The BARK FOUNDATION
(Registered Charity Number:1129762)
In support of HOTPEC ORPHANAGE, BUEA, CAMEROON
President: Reverend Edward Sakwe
April 2012 NEWSLETTER
Dear Friends
BARBARA’S WATER TOWER – GREAT NEWS – HOTPEC can have their WATER TOWER!
As reported in our last Newsletter, Barbara Watson and her daughter Lynda Yorke spent last October working hard as volunteers at the orphanage. During their time there they experienced a period of 5 days without water. This is because the mains water, at best, is only supplied on alternate days and HOTPEC has no means of long-term storage. Barbara and Lynda vowed to raise £4,000 to build a big water storage tank to alleviate the problem. They have worked incredibly hard to raise the money. Lots of people supported their latest fund raising event, a sponsored ‘bike ride’ at their local gym, that raised a total of around £1,500. Taking into account Gift Aid to be claimed that brings the total raised to £4,400. This should be enough to build the tower and provide the pump needed to raise the water up to it. We will also be researching the possibility of rain water collection, perhaps to be incorporated in our new building project.
WE CONGRATULATE BARBARA ON A WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT – SHE IS A FANTASTIC LADY!
VOLUNTEER AND TRAINING CENTRE - £47,000 to be raised
Our commitment to our HOTPEC family spurs us on to raise funds to improve their situation and we are making progress, but still have a long way to go for the Volunteer and Training Centre. We have received some generous donations that have helped to bring the total raised to date to over £14,000 towards the £47,000 needed. We will be applying for grants in the hope of raising the money more quickly. Other fund raising events will continue but we really need additional support from larger grant-making charities to raise the money more quickly. ANY IDEAS? – PLEASE LET US KNOW! The orphanage desperately needs the accommodation for volunteer staff to stay on site to look after the ever increasing number of children. They have enough land available but no funds for building. At present we have enough for the foundations to be dug and filled but we need another £7,000 so that the walls can be built up to roof height. At that stage building could be paused whilst we raise the funds to continue.
£1 buys a ‘brick’ – we need 9,000 of them!
PLEASE SUPPORT ALL OF OUR EVENTS IF YOU CAN - The current economic situation makes it harder for us to achieve our target but we will just keep working at it!
If you wish to make a donation to help us to improve the lives of the children of our HOTPEC family please either send it direct to our home address (see below) or through ‘Just Giving’, on line. If you are a UK taxpayer and would like us to claim ‘GIFT AID’ on your donation this can be done through ‘Just Giving’ or by including a note with the following statement and information if sending directly to us:
Please treat all gifts of money that I make today and in the future as GIFT AID donations.
Title...... Initials...... Surname...... Home address......
Postcode...... SIGNED...... Date......
AN EXCITING EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
A Leicestershire Primary School has expressed an interest in making links with the Primary School at the orphanage.
The Head Teacher would like to take three teachers to work with the staff at HOTPEC, sharing ideas and training sessions and hopefully taking some equipment (computers etc.) with them. Following the initial visit it is intended that the links would be maintained on a long-term basis and the children of both schools would be very much involved. Ideally we would like this venture to take place during the October half-term holiday 2012 but it will depend on finding some financial support.
FUND RAISING EVENTS - PLEASE COME IF YOU CAN AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS WITH YOU!
Friday 20th APRIL – FASHION SHOW BARGAINS - Birstall Methodist Church, LE4 4GS, 7.30 pm.
Usual fashion parade by our own fabulous models, followed by the opportunity to choose your bargains from over 1000 items on the rails afterwards. Major High Street store brands at half price or less – sizes 8-26.
Tickets £5.00 including refreshments. ***FREE PAPERMATE PEN FOR EVERY PERSON ATTENDING***
Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd JUNE 2012 - Horse-Racing and Casino Evenings, prompt start 7.00 pm.
A great FUN evening - no real gambling involved, all betting uses ‘Monopoly’ money and casino chips. At the end of the evening there will be a chance to ‘blow all your winnings’ in a grand auction of fantastic very desirable items!
