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FREE HOLIDAY in aid of The Barbados Children's Trust.
The Free Prize Draw offering entrants an amazing week's holiday at Cobblers Cove, Barbados ends at 00.01hrs (UK time) on 14 January 2008. The winner will be announced within 24 hours.
The Barbados Children’s Trust was set up in 1997 by a group of home-owners in Barbados who were looking for an opportunity to give something back to the community. It assists in providing a better life for disadvantaged children throughout the island, by supporting children’s homes and individuals with specific needs. The Trust holds a number of fund-raising events each year, including golf tournaments, in which some of Barbados’s wealthiest homeowners play against celebrity visitors, one-off concerts and even visits by professional footballers from the UK, as well as an annual cocktail party in the height of the winter season.
The Trust’s work focuses primarily on a number of Children’s Homes around the island. These homes provide an environment for development for children suffering from many forms of physical, emotional or mental disability, sensory deprivation and developmental delays. The homes also take in children who may be orphaned, abused or whose families are too poor to afford day to day essentials.
Because of its well-connected membership, the Trust is able to make the most of what is happening on the island in order to raise funds. During the English Test tour in Spring 2004 several of the cricketers helped out. Events in the pipeline include a concert by Cliff Richard early in 2005 and various other golf tournaments. All of these act as a great way to get together, have fun and generate funds.
Please see below for ways in which you may be able to join in the fun on Barbados and give a little back to an island that gives so much to so many. |
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Ways to Donate
Donations can be sent directly to:
Cheryll Belle,
The Barbados Children’s Trust,
Leamington House,
4th Ave Belleville,
St Michael,
Barbados,
West Indies.
Donations may be made by:
1. Sending a US Dollar International Money Order/Bank Draft made payable to Barbados Children’s Trust, Inc.
2. Credit Card by filling in the printable form and sending it to the above address.
Annual Patron Programme
It is also possible to become a Friend of the Barbados Children’s Trust with their Annual Patron Programme (Cost: minimum donation of US$250/£165). This entitles you to be on their priority invitation list for special events, as well as receiving their new cap and polo shirt and newsletter which is published every other year.
Payment methods for the Annual Patron Programme are as above. Alternatively, regular giving by Direct Debit dramatically reduces administration costs and allows a greater percentage of your donations to go directly to the children and their projects. Simply fill out the Direct Debit form, and send it to the above address. |
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History
The Barbados Children’s Trust was formed in 1997, by several foreign home-owners and local residents living on the famed Barbados west coast. Contributing was their way of showing their appreciation of the island which they had come to love.
Fundraising events have made the most of Barbados millions. In 2001, Theo Fennell brought a selection of jewels to the Spa at Sandy Lane for an auction. Christmas 2002 saw Bruce Oldfield showing a collection at the Starlight Terrace, with Michael Winner acting as the auctioneer! Other items included a picture by Ronnie Wood, a week at Cove Spring House, tickets to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new show, and a box for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.
Miss Doreen Tabor hosted a piano recital from Nadejda Vlaeva, winner of the 2002 Hungarian Liszt Society’s Grand Prix du Disque, and raised substantial funds from ticket sales and donations.
The idea of creating a Trust grew out of the many individual requests received from the local community. Over the years the Trust has become much more organised and has engaged the help of a local manager to look after its day to day administration. This enables them to make the most of the huge amount of wealth available in Barbados from residents and visitors alike, taking funds from the glitzy, glamorous galas of the West Coast to the under-privileged children and their families of the entire island. |
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Objectives
The Trust’s new logo, ‘Helping to Raise a Smile’ was recently launched at the British High Commission by His Excellency Mr John White. It is hoped that the new design will bring added recognition not only for the work already done by the Trust but also help to raise awareness of present and future projects.
Indeed, this appears to have succeeded already, as in 2003 the Trust received a ‘Friend of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Award’ in recognition of the work done to assist them in delivering quality health care.
The Trust understands the impact that the homeowners can have on the island, particularly because of its many wealthy visitors. Many of the events held to raise funds have an international theme, sometimes involving celebrities, or they are sporting activities that can be appreciated by anyone.
The Trust hopes to continue to provide assistance in helping to bring a smile to the faces of children from birth to 16 years of age and to provide for better living and schooling conditions.
Some assistance is given through the Ministry of Education in Barbados. |
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Programmes
The Trust does not run any programmes itself; instead it judges proposals and applications for funding from anyone or any organisation that submits them. After vetting from the manager and consideration by the directors the funds are allocated to those that justify the relevant criteria for help as set out when the Trust was inaugurated.
For example:
Children’s Development Centre
The Trust provides wheelchairs and refurbishes, upgrades or replaces damaged wheelchairs with the guidance of Mr Kiko Toro, a specialist who visits once a year from Puerto Rico. In addition the Trust provides equipment to aid Psychological and Speech Therapy.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
The Trust has offered continuous assistance to the Paediatric Wing, providing amongst other things a manual baby scale, an I-stat machine complete with accessories and fluorescent lamps used to illuminate delicate procedures. Most recently the Trust provided Psychological Testing and Diagnostic kits.
The Learning Centre
Mrs Dawn Rudder runs this school whose underlying philosophy is that the disabled deserve to be treated well in keeping with their dignity as human beings. Their students are encouraged to achieve their full potential through special programmes of education for life skills and vocational training that aim to raise the level of their self-esteem, self-respect and self-confidence, and to promote their employment prospects.
