The Sylvia Wright Trust is a registered charity which supports the work of Sylvia Wright in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. Sylvia sold her home and possessions in Leeds 30 years ago to work relentlessly and courageously among the sick and disabled in this very poor area of India.

Over the years, Sylvia has built and established a modern hospital, a school for deaf children, two centres for severely disabled children as well as running many vital community health projects. In 2009 she founded a Nursing College which will have its full complement of 80 nurses in July 2012.

The Trust, which is based in Leeds, comprises enthusiastic and committed volunteers who raise funds to support this work.

Sylvia is pictured below surrounded by some of the profoundly deaf children to whom she has dedicated her life. Her inspiring vision has changed the lives of thousands of sick and disabled people in the very poor southern state of Tamil Nadu. Your support for Sylvias wonderful work is invited. Please let us know if you would like more information by clicking on the ‘Contact’ link at the top of this page or to make a donation please click on ‘Donations’. Thank you.

Special 30th Anniversary Newsletter
Click here to download a copy

Read Jonathan Tulloch's interview with Sylvia in The Tablet 12 May 2012. By kind permission of The Editor: http://www.thetablet.co.uk

Listen to Sylvia's inspiring interview on BBC Radio Leeds
Sylvia was interviewed live on BBC Radio Leeds by Liz Green on 19 April. Many listeners said they found it 'inspiring'. During the interview Sylvia spoke about what led to her decision to go to India in 1982 and reflected on her 30 years working in Tiruvannamalai. She also made some personal choices of music which were played during the programme. To listen to a recording of this unique programme click here………. This big file will take a minute to load. You will need QuickTime, Windows Media Player or Real Player to open it.' The photo shows Sylvia in the studio with Liz Green.

Supporters celebrate with Sylvia

 "Without you I can do nothing" - Sylvia speaks to her friends and supporters.
Over 400 supporters from many parts of the country gathered in St. Anne's Cathedral Leeds on Sunday 22 April 2012 to celebrate and give thanks for Sylvia Wright's 30 years of dedicated service in Tamil Nadu, Southern India.
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Rev Alan Taylor, was welcomed by Mgr Philip Moger, Dean of the Cathedral, and he was joined by other distinguished guests, civic and church leaders as well as Sylvia herself who was on a short visit back to Leeds.
The Service of Celebration & Thanksgiving was the climax of several 30th Anniversary events, organised by the Sylvia Wright Trust, to mark Sylvia's achievements since she sold all her possessions and left her home in Leeds to travel alone to a remote and very poor part of India in 1982.
• To read a full account of the service please click here.
• To see the complete gallery of Cathedral photographs please go to: http://www.catholicpost.org.uk/2012/april/30_years/index.html
 
We are grateful to Patrick Sice and the Catholic Post for permission to include the photographs on our website.

Sylvia speaks to an Open Meeting in Otley

Sylvia spoke to a large audience in Otley Methodist Church Hall on 19 April. The refreshments were provided by the ladies of the Otley Women's Forum and the proceeds kindly donated to the Trust.

The Sylvia Wright Story on DVD (now with subtitles) and Online

A DVD telling the story of Sylvia Wright was produced in 2010. This can now be viewed online at: http://vimeo.com/31688074 The DVD has been produced free of cost to the Trust, thanks to two sponsors. We are also most grateful to the staff and students of Leeds Trinity University College who edited the film and provided the commentary. As well as graphic pictures of rural life in Thiruvannamalai, the DVD contains recent film of Sylvia's 220 bed hospital, her boarding school for 210 profoundly deaf children, two day centres for 80 severely disabled children and the new Florence Nightingale School of Nursing which was officially opened in 2010. See News page for more details. Copies of the DVD can be obtained from SWT DVD, 14 King's Road, Leeds LS16 9JN. tel: 0113 2675735 or email chairman@sylviawright.org

Jubilee Concert on Saturday 16th June

With the Wesley Singers and the Yorkshire Evening Post Brass Band. Lidgett Park Methodist Church, Roundhay LS8 1HG. The church has so far raised £8,000 towards its appeal for a new school bus for Sylvia's school. See poster below for details. 7.30 pm at Lidgett Park Methodist Church

Click on these photos to enlarge.