Freetown Society
The aims of the Society shall be to promote friendship and understanding between the cities of Kingston upon Hull and Freetown by strengthening by all possible means, commercial, educational and cultural links between the two cities, stimulating and fostering mutual exchanges at all levels between the peoples of the two cities; and organising fund raising activities to support the objectives of the Society.
The Freetown Society was established in 1981 to undertake the non-civic elements of the twinning arrangement. Since then the Society has worked to develop closer links, at all levels, between the citizens of Hull and Freetown, and provide the necessary financing for projects.
Whilst maintaining a strong link with the Council, the Society is independent of it, and membership is drawn from all sections of the community. The advantages resulting from the high level of co-operation between the local authorities in Hull and Freetown cannot be emphasised enough in terms of ensuring the success of the Society in meeting its aims and objectives.
The Society is particularly fortunate in the wide range in its membership and their willingness to involve their organisations and themselves personally in the activities of the Society. All monies are independently raised by the Society through various activities such as coffee mornings, dances, etc., organised either by the Society or individual members on its behalf.
In the interests of prudent financial management, a Charitable Trust has been established where funds may be deposited for use on Society projects, thus providing the advantage of charitable status for the Society’s investments.
The three main reasons for bringing the Society into existence were:
(a)To enable full participation in the twinning by the public, industry, commerce, schools, churches, voluntary organisations etc.
(b)To establish a body capable of raising funds for twinning projects and to initiate projects from which a local authority would be precluded from funding because of the restrictions of the Local Government Act 1972. The Local Government (Overseas Assistance) Act 1993 has to some extent reduced the restrictions placed on local authorities.
(c)To provide social contact between the citizens of Hull and visiting or resident Sierra Leoneans.
The aims of the Society have been subsequently enlarged to include health and welfare matters and extended to reach beyond Freetown to the peninsula area.
The Society is currently arranging to transport equipment for schools and libraries in Freetown, as well as a small quantity of medical supplies.
As Freetown is recovering from a lengthy period of considerable turmoil there is therefore much scope for further developing the Hull-Freetown link.
Reports have recently been presented a paper to the Council’s Cabinet and to the Local Strategic Partnership detailing areas in which the Council may be able to assist the recovery of Freetown City Council. Many of these ideas will be used as the starting point for action under the Wilberforce 2007 programme.
