Bala Children's Centre

Bala Term Update: October 25

November 15, 2025 6:19 pm Comments Off

The third term began on 26th August and will come to a close on 24th October 2025. As the shortest term of the school year, it’s been a busy one focused mainly on academics rather than co-curricular activities.

Mid-term exams took place this September, and we’re so proud of our pupils’ hard work and dedication. A special congratulations to Cristalia Atieno, who was the best girl in Grade 6 and to Joe Bonga, the best boy. Well done to both of them!

One of the highlights of this term is our Graduation Ceremony for the 29 ECDE pupils who are finishing their early childhood classes and moving up to Grade 1 in January 2026. It’s always such a joyful celebration for our little ones and their families.

Our boys’ football team had an excellent term, winning both their friendly matches. Congratulations to them for their teamwork and spirit!

The students have also taken part in tree planting around the school, helped clean the local market, attended regular guidance and counselling sessions, and joined Bible Study every Sunday morning. It’s been inspiring to see them grow not just academically, but also in community service and faith.

Most notably, Form 4 of the secondary school was position 1 out of 58 schools across this Sub-County which is an amazing achievement and we are incredibly proud of the teachers and students for doing so well. Chemistry and Kiswahili (the national language of Kenya) were the top subjects.

It is the wonderful generosity of our donors that help Bala Children’s Centre thrive. Donate today and support their future.

Summer Fair 2025: A Huge Success!

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Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our Summer Fair this year!

In June, we held our Garden Party in aid of Bala, in the lovely gardens of St. Mary’s, Latton, near Cirencester. Firstly, a big thank you to the owners, Richard & Nesta Hawes, for all their generosity and hard work, before, during and after the day.

It rained, but not while everyone was arriving. We all kept reasonably dry through a downpour, thanks to the large tents and tree canopy. Otherwise, it was fine and sunny! We had heaps of delicious cakes with tea and drinks, a few stalls and games, which all made about £2,850, including some very generous gifts.

We also had our usual Auction of Promises, with many interesting lots, which, thanks to some very generous bidding, raised £3,205. The overall total was therefore about £6,825, which will be an enormous help to the Centre. Thank you to everyone who gave, came and helped.

Thanks to all of your generous support, which will go directly towards helping us fund our ongoing projects at Bala Children’s Centre. We couldn’t have done it without you. Stay tuned for details on upcoming events and we look forwards to seeing you next year!

Couldn’t make it to our fundraiser this summer? Donate below.

Ways You Can Help: Current Projects at Bala Children’s Centre

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There are many ways you can make a difference today! We are currently focusing on several critical projects at Bala Children’s Centre in Kenya, and we need your support to continue our work. Here’s how you can help:

New Dormitories: Due to overcrowding, we urgently need funds to build new dorms to accommodate the growing number of children. Your contribution will directly improve the living conditions of the children at the Centre.

Breakfast for a Child: For just £15, you can provide a child at Bala Children’s Centre with breakfast for a whole month. If you would like to make a long-term impact, £180 will provide breakfast for one child for an entire year!

Classroom Construction: We are in the process of building new classrooms to improve the learning environment for the children. Your donation will support this essential development.

Kitchen Building Upgrade: We’re working on upgrading the kitchen building to a semi-permanent structure to support the feeding program. This project will improve the nutritional care for all children at Bala.

Repairs to the Girls’ Dormitory: The girls’ dorms suffered significant damage during recent floods. We need funds to make repairs so that the girls have a safe and comfortable space to live and study.

Fire Safety: While not glamorous, 18 fire extinguishers are urgently needed to ensure the safety of all children and staff. These range in cost from £40-£70 each. Your support will help us meet this critical need.

Would you like to give something towards our current projects? Your generosity ensures that we can continue providing a safe and nurturing environment for the children at Bala Children’s Centre. Click below to donate today!

Bala Term Update: April 25

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We’d like to share with you a summary of the first term of this year at each of the schools…

Term one: 8th January – 4th April 2025

The year started with extreme hot weather from January to part of February, following a period of heavy rains & strong winds. However, the staff are doing well and very grateful to you all, as are the children. They have been enjoying lots of activities, some listed below.

We have 224 primary school students enrolled this academic year, a total of 111 Boys and 113 girls, with Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) section having 91 pupils. The pupils are doing well and are grateful for your love towards them.

Interclass dance competitions have been going on and the children are having a lot of fun; learning routines, practising their coordination and memory.

The children were engaged in Christian teachings, memorising Bible verses & reciting poems. And for sport, the primary pupils participated with over 20 other schools at the Base and Zonal levels and there was also ‘FUN DAY’ for the ECDE pupils.

