45 Not Out – The journey has begun!

One year. £45,000. 45,000 pencils. Countless opportunities.

When I first started thinking about how to mark the beginning of my 45th year in business, I wanted to do something that would make a lasting difference. That idea became Project 45 – Mark's Memusi Mission, a year-long fundraising challenge in support of the Memusi Foundation and its work transforming educational opportunities for children in Kenya.

I'm delighted to say that the project is now officially up and running – and, even better, we've already received some incredibly generous donations.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us so far. Your generosity, encouragement and enthusiasm have been fantastic. It's wonderful to see the business community, friends and supporters getting behind the challenge so early in our journey.

But we're only just getting started!

Why the Memusi Foundation?

The Memusi Foundation works alongside communities in Magadi, in Kenya's Great Rift Valley, providing educational opportunities and wider support for children and their families.

Its two schools, Memusi A and Memusi B, educate nearly 1,000 children aged between 3 and 15, while the Foundation also supports 42 other primary schools and Early Childhood Development centres across the wider area.

One of the things that really brought home the impact of this work was discovering that £7,500 can build a classroom, giving 30 children access to an education that might otherwise be unavailable to them.

But it's about so much more than bricks and mortar.

A good school means a guaranteed meal every day for children who might otherwise go hungry. It means access to clean water, healthcare, sanitary products for girls and the books, pencils and resources needed for a good education.

It also means supporting families to develop sustainable livelihoods and helping communities create a better future for themselves.

That's why our challenge is about raising both money and essential educational resources.

An exciting year ahead

The support I've received from the business community across the South Midlands over the past 20 years of fundraising has been tremendous. I wanted Project 45 to be an opportunity to bring people together again, enjoy some great events and, most importantly, make a real difference.

Over the coming year we'll be organising a series of events including leadership insight events with some fascinating speakers, and a live rock gig with WOLF at The Marrs Bar in Worcester.

There will also be opportunities for schools, colleges and universities across Herefordshire and Worcestershire to get involved in our ambitious 45,000-pencil challenge.

Join us for our official launch – Community Carols 2026

We're delighted to announce that Project 45 will be officially launched at the Worcestershire Business & City Community Carols 2026 on Tuesday 15 December.

This special evening will bring together businesses and the wider Worcester community for a festive celebration at All Saints Church, Worcester.

We're particularly pleased to welcome Matt Norton from the Memusi Foundation, who will join us to share the story of the Foundation, explain how its schools have been established and grown, and bring to life the difference that support from people here in Worcestershire can make to children and families in Kenya.

It will be a wonderful opportunity to hear first-hand about the work we're supporting and why Project 45 matters.

Event details:

• Event: Worcestershire Business & City Community Carols 2026

• Date: Tuesday 15 December 2026

• Time: 18:30–20:30

• Venue: All Saints Church, Deansway, Worcester, WR1 2JJ

• Special guest: Matt Norton, Memusi Foundation

We'd love you to join us. Please come along, enjoy the carols and find out more about the mission behind Project 45.  If you plan to attend, please could you let Mark know so we can make sure there are chairs, drinks and mince pies for everyone.

The challenge starts here

There are two numbers I'd love everyone to remember:

£45,000

45,000 pencils and stationery items.

Behind those numbers are children, classrooms, teachers, families and communities. Every donation, every pencil and every bit of support will help create opportunities for children who deserve the chance to learn, grow and achieve their potential.

Thank you again to everyone who has already supported us. If you haven't yet joined the journey, there's plenty of time to get involved.

45 years. One mission. A year to make a difference.

I hope you'll be part of it.

Mark Smith

Support Project 45

If you'd like to make a donation and help us reach our £45,000 target, you can contribute through our JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/project45-mark-smith

Every contribution makes a difference. Thank you for your support!