Our History
SaltPeter Trust grew from friendships formed in Uganda more than 25 years ago.
In 1999, former Trustees Ros and Stuart Gerrish travelled to Soroti with Care and Share, a small South Wales charity, providing dental care through open-air clinics in villages around the town. Helen and Ian Flower joined a second visit in 2000, contributing to engineering and education projects alongside Baptist church leaders in Kachumbala and Soroti. The relationships built during these visits became the foundation of a long-term partnership that continues today.
A request from local pastors for Bible teaching led to a series of three-day leadership conferences between 2001 and 2004, attended by more than 600 village pastors. As these visits continued, the team encountered the deep challenges facing communities still recovering from years of conflict. Poverty was widespread, access to quality healthcare and education was extremely limited, and widows and orphans—among the most vulnerable members of society—had few opportunities to improve their lives.
In response, SaltPeter Trust was established to provide practical support through education, employment, agricultural development and community training. The Trust was formally registered as a UK charity in 2007.
Supporting Education
Our education programme began in 2006 by sponsoring a small number of orphaned children. Since then, we have supported around 20 children through primary and secondary education, with ten progressing into or completing tertiary education. Today, we continue to invest in future leaders, including sponsoring two nurses as they upgrade their professional qualifications.
Empowering Widows
Our first widows’ cooperative was established in Kachumbala in 2003, supporting 26 women to work together, generate income and rebuild their lives. That initiative has grown into four thriving cooperatives with a combined membership of 271 women, helping families achieve greater financial security and independence.
Improving Healthcare
In 2005, SaltPeter Trust responded to Soroti Baptist Church’s vision to provide quality healthcare for the poorest people in the town. At the time, the only alternative was an overstretched referral hospital with long waiting times and frequent shortages of medicines.
Working alongside EFOD, we helped fund the construction of the Medical Centre. Today, we continue to support its work through regular financial assistance, training and management visits, helping ensure that affordable, high-quality healthcare remains available to those who need it most.
Working Together
Over the years, SaltPeter Trust has organised many volunteer visits to Uganda. Teams have included medical professionals, agricultural mechanics, electricians, plumbers, teachers, engineers and architects, all sharing their expertise while working alongside local communities in Kachumbala and Soroti.
In November 2024, after 17 years of dedicated service, former Trustees Ros and Stuart Gerrish stepped down from the Board. Their commitment and leadership helped shape the Trust into the organisation it is today. They were succeeded by Steve and Cath Parry, who have been actively involved with SaltPeter Trust since 2020 and continue to build on this legacy of partnership, service and hope.
SaltPeter Trust grew from friendships formed in Uganda more than 25 years ago.
In 1999, former Trustees Ros and Stuart Gerrish travelled to Soroti with Care and Share, a small South Wales charity, providing dental care through open-air clinics in villages around the town. Helen and Ian Flower joined a second visit in 2000, contributing to engineering and education projects alongside Baptist church leaders in Kachumbala and Soroti. The relationships built during these visits became the foundation of a long-term partnership that continues today.
A request from local pastors for Bible teaching led to a series of three-day leadership conferences between 2001 and 2004, attended by more than 600 village pastors. As these visits continued, the team encountered the deep challenges facing communities still recovering from years of conflict. Poverty was widespread, access to quality healthcare and education was extremely limited, and widows and orphans—among the most vulnerable members of society—had few opportunities to improve their lives.
In response, SaltPeter Trust was established to provide practical support through education, employment, agricultural development and community training. The Trust was formally registered as a UK charity in 2007.
Supporting Education
Our education programme began in 2006 by sponsoring a small number of orphaned children. Since then, we have supported around 20 children through primary and secondary education, with ten progressing into or completing tertiary education. Today, we continue to invest in future leaders, including sponsoring two nurses as they upgrade their professional qualifications.
Empowering Widows
Our first widows’ cooperative was established in Kachumbala in 2003, supporting 26 women to work together, generate income and rebuild their lives. That initiative has grown into four thriving cooperatives with a combined membership of 271 women, helping families achieve greater financial security and independence.
Improving Healthcare
In 2005, SaltPeter Trust responded to Soroti Baptist Church’s vision to provide quality healthcare for the poorest people in the town. At the time, the only alternative was an overstretched referral hospital with long waiting times and frequent shortages of medicines.
Working alongside EFOD, we helped fund the construction of the Medical Centre. Today, we continue to support its work through regular financial assistance, training and management visits, helping ensure that affordable, high-quality healthcare remains available to those who need it most.
Working Together
Over the years, SaltPeter Trust has organised many volunteer visits to Uganda. Teams have included medical professionals, agricultural mechanics, electricians, plumbers, teachers, engineers and architects, all sharing their expertise while working alongside local communities in Kachumbala and Soroti.
In November 2024, after 17 years of dedicated service, former Trustees Ros and Stuart Gerrish stepped down from the Board. Their commitment and leadership helped shape the Trust into the organisation it is today. They were succeeded by Steve and Cath Parry, who have been actively involved with SaltPeter Trust since 2020 and continue to build on this legacy of partnership, service and hope.
Team Visits and Partnership
Since 2006, SaltPeter Trust has organised regular team visits to Uganda, with groups of between seven and twelve volunteers serving alongside our local partners in Kachumbala and Soroti. Visits took place in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and early 2020, bringing together people with a wide range of skills to support community development, healthcare, education and training.
Like many organisations, our programme was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting international travel restrictions. We were delighted to resume our visits in January 2023, followed by further successful teams in 2024 and 2025.
Alongside our practical work, SaltPeter Trust remains committed to supporting local church leaders. During each visit, team members contribute to pastors’ conferences, leadership training and preaching in Baptist churches, helping to encourage and equip those serving their communities throughout the region.
Since 2006, SaltPeter Trust has organised regular team visits to Uganda, with groups of between seven and twelve volunteers serving alongside our local partners in Kachumbala and Soroti. Visits took place in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and early 2020, bringing together people with a wide range of skills to support community development, healthcare, education and training.
Like many organisations, our programme was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting international travel restrictions. We were delighted to resume our visits in January 2023, followed by further successful teams in 2024 and 2025.
Alongside our practical work, SaltPeter Trust remains committed to supporting local church leaders. During each visit, team members contribute to pastors’ conferences, leadership training and preaching in Baptist churches, helping to encourage and equip those serving their communities throughout the region.
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