1. Current Philanthropic Opportunities
Your Philanthropic Support of Our Mission and Ministries
Helps Expand Our Service to God’s People across the Diocese
Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QN – Telephone 020 7798 9375 – Email: cardinalinvitation@rcdow.org.uk

2. From Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Archbishop of Westminster
Dear Friend in Christ,
Thank you for reviewing this booklet highlighting a few select opportunities for special giving. The projects
shown all can have substantial impact on our ability to fulfil the Gospel through practical, visible means here
in The Diocese, which includes all of London north of the Thames and Hertfordshire. Whether they be
projects to support the formation of young people and their Faith, to revitalising troubled marriages, or
ensuring Westminster Cathedral is in good and safe repair, the generosity of people like you sustains our
work and allows us to grow in service to God’s people.
If you find in this booklet an area of activity which corresponds to your own preferences in charitable giving, please do contact the Diocese for further information
about how you can help. All gifts, of any size, are warmly welcome and greatly appreciated. However, gifts of substantial amounts will allow us to implement a
desired project more quickly and with greater confidence. This also enables us to build some real momentum around the project and so attract necessary additional
funding. We also invite you consider being involved with the gifts of your time, talent and leadership, as the Church’s needs are ongoing and not just about funding.
I thank you for your desire to help the Church, if you can, and appreciate all you have already done.
I continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity of parishioners towards the Diocese of Westminster and the Church’s needs. In recent years I have come to
appreciate that while supporting their own parish, many people are also willing to contribute towards activities which of their nature reach beyond the life of any
particular parish. Please remember that first consideration should be given to your parish, but if you can and wish to help at the broader level, your additional
generosity would be most appreciated.
May God continue to bless you greatly.
With my best wishes and assurances of my prayers,
Yours sincerely
+ Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Archbishop of Westminster

3. Menu
Allen Hall Seminary’s Physical Plant Needs
Diocesan Youth and Catholic Living Centre at Waxwell Farm, Pinner
Bakhita House for Rescued Female Victims of Human Trafficking
The Catholic School Leadership Development Programme: Investment in People and Excellence
Redevelopment of the Newman House Catholic Centre, Expanding Our Presence
Improving University Chaplaincy Outreach
Dramatic Expansion of Prison and Parole Ministry and Outreach – through Caritas Westminster
The Diocese of Westminster’s Matrimony Support Services
Needed Repairs and Ongoing Maintenance of Westminster Cathedral
Renovation of the Westminster Cathedral Song School Rehearsal Room

4. Allen Hall Seminary’s Physical Plant Needs -- £766,000 needed
The main House is over 100 years old and there is so much to be done in terms of overall renovation and upgrading of the property, largely left untouched since the
1970s. Seminarian enrolment has increased in recent years, the nature of the formation programme has evolved, and the House is approaching capacity. Facilities
for formation, study training and living are presently below the standard needed to sustain an environment proper to the discernment of vocation. Amongst the
known projects are the following, although in a building of this size and age many more needed will undoubtedly emerge over the years:
 Significant defects and rot in many windows and sills; unsightly and not energy efficient; 207 windows need replacement (£207,000)
 There is an urgent need to replace old inefficient boilers now way beyond repair, with modern ones (£120,000)
 To restore and redecorate the old Oratory Chapel with a new Altar, recapturing its original beauty (£125,000)
 Seminarian bedrooms are outdated and worn out. We would like to replace furniture, carpeting, lighting and other basic amenities (38 rooms; £114,000)
 The Refectory and kitchen are old and in need of renovation; food preparation equipment is dated and not cost-effective to maintain (£25,000)
 Repainting and refurbishing of the Refectory (£25,000)
 Refurbish the Old Study Library, and finish work needed in main Library, with new seating, lighting and computers and work stations (£70,000)
 New display cases, graphics and story-telling display telling the history of Allen Hall and the Douai martyrs from 1568 to today (£30,000)
 Desired: Burse for seminarian students from poorer parts of the world wishing to study and train here but lack resources (£25,000 scholarship, per man, per
year)

