CARE Annual Review 2020-21

CARE

ANNUAL REVIEW 2020-21

‘MAY THE FAVOUR OF THE LORD OUR GOD REST ON US; ESTABLISH THE WORK OF OUR HANDS FOR US – YES, ESTABLISH THE WORK OF OUR HANDS.’ PSALM 90:17 (NIV)

IN THIS ISSUE

A NOTE FROM THE CEO

FAMILY ISSUES

LIFE ISSUES

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FINDING GOD’S FAVOUR COMMUNICATING WITH SUPPORTERS

JUSTICE ISSUES

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PRAYER MINISTRY

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‘May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.’ Psalm 90:17 (NIV)

of the UK – to ‘decriminalise’ abortion and make it effectively on demand. Alongside our advocacy work of challenging the need to change the law, CARE’s ministry OPEN has reached out to women in need for understanding and healing support.

L EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

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STORIES FROM OPEN

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HEAR FROM OUR CHAIRMAN

THE FIGURES

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EQUIPPING THE CHURCH

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ooking back over what’s been an extraordinary period for us all, we at CARE thank God for all His provision, including the many possibilities that opened up for us to build on the work of previous years. I hope you will be encouraged by this Review, knowing that your prayers and financial support have contributed to allow so many things to happen.

CARE continued to work closely with others, and produce research, briefings and other assistance to Parliamentarians on many issues – such as freedom of religion and belief, family and marriage, gambling, online safety, end of life, human trafficking and prostitution.

Our heart is for those who are most vulnerable, and we pray for God’s continued help in the coming year.

We really missed meeting you face-to-face through CARE events but by recruiting three new members to our communications team, we quickly embraced the online ways that were available to connect personally with thousands of our supporters. Developing the website was a priority and this now provides a wealth of information and resources.

Thank you so much for partnering with us.

Our most serious public policy focus has been abortion. Forty-three years on from the 1967 Act we’ve witnessed unprecedented and determined efforts – first in Northern Ireland and then the rest

NOLA LEACH

Chief Executive

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PROTECTING MARRIAGE The Government’s Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill included measures to fast-track the ending of a marriage. CARE’s Public Policy team was actively engaged in debates around this issue working closely with parliamentarians in both Houses and third sector organisations to highlight concerns that certain proposals would undermine marriage and have negative outcomes for children.

When the Domestic Abuse Bill was debated in Parliament we briefed MPs and Peers about the concerning association between domestic abuse and cohabitation, and how committed marriages can mean the levels of abuse being diminished in many instances.

Finally, in 2020 we enjoyed celebrating Marriage Week in Parliament, and promoting it with our supporters.

RELATIONSHIPS AND SEX EDUCATION (RSE) CARE continued to work with parliamentarians, raising concerns about how the balance of power and decisionmaking in regard to children and RSE has shifted away from their parents and towards schools and head teachers. We produced a comprehensive guide to update parents of school children about these changes, explaining the adjustments in the law on Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education.

In Wales, we engaged with MSs ahead of the Senedd’s consideration of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill, which proposed the removal of the ‘parental right of withdrawal’ from new Relationships and Sexuality lessons.

FAMILY ONLINE SAFETY AND PORNOGRAPY

TAXATION CARE has determinedly pursued the government over many years to rectify the UK’s discriminatory measures within the tax system, especially towards families in which only one partner is a wage earner. Our consultants’ fiscal policy expertise and experience is highly regarded, and CARE’s 2019 edition of ‘The Taxation of Families – International Comparisons’ was the subject of a parliamentary briefing hosted online by Miriam Cates MP.

CARE have continued to challenge the Government about the serious risk to children of online harms. We worked with Fiona Bruce MP, proposing amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill calling for further research about the links between people accessing pornography and domestic abuse. Once the Bill entered the Lords, we supported Baroness Benjamin, bringing together Peers such as Lord Morrow, Baroness Eaton, Lord Alton and Lord McColl, with other key stakeholders including NGO’s and leading children’s charities. Together, we wanted to highlight the link between access to pornography and domestic violence.

We prepared and briefed MPs for a Westminster Hall debate on families and children during coronavirus, focusing on long-term concerns regarding the tax and benefits system - which have been intensified by the pandemic. Following on from this, we made a submission to the Treasury Select Committee Inquiry into taxation after Coronavirus, outlining the imperative for taking account of family responsibility.

