Child of Hope: Panya pancake fun

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

We always like to make learning interesting for our children – and when there’s food involved, they get very excited!

The children in Middle and Top Class of the nursery school recently learned about Mama Panya's Pancakes. It’s a story book about a poor lady living in a village in Kenya who learns how to make pancakes, which she is then able to share with her neighbours. It is a typical African story that teaches the rewards of sharing with others and the children loved it as they could associate themselves with Mama Panya’s children.

But the fun didn't stop there. Once the children had learned all about the story, we decided to teach them how to make the same pancakes that Mama Panya had made in the story. We bought the ingredients and the children helped to mix everything together ready for cooking. They then watched as the pancakes were fried. Finally, they got to eat and enjoy the pancakes they had helped to make.

The children loved the whole thing and, even after classes had finished, they could be heard discussing the story with one another. One child even asked her teacher: "Teacher, when will you take us to visit Mama Panya in her village?"

Store & Secure: Merry Christmas!

[Online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]






A very happy Christmas to all our customers... past, present and future!

Feel free to pop in over the Christmas period – the kettle will always be on... not to mention mince pies and chocolates! Here are our Christmas opening times.

Kirolite: Design enhancements

[Photography and online PR for high-end joinery Kirolite]

Mark Stanway-Obee has joined Kirolite as design/production engineer.

The move comes as part of our company-wide enhancement of production systems and processes – boosting our flexibility with clients and allowing us to react faster.

Mark has worked with Kirolite before; originally for 13 years after starting on the shop floor and moving up to technical manager.

He then spent several years in London and Dubai – also working on high-end furniture – before helping us part-time as a freelance designer on specific projects for the last five years.

Groveley Precision Engineering: Cambridge University lends a hand

[Photography and online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

Two post-grad students from the Cambridge University Engineering Department have been based with us for a very helpful 2-week project.

They critically assessed and advised the company on manufacturing and assembly processes for a specific product (including manning and layout), plus finishing processes including engraving and colouring of titanium components.

The students, both on the MPhil in Industrial Systems Manufacturing and Management (ISMM) reviewed the design and identified process improvements and layout of assembly operations.

There was also a comprehensive review of finishing processes and providers for titanium, with cost and time implications for production.

ISMM is a one-year postgraduate programme designed to equip numerate graduates, primarily from science, technology, engineering or maths backgrounds, with the skills, personal development and industrial experience to be immediately effective in their early careers in industry.

Child of Hope: Beautiful crafts from the vocational class

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

Earlier this year we started a new vocational programme for those of our slum children that have significant learning difficulties. Well, they're getting really good at their practical projects!

In the morning, these children follow a different style of syllabus, which focuses on the simple basics of reading, writing and maths. Then, in the afternoon, the children have practical lessons in carpentry, tailoring or craft-making.

Over the last few months, we have been so excited to see the children really get to grips with their new skills. Those children in the craft-making class are now producing some really beautiful items, including ladies tote bags and jewellery.

The standard of design and workmanship is now very high and the children take great pride in their work. The children in the small group also often spur one another on and can be quick to point out, in an entirely constructive way, any errors that they see in each other’s work! More pics...

Go2 Business Loans: Did we see you there?

[Photography and online PR for Go2 Business Loans]

Great to meet everyone at the ‘Meet the Chamber and Business Exhibition’ this week, a networking event organised by the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, of which we are members.

We had a stand at the exhibition and Go2 director Rob Bennet did a short ‘elevator speech’ about the great benefits of crowdfunded business loans to both borrowers and investors.

And it was good to see such a large and diverse range of businesses in an event that is open to all businesses, not just chamber members… and free to attend!

Groveley Precision Engineering: SC21 Silver renewal for 4th time

[Online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

Groveley’s SC21 Silver accreditation has been renewed for the fourth time – and the process to attain the accreditation is more rigorous because of an inbuilt relationship management module.

The award comes in recognition of independently-ratified internal process excellence, quality and on-time delivery to the aerospace and defence industries. Our current SC21 Silver rating is 100% on time delivery and 99.99% quality.

And now, of course, it includes indicators of enhanced relationships between customers and supplier and a demonstration of the supplier’s long-term sustainable benefits to its customers.

Groveley has supplied precision-engineered components to the aerospace and defence markets for over 50 years and is committed to the implementation of best manufacturing practice.

Thanks for saying such nice things

[Photography and online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

Thanks everyone who posted on social media about our being finalists again this year in the UK self-storage industry ceremonies. You said such nice things!

We agree… just because we won best in UK and Europe in 2014, that doesn’t mean we can’t win again… maybe in 2017?

Self-storage companies entering the SSA awards are judged on various aspects, including what makes this business stand out from the rest and how it meets the needs of its local market. Plus things like how well the business is performing and what investments have been made for its future.

Child of Hope: New homes for needy slum families

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

One of the challenges faced by families of our school children is the ever-increasing cost of rent in Namatala – and it’s forcing some of our children to drop out of school and move away. But thanks to a generous grant, this new project will provide affordable homes for the families involved.

Our business start-up programme has been a huge benefit to many parents and enabled them to cope with the constant increases in costs of living. However, some of our children are looked after by elderly grandmothers (and even great-grandmothers!) who find it very difficult to work. In the UK, such elderly women would be receiving benefits. Here, however, there is no help at all.

