Cumbria Overseas Aid Trust

Chairperson’s Report for the year 2017

Well things certainly move fast in COAT. I started as a trustee of Carlisle Overseas Aid Trust in July 2016 and by May 2017 I had been asked to Chair the trustees of Cumbria Overseas Aid Trust!!

Looking back at the history of COAT I am filled with admiration for the founders of COAT – to be inspired by world events and to have the belief that a small group of people operating in this corner of the UK could make a difference to the lives of people living in poverty overseas. And COAT has done exactly that – raising thousands of pounds to help people in many countries.

I would like to raise a glass to those founders and to all the trustees who have gone before us. In 2017 three of our trustees have resigned: Andy Auld, Keith Baty and Penny Ritson. All for personal reasons and I believe all will continue to support us. My sincere thanks to those three for all that they have contributed to COAT in the past and are continuing to do so.

2017 has been another successful year. The projects we have supported are very varied (see below): geographically the main focus has been Africa with nine of our twelve grants going to this continent stretching from South Sudan in the north to Mozambique in the south. The other three grants have gone to aid people in Asia – two to Bangladesh and one to Nepal. The smallest grant was £200 and we have been able to make two grants of £1000 each.

These grants have been made possible because of our success at fundraising. The regular donations direct to our bank, the 100 club memberships, the ceilidh, Sue’s garden party, the quiz, generous donation of a birthday fund – all of these raise the funds that go directly to help projects round the world.

So what of the future?  Currently our fundraising has resulted in a pretty stable income over the last five years of about £7000 per year which is great. But we have lost the income from the Cockermouth sales so maybe we need to come up with some new ideas for the future to maintain this level. However, I personally think that one of the great assets of COAT is that our fundraising is enjoyable and I would not want us to lose that joy and feel pressurised to raise more money.

So let’s maintain our level of income while enjoying our social occasions. I would like to finish by raising a (metaphorical) glass to all of you who make this organisation such a great joy to be part of: to the trustees, to all our supporters, and to David who audits our accounts. Thank you. 

Hilary Pickup

www.cumbriaoverseasaidtrust.org.uk