Walk, Pray, Give for Education

Walk, Pray, Give’ is back, and this time we’re raising funds for the next development at our New Hope Academy Secondary School in Sierra Leone!

The school is growing, now housing four year groups of pupils, which will become six over the next two years. Our ‘Hands of Dorcas’ Tailoring Training project takes place at the Academy too. We aim to complete the building of the second floor and a permanent roof, giving room for the school to grow and to provide space for Bible college courses and more vocational training in the future.

How does ‘Walk, Pray, Give’ work?

 Walk – we aim to walk a collective total of 1061 kilometres, the whole perimeter of Sierra Leone, between everyone taking part; This year we have two organised group walks that you can join in with, both of about 5 miles:

Saturday 9^th May, 10am Tarleton.

Meet at our warehouse: International Aid Trust, Briery Lane, Off Blackgate Lane, Tarleton, Preston, PR4 6UU, just before 10am for a low level walk including country lanes and the River Douglas.

This will be followed by a barbeque back at the warehouse about 1pm, please let us know if you plan to attend for catering numbers.

Saturday 16^th May, 10am Edgworth.

Meet at the Barlow Institute car park, Bolton Road, Edgworth, Bolton, BL7 0AP, just before 10am, for a countryside and woodland ramble.

There is a café on site for refreshments.

 You can also walk wherever you like, or run, cycle, wheel, swim etc. by yourself or with friends, from Thursday 1^st May up to Saturday 31^st May and send the amount of miles to join in with group walks or walk, run, cycle, wheel, etc. by yourself. Email julie@internationalaidtrust.org.uk with your total kms each week to help us reach our goal!

Look out for updates on how far we’ve travelled and where we are in the country on our social media.

You can download posters for Walk Pray Give here: https://bit.ly/4dTkBm6

Pray

Download prayer cards to pray for New Hope Academy and our wider ministry in Sierra Leone, as well as people living in poverty in the country; pray at home, with your group or church, or whilst walking.

There will also be an opportunity to pray together after both of the group walks if you choose to. You can download prayer cards here:  https://bit.ly/4sGXT5h

Give

Donate £1 per km that you walk, get sponsored or sponsor those walking, to help us to complete the final stage of building work at New Hope Academy Secondary School.

Donations can be paid into our bank account: Royal Bank of Scotland, Our Sort Code: 16 28 16, Our Account Number: 10075885,  or through the donations page of our website.

 You can download a sponsorship form here: https://bit.ly/3NYv9Ga

Thank you so much for your support, it is greatly valued.

Please email julie@internationalaidtrust.org.uk if you have any questions.

The post Walk, Pray, Give for Education appeared first on International Aid Trust.

Rev Bernard Cocker, our Founder & CEO has been presented with a Chieftaincy Certificate recognising him as a Paramount Chief by the traditional authorities of Lokomasama Chiefdom in Port Loko District, Sierra Leone, West Africa.

The recognition acknowledges 18 years of Christian ministry and humanitarian service among communities in the region, it was granted on 31 January 2026 by the chiefdom’s traditional leadership in appreciation of the long-term impact of the charity’s work among local communities.

The official certificate states that the honour was given: “In view of the outstanding Christian and humanitarian work of International Aid Trust in Sierra Leone and in our communities.”

You can read more about the award here: Press release Lokomasama Chieftancy

The post Chief Award in Sierra Leone appeared first on International Aid Trust.

Our latest email newsletter is out now!

You can read it here: https://bit.ly/4l0jq5Y

There’s a reflection on faith, hope and courage in Ukraine, four years on from the start of the war and prayers for the people of Ukraine, from our Founder and CEO, Rev. Bernard Cocker.

As well as lots of news and items to pray for from our teams around the world.

The post Ukraine Four Years On – Faith, Hope and Courage appeared first on International Aid Trust.

Ukraine is enduring the harshest winter in 20 years. Temperatures have fallen to –19°C, and millions are without heating after deliberate attacks on the nation’s energy infrastructure.

Families are living in dark, freezing apartments. Elderly and disabled people are trapped in high-rise buildings with no lifts. Children are sleeping in coats and blankets. Homes are flooding as frozen pipes burst.

This is not simply a humanitarian crisis, it is a test of compassion.

“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)

The need Is urgent. Freezing conditions are expected to continue for at least another ten days. Every night without heat places the most vulnerable at serious risk.

How You Can Respond Today:

• Give generously — as God leads you. Every gift matters.
• Share this appeal with your church, small group, and Christian networks.
• Pray earnestly for protection, warmth, endurance, and peace for the people of Ukraine and for those serving on the ground.

To donate now, visit the donation page on our website: Make a Donation – International Aid Trust  please use reference ‘Ukraine Winter’

Your gift becomes an answer to prayer, your donation will help provide:

• Generators to restore power to homes and shelters
• Gas heaters so families can survive the cold
• Power banks and inverters for light and communication
• Warm clothing and bedding for those sleeping in freezing homes

These supplies allow families not only to survive—but to hold onto hope. Putin seeks to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people through suffering. But the Church stands in the gap.

“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ in this moment.

Blessings, love and thanks

Bernard,
Rev. Bernard Cocker, Founder & CEO

The post Ukraine Is Freezing — The Church Must Respond appeared first on International Aid Trust.

Click here to read it.

With an encouraging message from our Founder and CEO, Rev. Bernard Cocker, Christmas closing times, links to videos of your shoeboxes on their journey and last minute gift ideas.

The Trustees and Staff of International Aid Trust wish you joy and peace, in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ this Christmas time.

The post Christmas Message 2025 appeared first on International Aid Trust.

Click here to download our Advent Reflection for 2025.

