Child of Hope: New slum child fostering service

Our initiative to arrange fostering for orphans and other vulnerable children was born when our respite accommodation became far too overcrowded and we realised it’s not suitable for all children. The new fostering programme not only relieves pressure but also offers a better environment for some of the children who couldn't live with their own immediate or extended families.

It’s been hard work! After a lot of time and energy, we have only recruited eight families, which has enabled 13 children to move out of the children’s home and into a family setting. Despite slow progress we are committed to seeing more of the children in our children’s home find suitable foster families because – along with the Ugandan Government – we believe this is the best way for these children to grow and flourish.

Anyway, we are continuing to work to encourage more members of the community to become foster parents and to raise money to pay families who are currently fostering to cover the extra costs involved in taking in an extra child. So far, being fostered has made a real difference to the children who have all responded well: they each have a brighter future now and are happier, showing improved health and motivation in studying at school.

Read more: www.childofhopeuganda.org/latest-news/new-child-fostering-service/

Store & Secure: Racking and shelving will optimise your storage space

For really efficient storage, you are welcome to fit out your self-storage room with self-standing racking and shelving – perfect for storing archives, goods, tools, parts and components. This can often save you hiring a larger room, because every inch of your space is optimised. Your storage becomes safer and efficiently accessed… no more piles of cardboard boxes piled up on the floor.

ARCHIVES:

The records your company keeps are vitally important. Sales records, orders, patient or financial data… the important information that you retain is organised better in racking, plus it is stored without damage and easily accessible when you need it.

TOOLS, PARTS AND COMPONENTS:

Shelving can be utilised for light, medium, and heavy duty applications and come in various sizes and shelf adjustments. Find your tools parts exactly when you need them.

RETAIL GOODS:

Retail stores often use self-storage to house the overflow of goods at peak times, such as pre-Christmas. We can receive the goods for you directly from suppliers or distribution centres (FOC)… but racking/shelving will enable you to keep the goods in pristine condition and faster to get your hands on the items you need… easier to organise inventory and accelerate stock replenishment.

Call a friendly member of our team to find out more about racking and shelving for your self-storage room on 01202 520 220 (Bournemouth) or 01256 444 455 (Basingstoke). storeandsecure.co.uk/self-storage-news/racking-shelving-will-optimise-storage-space/

Groveley: BIT training project ramps up

[Photography and online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

The latest project stage of NVQ BIT training at Groveley is focussing on using tools such as Poka Yoke, Kanban and improved workplace organisation so Lean manufacturing and design for manufacture are engrained in the workplace culture.

Completion of this stage will mean that all our staff will be BIT trained, producing greater efficiencies, maintaining our 100% on time delivery and leading to extra capacity.

The skills gained will enhance their ability to monitor and make improvements to production and manufacturing processes – fitting well with our SC21 Silver status and and developing Lean skills across our company processes.

It’s valuable too in the area of continuous improvement, where BIT teaches how to identify and eliminate waste, create flow and improve quality.

Groveley Precision Engineering: Mathematician Max gains experience

[Online PR and photography for Groveley]

Max Nailor – a second year student studying Mathematics at the University of Bristol – has joined us for the summer to gain experience for a potential future career in aerospace engineering.

He plans to take an MSc in Engineering Mathematics as he enjoys, and has a strong understanding of, applied mathematics.

Max said: “I wanted to gain experience in a small and versatile precision engineering company that utilize a wide range of engineering capabilities and skills; it will help me determine which specific areas to aim for.”

He will explore the various 3D capabilities at Groveley, 3D printing, 3D computer modelling and programming, through to multi-axis manufacture.

This continues to demonstrate Groveley’s support and commitment to training and inspiring the next generation of engineers.

Child of Hope: Announcing... school no.2

BREAKING NEWS: We are working on plans to launch our own secondary school in Uganda's Namatala slum.

Basically, it’s in order to complete our children’s education at the same high standard we have reached in our nursery and primary school. Since our first older children left our school and moved up to local secondary schools, there have been concerns about a deterioration in their learning and behaviour.

COH continues to support 42 leavers as they pass through their secondary education. They will be joined by a further 25 in November 2017 and then 44 in November 2018 giving a total of 111 within the next 18 months.

That support is much more than the cost of fees, uniforms and scholastic materials, since individuals continue to live disadvantaged home lives in the slum. It therefore also includes a mid-day meal back at COH school Monday to Friday where our welfare team staff can talk to students, check attendance and offer help and advice.

They also receive home visits and medical treatment as needed, plus full care for those who are homeless (we currently have 3 in our respite accommodation and 5 who are fostered).