5. Diocesan Youth and Catholic Living Centre at Waxwell Farm, Pinner -- £1,100,000 needed
 In 2014 the Diocese of Westminster acquired for £3.1 million the 8.2-acre site at Waxwell Farm in Pinner, a historic estate with grounds dating back to the
1500s (formerly the Grail Community)
 The previous diocesan Youth Ministry Centre was located at London Conley All Saints Pastoral Centre, which become inadequate as the buildings dated back
to the 1920s and were ill-fitted (sold for £7.2 million). It would have been inefficient to invest in such an outdated facility
 The Diocese has an £8.3 million plan to redevelop Waxwell Farm into the new home of Youth Ministry, and a retreat centre. This means there is a £1.1 million
funding gap (£8.3 million total cost for Waxwell Farm plus the plans, less the £7.2 million realised from the sale of All Saints)
 The new campus is the home of SPEC, a residential retreat centre for children and young adults to immerse themselves in a holistic, formative Catholic
community environment – a “time out” of their busy lives to remain grounded in a relationship with God. The centre also helps train young people for
Catholic missionary work, as well as hosts a number of evangelisation and formation events for young people
 Waxwell Farm site has one main house/work house, and several outlying buildings positioned across the knolls and fields
 There are two main construction projects which, subject to final planning permission, will provide:
o A residential building providing accommodation for two retreat groups of around 30 retreatants each. This building will also provide the retreat
spaces for primary-age groups and some of the retreat spaces for older groups and the community
o A refectory and kitchen to cater for 60 young people, group leaders and SPEC Community
 A third redevelopment project exists with the possible restoration of “out-buildings” and turning them into therapeutic and creative spaces – an art studio
with kiln, a music room, a woodworking room, and then a farm shed with related gardens – opportunities for Catholic teachings in everyday life
 A wonderful opportunity exists to create a named memorial, or dedicate a building through naming it, in honour of donations of substantial sums
Residential & Activity Centre (2-storey)

6. Bakhita House for Rescued Female Victims of Human Trafficking -- £360,000 needed
annually
 More than 13,000 people are trafficked each year into Britain and placed in modern slavery; more than half of them come through and stay in London
 Approx. 2,400 cases in London have been documented in the legal system, but only 160 have come to prosecution; it’s an vast underground criminal
enterprise here in London and worldwide (64% are women, often forced into the sex trades or domestic servitude – lucrative)
 We have purchased and fitted a Safe House in central London which can house and protect 12 to 14 women at a time, rescued from slavery and abuse
 We provide support, love, care and skills to help them recover and start a new life; triage with police and government agencies; some repatriation assistance
 Seven on staff, but only 4 paid positions – dependent on voluntary professional services and religious congregations to provide care and therapy
 We need to pay the running costs of £360,000 per year, as well as build a network of host/foster homes to take more victims
 Bakhita House is part of a worldwide consortium led by the Catholic Church, looking at interdiction at the source, research into policy and root causes, and
convening leaders of government and law enforcement -- £150,000 is needed annually in addition, to fund their global coordinating activities
 Our Bakhita House model has attracted worldwide attention and interest from countries such as Nigeria, Romania, Ireland, Poland, among others

7. The Catholic School Leadership Development Programme: Investment in People and
Excellence -- £82,000 needed annually
 In a rapidly changing context of educational provision today, Catholic schools face the challenges and opportunities to promote excellence, proclaim Catholic
identity, communicate Catholic teaching as well as to share the riches of their achievements with others
 We need to retain and help teachers to advance to leadership who are committed to Catholic education, as a vocation as well as a profession, and assure
excellence not only in learning and teaching but also that Catholic values are transmitted in all we do. This is achieved through professional development in
leadership and management skill as well as greater personal immersion in our Catholic spirituality
 The Diocese of Westminster currently has a shortage of “up and coming” new head teachers to fill the present and expected vacancies at the top posts in our
schools. We need, more than ever, leaders who are fully motivated and vibrant in their faith and in the Catholic educational mission
 To develop current talent and to meet the projected need, we seek to create a Leadership Development Programme – a 3-year track of awarding grants to
excellent Catholic School teachers who demonstrate the potential for leadership so that they may obtain the necessary professional and spiritual qualities
 The personal development focus would have three parts: 1. School Leadership and Management; 2. Spiritual Leadership; 3. Sharing Best Practice. Candidates
would pursue an MBA in Educational Management, follow Faith Development courses and meet the requirements of the NPQSL
 Awards are needed to pay part of the tuition each year for candidates in the programme, usually conducted in universities, or with other training partners.
There are a number of existing national school leadership educational programmes as well to access.
 Eligibility would be based on minimum 3 years in Catholic education; recipients then must continue for 2 years post-certificate within the Diocese
 An annual convocation of school leaders from across the Diocese would be conducted at which awards and reporting would take place. A coordinator would
need to be hired to administer the nomination process, applications, grant awards, and post-programme administration
 Our initial target is 15 awardees at a burse of £3,000 each, totalling £45,000 in grants (with either the school or the candidate matching the remaining
tuition/funds needed), plus the cost of the coordinator position (£30,000 pa), and the admin costs of the convocation and programme (est. £7,000 annually)

