[ACNS source: The Church in Wales] The Archbishop of Wales fund for children is set for a new beginning this Christmas. Established two years ago in the wake of the Children's Society's decision to withdraw from all activity in Wales, the first two years of the fund's life have been taken up with trying to support existing projects and in cooperating with the National Assembly in tackling the vacuum left by the Children's Society's much criticised decision. However, this Advent-tide, the fund is both encouraging church congregations to send money raised during local Christingle Services to the fund, and also inviting applications for funding from organisations working with children in need in Wales.
Commenting today, the Chairman of the trustees appointed by the Archbishop and Bench of Bishops of the Church in Wales, the Revd Michael Williams, said, "As trustees we are delighted to be heralding this new beginning in the fund's life. While the fund's initial establishment was as a result of an unhappy event, we hope now, as the fund really begins to find its feet, to move on to a more positive and proactive agenda.
"During the past two years, the congregations of the Church in Wales have responded very positively to the fund and many churches have sent in the money raised during Christingle services to the fund. As trustees, we are now keen to see the fund move on from just supporting projects which were in existence two years ago, and to be responding to new applications as well. While precedence will be given to projects working with children within the Church in Wales and the wider Christian church, it is by no means closed to other organisations working with children in need in Wales."
The Most Revd Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales, also said, "The Archbishop's fund for children has already done some excellent work during the past few years, but I am delighted to see this new development and the beginning of a more positive chapter in the fund's life. As I travel around Wales I see a lot of excellent work being done with children, but I am also aware of the need that still exists. I hope that the Archbishop's fund for children will go some way towards supporting work with children in need in Wales."
The purpose of the Fund is to support children in need and their families and local communities in Wales.
Cronfa Archesgob Cymru er budd Plant yn cychwyn pennod newydd
[Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru] Bydd Cronfa Archesgob Cymru er budd Plant yn cychwyn o'r newydd y Nadolig hwn. Sefydlwyd y Gronfa ddwy flynedd yn ôl, yn dilyn penderfyniad Cymdeithas y Plant i dynnu allan o Gymru, a threuliwyd dwy flynedd gyntaf ei bodolaeth yn ceisio cefnogi prosiectau a oedd yn bod eisoes, ac yn cydweithio â'r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol i lenwi'r faciwm a adawyd gan benderfyniad tra amhoblogaidd Cymdeithas y Plant. Yn ystod tymor yr Adfent hwn, fodd bynnag, anogir cynulleidfaoedd eglwysig i anfon casgliadau'r gwasanaethau Cristingl i'r Gronfa, a gwahoddir cyllid oddi wrth fudiadau sy'n gweithio gyda phlant mewn angen yng Nghymru.
Heddiw dywedodd Y Parchg. Michael Williams, Cadeirydd yr Ymddiriedolwyr a benodwyd gan Fainc Esgobion yr Eglwys yng Nghymru, "Fel ymddiriedolwyr,yr ydym yn falch iawn o groesawu'r dechreuad newydd hwn yn hanes y Gronfa. Er iddi gael ei sefydlu o ganlyniad i ddigwyddiad trist, gobeithiwn yn awr, a'r Gronfa'n cael ei thraed dani, symud ymlaen i weithio'n fwy positif.
"Yn ystod y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, ymatebodd cynulleidfaoedd yr Eglwys yng Nghymru yn gadarnhaol iawn i'r Gronfa, a rhoddodd llawer o eglwysi eu casgliadau gwasanaethau Cristingl iddi. Fel ymddiriedolwyr, yr ydym yn awr yn awyddus i weld y Gronfa'n symud ymlaen i ymateb i geisiadau newydd, yn ogystal â chefnogi'r prosiectau hynny a oedd yn bodoli ddwy flynedd yn ôl. Rhoddir blaenoriaeth i brosiectau gyda phlant oddi mewn i'r Eglwys yng Nghymru a'r gymuned Gristnogol ehangach, ond ni chaeir y drws, ar unrhyw gyfrif, ar fudiadau eraill sy'n gweithio gyda phlant yng Nghymru."
Dywedodd Archesgob Cymru, Y Parchedicaf Ddr Barry Morgan, "Mae Cronfa'r Archesgob er budd Plant wedi gwneud gwaith ardderchog yn ystod y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, ond rwy'n falch iawn o weld y datblygiad newydd hwn, a chychwyn pennod fwy positif yn ei hanes. Wrth deithio o gwmpas Cymru, gwelaf lawer o waith rhagorol yn cael ei wneud gyda phlant, ond rwyf hefyd yn ymwybodol fod yna o hyd angen mwy. Gobeithiaf y bydd Cronfa'r Archesgob er budd Plant yn cyfrannu at gefnogi'r gwaith ymhlith plant mewn angen yng Nghymru."
Pwrpas y Gronfa yw cefnogi plant mewn angen a'u teuluoedd a chymunedau lleol yng Nghymru.