Newsletter.

It is a really fragile time for Porridge and Pens' existence. We are feeling the world's vulnerability as starkly as our survival through COVID-19. The real problem for Porridge and Pens is a funding freeze. The walls have quickly come up across most of our income streams. The cost-of-living crisis and recent aid cuts present a number of challenges for us.

Over half of Porridge and Pens income comes from grants. We spend hours each week writing letters and emails to Trusts and Foundations, who support small charities like ours. Devastatingly, over the past year, many of these funding bodies have closed their doors to international charities, instead focusing on UK issues of which we know, there are many or directing their income to conflict and warzones around the world. This has been really hard for us because rapidly, our income was reduced but the demand for our services was and still is, higher than we have ever seen before.

With further international aid cuts last week, the competition for the same pool of money is fiercer, with fewer grants available to UK charities working overseas than ever before.

As the needs in Ghana continue to outpace our resources, we have made some tough decisions. The children and young people in our care have less food to eat, a reduction in hospital visits for those suffering from illness and a decrease in staffing. We are doing all we can to protect ourselves to survive the year ahead.

We hope our funding streams will become what they were again when the world becomes more stable.

Sadly, we have lost many of our regular donors over the past year because of our own difficult financial times. With reduced regular donors and grant funding, Porridge and Pens has felt the impact heavily.

With our partners in Ghana, we protect 600 children in Ghana every day and we don’t want to fail on that now.

Your monthly donations are so important to us and we cherish every penny. Monthly donations bring us the certainty and reliability, that each month, we will have enough to cover the costs of keeping all 600 children fed, in school, and safe. When other areas of fundraising are so challenging right now, every regular donation is truly treasured. Thank you to all our donors who provide this blanket of safety to us, and if you have ever thought about making a regular donation and you are in the position to do so, we would be so grateful.

In light of our struggles, we have launched a funding appeal to help us ensure we have enough money in our bank to keep pushing through these difficult weeks and months ahead. Every donation will go directly to our core three aims, food, shelter, and education.  We can’t fail on our mission now, as we are going through another turbulent time within our small charity's existence.

If you would like to set up a regular donation or make a one of donation of any amount, to support us in our efforts to navigate these difficult times, you can do so here: https://www.nowdonate.com/checkout/106acwx2j12223pgljp1

Thank you

_{Upcoming Event}

Another way to support us and have fun at the same time is to come along to one of our events. Why not join us on Friday 14th March for our fabulous Line Dance at Brightlingsea Community Centre. All abilities welcome, just bring your dancing shoes (or boots!)

Tickets available here: https://buytickets.at/porridgeandpens/1598876