8. Redevelopment of the Newman House Catholic Centre – £12,000,000 needed for
modernization, expansion and increased Catholic presence
 Catholic students live in a fragmented, secular and sometimes fast-paced environment where the presence and teaching of the Catholic Church are needed
more than ever in their lives, for personal growth, faith development, and generous service to others
 Newman House is the principal pastoral presence of the Catholic Church in the London academic world, facing UCL but within walking distance of a dozen
major universities such as Kings College, London School of Economics, Birkbeck, and others, to name a few. We are a welcoming place of daily prayer and
community, and daily Mass
 The Catholic Pastoral Centre, acquired in 1966, is like a “student parish” offering constant liturgy, prayer, pastoral and communal activities and serves as a
base for chaplains and Catholic groups, providing a welcoming environment grounded in mutual faith, facilitating friendship, appreciation of diversity and
hospitality. It also offers residence for 63 international Catholic students
 There are 12 chaplains serving across the diocese, on- and off-campus who serve as a visible presence to tens of thousands of students.
 Set in four Georgian houses with extensions, the current Chapel is too small and needs updating. There is inadequate space for pastoral and communal
activities and other events. The residential facilities need renovation and new finishes. We need to facilitate disabled access to the venues and Chapel
 Expanded meeting and conference spaces are needed – for lectures, seminars, group projects, other liturgies, and for student work and activities
 An investment of £12 million will not only allow us to fit the facilities to meet today’s and tomorrow’s needs, but will also allow increased programming and
funds for maintenance for years to come.

9. Improving University Chaplaincy Outreach -- £100,000 needed annually
 Of the 300,000+ university students in and around London, approximately 35,000 are Catholic, currently served by only 12 university chaplains. The
chaplaincy team comprises priests, religious brothers and sisters, and lay men and women
 We need to expand our presence by not only increasing the number of dedicated chaplains, but also by developing chaplaincy opportunities through a
network of volunteers and others dedicated to works of mercy and other social outreach projects. We also seek to provide greater inter-collegiate activities
bringing together young adults who live with the love of Jesus Christ
 A Mission Team would be recruited, trained and funded, to be deployed around the campuses during the academic year and during major university
activities, providing ‘touch-points’ for people and the Catholic Church
 We would also provide training, resources and counselling to young people in how to live an apostolic life
 The goals are to be a visible Church among all young people, strengthen the work of Chaplains, increase the Catholic Church’s engagement in academic and
community life, and develop confident Catholics for mission
 The funding sought would cover the cost of a coordinator, recruitment and training, network activities, and liaison with local parishes and clergy

10. Dramatic Expansion of Prison and Parole Ministry and Outreach, through Caritas
Westminster--£75,000 needed (£25,000 p.a. for 3 yrs. to enact and grow the programme)
 There are six prisons located within the Diocese with a total population of approximately 5,000 men, women and children, each with its own team of
chaplains and volunteers serving Catholic prisoners and those of other backgrounds. We also have an important ministry to those released from prison and
struggling to make a safe and positive return to their communities (estimated 25,000 people on parole in and around London)
 With overcrowded prisons and increasingly stretched public resources for ex-offenders, there is a huge unmet gap in ministering to those released from
prison, and to their families left behind whilst someone is in prison
 We hope to develop programmes through Caritas Westminster and in partnership with other service providers such as PACT, to sustain and staff outreach
services, offering volunteer based mentoring to help people within our Diocese prepare for release from prison and resettle into their communities, leading a
safe life, making the right choices, and making a real contribution to their families and neighbours
 We hope to establish a Hostel/Drop-In Centre for men released from prison. For many, the first few months on release are crucial in staying away from crime
and previously damaging lifestyles. Working closely with partners established in this field of work, we are looking to find a suitable property which would be
for this Diocese. This is a special opportunity, if we can find a donor to provide capital funds in the seven-figure range
 To make all of this happen, we need to recruit and establish a co-ordinator, a professional who would work both inside prison and with those released from
prison, and with families. This post would be based within Caritas Westminster (£25,000 per year for three years to anchor and grow the programme)

