Isaacs House
www.isaacshouse.org

Our Founder Member is Paul Howells, a 47 year old. A self confessed Habitual Fund Raiser from a small town just north of Liverpool, UK, called Formby.

Over the past 8 years, since he became interested in both personal fitness and charity work Paul has constantly raised over 10k per year for various charities, ranging from the World Renowned Charity Jospice to a lesser know charity such as Debra (Epidermolysis Bullosa Research).

Our Vision here at Isaac’s House is to build, establish and maintain a home in Uganda for Orphaned Children affected by war, HIV & poverty.

We want to create a safe, sustainable environment in which health, education and growth can be achieved. While running to raise monies for other peoples charities in some of the toughest endurance events in the world, namely the Marathon de Sables & the Yukon, Paul was told of a Catholic Nun who was single handily raising close to 100 refugee children in West Africa.

Paul was so inspired by this story that he decided right there to visit Africa to see first hand what was needed and where. After much investigation, the African state of Uganda was chosen, in particular the township of Entebbe, on the banks of Lake Victoria.

In February 2008 Paul visited Uganda and was instantly smitten not only by the natural beauty of the country and the people, but by one particular little orphan boy...Isaac.

During a conversation with Isaac Paul asked him if he could have anything what would it be. With the widest smile the boy replied quietly...a home.

We aim to eventually build and operate not only an Orphanage but also a school in Entebbe but the initial project is the Orphanage. The land is available to us and we have enlisted the support of a Ugandan building company to build the shell, which will then be fitted out by volunteers in February 2009.

Kids Company
www.kidsco.org.uk

Kids Company is a charity founded by Camila Batmanghelidjh in 1996 in order to provide practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children and young people.

Many of the 12,000 children who seek our help suffer from emotional and behavioural difficulties resulting from significant experiences of trauma and neglect. Many are ‘lone children’ living in chronic deprivation, with limited or no support from the adults in their family.

Kids Company operates through two street level centres in south London, as well as offering therapeutic and social work services in over 30 schools.

We aim to provide an environment where relationships of empathy and attachment can be fostered between children and trusted adults. The support we offer is tailored to the needs of each individual child. No matter how disturbed a child is, they will never be turned away.

We are constantly inspired by the courage and dignity expressed by vulnerable children in the face of overwhelming challenges, and in everything we do the child is put first.
Kids Company was awarded the Liberty and Justice Human Rights Award, 2007.

More than 95% of the children and young people we support come to us seeking help, or are referred by their peers; 97% say that Kids Company is effective. Research shows that young people coming to Kids Company face the following difficulties:

• 84% - homelessness - a deeply traumatic and destabilizing experience
• 82% - substance misuse - this is often a reaction to emotional distress and can indicate a child’s vulnerability to being drawn into the criminal world of drug dealing and taking
• 81% - criminal involvement, often to feed and clothe younger siblings
• 83% - sustained, complex trauma during childhood
• 87% - emotional difficulties and mental health problems
• 39% - young carers struggling to cope.

The University of London’s 2008 study found that Kids Company had helped:

• 81% of young people to reintegrate into education, training or employment
• 94% to reduce substance misuse
• 89% of young people to move away from a life of crime. Many of our young people have gone on to access further education at university, and we continue to support and encourage them through these demanding years of study.

The National Children’s Bureau (2001) evaluation found Kids Company service users gave the organization a 100% impact rating and 95% satisfaction rating. 90% of the children using the Arches II programme described it as different from other provisions because it had a family atmosphere and the ability to meet individual needs.

Hoylake Cottage
www.hoylakecottage.co.uk

The nursing staff at Hoylake Cottage believe that our residents are entitled to a high quality of nursing care which meets their physical, spiritual, social and psychological needs.

We believe that our residents have the right to be treated with dignity, courtesy and respect; to be given privacy and freedom of choice and to be encouraged to maintain their independence in a friendly and homely environment which supports them, their family and carers.

Hoylake Cottage has been given 3 Star Status by Wirral Borough Council Social Services Department, reflecting the high standard of care given to residents. This is an ongoing quality assurance review awarded to care homes who meet criteria including a programme of activities; evidence of resident participation; and links with the local community.

An Activities Co-ordinator is employed for 30 hours a week, providing an extensive programme including coffee mornings, a weekly diners club with guests invited, board games, regular trips out, a reading / poetry group and a pottery class. An entertainment committee made up of residents and supported by staff enables residents to help plan events and activities.

Hoylake Cottage’s links with the local community include a church; Birkenhead Operatic Society; a dance club and schools.