Hope and help from brick company

The firm, based at Alne, near Easingwold, is giving money to a group of York Christians, who are making bricks for the safe house at Poipet, near the border between Cambodia and Thailand.

Miriam Swaffield, David Magill and Dr Ben Sinclair, who all worship at St Michael-le-Belfrey's Church in the shadow of York Minster, are travelling to Poipet this month with 10 friends and colleagues to work with the Cambodian Hope Organisation.

The organisation is creating a safe haven for orphans to prevent homeless young children being bought and sold as sex slaves and to combat Aids.

David Armitage, the chairman of York Handmade, said: "They will be making their own bricks, with sand, gravel and cement, so they will also be handmade bricks, but made in Cambodia, rather than York."

It is a five-year project, featuring 12 houses, including the one which York Handmade has helped to sponsor. Each house will hold 12 children in four rooms.

The safe haven will also look after vulnerable single mothers.