Channel Swim Letter (fundraising)

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A team of engineers at whitbybird has designed and is helping to construct a new
library in the town of Waterloo, Sierra Leone as part of the country’s post-civil war
reconstruction. We were invited to coordinate the scheme in early 2005 and have
been involved ever since; the project goes on site in November.

Championing the project is Claire Curtis-Thomas MP, Chair of the Waterloo
Partnership, a charity which twins Waterloo, Sierra Leone with a town of the
same name in her Merseyside constituency. Through the Waterloo Partnership,
Claire has worked closely with the Waterloo, Sierra Leone community and
as an engineer herself recognised the need for a capital project to stimulate
development.

When Claire asked the people of Waterloo, Sierra Leone what development
scheme they most wanted for their community, they replied without hesitation – a
library. The opportunity for social investment is not just in the building itself but in
the eff ects of the building. This project will not only provide the local community
with a much needed education space and IT resources, it will create jobs and
provide training during and after construction.

On his recent ‘farewell tour’ Tony Blair visited Sierra Leone and met Claire to
discuss the library, he described the project as an “absolutely wonderful idea”.
Gordon Brown added “this is fantastic idea and fi ts in very well with our objectives
for global schools for the future”. John Prescott has also given his backing to this
project and all three support plans for a series of similar library projects across
Sierra Leone and Africa to be dedicated to Olaudah Equiano, a repatriated
West African slave whose writings formed the backbone of the British abolition
movement.

Claire has done some remarkable work in getting the project underway and as
part of our commitment to the project we are planning a variety of fundraising
activities to raise money for the Waterloo Partnership; the fi rst of which is a crosschannel
swim. This July seven members of staff will brave the cold, choppy waters
of the English Channel to swim 35km from Dover to the shores of Cap Gris Nez,
France.

Through the swim we aim to raise £25,000 and we are seeking sponsorship to
help achieve this total. If you would like to make a donation please follow the
instructions on the reverse of this letter which includes details of where to send
your contribution and a Gift Aid declaration.
Your support is much appreciated.