HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire becomes Patron of Tools for Self Reliance
Tools for Self Reliance is delighted to announce that HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mr Nigel Atkinson, has become Patron of the charity.
The appointment follows Mr Atkinson’s visit to Tools for Self Reliance’s workshops in Netley Marsh in March, and saw first-hand the charity’s work. During his visit, Mr Atkinson toured the charity’s workshops and met some of the volunteers who make this work possible.
Founded 46 years ago, Tools for Self Reliance works with partner organisations in Malawi, Ghana, Zambia and Uganda to provide practical vocational and business training, helping people develop the skills and opportunities they need to build sustainable working futures, as well as supporting programmes in the UK.
Sarah Ingleby, CEO at Tools for Self Reliance, said:
“Mr Atkinson’s visit in March gave him the opportunity to see the charity from the inside and, importantly, to meet some of the volunteers who are at the heart of everything we do.
“Having the support of the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire is a real honour for Tools for Self Reliance and we are very much looking forward to working with him. We hope to give him plenty of opportunities to meet our volunteers, see our work in action and learn more about the people and communities our work supports.”
The Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, said:
‘When I visited earlier this year, I was struck by the remarkable dedication of the volunteers and the impact of the charity’s work. Tools for Self Reliance is clearly built on a foundation of long-term commitment, both here in the UK and through its support for communities in Africa. By helping people to learn valuable trades, the charity is equipping individuals with the means to earn a living and build a more secure future. At the same time, its volunteers are preserving and passing on practical skills in ways that genuinely change lives.’
Tools for Self Reliance is supported by a volunteer community of more than 350 people across the UK. Alongside its international work, the charity also supports UK-based initiatives, including Building Heroes, which helps military veterans and their families access tools to retrain and build new careers.
The charity is committed to reducing waste and promoting the circular economy by giving donated tools a new lease of life while helping equip people with the skills and resources to work towards sustainable livelihoods.