Cardinal launches new fund to help London's marginalised

The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, has announced funding for families of children with cerebral palsy and homeless and drug rehabilitation projects at the launch of a new grants scheme to help the poor and marginalised in London.

The St John Southworth Fund will provide grants for homeless people, children with disabilities and people living in severe poverty in London.

Taking part in the launch in central London on Thursday were representatives of some of the first beneficiaries of the grants scheme, which include children with cerebral palsy and migrants receiving English language training.

The St John Southworth Fund was set up by the Diocese of Westminster and will have around £150,000 a year available to support the work of parishes, organisations or individuals in tackling poverty, old age and infirmity, homelessness and children with disabilities or in danger of deprivation.

Bishop Bernard Longley, Head of the Diocese of Westminster's Department of Pastoral Affairs, said: "The Catholic community already works through a wide range of organisations to help the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in London.

"The setting up of The St John Southworth Fund means that we will be able to respond flexibly and speedily to provide further funding to organisations which help homeless people, those who are deprived and children. Grants will also be available to help individuals in need."

One of the recipients was a scheme set up by the Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission to run English classes for refugees and non-English speakers at St Mellitus church.

Barbara Kentish of the Justice and Peace Commission told Christian Today, "This cheque [for £4000] will help us to have a residential away so that they [those studying English] speak more English and so the parishioners get to know them and there's more integration."

She continued "[The money will be used] for books because we've been doing [things] entirely with donated stuff and photocopying it ourselves and borrowing things. It will help us to have a little bit of equipment as well.

Another recipient was the Hornsey Trust, a specialist school for children with cerebral palsy and associated disabilities.

Anna Salamonowicz, head of fundraising at the Hornsey Trust, told Christian Today she was "thrilled" that the charity had received a grant for £10,000.

She said, "It means for us that we can set up a new pre-school and outreach service. So we are going to be taking our model of integrated life support to children and their families in their community. [We'll be] working in pre-school settings with the parents and the child and also with their teachers."