South African orphans give Tranmere Kit

A team of 12 officers being led by the Association of Chief Police Officers and representing forces across the country, including the UK Football Policing Unit, are in South Africa for the 2010 tournament.

The team have already made their policing presence felt after being deployed in uniform during England’s first group match against the USA in Rustenberg.

However, today they took time out from their policing commitments to meet local children from an orphanage in Eikenhof, 20kms outside of Johannesberg.

UKFPU co-ordinator Tony Conniford said officers had approached local football clubs before the trip to ask them to donate goods to be given to South African children in need.

The officers today handed out kit from Stoke City, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tranmere Rovers, Newcastle United and Shrewsbury Town to more than 30 children at the TLC orphanage.

The orphanage, which was set up over 17 years ago, cares for 70 children from birth to 17. It is one of the few orphanages in South Africa that takes on children with disabilities and more than 10 per cent of its children are HIV positive. It is run by a small team of volunteers, many of whom have adopted children themselves.

Pippa Jarvis, whose mother founded the centre, has nine children, recently adopting a small baby with HIV.

Tony said: “I had the honour of meeting people associated with the TLC orphanage last year when we were working out logistics during the Confederation Cup. Through the FA and the UK Football Supporters Federation we were able to link up with two English volunteers who were working at the centre. I knew when we came back for the World Cup that we needed to do something for these kids.

“Most of them have been abandoned, some left in fields and the work done here to care for them and get them adopted is just amazing. Doing this today is just a world away from the work we’ve been doing here around the World Cup and it really just brings you back down to earth.”

Chief Superintendent Dave Lewis, from Merseyside Police said: “It was a privilege to visit and bring some happiness to some lovely children who we all hope have a successful future. Their carers do a fantastic job and we wish them well.

"Football is an international game and the children here, like those in Merseyside, love it. They were absolutely delighted with the football gifts that were donated from our local clubs.  I've no doubt that they will be wearing the shirts for months to come.”

PS Mark Carroll, from the Metropolitan Police said: “Visiting a place like this just makes you realise how fortunate we are and how lucky my own children are. To see the faces of young kids with a smile despite having very little is something I won’t forget in a long time. To bring some enjoyment into their lives was a real treat.”

PC John Miles, from Staffordshire Police said: “It was a real levelling experience. It was nice to have the opportunity to give a group of under privileged kids some kit from my hometown – Stoke City. It was so pleasing to see so many smiley and happy children of all ages. I take my hat off to those who take their time out to volunteer and care for these children.”

PC Mick Smith, from Northumbria Police said: “It was such a humbling experience. Seeing kids with so many different needs all cared for by volunteers – many part-time including people who have come over from England to do their part. One little girl called Ruth, who was just a baby, was HIV positive and had been abandoned in a hospital. She is now being adopted by one of the volunteers. Being able to give them an extra smile today by giving out teddy bears from Northumbria Police and sports bags from Newcastle United was just fantastic.”

PC Cliff Lea, from Greater Manchester Police said: “It was overwhelming. It makes you realise how much we can take for granted. It’s fantastic that someone is there to fill the void and offer a loving and caring home for these kids. Where would those children be without the people here who are looking after them?”

PC Alan Roberts, from West Mercia Police said: “It was a very humbling experience. To see the pleasure on the kids faces from things that we take for granted like football kits was fantastic as was the work done by the people who volunteer in the orphanage. The whole experience just reminds you that there are people less fortunate than us and thankfully there are people out there who go into battle for them to give these kids the best chance in life they can.”

PC Tim Gant, from West Midlands Police said: “It was an eye-opening experience for me to meet such a dedicated team who against the odds give these kids a chance in life that they would otherwise not have. Every single one of the kids we met had a massive smile on their face due to the love and care of Pippa and her team.”

DC Huw James, from Thames Valley Police and seconded to the UK Football Policing Unit, said: “In my working life I’ve had the honour and the privilege to work in many cities and countries all over the world. In all cases all people I’ve met have had the support and love of families and friends around them. To visit this orphanage today and see so many children without that traditional love and support was truly humbling. With all the money that is ploughed into such a tournament as the World Cup it really brings home to you that so many millions of people within the African continent live such simple and humbling lives.”

DC Graham Catley, from the Metropolitan Police and seconded to the UK Football Policing Unit said: “While the rest of the world and South Africa are celebrating the football, this was the most incredible, humbling experience to meet the under privileged children who have had the most desperate start in life. I have nothing but admiration for the carers of these children and this experience will be a constant reminder of how fortunate I and people like me are.”

