One of the really great strengths in the area of Fenwick, and it can be extremely proud of it, is its compassion and care when called upon to stand up and be counted. Nowhere is this compassion and care better shown than initially by Shona Crosby who went out to do one months voluntary work, the minister and congregation and friends who since the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, Fenwick Church have supported many of the people of Sri Lanka.

In the past a Harvest Supper (2005) led to support for the village of Mawella including a much needed outboard engine for a fishing boat.

Harvest Supper (2008) led to the village of Rosythe benefiting from toilets (a luxury they had never had before).

Womens Guild have supported St. Andrews Neighbours in Need projects.

Also individual support has included a well at Bathukanath. Maintenance of hearing aids and medical checks for a young girl, continued support for the boys at Baranasayuria, continued support for the ladies at Sambhodi Womens Home.

This year is the year of "Sending Out" and there is a trip organized from 26th July to 8th of August. This will involve a group going out to work and visit the areas which the people of Fenwick Church have supported. This will involve one week in Colombo working alongside St Andrews Scots Kirk Neighbours in Need Projects including work at Mulleriyawa Hospital and Netherlee Cottage (an independent living unit for ladies from the hospital) and also the village of Rosythe. The second week will be on the west coast at Hikkaduwa working at Baranasayuria Orphanage and Sambhodi Womens Home.

This group who are going out are made up of teenagers and what will I say (excuse me Shona but I am sure you will gat what I mean) recycled teenagers?( hope I got away with that one). The cost of this trip will be in the region of £1000 each and, with this in mind they will be organising some fundraising activities and seeking sponsorship and financial support to help subsidise the costs. I for one know for a fact that this is not a jolly but a genuine trip of a bunch of very hard working and caring people and the young ones should be lauded for their wish to work for the good of others plus put up with the oldies for a fortnight (joke Shona honest). Seriously though I have heard that the young ones have done fundraising in their schools and other ways of their own backs. Do not get me wrong the older members have done their bit as well but far too often the young get a bad press and they should get a big WELL DONE.

Fundraising is well on its way and the current endeavour is for a caricature by Malky McCormick to be "sold" by a "UNIQUE LOWEST BID" this will run through March, a car boot sale and car wash on the 24th of April and a Safari Supper on the 8th May. More details to follow as soon as I get them or better still as soon as anybody from the organising team posts them as this is the community's web page and I am only human and can miss things just the same as anybody can.

For more details contact Geoff (the minister) 01560600217; Alan Patrick (fundraising co-ordinator) 01560600208 or Shona Crosbie (trip co-ordinator) 01560322229.