Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, has welcomed the news that 333 local residents have donated to charities supported by UK Aid Match – one of the highest figures in the country.
On 26th March 2018, Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, Secretary of State for International Development, wrote to Giles to share this good news, and to congratulate the constituents of Clacton for their outstanding generosity so far.
UK Aid Match helps to engage the public with international development issues, by providing grants to UK-based charities for fighting poverty in developing countries. For every £1 donated to a UK Aid Match charity appeal, the Government will also contribute £1 of UK aid, to help these projects go further in changing and saving lives. Over the last six months, UK Aid Match charities have raised more than £11.5million – a figure the Government is proud to match.
Moreover, behind this collective achievement lie some truly inspiring individual stories. A Sussex sheep farmer, Tim Jury, ran 30 marathons in 2017 to raise funds for Farm Africa to mark his 30th year of support for the charity. The money Tim raised will support African farmers, helping them increase harvests, protect the environment and sell their produce in thriving markets.
ActionAid, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund and Tradecraft Exchange are all still running UK Aid Match appeals across the country.
In her letter, the Secretary of State said:
“The extraordinary generosity of your constituents demonstrates the very best of British values. It has certainly reinforced to me that the British people are big-hearted, outward looking and understand the power of aid to transform lives all over the world.”
Giles said:
“I would like to thank the Secretary of State for bringing this positive news to my attention, and I am pleased to hear that residents throughout the Clacton constituency have been so generous.
“These are important initiatives, which do so much to help so many around the world, and it is right that we support them.
“I will continue to shine a spotlight on these ongoing appeals, to encourage even more local residents to contribute to their success.”