We launched the ‘Help Protect Children from Online Porn’ campaign - equipping our supporters to write to their MPs – in order to press the Government to implement the important Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 relating to this issue.

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ABORTION IN NORTHERN IRELAND

ABORTION IN THE REST OF THE UK

Westminster brought in their Abortion Regulations for Northern Ireland in the Autumn of 2019.

The CARE NI team worked closely with MLAs on a motion to highlight the opposition of the Stormont Assembly to aspects of these radical and liberal changes in the law. As Regulations are unamendable, this was a proxy vote and the motion passed by 46 votes to 40, alongside a Sinn Fein amendment. A total of 75 MLAs expressed dissent towards at least one part of the Regulations, and this led to a Commons Urgent Question urging the Government to act in light of the vote, which we supported.

The situation was no easier in the rest of the country. CARE’s Policy Team worked exhaustively on many fronts to oppose the decriminalisation and further liberalisation of abortion.

As well as engaging with parliamentarians regarding the Northern Ireland Regulations we produced multiple briefings, submitted evidence to the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee and Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments twice - the Regulations were initially withdrawn and subsequently immediately resubmitted. We were also alongside parliamentarians involved in the Delegated Legislation Committee as they considered the Regulations and worked closely with several Peers as the Lords considered the Regulations. This support continued right up until the final votes – no stone was left unturned.

We tirelessly supported Paul Givan MLA as he took his Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill through its early stages in the Assembly. The team brought together other MLA’s ahead of the Bill to highlight its importance. It would change the law so that abortion to term, or 40+ weeks, for non-fatal disabilities such as Down’s syndrome, cleft lip or club foot would not be legal.

When the Domestic Abuse Bill was debated, we prepared amendments and detailed briefings for parliamentarians to successfully oppose amendments that would dramatically liberalise abortion laws even further. Through, CARE brought together several organisations to roundtable discussions around abortion and violence against women.

We worked closely with disability activists, including Heidi Crowter, in Northern Ireland and beyond, highlighting the discriminatory nature of the law in Northern Ireland, and took legal advice about a possible judicial review of the Northern Ireland Abortion Regulations. CARE NI made submissions to many other consultations and inquiries, including one relating to the establishment of a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights.

We closely monitored and engaged in debate whether the Government’s temporary ‘telemedicine’ abortion provisions would become permanent beyond the pandemic. CARE rallied

several parliamentarians to push the Government on their concerning proposals on this issue and made several submissions to consultations, including to NICE (the National Institute for Clinical Excellence) about the new Quality Standard for Abortion Care.

In Guernsey, we supported the States’ Deputies in their efforts to make sure that proposals to change their abortion law were rejected. And in Scotland, we carried out extensive research and produced a submission to the Scottish Government’s consultation on telemedicine abortion provisions, supporting MSPs as they sought to scrutinise the current provision.

EUTHANASIA CARE is keenly aware that those promoting physician assisted suicide are determined to challenge the current law.

We worked with partner organisations to mount effective opposition for further calls for the law to change. This included a response to various medical professional bodies that were considering whether to change their position on assisted suicide. These included the Royal Colleges of Physicians and General Practitioners and the British Medical Association. Had any of them declared themselves in favour or even neutral, the case against legalising assisted suicide would have been seriously weakened.

We were keen to raise the issue of people’s option to travel abroad to access assisted suicide during lockdown, supporting parliamentarians responding to various motions, questions, and debates, including an Urgent Question.

We were closely involved in the setting up of a new All Party Parliamentary Group for Dying Well to facilitate work in Westminster championing palliative care and opposing assisted suicide.

There was debate around changes to the law with respect to the withdrawal of CANH (Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration) and we continued to monitor and engage with this wherever possible. CARE always wants to ensure that Christians are equipped to engage well with their MP and on this issue we encouraged our supporters to express their concerns to MPs about how vulnerable people would be affected by any change to the law, and to remind them of the need to prioritise universal access to excellent palliative care.

In Scotland, CARE continued to prepare for the probability of a new legislative effort to change the law on assisted suicide in Scotland.

We supported partner organisations in Ireland in response to the Dying with Dignity Bill introduced to the Dáil.

OTHER We monitored the Scottish Government’s activity regarding its review of the Gender Recognition Act.

LIFE

CARE continued to pursue work on robotics, AI and new technologies with parliamentarians and academics; assessing the challenges and opportunities this presents.

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and finally, the Government’s Independent Faith Engagement Review.