We also provide them with 2 week programmes in the holidays to support development of personal and social skills, as well as study skills where we employ secondary school teachers to give specialist revision classes.

Despite our efforts, ex-COH pupils’ reports are showing a deterioration in learning and behaviour is worsening in terms of application and effort. And during this last year, there has been a growing number of teachers’ strikes in Ugandan state secondary schools, which is also having a serious negative impact on pupils’ learning and opportunity to achieve a better future life.

So, watch out for more news about secondary education as our plans develop!

Tradesmen: 24/7 drive-up self-storage for your business

[Online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

If you’re a Bournemouth tradesman that’s fed up with storing tools and stock in the garage, the bedroom and even the spare toilet, here’s your answer.

We’ve got 120 external self-storage rooms at our Bournemouth self storage facility – much loved by tradesmen for storing their stock, machinery and tools because they give ground-level, drive-up access any time, night or day… all year round.

It goes without saying that the area is totally secure and well covered with CCTV.

Look what else we lay on, free of charge:
• Access to forklift truck
• Goods-in service – deliveries can be taken on your behalf, saving you the need to be on site.
• Tea and coffee (during work hours).

Terms are easy-in, easy-out. You could even hire a post office box to give your business a more commercial feel. The rooms can be shelved out and all have easy vehicle access at ground level.

So, lots of reasons to get your work stuff out of the house and into self-storage. Don’t hang about… call us today and see if we’ve got a space available that’s just right for you. Better still, come and have a look… no appointment needed.

Ideal for tradesman, builders, market traders, site workers… even vehicle storage.

Is it a van… is it a wedding car?

The famous Store & Secure van went up in the world for the wedding of our facility manager Sophie… and carried the bridesmaids (rather elegantly, we think). Here are some pics…

Store & Secure: Storage for artists

Local artists needing storage space for their paintings may find self-storage extremely useful, especially if their works are large. These are sensitive items and need to be lovingly cared for in order to keep them in their best condition for sale. Our self-storage rooms in Basingstoke and Bournemouth can be a great option - they are dry, private and protected with full security.

You have free access to our pallet trucks, plus we have a lift to all three of our floors. Room sizes vary to suit the number of paintings you wish to store, and you can easily upscale or downscale as your business fluctuates.

If you’d like to talk about art storage, please call and talk it through; we’ll help you find the storage room that is perfect for your paintings.

In the meantime, here are some tips about storing paintings:

• Protection needs to ensure proper ventilation – but avoid plastic; thick but breathable cloth is always preferable. If you intend to keep the pieces there for extended periods, it is recommended to take them out for airing on a regular basis.

• Adding hardboard/MDF packing to the back and front will not only provide tough protection, but will also help avoid warping of unframed canvas. But framed or not, don’t let hardboard/MDF come into contact with the surface of the painting, use spacers and/or cardboard corners.

• For unframed paintings, wrappings made of glassine paper (smooth, glossy paper that is air, water and grease resistant) make an ideal first layer of protection.

• Paintings should always be stored upright and off the floor to prevent any possible damage due to pressure.

Picture is Dorset artist Jan Dowding, www.jedart.co.uk

Store & Secure: They're off!

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

Great to see off the rally cars in Amelia’s Rally The Magnificent 7 at 7.30 this morning – on their way from our Castlepoint premises to raise thousands of pounds for children in and around Dorset who are suffering from terminal, life-limiting and serious chronic illnesses.

Five rally cars cars will travel through seven countries in seven days. It’s all for Dorset charity Amelia’s Rainbow. You’ll find more information about the rally on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ameliasrally/

The cars were led to the main road by a genuine American cop car that has seen action in several movies, kindly provided by Support Vehicle… http://www.supportvehicle.org

If you’d like to donate money to boost this amazing fundraiser, please visit: http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ameliasrally2017 – thanks!

Store & Secure: Kevin’s Triathlon to benefit former SBS members

The team at our Bournemouth self-storage facility has sponsored local man Kevin Jones in an awesome charity challenge… the Windsor Triathlon on June 18.

The charity is the Special Boat Service Association (SBSA), founded and based in Poole since 1998, which aims to:
• maintain contact between serving and former members of the Special Boat Service and provide social gatherings for them, 

• preserve the traditions of the Special Boat Service,
• perpetuate the memory of those members who died in the line of duty, and
• assist past and present members of the Special Boat Service and their families.

It will involve a 1.5k open swim, 40k bike ride and 10k run – and Kev says it will be his first ever attempt at a triathlon or anything very sporty in many years… but it's a great opportunity to lose some weight and more importantly to raise money for a fantastic charity local to him in Poole!

