Basic Needs (2007 Partner)
UK-based charity with international operations in Africa, Asia and Latin America (Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, India, Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Colombia) helping rehabilitate those facing mental health challenges in developing countries through a community-based Model for Mental Health and Development. Basic Needs is the only organization attempting to address this problem and its model has recently been adopted by the WHO. It has helped a total of 67,995 people with mental illness or epilepsy since 2003. Founded in 1999, it is led by Chris Underhill. VPF has provided advice on franchising its operations as well as a sounding board re strategic planning. To find out more about the value added by VPF, please click here.
Changing Faces (2008 Partner)
Changing Faces is a UK charitable organisation which is recognised as a leader in the disfigurement field worldwide. Set up and directed by social entrepreneur and passionate visionary, James Partridge who sustained severe burns in a car fire when he was 18, it is the only organisation of its kind in having a pan-disfigurement remit and working with professionals and organisations in health, education and the wider society. It focuses on the psychological and social (psycho-social) aspects of disfiguring conditions, innovating and providing empowering help to individuals and families, encouraging and resourcing health and education professionals, and campaigning for 'face equality' and freedom from prejudice and discrimination. Disfigurement can affect anyone at any age, from any ethnic group and from many causes whether present at birth or acquired through trauma, violence, disease, cancer, paralysis or skin conditions. Recent research indicates that about 540,000 people in the UK have a significant facial disfigurement, 1 in 111 people; over 1m people have disfigurements to their face and body. Although medical/surgical treatments are increasingly sophisticated, they can rarely remove a disfigurement completely. VPF is working with Changing Faces on plans to scale up its activities as well as to potentially expand internationally.
Riders for Health (2007 Partner)
UK-based charity with international operations dedicated to saving lives through mobilizing health workers in Africa (Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Lesotho, South Africa, Nigeria, The Gambia, Ghana, Uganda). A health worker on a motorcycle makes 12-15 times the number of visits as one on foot. It helps millions of people across Africa to have access to basic healthcare. Started 15 years ago, founders Andrea and Barry Coleman were named E&Y Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2007. VPF has provided significant help with senior management team mentoring as well as strategic planning support. Riders is one of the first UK charities to receive a major award of grant funding from the Gates Foundation during 2008. To find out more about the value added by VPF, please click here.