'Extraordinary' Guild members applauded for raising £553,318 for life-changing projects

The General Assembly has commended the Guild's extraordinary work, as it emerged that it has raised £553,318 for its six project partnerships.

Described as a labour of love, members have been true to the principles laid down when the organisation was established in 1887 and stood alongside the most marginalised people in society at home and abroad.

The six projects for 2021-2024 were:

• Blether with Beat, supporting people living with and affected by eating disorders.
• Finding homes for vulnerable children through fostering and adoption with Home for Good.
• Chocolate Heaven, ensuring a fair price for cocoa producers in South East Asia working with Pioneers UK.
• Finding a Light in Every Child, working with Starchild to build a school for children with special educational needs in Uganda.
• Hear my Voice, supporting women to gain theological training with UNIDA in Brazil.
• Kazunzu Village of Hope in Tanzania, where Vine Trust have built homes for children orphaned as a result of HIV and other diseases.

Fundraising for the six projects began in 2021 when society was still struggling with the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Guild activities did not take place for most of that year and the usual fundraising activities were prohibited.

But despite all the challenges, groups across the country embraced these projects and found new and innovative ways to raise money.

The Guild is characterised by faith, fellowship, commitment and a concern for the world in which we all live.

Christina Paterson, National Convener of the Guild, said: "I am delighted to be able to share with the Assembly that, over the past three years, the Guild has raised an amazing £553,318 for our six project partnerships.

"This has provided a strong foundation for these life-changing projects.

"September 2024 saw the Guild embarking on a new three-year strategy – ‘Let us Build a House', this first year our theme being ‘Sure Foundations.'

"The sure foundations laid down for the Guild in 1887 have furnished us with the confidence and ability to raise awareness of and address many contentious issues, to stand with the oppressed and marginalised, to rise to the challenges of an ever-evolving society and to embrace changes necessary for our continued existence.

"The launch of ‘Let us Build a House' took place at the Annual Gathering along with the introduction of four exciting new Project Partnerships, all of which sit very comfortably within this strategy,

"In Upper Egypt we will work with Release International as part of ‘Operation Hope' in building better lives for persecuted Christians through practical, pastoral and psychological support.

"Our partnership with the Scottish Bible Society enables us to help build God's kingdom through ‘Bibles for Bairns', doing just that – providing Bibles and related fun activities for babies and children in Scotland enabling families to read together the transformative stories of faith.

"We will be working again with our close friends in Crossreach.

"Their project ‘Playful Beginnings' is building family relationships and laying strong foundations for vulnerable children and their families in Govanhill as well as providing perinatal counselling services in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Moray and Inverness.

"Finally, we are working with the small charity Bear Necessities to ‘Build my Church in Bulgaria' planting a church and community hub in the city of Sliven."

Fellowship and faith

Mrs Paterson said Guild members visited the project in March and met the team behind it.

"Their passion and commitment is inspiring and, just as the Guild helped build a church in Barlanark in the 1950's, what a privilege to be demonstrating faith in action by helping to build a church and centre which will feed body, mind and soul," she added.

Ms Paterson said more than £50,000 has been raised for the four projects since January.

The Guild reported that the Young Adult Guild, relaunched as LIFT (Love in Fellowship and Trust) last year, is progressing well,

It meets online monthly and discussing a range of issues and ideas that have challenged and inspired in equal measure.

In April, young people from across Scotland came together to explore what the future might look like for them as they grow together in their faith and encourage each other to build on the foundations of their faith.

The conference included sessions on worship, mission locally and internationally and the next step for LIFT will be to pilot in-person meetings in some presbyteries to consider how young people can best be engaged in mission in their local area.

The General Assembly backed a deliverance that urged congregations and Presbyteries to support Guild projects over the next three years and to pray regularly for the Guild and its Project Partners.

It also backed a deliverance that commended the Bibles for Bairns initiative to congregations and encourage Kirk Sessions to explore ways in which they can fully engage with the project as part of the Church's mission and outreach work.

Mrs Paterson said: "The Guild's level of engagement within communities is extensive and continues to be at the core of many voluntary groups, churches and local initiatives.

"Indeed, it would be a challenge to find many groups without a Guild member lending a hand.

"The Guild – ordinary people doing extraordinary things all to the glory of God, whose we are and whom we serve."