David Chilcott joined his local Crusader Class in Nantwich, Cheshire. Then in May 1968 at the age of 13 he went on a boys' Crusader Camp called WhitCamp, near Ross-on-Wye. He had a wonderful time learning to canoe. While he was there he decided that he wanted to live his life for Jesus. And so, he became a Christian. Three weeks later David was knocked off his bicycle outside his home and was killed.
David's parents and some of the WhitCamp Leaders decided to set up a fund as a tribute to him, to enable other young people to attend Christian holidays. So in 1969, with a few hundred pounds, the David Chilcott Fund was started as a Registered Charity. By 2017 the funds being distributed annually had surpassed £20,000.
Christian Residential Network has been administering the David Chilcott Fund since 2020 and it has been a great joy and privilege to support disadvantaged children and young people in this way, helping them to attend Christian holidays and camps through bursary grants.
During the summer of 2024 alone, the fund was able to give 19 different summer camp providers support with £18,412, for 207 children and young people.
David's legacy is that thousands of children have been enabled to enjoy holidays like WhitCamp as he did. They never forget the fun, friendships and experiences to be had on such holidays. This was and is made possible for them by those who support our work.
Our objective is to try and help more children and young people benefit from DCF bursaries and the gospel challenge that Christian camps and holidays will provide. But we need help and support to do so.
There are four main ways you can support CRNet in their objective.
1. Donate directly to CRNet HERE
or
2. Nominate CRNet (Christian Camping International (UK) Limited) through the Benefact Groups Movement for Good initiative.
Simply click on the Benefact Group logo before and complete the details.
CRNet's registered charity No is 326637