A team of 12 officers being led by the Association of Chief Police Officers and representing forces across the country, including the UK Football Policing Unit, are in South Africa for the 2010 tournament.

The team have already made their policing presence felt after being deployed in uniform during England’s first group match against the USA in Rustenberg.

However, today they took time out from their policing commitments to meet local children from an orphanage in Eikenhof, 20kms outside of Johannesberg.

UKFPU co-ordinator Tony Conniford said officers had approached local football clubs before the trip to ask them to donate goods to be given to South African children in need.

The officers today handed out kit from Stoke City, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tranmere Rovers, Newcastle United and Shrewsbury Town to more than 30 children at the TLC orphanage.

The orphanage, which was set up over 17 years ago, cares for 70 children from birth to 17. It is one of the few orphanages in South Africa that takes on children with disabilities and more than 10 per cent of its children are HIV positive. It is run by a small team of volunteers, many of whom have adopted children themselves.

Pippa Jarvis, whose mother founded the centre, has nine children, recently adopting a small baby with HIV.

Tony said: “I had the honour of meeting people associated with the TLC orphanage last year when we were working out logistics during the Confederation Cup. Through the FA and the UK Football Supporters Federation we were able to link up with two English volunteers who were working at the centre. I knew when we came back for the World Cup that we needed to do something for these kids.

“Most of them have been abandoned, some left in fields and the work done here to care for them and get them adopted is just amazing. Doing this today is just a world away from the work we’ve been doing here around the World Cup and it really just brings you back down to earth.”

Chief Superintendent Dave Lewis, from Merseyside Police said: “It was a privilege to visit and bring some happiness to some lovely children who we all hope have a successful future. Their carers do a fantastic job and we wish them well.

"Football is an international game and the children here, like those in Merseyside, love it. They were absolutely delighted with the football gifts that were donated from our local clubs.  I've no doubt that they will be wearing the shirts for months to come.”

PS Mark Carroll, from the Metropolitan Police said: “Visiting a place like this just makes you realise how fortunate we are and how lucky my own children are. To see the faces of young kids with a smile despite having very little is something I won’t forget in a long time. To bring some enjoyment into their lives was a real treat.”

PC John Miles, from Staffordshire Police said: “It was a real levelling experience. It was nice to have the opportunity to give a group of under privileged kids some kit from my hometown – Stoke City. It was so pleasing to see so many smiley and happy children of all ages. I take my hat off to those who take their time out to volunteer and care for these children.”

PC Mick Smith, from Northumbria Police said: “It was such a humbling experience. Seeing kids with so many different needs all cared for by volunteers – many part-time including people who have come over from England to do their part. One little girl called Ruth, who was just a baby, was HIV positive and had been abandoned in a hospital. She is now being adopted by one of the volunteers. Being able to give them an extra smile today by giving out teddy bears from Northumbria Police and sports bags from Newcastle United was just fantastic.”

PC Cliff Lea, from Greater Manchester Police said: “It was overwhelming. It makes you realise how much we can take for granted. It’s fantastic that someone is there to fill the void and offer a loving and caring home for these kids. Where would those children be without the people here who are looking after them?”

PC Alan Roberts, from West Mercia Police said: “It was a very humbling experience. To see the pleasure on the kids faces from things that we take for granted like football kits was fantastic as was the work done by the people who volunteer in the orphanage. The whole experience just reminds you that there are people less fortunate than us and thankfully there are people out there who go into battle for them to give these kids the best chance in life they can.”

PC Tim Gant, from West Midlands Police said: “It was an eye-opening experience for me to meet such a dedicated team who against the odds give these kids a chance in life that they would otherwise not have. Every single one of the kids we met had a massive smile on their face due to the love and care of Pippa and her team.”

DC Huw James, from Thames Valley Police and seconded to the UK Football Policing Unit, said: “In my working life I’ve had the honour and the privilege to work in many cities and countries all over the world. In all cases all people I’ve met have had the support and love of families and friends around them. To visit this orphanage today and see so many children without that traditional love and support was truly humbling. With all the money that is ploughed into such a tournament as the World Cup it really brings home to you that so many millions of people within the African continent live such simple and humbling lives.”

DC Graham Catley, from the Metropolitan Police and seconded to the UK Football Policing Unit said: “While the rest of the world and South Africa are celebrating the football, this was the most incredible, humbling experience to meet the under privileged children who have had the most desperate start in life. I have nothing but admiration for the carers of these children and this experience will be a constant reminder of how fortunate I and people like me are.”