History of our work

In 1960, the National Board of Catholic Women organised the first Family Fast Day, to assist poor families in Dominica [J Stuyt]

We were born when volunteer members of the National Board of Catholic Women organised the first Family Fast Day on Friday, March 11, 1960. This section includes financial statements and annual reviews for the past five years

Our beginnings came when the National Board of Catholic Women organised a Family Fast Day in response to a request from the people of the Caribbean Island of Dominica for help with a mother-and-baby healthcare programme.

In 1962, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales officially set up CAFOD - then known as the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development, but today is the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development.

The aim was to provide a focus for all the small-scale charitable efforts which were already taking place.

Today, we are still bringing about change as a result of the immense commitment and generosity of the Catholic communities of England and Wales.

There are now two Fast Days each year – one during Lent and one during Harvest - and money is raised not only by fasting, but through a wide range of imaginative sponsored events in churches, schools and youth groups across England and Wales.

take action

Sponsored events Take part in one of our CAFOD Challenges, or join Team CAFOD for a run. You can have some fun while supporting our life-saving work across the world

Act on Poverty Inside No.10 is a new Prime Minister with the power to Act on Poverty. Please email David Cameron today and help put global poverty on the new government's agenda.

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