Oldham vicar announced as new chair of trustees for humanitarian charity

Action around Bethlehem Children with Disability (ABCD Bethlehem), a UK based charity that strives to improve the lives of children with disabilities across Palestine, regardless of faith, gender or race, has announced the appointment of its new Chair of Trustees - the Reverend Canon Daniel Burton.

Currently working as Vicar of Oldham in the Diocese of Manchester, Canon Burton became a trustee of ABCD in 2016 and has been instrumental in the development of the charity in recent years including overseeing the emergency response to the current crisis in the region.

With IDF raids on refugee camps in the region continuing, damage to the infrastructure of many of the charity’s centres (in particular, Nur Shams) has rendered services untenable, with the psychological impact on children and young adults incalculable.

Due to the generous donations of supporters, ABCD Bethlehem has been able to respond with extra emergency funds of £50,000.

Each of the charity’s key five centres received £10,000 allowing the provision of trauma therapy in addition to the regular rehabilitation programmes, and to deliver food parcels, essential medication needs and nappies for families who have lost their livelihoods.

The new Chair of Trustees brings a strong heritage of work in the voluntary sector to the role, as well as first-hand experience of the challenges often faced by people living in the Middle East and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Initially, back in 1986-88, Daniel worked as a volunteer in a children's home in Ramallah.

His time there coincided with the outbreak of the first Palestinian Intifada in December 1987 - in what came to be a formative time for him.

From 1992-2012, Daniel was a trustee of BibleLands (now Embrace the Middle East) serving as Vice Chair and Chair of Trustees from 2003-2009.

In his capacity as a charity trustee and as an ordained Anglican priest, Daniel has also led numerous pilgrimages to the region including to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, but most often to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

In 2011 and 2014, he led Pilgrimages to the Holy Land for the Diocese of Manchester.

Daniel is an active member of the ABCD Bethlehem community and has been involved in numerous charity events including leading the annual Christmas Carol concert.

In addition, he regularly takes part in fundraising activities such walking 60 miles of the Anglesey Coastal Path over six days in September 2023 to raise much needed funds for the charity in solidarity with the charity’s legions of supporters across the world.

Reverend Canon Burton said: “I am grateful for the opportunity given to me by the Trustees to lead the organisation into the next Chapter of its history.

"I’m excited about the role and fully committed to helping the charity to continue the vital role it plays for vulnerable families of disabled children in the Occupied Palestinian Territories OPTs.

"However, I’m also aware of the challenges that lie ahead in being able to adapt our services to respond to the current crisis (and its inevitable aftermath), as well as engaging existing and new supporters of the charity to ensure donations reach the level needed to fund and equip rehabilitation centres, as well as recruit and train the best therapists.

“I also want to pay tribute to Val Jourdan whose role as Founder Trustee of ABCD has been truly remarkable and the legacy she leaves extraordinary.

"Having established the charity 40 years ago, following a year’s volunteering role as a physiotherapist in the West Bank, her tireless campaigning, fundraising and work on the ground has seen the charity grow from an altruistic project, into a powerful organisation with significant outreach and impact.

"Whilst Val may be stepping back from the role, I know she will still be active in supporting the charity and her guidance and presence will be gratefully received and warmly felt.

“I am sad to say that the work of ABCD Bethlehem is more necessary today than at any point in its four-decade long history - and it is likely to be much-needed for the foreseeable future.

"To help future proof the charity for generations to come, we are currently reviewing our strategic priorities but we hope to expand our work to more refugee camps and to offer respite facilities for families caring for children with disabilities.”

As well as welcoming Daniel to the fold, ABCD Bethlehem volunteers, Trustees and supporters have been giving tributes to Val as well as donations to mark her achievements and thank her for her years of service to the charity.

To donate to ABCD Bethlehem, please click here

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