Charitable Trust No 1106650

www.gafsip.org

Working together for a sustainable future

This document sets out the strategy for GAFSIP over the next five years. It also aims to better publicise our work and attract prospective supporters.

Included is a brief background and history.

Gambia and Avon Fire Services in Partnership is a Charitable Trust and is the new name for a cooperative venture which has been in existence since 1991 between Avon Fire and Rescue Service and The Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service.

 The Gambia – One of the poorest and smallest countries in Africa

The people of The Gambia and GAFSIP are indebted to Cllr Terry Walker, The Chair of Avon Fire Authority together with The Members and also to the Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive of Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Kevin Pearson, for their continued support and commitment making this partnership possible.

Charity Objectives

1. The preservation and protection of health by the provision of Fire, Rescue vehicles and equipment to The Gambia enabling them to provide a life saving and humanitarian service.
2. To advance education in relation to all aspects of preserving and protecting health for the benefit of the public of The Gambia.

GAFSIP exists firstly because of the vision, pragmatism and stoic support of the elected members of Avon Fire Authority, who are donating redundant fire vehicles and equipment for use in The Gambia and secondly because of voluntary, professional contributions from staunch supporters in the Fire and Rescue Service.

Generally, the disposal value of those items is minimal and, in some cases, a cost would be incurred for safe disposal here in the UK. But recycling through GAFSIP provides the hardware for the provision of a basic service in The Gambia.

Avon Fire Authority sets an example of how a UK Public Authority can provide valuable support to a developing nation by handing over redundant equipment, which in this case helps to save lives and alleviate suffering.

Chief Fire Officer Roger Bakurin of The Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service, David Hutchings, GASFIP Patron and Chief Fire Officer Kevin Pearson, Avon Fire and Rescue Service signing the GAFSIP Charter at The Charity Launch.

Brief History

In 1991 an officer of Avon Fire Brigade, David Hutchings, visited The Gambia for a holiday and made contact with the Fire Service there.

During his stay, a serious accident occurred and he was invited to attend. He witnessed a family of six die needlessly due to the lack of the most basic equipment.

On his return to the UK he canvassed for help by means of the provision of redundant but serviceable vehicles and equipment.

David purchased the first two vehicles himself, with a number of companies in the Avonmouth area funding the transportation costs.

In 1994 the Public Protection Committee of Avon County Council, led by Cllr. Terry Walker, supported this initiative and began the donation of redundant appliances and equipment.

The Gambia has consistently contributed to the shipping costs, but invariably there has been a shortfall which David Hutchings has, to date, managed to make up by canvassing hard for public and corporate contributions.

Since the mid 1990’s individual Principal Officers of the Avon Fire and Rescue Service have visited The Gambia in order to reinforce their commitment, whilst simultaneously evaluating future development in terms of need.

Following an audit in 2004, the current Fire and Rescue Service management team proposed that a Charitable Trust be established in order to more appropriately facilitate both shipping and visits by specialist trainers. It was anticipated that a successful Trust Fund would greatly assist in securing the long tem future of the partnership.

David Hutchings has continued to coordinate and facilitate the activities between Avon Fire and Rescue Service, other supporters in the UK and The Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service since his retirement in 2001. The formation of this Charitable Trust, now known as GAFSIP, was undertaken successfully and this now formalises the previous somewhat ad-hoc arrangements.

All the work undertaken for and on behalf of the Charity is voluntary. People who visit and provide training or other specialist support pay for their own travel and accommodation.

Development of GAFSIP

In addition to support for The Gambia’s Fire and Ambulance Service, there has been a natural development toward the improvement and support of basic health and education facilities. The work of the partnership became an inherent factor in The Gambia’s programmed expansion of Emergency Service provision throughout the country.

This natural enhancement has been developed by Claire Hutchings (David’s wife) who has established a formal link with The Gambian Authorities to provide specific support for education, in liaison with Ndey Bakurin, wife of the Chief Fire Officer of The Gambian Fire and Ambulance Service.

Whilst support for education is by no means exclusive to GAFSIP, neither is it intended to be. An opportunity was identified that dovetailed conveniently with the endeavours in support of the Fire and Ambulance Service.

It was established, through local enquiries in the former Avon area, that a vast quantity of teaching aids here in the UK have a termed life of use, following which they have to be scrapped, ending up land filled. These materials have no value here in the UK but are of immense value to The Gambia.

To this end a considerable effort has been made by a small band of volunteers to seek out, collect and transport these items for re-use.

GAFSIP have received considerable support from both State and Public local schools which have kindly donated redundant equipment.

