As readers will know, WaterAid is the charity supported by this year’s Financial Times Seasonal Appeal. As chief executive of WaterAid, I wanted to pass on our thanks to you personally.

In the 17 countries around the world in which we work with more than 400 partners, from non-governmental organisations to local and state governments, I have witnessed first-hand how water, sanitation and hygiene projects can transform the lives of communities and individuals. It was this vitally important work that Barney Jopson wrote about and Charlie Bibby photographed for the series of articles that ran in the FT before Christmas.