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The Monsoon Accessorize Trust

      

About The Trust
Latest News
Projects Supported
Fundraising
Volunteering
FAQs

About The Trust

The Monsoon Accessorize Trust was set up in 1994 to mark Monsoon's 21st birthday.

The Trust aims to help improve the lives of disadvantaged children, young people and women in South Asia with projects focusing on education, health and income generation. This area was chosen in light of Monsoon's long established trading links with the region.

The Trust was originally called 'The Monsoon Trust' but was changed to The Monsoon Accessorize Trust in 2006 to reflect the huge contribution made by everyone in Accessorize.

The Trust has been established as a UK Registered Charity, number 1038446.

Projects supported by The Monsoon Accessorize Trust

VIDYA - Monsoon Vidya School for underprivileged children in Delhi, India.

VIDYA is an Indian non-profit making organisation that aims to support and empower disadvantaged women and children in New Delhi and Mumbai through an integrated programme of education, skills training and income generation projects. VIDYA stands for Vidya Integrated Development for Youth and Adults and also means 'all encompassing education' in Hindi.

The Trust has supported a number of VIDYA projects, including the Bal Vihar Primary School in New Delhi, the Trust's first official project, and a women's micro-entreprise scheme. This aims to help disadvantaged women generate a sustainable source of income.

READS - A programme for deaf and mute children in Jaipur, India.

READS was established 20 years ago with the aim of supporting education of deaf and mute children in Jaipur, with a focus on early diagnosis, fitting of quality hearing aids and teaching children to speak. It began with teaching three children in a small room and has since expanded significantly to encompass a school for 30-40 pre-school/early primary school age children, a diagnosis facility, a diploma course for teachers in deaf education and an outreach programme.

Monsoon is one of READS' largest donors and has funded three READS projects as follows:

• Monsoon Anubodh School building
• Monsoon Diploma in Deaf education
• Monsoon Anubodh Door Step Education Programme (an outreach programme for children in slum areas)

Prakratik Society, Ranthambhore

The Prakratik Society, an Indian environmental non-governmental organisation, aims to save the tiger in the Ranthambore National Park by addressing the root causes of poaching - namely lack of education and poverty. It seeks to achieve its goals through a series of integrated projects in the surrounding 40 villages, including family planning, education, use of alternative energy sources and legal support for the prosecution of wildlife crimes. The Monsoon Accessorize Trust has funded the construction of four buildings:

• Monsoon Middle School, Fateh Public School
• Fateh Senior School
• Lizzie Denyer Mother and Baby Unit in the hospital
• Orthopaedic Unit in the hospital

Fundraising

All employees of Monsoon and Accessorize are encouraged to be involved with The Trust. The majority of fundraising activity takes place in March each year with The Monsoon Accessorize Trusts Charity Week. Shops are encouraged to raise as much as possible while colleagues in Head Office hold daily fundraising activities. These have included fashion shows, raffles, sponsored events, fancy dress and sample sales. Fundraising activities also take place throughout the year. Staff also help out by volunteering ay different fundraising events.

If you would like to get involved in Fundraising for The Trust, please contact the Charity Manager.

If you would like to donate to The Trust, please click on the 'donate' button. You can also send a cheque, made payable to The Monsoon Accessorize Trust to: The Monsoon Accessorize Trust, The Monsoon Building, 179 Harrow Road, London, W2 6NB.

If you are making a one-off donation, please consider 'gift aiding' it. You can do this by printing off this form and sending it with your cheque. This will enable The Trust to claim an additional 28% on top of your donation at no extra cost to you.

The most effective way of giving if you are employed is via 'payroll giving.' Your donation is taken before tax which means a £5 donation only costs you £3.60. It also means that The Charity can claim gift aid on it and it would be worth £6.30. You can give any amount from £1, simply speak to someone in your payroll department who can set this up.

Volunteering

There are two types of volunteering you can do for The Trust. The first is at an international level and involves giving up your time to help out at one of the projects. The second opportunity involves helping out at sample sales which currently take place in and around London every few months over a day or two. If you would like more information about either of these opportunities, please email the Charity Manager..

FAQs

How are projects chosen?
The Trust invites proposals from charitable organisations, working in South Asia to alleviate poverty through education, healthcare or income generation. These are reviewed by the trustees at regular meetings. Specialist staff also visit projects to assess their suitability for funding.

Does the charity have a patron?
The Trust is delighted to have Jodie Kidd as patron of the charity. Jodie visited the projects in India in January 2004.
'Providing education to the under privileged has really made a difference to the communities in India. The Monsoon Accessorize Trust is a worthwhile cause.' - Jodie Kidd

How do I make a donation?
The most tax-effective way of donating to charity is either through Gift Aid (for one-off donations) or via Payroll Giving (for a regular monthly contribution). Please contact the Charity Manager for more information.

What percentage of my donation goes on administration/fundraising?
The Trust is in a fortunate position in that Monsoon Accessorize pays for its administration costs. This means that 100% of any donation goes directly to the projects in South Asia.

Who decides where the money goes?
Major decisions such as funding are made by the trustees. Funding is approved for eligible projects, subject to a review of project accounts and activities

How are projects tracked?
It is a condition upon funding, that The Trust receives quarterly reports about the project, this would include costs incurred, updates on schedules and photographs.

Who are The Trustees?
Peter Simon, the Chairman of Monsoon Accessorize Plc, Rosalynde Harrison the Company Secretary of Monsoon Accessorize Plc, Olivia Lankester Head of Corporate Social Responsibility of Monsoon Accessorize Plc and Gillian Lipton Charity Manager of Monsoon Plc.

Contact details

Gillian Lipton
Charity Manager
The Monsoon Accessorize Trust
The Monsoon Building
179 Harrow Road
London
W2 6NB
glipton@monsoon.co.uk
020 7313 4140