Local Charities? Post Reply

[Soriano]

As part of our holiday tradition, my family and I try to make a donation and/or volunteer some time to a local charity. Since we're new to the area I thought perhaps you could give us some suggestion as to what charities we can look at.

We would prefer it to be a family or child-oriented charity although we're open to considering any organization that does good for the Clapham / Battersea / Wandsworth / Balham areas.

[MomSw11]

Hi there. We do the same as a family. I am a volunteer with Kids company. I volunteer locally in a school in battersea with children who are in need of extra support. They are a lovely organisation. They're looking to get 4,000 gift bags made for the children that come to spend christmas day with the charity and need little items to fill these bags. If you're interested email me and I'll forward you the details. I'm doing this with my little one's nursery class and it's just lovely! My daughter understands that she's helping other children who without our help wouldn't have a present to open on christmas (we made it tie in with santa as she still believes) adinasalehi@hotmail.com xx adina

[erinisle22]

My friend just last week told me about a charity that runs out of St Georges Hospital where you can volunteer your time to go and cook a nutritious, home-cooked meal for about 30 people. The people that come to this meal have their children in the hospital long-term and really appreciate not having to go and get (and I live in Tooting...so this is a joke ) another curry or greasy chicken from a chicken shop. If that is the kind of thing that interests you, I can try to find out the details? Let me know.

[Soriano]

Thank you both! I would be interested to hear more about the St. George's Hospital program as well as the opportunity to help out with the gift bags. In the meantime, I also discovered an outreach community centre just a stone's throw from the Clapham Common Tube stop. The Ace of Clubs centre is in need of people to volunteer time as well as basics like warm clothing in adult sizes, sleeping bags, foods that won't spoil as well as anything they can sell in their store.

[erinisle22]

Hi there - my friend has been working in Mexico this week and just got back to me. It seems to be two affiliated charities, Hands On London, working with Ronald McDonald House.

Here's the direct link and I've copied and pasted the info from it below:

http://handsonlondon.org.uk/en/event/86 ... assistants

The Ronald McDonald House is a charity which offers free housing to family members whose children are very sick and undergoing cancer treatment at the nearby St. George's Hospital.

What we do is prepare a cold or hot lunch for 15-20 family members, as well as set the tables for them. They always appreciate a meal to keep them going!

You don't need to be a master chef, rather all who enjoy food are welcome!

Volunteers are asked to contribute a portion of the ingredients. However, if you are not able to do so please don't worry, you are still welcome to volunteer your time.

Location: St.George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, SW17 0WT

Timing: 10:30am - 12:30pm
Please login or register to sign up for this event.
Ronald McDonald House Tooting
Partner overview:

The Ronald McDonald House Charities provides ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families with children in hospital, somewhere free to stay for as long as they need to. There are currently 15 Ronald McDonald Houses and over 25 sets of Family Rooms across the UK, all just a stone’s throw from the children’s ward. Together, they provide more than 450 rooms for families each night of the year.

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I'm not sure if they have a new date beyond this one yet.

[Camille]

If you are just looking to make a donation I suggest The Ebony Riding Club in Lambeth...the most amazing charity I have come across!
A riding school for disadvantaged children right next to the heart of Brixton....unique and fantastic for the kids, plus unlike certain "charities" I am certain the donations are spent extremely sensibly!!!!

[sammysmum]

Have you looked into Home-Start Wandsworth? They are a local family support charity helping those with small children....

www.homestartwandsworth.org.uk

SM x