An Ingeus colleague's passion for improving access to education is changing lives thousands of miles away, with a fundraising campaign supported by colleagues helping raise more than £12,000 for children and families in Nigeria.
Yori Bankole, HR People Partner, is the co-founder of The Five Seeds Charity, an organisation dedicated to helping disadvantaged children access education and opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
What began as support for five vulnerable children has grown into a registered charity that is now helping dozens of young people across Nigeria build brighter futures through education.
Recalling the moment that inspired the charity, Yori said:
"Just over five years ago, I received a call from my mum about five children who had been left destitute by their father. Their mother was struggling to feed them and could not consistently afford to send them to school. Through a local church community, where my aunt was serving, their situation came to our attention.”
The family became the charity's first beneficiaries and remain central to its mission today.
"For the past five years, we have been supporting these children through education, and they are the ones who laid the foundation for The Five Seeds Charity. I founded the charity alongside my mother, and the name "Five Seeds" resonated deeply with us. It reflects the five children we initially supported, but also my mum's five children and the investment she has made in our lives. As a Christian, I believe we are called to care for the poor, the orphan, the widow, the sick and those who are oppressed. I felt a strong conviction from God to do more for children in the country where I come from, and The Five Seeds Charity grew from that calling.”
Today, The Five Seeds Charity supports educational initiatives across multiple communities. Alongside continuing to support the original Five Seeds family, the charity funds scholarships for girls through the Yejide Girls' Grammar School Scholarship Programme and provides educational support for children living in orphanages through its partnership with STOG Missions.
The impact of that support can already be seen.
Two of the original five children, who had experienced significant interruptions to their education, have now successfully passed entrance examinations and secured places at boarding grammar schools.
"Imagine being nine years old and having to start again in Reception because your education had been interrupted. In just five years, they have worked their way through primary school and into secondary education."
This year also marked a major milestone for the organisation as it became a formally registered charity.
To celebrate and encourage wider involvement, The Five Seeds Charity launched a National Walking Month fundraising challenge. Participants collectively achieved more than 11 million steps, significantly exceeding the charity's original goal.
The campaign was supported by friends, family, communities and a number of Ingeus colleagues, whose generosity helped the charity progress towards raising over £12,000 this year.
"Last year we raised £1,640, and this year over £12,000! Seeing that growth has been incredibly encouraging."
Beyond fundraising, Yori was particularly pleased to hear how the challenge encouraged participants to improve their own wellbeing.
"I was also encouraged by people who told me that taking part in the challenge motivated them to get outside, become more active and improve both their physical and mental wellbeing."
Looking ahead, Yori’s aspirations for The Five Seeds Charity remain ambitious. From expanding scholarship programmes to supporting every child within partner orphanages and developing future vocational learning opportunities, her focus remains firmly on creating lasting opportunities for young people.
At the heart of everything is a simple hope:
"My hope is that this support gives children and families the opportunity not just to survive, but to truly thrive. Education opens doors, creates choices and gives people the chance to build a different future."
Congratulations to Yori and everyone involved in The Five Seeds Charity for creating such meaningful impact and helping transform lives through education.