All this plus a hot supper and free drinks, for a donation of £15 per person. Places limited, so book now or miss out on all the fun and excitement! Venue: 48 Queensgate Drive, Birstall, LE4 3JR
Tel. 0116.2677576, or email - Joy and David Bark - to book either evening.
SATURDAY 23RD JUNE – COFFEE MORNING at Birstall Methodist Church, LE4 4GS, 10.00-12noon
Jewellery stall, Books, lots of ‘Good as New’ items including children’s clothes, raffle etc.
ADVANCE NOTICE – SATURDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2012 - ***** ‘CLIFF-AS-IF’ CONCERT’ *****
We are delighted to have secured a booking with Will Chandler, THE ‘Look Alike’ for SIR CLIFF RICHARD (so good that he has been personally congratulated on his portrayal by Sir Cliff Richard himself). Don’t miss out on your opportunity to enjoy a fantastic professional performance, knowing that you are supporting our work on behalf of our orphanage family. Will was the Baptist Minister at Rothley during the time that Reverend Edward Sakwe, President of The Bark Foundation, was Methodist Minister in the Leicester North Circuit.
Venue: Birstall Methodist Church, Wanlip Lane, Birstall, LE4 4JS, 7.30 p.m.
Tickets will be £10.00 including tea/coffee/cakes. There will be a lucky ticket prize of £25. A raffle will be held.
COLLECTION OF CLOTHING AND BEDDING – any time.
Joy and David are making small local street collections on a regular basis – every little helps!
Would you like to help us by having a ‘clear-out’? We will be pleased to receive clean, dry clothing and bed linen, blankets (no duvets or pillows), curtains, handbags, belts, hats and paired shoes. In a separate bag, books, DVDs and toys. Items will be sorted and used to raise funds.
Local supporters please phone us (0116.2677576) to arrange delivery/collection of your contribution.
‘TALKS’ TO LOCAL GROUPS - David and Joy Bark are pleased to offer Power-Point presentations of life in Cameroon and at the orphanage, or of wild life in Galapagos and Ecuador, in return for a donation to the fund. If you are a member of a group please contact us if you are interested. (Phone 0116.2677576 to book)
JOY’S JEWELLERY – recycled/remade jewellery sold at local coffee mornings and other meetings. Donated items result in customers pleased with their bargains and for us a welcome addition to our funds. If you would like us to offer our wares as an extra attraction at your own event (or hold a ‘Jewellery party!) please contact Joy (0116.2677576).
LOOK OUT very soon on ‘ebay-missionfish’ for the AUCTION of a signed LEICS. COUNTY CRICKET BAT donated for the WATER PROJECT.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO HELP US by using ‘The Giving Machine’ when buying ‘on line’. Log on to www.thegivingmachine.co.uk and join as a giver. It costs nothing for you to join. Anything you need to buy on line can be chosen from over 180 major retailers (including insurance companies!) and they donate a percentage of the purchase price to The Bark Foundation if you choose us as your beneficiary. We have used this initiative ourselves – saved some money and gained a donation from the retailer and insurance company with no further effort from us.
QUALITY BALLPOINT PENS – We have had some produced to raise funds – they make very useful small gifts. Printed very discreetly with our ‘logo’ and website address. £2.50 each inc. free pouch and card explaining purchase represents a donation. Barrel colours: black, metallic: grey, gold, pale blue and red. Tel. 0116.2677576
PLEASE HELP US TO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Best wishes
Joy, David, Charles and Edward
TRUSTEES: Website: thebarkfoundation.org
ChairmanDavid Bark
48 Queensgate Drive, Birstall
Leicester LE4 3JR
Email: / Secretary
Charles Hilton
11 Beechfield Avenue, Birstall
Leicester LE4 4DB
Email:
/ Treasurer
Joy Bark
48 Queensgate Drive, Birstall
Leicester LE4 3JR
Email: