Charities

Goa Outreach is a project based in Goa, India, with the aim of helping local disadvantaged children regardless of their religion, class, caste or gender. Many of these children are slum and street children who have arrived in Goa alone or with their families from neighbouring states in the hope of an easier and better life. Children often end up working on the streets to support the family income, this is often in the form of Rag Picking where children, usually in small groups, walk around the streets picking up scrap in the form of plastic, cardboard and metal. This is later sold at recycling centres. Other children can be found working the beaches begging, selling trinkets or other small items which they buy for 5rs and try and sell to tourists for a hefty mark-up. EDUCATION / ARTS AND CRAFTS At Goa Outreach we support children by getting the children into school and providing support to encourage them to stay in school. India now has the Right To Education Act which states that all children must attend school from 6 to 14 years of age, there is no requirement for birth certificates, which was often a reason why previously, disadvantaged children didn't attend school. Goa Outreach also continues to support children beyond 14 years of age and also supports children in pre-school/ kindergarten.

For more than 40 years the Goodwill Children’s Homes have provided orphaned and destitute children from disadvantaged tribal areas in southern India with a loving home and access to quality education. We run 3 children's homes, one primary school and a Tribal Outreach Programme (TORP) The Goodwill Children’s Homes works to ensure that children from isolated rural communities in the middle of the foothills area of Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu, India complete at least elementary education and that they are also encouraged and supported to finish school and go on to University or College to take up useful work based training.

Gram Vikas Trust (GVT) came into existence as a result of the motivation and personal initiative of its founder, Mr. Ramesh Kasondra, to enhance the socio-economic status of the underprivileged people. Hailing from a rural family, the founder was no stranger to hardships faced by the underprivileged. Having overcome economic and social challenges, due to the backing and economic blessings from certain elder society leaders, the founder set out to do his best to make a positive difference in the lives of fellow underprivileged. Working with a team of committed people, GVT’s aim has been to secure integrated development through people’s participation. The key areas identified for interventions include child rights, education, health and hygiene, sustainable livelihood, and women empowerment. Our efforts have developed lasting association with government, non-government and corporate organizations as also with the communities and groups with whom we have worked. We have come a long way following a small beginning in June 2001, and have implemented a wide variety of projects related to child rights for change, reproductive child health care, quality education, watershed development, wasteland development, tribal development, low cost sanitation, alternate energy sources, self-help groups, vocational training to youth, and women empowerment in Bharuch and Narmada Districts of Gujarat state in India.

Grantown Museum is owned by Grantown Museum & Heritage Trust. Our team consists of a professional manager, a curator and a group of dedicated volunteers. The Trust has over 200 members, with a Board of Directors elected from the membership. Members pay an annual subscription. Our volunteers help the museum with fundraising events and in the shop and Tourist Information Centre. The museum is a major community initiative and remains an ongoing community project. ​Burnfield House, home of the museum, was purchased in 1995 for £150,000, raised entirely from private sources. A further £300,000 was raised, with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund. We officially opened our doors to the public in April 1999. The campanile outside Burnfield House was built to house the restored town bell in 2006 with funding provided by the Bulmer Trust.