RFA Mounts Bay provides vital help to orphanage

An orphanage in Jamaica has received a makeover from personnel aboard RFA Mounts Bay. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary, also known as Ready For Anything, sent their Bay Team to help the City of Refuge Children's Home.

Nestled some 3,650ft above sea level high in the Blue Mountains that overlook Jamaica's capital city Kingston, the orphanage provides a safe home for children subjected to physical and sexual violence and in some cases abandonment.

Funding is raised predominately by volunteers from the Glad Tidings Assembly church, based in Florida, USA, whose members also visit periodically to provide aid and support when they can.

Once the orphanage was singled out as requiring assistance, two teams from RFA Mounts Bay and a small team from the British High Commission, headed up by wife of Assistant Defence Attaché Karen Matheson, sprang into action to provide it.

The RFA "Bay Team" a mixture of RFA, RLC and REME personnel was organised by Seaman Grade 1 (SG1A) Jonathan Roberts.

During the day the team:

• Degreased and painted the kitchen and larder areas;
• Painted the main office, including bookcases and units within the play room;
• Fixed a security light, fitted strip lights fitted and checked electrical fittings;
• Emptied out, reorganised and restacked storerooms;
• Fixed planks in the playground and replaced washing lines. 

Additionally, RFA Mounts Bay ship's company managed to raise £248.60 - 990.61 Jamaican dollars - from various on board activities, including quizzes and general collections. 

This money was presented to the orphanage and will go towards completion of the playroom by enabling the volunteers to purchase, chairs and cushions. 

SG1A Roberts said, "At the end of a busy day, the volunteers and staff couldn't believe what we managed to achieve in such a short time.

"It was a good day and we managed to achieve what the home wanted in the time that was available to us. The kids and volunteers at the home were very happy to see us and were impressed with the transformation."

Mounts Bay is currently offering reassurance to UK overseas dependent territories, providing humanitarian and disaster relief during the main hurricane season and conducting counter narcotic patrols as part of the wider international effort.