Impact report
This is an impact report prepared for Vane Tempest Theatre Group in Seaham. Reporting back on how money is spent is a crucial part of what we do.
22 March 2026
IMPACT REPORT FOR VANE TEMPEST THEATRE GROUP
Funding background
In February 2024, The Road to Parity (TRTP) was informed it would be Vane Tempest Theatre Group’s (VTTG) supported charity for 2025 after providing information to support a nomination.
Following two performances in 2025 – the Best of British in June and The Bitter Taste of Coal in November – VTTG presented TRTP with a cheque for £500. Receipt of the funds was acknowledged on 23 November 2025.
All monies have since been put into action in line with the charity’s mission: to free developing nation households from extreme poverty through entrepreneurship.
Following two performances in 2025 – the Best of British in June and The Bitter Taste of Coal in November – VTTG presented TRTP with a cheque for £500. Receipt of the funds was acknowledged on 23 November 2025.
All monies have since been put into action in line with the charity’s mission: to free developing nation households from extreme poverty through entrepreneurship.
Implementation highlights
The £500 enabled a total of 8 businesses to be set up in Uganda. All are run by women who were previously in dire financial situations. One of the women was trying to support a household of 5 on 60p a day.
The new ventures include selling second-hand shoes, groceries, tailoring businesses and a beauty salon. The enterprises have all been profitable, increasing household income by between 200% and 700% and collectively supporting 35 household members.
The funding from VTTG helped make 2025 a record year for TRTP with a total of 33 businesses started, beating the previous annual record of 32 enterprises in India.
There were some delays to implementation due to the recent elections in Uganda, which were marred by violence. It was not always safe to go out, and internet access was sometimes cut. President Yoweri Museveni was announced as the election winner, extending his four decades in power.
The new ventures include selling second-hand shoes, groceries, tailoring businesses and a beauty salon. The enterprises have all been profitable, increasing household income by between 200% and 700% and collectively supporting 35 household members.
The funding from VTTG helped make 2025 a record year for TRTP with a total of 33 businesses started, beating the previous annual record of 32 enterprises in India.
There were some delays to implementation due to the recent elections in Uganda, which were marred by violence. It was not always safe to go out, and internet access was sometimes cut. President Yoweri Museveni was announced as the election winner, extending his four decades in power.
Poverty alleviation work in Uganda
The Road to Parity is operating a poverty alleviation initiative in Uganda in conjunction with Canaan Children’s Development Initiative (CACDI), a registered non-profit organisation in Luweero District, north of the capital, Kampala.
Early beneficiaries were asked to suggest a name for the programme that would resonate locally. Several mentioned the word Twekembe, which broadly translates to 'let's fight against poverty.' So, it became Project Twekembe.
Under the initiative, people in extreme poverty are given the opportunity to start a business with the help of a micro grant.
Unlike similar initiatives in developing nations, the small grant made available through Project Twekembe is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. TRTP believes people in extreme poverty have suffered enough.
Early beneficiaries were asked to suggest a name for the programme that would resonate locally. Several mentioned the word Twekembe, which broadly translates to 'let's fight against poverty.' So, it became Project Twekembe.
Under the initiative, people in extreme poverty are given the opportunity to start a business with the help of a micro grant.
Unlike similar initiatives in developing nations, the small grant made available through Project Twekembe is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. TRTP believes people in extreme poverty have suffered enough.
Three-pronged approach
1 - Identifying and selecting beneficiaries:
Some of the beneficiaries are referred by local councils, while others are identified during community outreach work. Details of prospective beneficiaries are captured and assessed.
The core priority is to identify people in extreme poverty. Extreme poverty is classed as those living on less than £2.25 per day, as measured by The World Bank's International Poverty Line.
Other factors considered include helping the poorly educated, the physically and mentally challenged, people with other significant health issues (including HIV), widows and victims of domestic violence.
Steps are taken to verify people’s circumstances, including cross-referencing stories with local officials and other community members.
The core priority is to identify people in extreme poverty. Extreme poverty is classed as those living on less than £2.25 per day, as measured by The World Bank's International Poverty Line.
Other factors considered include helping the poorly educated, the physically and mentally challenged, people with other significant health issues (including HIV), widows and victims of domestic violence.
Steps are taken to verify people’s circumstances, including cross-referencing stories with local officials and other community members.
2 – Discuss business ideas and secure required equipment/stock:
Once a beneficiary has been identified, a discussion takes place on the type of business they want to set up. Some have an idea in mind. Others are prompted by work they have done in the past, or skills they have.
