Tiny challenge for adventurer

AN Explorer, philanthropist, childcare expert and entrepreneur based in Lisburn has launched the first ever branch of Tinies in Northern Ireland.

Having been the first female civilian to fly to the edge of space in a MIG-25 fighter jet, opened up an orphanage in Nepal and worked all over the world, Sarah Cook is taking on her next challenge – introducing leading nanny agency, Tinies, to a Northern Irish audience.

Sarah said: “There is a need for high quality, affordable childcare in Northern Ireland and I’m thrilled to open up their new branch here.

“We want to make the lives of parents as easy as possible.

“Whether they are working mums and dads in need of a permanent nanny, or emergency childcare, or last-minute babysitting, we can help supply the best childcare professionals in the area.”

Tinies Northern Ireland is the newest of many challenges Sarah has embarked upon.

In 1999 she travelled to Russia and catapulted at three times the speed of sound to an altitude of 80,000 feet after winning a competition on BBC’s Tomorrow’s World.

Sarah later went on to rescue numerous children from a life of slavery and prostitution after opening up an orphanage in Kathmandu.

She said: “I was learning about the plight of street children in Nepal, a country that I previously knew little about.

“I developed some contacts on the ground with a mutual interest in helping these kids.

“As the project developed, I eventually went out to Nepal and through the organisation we started our first home in 2004, supported a sister project and built another facility in south Nepal. Because of this work, at any one time, there are no less than 50 children who have a safe and happy home with a brighter future.”

Sarah decided to move from England to Lisburn after visiting her cousin at Queen’s University.

She has worked in childcare ever since and feels very passionate about bringing Tinies to Northern Ireland.

Sarah said: “Tinies is not just an ordinary nanny agency. They also supply emergency childcare for parents left in the lurch and in need of last minute childcare, and a very popular mobile crèche service where we organise for expert childcare to attend special occasions, weddings or corporate events.