The success of this initiative is therefore very evident by visible improvements in The Gambia with an urgent need to increase funding to meet the demand for shipping.

GAFSIP does not donate money. Funds are used to provide practical support and the transport of the donated goods in order to assist the Gambian people achieve their own objectives toward self sufficiency.

The Gambian Government has invested heavily in this partnership by providing the infrastructure e.g. Fire stations, schools, clinics and the consequent employment. In addition, it contributes each year toward shipping costs. However, its gross national product together with comparable value of its currency dictates that, until matters improve on a global scale, there will inevitably be a shortfall.

Therefore, in order to sustain the Fire and Ambulance Service in The Gambia and continue improvements in education, increased financial support is much needed.

Serrekunda Fire Station Built 1995 The first of the new stations built in support of the partnership.

The role of GAFSIP

(a) To coordinate and facilitate the shipping of donated fire, ambulance vehicles and equipment together with educational materials and spare parts as the need arises.

(b) To facilitate training visits in The Gambia and here in the UK for The Gambia Fire and Ambulance personnel. This will include ambulance crew skills, advanced medical care, airfield crash crew tactics and domestic fire fighting and management.

GAFSIP strives to assist The Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service achieve its objectives in the provision of an effective, sustainable service throughout the whole of the country, in accordance with The Gambian Government’s ambition to develop improved services to its communities.

Basic training needs have been identified in the three key areas of the Fire and Ambulance provision:

1. Ambulance duties and improved emergency medical care
2. Basic fire fighting skills incorporating updated equipment for use at emergencies
3. Specific skills training in respect of airfield protection and response.

In order to properly support their training objectives a continuous rolling programme of specialist volunteers is needed to augment The Gambia’s own in-house training arrangements that have been put into place.

GAFSIP will continue to collect redundant educational materials for use in The Gambia e.g. Books, appropriate IT equipment for use as specified by The Department of State for education and specific items identified by individual schools.

Well Rescue and Fire Fighting Training in The Gambia

Resource Implications

Resource implications fall into three categories:

1) Fundraising

Experience has proved that efforts to raise funds invariably falls to a very small group of dedicated volunteers and is time consuming.

2) Dealing with donated goods.

Collection, sorting and packing of donated goods, is undertaken by two or three people throughout the year. Station 03 Yate fire-fighters are very supportive and always willing to assist when possible.

Unloading donated items in The Gambia Gambian children receiving donated items

3) Training Visits.

A healthy list of volunteers is maintained, with personnel having already experienced working in The Gambia being very willing to assist at fundraising events and loading sessions.

With visits being self funded, the applicants have to be committed to the challenge of training in the most difficult of situations, with the most basic of conditions and the absolute minimum of resources.

Currently, the individual cost to a trainer is around £500 for two weeks. They will get used to running out of fuel and no power or water, but they will also experience their Gambian colleagues without food on occasions which puts a perspective on the situation. Visiting trainers often have to buy fuel themselves in order to ensure that the vehicles or equipment can actually be used for training. Vehicle batteries have also had to be purchased in the same way.

What are the strengths, weaknesses and threats to GAFSIP?

Strengths.

• It is a local charity to the former Avon area and is unique
• It is clearly focused on objectives making a sustainable difference
• Its development into education invests in The Gambia’s future - their children
• All work is voluntary, with the trainers making a life changing contribution
• Supporters can readily see the difference their contribution has made
• An evidential audit trail is maintained
• Non political
• No administration costs
• Managed and coordinated by two people with extensive experience of The Gambia.
• Credibility and trust has been established over 14 years with two successive Gambian governments
• A significant public relations asset for Avon Fire Authority and Avon Fire and Rescue Service, albeit not motivated for credit or acknowledgement
• A year round involvement with The Gambia, not just the training visits
• Proven credibility, unique in longevity and achievement

Weaknesses

• Survival on hand to mouth basis
• Operated and resourced by two individuals with limited support

Threats

• The sometimes unpredictable realities of working with a developing country.
• Change of boundaries for Avon Fire Authority

Significant Events in Planning

• GAFSIP will launch gift aid in the spring of 2006
• GAFSIP15 year celebration October 2006
• Appliance Fund Raising drive from Bristol to Banjul January 2007.

Achievements 1991 to 2005.

