Charity of the Year

Choose Gathimba Edwards Foundation (GEF) as your Charity of the Year and help us make a very real difference to children in Kenya and north-east Scotland.

Why GEF?

Firstly, thank you for your time, we know it is precious.  We are here to make sure our partnership is as simple as possible for you.  We know that you care and we will work with you to tailor ways that your company can support GEF and meet your business objectives.

Our mission is to build a brighter future and improve the quality of life for children and their families in Kenya and north-east Scotland. Whether it be support through shelter, education or wellbeing and giving them the opportunity to not only live their lives as children but also to develop as adults.

In 2015 our Neil Jaffrey Local Child in Need Award was created to enable us to support children with disabilities in the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire areas.  Over the years the award and work supporting it has grown and as part of our 2025 rebrand this initiative was re-visioned into the north-east Scotland branch of our work.

In north-east Scotland, we offer grant funding for specialist equipment and services, to families who have a child with a disability or life limiting condition.  Since 2015 we have raised over £60,000 for these vital services.

The money your company raises through charity of the year will help make sure we can give more children the upbringing and support they deserve in Kenya and supporting families in north-east Scotland who have children with disabilities.

Together, we can help more children receive an education and enjoy their childhood in a safe and happy environment.  What’s more, your employees could get to see the impact your company makes by joining us in Kenya.  Since we started many of our supporters have travelled to Iten and Karatina to visit the children we support and even volunteered to build houses for them.  It would be possible to build a house for a family in Kenya in your company’s name for under £6,000.

If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, why not nominate GEF as your Charity of the Year and help us continue our life-changing work.

Benefits of making GEF your ‘Charity of the Year’

  • A common goal creates community spirit and can encourage team building
  • Boost staff morale
  • Positive PR and marketing opportunities
  • Enhanced brand awareness
  • Demonstrate to your customers and potential customers, your company’s commitment to giving back to the local community and those less fortunate
  • Capture new audiences
  • Create bright futures for children
  • Receive a unique Kenyan made bracelet or keyring design to compliment your branding, perfect to share with staff or gift to clients

Fundraising and volunteering opportunities

Whether you are a small local business with 2 employees or a national company with thousands of employees, we believe we can help create an exciting and mutually beneficial Charity of the Year partnership.

We will work closely with you to develop a suitable plan for the year that can engage your employees and customers.  You could hold a range of activities over the course of the year through fundraising methods, volunteering opportunities, payroll giving or employer matched giving.  Alternatively, we could help you organise one large event for the year – the choice is yours!

We would be delighted to liaise with your nominated charity committee if you have one and we would encourage you to ask employees to suggest some imaginative fundraising ideas of their own.

We have a number of our own events where we could include your staff and equally promote their participation.  These events include our bi-ennial fundraising dinner, ladies lunch, quiz nights and race nights.

As a corporate partner there are many fundraising ways to support us, here are just a few examples:

  • Sponsored running events; fun runs, 5K, 10K, half or full marathons, night walks
  • Challenges; cycling, abseiling, bungy jump, skydiving
  • Collection tins
  • In-house involvement; corporate donation, office raffle, staff family fun day, dress down day or ask your manager to do a sponsored activity such as head shave, if you dare!
  • Out of office fun; quiz night, black tie event, bingo night

GEF will happily promote any involvement and activities through our ‘Events’ page on our website as well as our numerous social media channels.  This can raise your own company’s online profile and increase the potential for new audiences.

A sharing community is at the heart of what we do – we see that same ethos at GEF both in Scotland and in Kenya.

 

What inspires me about GEF is the commitment of their team, the hands-on effort from them and many volunteers to deliver practical actions that have a life changing impact on the families they support.

HELEN MILL – The Alternative Board (TAB) North East Scotland

We are absolutely delighted to have set up a charity partnership between ourselves at Westdyke Community Club and GEF. They are a truly unique charity who do amazing work in Kenya, as well as on our doorstep in the North East of Scotland - supporting disadvantaged children and their families and improving their quality of life.

 

We feel we share the same values and we are keen to use our platform as one of the largest grassroots Clubs in the region to support them with their fantastic work. GEF is run by people we consider true role models for our players, and we are proud to support them as they continue their fantastic work both locally and overseas.

GILLIAN ROBSON - Westdyke Community Club

Resources

Myles Edwards would welcome the opportunity to share our story in front of your employees or management. This would help to show what we have achieved and would like to work towards through our determination to make a meaningful impact and change the lives of others.

We will help with everything you need to start planning your year with GEF and can attend and assist at your fundraising events.

For more information or to discuss collaboration please contact Kayleigh Paterson on kayleigh@gathimbaedwardsfoundation.org.

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