Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you export vehicles from the UK to poor countries?
- What are the advantages of this?
- Who actually gets the money?
- Do you only help Catholics?
- What happens when they break down ? - No vehicle lasts forever!
Do you export vehicles from the UK to poor countries?
No. Earlier in our history we did, but a combination of shipping charges and import taxes, together with the greater availability of vehicles overseas means that it is now far simpler to transfer funds so that vehicles can be bought locally.
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What are the advantages of this?
Local dealers are able to provide backup and spares, the vehicle can be obtained much more quickly, and we are not guilty of unwittingly undermining the local economy, but in fact give it a cash injection. In addition, not exporting from the UK saves all sorts of costly administration and the risks involved.
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Who actually gets the money?
All our funds are sent to Diocesan accounts under the management of the Vicar General/Finance Officer, specifying the beneficiary and location/mission. We do not send funds to personal accounts.
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Do you only help Catholics?
No. Those who benefit from the health and education work of our beneficiaries may be of any religious belief or none, but due to all our resources originating from a Catholic constituency, our funding is prioritised to Catholic applicants. Our vehicles form a fundamental part of projects designed to improve the community as a whole. The availability of transport is a sine qua non, something without which many initiatives would either grind to a halt, or never get the chance to start.
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What happens when they break down ? - No vehicle lasts forever!
We are aware of the dangers of creating dependency, and it is made clear that maintenance, insurance costs etc must be met by the beneficiaries. All our vehicles are new, and we can reasonably expect them to have a trouble-free life of 3-5 years. We act as as 'kick-start' agency, and look to fund those projects whose aims, objectives, and outcomes are attainable within the life of the vehicle. (see also Criteria for funding )
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