2011: On Tuesday 5 April Christian Aid’s new Director, Loretta Minghella, will be speaking at Drayton Hall in Norwich.

 

Loretta took over the helm of Christian Aid last year from Dr Daleep Mukarji. Previously she had spent five years as CEO of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, where she was responsible for allocating some £21 billion to victims of failing financial institutions.

 

She will be speaking at 7pm for 7.30pm on 5 April at Today’s Lifestyle Church, which is based at Drayton Hall, in Hall Lane, NR8 6DP. Loretta will talk about her faith, her vision for Christian Aid, how it will change to meet the challenges of international development and its most inspiring projects.

 

Loretta was born in 1962 on the Isle of Wight into a big Italian family; her father ran a café which was famous for its ice cream. She studied law at Cambridge and became a criminal lawyer involved in financial services regulation.

 

Although she was brought up in a devout Catholic family, she drifted away from Christianity in her twenties. Then just before she turned forty she found faith again at St Barnabas Anglican parish church in Dulwich.

 

Church life made her more aware of Christian Aid. When her brother Anthony – the film director – died at the age of 54 she became aware of the shortness of life and felt she wanted to do something of lasting significance.

 

Loretta is married to Christopher and has two children at high school near her home in south London.

 

In her new role as Director she has expressed a desire to work with other organisations which share the values and vision of Christian Aid, so that they can avoid duplication and together seize opportunities to promote development.

 

The Christian Aid Commission in Norwich has has had great success over the last two years raising over £18,000 for a climate change project in Burkina Faso, West Africa. With European Union matched funding, Christian Aid was as a result able to send over £90,000 to its partner Reseau Marp.

 

The Norwich Christian Aid group has now formed a partnership with two organisations in Sierra Leone - the Methodist Church, which is working on a farming project (see picture right) and the Network Movement for Development and Rehabilitation, which is providing clean water. Norwich is hoping to raise £5000, which will attract nearly £16,000 of EU matched funding.

 

Christian Aid Week this year will run from 15 to 21 May, and Loretta will be encouraging local churches to play an enthusiastic role. Anyone needing resources, advice or speakers to promote Christian Aid in their church is welcome to contact the regional coordinator, Eldred Willey, on 01603 620051.