After the business idea is agreed and viability determined, equipment and supplies are sourced in readiness for trading.
In the interests of governance, money is not handed directly to beneficiaries. Instead, the process of buying equipment and stock is supervised. This is simplified when there are recurrent business themes, such as the popular fruit and vegetable carts, as suppliers are already known.
After the business idea is agreed and viability determined, equipment and supplies are sourced in readiness for trading.
In the interests of governance, money is not handed directly to beneficiaries. Instead, the process of buying equipment and stock is supervised. This is simplified when there are recurrent business themes, such as the popular fruit and vegetable carts, as suppliers are already known.
3 – Guidance and support:
Each beneficiary receives help and advice in areas such as confidence building, record keeping, negotiation skills, handling customers and basic marketing. It is important to maintain contact with the fledgling businesses for the early weeks to overcome initial challenges and maximise the chances of success.
Beneficiaries are told from the outset that the grant is one-off assistance and there is no coming back for more money. This is also an important message to send to other community members who may be interested in becoming Project Twekembe entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs who are illiterate find ways to improvise with accounts, such as relying heavily on memory and using simple words/symbols in records.
Beneficiaries are told from the outset that the grant is one-off assistance and there is no coming back for more money. This is also an important message to send to other community members who may be interested in becoming Project Twekembe entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs who are illiterate find ways to improvise with accounts, such as relying heavily on memory and using simple words/symbols in records.
Julius (right) during outreach work
Mega: doing big things with hair
29-year-old Mega has been one of the stars of the VTTG funding. A single mother supporting 3 children, she was surviving by going door to door looking for people to plait (braid), an important part of Ugandan culture.
Some days she found customers, some days she didn’t. The income was unstable and she was only making on average UGX 5,000 a day (£1).
The Project Twekembe grant has enabled her to rent some space to set up her own little salon, buy a large stock of hair extensions, a hair dryer and creams.
Mega is doing extraordinarily well. Now that she has a shop, she’s able to develop a customer base and is making UGX 40,000 daily, boosting her income by a 700%.
“Before, everything was a struggle - rent, food,” she says. “My children were always sent back from school because of fees. If they got sick, I could not afford hospital treatment. Now, I can also save some money with the village bank weekly.”
Brenda with her sewing machine
Safina: steps into the shoe business |
Brenda: sowing the seeds of hope
Brenda is a single mother of 3 children whose husband left her. The 34-year-old was trying to support her family through irregular work in an abattoir, earning on average just UGX 3,000 (60p) a day. She’d done some sewing in the past, so she was helped to buy a second-hand sewing machine. With her new tailoring business, her income has already risen by 233%. “Until the business, I could not afford any sustainability for my children, like paying for their school fees and proper clothing,” Brenda says. “Life is better now.” |
Another top performer is mother of 3, Safina. She was desperately trying to make ends meet with inconsistent farm work and gardening, but it was only pulling in an average of UGX 3,500 (70p) each day. Safina’s money became even more stretched after her father died and she needed to look after her mother. A local village official forwarded her case to the Project Twekembe team. Safina told outreach workers she’d sold shoes in the past and would like to give it a go as a business.
So, equipped with a grant to set up a second-hand shoes and sandals business, she’s flying! Her income has shot up by 614% and her kids are now being well looked after. “Everything is different now. I can afford things - school fees, pay for books, pens and uniforms,” Safina says.
So, equipped with a grant to set up a second-hand shoes and sandals business, she’s flying! Her income has shot up by 614% and her kids are now being well looked after. “Everything is different now. I can afford things - school fees, pay for books, pens and uniforms,” Safina says.
Safina with her stock of shoes
A fresh start with fresh beans
Juliet with her own stall
Single mother Juliet no longer has to waitress where she was paid only commission for the meals she served.
The most she could earn in a day was UGX 2,000 – and with 2 children, it was nowhere near enough.
All that changed with the grant she received. “I was able to start up a stall to sell fresh beans and other groceries, and my life is greatly improving,” says the 36-year-old.
Since she started trading, her income has increased by 300% and she is much more able to meet daily expenses and look after her children. “I can now restock my grocery and also save some little personal savings.” says Juliet.
The most she could earn in a day was UGX 2,000 – and with 2 children, it was nowhere near enough.
All that changed with the grant she received. “I was able to start up a stall to sell fresh beans and other groceries, and my life is greatly improving,” says the 36-year-old.
