Insight Editorial

Insight Editorial

BARCLAYS WEALTH IN GIBRALTAR MAKES A DIFFERENCE THROUGH CHARITY BOOK AND TOY DONATION

Staff at Barclays Wealth in Gibraltar have ensured underprivileged children have a brighter start to the New Year by donating a variety of books and toys to The Association for Kids In Need (AKIN), a charity working to improve the lives of those in need.

Members of Barclays Wealth’s Family and Parenting Network first started supporting the Gibraltar-based charity in October 2011. A book collection was held as part of ‘Make A Difference Day’, a Barclays Wealth initiative which encourages employees to contribute their time and skills to benefit the local community.

It was decided that the books would be donated to AKIN, which works to help underprivileged children throughout the world. In this instance, the books will be taken to a project in Sierra Leone, where volunteers are striving to address the many issues that the children face, including illiteracy.

But that did not signal the end of the fundraising efforts. In fact, the Family and Parenting Network members decided to use its annual Children’s Christmas Party to further benefit the project.

On Thursday, December 15, 2011, the children of Barclays Wealth employees enjoyed a festive lunch and traditional games at the party held at the Gibraltar Defence Police Social Club. The highlight of the event was the chance to meet Santa. The proud parents were also able to purchase a photograph of their children with Santa, with all proceeds going to AKIN.

The event also provided the opportunity to purchase AKIN’s special chocolate Santas, again with all proceeds going to the charity.

In a special festive twist, all of the children had received a letter from Santa before the party, asking if they would donate any unwanted toys to a special collection to help those children who had no toys at all. And the kind hearted youngsters were only too happy to oblige, ensuring Santa left with a sack full of toys for the Sierra Leone children.

The money raised at the event was matched by the bank’s pound for pound scheme, meaning that in addition to the toys and books, Barclays Wealth in Gibraltar was also able to donate over £100 to AKIN.

AKIN volunteer Jimmy Bruzon said: ‘The Association for Kids In Need is extremely grateful to staff at Barclays Wealth for the kind donation of books which will be sent to schools in Sierra Leone. Basic items such as books, pencils and crayons which we take for granted in Gibraltar schools are absolute luxuries for many thousands of children in Sierra Leone.

‘Apart from sending useful material to schools, AKIN has been busy fundraising in order to refurbish schools, and during 2010, refurbished a leaking roof at Regent Primary School and completely rebuilt Church of Christ Primary School. Our next project will involve rebuilding and furnishing a school in Kabala. The school will provide a long term base for over 200 young students and will also be used by adults for learning to read and write. The Kabala school is located inside an old amputee camp and our work there will transform the lives of the whole community. If you would like to support the Sierra Leone project on a monthly basis you can do so by setting up a standing order or direct debit.

We guarantee that every penny donated will be spent in the improvement of schools for needy children. A small amount of money will have a big and positive impact in Sierra Leone’.

Country Manager Franco Cassar said: ‘It’s been great to see our staff donate so many books during our Make A Difference Day initiative. There was a great response to the project and the books are going to a worthwhile cause. Thanks also to the Family and Parenting Network for organising the Children’s Christmas Party and to the children for kindly donating toys. I hope the children in Sierra Leone enjoy them. We look forward to doing more community based initiative this year.’

Further information on AKIN's work and photos of the Sierra Leone project can be viewed by visiting website www.akincharity.org If you would like to get involved and make a positive difference to the lives of poor children in Sierra Leone please contact the project coordinator Jimmy Bruzon on mobile 57631000 or e-mail him on jimbruzon@hotmail.com