Charities

Both churches have now chosen their Charity of the Year 2025

Tools with a Mission (TWAM)

TWAM is a Christian charity that collects unwanted usable tools, refurbishes them, sorts them into trade tool kits and sends them to the developing world for livelihood creation. Their headquarters are in Ipswich, with additional Refurbishment Centres in Rugby and Halstead, five van teams, and over 500 volunteers across England and Wales. They have five local groups across the country formed by volunteers, and are supported by seven independent workshops, including Men’s Sheds.

Local groups provide volunteering opportunities to older retirees who struggle with loneliness and isolation after retirement, as well as opportunities for people with physical and learning disabilities and support for community groups and refugees. They work with organisations such as WS Training in Ipswich, offering skills training and experience to young people with additional needs and preparing them for employment. They have also provided tools to local community groups in the UK who use them in projects for people with special needs and have provided sewing machines and tools to organisations such as Suffolk Refugee Support.

TWAM sends tools to six partner countries in the developing world, predominantly sub-Saharan Africa: Zambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi, and DR Congo. The primary beneficiaries are vulnerable individuals such as single mothers, school dropouts, street orphans, homeless people, people with physical disabilities, and ex-sex workers. By working with locally registered charities, TWAM ensures that the tools are used as intended, providing individuals living in extreme poverty with the resources they need to develop manual skills and sustainable careers and feed their families every day. Their work is crucial in offering a way out of poverty for those who cannot afford to buy their own tools and have limited access to education or career opportunities. 

Check out their website for more information: https://www.twam.uk

We’ll soon be announcing collection days for tools and sewing machines that you no longer want, during Lent 15 Mar – 17 April 2025 so please start sorting out the shed!!

LAST YEAR’S SUMMARY

  All Saints, Biddenden’s charity of the year 2024 was Porchlight for which you helped us raise £1106.77.

Porchlight’s, Mim Oliver sends her greetings from Canterbury and her grateful thanks to everyone at All Saints Church for their commitment generosity and hard work.