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Do you export vehicles
from the UK to poor countries?
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What are the advantages of
buying vehicles locally?
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Who actually gets the
money?
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Do you only help
Catholics?
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What happens when they break down ? - No vehicle lasts
forever!
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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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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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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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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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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
)