We participated in several engagement groups, including the Home Office Modern Slavery Strategy Implementation Group – Victim Support, regarding the National Referral Mechanism Transformation programme.

We wrote to the Prime Minister to raise our concerns about the closure of places of worship during the second Covid-19 lockdown.

CARE NI continues to provide the secretariat for the All-Party Group on Modern Slavery and engage with MLA’s in securing a motion to mark AntiSlavery Day; the motion also expressed support for the Modern Slavery (Victim) Support Bill being considered at Westminster and was unanimously supported.

In Scotland, we worked closely with key stakeholders - MSPs, third sector organisations and others in raising significant concerns about the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill. We drafted guidance and multiple briefings, engaging in all stages of the Bill’s progress through the Scottish Parliament. We produced detailed help to enable our supporters to engage with their MSPs, as well as supporting concerned members of the Justice Committee, and continued to push for improved free speech protections.

PROSTITUTION CARE submitted evidence to various consultations and inquiries, including the Home Office for a new Violence against Women and Girls Strategy, and for the 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report from the US State Department.

In Northern Ireland, we undertook Freedom of Information requests, highlighting the incidence of attacks on places of worship across Northern Ireland between 2014 and 2019. The policy team met with senior stakeholders within Government, including the First Minister, in relation to the possible introduction of a scheme to help places of worship which have been attacked.

JUSTICE FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF (FORB)

GAMBLING CARE has long campaigned to improve protection and care for problem gamblers, who are vulnerable to financial loss, mental health issues and relationship breakdown.

CARE’s Religion and Public Life Officer has worked behind the scenes with the rest of the team supporting Baroness Howe of Idlicote and Lord Morrow in their efforts to engage the Government on the issue of extremism and seeking updates on previous commitments to review the Prevent Duty Guidance for Education.

We became members of the Gambling Health Alliance, launched in 2019, and have continued our engagement with this coalition of charities and organisations to address the public health implications and concerns around liberal gambling regulations and laws.

We produced an in-depth report in response to the Commission for Countering Extremism report on hateful extremism and briefed and supported MPs to enable them to engage the Government on this issue.

Before the Government’s announcement of the review of the Gambling Act 2005, CARE launched the ‘Gambling Laws: It’s Time for Change’ campaign and made submissions to several consultations and inquiries. These included responding to the Government’s call for evidence on loot boxes within video games, and their review of the Gambling Act 2005.

The team has worked alongside Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP to establish a subcommittee of the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief – to focus on issues related to ‘reasonable accommodation’ of religion and belief.

In Northern Ireland, we commissioned and published polling which showed widespread support for a reform of gambling laws in Northern Ireland. The NI Policy Team provided Secretariat for the All Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling, and helped to facilitate the launch of a formal inquiry on gambling regulation which has hosted multiple evidence sessions.

We submitted written evidence to several consultations and inquiries, including the Government’s consultation on protection of places of worship; the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ consultation on freedom of speech (including concerns around hate speech and freedom of speech at universities); the Law Commission’s Review of Hate Crime law in England and Wales;

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In Scotland, CARE participated in meetings of the Cross-Party Group on Human Trafficking and made submissions to the Scottish Government’s ‘Equally Safe’ consultation with regard to challenging men’s demand for prostitution.

VICTIMS OF MODERN SLAVERY

CARE NI made submissions to various consultations and inquiries on the new Modern Slavery Strategy being put forward by the Department of Justice.

This included amending the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act 2015.

CARE have continued to work closely with Peers, including Lord McColl, Lord Morrow and Lord Alton, as well as key NGO and third sector stakeholders during the passage of the Immigration and Social Security (EU Withdrawal) Bill. We highlighted our particular concern about the impact that leaving the EU would have on victims of human trafficking who were receiving support. The Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill would plug this gap and we were delighted that an amendment tabled by Lord McColl, which we helped to facilitate, was approved by Peers at Report Stage in the Lords against Government opposition. Sadly, this was later removed by the House of Commons.

ELECTIONS Ahead of the Scottish and Welsh Parliamentary elections, we produced a wide range of resources, including a standalone website which included detailed briefings, an MP voting database, and prayer guides.

SUNDAY TRADING

Throughout the process above, we continued to support and advise Lord McColl and Iain Duncan Smith in furthering the Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill. We assisted with their correspondence and meetings with parliamentarians and Ministers, including the Home Secretary, and submitted supplementary evidence to her and to the Home Office on their behalf. We also engaged with key stakeholders in support of the Bill, resulting in joint briefings to parliamentarians and a joint public letter co-signed by more than 30 NGOs.

