Trustees report
Trustees Report September 2007 - August 2008
The Lunchbowl Network has successfully built upon the foundations of the first year of operation. The support base in the UK has expanded into more schools, community groups and from individual supporters.
The charity is the sole financial provider for 450 orphaned and vulnerable children living in the Lindi Village, Kibera slum, Nairobi. This year all of the 450 orphans have received at least one hot nutritious lunch every Saturday. In addition they now receive a food pack of oatmeal to sustain them the remainder of the week. This has had a highly significant impact upon the children’s health and wellbeing.
The Lunchbowl Network UK
The charity has partnered with 13 schools this financial year. Ten assemblies have been taken. From the 13 schools 10 have sustained their support from the previous year and the personalised relationship between school and charity has been consolidated. New schools have been added from outside of the Borough of Merton and Kingston or are private.
Established support from schools has been given mostly from Harvest collections, topics on Africa, Spring and Christmas collections. The use of ‘dinner money’ collection envelopes remains a popular choice.
Celebrity workouts
Celebrity sponsored workouts supported by children’s television personalities continue to be an extremely effective and creative fundraiser in schools.
Little Lunchbowl
Little Lunchbowl for preschoolers has been developed and launched. Four nurseries have piloted the resource pack and supported the charity.
Pyjama parties
A new fundraising initiative has been girls pyjama parties. The response has been very favourable and in much demand. On average 100 girls attend these events and raise £500.
Cream Tea and Carol Singing
These remain annual events. The Cream tea garden party is now an established community event attracting local residents. The Cream tea raises on average £2000 annually.
Carol singing raises on average £300 an hour.
Individual Supporters
Standing orders from private supporters provides in total £90 each month ranging from £30 to £5 monthly donations. Contacts have been from private connections and from people attending the cream tea garden party.
The Lunchbowl Network Website
The website has been developed to publicise the vision of the charity, teacher’s resource and events of the charity.
The Lunchbowl Network partnership with Windows Development Fund Nairobi, Kenya
The volatile political elections in December 2007 into January 2008 had a devastating impact upon the lives of the orphans living in the Kibera. All 450 orphans fled the slum in fear of their lives and camped in a local field. Some were burnt in their attempt to escape. The orphans have been deeply traumatised by the violent events. At the peak of the rioting it was too dangerous for the lunch programme to operate. The children were given food packs and blankets provided by the charity. Once the rioting ceased the orphans returned to the devastation of the Kibera and the lunch programme resumed. The ‘slum base’ provided by The Lunchbowl Network became a temporary shelter for those whose homes had been destroyed.
This base had become a crucial place to facilitate psycho-social counselling post this traumatic time.
The lunch programme operates every Saturday. All the orphans have the opportunity to play together and with their carers. The food they receive each Saturday is appetising, hot and nutritious. Each month monitoring forms are sent to the UK detailing attendance and wellbeing of the orphans, food prepared and purchased, carers involved and specific needs.
All orphans needing medical intervention for the treatment of worms receive this from funding from The Lunchbowl Network.
Goals for the year ahead
6 meals a week
It is hoped that with increased support the orphans will receive a hot meal everyday.
Expand Community Fundraising events
It is planned that new creative annual events spaced throughout the year will be introduced. The aim is for these to give a predictable flow of money, each event on average between £500 and £2000.
Events planned:
- Pimms and Strawberries Garden Party
- Bollywood Party
- Quiz Night
- Wild woods
- Pyjama parties
- Cream Tea
- Good Hair Days
Develop individual support base
The aim is to receive 10 new standing orders annually. This again will provide consistent giving throughout the year. The community fundraising events will be the main source for creating this support.
Expand to local High Schools
To forge links with local High schools with a view to introducing celebrity workouts and school based fundraising initiatives.
Present and future use of resource and team
90% of all monies raised continues to be sent directly to support the lunch programme for the orphans. 10% has been used in printing schools packs, event publicity and administration.
All activities of the charity have been carried out by volunteers and we are extremely thankful for their ongoing commitment to the work of The Lunchbowl Network.
The Lunchbowl Team:
Trustees
Sally McGgreevy
Stuart McGreevy
Heidi Gomes
Frances Turko
