Welcome to Sunrise
What we do
Sunrise was established to raise funds, evaluate and consider applications from organisations working with disadvantaged individuals and grant financial assistance to selected charities and individuals to help deliver vital services in the community.
How we help
Donations will be made to the organisations or individuals who present evidence of their identified need within their community and a well considered plan of how they will deliver their services to meet that need in an inclusive and non discriminatory way, wherever possible using a local workforce.
Our history
The founding Trustee of the Sunrise Foundation enjoyed a long career in education in Bristol until a visit to Perú in 2007 led to her embarking upon a series of volunteer programmes in Peru and Bolivia. She became involved in one particular community in the Cusco region of Peru, regularly visiting to help in a special school run by a UK charity and slowly learning Spanish. She spent many months helping in classrooms, leading aerobics sessions, teaching crafts and generally supporting the team in their work with children affected by a range of conditions including cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, autism, deafness and other conditions affecting mobility, speech and mental faculties.
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Eventually, she took over the running of the charity for a year and learned much more about the needs within the community and the problems facing those trying to address those needs. With these years of experience and the benefit of travel and research it was very clear that whilst language and culture may vary, problems relating to disability are all too similar around the world and in many communities, the problems for the affected families are exacerbated by poverty and lack of basic health or social care. So, this experience and the fact that she had engaged in fundraising activities for a number of charities in the UK over many years, she began to see a way of inviting applications for funding to support therapy, equipment transport and education, to help improve lives. She could see a way to help to get a good job done. All of this inspired the creation of Sunrise. Almost 10 years after the start of this journey, in 2017, with 3 friends who became trustees, Sunrise was born.
After enjoying bringing up two sons and working in education in Bristol, Maggie travelled to South America to engage in voluntary activity with children. This led to taking over the running of a UK charity working with disabled children in Urubamba, Peru. Following this experience, she embarked upon a charity serving the same community, providing physiotherapy, psychological support and early stimulation to children, later expanding to include adults.
Currently Maggie travels between UK and Peru to oversee the operations there and develop the work of the foundation in Bristol. Maggie is committed to trying to help others enjoy life to the full, regardless of disadvantages they face and hopes to do this through the Sunrise Foundation.
Over the years she has been involved in a range of fundraising activities for many charities, most often running sponsored events.
Bryan is a Chartered Engineer from Bristol, married to Maggie and they have two grown up sons. In his spare time Bryan enjoys watching rugby and travels in pursuit of international games. For ten years Bryan was Chairman of Frampton Cotterell Rugby Club’s Junior Teams. After over 40 years’ experience in the mechanical and electrical building services industry, in Spring 2019 Bryan retired as Executive Chairman of Integral UK Ltd. Bryan is committed to helping young people get a better start in life and has been involved in several charitable initiatives over many years.
Paul is a Chartered Management Accountant from Weston super Mare, married to Cathy and they have four grown up sons. Paul successfully completed an MBA at Bath University in 2005. Paul is also Treasurer of Milton Baptist Church where he lives and has been involved in many aspects of the charity work his Church undertakes. In his spare time Paul loves the challenges of long distance cycling across the UK, even completing London to Paris in July 2017. Paul retired as Finance Director from Integral UK Ltd following 22 years’ service.
Sophie’s background was working closely for both Bryan and Paul at Integral UK Ltd for over twenty years and was delighted when Maggie asked her to join the Board of Trustees for Sunrise. Sophie’s passion is children and has observed first-hand some of the challenges the disadvantaged youngsters in Urubamba, Peru face when she visited in May 2017. She works closely with Maggie managing the grant application process and admin function of the foundation.
Ben’s background was IT support within a national building services company. For many years Ben played at Frampton Cotterell Rugby Club and is a keen fan of Bristol Rugby and avidly follows Formula 1 motor racing. Ben was appointed Trustee in 2021, Ben actively supports the Sunrise Foundation and develop its activities going forward into the future.
Edward joined the Board of Trustees in July 2023 bringing not only his own professional experience, but also a fresh perspective and an abundance of compassion to help shape, support and contribute his ideas and knowledge whilst learning about Sunrise and the projects it supports. Edward has many years of experience at senior level providing Investment, Asset Allocation and Structuring advice to High Net Worth and Family Office clients. He speaks fluent English, French and Spanish, holds the Level 6 PCIAM and is a chartered member of the CISI. Edward earned a golf Blue and BA from Oxford University furthered by post graduate qualifications at BPP Law School.