The Linda Norgrove Foundation was established in October 2010 in memory of Linda Norgrove. Linda was devoted to ensuring that the people of Afghanistan would achieve prosperity and stability as their country was rebuilt. Her parents, John and Lorna Norgrove, set up the Foundation to continue her work.
The Foundation’s primary goal is to help women and children in Afghanistan, the innocent victims of the decades of political turmoil and conflict in the poorest country in the world outside Africa.
We develop and support programmes with special emphasis on education, health improvements, and incomes for women. We believe that this is most likely to create a positive lasting change for the country.
Our focus is particularly on helping women and children. There are more than 2.5 million widows in Afghanistan. They are not visible, in all senses, and they now find themselves in desperate situations due to the wider economic crisis and because of the harsh restrictions imposed on women over the past 4 years
We believe that this sector is underfunded and we aim to redress the balance by funding projects that specifically help widows and households where the women is the main breadwinner.
We fund smaller projects that do not appeal to larger charities but which fit better with the donations given by the majority of our supporters. This gives you a better idea of what your money achieves, and we can more easily ensure that the funds are getting to those who need them. Occasionally, we fund work directly but mostly we provide funds to other charities for specific projects.
How we are run
Our Trustees, who are not paid and do not receive expenses, ensure that the charity’s funds are devoted entirely to the charity’s aims. The Trustees also pay most of the UK overheads, so that all of your donations go direct to Afghanistan.
John and Lorna have stepped back from the day to day running of the Foundation but remain as trustees with managerial input. Sophie Brown runs the charity in the UK, working from the office in Mangersta four days a week, helped by part-time administrator, Jennifer Fearon. Trustee Carola Bell keeps our finances in order.
Trustees meet four times a year to set the Foundation’s overall direction and to give valuable guidance in decision making. Annelise Jespersen and John Conway manage our website and social media. PR expertise is given by Jane Cumming, Kimberley Mannion and Louisa McLennan. All give their time voluntarily.
In Afghanistan a part time self-employed female and several volunteer Afghan professionals report on projects within the country.
See our annual financial reports.