early contacts with a local Romanian Baptist Church has since developed and for some time now a separate Romanian Charity has been operating. This Charity, Fundatia Lumina Pentra Toti (Foundation of Light For All) has enabled a more effective working relationship between the activities here in Biggleswade and the authorities in Arad. In July 1999 the Charity was able to send a qualified Pre-School Officer to Arad to train and assist in the opening of a Pre-school Nursery. Not only was the training enthusiastically welcomed but also was the wealth of support materials that accompanied the trip. This is the second such nursery we have had the privilege of assisting in and already there is evidence, recognised in Romania, that the children attending the Nursery start school with a clear advantage. We have also put in place funding to pay the wages of two trained staff for a given period. In October 1999, following a further visit, plans were put in place for a further nursery to be supported through a local church in the town of Siria. The existing nursery is now becoming self-funding as we have developed local Charity Shops which in turn generate income and enable the provision of both food and materials to help many, many more. Added to this is a written contract with the local church to take over the total funding, including staff, after he agreed consolidation period. Two Family Centres are now open where staff, supported financially through the Charity here in Biggleswade, are able to advise, assist and support families who face situations so desperate that we have difficulty comprehending. The Family Centres provide the basics of life, such as oil and flour, together with love and kindness and the ability to point the hopeless and helpless to supportive medical teams and others who can help. Our aim, always, is to help the individuals help themselves. Yes we are able to feed and support them, initially, but strongly believe that it is better to teach them to fend and manage situations for themselves. We have seen this operating particularly in the development of the eye care project, where, supported by UK Companies, we have trained Romanian staff to manufacture and provide spectacles locally. UK based Opticians visit and provide the prescriptions and the Romanians cut and prepare the glasses on site. This project generates both income and employment and funds the Family Centres. And so the circle turns. A project, on creating further Optometry Units, is already in progress and a mobile unit is proposed. Again we are looking to create two-way processes whereby one element of the work funds the other. In 1998 we funded the creation of a Summer Camp whereby youth from the area of Micalaca are able to take breaks in the country away from the airless, soulless flats they live in. The area has a large community living in state run flats where the ravages of despair and drink take their toll. The camp, and another planned at Siria, provides an opportunity to get away from the despair and, with guidance, to look at life with a renewed vision. The activities we have introduced have been applauded by the City Council in Arad who recognise the benefit of creating self-funded models whereby one activity helps another. Since its inception, ‘Biggleswade Baptist Church Romania Link’ (BBCRL) had operated as a charity under the charity status held by Biggleswade Baptist Church. However, as the Church held such status to ‘Proclaim the Gospel Of Christ’, BBCRL’s activities, though still in keeping with that aim, could not clearly be confined and defined within the aim as they had broadened through the humanitarian and self funding projects developed in Romania. In 1999 the Church recognised the issues that were faced and the way BBCRL was linked to it, and supported the change to form a separate Charity. After taking professional legal advice, the Church agreed to set up the Charity as a ‘Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee’. This met all the legal requirements of charitable status and gave a greater degree of financial protection for those willing to act as Trustees. The Church continues to show its commitment to the support and association it has with the activities of the new charity. In day to day operation there has been little difference. The main difference being that those taking up Trusteeship have agreed to administer the Charity and meet the requirements of both the Charity Commissioner and Company House.
Contact details:
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