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Our magazine carries the Business against Poverty( BaP) kitemark( see page 3), an accreditation we are extremely proud of. BaP’ s 120, mostly local members are passionate about driving profitable, ethical and sustainable business growth for the benefit of society at home and abroad. The Business against Poverty membership fee funds the humanitarian work of the charity People against Poverty, which currently has projects in Romania, Nepal and Haiti.
The funds go to those directly in need on the ground in each country, helping to build up communities, feeding the hungry, providing clothing for the poor, warm shelter for the forgotten and educating people in all aspects of social skills. The charity’ s ethos is a hand up, not a hand out, building sustainable, brighter futures.
People against Poverty is entirely transparent about where your funding goes. Donors receive regular news updates about where their money is going and how it’ s helping those most in need. They also give supporters the opportunity to visit the projects and see first-hand the deprivation they face.
In November 2015, I personally visited the Way of Joy project in Romania. Having never been on a charity mission before, I didn’ t know what to expect, but when I arrived I couldn’ t believe what I was seeing with my own eyes. Malnourished children, squalid living conditions, no running water and little hope. Visiting the homes of some of the families assisted by the project, it was hard to believe I was not in a third world country. It was certainly not the 21st century as we know it in the UK. I also learnt about Romania’ s identity issues and how one of the project workers was working with many adults and children ensuring that they had proper birth certificates and identity cards.
Whilst I was in Romania I visited People against Poverty’ s micro-farm project in Unceste. Land was bought
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in 2013 to build a sustainable life for those living in the village. The charity bought livestock such as pigs, chickens and quails and they planted fruit and vegetables for the villagers. Pens made for the livestock and the poly-tunnel for growing produce was built by pupils of St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon. The charity works with six schools that have assisted the project in Romania, led by John Williams who is the charity’ s education director. John organises educational fundraising trips each year and more and more schools keep showing their interest in the scheme.
As a Business against Poverty member I’ m passionate about ensuring People against Poverty’ s work continues. In the current climate, with the low exchange rate of the British Pound, the charity is down by 20 %. Every time they transfer money and invest in their projects across the world they’ re losing their vital funds which is a real worry and is making them work even harder.
If my little story has piqued your interest in supporting Business against Poverty, what’ s in it for you? Apart from helping those who need it most, you’ ll also become part of a business family. We all try and work together and refer work one another’ s way and when building relationships with new members, as we all have similar values, it’ s easier to strike up a rapport.
To find out more about the Business against Poverty and how you can become a member visit: www. businessagainstpoverty. com or call 01225 541269
@ BusinessPoverty
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4 MARRIAGE cerificates
200
FOWL chickens, quail & turkey’ s
24 TEMPORARY IDS created
133
CHILDREN SPONSORED throughout
26
PASSED their exams in Nepal
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40 PIGS BORNS in five litters
45 COURT CASES represented
BUILT a community Mill
37,939 HOT MEALS provided
1 HAYBARN built
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6 SCHOOLS in UK have worked in Romania
30
BIRTH certificates created
1968 FOOD PARCELS given out
145
CHILDREN received a gift at Christmas
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52
METER POLYTUNNEL built
WON a 2 year court case for grandparents to take on their two grandchildren
2 GRADUATED in India
31
FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS started
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