AS PART OF its community support programme, Give4Good, roof tile manufacturer Russell Roof Tiles is backing The Footprints Family, a charity which provides support for young people in Kenya.

A team from Russell Roof Tiles is planning to raise money to help buy a new school bus for the Burton-based charity, as well as heading to Kenya this summer to offer practical skills and support.

Russell Roof Tiles started supporting the charity five years ago, when staff raised £1,600 for Footprints with a walking challenge, collectively taking more than 17 million steps over four-months – the distance from Burton to the Footprints orphanage. Last year they also donated money to reroof the school.

Spreading Support

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. The team consists of Sue Gough, Coral Hayward and Dawn McLoughlin from Burton, and Debbie Allen, Gillian Moffat and Jacqui Summers from the company’s sister site in Lochmaben.

One of the team, Coral Hayward, is raising money by organising a comedy night at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton on Trent on 30 May. The event will feature Steve Royle from Britian’s Got Talent, Jamie Sutherland and Dave Twentyman who has recently supported Jason Manford and Sean Lock.

Coral Hayward said: “We’ve got a great team who are all really committed to helping 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.”

The Footprints Family

Established in 2008, The Footprints Family provides 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.

The charity is committed to enhancing the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children and young people, giving them opportunities and hope for an independent life.

Footprints currently supports more than 45 orphaned and vulnerable children – with the oldest being 24 and the youngest who is just one. The charity has provided clean water, electricity, and the knowledge of farming techniques for local children and relies on donations to keep going, as well as fundraising events.

Family Footprints founder, Kerry Wanjala first visited Kenya as a working volunteer in 2007. Moved by her experience she returned and spent three months living in the local community, witnessing many situations where children had been orphaned, neglected, or abandoned.

Footprints recently revealed that one young person, Raphael, has just completed his degree in International Relations and has graduated with second class honours, thanks to the charity. He first came to The Footprints Family in 2012 with his brother Joseph.

This year, 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 ones will benefit from its fundraising efforts.

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