Linking Arms with Rescued Kids

supporting

Eldoret Children's Rescue Centre, Kenya

 

Welcome to the LARK website. We hope you find it interesting and that it gives you the information you are seeking. Please do comment in the guestbook, particularly if you find there are gaps in what is provided! This site was last reviewed on 7th May and the Chair's annual report was added at this time. This provides an overview of our activity over the past year (April 2008 - April 2009).

   

                 

 

February 2009 visit to Eldoret

John Hermon and Ruth Champion - two of LARK's Trustees - recently spent some time in Kenya visiting Alan Perry - the Executive Trustee of the Rescue Centre - and seeing the Rescue Centre at work. They were delighted with the progress that has been made - with the extended buildings, the qualified staff, and, in particular, with the number of children now going to local schools each day - 40 of the boys and 27 of the girls at the time of the visit. More information on what they found is in the Eldoret Update section.

  

A summer's evening with Pam Ayres

Pam Ayres - the writer and entertainer - has agreed perform her current show in aid of LARK on Sunday 12th July 2009 at 5.00pm at Stowe School. The performance will be at the Roxborough Theatre at 5.0pm, followed by a reception in the Marble Hall with refreshments, when Pam is willing to sign any of her books that you bring with you. This should be a marvellous occasion - tickets from Sue Hall on 01295 811527 or click here for an application form.

 

On-line donation service

We have recently registered with Charity Choice, which runs the service with the Co-Op bank. This means that you can donate to LARK through charitychoice.co.uk

LARK receives this money direct into our bank account but we can also reclaim the tax if you have completed the gift aid declaration.

 

About LARK and Eldoret

LARK is a small charity based in the village of King's Sutton and in Oxford that was set up in 2005 specifically to support the Children's Rescue Centre in Eldoret, Western Kenya. Our contact in Eldoret is personal - Alan Perry - who is the Executive Trustee of the charity which runs the Rescue Centre. Support is provided through regular contact, through prayer and through funding and has been an absolute lifeline particularly since the crisis in January 2008 following the disputed elections.

 

The Rescue Centre was opened in 2002 to cater for about 100 boys (now 200) and a further compound on the same site was opened for about 40 girls (now 68) in 2004 - unique in Kenya. Street children are orphaned, abandoned or runaways and are often abused and on glue. The children are brought to the Centre by the police or are referred from the Council run drop in centre in town, hospitals or courts. The Centre assesses them, rehabilitates them and where possible re-homes them. So it provides healthcare, counselling, schooling and some vocational training, as well as security, basic accommodation, food, and a bunk bed. More information about the Rescue Centre and about LARK is in the 'about us' section.

 

       

 

The particular strengths of LARK is that we know week by week what the needs are and we know where our money is going. In the 2008/9 financial year for example, 90% of our expenditure was on the Rescue Centre in Eldoret (the remaining 10% was the cost of photocopying and postage, a small contribution to the expenses of the visit  to the Rescue Centre in February 09, and costs of two major fundraising events. 

Our support for the Centre continues to be absolutely vital and we need your help to sustain the children that now rely on us. Read more about recent changes at the Rescue Centre in the 'Eldoret update' section.

  

Thank you to everyone who supports us!