AGM 2006

PRESS RELEASE
 
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY AGM  27TH FEBRUARY 2006
 
Colchester Catalyst Charity is a grant making trust whose objects are to relieve  the sick and suffering of North East Essex by the improvement of healthcare where help is not available from statutory providers.  The trust’s capital , currently nearly £10 million is derived from the former Colchester Nursing Home in Oaks Drive.  It is managed by a board of directors with wide experience of  business and health care issues
 
The Chairman. Tony Frost, said “Our annual grants making budget is influenced by the performance of the financial markets and we have increased this year’s grants budget  to £350,000.  After a period of retrenchment we are now in a position to welcome new and imaginative applications.
 
The 16th AGM of Colchester Catalyst Charity  will be held  at 6.30 p.m. on Monday 27th February at the  New Independent Living Centre , Catalyst House, Newcomen Way  Colchester.  Representatives from a wide range of charities and caring agencies in Colchester and  all parts of North East Essex are invited to attend..  Among items to be reported are that:
 
·      AT THE END OF THE YEAR 2004/2005 THE NET ASSETS OF THE CHARITY STOOD AT £9,135,046
 
·      NEARLY 1,400 DONATIONS TO  LOCAL CHARITIES HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE THE CHARITY WAS ESTABLISHED, REPRESENTING A  RECORD £5.25 MILLION POUNDS.
 
·      THIS YEAR THE CHARITY  HAS ENABLED 347 CARERS TO  RECEIVE A BREAK OR URGENT  ASSISTANCE IN THE HOME TOTALLING OVER 2,000 HOURS.
 
·      DURING THE YEAR THE CHARITY HAS  AGAIN MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS IN MOST CATEGORIES OF CARE WHERE IT COULD ESTABLISH THAT HELP REQUIRED WOULD NOT BE FORTHCOMING FROM STATUTORY ORGANISATIONS.
 
·          TWENTY-TWO LOCAL CARING ORGANISATIONS RECEIVED GRANTS.  TWO OF THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES THIS YEAR WERE THE ST. HELENA DAY HOSPICE  IN-PATIENT DEPARTMENT AT HIGHWOODS AND THE HEADWAY ESSEX EXTENSION PROJECT.
 
·      DURING THE YEAR  ALMOST £52,000 WAS SPENT IN PROVIDING SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR  170 INDIVIDUALS
 
·      THE SCHEME FOR FUNDING RESPITE BREAKS FOR LOCAL CARERS             RECEIVED OVER £53,000
 
·                              WITH THE INCREASE IN THE CHARITY’S ASSETS IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT EXTRA  FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR TO HELP LOCAL ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED WITH THE SICK AND SUFFERING..
 
For further information please contact  Bart Walsh, Administrator on
01206 752545   “e” mail <colcat@btinternet.com>.