History  
 
The Homestead Trust is a charitable organisation run by Jane and Paul Walker.
 
Jane and Paul are based in Epping, Essex, where they have lived since 1990.  They have been married for over thirty years and have four adult sons.
 
Paul has been in ordained ministry for over 25 years. He is a Chaplain for West Essex NHS PCT, based at St.Margaret’s Hospital in Epping. He also has a Mental Health Nursing degree and is an RMN employed by The North Essex Foundation Partnership Trust as a CPN for people in crisis situations. He currently holds the position of Missions Pastor at Epping Elim Church.
 
Jane is a graduate midwife and RGN. She is currently employed by the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust as team co-ordinator for a team caring for vulnerable women. She is also a supervisor of midwives.
 
For many years the couple have been involved in local and international aid projects.
 
In December 2008 they visited a project running at  Hawane farm in Swaziland and have been invited back to work there from May  2009. They will be working at Hawane Farm until the start of 2010. Hawane Farm  is a centre running a children’s orphanage , hospice , addiction centre , training project and women’s refuge.

Due to preparation work still taking place at the Fountain of Peace Children's centre in Uganda . Paul & Jane will now be continuing in Swaziland until the end of March 2010.
 
Paul & Jane are involved in new projects for 2010 -
Please see Projects page for more details.

Mission Support- Gratefull thanks -
Jane and Paul have been granted unpaid special leave from their varied Health Authorities from May 2009 – April 1st 2010. Their years costs for flights , accommodation , food , transport 4x4  etc amount to just under £20,000. They have been very blessed by the amazingly generous gifts and pledges made by individuals and Churches combining with their own personal donations to cover these costs. GOD BLESS YOU & THANK YOU ( YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!)
 
Books for Africa - Swaziland 2009
 
Jane and Paul planned to take  a library of 1,000 books from Epping for a community library in Swaziland .  The library is being based at Hawane Farm and  will have a portable element so that it will available to the surrounding community. A smaller medical library was also gathered. During preparations Paul’s mother Marion Walker died suddenly and the family decided to dedicate the library to her memory.
 
Donation points for book collection were set up at St.Margarets & Princess Alexandra Hospital, 2nd Chapter ,local churches & schools.The target of 1,000 books  was doubled through generous local donations and over 2,000 new and good as new books were collected and sent.
The books left Epping , England on 15th May 2009 and arrived at the centre in Swaziland on 17th July.
 
Transport  Thanks  –
Thanks for the generous financial donations from individual Epping Churches , Churches Together , Rotary and individual givers. Thanks to Pretlove Removal Company for the boxes . Thanks to Ken Hill Freight and other shippers , a very special thanks to Allport Cargo services (Durban) who very generously wrote off fees of nearly 350 pounds!!
 
Library Building –
The library originally would have had to find space in one of the farm buildings but then members of Birmingham Christian Centre (BCC) took up the challenge. They ordered a purpose made building , they carried out an amazing fundraising programme in Birmingham through their Church. They raised in excess of £6,000!!! A team from the Church Wendy Brown , Dein , Misha and Sanelle then travelled out and along with other work at the centre helped varnish and finish construction of the building! God Bless you !! Amazing!
 
                                                                                                    Charity - 251549