Apologies for the delay in circulating this latest missive, but despite my lack of communication things have been moving forward with my projects.

Westminster Community Secondary School

The third classroom at the school was completed for the start of the January term and we have had an influx of new year 9 pupils to take advantage of the new classroom, without the need to walk five miles each way to school and back on a daily basis

Christian Hope School – Nursery Department

When we visited the school last November the children were being taught in this room but there was no classroom door, no windows, just large openings and the concrete floor needed repairing. Each day they were having to fetch furniture from another secure classroom and put it away again at the end of the day. For just £500 all these things have been remedied which means that the nursery children have a much better learning environment.

Latest Shipment to Freetown

Last Thursday I travelled to Lewisham, to pack a shipment of children’s school uniform items, assorted football kit (donated by Oxford United), a consignment of re-useable female hygiene sanitary kits, assorted football shirts and some footballs.

The female sanitary kits, donated by York Ainsty Rotary Club, will be given to the senior secondary girls at Banbury International Community School. A lot of the items will be distributed to several communities but about 50% of the items are going to be donated to two individuals so that they can sell the items as part of my micro-credit scheme. Rather than lend them money to buy stock, they will be able to make a living from the sale of the items and I have more goods to send in the future. Although the box costs £180 to send, the value of the goods is £2,800 and this will make a real difference to the two recipients, who I know well. I must thank Daniel, a thirteen-year-old at Kineton School, who as part of his Duke of Edinburgh community service section, spent several hours with me sorting and packing the consignment at Magenta Storage, this is an ongoing volunteer role.