Supporting an area south east of Moscow, larger than the size of the UK and Ireland combined, Love Russia promotes any charitable purpose including relief of poverty, suffering and distress by demonstrating practical Christian compassion and where appropriate sharing the Christian faith.

Alex explained through examples how the first work was among orphans and abandoned children in an orphanage near Solotcha, southeast of Moscow. The work grew steadily and other projects were added.

Love Russia’s base is now on the Isle of Wight. Alex and Jacqui’s experience and skill in setting up and running businesses has been wonderfully used to expand the work so that more than 55 different projects are now under way, helping over 3500 children.

Work is focused on children in orphanages, schools and baby homes but now includes work with young people’s prisons and providing help to hospitals. The ground-breaking Genesis project was started in 2008 to help those leaving institutions at 16 to integrate successfully into society.

Alex makes monitoring visits six times a year to as many projects as possible, covering thousands of miles in the process. Meetings are held with those responsible for the different institutions involved, progress since the last visit is reviewed, money is left to fund the projects until the next visit and new projects are identified.

It is also an opportunity for meeting old friends and making new ones. On his regular visits, every six weeks, lasting approximately two weeks, Alex usually takes one or two UK supporters with him who can share in the experience and understand better the challenges faced. In this way, trust is built up between those responsible in Russia and the Love Russia team. Love Russia has gained the reputation of being the “ones that come back” – again, and again, and again … We believe that it is this trust which is the secret of working effectively in what we seek to do.

He visited an orphanage at Solotcha in Russia in 1992 and saw that many of the children also needed more practical help, and he set about raising funds and distributing them as he saw the need, but always on a personal and direct level to ensure that all the money reached its target.

The vision and particular ethos of Love Russia was born and the charity was formally registered in 1993.

Love Russia is committed to showing the love of God in practical ways to those in need in Russia, particularly to children and young people. Love Russia is always looking for new ways to meet that commitment. This is only the first chapter in the history of Love Russia.