Tag Archive for: Wimbledon Guild

Support The Community This Christmas

We continue to be proud of Wimbledon businesses and their recognition of their role locally to help those in need in the community.  Efforts have continued on from the pandemic to help those who are struggling for food, shelter, clothing or access to technology for education.

Morrisons Community Champion has donated toys to Dons Local Action Group, food to YMCA Wimbledon, plus stationary and treats to Polka Theatre. Harnham HQ have continued their annual tradition of volunteering at Wimbledon Foodbank and local pubs The Alexandra and the Prince of Wales pub recently offered a meal for two and a bottle of wine for YMCA’s annual Star Awards on 18th November, to help celebrate the team’s hard work and dedication to their role over the last year.

There are a range of ways that your business and employees can get involved to help those who may struggle this winter, including donating to local charities and organisations, who work to reach those in need. See ideas below.

Shoebox Appeal

Until 11th December, South Western Railway staff are running their annual Shoebox Appeal in Wimbledon Station, collecting donations to support Merton Faith in Action (FiA) and their homeless drop-in centre. Fill a shoebox full of items that might be useful for those who are homeless, e.g. toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks, scarves, hats and non-perishable foods, then drop off your box at Wimbledon Station ticket hall.

Toy Donation

The Entertainer are accepting donations of plastic children’s toys (must be in good condition) which will be rehomed via The Salvation Army and Morrisons Wimbledon has set up a Toy Donation Station at the front of the store where toys will be donated via Dons Local Action Group. The Community Giving Christmas Tree, beside the toy donation point, is another great way to donate.

Furniture, Food and Technology

Dons Local Action Group welcomes donations of laptops for young people who do not have access to the internet via a computer at home, as well as furniture and food items. Originally formed by fans of AFC Wimbledon during the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity continues to collect food and essential items outside Morrisons Wimbledon, to deliver to those in need in the local community.

Wimbledon Foodbank provides three days of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis. They are encouraging the local community to purchase a supermarket gift card, which will allow a family to buy the essentials for a Christmas dinner. Check out their weekly update of the urgent items that are needed here and read more ideas about how you can help struggling families this Christmas here.

Other local organisations that could benefit donations or volunteering assistance include:

Wimbledon Offices Ltd Launches 3 Year Partnership with Wimbledon Guild

Wimbledon Guild, the local charity supporting people in Merton, has been chosen by Wimbledon Offices, a local property company based in Tuition House, as one of its charities.

 

Wimbledon Offices Ltd has selected Wimbledon Guild as one of its three Merton based charities and during a three year partnership will make annual donations to Wimbledon Guild’s Small and Emergency Grants Fund.

 

Pauline Twogood, Wimbledon Offices Ltd New Projects Director, said: Wimbledon Offices Ltd is a local family run business.  We have been providing office space in Wimbledon for over 40 years and we wish to give something back to the local community.  The work Wimbledon Guild do is very valuable and by making a donation to the Small and Emergency Grants Scheme we can help with the Guild’s work supporting local households in need.

 

Speaking about the partnership, Wendy Pridmore, Wimbledon Guild Chief Executive, said: “working in partnership with local organisations and companies is vital in helping us raise awareness of our services, increase our volunteer base and fundraise. Our services help local people in their time of need. During 2017/18 our Small and Emergency Grants Fund distributed over £40,000 to households across Merton to provide desperately needed items they could not afford to buy. Demand for all of our welfare services has increased over 13% and support from local companies and organisations helps us to meet the growing costs of providing welfare support to over 2,000 local people each year. On behalf of our customers and clients we thank Wimbledon Offices Ltd for their generous donation and support which will enable us to make a difference to the lives of even more people.”

 

ABOUT WIMBLEDON GUILD

Wimbledon Guild is a local charity that provides people in Merton with help and support in times of need. From its base at Guild House on Worple Road, Wimbledon, it aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness, help people who are experiencing difficulties and enable older people to be active and healthy. The services provided include:

  • Transport, benefits and housing support
  • Talking Therapies
  • Grief Support
  • Small & Emergency Grants Fund
  • Clubs, classes, talks and trips
  • HomeFood Café
  • Befriending and volunteering

Wimbledon Guild’s work in local communities relies heavily on donations and support from local people and businesses. To discuss opportunities to get involved call the Community & Events Team on 0208 739 2920 or email events@wimbledonguild.co.uk

 

ABOUT WIMBLEDON OFFICES

Wimbledon Offices Ltd and it’s associate company GFA Investments Ltd are a family business. The original family business was The Rapid Results College (RRC) offering no text book based correspondence tuition worldwide. Wimbledon Offices Ltd was set up in the early 1960s when Tuition House was being built to house The Rapid Results College, with additional space available for letting to other tenants. Over time the space required by RRC diminished and more office space was let to other companies.

