I want to help a local good cause - help me, to help them Post Reply

[jo jo]

I have a fantatic opportunity to help a local good cause. I work for a bank and they are helping colleagues like myself get closer to our communities. i have only lived in London for a very short time and with having a baby in the local area I have become very fond of where I live. I want to try to help give something back. I don't want to get involved with the larger charities - I already give to them. I feel like i'd like to get closer to something a bit smaller that needs help, volunenteers and potentially a bit of financial investment but I am not sure where to start. I live in the earlsfield/southfields/ wimbledon park area and i'd like to take an interest in a charity in the same area. i am interested in sport or/ and children based charites/good causes. Can anyone help me by suggesting good causes that they have heard of or contact names/numbers?

[Beketaten]

Have you seen this thread?

http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/mums/view ... 66&t=32649

[greyingmum]

Have a look at www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk
They train people to go into local schools to help one to one with literacy support for children who perhaps miss out at home for all sorts of reasons and need a little bit extra attention. There are schools in your area waiting for new Beanstalk readers so they'll be keen to hear from you. Although its a national charity it's comparatively small but the Inner London Branch covers Wandsworth where the Council are really supportive of the volunteers work.

[supergirl]

Call the council. They need so much help. They have a scheme where you can go in some school and get some children do one to one reading. Cant remember the name now.

[lemonzest]

The Wandsworth Foodbank is opening in May. I know they have sites around the Borough. They are looking for help, from volunteering time, donations of food, help with fundraising, companies to sponsor it etc. http://wandsworth.foodbank.org.uk/get-involved

[jo jo]

keep suggestions coming happy to see ones outside children/ sports if there are ones.

[smiley]

www.aceofclubs.org.uk

Although we are based in Lambeth, we have plenty of Wandsworth clients as historically Wandsworth has had "no homeless people".

[Heavens to Betsy]

Pauls Cancer Support Centre on York Road, is a charity helping anyone affected by cancer. They have a fantastic home visiting service which supports people living alone in SW London (and beyond I believe) and their counselling service is second to none.

The great thing is this charity supports EVERYONE not just the patient who is affected by cancer.

Very worthwhile.

[BTCparent]

Homestart Wandsworth helps vulnerable / struggling families within Wandsworth - I am sure they would appreciate help!:

http://www.homestartwandsworth.org.uk/

[Trinity Hospice]

Dear Jo Jo,

We are a local charity based in Clapham Common, caring for over 2,000 terminally ill individuals and their families in our community a year.

Our nurses provide skilled and compassionate care both from our inpatient centre in Clapham and out in the community, in our patients own homes, where they may feel more comfortable.

It costs £10million a year for our nurses to provide our vital care, and with less than a third of this funding from the NHS, we rely on the generosity and kindness of our community to help us with volunteering and raising the £7million we need every year.

I know you are hoping for a sports/children's charity, but we do a lot of work in our local community. Any help you can provide will really benefit your local area, which is something you sound very passionate about.

We have an established volunteer scheme, with lots of opportunities for someone like yourself (and your company) to get involved with should you like to (www.trinityhopsice.org.uk/volunteer-vacancies).

If you should like any more information about how you can help at Trinity (there are hundreds of ways to get involved!) you can visit our website at www.trinityhospice.org.uk or please feel free to call Claire on 020 7787 1080 or email clubbock@trinityhospice.org.uk - always happy to help!

[ClaphamNCT]

Hi Jo Jo
What an amazing opportunity for a local charity. I volunteer for Clapham NCT and we are currently looking for sponsors for our weekly breastfeeding drop-in which provides FREE support to local parents. The drop-in is funded entirely from donations and fundraising and unfortunately the fund is getting low. We are desperately working to keep the drop-in going as so many local parents value and benefit from the support provided by qualified breastfeeding counsellors, particularly given the stretched nature of local NHS postnatal support. Just this morning we saw several parents with days old babies, where the drop-in was their first trip outside.

We welcome ALL at the drop-in every Monday (except bank holidays) 10am-12noon at Balham Salvation Army (38 Balham High Road, SW12).

Many thanks
Jenny
Co-chair
Clapham NCT volunteer
Claphamchair@claphamnct.com

[wandsworth museum]

Hi

At Wandsworth Museum we are looking for volunteers to fill front of house, education and collections roles. For more info or to apply please contact Prue and Christina at bookings@wandsworthmuseum.co.uk.

We would love to hear from you.

Best Wishes

Zoe