11. The Diocese of Westminster’s ‘Healing For Hurting Spouses’ Matrimony Service --
£50,000 needed (covering three years to grow the programme)
 The Diocese of Westminster’s Office of Family Life assists spouses to enrich and strengthen their marriages and in cases of deep crisis, empowers them to
restore their relationship completely. Grounded in effective Catholic teaching and human understanding, our ‘Healing for Hurting Spouses’ initiative has
saved more than 150 marriages from divorce since 2009
 ‘Loving for Life’ (formerly Smart Loving) is a weekend enrichment programme of spiritual exercises and communications practices, three times per year,
guiding spouses in stable unions to go deeper into discovering what’s unique and necessary as relationships evolve. Over 300 couples have experienced this
programme since 2006 and demand is increasing
 ‘Rediscover’ is a unique residential weekend programme (with five follow-up meetings) delivered three times per year, specifically designed to effectively
rescue couples at high risk of separation and divorce. A collaborative method with a trained leader, couples and priests work together to inspire hurting
couples, remove impasse, and reignite what was believed to be lost. Demand is high for this programme, beyond our current capacity to manage its growth
 We hope to greatly expand the capacity of these programmes by investing in a skilled professional coordinator, who will not only manage growth and quality,
but develop an “alumni” network that the Diocese will grow and put to service to help many more couples in trouble (three years’ salary and related
overhead)

12. Needed Repairs and Ongoing Maintenance of Westminster Cathedral -- £850,000 needed
 Engineer’s report indicates substantial brick deterioration – the preferred building method in 1895 was brick with no structural steel reinforcement – which
means never-ending annual maintenance
 There is pervasive and recurring frost, rain water, and snow damage especially degrading the campanile and central four domes and the surrounding bricks
 There are five major structural cracks need major reinforcement and repair – or within five years sections of the interior may be closed to access (£125,000)
 We need to procure a modern monitoring system to measure moisture and movement, reducing costs by detecting problems earlier (£35,000)
 Also a need for a new energy efficient illumination system/floodlighting – for the frontage, campanile, perimeter – to reduce costs and conserve energy. We
also need to upgrade old power supplies supporting the electrical systems involved (£250,000)
 £600,000 is needed for immediate and perennial brick work, mortaring and replacement, and repair of major structural cracks

13. Renovation of the Westminster Cathedral Song School Rehearsal Room -- £180,000
needed
 Internationally acclaimed Boys Choir currently practices in a basement of a 100 year old building
 Shares space with archives and storage – not well designed or acoustically appropriate
 Need to replace student lecterns, add acoustic panels, and replace current wood flooring with sound-absorbing and deadening materials
 Also rewire the room for recording purposes, lighting
 Some new furniture for storage of books, compositions, and other aids
 Per artist’s drawings and specs -- £165,000 would renovate, procure and refit the room
 Additional £15,000 for programme supplies and future maintenance of the new furnishings
Artist’s Rendering of What Could Be -- Example
Old Furnishings – Poor Layout Poor Acoustics and Sound Systems
Inadequate Storage

14. Please Also Remember These Ongoing Needs
The Sick & Retired Priests Fund
This designated fund represents the Diocese’s commitment to caring for infirm, aged and retired priests after a lifetime of devotion, so that their medical, human,
social and housing needs are not a burden to face alone. The Diocese currently spends £1.1 million per annum on the care, accommodations and living assistance of
more than 75 sick and retired priests.
The Priest Training Fund
This designated fund underwrites the basic operational cost of education, formation, dormitory, and personal development programmes of the men called to the
priesthood, whilst undergoing a rigorous six-year immersion and discernment programme. Currently we have more than 30 men in the seminary programme, with
this year’s entering cohort numbering 24. It costs approximately £25,000 per year, per man, to conduct the programme.
Leaving a Legacy Gift through your Last Will and Testament
What a wonderful way and act of lasting faith than to remember the Diocese of Westminster with a testamentary bequest – of a specific amount, or a percentage of
the estate after loved ones are taken care of, or a residual after all obligations and wishes are paid. The Diocese offers suggested language to take to your solicitor –
it’s that easy – as well as an ‘Asset Inventory Tool’, to help you organise your details for a surviving loved one or to keep on deposit with your solicitor, for when that
time comes. You may leave a general bequest to where the needs are greatest at the time, or designate your parish or one aspect of ministry (the poor, education,
evangelisation, etc.)
Registered charity 233699. Secure online giving can be made at www.rcdow.org.uk/donations