How The Bivol Trust Began:

Bivol Trust was formed in 1992 following project work its founder trustees undertook in Romania. At this time, an initiative called “Work Insight” was based in Glen House Children’s Home in Swanwick to help young people being looked after by Children’s Services find work experience placements.  Social Services agreed there could be a pilot project which consisted in taking four young people from “Work Insight” to Romania. The objectives were to give them a broader experience of working in the caring professions but in a more challenging environment.

Our founder, Dan Davies, was instrumental in organising a trip to Zalau in north-western Transylvania with a local church-based charity who specialised in support to this area.  The pilot project was a success and between 1992 and 1996, 55 young people were taken in small groups for this experience in Zalau where they helped with building projects, orphanages, and support to a home for the elderly.

From these beginnings, Dan grew Bivol Trust with a focus on the services it currently provides in the Portsmouth area. Dan decided to name the Trust “Bivol” which is derived from the Romanian name for a buffalo “Bivol românesc.” and is where the logo originates from.

Although it retains a strong bond with Zalau, the Trust no longer undertakes project work in Romania but is proud of the part it played in the Work Sight initiative and it remains an important part of the Trust’s history.