Thank you fella. I had a contract between end 2016-beginning 2019 for the Department of Education, where they were surveying all of the state schools, academy’s, trust etc in England. We worked on the mechanical and electrical surveys in 6 counties, which meant interaction with your archetypal small primary school caretakers to facilities teams on the larger establishments. In that time, I was struck by how the whole system is barely hanging by a thread, caretakers that would be mending / re-soling kids shoes, staff chipping-in for winter coats for kids and, then there was the one in Stroud that did for me....Respect to you and your good lady for performing this role. I know what it is like to not have the "right" clothing when at school, it was an issue even 50+ years ago.
Thank you fella. I had a contract between end 2016-beginning 2019 for the Department of Education, where they were surveying all of the state schools, academy’s, trust etc in England. We worked on the mechanical and electrical surveys in 6 counties, which meant interaction with your archetypal small primary school caretakers to facilities teams on the larger establishments. In that time, I was struck by how the whole system is barely hanging by a thread, caretakers that would be mending / re-soling kids shoes, staff chipping-in for winter coats for kids and, then there was the one in Stroud that did for me....
Just before Christmas 2018 I was surveying a mid-size Primary. In one of the classrooms was maybe 2 dozen boxes with food, Christmas presents and decorations. Says I to the head ‘have you done a collection for the homeless or to send overseas?’ She replied ‘No, a number of parents at the school have fundraised and put together these Christmas boxes for other families at the school, because they know there are some that will struggle to get things for them and their kids this year’
So I’m floored - I’ve lived a bit too long in a middle-class bubble and something like this has just slapped me across the face with a good dose of ‘this is happening everywhere, under your nose sunshine’.
I’ve known difficult times, especially when I was younger and then again when my kids were very small and the second time round going through the meat-grinder of redundancy put us right up against it - we could just about afford to get by - but we never moaned about it and never asked for anything. The last ten years has been hard work and it’s paid off business wise but I’ve forgotten maybe where I came from a bit, and how hard it can be to raise a family - and also how hard it can be to admit you need a bit of help.
Both my wife and I had mothers who nursed children and we decided to do this in their memory. My mum passed away in 2018 and, after all the vultures had left and fees were paid, there was just enough left for us to put it in an account to prove we were serious and to get our charity registration number enabling us to be taken seriously.
Schools and other charities refer kids to us, we get the uniform and they get to choose and be fitted with proper Clark’s shoes and they get delivered to the family. We don’t meet them and we want it that way - everyone keeps their dignity and the kids get to feel like everyone else at school, something that’s so important at a young age and as you mentioned, has and always will be there if you ‘stand out’ from the crowd.
We ain’t no saints but it’s some of the most worthwhile work I have ever done. Since we started in earnest in April this year we’ve helped just over 100 kids - it’s been a little overwhelming at times but worth it
My grandfather used to make the wooden moulds for the gun turret Perspex at Parnell Aircraft in Surbiton during the war, had to work in a temperature / humidity controlled room, froze in summer and cooked in the winter he said
That's a magnificent thing your doing there Hereford, why don't you post your charity details on here and you may get a few donations to help you along a little.Thank you fella. I had a contract between end 2016-beginning 2019 for the Department of Education, where they were surveying all of the state schools, academy’s, trust etc in England. We worked on the mechanical and electrical surveys in 6 counties, which meant interaction with your archetypal small primary school caretakers to facilities teams on the larger establishments. In that time, I was struck by how the whole system is barely hanging by a thread, caretakers that would be mending / re-soling kids shoes, staff chipping-in for winter coats for kids and, then there was the one in Stroud that did for me....
Just before Christmas 2018 I was surveying a mid-size Primary. In one of the classrooms was maybe 2 dozen boxes with food, Christmas presents and decorations. Says I to the head ‘have you done a collection for the homeless or to send overseas?’ She replied ‘No, a number of parents at the school have fundraised and put together these Christmas boxes for other families at the school, because they know there are some that will struggle to get things for them and their kids this year’
So I’m floored - I’ve lived a bit too long in a middle-class bubble and something like this has just slapped me across the face with a good dose of ‘this is happening everywhere, under your nose sunshine’.
I’ve known difficult times, especially when I was younger and then again when my kids were very small and the second time round going through the meat-grinder of redundancy put us right up against it - we could just about afford to get by - but we never moaned about it and never asked for anything. The last ten years has been hard work and it’s paid off business wise but I’ve forgotten maybe where I came from a bit, and how hard it can be to raise a family - and also how hard it can be to admit you need a bit of help.
Both my wife and I had mothers who nursed children and we decided to do this in their memory. My mum passed away in 2018 and, after all the vultures had left and fees were paid, there was just enough left for us to put it in an account to prove we were serious and to get our charity registration number enabling us to be taken seriously.
Schools and other charities refer kids to us, we get the uniform and they get to choose and be fitted with proper Clark’s shoes and they get delivered to the family. We don’t meet them and we want it that way - everyone keeps their dignity and the kids get to feel like everyone else at school, something that’s so important at a young age and as you mentioned, has and always will be there if you ‘stand out’ from the crowd.
We ain’t no saints but it’s some of the most worthwhile work I have ever done. Since we started in earnest in April this year we’ve helped just over 100 kids - it’s been a little overwhelming at times but worth it
Thanks Jer - we're in the process of writing funding bids at the moment but I'm also looking at setting up a Virgin Money Giving account so we can have a donate button on our website - when I've done that (and ok'd it with the SD owners) I'll post the details. I should add, we are only working in the BANES area at the moment (Bath and North East Somerset) - plenty of need but as we grow we'll branch out.
Hereford what an amazing thing to do. Don’t apologise for a thread hijack!Thanks Jer - we're in the process of writing funding bids at the moment but I'm also looking at setting up a Virgin Money Giving account so we can have a donate button on our website - when I've done that (and ok'd it with the SD owners) I'll post the details. I should add, we are only working in the BANES area at the moment (Bath and North East Somerset) - plenty of need but as we grow we'll branch out.
Apologies all for a massive thread hijack