Through the help of the Trust there are now two new facilities at the Learning Centre to train the children in one of two vocations, ready for an independent life.
Firstly, the Woodwork Centre has the equipment to make virtually anything possible from wood. These have included salad bowls, ironing boards, and furniture, which are then sold in the local community to buy more raw materials.
Secondly, 'Whisperssss' the Hairdressing Salon, which is a huge success. The students learn everything from hair care to manicures and pedicures. Opened by Cherie Blair in August 2003, it has become very popular with the locals, partly because of the efficiency of the staff who are also trained to use the onsite computer to take bookings professionally.
St James Secondary School
In 2003, the school received 20 steel pans and a drum set - which the Trust is lucky enough to hear on a regular basis as the group appears at many of their fundraisers.
Other regular events include:
Every Christmas ‘Auntie Olga’ Lopes-Seale organises a cruise for more than 150 children on board the M.V. Harbour Master. The Trust sponsors this wonderful day.
Ex Liverpool FC players come over to Barbados once a year to donate their time and coaching skills. This attracts hundreds of children from all over the island, including the ladies, so a new girl’s team has been set up – the BCT Belles. |
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Achievements
In 1999, the Trust built a Snoozlen room at the Children’s Development Centre, St Michael. This facility allows therapists to stimulate children suffering from different forms of sensory deprivation such as cerebral palsy, and children that may be deaf or blind. It uses lights, smells, sounds and objects of different shapes and textures to provide entertainment and learning to children that would otherwise not be given the chance.
To compliment this, the Trust has just refurbished a Multi-Purpose room at Sterling Children’s Home, St Philip, which has a television area, computer centre, games area, kitchen and general study with library. The Trust also furnished 3 chattel houses to function as a halfway house for teenagers to learn to adapt to life outside their previously institutionalised environments.
The Trust has also provided Challenor School with Specialised Educational Material and equipment to help implement the programmes designed for those that are intellectually challenged and developmentally delayed. |
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Needs
Quite simply, the Trust needs more funding.
The Trust is in the process of creating an all-weather, multi-purpose facility that would be made available to all children. This would provide for better quality conditions to enhance soccer training that is given by the Trust, and the opportunity to develop other sporting activities. Sport is seen as a way of lifting children out of the problems they face and integrating them with their peers.
On an individual basis the Trust provides pampers, school books and uniforms, as well as special equipment for sick children.
The work of the Trust diverse, but given the number of requests it receives for help it appears that there is an ever increasing need for a wider range of support. |
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Case Studies
Zario Mapp continues to receive much needed growth hormone treatment and has now grown 9 inches!
Shakiel Jackman faced a life in a wheelchair until the Trust became involved and paid for his treatments at Shriner Hospital in Tampa. |
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Staff
Manager
Mrs Cheryll Belle sees to the day to day running of the Trust business and liaises with the Directors to decide which proposals the Trust will allocate funds to. Mrs Belle, the current Manager of the Trust, is a local Barbadian with British Nursing Training who specialised in Family Planning and Drug Addiction Counselling. She is also a trained Family Life Educator and Guidance Counsellor and has worked at several schools across the Island. She has qualified as a Project Manager from the University of Florida and attained a degree in Psychology from the University of the West Indies.
Cheryll has worked with children for over 20 years, engaged in many different voluntary pursuits to assist in whichever way she can. She is a Member on the Board of Directors for the Substance Abuse Foundation, an organisation that runs a rehabilitation institution. She is a hard working and dedicated individual who still finds time to attend International Drug Conferences and run a family home.
Directors
The Trust at its inception was organised by Mrs Susan Sangster, Mr Clyde Turney QC, Lady Bamford, Mr Michael Pemberton, Mrs John Magnier, Mr Geoff Moss, Dr Frank Ramsey, Dr Carole Jacobs, and the late Robert Sangster as founding members. It was later joined by Mrs Yvonne Brewer, Mrs Linda Mahon, and Mrs Doreen Tabor. |
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Getting Involved
Although the Trust does not normally seek volunteers, anyone with particular experience such as event planning or fund raising would be considered. Local volunteers are used to assist at their annual cocktail party, when on occasions a fashion show is held. The local Defence Force soldiers also provide assistance in construction whenever necessary.
The Trust is a registered non-profit organisation which enables it to import certain items, with the permission of Government, under a duty-free concession clause. This is done through a Customs broker used by the Trust - Dosty Weekes Custom Brokers. If you have any good quality non-perishable items that you would like to donate to the Trust for them to allocate to other Charities and Organisations please contact Cheryll Belle.
Invitations to the Christmas celebrations can be ordered through Cheryll Belle by email at bct@caribsurf.com |
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Contact Us
Manager - Cheryll Belle
Address: The Barbados Children’s Trust,
Leamington House,
4th Ave Belleville,
St Michael,
Barbados,
West Indies.
Tel: +1 246 423 1309
Email: bct@caribsurf.com |
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This feature page is sponsored by DefinitiveCaribbean as part of the DefinitiveCaribbean Charity Support Scheme supporting Caribbean charities. We hope you will give generously to this excellent Barbados charity that does so much to help the less fortunate children of Barbados and please remember to mention DefinitiveCaribbean when you contact or make your donation to the Barbados Children's Trust.
Thank you for your interest. |
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