Since it’s establishment in 2003, the Fisher Foundation has supported over 500 people from Fermanagh to volunteer overseas. 

These grants have made a significant contribution to these volunteers and their endeavours, helping change the lives of people and communities in developing countries across the world and also contributing towards the personal development of the volunteers themselves.

Development programmes

This year’s recipients will be involved in a range of development programmes. 

Pat Maguire, Mary Slevin, Martina Martin and Adrian McGovern will use their grant awards to travel to Capetown later in the year with Mellon Educate. 

The four local volunteers will be helping the organisation build a Primary School as part of their Building Blitz programme, changing the lives of thousands of impoverished children.

The Church Mission Society are being supported by the Fisher Foundation. They support a number of teams throughout Africa and Asia. The missionaries will gain an insight into the problems and joys faced by the Church in these locations, contributing to a wide variety of development projects.

Leprosy Mission NI were awarded a grant from the Fisher Foundation to support their efforts in Nepal. Firstly to aid their work at Anandaban Hospital which provides life changing care and treatment to the poor and marginalised who have no other access to healthcare. 

Curing and caring

Also helping fund their programme of finding, curing and caring for people in neglected leprosy hotspot communities of extreme poverty, where leprosy rates are amongst the world’s highest.

Ruth McKane will travel to Gambia, setting up health clinics and a foodbank as well as visiting the homes of widows distributing a shipment of clothes, shoes and toys. 

Jenna Wheeler will be volunteering in Uganda with ‘Girls Life Ministries’. Having come through two brain surgeries Jenna would like to give back to others by helping and showing God’s love.

Established in memory of Bertie, Mark and Emma Fisher, the Fisher Foundation aims to make a valuable contribution to two key themes: motorsport safety initiatives and supporting local people volunteering overseas. 

The Foundation’s work is firmly based on Bertie and Mark’s love of rallying and safety in the sport and Emma’s commitment to voluntary work overseas by supporting those involved in these areas today. To date well over £400,000 has been distributed to support these two themes, administered by the Fermanagh Trust.

Ernie Fisher, Chairman of the Fisher Foundation said: “With our overall aim of providing much needed financial resources to help those who give their time to assist projects across the world, we are delighted to be in a position to support such excellent work talking place and assisting Fermanagh’s culture of giving and volunteering to help those less fortunate. 

“It is a privilege for the Foundation to be able to support the efforts of these inspiring volunteers and we wish them every success in their worthwhile projects.”

Closing date for applications to the Fisher Foundation is February 28 annually. For more information visit www.fermanaghtrust.org