A certain sign the new Great Aycliffe Community Aid Partnership is working was news that St. Mary’s Church donated £125 to the Helping Hands Xmas hamper appeal.
When Helping Hands first asked the St. Vincent de Paul charity to donate to this appeal, it was thought due to retricted funds and the constitution governing the charity they  could not help.
However, on further consideration and advice from new Parish Priest Fr. Michael it was decided there was no reason why the Church couldn’t support the appeal.
This is a good example of the new partnership working together. Also, when Ernie Temple from the Foodbank appealed for volunteers for the food collection at Tesco, two members from the SVP and two members of St. Mary’s Church, turned out to help.