AMERSHAM CIRCUIT PROJECT for 2009/2010

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WORKAID

W0RKAID tackles poverty in developing countries by supporting disadvantaged people with the tools they need to earn a living.

WORKAID collects unwanted items from all over the UK, repairs them and send them to vocational training projects, mostly in East Africa.

After more than three months of restoration work and a month's closure, WORKAID reopened for business on 1st December 2008 in a former Victorian boot factory in Townsend Road, Chesham, just a few miles from their previous home in Amersham.

WORKAID is delighted to have bought this Victorian building back into use; to have "recycled" it in the same way that tools and equipment are recycled and to have given it a new lease of life. The factory is almost three times the size of the former headquarters offering plenty of space for the charity to grow into and it should enable even more tools and equipment to be sent to training projects in Africa in the years to come.

In the autumn the Circuit Outreach Group were given an excellent presentation about WORKAID and about the new premises, by their current Administrator, Bill Duperouzel. Volunteers have worked hard to clear the site and refurbish the new premises. Over 175 volunteers give freely of their time and expertise to refurbish tools and equipment. In addition there are about 85 Area Organisers throughout the UK who collect donated tools in their local area. Now the proud owners of their new home, they do not have to pay rent but do have to repay a low interest loan of £400,000 over 5 years. Their operational running costs are in the region of £200,000 per year. The directors endeavour to control costs, to ‘slim and trim’ but transportation and fuel costs continue to increase. A number of companies and grant-making trusts give regular financial support but WORKAID is still heavily dependent on the generosity of donations from individuals and churches. Individual donations can be Gift Aided. The Circuit Outreach Group recommend that our Circuit seeks to raise funds for WORKAID over the next two years as the Circuit's 'Special Mission Project'.

The address of WORKAID is The Old Boot Factory, 71 Townsend Road, Chesham, Bucks. HP5 2AA.
email: admin@workaid.org Telephone: 01494 775220.

More information is available on their website http://www.workaid.org

The workshop and offices are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Visitors are welcome between these hours. Call Bill Duperouzel, the administrator to let him know when you would like to visit, or just drop in.