sharpe's children foundation

Richard Sharpe and two hundred and fourteen other wonderful characters have soldiered across television screens in eighty four countries since 1992. Filming in Ukraine, India, Portugal, Turkey and England resulted in the 16 films which comprise the Sharpe series, a series Broadcast magazine calls "one of the Top Ten UK TV television series ever made".

While filming Sharpe's Challenge and Sharpe's Peril in India, actors witnessed little children living in the gutters of Jaipur and Jodpur in Rajasthan and on the streets of Kahjurho in the state of Madhya Pradesh,living in the most horrific circumstances.

Many of these children were orphaned, many abandoned but all were and remain destitute. Though they seem to smile their days away, the reality is that these children live their lives unloved and unwanted and totally without hope.

The impact of the human devastation the actors witnessed resulted in the establishment of The Sharpe's Children Foundation. The driving force behind The Sharpe's Children Foundation initiative is Daragh O'Malley who played Sergeant Harper in the television series.

Just as Bernard Cornwell's creation, Richard Sharpe, rose from the gutters to realise his dream and gain high rank in the British Army, it is The Sharpe's Children Foundation's intention to give children of perhaps a lesser god the same opportunity.

Any questions about 'donation' or 'sponsoring'?
Contact Yvette Leavy yvette@sharpeschildren.com

SCF: First Public Appearance at 'Firepower'.

The Sharpe's Children Foundation's presence at the Sharpe Appreciation Society's two day event at Firepower - The Museum of The Royal Armouries - created great excitement and was a huge success. Hundreds of visitors thronged to The SCF stand to learn of The Sharpe's Children's Foundation's mission to build Sharpe's Shelters early education centres in the developing world. Daragh O'Malley says " The support and encouragement we received at Firepower was staggering. We met lots of old friends and made many new ones who are now going to join us in the war against child poverty and the quest for universal primary education. Erecting the first Sharpe's Shelter in India is one of the rewards that await us "

A celebratary evening at Apsley House, London for the official launch of the Sharpe’s Children Foundation was very well attended by Cast and Crew from the Sharpe series.

Representatives of various Governement offices and Embassies also attended and the Sharpe Appreciation Society, Sharpe’s Chefs and the Re-enactors groups.

Speechs were made by Yvette Leavy, Daragh O’malley and Bernard Cornwell. A charity auction was held by Alistair Stewart of an England rugby shirt signed by both Bernard Cornwell and Sean Bean: the highest bid coming from Sean himself on the night.

To conclude the official launch John Tams led the whole attendance in singing ‘Over the Hills and far Away’. A video of this and photos of some of the Actors there can be seen if you follow this link -

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Last update May 10th 2010