Tel: 020 8971 4910 Email: info@wimbledonoffices.co.uk

Support for Wimbledon charities stem4 and Wimbledon Guild

stem4 and Wimbledon Guild benefit from Autumn Quarter Marathon with funds raised by the Wimbledon Windmilers and Triathlon Club

                                                                                   

stem4 was one of the charities to benefit from funds raised by the many runners who participated in the new Autumn Quarter Marathon race presented by the Wimbledon Windmilers Runners and Triathlon Club on Wimbledon Common. stem4 and the Wimbledon Guild were each presented with a cheque for £1000 on Sunday 4 November by Chiara Samele of the Wimbledon Windmilers.

Dr Nihara Krause, CEO and Founder of stem4 said:”A huge thank you to the Wimbledon Windmilers for organising the Quarter Marathon and for their donation.  We are very grateful to be recognised and supported by the local community for the work we do with young people, their parents and schools.  This donation will help us continue to provide our focus on early detection and intervention.”

In the photo, left to right

Ralph Gilbert (Wimbledon Windmiler Race Organiser) Jo Manley (stem4 trustee) Bronte (young volunteer) Nihara Krause (CEO stem4) Yvette Neisloni (volunteer stem4 who also made delicious cakes with the stem4 logo for the stand which were a great success) Chiara Samiele (Windmiler Race organiser) Adele Farquharson (Wimbledon Guild)

A Wimbledon Business & Charity Win at Team London Awards

Wimbledon Guild pushes the buttons of success with Capsticks Solicitors to win prestigious volunteering award.

One of Merton’s biggest law firms, Capsticks Solicitors LLP (Capsticks), has won a prestigious award for their work with one of the borough’s largest charities, Wimbledon Guild.

 

The annual Team London Awards, run by the Mayor of London’s office, celebrates the individuals, teams and corporate volunteers who make outstanding contributions to their communities. The Awards are one of the ways the Mayor recognises some of those volunteers who go above and beyond to create better local communities.

 

Capsticks won the Team London Awards 2018 Outstanding contribution to volunteering, Capsticks LLP, Business & Corporate Volunteering for the mobile and tablet workshops they have been running over the past three years every Wednesday lunchtime at Wimbledon Guild.  The sessions are aimed at older people who have problems using electronic gadgets and staff from the Wimbledon based legal firm are on hand to troubleshoot and teach customers how to get the most out of their devices.

 

Both organisations are thrilled their hard work has been officially recognised and demonstrates the versatility of corporate volunteering as Wendy Pridmore, Chief Executive, Wimbledon Guild explains:

“We are so proud of the incredible effort put in by both our community engagement team and Capsticks’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) group has been recognised by Team London and the Mayor of London’s office.

“One of our organisation’s key aims is to reduce social isolation and loneliness.  By putting on sessions like the mobile and tablet workshops we are helping older people become digitally savvy and able to communicate with friends and family in a more interactive way.  For example, showing someone how to text, take and send pictures on their phone, use Facetime or connect to the internet.  Something that may seem a simple everyday task to many of us can be a huge hurdle to the older generation.”

But it’s not just about older people re-connecting with family and friends, it’s also about building a relationship with local businesses to support charities with volunteers on a regular basis.

Pridmore continues: “ We are always very grateful for any volunteering support but Capsticks have shown that by making a long term commitment to Wimbledon Guild,  they are able to make a significant contribution to our service delivery. The model we have developed with Capsticks is for them to put together a rota of volunteers who give up half an hour of their lunchbreak to attend the workshop.  This gives them flexibility and ensures that volunteering doesn’t rest with the same people each week. It’s been a resounding success and one we have used to engage with other companies wanting to give something back to the local community on a regular basis.”

Commenting on the award, John Tippett-Cooper, senior lawyer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, said:

“This Team London Award means so much to us as a company as well as the team that have been involved directly with the mobile and tablet workshops. Our staff get so much out of the volunteering, building relationships with an older generation and really making a difference to them. We have regular attendees to the session as well as those who just come in with a specific problem.  The social inter-generational integration benefits not just the local community but the well-being of our staff too. Those who regularly volunteer look forward to taking the time out of their day to do so and get so much back from it too.”

 

If you are a company or individual interested in volunteering at Wimbledon Guild you can contact their volunteer manager, Adam Butler, abutler@wimbledonguild.co.uk or call him on 020 8946 0735.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in attending the Mobile and Tablet Workshop call 0208 946 0735 or email activities@wimbledonguild.co.uk to book a space.

For more information on Wimbledon Guild and the services they provide to people who live or work in Merton visit: www.wimbledonguild.co.uk