Goodbye CKI......Hello ARTROOTS

Hi everyone! 

Sorry we haven't been in touch for a while, we've been working behind the scenes and making some BIG decisions about the future of CKI. 

On 12th June we held our AGM in Bristol.  It covered the period 2010/11 and 2011/12 as our last AGM was held in October 2010.

The key decisions that were made were;

1. To dissolve CKI and transfer over all of the CKI assets to the newly registered charity/company ARTOOTS.  

As some of you will know we have been working for the last 2 years on making the structure of the organization more robust in order that we can access more funding.  After many discussions and lots of advice (huge thanks to Graham Partridge from the Bristol & Avon Law Centre), we decided the best option was to register as a charity and company limited by guarantee.  After over a year of working behind the scenes, in March this year we finally received confirmation that Artroots was registered.

Artroots is a registered charity and company set up to carry on the work of CKI (we could not use our existing name).  At present the trustees of Artroots are; Steve Lamprey, Mandy Wong, Julian Thomas, Donna Taylor and newly appointed Jeff Kemble.  Artroots is registered and liable to The Charity Commission and Companies House (you can find our details on both these websites).

We are now in the process of transferring everything over from CKI to Artroots.

2. To put the work of Artroots 'on hold' for 1 year while Mia and Sian follow up on other avenues in their work and personal lives.  

As you may know both Mia and Sian have dedicated much of their own time the last 4 years in a voluntary capacity to run CKI.  After a lot of deliberation and discussion at the beginning of the year, they both made a difficult decision and agreed that they needed a break.  Running CKI has taken up a huge amount of their time and affected their financial/personal circumstances over the last 4 years.  However, they both feel that CKI/Artroots has a lot of potential and that they may be able to come back after a break, revived and full of the energy that is needed to run the organisation and secure funding. At present there is no-one else who is willing/able to take on the roles Mia and Sian have in the organization, and so it is unable to continue to be ‘active’ without their input.  After a year has passed the Artroots board along with Mia and Sian will review the situation, and decide if there is a future for Artroots. 

Mia has recently re-located to London to get more hands-on creative experience in props/costume making, and all sorts of other amazing creative stuff!  

Sian is planning to move to Zambia for a year in Sept, to take up a volunteer post as Development Coordinator with Barefeet Theatre (funding dependent).  More info http://www.justgiving.com/Sian-Lamprey-Barefeet-Dev-Coord

We hope you will support us in this transition and we will of course update you on the future of Artroots.

If you would like anymore information please don’t hesitate to contact us on creativekids.int@hotmail.co.uk

Once the transfer to Artroots is complete we will be closing our CKI e-mail account, and will send out new contact details.

A HUGE THANK YOU!!!

Finally we would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has supported CKI since it began in March 2008!  Whether that be through donating, being a member, volunteering your time, working with us, or attending one of our many fundraising events!  We simply could not have done it without you!

We have learned many new skills……accounting, blogging, performing, even how to make it snow in Lusaka! 

We’ve discovered hidden talents in many who have volunteered with us in Bristol – fashion designers, models, lots of wonderful Grannies and Grandads….and who could forget the hysterical Gertrude our compare, bingo caller and auctioneer! Gertrude by name, gert rude by nature!

And last but definitely not least….we have worked with fantastic, talented and truly inspiring children, young people and adults in Zambia and Kenya!  You have changed our lives, and we will never forget you!

It has been a roller coaster of a ride…so far……

We hope you have a wonderful year, and we will be in touch…..

Sian, Mia and The CKI Team.