Charity News

WILMSLOW WELLS FOR AFRICA – GARDENS DAY…

This year’s Wilmslow Wells for Africa (WWfA) Gardens Day takes place on Saturday 25th June between 10.30 and 16.30. As usual, there will be a large selection of beautiful gardens to visit in Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and the surrounding areas. Refreshments, food and plants will be available to purchase at select gardens. Tickets giving access to all the gardens cost £13 on the day or £11 in advance will be available late May from the following options (cash only):

Shan (01625 520193)

Donald (01625 590339)

Chelsea Flowers (Chapel Lane,

Wilmslow)

The Potting Shed (Alderley Edge)

Primrose Cottage Nursery (Styal)

We would like to thank these local businesses for their continuing support. We also are grateful to Print Force (Bury), Stationery Supplies (Wilmslow), Wilmslow Garden Centre (Wilmslow) and Lavinia Home and Garden (Alderley Edge). Since it was founded in the mid-1980’s WWfA has raised over £1.5 million and funded more than 320 separate projects in 21 different African countries. The charity is run by a group of local people (including a water engineer) on a voluntary basis which means that 99.3% of all money raised is directly invested into projects. Fund raising is through a variety of locally based activities such as ’Souperdays’, bridge drives, sponsored events, cookery demonstrations, talks to local organisations and Gardens Day - which last year raised over £24,000. Funded projects bring fresh water and sanitation to remote African communities thereby reducing death and disease. African women no longer have to undertake long journeys to carry water, often from polluted sources, to their homes. A number of recently funded projects relate to schools, colleges and healthcare facilities. Project proposals come to us through a well developed network of trusted contacts. The projects are all well researched and we ask for a report and photographs upon completion. Completed projects include the construction and rehabilitation of shallow and deep boreholes, spring protection, rainwater harvesting, water storage tanks and the provision of hand wash facilities and hygienic latrines. The charity was founded by a Wilmslow resident, seconded to live in South Africa in the 1980’s, when she saw the insanitary living conditions of her housemaid - and millions of other Africans. The need remains as strong today as ever. Anyone can donate to WWfA on either a regular or one-off basis by visiting www.wilmslowwells.org