Download PDFOur Product Donation Initiative
As part of our product donation initiative, which started in late 2017, we have helped over 200 charities in the UK, Europe and the US. Donating discontinued products allows us to reduce stock and inventory, therefore saving on space and money. It is also a great way for us to help any charity approaching us, from school to mental health facilities, to homeless charities and women in prisons.
One of the projects we have supported included a collaboration with artist Lisa Milroy, who worked with Vodafone Foundation and UNHCR. to create the Instant Network Schools ‘Hands On’ art workshop programme.
Lisa Milroy’s Instant Network Schools ‘Hands On’ art workshop programme
In 2015 Lisa initiated ‘Hands On’ with the support of the Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone’s charitable arm. ‘Hands On’ is part of the UNHCR and Vodafone Foundation’s Instant Network Schools programme, providing quality digital learning. ‘Hands On’ engages students in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya in practical art workshops delivered by Lisa in London through interactive video conferencing sessions facilitated by the Vodafone Foundation.
Lisa travels annually to Kakuma Refugee Camp to conduct ‘Hands On’ workshops on the ground, working with UNHCR Education. This year, Lisa led a three-day workshop event for 35 students from Angelina Jolie Primary School, Morneau Shepell Girls High School and Our Lady’s Girls Secondary School. Lisa used Colart product to support the ‘Hands On’ workshops – the fabulous range of art materials allowed the students to create a marvellous collaborative painting, “Group Portrait”; and in another workshop, a wonderful set of hand-painted rings. The workshops provided an opportunity for many of the students to engage with painting for the first time, offering an opportunity to gain confidence and some curiosity.
Hands On at Elephant West
At the beginning of February the Hands On Art Workshops came to life in London through an exhibition held at Elephant West. Its primary purpose was to draw the attention of a wider public and salute all partners of the Hands On art workshops.,
This exhibition provided a visual timeline of the Hands On Art Workshop from inception through to the present day and beyond as well as a beautiful display of original paintings and drawings made by the school students in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.
About Lisa Milroy
Lisa Milroy was born in Vancouver, Canada and lives and works in London. Still life is at the heart of Lisa’s practice, and her work is held in many public and private collections. Lisa was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts in 2005 and is Head of Graduate Painting at the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL. She was Artist Trustee of Tate from 2013 to 2017 and Liaison Trustee to the National Gallery from 2015 to 2017.