Chaffinch Trust Projects

In Britain

FAST

The Trust is supporting Save the Children’s FAST (Families and Schools Together) programme.

The award-winning work supports parents to improve their children's learning and development at home, so they can reach their full potential at school. Management team members were thrilled to celebrate the scheme's early success during a graduation ceremony at Castle Primary School in Edinburgh. The Trust is undertaking work to expand FAST and to work as closely as possible with Save the Children in order that more communities can benefit. A project is happening in Scotland where Alves Primary School are working with Chaffinch in order to raise awareness of the many organisations that support the disadvantaged. Chaffinch is working Westonbirt School in Gloucestershire and their Head, Natasha Dangerfield, are helping with this initiative.

A number of further projects are in development across the UK, including work to support disadvantaged people in coastal towns in Essex, Moray and Devon. All projects under consideration will benefit those on lower incomes who are lacking the opportunities required to fulfil their potential.  

Following the success of our short documentary made by Jamie McGregor(Ewan's 18 year old nephew) "Saying no to FGM', we have been working with Police Scotland youth volunteers to make a documentary "Say no to knife crime'knife crime.

Abroad

Collaboration and co-operation is being encouraged by the management team of the Trust in Kenya.
Links have been created between the charity Give Them a Sporting Chance, Rotary International in Nairobi, Starehe Boys Centre, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and other groups supporting a project at The Jacaranda School for disabled and disadvantaged children. This initiative resulted from a visit by one of the management to Kenya which was organised by The Balcraig Foundation and Ann Gloag of Stagecoach, supported by Bill and Hilda Robertson of The Robertson Group.

A level playing field was created in Nairobi. The Management Team encouraged many to take part in building a sports ground for The Jacaranda School for disabled and disadvantaged children.

Starehe Boys Centre was heavily involved as were ATA Constuction, who provided the machinery to create the playing field and Gemineye Construction helped with equipment for the project. Kuku Foods (K) gave KFC lunches for all participating in the work and Gossamer Crossings (EA) and Mrs B.J.Belcher gave funds in order for the project to happen.

The charity Give Them a Sporting Chance was involved as were the Nairobi Rotary Club and The Rotary Club of Nairobi-Langata, The Balcraig Foundation and The Robertson Group as well as encouragement from the IFRC+RC and Save the Children.

A wealth of people and organisations joined together to make this outstanding project happen.

Socotra, The Yemen, a visit to the Sheikh Khalifas Bin Zayed Hospital in January 2013 at the start of The Chaffinch Trust

Further projects are being investigated in Cambodia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Malawi, Nepal and the Yemen and, while links with Sightsavers, Swinfen Telemedicine, Duchenne Muscular Distrophy and the Elizabeth Legacy of Hope charity are being developed especially with regard to their work with vunerable people. The management team has strong links in Guatemala and these will be utilised to benefit some of the country's poorest people. Elsewhere, the Malawi project will continue the work which was started by students at Gairloch High School, in Wester Ross, Scotland.

A project in Nepal is building on the work of Rotary International and NEWAH (the Nepal Water For Health Group) which has transformed the lives of communities through the provision of water, sanitation and health and hygiene programmes.

In the Yemen, the Trust is in the planning stages of a project which will benefit a school on the small archipelego of Socotra.

A political rally in Socotra, the Yemen