What is the National Action Project?

Every 2 years the Knights of St Columba vote for a National Action Project. At our AGM, Supreme Council, Charities are given the opportunity to present their Charity and what it does at our Supreme Council. Brothers in attendance then vote on these and the winning Charity then becomes our next National Action Project. This is a project that we will fundraise for, over those two years.

We fundraise for the National Action Project by doing events all around Great Britain from Horse Race Nights, to quizzes and BBQs to even asking for small donations. All funds raised from these events are collected over 12 months and we give out what we have received at each Supreme Council in the 2 years.

As this is a National project we can raise tens of thousands of pounds for these Charities.

At our Supreme Council in 2023 the winning Charity chosen was the Alma Mater Fund.

What is the Alma Mater Fund?

The Alma Mater Fund provides financial grants to pregnant students facing difficulties at universities across the UK, in order to support them in pursuing their academic and personal goals. Through the work of the initiative, the Alma Mater Fund coordinator can also direct students to further sources of support and advice.

Universities are, on the whole, not accommodating of pregnancy and maternity. If a woman were to become pregnant unintentionally while studying, she can feel a great deal of pressure to either drop out of her course or to have an abortion. University staff are often entirely clueless about how to support these students. Pregnant students’ rights as a protected group in law are regularly ignored. And so, through the Alma Mater Fund, we aim to help these students navigate this difficult time.

Testimonies

Here is what some Alma Mater Fund grant recipients have to say:
“Having the support of the Alma Mater Fund is invaluable and bridges the gap where there is a lack of support from universities. Everyone I have spoken to has been so lovely and have helped me immensely in providing for my daughter. An amazing initiative to help women stay in education, and I am so grateful for their guidance.” – Shannon

“Everyone I spoke with at the Alma Mater Fund was so helpful and showed a genuine care in my wellbeing and supporting me. They allowed me a safe space to speak openly about how my pregnancy and university are going so far and offered advice and support going forward. They showed me so much kindness and I can’t thank them enough.” – Grace