The curriculum covers colouring, numbers, counting, reading, physical education and many more activities for the ECDE pupils, and agricultural, creative arts and sports activities for the primary pupils.

The population of the secondary school at the end of term one is 161. Form 2 has 64 students, Form 3 has 43 students, while Form 4 has 54 students. The school has a total of 73 girls and 88 boys. There is a need to put many of them into a scholarship program.

The counselling team have been talking to the pupils about how to live daily life, and in particular with the girls, how to tackle the daily challenges that come with being female, including a session on sanitary towels with products given to the girls at the end.

The students played two interschool football games where the boys managed to be victorious: a 4-0 win against God Ndonyo Mixed Secondary School and a 3-0 win against Siburi Mixed Secondary School.

With the students coming from different backgrounds, they are taught about the Christian faith, with many believing in Jesus Christ and even being baptised.

Well done to the top performers from term one, who have been working hard this term goes to Peter Onyango, Form 2 and Emma Achieng Consala, Form 3.

Following the good performance last year, we have 54 registered candidates in Form 4 who will be sitting for their National Examinations in November this year. Last year we had 36 registered candidates, of which 30 obtained direct University entry grades, and this year we are hopeful for a greater number.

Cotswold Fayre’s Summer Ball – July 2022

May 17, 2023 6:19 pm Comments Off

Cotswold Fayre, Paul’s business, has been supporting the Bala Children’s Centre since 2011 when he first went to Kenya with his daughter, Megan. After a 4-year gap, due to Covid Cotswold Fayre hosted its 5^th Summer Ball for customers and suppliers within the speciality food sector in July 2022.

We were pleased to yet again raise a total of nearly £25,000 – 80% of which was donated to the Bala Children’s Centre, which went to build new classrooms and contribute to a new admin building which was destroyed in a storm earlier that year The other 20% of the money raised went to a local charity called the Cowshed in the Reading area.

There was fabulous entertainment with a live band and magician and it was good to remind all 225 attendees that we are very privileged to live the lives we do with most people in the world being considerably worse off.

Paul’s Most Recent Visit to the Centre in July 2022

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At the end of July, I visited the Bala Children’s Centre to assess the latest situation and work out the best use of the money raised at Cotswold Fayre Summer Ball and other fund-raising throughout the previous year. Usually visiting at least once a year it was my first trip since our Summer Ball in 2018 due to Covid and publishing a book in 2019, which postponed my trip that year.

It was good to see three new classrooms and an admin block had been built since my last visit, largely with money raised over the past few years. If you remember the previous admin block had been blown down in a hurricane and several of you made contributions to its re-building – thank you! The children and workers there were in extremely good spirits despite the difficulties of Covid and ongoing issues with malaria.

The main requirement remains to continuing to renovate both the schools as the older classrooms are in a terribly state of repair and I also put some of the money towards building a new dormitory for the boys at the secondary school, who were sleeping in terribly cramped conditions. Whilst there I also implemented an up-to-date Safeguarding Policy (the existing one was out-of-date) and ensured that everyone on site was fully aware of best practice in this area.
Next trip will be either Spring or Summer 2023.

Bala Garden Fete – September 3rd 2022

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We held our annual Summer Fete on 3^rd September in the beautiful gardens of Barton Farm, Siddington. Despite some rain just as we were setting up & less people coming than last year, it was our most successful one ever, making about £8,500. This year 10% of the money will go to the Ukraine & the rest to the Bala Children’s Centre.

We can send all the money, because as usual, everything sold was given & we are very grateful to the generosity of those who gave Auction Promises, cakes, everything for the barbecue, books, clothes, prizes, donations. Thank you so much too to the small army of people who manned the stalls, brought vintage cars, ran the games, helped set up & take it all down.

Paul Hargreaves explains why his company supports Bala Children’s Centre

March 31, 2023 1:27 am Comments Off

I first became involved in the Bala Children’s Centre as, when my company was finally making a profit, we wanted to give some of that back to people not as fortunate as ourselves. We wanted to find somewhere that my team of 40 could relate to, and be involved in, rather than just a charity that wanted our money.

The Bala Children’s Centre proved to be that place. Staff, suppliers and customers could easily see a clear need of feeding and educating children (predominantly orphans) in Kenya, and there was also the option for them to go and work there for a week or two, which some have done.

As a company the money we raise has to go towards sustainable agri-businesses which we have set up, as income-generating projects are the only real way forward in what is a very poor part of Africa.

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