1. The Gambian Government has invested in the partnership with the creation of over 700 fire-fighter posts.
2. Nine Fire Stations have been built in that timescale with a further three in the planning stage
3. Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service carry out training for hotel staff in fire safety and first aid. Planning is underway for water safety and lifeguards training
4. The men and women of The Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service uniquely enjoy equality in all aspects of their employment
5. 17 senior officers from the Gambia have attended extended training in the UK
6. Over 200 training weeks have been provided in The Gambia by UK Fire and Ambulance staff
7. All Fire Stations in The Gambia are truly community fire stations. They provide a help centre in their areas for water, medical care and support in addition to responding to all manner of emergencies
8. The development of GAFSIP into education has also aided the Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service by becoming recognized as a true community service. They deliver the donated education materials on behalf of The Trust
9. The work with schools is becoming evident with libraries being built, school furniture being distributed, blackboards and IT suites provided as they become available.
10. Twinning programmes have been developed between schools in The Gambia and here in the former Avon area, benefiting both cultures
11. Over 30,000 children have benefited, to date, from the educational support
12. 36 schools have received educational materials.
13. The Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service is recognized and accepted as the agency for public protection throughout the country.
14. The service is recognized as the key player in national disaster and emergency planning in The Gambia

Strategy

To continue to raise funds by way of corporate and individual donations to enable the charity’s role.

To maintain liaison and good relations with the organizations that support our role and objectives, i.e., Avon Fire Authority, Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Local Education Authorities, Avon Ambulance Service, SerCo and Airbus UK, Hampshire and South Wales Fire and Rescue Services.

To maintain a list of volunteers to visit The Gambia on a voluntary basis for training purposes

How will we do it?

We will continue to:

• give presentations to charitable groups who seek to support worthy causes
• exploit opportunities of grants from trusts or national grant making bodies
• seek corporate support, particularly from organizations within the former Avon area
• seek support from suppliers to Avon Fire and Rescue Service
• organize fund raising events which heighten awareness of the work of GAFSIP in addition to raising funds.
• raise money from collections at selected events where we make successful application
• encourage task specific support from organizations and groups. E.g.; funding an education container or appliance. (Successful projects to date are Aztec Rotary for Rescue Boats and Clifton Rotary, school’s IT suites and ‘A’ level education libraries, together with Computers for African schools.)
• promote the role and work of GAFSIP within the Fire Service to increase awareness and support with fund raising and other activities
• maintain a list of volunteers from Avon and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services, encouraging involvement and support year round in addition to the training visit

Legal

The Gambia and Avon Fire Services in Partnership (GAFSIP) is a registered Charitable Trust.

Charitable Trust Registration No. 1106650

Trustees

David Hutchings - Patron and coordinator.

Kevin Pearson - Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive Avon Fire and Rescue Service.

Jerry O’Brien - Deputy Chief Fire Officer Avon Fire and Rescue Service.

James Dack - Treasurer, Financial Services Manager Avon Fire and Rescue Service.

Cllr Astra Brand - Avon Fire Authority

Cllr Glyn Duck - Avon Fire Authority

Cllr Sheila Cook - Avon Fire Authority

Claire Hutchings - Trust Secretary

The Gambia Standard and Service Standard maintained at AFRS H/Q

Officers of the trust

Chris Millard - Training Coordinator

Sandra Connolly - Service Liaison

Contacts

E-Mail: info@gafsip.org

Tel: 01454 772529 David or Claire

Chief Fire Officers Bakurin and Pearson handing over school equipment to two Bansang Schools Training exercise in Bansang IT Suite of donated computers up and running at The Gambia Senior Secondary School New library to accommodate donated books at The Gambia Senior Secondary School Claire Hutchings and Ndey Bakurin with the Head teacher at the Gambia Senior School A student from Wesley Methodist Primary School giving a thank you speech for the computers Children from Wesley Methodist school receiving new computers Redecorated classroom housing new furniture Typical classroom with no books or furniture Classroom with no blackboard, only a painted wall Children happy with new furniture from GAFSIP New school being built September 2005 A classroom now fully furnished with chairs from St.Michael’s Primary school, Winterbourne A typical passenger ferry – You can see the risk! New Fire Station at Kotu Avon Fire Engine at work at a fire in a store in Banjul Breathing Apparatus Store The President of The Gambia – His Excellency Dr Yahya Jammeh receiving a fire appliance for Kanilai from The Deputy Chief Fire Officer – Jerry O’Brien Deputy Chief Fire Officer Jerry O’Brien inspects the building of the new Kanilai Fire Station 2004 Rescue boat and Airfield Training with one the of appliances donated by Airbus UK This fire-fighter’s face says it all Cllr Terry Walker, chair of Avon Fire Authority, speaks of his pride in his involvement with GAFSIP