Hi

I hope that this finds you well, and that the spring ‘showers’ didn’t drown you out completely – definitely more than showers at times!!

Life with the 360 Trust has seen quite a bit of activity in the past few weeks, so I just wanted to update you on some of it.

TLG Uganda 2011
The young people from TLG that went to Uganda last October were each interviewed in April as the next stage of the evaluation process of the trip. The interviewers were yr2 psychology students from Southampton University who are under the tutelage of Dr Rosie Meeks, who in turn is helping us with formalising and carrying out the final evaluation. I haven’t seen the outcomes yet, but have been told that ‘the interview transcripts are revealing some really interesting findings!’.

When I know more I’ll let you know more!!

TLG Uganda 2012
This is coming together, albeit much later than I would have liked. The team is looking to comprise students and staff from 3 of the TLG centres: Bradford, Manchester and Nottingham. Yesterday I visited the Manchester centre and met with the staff who are so excited and proactive about the trip. Now that it has got past head office to them I think that we will start to roll along happily. Next week I am meeting the Nottingham staff, so am hopeful that we will get an equally positive response from them. And then we just need to get Bradford to leap into action – getting there!

DACA Uganda 2013
This is a new group that are partnering with us to run a trip in Feb 2013. They are from Darwen which is an area of significant deprivation, although all the team are still attending school. I met the team yesterday evening, and their parents, and we had a very good meeting. By the end they had devised the itinerary and the parents had all had their questions answered. I’m very excited about taking this team out next year – I think they are going to dream up some pretty amazing activities for the projects we will be working with.

Strategic Stuff
Suzanne and I met last week and had a day chatting, dreaming, strategizing etc. By the end we had aims, objectives, outputs, outcomes and indicators all identified (and were still able to string words together to make coherent sentences!). This will be very useful as we move forwards and grow, and will also be a useful appendix to funding applications, so it was a worthwhile day for sure.

So, that is an update on things thus far, and here are a few areas for your thoughts, consideration and prayers:

1. Future trips and new partners – we have a few irons in the fire, but if you know of any other UK organisations / groups who you think might be interested in partnering with us to provide a life-changing opportunity for their young people, please do chat to us about it

2. Funding – the usual: do you know of any funding bodies that might be interested in supporting our work?

3. Current trips – all the planning, fundraising and preparation: for all concerned, and especially for the TLG trip that has a lot to do in not a lot of time

Thank you for all your support

All words of wisdom and insight gratefully received, and any useful leads or introductions also welcome

Blessings to you

Helen and Suzanne