Most of you will know that I am a trustee of Street Child, a campaigning charity that aims to provide a voice for the 150 million + children that live on the streets across the world.   Through our campaigning we hope to bring around real change for this group of society and this is starting to happen.   Our vital part in this is to work with partner projects who we believe can affect real change on this important issue in their countries.   We do not run projects ourselves.  

We focus our campaigning around sporting events because this gives us high media visibility.  The message from the children taking part in Rio 2014  was clear, “I am Somebody”. This message was heard around the globe reaching an estimated 220 million people worldwide including governments and policy makers, influential individuals, agents of change, businesses and communities.    Pope Francis blessed the SCWC and declared it a ‘significant initiative’ alongside praise from Prince William, Duke of Cambridge showing solidarity with the teams, letting them know they are not alone. Visitors to the tournament included World Cup winners Bebeto and Arsenal ‘invincible’ Gilberto Silva. As a result Gilberto Silva is now an official patron.   The finals day was attended by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne alongside Lord Deighton, former Chief Executive of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Please read the attached document which sets out some of the amazing changes that have taken place already for the children and projects attending in Brazil.  Over 2 million people watched the Pakistan team during the tournament and many projects have now had contact with government/agencies raising the issue of street children at the highest levels within their own countries.

All of this is done by a dedicated small team of 10 people based in our offices in London.  As a small charity we are constantly fundraising to keep our campaign active.   Our next 2 projects see us working with many of the same projects and campaigning around the Rio Olympics in 2016 and FWC 2018 in Russia.  

We are holding 3 fundraising events this year and I am taking up the Trustee Triple Challenge and doing all three (well why wouldn’t you!).

The first is Living Below the Line during the last week in April when I will attempt to cover my food and drink for Five Days on £1 a day - lots of porridge and rice and water...!

Following this I will be running the Hackney half marathon on 10th May 2015.

Finally I will be undertaking a Tough Mudder 10k on 13th September 2015. 

Please support me in pushing myself through these difficult challenges and to help keep our campaign going.   Street Children are making positive changes happen in their countries thanks to your support.

As ever, thanks for your support.