Hello Dear Friends.

We hope you are all well and looking forward to Forum in just over 4 weeks.

Holiday Forum Grants and Bursaries

Over the years our Forum Community has been blessed by the attendance of a huge variety of people from all backgrounds. This has largely been possible due to the support we have had from the URC Discipleship Fund, The Hayes Bursary Fund and our own Bursary Fund, to which many of you have so generously contributed. In the last few years demands on these funds have grown substantially with total grants in recent years totalling £14,000.00. Unfortunately this year the Steering Group has been unsuccessful in securing any external funding and we will therefore be completely dependent on the Forum Bursary Fund. This is possible to achieve on this one off occasion by drawing on our reserves but it isn’t sustainable in the longer term particularly since The Hayes require full payment for our booking in advance.

To assist us in maintaining the ability for all to attend Forum we would be extremely grateful if those who feel able would consider making a donation to the Forum Bursary Fund. As well as continuing to support people to attending Forum this year, this will also help to enable Forum to continue by providing future funds that will support provision of our required advanced payments for 2027.  We understand that it’s not always possible for everyone to give a donation and therefore we ask you all to consider doing some fundraising to help boost the Bursary. Maybe you could use your skills to make something to sell at Church, or hold a Coffee Morning or an Afternoon Tea. Maybe you enjoy walking and could do a sponsored walk.  Every penny made makes a difference to the Bursary and in turn can help so many to attend Holiday Forum.

We hope you will give this your prayerful consideration.

Richard Storer

Treasurer

On behalf of the Steering Group

Thank you.