Many of these elderly women feel that they have no choice now but to go back and live in their rural villages. This would mean that, if they wanted their children to remain at the school, then Child of Hope would have to try and find foster families for their children or, alternatively, bring the children into our Children’s Home. Of course, this means separating the family, which is something that we really want to avoid.

So, we have bought some land and have started to build some basic accommodation, which we will rent to ten small families at an extremely reasonable. This will enable the families to stay together and the children to remain at home with their other family members, with one of the families employed as caretaker of the plot.

Building work began last week of ten rooms, two pit latrines, and three bathrooms, being constructed using metal poles as columns, local bricks and mud, cement plastering of walls and floor, and timber and iron sheets. Each room will be 12 feet by 8 feet in size.

Store & Secure: Christmas opening times

[Online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

Here are the dates and times we are open over the Christmas period. The kettle will always be on… there may even be mince pies and chocolates!

A very merry Christmas to all our customers… past present and future!

Saturday 24th Dec    Xmas Eve           8.00 till 14.00
Sunday 25th Dec      Xmas Day           Closed
Monday 26th Dec     Boxing Day         Closed
Tuesday 27th Dec    Bank Holiday      Closed
Saturday 31st Dec   New year’s Eve   8.00 till 14.00
Sunday 1st Jan        New Year’s Day  Closed
Monday 2nd Jan      Bank Holiday      Closed

Help us put on a fantastic Christmas party for slum children!

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

Today is the start of our Christmas Party Appeal 2016. Last year was a great success with our children (and their mums and a sibling), all having a fantastic time... this year we want to do the same, but of course, now we have 490 children including the ones at secondary school.

So, today we’re launching our appeal; it costs just £4 to provide each Child of Hope pupil with a present, party food AND a new pair of shoes! Please donate to help us give the kids a day to remember. You could buy it for yourself, or pay for a friend.

Any donations would be helpful, small or large, and we'll e-mail you a ‘thankyou’ card to print out and pop on your mantlepiece with all your other Christmas cards!

And you can even donate by text! Simply text SLUM37 £…. (an amount of £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10) to 70070.

If you'd like to help us with fundraising for the event, you can link in with our appeal page on Justgiving.

Owen Smith MP drops in

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

This week our Ugandan school was privileged to host Owen Smith MP, the British Labour Party MP for Pontypridd. He had a tour of the slum, visited a few homes of Child of Hope children and saw a couple of businesses started under our IGA scheme. Finally, they had a tour of the school and our kids performed some dances for them.

Owen was accompanied by three other guests, including Roger Neuberg, who funded our playground equipment through his rotary groups, and two members of Welsh twinning organisation PONT. It was great to see you all, thanks for coming!

Chan’s mum (we helped save her leg)

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

Chan is a young boy in the top class of our nursery school. Some years ago, his mum Joyce broke her leg and, although the leg seemed to have healed, Joyce continued to have pain and regular ulcers on it. Recently, the pain and ulcers became very severe. The local hospital believed that there was a serious infection and even gangrene in the bone and said that the leg would have to be amputated.

We were extremely keen to try and see if we could save her leg as it would make things extremely tough for Joyce to survive in the slum with only one leg, especially as the dad is not on the scene. So, we arranged to take her to an Orthopaedic Hospital in Kumi (about an hour’s drive away).

After quite a complicated operation, costing around £750 and paid for by Child of Hope, Joyce’s leg has been saved and she is due to come home from the hospital at the end of this week. Chan is eagerly looking forward to seeing his mother again!

Moving? You’re going to need some boxes

[Online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

Here at Store & Secure Self Storage in both Bournemouth and Basingstoke, our Box Shop is full of packing supplies to help home-movers like yourself. From boxes and packing tape to bubble wrap and furniture covers, we’ve got you covered.

If you’ve received a flyer through your letterbox with a special offer of £10 off when you spend £25 in our Box Shop, all you need to do is present the flyer when you call into our store.

We’d also be happy to help with any storage needs you have, such as decluttering your home to help move it off the market. Contact our friendly team today to find out more!

Dancing Cows expands with crowdfunded business loan from Go2

[Online PR for crowdfunder Go2 Business Loans]

Hampshire craft distillery and brewery Dancing Cows is increasing output of its spirits and beers, thanks to a £21,000 crowd-funded business loan from Go2 Business Loans.

The Lymington-based company – which produces a range of gins, malt liquors, rums and fruit brandies, as well as cask ales and bottled beers – has just won the Hampshire Life Best Drinks Product of the Year for 2016 for its Lymington Gin.

The funding was obtained through local Go2 Business Loans within just two weeks and will also enable Dancing Cows to expand and raise its brand image with improved packaging.

Director and founder Richard Baker said: “The loan process was easy and very fast – now we can get on with what we need to do without worrying about cashflow.

“We’ve been able to appoint a sales agent which is increasing our volume of sales through a growing list of wholesalers and sales outlets.

“We already supplies pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels directly throughout the local area and we’re growing rapidly as consumers increasingly look for local products with interesting stories behind them.”

Go2 director Rob Bennet said: “It’s a very simple and fast process to apply for a loan. Go2 is a peer-to-peer lending network, so Dancing Cows’ loan was provided by various local small investors – local money supporting local business.

“It’s purely a business loan; investors are at minimal risk as they do not take shares or get involved in any other way.”