Thornbury charity worker heads to Eastern Europe

Pete Brady, chairman of Thornbury-based aid charity Holding Out Hope, is flying out to Bulgaria to visit a small village called Samuil on Thursday, December 9.

In Samuil there is a large institution for 110 adults with learning disabilities and for the past three years Holding Out Hope has been focusing its aid efforts in supporting the people who call the Samuil Institution their home.

Previously the charity had undertaken projects at Romanian institutions but after watching a BBC documentary called Bulgaria's Abandoned Children he decided to expand its work.

"I am proud to say that two weeks after watching this film, I visited the children's home that was featured with two other volunteers.

"Whilst on that trip we decided that we wanted to find an institution for adults to see what life had in store for the children in the future so we discovered Samuil, which we have been supporting ever since," said Mr Brady.

Mr Brady said the Samuil Institution was a grim place in poor condition, with little or no heating.

He said: "The place looks more like a prison than an establishment providing care, though many of the staff do what they can for the residents. The appalling environment is one of their biggest obstacles."

During his visit there this week Mr Brady is taking £1,600 in cash with him, collected through fundraising and donations, to spend on essentials such as clothes, shoes, food, toiletries, medicines and also some Christmas treats.

He added: "We can buy a huge amount for our money in Bulgaria, especially second hand clothes and shoes, so there is no point in driving goods into Bulgaria from the UK, particularly because of the huge cost in taking a vehicle. It’s much better to just take the money."

For more information about Holding Out Hope or to find out about the Samuil Institution and how to help, visit www.holdingouthope.co.uk or contact Pete Brady on 01454 411714 or via peter.e.brady@hotmail.co.uk