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Removed
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This charity was removed from the register on 21 Jan 2021
Public benefits
The trustees believe that our purposes satisfy both elements of the public benefit requirement. Purpose one The direct benefits from this purpose include providing for the physical needs (including accommodation, clothing, food, medical care and education) and spiritual well-being of orphan and street children and destitute widows, assistance
in the rescue of a comparatively small but significant number of these children and widows from abject poverty and care/support in homes and local villages. The benefits are clearly tangible and capable of proof. Further benefits include relieving the feelings of isolation, anxiety and deprivation so often experienced within rural Andhra Pradesh. Purpose two The direct benefits from this purpose are fourfold in that; people from the United Kingdom are educated as to the work of Good News Ministry and provided with the facility to contribute to the ongoing work; leaders are trained in India by qualified people travelling from the United Kingdom on a voluntary basis (donating their time and expertise in addition to paying their own travel); children of high school age are sponsored by UK sponsors so that the necessary fees are paid for their education; literacy classes are sponsored amongst the poor in villages, who would otherwise not have the opportunity of being able to read and write. There are no private benefits relating to this purpose, with the exception of the schools who receive examination and notebook fees in respect of high school children and these fees are purely incidental to the main purpose. No fees are levied on the beneficiaries in respect of the activities carried out within this purpose, as this would be counterproductive to the purpose. Purpose three The direct benefits from this purpose include that a need is met within the more localised area of the capital city of Andhra Pradesh (Vijayawada) for the provision of free legal assistance to the poor, without which they would have no access to proper representation or proper justice. This is provided by the founder and secretary of Good News Ministry in India (a fully qualified and practicing lawyer), on a voluntary basis from his legal practice in the city. There is no private benefit from this service. The potential for any harm is extremely unlikely and is far outweighed by the benefits that occur on a frequent and ongoing basis. Purpose four The direct benefits from this purpose include helping the public who attend, to grow in their knowledge of the Christian faith and practice, ensure their spiritual well-being and provide them with a corporate sense of Christian duty towards others. This is available to all who choose to attend and join in the common act of worship and service. The corporate worship and the support which members provide for one another within the Christian communities and to neighbours outside their communities, further evidence the direct benefits of this purpose. Some private benefits may arise, for example, when local contractors are employed to build new churches, overseers and workers in children’s homes are employed, where the supply of food, clothing or medical care is paid for or where payment is required for exam fees and note books. These private benefits are, however, clearly incidental and necessary to the outworking of the purposes. The Trustees and committee members of Good News Ministry Northern Ireland work on a totally voluntary basis and receive no private benefit in the carrying out of the purposes. In relation to all of the above, there are either no harms or a very limited risk of harm arising. Overseers and workers are vetted giving consideration to their previous experience, education, qualifications, character and criminal record. Their appointment is subject to approval by the “Child and Woman Welfare department officials” who are part of the Government Ministry of Woman & Child Development of Andhra Pradesh.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
Good News Ministry promotes the advancement of religion (Christianity) within the State of Andhra Pradesh in Southern India. To this end we now support 36 leaders among 50 churches, across 5 districts. Good News Ministry provides accommodation for up to 50 widows in a Home called Nightingale Widows Home, which was completed in 2014. Accommodation
for 16 widows was rented prior to this. We also help to care for 61 widows who are under pastoral care in villages. Good News Ministry provides support for 63 orphan children in children’s homes, to ensure that their basic physical, spiritual and educational needs are met. Fifty children of impoverished families are also maintained under pastoral care in villages. Good News Ministry funds the provision of new bore wells in rural communities in the State of Andhra Pradesh; in order to provide fresh drinking water, to the relief of those in need of such, and to help prevent the spread of diseases from contaminated water sources. Literacy classes are ran by Good News Ministry each year in villages in order to enable people to gain an education and be empowered to obtain employment, so that they possess the potential to escape abject poverty. Good News Ministry is involved in other areas to relieve those in need, such as providing funding for cataract operations, distribution of rice to the poor and meeting immediate needs following regional emergencies such as floods.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The prevention or relief of poverty
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of religion
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- Adult training
- Homelessness
- Overseas/developing countries
- Specific areas of deprivation
How the charity works
- Accommodation/housing
- Education/training
- General charitable purposes
- Relief of poverty
- Religious activities
Charitable purposes
The Association's objects are to relieve poverty, advance education, where required provide free legal service to the poor, and advance the Christian Religion in India, and in order to achieve these goals, to further the charitable objects as these words are understood under United Kingdom charity law, of Good News Ministry in India.