2+
Years of fundraising
5+
Projects Undertaken
400+
People Helped
99+
Donors So Far
Be The Reason
Someone Finds
Shelter
Someone Finds
Shelter
It is vital that mothers are given the chance to stay locally, in a safe and secure environment, until they can rebuild their lives and reintegrate into the community. This is why I want to create a shelter – a safe haven for those who find themselves homeless, unsupported, and without love or care.
LittleWood Creek Community Shelter
The Heart of Our Story
At the heart of this journey are my sister Lyn and my mum Carol ❤️
In 2018, I lost my beautiful big sister Lyn. Around the same time, my mum Carol was fighting for her life after a heart operation. Tragically, I lost them both within a short period.
Losing them so close together changed my perspective on life forever. It made me realise just how fragile and short life can be — that everything can change in an instant, and the time we have is never guaranteed.
In the midst of that grief, I asked myself a difficult question:
If I died tomorrow, what could I say I had done to make a difference?
That question stayed with me and slowly led me down a new path — one focused on helping others wherever I could.
That path eventually led me to Kenya, where I began spending time in rural villages, meeting the most kind, resilient, and welcoming people. What started as wanting to help in small ways quickly grew into something much bigger.
The warmth, strength, and spirit of the Kenyan community deeply touched my heart, and it became clear that this was where I was meant to focus my efforts.
What began as a personal search for meaning after loss has grown into a mission to support women, children, and families who deserve safety, opportunity, and hope for a better future.
In many ways, this journey — and everything that has come from it — is part of Lyn and Carol’s legacy. ❤️
Our Story - Why We Are Building The Shelter
Sometimes the reason behind a mission can be traced back to one person.
For us, that person is Irene ❤️
Irene is a single mother to six children, and when we first met her she had already endured more than most. In her past, Irene experienced domestic abuse, including coercive control and neglect. At times, her husband would even deprive her and the children of food, leaving her to fight just to provide the most basic needs for her family.
When we first met her, she was renting a small mud hut that flooded regularly — a home that simply wasn’t safe or suitable for raising six children.
But what Irene lacked in resources, she made up for in determination, intelligence, and an incredible work ethic.
With just £120, we helped Irene take a small step forward by setting up a small business selling firewood.
That small opportunity changed everything.
Today, Irene’s business has grown beyond what any of us imagined. She no longer sells just firewood — she now sells charcoal as well, and her business has grown so much that she employs someone to chop the wood for her.
Irene is no longer just surviving.
She is an employer.
Through sheer determination and hard work, Irene has built a life that once seemed impossible. She now owns a three-bedroom brick house, with an extra room dedicated to selling her wood and charcoal. With a little help from us toward purchasing her home, she was able to take that final step into stability and security for her family.
Her home is now full of life, with dogs, cats, and chickens roaming around the yard.
Seeing Irene today — healthy, confident, and thriving — is a powerful reminder of what can happen when someone is given support, safety, and an opportunity.
Her story is the reason we are building the shelter.
Because there are many more mothers like Irene — women who have faced hardship, abuse, and instability, but who have the strength to rebuild if they are given a safe place and a chance.
The shelter exists to provide exactly that:
Safety, stability, and the opportunity for a brighter future.
And if Irene’s journey has taught us anything, it’s this:
When you support a mother, you change the future of an entire family. ❤️🫶
Witnessing The Vulnerability many face
For the past four years, my family and I have been visiting Kenya, and during this time, we have witnessed first-hand the vulnerability many people face.
- We have seen children with no place to call home, and women fleeing domestic abuse with their children in tow. Often, these mothers are forced to travel vast distances to return to family members for safety, making it almost impossible for their children to continue their education. Without an education, life in Kenya becomes incredibly difficult.
- It is vital that mothers are given the chance to stay locally, in a safe and secure environment, until they can rebuild their lives and reintegrate into the community. This is why I want to create a shelter – a safe haven for those who find themselves homeless, unsupported, and without love or care.
- I envision a place where women and children can feel safe, valued, and nurtured. A home they can be proud of, a place filled with love, where they can rebuild their lives and eventually stand on their own two feet, stronger and more resilient than ever before.
Gill Vailes | Founder
Fundraising Champions
Behind every step forward at LittleWood Creek, there are people who go above and beyond to make it happen, our incredible Fundraising Champions.
- These are the everyday heroes who turn passion into action. From hosting events and taking on personal challenges, to rallying their communities and sharing our story, they’ve helped raise vital funds that are transforming lives.
- Their dedication has helped us bring clean water to the village, power our land through Project Power, build a safe road to our site, and take real steps toward completing our shelter for women and children. Every pound raised, every effort made, has brought us closer to our vision.
- But beyond the numbers, what makes our Fundraising Champions truly special is their heart. They see a need—and they choose to respond. They believe, like we do, that everyone deserves a safe place to call home, and they’re doing something about it.
- To our champions: thank you. You are a driving force behind this mission. You remind us that when people come together with purpose, incredible things happen.
- Want to become a Fundraising Champion? We’d love to welcome you to the team. Get in touch and let’s make change together.
Support Our Shelter In Kenya
Every Gift Matters And Every Gesture Creates Change.
Together we can protect, nourish, and empower vulnerable women and children. We’re building a safe and loving shelter for women and children in Kenya who need protection, care, and a fresh start. Every donation helps provide food, shelter, opportunity, and hope.
Our Target Goal £50,000
So far 2026
5%
Went to spend some time with the kids at school on my last day of the Mud Hut, such a lovely school, it’s ran by sponsorships in Austria… they are doing a lovely job 🥰 Little Hassan in his class… ♥️ If you would still like to donate to the Mud Hut stay and getting a roof on the shelter it would be much appreciated 🥰 https://littlewoodcreek.com/48hrs-in-mud-hut/ • #school #kenya #sponsorships #support #education
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