CARE continued to monitor Sunday Trading laws.

According to some media reports, the Government considered relaxing the Sunday Trading laws as part of a series of measures to aid the economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic. The last time this was attempted was in 2016, when the Government was defeated by 317-286. We liaised with MPs and rallied our supporters to raise their concerns.

CARE continues to coordinate the Free for Good campaign (freeforgood.org) in support of this Bill – bringing together 30 NGOs and business groups.

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ENGAGING WITH THE MEDIA CARE is continuing to achieve great coverage in the media. We are a respected voice with increasing opportunities to speak out on issues relating to human dignity. Our media work is vital in encouraging and persuading elected representatives across the UK to protect the most vulnerable in society.

From articles published in The Times, The Scotsman, The Critic, to media interviews for Premier Christian Radio, BBC local and national stations, CARE is speaking out, bringing our policy expertise to bear on a range of causes. CARE spokespeople have appeared in nearly all the national press at some point, from the Telegraph to the Mirror and in Northern Ireland and Scotland media as well.

COMMUNICATIONS If you would like to receive any of the communication mentioned here, or if we can answer any questions you might have, please contact us on mail@care.org.uk.

DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS The pandemic meant our digital communications have played a more important role than ever before. As events moved online, our social media channels have been put to greater use, giving us an even stronger voice in the public square. From new podcasts to Q&A Sessions and prayer gatherings, this last year has seen us adapt well to continue communicating through various lockdowns.

We have also continued to invest in our new website, launched in January last year. The news section has been vastly improved, and we’ve also created an attractive new template for our long reads, which take you behind some of the causes we’re working on. With hundreds of thousands of users and page views, the website is establishing itself a vital resource for our supporters and many others. Plans are afoot to bring further improvements over the next 12 months.

Members of CARE’s team appearing on news programmes to speak up about our causes.

More people have signed up for CARE’s email updates, especially our weekly email, Impact Direct. Our Facebook page has more than 18,000 subscribers and we also relaunched our YouTube channel which is proving very popular. CARE is also active on Twitter and Instagram, cumulatively reaching tens of thousands of people online.

care.org.uk careorguk

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PRINTED RESOURCES CARE publications reflect inwardly and outwardly ‘who we are and what we do.’ We love to inspire and inform our readers, equipping them to pray and to take action on key issues through a variety of resources. Much of the last year has been focused on our regular mailings, updating any existing publications to incorporate the new branding guidelines of January 2020, and to highlight the 50th Anniversary since the Nationwide Festival of Light (NFoL) in 1971.

Highlights over the last year include the introduction of a number of new prayer resources, completing work on Prof. Nigel Cameron’s book Heroes for the Kingdom – Serving God and His World: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. In which Nigel retells the story of a few heroes of the faith and shares his interviews with a number of contemporary Christian leaders to encourage individual Christians in their faith. And finally, working on a new book to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Nationwide Festival of Light.

Nola and Lyndon wrote to our supporters on numerous occasions over the year updating them on our work relating to Abortion, Free Speech, and caring for the vulnerable. All of these letters can be found on our website at care.org.uk/about/ our-publications.

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EQUIPPING CHRISTIANS TO PRAY PRAYER DIARY

Our work would not be possible were it not for the prayers of so many people across the UK who stand with us by praying about some of the great moral and ethical issues of our time.

This unique intercessory tool covers a range of topics and consists of prayers, scriptures, and relevant information. It is available in booklet form, on the website, by email, Twitter, or on the PrayerMate app, where we have around 260 active subscribers across the world each month.

careprayerdiary

praynow4.org/care

care.org.uk/about/our-publications

PRAYER RESOURCES Clear, targeted prayers on a variety of important topics.

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Ten Ways to Pray about Freedom of Speech Ten Ways to Pray about Coronavirus Ten Ways to Pray for Europe Ten Ways to Pray for Life After Lockdown Ten Ways to Pray for Life Ten Ways to Pray for the End of Life Ways to Pray for CARE Ways to Pray for Schools

These are freely available on our website, or if you prefer hard copies, please contact the office.

with chaplains, youth workers, teachers, church schools, and education bodies. Our seven core partners (see below) share a desire for all of them to make sure that their activities are rooted in prayer.

