ROOF tile manufacturer Russell Roof Tiles is backing the Footprints Family – a charity which provides support for young people in Kenya.
As part of the firm’s community support programme ‘Give4Good’, a team from Russell Roof Tiles is planning to raise money to help buy a new school bus for the charity, as well as heading to Kenya this summer to offer practical skills and support.
The Footprints Family provide food, clothing, shelter and healthcare to vulnerable children and young people on the south coast of Kenya as well as supporting them with life skills and wellbeing through education and counselling.
It is a UK charity, which took over the work of Footprints Orphanage, and is committed to enhancing the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children and young people, giving them opportunities and hope for an independent life.
Russell Roof Tiles started supporting the charity five years ago, when staff raised £1,600 via a walking challenge, collectively taking more than 17 million steps over four months – the distance from the company’s Burton base to the Footprints orphanage. Last year the business also donated money to re-roof the school.
This year, six volunteers from across the UK including employees and partners are joining together with the aim of raising £5,000 for Footprints as well as traveling to Kenya for a week. From the Lochmaben team is Debbie Allen, Gillian Moffat and Jacqui Summer, while Sue Gough, Coral Hayward and Dawn McLoughlin are based at the firm’s Burton site.
The team has devised creative ways to raise money including a car boot, race nights, recipe book, and three peaks climb.
Coral Hayward, wife of the company’s MD Andrew Hayward, is organising a comedy night at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton on Trent on 30 May, featuring Steve Royle from Britian’s Got Talent, Jamie Sutherland and Dave Twentyman, who has supported Jason Manford and Sean Lock.
Coral said, “We’ve got a great team who are all really committed to helping Kerry and this amazing charity which does such a huge amount to change young people’s lives. We’re all finding creative ways to raise money, like our first ever comedy night in Burton.”
Russell Roof Tiles MD Andrew Hayward added, “This year our ‘Footprints six’ are aiming to raise enough money to help buy a new bus for the charity. This is a great example of how our efforts for our Give4Good initiative can have a long-lasting legacy that provides financial support to charities for many years to come. I’m incredibly proud of our team, who continue to do an amazing job, volunteering their time and efforts to help raise money that will make a real difference.”
