Hello Everyone

Just a quick message with an update and to wish you a Happy Christmas!

We have an exciting bit of news.  Simon and team (from Business Moves Group - a company that has supported us for a long time) is in Freetown at the weekend and planning the most amazing treat.

Think of the children on the 7th December… THE CHILDREN (45 in all) and ALL THE STAFF (17 staff)  are being taken out for a Christmas dinner and play adventure at the SKY BAR.  It’s a play centre and restaurant in Freetown. They have even arranged for Santa to make a flying visit too.  These children are not going to forget this day ever (and their school friends won’t hear the end of it for weeks)!  

Check out this YouTube video on what the children will experience!

So a huge thank you to Simon and his team, and we hope everyone has a great time.

I mentioned ‘Staffi’ (Mustafa) in the last catch up.  Well he is actually leaving us in a week, to a new life as a trainee potter.  He actually could have gone a couple of weeks ago but we held him back so we could let him join in the treat at Sky Bar which we also plan to be a farewell party for him.

Christmas donation?

Do any of you have someone on your Christmas list that has everything?

Would you like to make a donation on their behalf for something life changing?  

We are gradually revamping everything at the home, just to get it all up to date, and ready for the next 20 years.  I recently spotted these ex-military bunkbeds for sale. We thought they would be a great upgrade on the beds that we have at the moment (which are looking a bit tired now).  Also these will be a lot more hygienic.

We want to purchase 40 bunk beds at £125 each (mattress not included). Any contribution would be extremely welcome.

If you do want to contribute, could you do a bank transfer and just reference it BEDS and your name please (so we know if we can gift aid it)?

We have been discussing how we can make the bedrooms a lot brighter and better ventilated for the children so considering putting extra and larger windows in, but these things all take time and money to get done – but that’s the plan.

Also in the plan (for 2026) – we really want to make a big effort to have something else in place.  Just to make sure that every school age child that passes through leaves us with proper reading and writing skills and basic mathematics.  

We want to make it a VERY specific objective that has to be achieved.  

I am sure that everyone would agree that these are skills that really make a lasting difference to life and we think it’s something we should really try hard on.  Also we hope to create a computer skills programme as well in the future.

A very brief message for once!

Christmas will be on us in a flash, so I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and great 2026.

Thanks for all your support as always

Very best wishes

Philip