Over the next few weeks, the UK-SVG Friendship Trust will be overhauling its structures to provide better governance and accountability to our stakeholders. We are now the SVG Friendship Foundation (UK). This model will allow our operations to meet the highest regulatory standards set by the UK Charity Commission. Our aim is to give donors and other stakeholders the confidence in our ability to apply sound financial management, reporting and stakeholder engagement in all our undertakings.
Adopting the Foundation model will also allow us to open membership to a broader cadre of Vincentians and friends of SVG with the talent, skills and passion to help us achieve our charitable objectives.
The UK-SVG Friendship Trust was registered on 3rd August 2020 in the United Kingdom as a private limited company by guarantee to pursue various charitable objectives. The overriding objective was to promote and provide for the advancement of education, youth, community and sustainable development, health and well-being, sports and culture in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Over the past year, the Trust responded positively to the explosive eruption of the La Soufriere volcano. We have so far disbursed over EC$500,000 in assistance to the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines through our SVG La Soufriere Recovery Assistance Programme. We intend to continue to render support to communities affected by the volcanic eruption particularly children and women.
The SVG Friendship Foundation (UK) is led by Chairman of Trustees H.E. Cenio lewis. Other Trustees are Mr Steve Maingot, Mr Berton Samuel and Mr Adaiah Providence-Culzac.