About the Wellington Hospital Chaplaincy Trust

Beginnings

In late 2004 the chaplaincy service to Wellington Hospital came very close to being shut down for financial reasons.

At that time funding from the health system towards chaplains’ salaries was small and the necessary top-up from churches and the community had shrunk to a trickle. With no community support network in Wellington, chaplains were getting by on monthly contracts, uncertain as to where they would be the following month.

In 2005 Brian Cunningham, Jim Rowe and colleagues set about forming the Wellington Hospital Chaplaincy Trust with the immediate aim of weathering this crisis. They donated generously themselves, and appealed for help from friends and contacts. Jim Rowe and Brian Cunningham, both key figures, have since died, and Sir Patrick Mahony has retired.

Thanks to these efforts and your generosity the chaplaincy service has survived, narrowly at first but more assuredly since 2008. Today the Ministry of Health contribution to salaries has risen to 50%, administered through the Interchurch Hospital Chaplaincy ( except in the case of Roman Catholic chaplains, where the 50% subsidy is paid to the church).

Each year, chaplains in Kenepuru, Porirua and Wellington Hospitals, supported by trained volunteers, visit tens of thousands of patients and their families, also providing sacramental services where needed.

Constitution

The Wellington Hospital Chaplaincy Trust is a discretionary charitable trust created by Deed date 26 July 2005.

Charity Registration number – CC21945

Purpose

the Wellington Hospital Chaplaincy Trust supports the provision of chaplaincy services at Wellington Hospital, including the Wellington Regional Hospital and Kenepuru / Rātonga Rua O Porirua Hospitals.

The Trust advocates for chaplaincy services and raises the funds needed to support chaplains in their work.

Structure

The Trust is governed by a Trust Board elected in terms of its Trust Deed. It also relies on volunteers to assist with administration and fundraising. Advocacy is undertaken by Trustees and support for chaplaincy is delivered principally through The Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy Aotearoa New Zealand Charitable Trust (ICHC).

Resources

The Trust income is derived from income from bequests, donations from supporting churches and individuals, together with fundraising activities.

Volunteers

All trustees, professional advisers, and workers are volunteers.

Trustees

Lesley Hooper – Chairman

Maureen Van Den Beld

Prudence Griffin

Margaret Rowe

Leslie Stephens – Treasurer

Robert Logan

Michael Kerr

Hugo Van Dyke