To encourage and rally further prayer, we introduced lunchtime Online Prayer Gatherings throughout the lockdown, each focusing on one area of CARE’s work: Family, Justice, and Life.

Hosted by different members of the CARE team, we took 45 minutes to unpack a topic, provide specific prayer points, and spit into smaller groups to pray into these areas.

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Throughout the pandemic Pray for Schools (PFS) groups faithfully upheld local schools through prayer, many also offering practical encouragement and support. Nationwide Prayer Zooms were organised in September, November, February, and March with over 200 different individuals joining in.

There were also two dedicated bilingual Wales Zooms which resulted in a fresh impetus among Christian youth organisations to achieve the vision in Wales for ‘every school to be a prayed for school.’

I LOVE THE IDEA THAT I’M JOINING TOGETHER WITH LOTS OF OTHER CHRISTIANS PRAYING ON THE SAME DAY FOR THE SAME THING.”

Our database has over 850 individuals and prayer groups registered, covering around 2,500 schools in England and Wales, so there’s still a long way to go. Scripture Union Scotland operates PFS north of the border. We’ve yet to establish PFS in Northern Ireland. PFS has 650 Twitter followers and 1,500 on Facebook.

IT’S OFTEN BEEN VERY MOVING TO SEE THE RELEVANCE OF NATIONAL ISSUES ON THE VERY WEEK WE’RE PRAYING FOR A PARTICULAR SUBJECT.”

PFS has connected online with ever more Christian ministries and organisations that pray and work

as International Justice Mission, Naked Truth and UCCF. It was fantastic to partner with these organisations, and it was such an encouragement to connect with their wider audiences. Our final two sessions took the form of live Q&A’s focusing on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, and practical guidance on effectively contacting your MP. “What an inspired, challenging, helpful and so well conducted presentation! Thank you so much for sharing all your expertise and passion on such a difficult issue. We were blessed and motivated by it all. Well done!!” – Supporter

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“BRILLIANT! SO ENCOURAGING TO HEAR ABOUT THE ONGOING CHRISTIAN CRISIS PREGNANCY AND POST ABORTION WORK BEING DONE. THANK YOU! AND PRAISE GOD FOR ZOOM – WHAT A HELPFUL WAY TO SPEND A LUNCH-HOUR! THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO IT – PACKED FULL OF SO MUCH GOOD STUFF.” ASKING FOR A FRIEND

EVENTS Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, CARE events looked very different this past year. With restrictions on in-person events, we used the opportunity to connect with our supporters online. This afforded us the benefit of engaging more frequently and bringing supporters together from across the UK – rather than in their immediate areas as has been the case on our usual roadtrip events. From training sessions, seminars, prayer gatherings and more, this year really proved that online events are effective and that there is so much that we can explore in this area.

Although it has been a year of real innovation for us at CARE with new and exciting online events,

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we are so looking forward to being back in the room with our supporters when it is safe to do so.

SUPPORTER EVENTS The CARE events are always a time of fun, fellowship, and prayer. The launch of our ‘A Better Story’ tour began in Cardiff, but the remaining events were moved online once restrictions hit.

Working with RT Kendall, Lyndon, Celia, James and Nola recorded a film which was live streamed for those who would have attended in person. It was a great encouragement to us all during such an uncertain time and paved the way for many more online events over the course of the next year.

CARE SESSIONS CARE Sessions, created in Spring 2020 to help our supporters effectively engage with and stand up for the issues that matter to Christians, were a huge success. Our first series took place over four weeks and connected with over 500 people.

During these four weekly sessions we unpacked the need for Christian engagement in politics; compassionate campaigning on abortion; the challenges surrounding Human Trafficking; and the importance of free speech.

Alongside Jenny Baines of OPEN, Michelle Jones, CARE’s Events Coordinator, created and hosted these sessions to encourage and inform those wanting to support others facing miscarriage and abortion. These lunch time events explored the emotions surrounding crisis pregnancy, the dos and don’ts in supporting others, and discussed how men are affected. The hope is these lunch time sessions will signpost to the more in-depth training sessions that will be held later in the year.

Over the course of the year, we held ten specialised CARE sessions collaborating with a number of external charities and individuals such

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CARE’s Leadership Programme offers an exceptional opportunity for young Christian graduates with a vision to live out their faith in the workplace and aspire to positions of leadership in public life. It provides a unique insight into influencing our society for Christ at a political level, combining outstanding professional experience, biblically-based study, and a supportive Christian community.

take part in a weekly study programme, helping them think through what it means to be a leader and a Christian in the political sphere.

