James’ Around the World 2024/25 Challenge supports two charities and the details and JustGiving links are below with all donations gratefully received.
About Kindled Spirit
Kindled Spirit a UK based charity founded in 2013, works to break the cycle of exploitation of young women from poorer, rural communities across India. Our mission is to enable victims of trafficking and other forms of abuse to live independent, fulfilling lives beyond their traumatic experiences. Our work is conducted in Mumbai through our long-term partner, Kshamata, a small NGO with which we have a decade-long exclusive relationship formalised by a memorandum of understanding.
Our unique approach to long-term rehabilitation, developed by award-winning philanthropist Bharathy Tahiliani (CEO – Kshamata), follows a three-stage model: ENGAGE, EQUIP, and EMPOWER. This model prioritises holistic recovery tailored to each woman, starting with trauma counselling and medical care, followed by life skills and vocational training.
Key characteristics of our model include individualised plans for each girl, contextually developed strategies, and a focus on long-term, self-sustainable outcomes. Rehabilitation typically takes 15-18 months, after which participants emerge as bold, independent citizens with transferable skills. The young women have found employment in diverse fields such as retail, banking, catering, policing, and even taxi driving, continuing to enjoy freedom and empowerment, thereby contributing to an empowered community and workforce.
The immediate impact the girls experience is the feeling of safety, compassion and aspiration. They continually participate in the construction and development of their rehabilitation and reintegration plan which makes the overall programme more effective and ensures positive engagement with the young women. Over the past 10-years, collectively we have transformed the lives of over 1200 young women.
THE BATON OF HOPE. What We Stand For.
The Baton of Hope UK is a suicide prevention charity borne out of the grief of bereaved parents. It was co-founded by Mike McCarthy following the death of his beloved son Ross (31) in 2021.
Ross left a heart wrenching letter in which he said goodbye to each member of his family and made what was to be his last request:” Please fight for mental health. The support is just not there.”
Ross had suffered for more than ten years with severe depression but when he went to the NHS to ask for therapy he was put on a six-month waiting list. He died two weeks into the wait.
Tragically his story is far from unique. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK and women under 30. The statistics have shown little or no movement for 17 years.
The Baton of Hope is a unique concept that campaigns to smash the stigma around suicide and bring about practical change in the nation’s approach to suicide prevention.
When goldsmiths and silversmiths to the late Queen Elizabeth II heard about the charity they offered to make an exquisite symbol of Hope which has been carried across the UK opening up conversations and
campaigning for better research, more funding, vast improvements in our mental health service and proper support for those bereaved by suicide and suicide survivors.
They have recently introduced a Workplace Pledge which is a kitemark of best practice for suicide prevention in our places of employment. Next year they will stage another UK tour visiting 20 UK locations with the Baton Of Hope.
The Baton of Hope UK Ltd is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
Company registration no: 14221678, and registered at The Circle, 33 Rockingham Lane, Sheffield, S1 4FW