Sandy Lane Trust

from Sporting Barbados 2022

Foreword

SANDY LANE CHARITABLE TRUST

Trustees

The Sandy Lane Charitable Trust (SLCT) has been around for over 15 years and their primary mission is – “Helping the under privileged children of Barbados” by whatever means necessary. Whether that is through their healthcare, education, or community programmes, they are renowned for championing these meaningful causes to protect and assist those who are too young to help themselves.

The past two years have certainly been an unprecedented challenge for us all, as we navigated through an unrelenting Covid-19 pandemic. With the national lockdowns, curfews and strict travel protocols implemented, in addition to a litany of environmental crises this tiny island was placed in economic distress.

With many businesses forced to close or work with minimal employees, unemployment and under-employment reached unprecedented levels. This led to many families grappling to cope in an uncertain environment. Whilst most of us had our stresses and worries during this time, putting food on our tables to feed our families was not one of them. This was now the reality for thousands of Barbadian households

As a children’s Trust, their primary and overwhelming concern was for the wellbeing of the children. Giving hope is the most important part of their work and that is exactly what they gave to thousands of Barbadian households in May 2020. In response to the relentless COVID-19 impacts, the Trust devised a “Feed a Family Programme” a programme designed to provide sustenance to thousands of families requiring the basic need for their survival…food.

The Sandy Lane Charitable Trust donated over BDS $6 Million dollars, which provided immediate relief to families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and it relentless catastrophic impacts. The programme execution was simple and effective, the Trust collaborated with 30 constituency offices, whom they believed had the widest reach to identify and provide a list of the most at risk families. They collaborated with eight (8) locally operated supermarket chains across the parishes and produced SLCT branded food vouchers.

The Trust certainly did not escape from Covid19 impacts. The absence of their 2021 Golf Tournament and Annual Gala dinner, which is often referred to as “the event of the season” and has been instrumental over the years in helping to raise muchneeded funds to support their many programmes and causes, affected their operations tremendously. Amid the darkness however, there was a beam of light… some of their generous donors remained committed to pledging their support despite the cancellation of highly anticipated event. Their act of kindness and generosity has certainly enabled the Trust to sustain their programmes and provide support to those who needed it most.

Let us hope that 2022 sees the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust hosting their fun day of golf on the greens for their donors and their fundraising activities to obtain the much needed funds to support these worthwhile causes.