The Social Services Committee, also known informally as Jericho Road Victoria
The Social Services Committee administers four trusts that exist for the assistance of the poor and needy (see details below).
Committee Members
Jennifer Pilgrim (Convener), Tom Cunneen (Treasurer), Wayne McArdle (Secretary), Dennis Conradi, Surendra Wesley
Committee Activities
Sessions are invited to bring opportunities of need to the attention of the Social Services Committee (SSC). This is done via an extracted minute (emailed PDF to the secretary) explaining:
- the identity of the individual or family and the nature of the need,
- the relevant circumstances of the individual or family with the need,
- bank account details for the individual or family concerned
The SSC will evaluate the need and may apply funds from one of the trusts to that specific charitable need. A request is then sent by the SSC to the Trusts Corporation to disburse the funds to the individual in need and the relevant Session informed of the SSC’s decision. That Session is then requested to follow up with the individual in need to ensure they received a disbursement, provide a pastoral context for the allocation and ensure that the money has been properly applied to the described need. The Session is then required to briefly report by email to the SSC, that the funds have been disbursed to the need previously described.
Opportunities are assessed by the SSC on a first-come first-served basis, and the Trust Corporation recommends the SSC adopt a conservative approach to the amount of disbursements, given the scale of need each Trust seeks to address.
The Brocklesby Trust
“The income is to be used for the care, comfort and benefit of protestant women resident in Victoria who are in genuine need.”
The Douglas Trust
“Income is to be applied to assist the poor and needy anywhere in Australia.”
The Challenger Trust
“Bequest to provide assistance to the poor in the city of Melbourne and surrounding districts.”
The geographic reference is interpreted by the Trusts Corporation as “Greater Melbourne”
The Thomas Hall Trust
“Minute 286/08 of the meeting of the Trusts Corporation on 19 August 2008 records that it was agreed to allocate the funds from the T O Hall Bequest to Social Services for purposes as near as possible to those contained in the will, for use in connection with the care of children, preferably in some form of residential care, under the auspices of or associated with the Presbyterian Church of Victoria.”
Given the residential nature of camps organised by the PYV. Sessions and PYV may bring requests for support for campers from poor and needy families to the attention of the SSC. This is done via an extracted minute (saved as a PDF) from the PYV or Session to the SSC. The SSC then evaluates the need, and if approved sends a request to the Trust Corporation to disburse the funds directly to the PYV or Session. The SSC requests that the PYV or relevant Session then briefly report via email on the disbursement of the funds.