ILKLEY Tools for Africa, a small group of volunteers may have to change its name as it launches an appeal for help to send tools to Sri Lanka for the first time.

For 12 years, the group has been collecting unwanted tools and sewing machines, refurbishing them and sending them to assist development projects in a number of African countries. It is continuing to do that through the national charity Workaid and recently reached the magnificent total of 20,000 tools and 200 sewing machines. The change of name may come about through a link that has been forged with the Nuffield School for the Deaf and Blind in Kaithady, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The volunteers were asked by the principal to help establish vocational training programmes at the school and set the task of providing 1,000 carpentry tools and eight sewing machines. They have been working on this steadily throughout 2016 and are now close to sending the first load to Sri Lanka. This direct link means that Ilkley Tools for Africa takes on the responsibility of getting the tools from its workshops to the school. Previously that, and the expense incurred, was handled by Workaid.

Therefore the volunteers are making an appeal for individuals and organisations to help fund the shipping of the tools and sewing machines to Sri Lanka. All the items will be packed in strong boxes and £25 will cover the cost of carrying one of them. If anyone would like to sponsor Ilkley Tools for Africa in this venture, contact Frank McCrickard on 01943 608655 or email: thatcanyon@talktalk.net

Labels naming sponsors will be attached to the boxes.