Hi everyone!

As you know, I will be off for a few months next year to lead a team of volunteers on a project run by an incredible social enterprise called Balloon Ventures. We will be working to develop and grow micro-businesses in Kenya, through providing the knowledge, skills and ideas to imagine new businesses. Balloon Ventures also run an investment fund to ensure these entrepreneurs have the support they need to take their business through to the next level.

Up till now, the programme has been funded by the UK government, as part of the International Citizen Service (ICS) initiative. Unfortunately, they've announced it will be making cuts to overseas development funding, including a freeze to ICS funding from early next year. As such, I am fundraising to help keep this programme going, so they can continue to send people out to help provide the skills and opportunities to empower these communities economically and help lift them out of poverty . I'd like to assure you the money raised is not a payment for my place on the programme, they have already covered this. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DONATION! I will be sure to keep you all updated with the progress we're making with our local entrepreneur friends whilst out there.

To find out more about Balloon Ventures and some of their amazing success stories, please visit: www.balloonventures.com

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.