New toilets: the dig begins

[Social media for slum charity Child of Hope]

Soon our school kids can get to the loo faster without such long queues... we are building new (bigger) toilets!

Thanks to a very kind grant from friends in accountancy giant EY (through philanthropic organisation Beyond Me), digging has started on the new toilet block, which will take shape very quickly. It needs to, because the rainy season is coming!

We purchased a thin slice of land from a neighbour to make room for the toilets to avoid taking up any the children's play area. More pictures soon!

Bespoke interior furniture for luxury homes

[Social media for high-end joinery Kirolite]

We manufacture individually-designed furniture and fittings in wood and solid surface for bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens, plus staircases and doors around the home… always bespoke… always beautiful… always robust… always high-quality.

Beautiful bespoke bedrooms and bathrooms start with Kirolite’s unique designs to your spec and wonderful custom-fitted wood cabinetry, plus durable and attractive high-tech coatings and finishing. We make bathroom storage look sensational and our individually-designed units have both character and functionality.

Wardrobes, headboards, fittings, bedside tables, chests of drawers, stools, screens and benches – our tailor-made luxury bedroom furniture complements modern and contemporary design – and all feature world-class standards of design and production.

And our kitchens are stylish, hard-wearing, bespoke and long-lasting. Cabinets and surfaces are vital ingredients in the perfect kitchen… whatever you need, we have the ideal recipe for fantastic fitted kitchens. More…

Corporate volunteering: Leadership development that lasts

[Social media for slum charity Child of Hope]

Child of Hope has benefitted hugely over the last few years from volunteers who have spent time with us in Uganda on leadership development opportunities, many of whom have come through a wonderful organisation called Emerging World.

These individuals have had a huge impact on our programmes and methods of operation in Uganda, and we are a more professional body as a result.

Emerging World has conducted research into the effects of its International Service Learning programmes around the world. Over the last ten years it has worked with companies such as Microsoft, Credit Suisse, IBM & EY on these kinds of programmes, in which participants develop the leadership capabilities required to succeed in an uncertain, fast changing and globally-integrated world buy applying their business skills to support organisations tackling social issues in the emerging world. Participants have developed so much from the opportunity that 98% of them have recommended it a someone else, and the majority say it made positive changes to the way they work.

If you’re interested, you can find the research findings here…. www.emergingworld.com/documents/236.pdf

Thanks Emerging World, you and your participants have helped us enormously!

Today is the first day of spring!

[Social media for Store & Secure self storage, Bournemouth]

And you know what that means… time for a spring clean of your office and home – and a bit of a declutter!

If you’d like some professional tips and advice on how to go about it, we’ve collected a few articles over the last few months that might help you:

Top tips to declutter your home or office space

Top 10 office decluttering tricks

Spring Cleaning 101: Decluttering

The benefits of an office clear-out

Have fun!

Boda boda for charity income generation

[News for slum charity Child of Hope]

Our business start-ups for local parents have been so successful, we decided to start one ourselves! So, in the spirit of sustainability and self-financing, we’ve launched our own small business running three motorcycle taxis, called boda-boda.

We were able to buy the motorbikes thanks to a generous £3k grant from a Dorset businessman. We had decided on colour, logo, etc, with various items made and sprayed… only to find out later that the colour we had chosen was the same as the opposition political party and the riders would probably get lynched in next year’s elections! Anyway, an extra colour was added so hopefully all will be well.

We now have three riders stationed at strategic points around the town area. They are all branded with uniforms and equipped with extra helmets (plus disinfectant spray) for passengers, mobile phones and customer loyalty cards printed with contact numbers. They’ve been trained in customer service and legal rent agreements have been signed. Bikes will be checked and appropriately serviced once per week when rent monies are handed over. Posters are being put up at strategic points around town to advertise the business. So now we wait and see if the venture is successful!

Coolest van

[Social media for Store & Secure self-storage, Bournemouth]

We think we're the coolest self-storage company in Europe… and now we own the coolest van!

If you disagree (although we don’t see how you could) send us a pic of yours and we’ll show it on our facebook page.

Actually, it’s our new VW Transporter self-storage show vehicle and we love it! You may see it around the local area at events, fundraisers and festivals – give us a beep!