"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts" - celebrating 35 years of the International Aid Trust
The Trust was founded in Chorley in 1991.
A special service of thanks and celebration has marked the 35th anniversary of International Aid Trust.
The event, held at St George’s Church in Chorley, was attended by dozens of people on October 17, and featured music and performances from both the United Kingdom and Ukraine.
The location was particularly significant for International Aid Trust’s Founder and CEO, Rev. Bernard Cocker, who said: “My oldest brother Louis was church warden at St George’s for many years and Chorley is where we began in 1991. Thank you St George’s!”
International Aid Trust is a a Christian humanitarian charity with its headquarters in Tarleton, which works to relieve poverty, suffering, and hardship by providing practical aid (such as food, clothing, medical supplies, and shoebox gifts) alongside Christian ministry projects like schools, children's homes, healthcare, and rehabilitation centres. Since the war started in Ukraine, the charity has delivered £13m of aid to the country.
The celebration event was attended by Lord and Lady Shuttleworth, the Mayor of Chorley Councillor Platt and her consort, Councillor Hutchinson, chairman of Lancashire County Council, and many other distinguished guests, church leaders, friends and supporters. It was also attended by overseas ministry leaders, including those from war-torn Ukraine.
Rev Cocker said: “Thank you to our incredible volunteers, trustees, staff, supporters, churches, donors and friends who have stood alongside us over these 35 remarkable years.
“From small beginnings God has opened doors we could never have imagined, enabling us to bring practical help, hope and Christian love to countless people in desperate need. The evening was not simply a celebration of what has been achieved, but a celebration of the wonderful people who made it possible.
“To everyone who attended, performed, organised, contributed or supported us in any way, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
To find out more about International Aid Trust’s ongoing work and how you can get involved, visit their website: www.internationalaidtrust.org.uk