AS part of its Give4Good initiative, a team from roof tile manufacturer, Russell Roof Tiles recently travelled to Kenya to support The Footprints Family.
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. Founder Kerry Wanjaba, who is originally from Burton on Trent, has built the charity from the ground up and more than a decade on has made a difference to over 200 lives.
Russell Roof Tiles’ 150-strong team is pledging to raise £50,000 for good causes throughout 2024. Earlier this year, the company announced that 12 organisations, 10 UK-based and two international, will benefit from its fundraising efforts.
The visit to Kenya is the first international journey the firm has made in the name of charity and provided a team of six (three from each of the company’s sites in Burton on Trent and Lochmaben, with an eye-opening experience. The group comprised Sue Gough, Coral Hayward and Dawn McLoughlin from Burton on Trent, as well as Debbie Allen, Gillian Moffat and Jacqui Summers from Lochmaben.
The team spent each day with the children, taking part in activities including jewellery making, preparing food packages, weaving, games and more. They were also given the opportunity to experience local village life.
Before their return, the team presented founder ‘Mama Kerry’ with £18,425, which was raised for the charity by the team members and partners of Russell Roof Tiles, smashing the original £5,000 target. The cash was raised through events including a comedy night, race nights, raffle, charity Zumba, car boot sale and cookery book.
The donation will be used to buy a new minibus, which will provide the foundation with transportation for collecting the children and bringing them to school.
Russell Roof Tiles started supporting the charity five years ago, when members of the team raised £1,600 for Footprints with a walking challenge. Last year the business donated £4,000 which paid for a new roof for the school.
