Alan spent the majority of his career in the Aerospace and Defence industry. At the age of 50 he moved into the third sector and took on responsibility for Mission Direct, a Christian charity that builds schools, medical facilities, safe houses and homes for some of our world’s poorest in 11 countries round the world. He is passionate about supporting the vulnerable and those living on the edge.

Maria Macnamara MBE, conceived and launched Smalls for All in 2009. Maria worked in financial services for 30 years and has been a children’s respite carer since 1997. In 2004 she decided to try a different kind of holiday and spent three weeks working with children in an orphanage in Brazil. This encouraged her to volunteer to work in Thailand in 2006 and Ethiopia in 2009.

It was following her experience in Ethiopia that she decided to set up Smalls for All.

In 2015 Maria was recognised as an inspirational volunteer and awarded a Point of Light Award by the Prime Minister. “Maria’s work will have had an immediate impact on the daily lives of thousands of women and I am delighted to recognise her service with this Point of Light Award.” Points of Life are outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community. In 2016 Maria was honoured with an MBE.

Alan spent the majority of his career in the Aerospace and Defence industry. At the age of 50 he moved into the third sector and took on responsibility for Mission Direct, a Christian charity that builds schools, medical facilities, safe houses and homes for some of our world’s poorest in 11 countries round the world. He is passionate about supporting the vulnerable and those living on the edge.

Smalls for All captured his heart after he witnessed the amazing impact that giving someone their own underwear can have. Underwear not only restores dignity it allows the street kids to go swimming in public places, play football etc, etc.