Founder’s Story

In Eleanor’s early twenties was becoming more aware of the shocking stories that she’d see in the news about how millions of children do not have clean water to drink or a school to go to each day and she decided to do something about it.

Why did Eleanor start Made With Hope?

“I grew up in a town that was quite deprived and my Mum was worried that I would under-achieve, end up in trouble or struggle to earn a good living. She decided to leave her friends and amazing job running a youth centre and moved me to South Manchester where we lodged with friends as we found our feet. I still remember the nights we slept top and tale in a single bed. But I know these experiences are what made us best friends.

I’m still lucky to have both parents and although I didn’t live with my Dad, he taught me to be kind and care about others. His dedication to Barnardos, a children’s charity in the UK that he’s worked for since I was a young girl, showed me that it’s so important to care for those who aren’t lucky enough to have a good start in life.

My mum was determined to move me to a town where the local schools were excellent and I was lucky enough that her wish came true. My mum’s drive and sacrifice to get me a good education is what’s taught me the importance of a child’s start in life and looking after others. My parent’s drive to help others has rubbed off on me and I am now determined to empower children in Tanzania to get the start in life they deserve.

I set up Made With Hope because I knew I wanted to do something purposeful with my life. I couldn't understand the complete unfairness that my start in life was so different to children living in rural communities I visited in Tanzania. I had all the clean water, food and education I needed. This was sheer luck because of the country I was born in.”

With a thirst for travel, Eleanor backpacked around South America in 2012. This was her first experience witnessing children living in poverty. She was devastated that some people lived this way, so she made it her life’s purpose to make the world a fairer place to live in, for the poorest children.

In 2013, at 23 years old, Eleanor visited rural Tanzania to understand how some of the poorest people in the world were living. She partnered with a local Tanzanian NGO (non-government organisation) to help her understand what the community actually needed and wanted. To Eleanor, it was vital to avoid being a “western saviour”, and instead, empower Tanzanian’s to help the children in the community in the best way possible.

Eleanor came back to the UK in November 2013 and began setting up Made With Hope as a charity. The charity would target 2 things: helping children to break out of the cycle of poverty, and ensure donors knew where there hard earned money was going to; something she felt passionate about in the current climate where only 6 out of 10 people trust charities.

With no fundraising, business skills, or the confidence to ask people for money, it took her 5 months to raise the first £1,000. But, with utter determination, she taught herself about fundraising and how to run a charity. And admits she is still learning every day. Over the years, Eleanor has led Made With Hope and convinced many volunteers and supporters to join her on her mission to give children access to all the basic things she had when she was growing up. Eleanor is heavily involved in the fundraising and operations of the charity and works alongside her Trustees to grow the charity to support thousands of children.