The Programme includes a ten-month internship with Parliamentarians or policy shaping NGOs. This ensures that participants find themselves placed in positions of real responsibility at the beginning of their career. Alongside the internship, graduates

There were twelve members of the Leadership Programme in the last academic year involved in placements across the main political parties in the UK Parliaments. A further twelve have been recruited for the 2021-22 programme.

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THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME HAS BEEN A YEAR WHICH HAS CHALLENGED AND STRETCHED EVERYTHING I THOUGHT I KNEW ABOUT HOW WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE TO ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD AROUND US.”

The Programme started in 1993 and now has over 300 alumni, amongst whom are Parliamentarians, senior Civil Servants, and charity executives. CARE keeps in close contact with many of these people, drawing from their own experience and insight as we plan for the future.

- CARE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME ALUMNI

I’VE ENJOYED WRESTLING WITH DEEP THEOLOGICAL ISSUES AND PHILOSOPHY, AND ENJOYED THE ROBUST DEBATES WE HAVE HAD AMONGST OURSELVES, DEMONSTRATING THAT THERE IS SPACE FOR DIFFERING OPINIONS IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, AND THAT UNITY IN CHRIST HELPS TO HAVE THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.”

We are accepting applications for the 2022-23 Programme until 20 November 2021. For more information on the programme, and steps on how to apply, please visit care.org.uk/ about/leadership-programme.

- CARE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME ALUMNI

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME 16

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SUPPORTER EVENTS CARE’s Church Development Team continued to connect with UK leaders and congregations, bringing a biblical overview of political engagement to help Christians to be increasingly effective light and salt in society. In Scotland, the regular [IN] FORM email encouraged Christians to interact with the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments on hate crime, online safety, commercial sexual exploitation, abortion, and the Scottish Parliamentary Election. CARE for Scotland hosted a live zoom seminar for the Scottish Church leaders on pastoral care for those struggling with a past miscarriage.

EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP FORUM Nola Leach, now on the International Board, has been a leading organiser of this unique gathering of Christian Leaders across Europe which this year happened online with over 1,000 participants. It encourages evangelism, political engagement, and social action. Supported by CARE’s Chief Operating Officer Roxana Stanciu, Senior Policy Officer Chris Buttenshaw and trustee Sir Charles Hoare, Nola was a keynote speaker, mentor, and led the Politics and Society Network.

Over the year the CARE NI team prepared over 500 ‘Welcome Packs’ to distribute to interested attendees after a number of CARE zoom presentations. They also brought together 20 top leaders from denominations and churches across Northern Ireland to discuss the Paul Givan Bill about Severe Fetal Impairment. The new draconian abortion regulations overshadowed everything, and CARE continued to encourage prayer and political engagement on this issue.

Providing a Compassionate Response This past year has been a challenge for OPEN with many speaking engagements and retreats sadly cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, there have been some real encouragements in online engagement – especially in the area of church leaders’ and pastoral workers’ training events.

A highlight has been the introduction of a lunch time training course titled ‘Asking for a Friend’ where Jenny Baines, Consultant for OPEN, and Michelle Jones, CARE Events Coordinator, explore the help that is available for those who have experienced miscarriage and abortion. OPEN

hopes to develop these courses even further in the coming year.

We’ve continued to build relationships with others involved in this work; with pregnancy counselling centres and other organisations who seek to bring a compassionate response to these sensitive issues.

Much of this years’ development has arisen out of necessity, and in response to Covid-19, so Jenny and the team really look forward to hosting two post-abortion healing retreats in Autumn 2021.

Alison’s Story After two years trying for a family, Alison fell pregnant. It was at her scan at 24-weeks that she was told that the baby was not getting enough oxygen and was advised to terminate the pregnancy. It was the hardest decision for Alison and her husband to make. The following week, she gave birth to her stillborn son. Alison was traumatised, and for the next 18 years lived with the guilt – each anniversary brought new pain. Alison carried three more healthy children, but her thoughts were always with her little boy whose life had been ended. Her marriage lasted six years after the abortion.

