Dear Bolton School Parents and Carers,

Last July you will probably remember your amazing children taking part in a sponsored walk to the top of Rivington and the levels, as a fundraiser.

You certainly will have helped to encourage your children to gain sponsorship and having walked alongside the older school, I know that they were encouraged to keep going by the staff at Bolton School.

I was fortunate enough to thank three girls from years 5 and 6 at Hesketh House personally, on my regular drivetime show on Bolton FM.  Lily, Imogen and Isla spoke so eloquently about the fundraising they had done, which provided school bags and equipment for me to take out to our high school children in Malawi last year.  The girls were amazing interviewees with bucketloads of energy.  They are back on my show Wednesday 25^th June at 4pm.  Maybe a future in radio beckons for them!

Including monies already raised by Mrs Julia Marsden (Hesketh House Year 6 teacher), a whopping £59,338.22 was raised for Great Minds Bright Futures.  As a consequence, Bolton School were awarded Best Charity/Outreach Story by Interactive Schools back in March this year for this amazing effort.  Congratulations to all!  2025 Winners-School Stories Awards, Presented by Interactive Schools

Our plan has always been to build a high school in Malawi, to help our orphans into high school education (so many children do not attend high school).  We want to create a facility to parallel the high standards our children enjoy here at Bolton School and this mission is still alive.  In fact, we are happy to share working drawings of the planned school.

Designs kindly created by Studio Power Studio Power

Initial cost estimates for the high school are in the region of £1m and although £59,338.22 is a substantial amount, it is short of the final total.  The charity has been working on many creative initiatives in order to build for less.  We are working with Domis Construction, who are finding tradespeople from the UK to visit and build the high school.  Through their supply chain, they will help to source materials.  This all takes time and planning.  If you are a tradesperson in the building construction industry and would like to get involved, please do get in touch!  Our email is  info@greatmindsbrightfutures.co.uk

As well as our school building programme, every day we feed and care for orphans.  Just down the road from our main feeding centre is Dzaleka Refugee Camp.  It houses children who have fled Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  Children are still arriving daily with conflicts still happening in DRC.

After visiting personally in November 2024 and March 2025, Great Minds Bright Futures has begun to feed sixty children on this refugee camp.  I have always been astounded by the poverty of Malawian village families (minimum wage in Malawi is around £1 per day), but nothing had prepared me for the refugees living in Malawi and the scale of their issues.

Sadly, none of these children can attend primary school, as the Malawian Government does not provide a school for refugee children.  And given that their carers receive just $5 per month to survive, they are unable to afford local private schools, meaning no access whatsoever to education.

Great Minds Bright Futures has identified land and buildings close to the camp and have begun the process of building a primary school for these children.

Work is planned to take until March 2026.  Mrs Marsden will be donning her hard hat in February to check on the progress and if you want to keep up to date with progress you can follow our Instagram, Facebook or TikTok @greatmindsbrightfutures – (you can also join her, please read on).

This facility will make a significant difference to these children, as education is the key to escaping poverty.  Every child who has been involved fundraising here in Bolton can feel proud of their efforts to enrich the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children of Africa.  Mrs Marsden, Mr Britton and myself are all excited at the opportunity Bolton School children will have in the future to visit and see for themselves their valuable contribution, fitting in with the many core values of Bolton School.

Our invitation is also extended to any parents or carers too.  Equally if you would like to assist in any other way, you can get in touch by emailing us info@greatmindsbrightfutures.co.uk or catch me in the car park during drop offs or collections of my own children.

Finally, whilst I have your valuable attention, I would like to share some other brilliant things with you.

Great Minds Bright Futures have three trips planned for 2025/6.

The first is a Transformational Retreat for 7 days, allowing anyone with deep rooted issues or even those who want direction or growth in their lives to fly to Malawi in October.  This trip has two trained counsellors and so many things planned to improve each participants wellness, plus you will spend time with our children.  Each place also contributes to the charity with a donation included in the price.  More details can be found on our website Malawi Retreats – Great Minds Bright Futures

Our second trip in February 2026, is being led by Mrs Marsden from Hesketh House.  A small party will go in the February half-term and will undertake some capacity building with our team in Malawi, spending time encouraging and motivating our children.  If you are interested in joining this, you can contact us directly on info@greatmindsbrightfutures.co.uk

For the more physically adventurous, we are running Mission Malawi in May 2026.  This is a cycling, hiking and kayaking experience in Malawi in the warm heart of Africa, with the final destination meeting our children in Dowa, Malawi.  We have run 7 of these trips over the years, they are thoroughly enjoyable, life changing and physically demanding.  For more details see How to Help – Great Minds Bright Futures

You can also sponsor a child, just £25 per month covers food, health, hygiene and our team of staff to give the children encouragement and activities.  You will also get updates regarding your sponsored child and an opportunity for your own child(ren) to keep in touch.

We also have a container located on site at Bolton School.  Our plan is to undertake regular collections of aid that can be shipped to Malawi.  Please rummage around for pre-loved uniforms, shoes, trainers and kids clothes and look out for the dates in school newsletters to bring in your donations.

Just for your reassurance, Great Minds Bright Futures is a registered charity whereby every penny donated goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children.  We have no UK costs.

Finally, if you are on TikTok, Great Minds Bright Futures supports some entertaining orphans in Uganda, called the Aimers Kids.  Their dancing and funny videos are heartwarming.  Give them a follow too @aimerskidsfoundation.

Thank you so much for your continued support of Great Minds Bright Futures.

Dave Armstrong, Founder, Great Minds Bright Futures