The results of the 10 month pilot training programme have been significant:

1. A total of 8 seminars have been conducted in St Petersburg, Vladivostock , Khabarovsk, Rayzan, Orenburg, Pskov, Pereslavl and  Vologda. Over 600 people have attended the sessions.

2. Almost all of the training programmes have been attended by twice as many people as had signed up, the majority attending had had no previous training in this area, neither teachers or parents.

3.   In Vladivostock Dobro (specialists in children with autism) held 28 consultations with parents and their children over a two day period, for most the first time they had spoken to a specialist and had their child properly diagnosed. 

4.  As a result of the training session in Pskov, the Department of Education and Department of social development here have contracted a training series and will develop a parental association to support the families – this represents a major breakthrough with local government and points the way to future collaboration.

5. In St Petersburg one of the state schools involved in the programme has been so impressed that it is actively encouraging children with special needs to attend and will create new facilities specifically for this group, again a first.

6. A parents support association has been set up as a result of the training in Vladivostok.

7. Russian partner CCP is setting up a national point of reference for parents enabling all parents access to information.

8.  An initiative of the Inside Out Programme has resulted in the Dept. of Education in Orenburg travelling to Moscow and to Pskov which has inspired the development of  a workshop for young adults and children with special needs

Business is realising the programme’s potential to challenge the perception of disability and to increase knowledge and skills across Russia; Linklaters, Jupiter, Ernst & Young,  Renaissance Group, HSBC, KPMG, Mmd  have sponsored the pilot scheme.  We are looking forwarding to announcing our new partners Starbucks and Raiffeisen Bank and also others at the launch of our report in March 2009.

Getting the message to more people and organizations is vital to ensure that momentum and long term impact is maintained on behalf of these children and young people.

The Big and the Small

As a result of the campaign The Big and the Small launched in 2005 we are proud to be able to say that we have created sustainable partnerships between business and our selected projects over a period of three years.  Partnerships that have provided

• financial support for staff salaries 
• business team building events resulting in refurbishing of run-down premises
• Employee Auctions
• Employee giving schemes notably at Clifford Chance

Renaissance Group ran a staff team building exercise through the redecorating of the Big Change premises last summer.

We have created new partnerships between business and the community bringing companies like McDonald's and Shatura to work together on building a new parent’s centre at Moscow's Children's Hospice.

Most importantly we provide a platform for people to come together; leading voices from business, government, media and the NGO sector to broker real change on behalf of disabled children and young people.

The Advisory Board

We are fortunate to be able to count on the support of Senior Partners or Chief Executives from the following companies who have joined our Advisory Board in order to galvanise our fundraising efforts in Moscow.

Results of the Big and the Small Campaign

Business Partnerships set up by Partners in Hope have resulted in long term support of certain of our projects . $400,000 was raised through the Big and the Small Campaign. 

Start-up grants

In the last ten years we have supported many varied projects for vulnerable families and orphaned children by providing 'Start-up' grants. All these projects originated in Russia and have been staffed entirely by Russians.

EU grant award

In 1998 the EU awarded us a large grant to help the South East District Social Welfare Department develop a pilot service for families at risk. This service included a day centre for vulnerable children, family support and mediation, and local care for children orphaned or unable to live with their parents. Moscow City Social Welfare has since adopted the model that was developed.