Sunday 26 March 2017

Friends of Link for Life Launch Event



A massive thank you once again to everyone that came along to the Friends of Link for Life launch event last night, and another big thank you to Great Wyrley Community Band for providing us with entertainment. The night was a great success, with a great turn out! It was so encouraging to not only receive support from familiar faces, but to also watch the Link for Life family grow. If you couldn't make it to the event last night and are interested in becoming a 'Friend of Link for Life' and helping support us then do get in touch with one of the team.



Sunday 12 March 2017



Head over to our Flickr account to take a look at the photos from the Wolgarston Link for Life team's time in South Africa.
Photo credit to team member and photographer Joe Wilkins - @joewilkinsphoto

Saturday 11 March 2017


Save the date! Two weeks today!! Join us at Peace Memorial Hall in Penkridge on the 25th March for our Friends of Link for Life launch event. From 7pm there will be a chance to hear from the recently returned Wolgarston Team, learn more about Link for Life and what we do, and enjoy fish and chips and entertainment from Great Wyrley Community Band.

Thursday 2 March 2017

Day 10 - Wed 1 March - Bananas, clinics and thoughts about our visit to Africa



Blog 01/03/17



Maisy & Alex write about the team's final full day in Africa

The Wolgarston team at their second base - Mercy Air



This morning we went to a banana plant farm. Whilst we were there, we took care of the few children that were at the mobile clinic. This was because their parents work out on the banana fields everyday and also as they are so young that they need supervision. Although some of the kids at the place we went to didn’t look happy to be playing with us at the start, by the end they were laughing and playing with us. At the banana farm, the workers will get payed R100 (£6.25) for working for 9 hours, however some will work for 10. They get a half an hour break and lunch and most of them even live on the farm, but the living conditions aren’t the best. There weren’t many children at the clinic and they were very overwhelmed to see us. With some friendly gestures and big smiles, we were able to make them laugh and play.


Joe doing the braii by torchlight
At the end of the day were able to enjoy a BBQ ( Called a Braii in South Africa) and talk about our visit and what it has meant to us and the people we have met. 





 As we raised £1,800 to be able to come to South Africa, we learnt that £150 of that will provide three essential services (food, education and healthcare) to one child for 10 months in the community called Siyathuthuka, this is amazingly just £15 pounds a month. This was exciting news for all of us as we thought of a certain child that we had bonded with and knew that we had made an impact to their lives. We will now know that when we leave we will have hopefully changed a child’s life and this will give us the encouragement to continue to help others that are less fortunate than we are. 










The team on their way to Johannesburg for their flight home...One of the best views from a service station anywhere


This visit has been a real eye opener to all of us and has changed the way we see the world. We will leave knowing the stories we have been told and hold them dear to our heart. The whole team is looking forward to going home but we will miss South Africa greatly. It has been an incredible experience and we are very privileged for the opportunity and to have shown what difference we can make to the less fortunate. 



To make donations to the work of Hands at Work in Africa in Siyathuthuka where our Link for Life team has visited, please  go to: https://my.give.net/LinkforLife_Siyathuthuka
This will go towards feeding a child and improving their life for good. Thank you.

Wednesday 1 March 2017

Days 9 & 10 -Mercy Air and a visit to a mobile clinic


Wolgarston goes bananas at the mobile clinic
Day 9 Tuesday 28 February
After leaving Hands at Work the team moved to a new base at Mercy Air - a Christian aviation charity, flying goods and people to remote parts of southern Africa.  They heard a talk from Paul and Cathy Middleton, who live and work at Mercy Air, telling their story of how they came to be in South Africa after spending much of their earlier life in Walsall.  Paul is a pilot, flying light aircraft and Cathy is a Midwife and nurse trainer. 

Day 10 Wednesday  March
The team travelled with Cathy Middleton to a banana farm when Cathy joins with trianee nurses from the Africa School of Missions to provide a mobile clinic to the families who live and work on the farm.  The team helped with the creche and played with the children, joining in with some painting activities and giving the children some yoghurts which was a real treat for them.
The living conditions at the farm are not great and the mobile clinic (which is free to access)  gives welcome help and support to the families and children who spend much of their lives living and working there.
After returning from the mobile clinic it was time to pack and get ready for the long journey home which begins on Thursday 2nd March.  There have plans for a Braii ( South African BBQ) and a debrief time before heading for sleep.