After what was probably getting on for 15 years or more since the original Childrens Mission buildings were completed, it was not surprising that the Dormitory Blocks, the Classroom Blocks, Main Hall, etc. were showing serious signs of the need for refurbishment and upgrading and, as it happened, in 2019, Penny Vokes, who is one of the Trustees of Children's Aid International (Kenya) and daughter of the Mike and Jane Finch, the Founding Trustees, together with her Partner were signing up to take part in a large charity cycling event to be staged out of Nairobi in Kenya.

 

This event for 'Regain' a Sports Charity was established to help people who have had a sports related spinal cord injury resulting in tetraplegia/quadriplegia involved a group of cyclists - and tetraplegics - cycling from Nairobi and North up the Rift Valley to Kisumu - and travelling through Nakuru and visiting the Children's Mission. Obviously, it was thought that this could be a fund-raising opportunity not to be missed and in the months leading up to the event a number of fund-raising evenings, raffles, and mail-shots were arranged enabling Penny to take a substantial cheque out with her to give to Pastor Michael at the Centre.

 

Whilst out in Nakuru at the Centre, Penny was shocked to see that much refurbishment to the various buildings was desperately needed and vowed that, on her return to the UK, she would head up further local fund-raising to ensure the necessary upgrading could be carried out at the Centre as soon as possible. To add to the urgency of necessary repairs, the NGO Rehema School at the ICM was visited by local government Inspectors who had serious concerns in relation to the state of the Classrooms and general fixtures and fittings and, in consequence, gave the Children's Mission a limited amount of time for the improvements to be carried out if closure was to be avoided.

 

Over the following months Friends, Family and local Businesses all pulled together here in Lymington and a number of substantial payments were able to be made to the International Children's Mission enabling complete upgrading of the Dormitories, Classrooms, Dining Hall including Wall and Floor Tiling, Plastering, Electrics, Glazing and Roof repairs and complete Decorations. Children's Aid International (Kenya) were also able to fund the replacement of over 200 sets of bedding, pillows, and mattresses whilst the Boys themselves were helped in completely refurbishing their existing bed and bunk bed frames and painting.