The trustees meet and gain an understanding of the needs in a particular area and the ideas and plans of ways to ‘make a difference’ that are proposed by the communities and groups themselves. They then draw up a funding agreement with those projects they feel able to support which gives each ‘partner’ a clear understanding of their role and expectations. Funds are raised in the UK to support this agreement through donations, sponsorship and small charitable fundraising activities and events.

Kerala partnership is registered with the UK Charity Commission under a trust deed registration number 1088159. An annual visit is made by trustees to gain first hand experience of the work that is being carried out, verify the proper use of the funds and meet with partners to consider ideas for new projects or expansion of existing work. The charitable funds raised are modest, in the region of £10 – 12,000 per annum on average and to make the best use of this money KP usually only contributes part of the finance for a project, provides initial set up costs or supplements local fundraising.

      The trustees shall hold the trust fund and its income on trust to apply them for the following objects (“the objects”) in the state of Kerala, South India.

• The relief of financial hardship and mental and physical distress, including the provision of assistance with construction and maintenance of housing.


• To relieve unemployment by any charitable means that the Trustees think fit.


To advance the Catholic Faith by any charitable means that the Trustees think fit.


To advance education through the provision of grants and bursaries and by any other charitable means that the Trustees may from time to time determine.

     Kerala Partnership provides grants to trusted and sincere volunteer and community groups organised by village residents, and covers schemes relating to employment, housing, health (particularly dealing with mental illness), education and the relief of financial hardship.    

1. the schemes are selected by the community groups and Kerala Partnership does not make judgements on, or interfere with, locally made decisions;
   
   
2. support is available for all, irrespective of religion or caste;
   
   
3. all money raised is made available in full to fund schemes;
   
   
4. all schemes should be run by volunteers if possible, so the funds are applied directly for the benefits of those in need;
   
   
5. financial grants should be used whenever possible in combination with local resources (time, labour, finance) to make the difference between ‘success and failure’ for the individual, family, community. Working in this sense of ‘partnership’ will mean the grant has been a contribution rather than ‘100% foreign aid’.
   

• To enable a new annex to be built close to the Old Age Home to accommodate up to 10 male residents in accordance with (new) state regulations (see “news” page for the full story).
  
  
• To increase the level of regular donations to the charity so that the financial  contributions made to CHILLA and the Old Age Home can be sustained and ideally increased.
  
  
• Keeping in regular contact with our partner groups in Kerala to understand the unmet needs of people who should receive assistance.

     
There are three charity trustees, all of whom have a ‘day job’ which perhaps compliments their interest in Kerala Partnership:-

Dr David Shires – General Practitioner and Department of Health (England and Wales) National Advisor on Early Intervention in Psychosis;

Mr David Clarke – recently retired Strategic Health Authority policy advisor on mental health and part time consultant on management issues in the health arena;