As the credit crisis deepens Liverpool children’s charity KIND, recently described by playwright Alan Bleasdale as a ‘remarkable shelter from the storm’, knows that in times such as these they are needed more than ever. With the one year anniversary of their award winning eco education centre, SEED, upon them and demand for its facilities increasing, they are looking to the future with hope and optimism.
Standing for Social Environmental Education Development, SEED is the focal point of their future aims and objectives. Over a 1O year period they transformed a derelict inner city site into a green, eco oasis to help local disadvantaged children and families. Through partnerships with local agencies, schools and education organisations, KIND can now offer children, from a range of different backgrounds, learning and skill development opportunities in areas such as the environment, social development and responsibility and healthy eating.
Led by a dedicated team of in-house teaching staff, the centre opened in January 2008 with a series of pilot projects with local inner city schools. Now one year later, they are running a packed year-round programme of education and community projects.
Constructed using recycled materials from sustainable sources; SEED is a rare commodity in Liverpool – a truly eco-friendly building and was designed so that each of its key features (including photo electric cells, solar panels, rainwater collection system, mini wind turbine etc) would bring the learning experience to life in an exciting new teaching environment.
As KIND Chief Executive and founder Stephen Yip explains it hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth the wait,
‘We’ve been working with children and families for over 30 years, but we recognised some time back that the sector was changing, as were the needs of those we work with. We needed to adapt and develop, without ever losing our core beliefs and values. It’s taken us 10 years to get to this point, but in the SEED Centre we hope to have created something new and exciting that will be of lasting benefit to the city and beyond. The children we work with already face enough hurdles in life, but if we can address their future needs by providing them with vital opportunities for help, support and access to hands-on education in a safe and exciting environment, then hopefully we have the potential to transform their lives.’
Editors Notes:
About KIND
KIND is a children’s charity that believes in the importance of investing in the future-our children. Every year, KIND works with thousands of children, young people and their families across Liverpool and greater Merseyside, pioneering new and imaginative ways to help them cope with many forms of disadvantage.
We achieve this through:
Education –
Offering learning and skill development opportunities:
At our SEED (Social Environmental Education Development) Centre
Through our Young Volunteers and Family Learning Programmes
On our Residential Breaks in the Welsh countryside
Support –
For struggling children and their families:
A dedicated Christmas Appeal
Year-round Practical Help
Contact:
For media enquiries please contact Dave Williams or Stephen Yip on (T): 0151 708 8273, (E): info@kind.org.uk.
KIND, 19 Back Canning Street, Liverpool, L8 7PB.
Registered Charity No: 518985
