Projects & Campaigns
We run a wide range of projects and campaigns every year to support the UK Overseas Territories.
Chagos Islands campaign
All donations throughout August and September 2026 will go towards the Chagos Islands campaign, including: events, legal fees and campaign material.
Donate to a current campaign
Coming Soon
24-25: St Helena: 'No Place Like Home'
For our 2024/25 fundraising appeal, we are partnering with the St Helena Disabled Society to launch 'No Place Like Home' - a project supporting their efforts to allow patients to stay in their homes for as long as possible.
Saint Helena, which is reliant on UK aid funding and has average wages of just £9,460, only has one small hospital and one care home, which is always at maximum capacity. To stop patients waiting in hospital for places in the care home, the Occupational Therapy Service are eager to help them live in their own homes. But they need the right equipment to do so.
The money will go towards a wide range of equipment, including wheelchairs, ramps, shower chairs and hoists.
Through this project, we hope to relieve the pressures on St Helena's hospital and care home, and foster better outcomes for the patients within St Helena's social care system.
22-23: Montserrat 'Eco Play'
In 2022/23, FOTBOT supported the creation of an exciting new facility in Montserrat called Eco Play. This planned multi-functional building and park is being developed by the Montserrat National Trust with the intention of creating a fully accessible eco-friendly educational and play space for children of all ages.
Montserrat is still rebuilding after the devastation caused by the volcanic eruption that left two thirds of the island inaccessible, but it is an island of hope and optimism. The National Trust wants Eco Play to provide a much-needed activity, play and education centre that will ensure that the development of the island is inclusive for young people.
FOTBOT were very pleased to raise £1,500 for this project.
In 2020/2021 we were incredibly proud to raise over £8,000 for the Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust.
The appeal was to support a permanent home for larger artefacts owned by the Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust, as well their wider collection of objects that currently cannot be displayed within the Historic Dockyard Museum. The large pieces include a Sea King Search and Rescue Helicopter flown by the Duke of Cambridge (Prince William), a Phantom aircraft, tanks, landrovers and the Governor's taxi. The new Hall will also house the tale of the 1982 conflict, an exhibition on the Falklands' rural heritage, and large sections of shipwrecked vessels.
21-22: Falkland Islands Museum
In 2019, FOTBOT supported the Gough Island Restoration, a program by the RSPB and Tristan da Cunha Government, aimed at saving millions of seabird chicks and eggs annually on the island, addressing the threat to the adult seabird population.
Gough Island is crucial for seabird breeding and is a World Heritage Site near Tristan da Cunha. The introduction of mice has led to a risk of extinction for species like the Gough Bunting and Tristan Albatross, both Critically Endangered. Other species also face dramatic declines.
The RSPB and Tristan da Cunha, alongside the South African government, are implementing an island restoration program to remove mice. The island remains a paradise for seabirds with no human habitation.
We are excited to support this initiative in our 2019 fundraising campaign. It requires specialist expertise from New Zealand and significant logistical coordination, including air and sea transport, as Gough Island lacks infrastructure and experiences strong winds.
2019 Gough Island Appeal
In March 2018, FOTBOT launched a campaign focusing on an overseas territory each year to raise funds for local projects.
In 2018, we chose Montserrat as our territory to support with Project Montserrat.
Project Montserrat involves FOTBOT and several organisations, including Montserrat National Trust and the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum. We aim to protect the island's nature by collaborating with local communities to restore habitats for its unique wildlife.
Additionally, we will continue clearing beaches and rivers of plastic debris. This effort enhances ecosystem services, promoting a sustainable economy.
Pilot work over recent years has improved the aesthetic of coastal areas and facilitated environmental education. You can read about this here.
2018 Project Montserrat Appeal
2017 Hurricane Irma Appeal
In 2017, Hurricane Irma ripped through the Caribbean, affecting Anguilla, British Virgin Islands and Turks & Caicos Islands. Homes were destroyed and infrastructure badly damaged. FOTBOT worked closely with Rotary International and other charities tied to individual Overseas Territories to help send money and resources directly to the people who needed it most.
This was our first official campaign and given the gravitas of the situation, we acted quickly to raise over £5,000 of funds within days of the disaster happening.
Ongoing project: Hanson Box for schools
The Friends of the British Overseas Territories are proud to have partnered with the Don Hanson Charitable Foundation’s Schools Program to create an unique package of new resources to drive forward understanding of the UK Overseas Territories, and to inspire interest in the diversity of wildlife, cultures and history which they harbour.
FOTBOT worked with the UK Foreign Office, as well as hundreds of naturalists, photographers, conservation departments and NGOs across the Overseas Territories to create:
Britain’s Distant Lands book: a 208 page, hardcover coffee-table book, featuring over 660 stunning images exploring the wildlife, landscapes, people and cultures of each of the UK Overseas Territories.
Britain’s Distant Lands DVD: a specially designed DVD containing a 30 minute long film about the wildlife of the UK Overseas Territories, a 4 minute mini-documentary exploring each Overseas Territory, a video overview of FOTBOT featuring interviews with Philip Smith, as well as maps and photos covering all of the UK Overseas Territories.
Map of the UK Overseas Territories: a specially created, A3 size map showcasing the location and briefly introducing each of the UK Overseas Territories. Perfect for displaying on a wall!
Copies of all of the above resources have been donated to 10,000 schools across the UK and all of the Overseas Territories. These resources are sent completely free of charge thanks to very generous funding from the Don Hanson Charitable Foundation Schools Program. Approximately 4 million students currently study at the 10,000 schools to whom we are shipping these resources. FOTBOT sincerely hopes this endeavour will help young people better to appreciate and understand the remarkable heritage that the UK Overseas Territories harbour!
Friends of the British Overseas Territories, Registered Charity No 1156763
Friends of the British Overseas Territories is an independent and politically neutral charity. We do not support or endorse any political party or candidate. Only authorised spokespersons may make statements on behalf of the charity, via the charity’s official communications channels. All views otherwise expressed by members or officers should be considered their own.
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Registered in England and Wales Email: enquiries@fotbot.org
You can write to us at: Friends of the British Overseas Territories, Po Box 2635, Ilford, IG1 8UA
Promoting, Supporting and Increasing Awareness of the UK Overseas Territories