This year we’re looking at the journey of the Magi to seek Jesus, using the words of Matthew’s gospel, each day there is a verse to reflect on, or an area of our work to pray for, as well as a picture you can print out and colour.

We hope that in this busy season it will help you to enjoy time reflecting on the wonder of Jesus’ birth, and praying for the work being done today through our teams in the UK and around the world, in Jesus’ name.

The post Advent Reflection appeared first on International Aid Trust.

On Saturday 18^th October, 7.00pm (Doors open 6.30pm)

At Claremont Church, St George’s Road, Bolton, BL1 2BY

The Eden Singers present: A Tribute to the Beatles – taking you back to the 60s to hear some of their greatest hits – & A Little Bit of Country – a foot stomping, hand clapping, yee har kind of a show!

Tickets only £7 including refreshments, all proceeds to International Aid Trust. 

Free parking at the Salvation Army car park, just across the road from Claremont Church.

Please email julie@internationalaidtrust.org.uk to reserve your tickets or with any questions.

The post Eden Singers Concert – Saturday 18th October appeared first on International Aid Trust.

Our new furniture shop in Tarleton is now open!

The furniture store is next to our warehouse:
International Aid Trust, Briery Lane, Off Blackgate Lane, Tarleton, Preston, PR4 6UU
For all enquiries, please call 01772 283505

For Google Maps directions, click below:
https://share.google/vvBicEjagrD7imurt

Opening hours:
Monday – Friday: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Saturday: 9.30am – 3.30pm

There’s lots of good quality secondhand furniture for sale at reasonable prices, including:
Sofas & 3-piece suits, tables & chairs, white goods & small domestic appliances, beds, office furniture, home decor, bric-a-brac, framed artwork, and much more…

We are now collecting furniture donations and undertaking house clearances in the following areas:
Southport, Tarleton, Hesketh Bank, Banks, Formby, Croston, Bretherton, Leyland, Ulnes Walton, Preston

Please call in, have a browse and meet Manager Michelle and her team.

The post Our new furniture shop in Tarleton is now open! appeared first on International Aid Trust.

Walk, Pray, Give for Ukraine

Walk, Pray, Give is back! Join us throughout May to walk (or run, cycle or wheel etc.) the distance from our warehouse in Tarleton to Donetsk, Ukraine, raising funds for another emergency vehicle, and to pray for all those affected by the war.

How does Walk, Pray, Give work?

Walk – we aim to walk a collective total of 2,220 miles between everyone joining in, throughout the month of May.

We have two organised walks that you can join in with, both of about 5 miles.

Saturday 10^th May, Tarleton, 10am

Meet at our warehouse: International Aid Trust, Briery Lane, Off Blackgate Lane, Tarleton, Preston, PR4 6UU, just before 10am for a low level walk including country lanes and the River Douglas.

Light refreshments available before and after the walk.

Saturday 17^th May, Edgworth, 10am

Meet at the Barlow Institute car park, Bolton Road, Edgworth, Bolton, BL7 0AP, just before 10am, for a countryside and woodland ramble.

There is a café on site for refreshments.

You can also walk wherever you like, or run, cycle, wheel, swim etc. by yourself or with friends, from Thursday 1^st May up to Saturday 2^nd March and send the amount of miles you’ve walked each week by email to julie@internationalaidtrust.org.uk or post in the event on Facebook.

Here is a poster for the event that you can download and print or share: https://bit.ly/43VbbBH

Walk Pray Give 25 poster

Pray – download prayer cards to pray at home, with your group or church or whilst walking, for all those affected by the war.

There will also be an opportunity to pray together after both of the group walks if you choose to. You can download prayer cards here: https://bit.ly/3G6ca8b

Give – donate £1 per mile you walk, get sponsored or sponsor those walking, to help us to fund the purchase of a 4×4 pickup and its transport to Ukraine.

Our target is to raise the £4,500, to purchase a suitable vehicle and transport it to where it is needed in Ukraine.

Donations can be paid into our bank account: Royal Bank of Scotland, Our Sort Code: 16 28 16, Our Account Number: 10075885,  or through the donations page of our website.

 You can download a sponsorship form here: https://bit.ly/4ig3BVO

If you would like to collect practical aid for our Ukraine Appeal, here is the list of items that are priorities to send: https://bit.ly/3OlDsbZ

The warehouse is always open Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm for donations and Saturday 9am – 12noon for drop off of donations

The post Walk, Pray, Give for Ukraine – May 2025 appeared first on International Aid Trust.

Our next batch of emergency vehicles comprising of four fully functioning ambulances and two 4×4 pickups, will be setting off for Ukraine from Bolton Town Hall at 2.00pm on Sunday 9^th March.

A team of military veterans including The Mayor of Bolton, the Mayor of Westhoughton and the Mayor of Blackrod, and friends from the Royal British Legion will be driving, along with Igor Reshetov our Logistics and Distribution Manager and Trustee Jon Field.

Please join us at the Town Hall at 2.00pm on Sunday 9^th March to hear an update on the difference these lifesaving vehicles make, from our CEO & Founder, Rev. Bernard Cocker, to pray for the journey and for those the ambulances will help and to wave them off!

There will also be opportunities to donate towards our ‘Ambulances and Support Vehicles for Ukraine’ fund and to donate practical aid to be sent to Ukraine at one of our International Aid Trust vans. Here is a link to the list of practical aid we will be collecting:

Donations towards our ‘Ambulances and Support Vehicles for Ukraine’ fund can be made here:

Thank you very much for your support!

The post Emergency Vehicles to Ukraine – 9th March 2025 appeared first on International Aid Trust.