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In 2016, Alison’s church minister put her in touch with Jenny Baines from OPEN, and in the October of that year she plucked up the courage to attend a recovery weekend which changed her life: ‘It was painful, and it was hard work, but it was also full of love and acceptance. I left feeling free. Free of the guilt, from the anger and the hurt. I felt able to love my baby fully, for the brief time we shared, knowing he was always going to be part of me.’

MEET THE TEAM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES - 99%

Total Income £2,308,783

OTHER INCOME - 1%

Celia

Angela

Stuart

Chris

Roxana

Dan

Joel

James

Mary

Jamie

Lauren

Catherine

Michael

Lyndon

Mabel

Rebecca

Tim

Philippa

Hannah

Nola

Michelle

Naomi

Stuart

Sarah

EDUCATING PUBLIC OPINION - 42% INFLUENCING PUBLIC POLICY - 35%

Total Expenditure £1,734,865

DEVELOPING YOUNG LEADERS - 11% RAISING FUNDS - 12%

DONATE We’re so grateful for everyone who generously gives to CARE to make our work possible.

You can give a regular gift or a single donation online at care.org.uk/donate or you can call the office using the details overleaf. If you prefer to give by cheque, please make this payable to CARE. Alternatively, if you’d like to discuss other giving options, including legacies and charity vouchers, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

“We are so grateful for the ongoing generosity of individuals, churches and grant-making Trusts that enables CARE to develop and grow. We have continued to engage with policy makers and with tens of thousands of Christians, encouraging them to speak out, to be practically involved and to pray.

We only ask you to support our ministry after you’ve considered the needs of your family and local church.

CARE faces the future with faith and confidence; we want to meet the challenges ahead by strengthening our supporter base and developing fresh ways to engage with all our stakeholders.”

ONLINE GIVING Please use the following details to add CARE as a payee, using your name and postcode as the reference:

JOHN O’BRIEN

Sort Code: 30-99-50 Account Number: 07181688

Chair of Trustees

If you’d like more information on anything touched on in this year’s Review, we’re all available to answer any queries and provide information on any of our causes or services. You can get in touch using the contact details below. mail@care.org.uk 53 Romney St, London, SW1P 3RF 020 7233 0455

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TAKE ACTION

I believe CARE is going to be more needed than ever as our society increasingly turns away from the biblical foundations our nation was built upon.

We must continue to speak up for the voiceless, stand for truth and work to protect those who are most vulnerable. We trust in God to guide and provide.

I want to say how deeply we appreciate the financial, practical and prayerful support you have so generously given over the year – and I hope this Review has informed and inspired you.

God has faithfully provided for us over this time of Covid as, like other ministries and organisations, we’ve had to adjust the ways we work. I pay tribute to our dedicated staff team who have achieved so much under difficult circumstances.

And we thank God for you!

Without your support CARE could not continue.

This Autumn we’re welcoming Ross Hendry as CARE’s new CEO. He succeeds Nola and has expressed how grateful he is for the wonderful legacy she leaves after 17 years of being CEO and before that as a volunteer and then Head of CARE’s Caring Services. This change in leadership opens up exciting new possibilities and there’s a sense of expectation among the CARE team as we look forward to forging ahead with the vision and mandate that we believe is God-given. I am looking forward to continuing as Chairman, serving Ross and the rest of the team.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE SHAPING OUR CULTURE AND SOCIETY… REV LYNDON BOWRING

CARE Chairman

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PRAY

CONNECT

GIVE

Please join us in praying for our nation. We have a variety of resources to help you to pray with us.

Please visit our website to find out more, or contact us on mail@care.org.uk

Be equipped to stand with us to be effective salt and light in our nation. We can inform you on a range of causes Christians care about through our regular emails and on social media.

We’re so grateful to every financial gift which makes our work possible. To find out more about how to give, please visit care.org. uk/donate

CAREORGUK

OUR MISSION IS TO BRING A UNIQUELY CHRISTIAN INSIGHT TO THE POLICIES AND LAWS THAT AFFECT OUR LIVES.

WHAT WE DO Equip individuals and the local church for prayer and action Impact the political world Provide research briefings for parliamentarians Train Christian graduates through the CARE Leadership Programme Support the vulnerable through advocacy

CARE (Christian Action Research & Education) Chief Executive Nola Leach | Chairman Rev Lyndon Bowring 53 Romney St, London, SW1P 3RF | 020 7233 0455 mail@care.org.uk | PrayerMate: praynow4.org/care Charity No: 1066963 | Scottish Charity No: SC038911 This product is recyclable