Peter Vardy Foundation

In July 2012 it was reported that: "Keith Danby was appointed as head of the Vardy Foundation and will start his exciting new role on 1st September. Founded by Sir Peter Vardy in 1987, the Foundation has helped several national organisations and appeals, including sponsoring the development of four highly successful schools in Northern England under the Emmanuel Schools Foundation. The Foundation also raised millions of pounds for a number of worthy causes globally including Mercy Ships, a school in Colombia, a hydro-electric power plant in Zambia, a hospital in India and Bible translation in numerous other countries.

"Mr Danby will also head Sir Peter’s new Jigsaw Foundation. This Foundation will work alongside existing community based initiatives, local authorities and faith based social care agencies as well as running its own projects. The new Foundation will concentrate on assisting the homeless, offenders and ex-offenders, children and families and drug and alcohol abuse victims. The efforts of the Jigsaw will be initially concentrated in the North East and will eventually be spread nationwide.

"In addition, the US programme, Safe Families for Children, will be coming to the UK with the help of Keith Danby and the Peter Vardy Foundation. This programme recruits volunteer church families to work with people in their community by becoming ‘family friends’ and mentors to support parents. The Programme is to be launched in Middlesbrough, where it already has the support of the council and Mayor Ray Mallon.

"Keith Danby has over 20 years’ experience in the charity sector serving as the Chief Executive of the UK Christian publisher, book distributor and retailer Send the Light. He was then appointed the International CEO of Biblica after the merger with International Bible Society in 2007. In 2010 he received an honorary Doctorate from the Indian College of Cultural Studies for his contribution to Christian literature distribution in the global South.

"Danby has been a friend of the Vardy family for 25 years, since Sir Peter’s brother, David Vardy recruited him for the Send the Light organisation."