Our Communities
WE’LL GIVE + £1!
EL partners with Open Arms International
In an exciting initiative, English Lakes has agreed to support Open Arms International in their commitment to provide relief to orphaned children and destitute families in Kenya, Africa. In particular, we have challenged ourselves to raise £45,000 in order to build a home for 16 orphaned children, two house parents and assistant house parents.
Kenya is home to 2.3 million orphans, 1.2 million of these being orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS. Many of these children, some as young as 3 or 4 years old, are living on the streets and doing everything they can simply to survive each day. The Directors and staff of English Lakes are determined to help OAI do something about it.
Open Arms International is an international humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to raising children orphaned by AIDS, civil warfare, disease or other tragedy to reach their full potential. OAI owns 52 acres of land near Eldoret, Kenya on which they have created a village where they look after 38 children and 3 babies.
For every £1 raised by staff, and indeed our customers and suppliers, the Directors of English Lakes will give +£1, matching every contribution made. Events undertaken and planned include a 3-hour Aerobathon; Land’s End to John o’ Groats 48-hour cycle; Three Peaks Challenge; Boxing Dinner; Cross Bay Walk; Great North Swim; Great North Run; Pyjama Party; Cheese and Wine Evening; Friday Cake Day, payroll giving and much more...
£45,000 Fundraising Target Reached!
Congratulations and thanks to everybody that helped raise an incredible £45,000 in 2010 which will build and equip an orphan home in the Open Arms village in Eldoret, Kenya. This has been a tremendous effort by all and the results will undoubtedly, and in a very real way, improve the lives of dozens of children for years to come.
The Open Arms fundraising project has clearly shown the dedication and care of the staff at English Lakes who have risen to the challenge with their usual enthusiasm and commitment. The list of activities undertaken this year demonstrates the creative energy that we have within the group:
Sponsored swimmers, face painting, aerobathon, boxing dinner, raffle, salary giving, learn-to-sail scheme, jumble sale, 3 peaks challenge, 5-aside football competition, sponsored walkers, country and western evening, cellar tours at Storrs, guess the baby’s weight, cake baking, cross bay walk, sponsored runners, Christmas gift fair, silent auction, staff raffle, pyjama party, beauty evening, Land’s End to John o’ Groats static bike ride, photo competition, car washing, Morrison’s collection, pub quiz, tuck shop … the list is long and impressive!
We hope that the building work on the orphan home will start in Spring 2011 – watch this space for more details.