A Visit to CCS HQ!

With the cash I'd collected mounting up, I thought that taking it to the Catholic Children's Society offices myself would be a good way of finding out a bit more about the charity your donations and my running are supporting!  I've been to Charles Square before, but had never realised that there was such a lot tucked behind that stretch of Ladbroke Grove.  Eventually I made it past the school and Sixth Form College to the premises of CCS, where you will also find a small French school and the offices of a couple of other charities.  Once in the CCS offices, though, I was surprised to find it really peaceful.  Megan, my main contact there, gave me a tour and introduced me to some of the staff, who kept saying, "You're so generous to do this for us."  I don't really associate the generosity with myself - that's more the realm of you donors and supporters, as well as the staff up there.  I just do something I enjoy, with the added reward of knowing that it's having a positive impact on the lives of people I haven't even met. 

Certainly the CCS staff must have the same sense of fulfilment in their work to continue day after day with the task of asking people for money.  I really don't envy them.  There are so many charities vying for attention, and so many of them doing invaluable and irreplaceable work!  CCS is small.  All it does is offer support to a few thousand children in the Westminster area.  But each of those is an individual with a future ahead of them, with their own dignity, their own capacity to make the world a better place, just needing a little support to live in a way which will enable them to reach their potential. 

I haven't visited any of CCS's projects yet, but the very personal and individual support which is provided clearly makes a real difference to the families who use their services.  That might be as simple as a food hamper at Christmas to change the day from a trial to a celebration, or as complex as school-based psychotherapy for a child struggling with mental health issues.  Thank you for helping to make that difference.  The good news is that recent donors Georgia, Hannah, Barbara and John have brought the current total to £710.88!  You, and all of you who support me, are the real stars of this project!