In the past few years Progressive have supported the charities mentioned, in no particular order, on this page. We hope that you find this of interest.
Life for the world Trust [CAMBODIA/LAOS/POLAND/UKRAINE/UK]
LFTW’s mission is to enhance addiction treatment and recovery through quality addictions training and project support, particularly in partnership with local churches and Christian community projects.
Equally, they are working with ex-offender projects, youth prisons and with drug projects both in the UK and internationally.
LFTW has been working in addictions recovery for over 40 years.
Addictions affect about one third of the UK population, and many others, especially family members and even communities become involved. The issue is often misunderstood, whether it is substance abuse, gambling, eating disorders or pornography. Addicts are frequently stigmatised and marginalised in a society that often lacks compassion for the fallen.
Julian Lott [MALAWI]
Unashamedly, Julian & Caroline Lott are God’s representatives within villages that have not known His love in a practical way before; His ambassadors who are trying to bring a message of hope – both in their words and in their actions. The bible contains a chilling condemnation for those who do not show love for their brothers whom they have seen, but say that they love God, whom they have not seen. On principle, They do not give to those who are able to help themselves. They limit the aid to the orphaned, the very young, the sick and the old.
The Joseph Project - In 2002 they began to help orphans in a village with a distribution of food that thyey had been able to buy with a gift left by a visitor to their church planting work. From that very small start they have seen a significant programme develop. In 2006, they gave a hot meal to over 5000 starving children and elderly people four times each week over a period of 3 months, until the harvest arrived. Additionally, they were able to employ nearly 600 people who we paid a dollar a day (often seen as the measure of whether a person earns enough to live above the poverty line or not), in the preparation and distribution of the food aid, and in growing food for the then current year’s programme. In 2007 they ran a much reduced programme reaching about 2,500 of the neediest people three times a week, working in 6 different centres.
Daily they meet old people and children who do not have shoes, adequate clothing, soap or blankets for the cold nights; people who live in mud huts that are permanently damp (or worse) during the rains that last for 4 months, because they can not afford to cover their roofs with basic plastic sheeting; people who cannot receive medical help because they are considered by their fellow Malawians to be too poor to deserve help, or because medicines are stolen by the people entrusted with caring for the sick; people whose daughters or granddaughters run the greatest risk of any expectant mothers in the world of dying when bringing another life into the world – often dying alone, in a dark, dirty hovel that she is proud to call home. We cannot do otherwise than seek to help in whatever way we can. In so doing the Lotts are trying to teach the churches that they too can show love because God first loved them.
Foster homes, not orphanages – For each child that they are able to assist they want to give him a home where he can be cared for by loving guardians, who would foster him and care for him as if he were a natural member of their family. They have begun with just one home, where two members of the leadership team, John and Betha, have accepted 6 orphans into their family.
Children’s Homes in Kerala State [INDIA]
This is a small charity that supports Indian children who are being saved from cruelty and neglect; they are being supported when families in poverty cannot afford to feed them, or they are rescued from the streets. 
In the mid-1990s, Sister Mary Mathew joined with Robin Radley, a friend of many years, from England, to provide love and security for such children. Five boys and girls were taken in to the Home that they provided, in 1996; today some 70 children of all ages are being cared-for, and dozens more have enjoyed short-stay care while families resolve domestic difficulties.
This sanctuary, in the SW State of Kerala, is named Karunanilayam– Home of Mercy. In UK, the charity Chiks was set up and registered with the UK Charity Commission. Chiks (that’s Children’s Homes in Kerala State) provides all the Home’s needs and ensures that every child can enjoy a good education. Training for independence is guaranteed for any who wish to follow a career. And for everyone, Karunanilayam is a permanence in their life, a place to which they may turn at any time.
Sister Mary, born into a Christian Indian family, was destined to dedicate her life to the neediest among humanity; as a teenager she travelled to Calcutta to join the Missionaries of Charity. She was trained by Mother Teresa, and Mary’s Christian faith and total commitment to India’s poorest of the poor remain her guiding principles.
Chiks’ trustees were to recognise that their help should be spread wider; countless other children were crying out for help. Two Homes in mountain regions were subsequently identified as those to which funds, when available, should be diverted. Much has been done to improve conditions, and in 2006 the charity had the satisfaction of seeing newly-created structures opened on both sites, and about 100 children move in. These Homes are the Carmal Matha Santhi Bhavan and The Little Flower Mercy Home.
The objective is to set them all up with profitable self-sufficiency, in order that produce may be sold to create wealth as well as providing food for the Homes’ consumption.
(Chiks Reg. No. is 1076469)
Regain [UK]
Regain is a charitable organisation dedicated solely to improving the independence of all British men and women who have become tetraplegic (sometimes referred to as quadriplegic) as a result of a competitive sports injury. Money is made available for potential Regainers to help provide them with the specialist equipment they need to enable them to achieve greater independence and improve their quality of life.
SCOUTS [UK]
The Scout Association provides adventurous activities and personal development opportunities for c400,000 young people aged 6-25. Internationally, they have over 28 million young people enjoying the benefits of Scouting across 216 countries. Personal development means promoting the physical, intellectual, social and spiritual well-being of the individual, helping them achieve their full potential. They believe that young people develop most when they are ‘learning by doing,’ when they are given responsibility, working in teams, taking acceptable risks and thinking for themsleves.
Macmillan Cancer Support aims to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. They provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care. Their primary goal is to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer.
Multiple Sclerosis Society [UK]
The MS Society is the UK’s largest charity for people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). The Society funds MS research, runs respite care centres, provides grants (financial assistance), education and training on MS.
Race for Life [UK] 
Race for Life is Cancer Research UK’s flagship event, which brings together thousands of women each year to walk, jog or run 5k and raise money to beat cancer. Cancer Research UK is a leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research. Their groundbreaking work has saved millions of lives.