Since she started trading, her income has increased by 300% and she is much more able to meet daily expenses and look after her children. “I can now restock my grocery and also save some little personal savings.” says Juliet.
Rebecca called on grocery experience for her venture
Rebecca with her groceries
Rebecca was trying to support 4 children on UGX 3,000 a day (60p) through unstable farm labouring.
The single mother had some experience selling groceries and could use a structure in her compound as a stall. “It keeps me around my home to watch my children,” she says.
With grant support to buy start-up stock, she’s doing really well, increasing her income by an impressive 567%. “I am now able sustain my children daily necessities and payment of house rent,” says Rebecca.
Snapshot – figures in Ugandan Shillings (UGX) - UGX 5,000 is roughly £1
Context
While the amounts involved may seem small in UK terms, the money generated by these businesses is life-changing and transforms households.
In Uganda, the sad reality is that many children are abandoned by mothers who face horrendous circumstances - extreme poverty, domestic abuse, suffering from HIV or widowed – and feel they have no choice.
In fact, this is how CACDI was formed – when one of the founders came across an abandoned toddler amongst rubbish in the street, severely emaciated and close to death.
In Uganda, the sad reality is that many children are abandoned by mothers who face horrendous circumstances - extreme poverty, domestic abuse, suffering from HIV or widowed – and feel they have no choice.
In fact, this is how CACDI was formed – when one of the founders came across an abandoned toddler amongst rubbish in the street, severely emaciated and close to death.
David who was found amongst rubbish
David is now healthy and attends school.
The micro-enterprises can deliver regular income and create a stable environment where mothers feel better equipped to look after their children.
They can buy food, medicine, clothes and send their children to school.
Uganda faces major challenges getting young people educated. Less than 1 in 10 children in the poorest 20% of the population enrol for secondary education, says the UN.
The Project Twekembe ventures are highly effective in combatting poverty because they are simple, quickly profitable and benefit entire families. The 46 businesses set up so far in Uganda support 272 household members.
The micro-enterprises can deliver regular income and create a stable environment where mothers feel better equipped to look after their children.
They can buy food, medicine, clothes and send their children to school.
Uganda faces major challenges getting young people educated. Less than 1 in 10 children in the poorest 20% of the population enrol for secondary education, says the UN.
The Project Twekembe ventures are highly effective in combatting poverty because they are simple, quickly profitable and benefit entire families. The 46 businesses set up so far in Uganda support 272 household members.
Budget
NB: 1 British Pound is equivalent to 4,775 Ugandan Shillings (Wise, 24 November 2025)
The Road to Parity - background
The Road to Parity was formed in 2018 to help people in extreme poverty in developing countries to set up businesses.
In 2019, the first entrepreneurs were supported in the slums of Delhi via a partnership with Indian NGO, Learning Links Foundation.
TRTP started its entrepreneur programme in Uganda in 2024 after partnering with another NGO, Canaan Children’s Development Initiative (CACDI).
In 2019, the first entrepreneurs were supported in the slums of Delhi via a partnership with Indian NGO, Learning Links Foundation.
TRTP started its entrepreneur programme in Uganda in 2024 after partnering with another NGO, Canaan Children’s Development Initiative (CACDI).
Luweero District, Uganda, East Africa
The TRTP model has been adjusted for Uganda as the beneficiaries are in rural, lower footfall areas, compared with the high-density slums of Delhi. This places an even greater importance on fast-selling, highly accessible items to ensure cash flow.
So far, more than 130 businesses have been established in India and Uganda. The beneficiaries represent some of the most disadvantaged people on the planet.
India was chosen as the first country to enter because it was the source of the academic research that led to TRTP being formed. It also prompted the book, Marketing in the Dark, which explores how multinational brands communicate in areas of the world not connected to the internet. These are often very poor and rural regions of developing nations.
TRTP is run on an ultra-lean basis. It has no full-time staff and virtually no marketing budget. Those involved work on a voluntary basis and contribute outside of their full-time paid jobs.
So far, more than 130 businesses have been established in India and Uganda. The beneficiaries represent some of the most disadvantaged people on the planet.
India was chosen as the first country to enter because it was the source of the academic research that led to TRTP being formed. It also prompted the book, Marketing in the Dark, which explores how multinational brands communicate in areas of the world not connected to the internet. These are often very poor and rural regions of developing nations.
TRTP is run on an ultra-lean basis. It has no full-time staff and virtually no marketing budget. Those involved work on a voluntary basis and contribute outside of their full-time paid jobs.