A great opportunity has arisen where some private donors have agreed to match our crowdfunding efforts, and so to mark my 20th anniversary, I want to grow the number of our regular givers.

‘Christian haven, heaven for hookers’
My first day was dealing with the aftermath, of a malicious News of the world article, scandalising the Vine’s then support of very needy prostitutes. The fall out of the article was the loss of financial support, a drop in trade from our restaurants, and threats from the pimps, who’s ‘trade’ was made difficult by the increased police and media attention in the area. This was a lot for a 22-year- old, who wondered if he’d made the right choice, needless to say he, and the team prevailed.

20 years on, the Vine Trust Group, now embarks of a new phase of Education, Employment, Engagement and Enterprise.

•In September, we launch the Mercian Trust, a new multi academy trust, embracing initially 5 schools, a combination of Comprehensive, Vocational, Grammar, and Alternative Provision, supporting over 5000 students.

•In conjunction with the Palace, we expand our Ladder apprenticeship campaign into new UK areas, through Trinity Mirror newspapers, creating 10,000 jobs.

•We will be developing new social enterprise zones, with new hubs, where young people can work, live, play, learn and worship.

I am very thankful for where I have come from, what we have achieved, and I am still equally motivated, by the enormous challenges we and our communities still face.

Please join us