Could you help Kev reach his target of £3,000? If so, please visit his donation page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KevinJones31 - thanks!

Store & Secure: See the Magnificent 7 leave this Saturday!

A car rally – Amelia's Rally The Magnificent 7 – sets off from our Castlepoint premises this Saturday… and it will raise thousands of pounds for children in and around Dorset who are suffering from terminal, life-limiting and serious chronic illnesses. It’ll be amazing… come and wave them off and enjoy a free bacon sandwich and coffee!

Five rally cars cars will travel through seven countries in seven days after leaving our Bournemouth facility at 7.30am. It’s all for Dorset charity Amelia’s Rainbow, which we love to support – ‘cos they’re great! Bacon sandwiches will be served from 7am.

You’ll find more information about the rally on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ameliasrally/

If you’d like to join us at the send-off, it would help us to know for catering – you can let us know on the Facebook page if you’re attending. Otherwise, just turn up!

The cars will be driving through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Spain and Andorra.

If you’d like to donate money to boost this amazing fundraiser, please visit: http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ameliasrally2017 - thanks!

How you can beat cyber attacks on your business

[Online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

The threats of online attacks on your business are ramping up, as we’ve just seen with the global wave of ransomware that clobbered many NHS Trusts.

But there are ways you can beat these attacks.

The recent cybercrime awareness seminar held at our premises – featuring Jake Moore, cybercrime prevention specialist at Dorset Police – was eye-opening and very helpful in giving us clear and (often) easy ways of protecting our businesses from attack.

To take some simple actions and practice safe online behaviour, Jake recommended this website: https://www.cyberstreetwise.com

He gave out a very useful booklet, stuffed full of advice and tips… you can download it free here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cyber-security-what-small-businesses-need-to-know

Store & Secure: Basingstoke goes big on self storage

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

Now celebrating its first anniversary, our Basingstoke self storage facility is going from strength to strength, with local businesses hiring large rooms up to 1,200 sq ft.

These indoor large rooms have drive-up access, double-door access for pallets and lighting. They can be fitted out with racking to maximise the available space.

The Houndmills facility has a total of 32,000 sq ft of self storage, including much smaller rooms from 10 sq ft which cost as little as £5 per month. These are used widely by businesses and charities for holding stock, plus families and individuals needing temporary storage.

And there are serviced office suites of various sizes, available for rent at short notice and for any period of time.

Store & Secure: Bournemouth facility expansion is complete

[Online PR for Store & Secure self storage]

It’s finished… the fit-out of our last phase at Bournemouth – giving us an extra 150 new rooms (which are starting to fill up nicely) covering 7,000 sq ft!

That completes the staged fit-out of our Bournemouth facility, giving it a total of 660 rooms in an area of 42,000 sq ft. We’re now covering every square inch of the three floors… each one reached by a lift.

The new rooms range from 10 sq ft to 200 sq ft, which are our most popular sizes at Bournemouth for business archives, stockrooms, stationery rooms, back office – and of course student and home moves.

Storage with Store & Secure is low-cost, has free parking with 24-your access and you can upscale or downscale quickly and easily. You can even take advantage of our forklifts, pallet trucks and trolleys at no extra cost! Not forgetting our friendly, uniformed staff to greet you and your visitors, plus free tea and coffee all round.

And it’s very safe. With constant supervision, monitored CCTV cameras and alarm systems, our locked units are accessible to you and only you.

Child of Hope: Incredible transformation for Rachael

Huge changes for slum kid Rachael; found poorly fed, unwashed, sleeping with goats and used for general labour...

Over her whole time in Child of Hope, Rachael, one of the children in nursery top class, had not been a happy girl.

Nursery staff observed a catalogue of problems including general poor health, poor nutrition, and very low self-esteem. Rachael was always crying and was unable to explain what she needed to the teachers. Although we identified her as being a bright girl, she was making little progress because her basic needs were not being met.

Headteacher, Amulen Scovia, approached the school nurse to get a medical assessment, and then recommended that the Family Support team carry out a home visit. It was found that Rachael was sleeping with the goats (outside the main house), was being inadequately fed and was not being washed. She was also being used for general labour.

It was agreed that regular home follow ups would be made by both the Family Support Unit and nursery staff. Rachael was also put the feeding programme.

Since then, we have seen an incredible transformation in Rachael this term! She is now
clean and smart when she comes to school and she always has a big smile on her face. She is active in lessons and is making excellent progress in both Language and Mathematics. She has made friends and she enjoys playing with them at break times. We are excited to see how she continues to progress over the course of this year!