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The staff in the Vine Charitable Trust office in Chennai has continued to support students, seniors and the disabled among the Anglo-Indian community. We are pleased to report that the Foreign Currency Account for VCT was renewed in mid-August.
Much office was time spent re-applying for the renewal of the FCA which had some impact on the home visits programme. The original application was submitted on paper in August 2015, but early in 2016 the Delhi government demanded that it should be re-done on line with a different set of forms. Many sections were unclear, especially concerning how the use of donations should be recorded. In June a new demand was made, that all Trustees and their spouses should file their income for the past 3 years. This has proved difficult for some Trustees, as many people do not keep full records.
The accounts for 2015-6 were submitted to the auditor in June.
In April, before the beginning of the academic year, the VCT staff individually counselled students who would be moving on from 10th and 12th standard. Four young people have moved to 11th Standard, five have started degree courses and one with lower marks has gone to technical college.
The total number of school and college students helped in June was 85.
Annual outings
As usual, outings were arranged early in the year for young people (50) and Senior Citizens (36).
Both groups enjoyed visiting the sea and having lunch at the Scripture Union camp site. For many of them it is a highlight in their year.
Over this period 74 senior citizens were helped. Five, who have been helped for many years, have
passed away and one new lady has been added to the list. A husband and wife helped for about 30 years, have now gone into the old peoples’ home, the Friend In Need Society.
Thirteen disabled are regularly given various amounts of aid. The little girl with cerebral palsy, who is receiving physiotherapy, is much improved and able to sit up. Her father is under a lot of pressure, being the only person physically able to carry her.
The VCT team give medical help to a number of Seniors and one lady with cancer. Also assisted were: a young man with a skin complaint, a man with a heart problem and another with jaundice as well as TB. Government Clinics provide treatment for conditions such as TB, cardiac problems and diabetes.
Visits were made when urgent, during this period, but more routine annual visits had to be postponed, because the office needed to be manned in case there was a surprise visit by FCRA officials. Visits were resumed after it was granted.
Grace and John.
January 2023 newsletter
/0 Comments/in News /by davidrDuring the past year 26 new families have started getting some level of support from the Vine Charitable Trust, 18 families asking for help with school fees and eight who have children doing degree courses. In most of these families the breadwinner had lost their job because of Covid and due to their lack of education, they have struggled to find jobs other than the lowest paid work…
Newsletter Jan 2023
May 2019 newsletter
/0 Comments/in News /by davidrLettie and Rachel have spent three weeks in Chennai. This was
Rachel’s first visit since 2012 and was probably Lettie’s last long visit….
May 2019 newsletter
Autumn Newsletter 2018
/0 Comments/in News /by davidrAutumn Newsletter 2018
Autumn Newsletter 2016
/0 Comments/in News /by davidrEducation Blossom* is a happy, intelligent young woman who got a distinction for her 12th Standard (A Level equivalent) exams and is now doing a degree course funded by VCT. However this outcome was by no means a forgone conclusion. Blossom’s father, having struggled to put his two children through school, died just as his […]
You make the difference
/0 Comments/in News /by davidr