Phonics is the breakthrough for Christopher

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

Christopher is a changed boy… thanks to phonics!

Before its introduction, Christopher was struggling to read and write. But since the phonics programme was introduced towards the end of 2015, his reading really took off. By the end of 2016, he was the strongest reader in his class, and was always looking for a book to read! He has just moved up from nursery to join Primary 1 class… that’s him with head teacher Scovia and class teacher Irene.

Mum Evelyn said: “My son joined school at the age of 4yrs and he had behavioural challenges that were affecting his learning at school. His performance was low and the teachers advised that he should be retained in middle class for an extra term to better his performance.”

At around this time, the new phonics programme was introduced. Christopher improved, and then excelled, becoming one of the best performing children in his class. We hope he continues to enjoy reading, and look forward to seeing how he progresses through primary and beyond.

Read about how we have introduced phonics as our main method for teaching reading and writing with our nursery children.

Child of Hope: Motorbike breakthrough

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

A slum mum running a tiny business selling beans identified a possible business idea – and has now launched a successful new business selling motorbike spare parts. Better still, she has been able to employ skilled workers to do the maintenance and repair work on the bikes!

Stella Arakit, a 50 year-old mother with a family of five children and three dependants, was inspired by the increasing number of motorbike transport businesses (Boda Bodas) in the Namatala slum. She developed a business plan to start a motorbike spare parts shop to provide motor bike repair services for the local Boda Bodas. Then Stella shared her business idea with our IGA support staff, who gave her encouragement and business counselling on how to realise her dream.

Stella patiently saved for eighteen months, supported by her simple food produce business, and was able to generate the necessary cash. This February, Stella realised that she had saved enough money to start up the shop.

The shop is now up and running and attracting customers – and is a good sign that Child of Hope’s family support is having impact in transforming the lives of needy communities.

For more information on our business start-up programme, click here.

What will you use your selfstorage room for…?

Online PR for Store & Secure self storage]

An amazing and fun day watching awesome Indie Folk-Rock band Bare Knuckle Parade perform at our Basingstoke facility.

The Bath-based band – which describes itself as being about sweat-drenched, beer-soaked pandemonium – brings together five musicians who share a love of ‘sing until your jaw is broken’ drinking songs.

They used one of our storage rooms to record and film a new song, along with a whole load of photography.

Child of Hope: Early success

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

One of the first children to be supported at school by our Moses Okotel – before Child of Hope started – has now joined our school as a teacher!

Patricia Nzula (19) came from a desperately poor background with a single mum and she had no expectation of ever getting a good job. But then Moses started supporting her education, which was soon to be continued by one of our kind child sponsors in the UK.

She said: “It helped me and my family members so much. I studied the primary level and completed it successfully and later joined secondary school and also completed that too. In 2014, I joined a teacher training college, because I love being with children and I want them to prosper as I have.”

Patricia did so well at the college that she was nominated the best student and she shone when she recently went through our job interview process.

We are so happy to see her success and the results of helping children through education… and thank you child sponsors for making such a huge difference in lives like Patricia’s!

For more of Patricia’s story, when she was featured on our website in Nov 2015, click here: http://www.childofhopeuganda.org/latest-news/our-first-sponsored-child-now-training-be-teacher/

And if you’d like to sponsor a child at our school, please click here.

Groveley Precision Engineering: Entry to medical equipment market

[Online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

The production of high-quality components for a new British client means market entry for Groveley to the medical equipment industry.

The specialist company manufactures robotic pick’n’place sample processors for laboratory environments – Groveley manufactures high-precision parts for the XYZ platforms used in the accurate automated pipetting of a variety of liquids.

Top tips to declutter your home or office space

[Online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

Here are some great tips for clearing up your office or home by property styling professionals housewow!… http://www.housewow.co.uk/declutter-tips.htm

Self-storage is so-o-o-o useful when you’re decluttering! It helps you clear space by letting you store things somewhere else, but still always available. Things like documents, tools, furniture and stock - stuff you don’t want to lose, but that doesn’t need accessing immediately. It’s very low-cost… e-mail us or telephone us today on (01202) 520 220 for details.

Store & Secure to host free networking event in Basingstoke on Feb 8

[Online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

Are you looking for a free business networking event in Basingstoke? Then come along to the breakfast held at our Store & Secure self storage in Basingstoke at our Houndmills premises on February 8, 2017!

There are free refreshments between 8–10am – tea/coffee, fruit juice and a selection of pastries. It’s an informal meeting with no restrictions on how many businesses from each trade sector can attend. You just need to bring along your business cards to share around.

The event takes place on the second Wednesday of each month. For more information on upcoming events or to book your place at the next breakfast, please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/store-secure-2nd-wednesday-tickets-26537989842 to reserve your space… or call our Kevin Chandler on (01256) 444455.

And for further information about our business storage in Basingstoke, please contact us.