Home > Success Stories > Success Stories 2009 > BASBU Show Belief in a Better World

BASBU Show Belief in a Better World

After a visit to South Africa, Alison Parsons, Head of Service to the Birmingham Anti-Social Behaviour Unit was so moved by the work done by the charity Isipho (a Xhosa word meaning gift) she asked her team to help. Isipho a community project was established in 2002 by a support group for those infected with HIV/ AIDS in the rural community of Paterson. Much of the work being undertaken by Isipho centres around the HIV/AIDS epidemic sweeping South Africa and the children and orphans it leaves behind. During her visit Alison became aware of an orphanage & safehouse being built by Isipho that was struggling to be completed due to a lack of funding. It was essential that Isipho completed the build and therefore owned the building outright as this would mean that it would comply to government regulations and would allow them to qualify for further government funding to run the crèche and the safe house.

On her return to England, along with her husband Dave she set about raising some money to assist with the project. They needed £1,800 (approx. 22,000 South African Rand) to complete the build, so Alison approached her team for any donations knowing that they had before been involved in much charity work and would be keen to help raise some of the money. Leading the project for BASBU were enthusiastic team members Dave Clifton, Danny Kilbride, Jagveen Bagary, Stuart Reynolds and BEST Leader Lorraine Long who were convinced that with a little effort, between them they could raise the whole sum. The team organised several fundraising activities these involved a coffee and cake morning where staff made a mountain of cakes for sale, afternoon cream teas served at people’s desks, a clothes and books sale and BEST Leader Greg Elwell volunteered to get his legs waxed if enough money was raised. Finally six members of the team took time out using their own annual leave, to take part in a gruelling sponsored 18 mile (and 5 hour) walk along canal towpaths from Birmingham City Centre to Wolverhampton an experience which was both challenging and extremely rewarding!

In total the staff at BASBU to date have raised a staggering £1208.32 and counting whilst the remainder of the funding was raised by the Parsons family and other colleagues and on July 1st, just five short weeks after they started, they were able to transfer the money necessary to complete the build of the orphanage in Paterson. This funding alongside things donated from local farmers such as water tanks, scaffold, labour, building materials and even beds from a local boarding school have made it possible for work to continue on the orphanage.

Justine Weeks from Isipho said “Please pass on our gratitude to all of your friends and colleagues who have been so generous and who have opened their hearts to people they don’t even know. There are so many desperate children in this country, but through Isipho and with the help of kind people like yourselves we know the children in Paterson are being fed and kept safe everyday.”

For further information regarding the work done by BASBU or for further information on how to get involved with Isipho please contact Lorraine Long on Lotus Notes or 0121 303 3191