An extra special festive day for our H&F community

325 elderly guests enjoyed the Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch 2023 in Hammersmith thanks to donations from local residents and businesses. It was a fantastic day, full of laughter and happiness, just as Christmas should be. 

Our elderly neighbours were even treated to a special drop in from H&F Giving’s patron Hugh Grant saying “Merry Christmas” to all – making it a particularly special one for many in the room.

The energy in the room was fantastic – one resident from Sycamore House, an alms-house run by Hammersmith United Charities (HUC) for low-income elderly residents, said: “As always, a really amazing day and I especially loved seeing a Hollywood Film Star! Thank you hugely to everyone for organising such a memorable and very special day.”

H&F Giving worked with Hammersmith & Fulham Council to organise and raise funds to treat older, isolated residents of the borough to a lovely two-course lunch at the Novotel London West Hotel in Hammersmith with a gift bag and free transport for those who needed it.

Louise Wilson, Executive Director at H&F Giving said: “I had the absolute pleasure of spending Christmas with hundreds of elderly residents of Hammersmith and Fulham who would have otherwise spent the day alone. We are hugely thankful to all the local companies, trusts and residents who donated to make this day happen – days like this are only achievable because of your support. A special thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the day so special including H&F Giving’s patron Hugh Grant, who brought some extra special, surprise festive cheer to the day by joining us to help serve lunch to local residents – it really was a Christmas to remember!”

Thank you – you made this happen.

In total, with a generous contribution from Hammersmith & Fulham Council, our community raised over £45,000 together to ensure this incredible event happened. Any excess funds raised will go towards engagement activities for older and vulnerable residents in the borough throughout 2024.

The lunch is only achievable with the support of local giving so we are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed gift items, money, or their time to make this event happen.

Hundreds of local people contributed to the lunch appeal by making donations via our crowdfunding campaign on our website, via bank transfer and at local events – raising more than £16,000 together. This year, we also saw an increase in local pensioners donating their unneeded Winter Fuel Allowance to ensure their elderly neighbours didn’t spend the day alone – a lovely gesture in keeping with the spirit of the day.

Local businesses made invaluable contributions totalling over £16,000 as well – a big thank you to our major sponsors.

Dr Edward & Bishop King’s Fulham Charity (DEBK), a local charity which has been working to relieve poverty in Fulham since 1618, supported with an incredible donation of £6,000.

The Earls Court Development Company donated £5,000 to sponsor the event including the costs for items in our goody bags so our older residents had an extra special Christmas present to open this year.

Networking.London donated over £2,300 to the event by holding a Christmas Fundraiser with the local business community in the run up to the event.

Olympia London and Friends of Brook Green both sponsored a table of residents to attend Christmas lunch at £1,000 each, ensuring our elderly neighbours had the chance to make new connections this Christmas.

Hammersmith BID remained a continued supporter of the event donating £500 again this year.

We also want to take this opportunity to thank H&F Giving’s core funders which this year include City Bridge Foundation, NEC Software Solutions and Raw Tipis, along with our founding partners, DEBK and HUC. Their unrestricted support is integral in enabling us to deliver impactful projects such as our Christmas Campaign – thank you.

Just as Christmas should be

The day was full of good food, friends, laughter and dancing – just as Christmas should be.

A huge thank you again to everyone who volunteered or donated to make this event happen, as well as the events team at Hammersmith & Fulham Council for all their hard work in making the day such a success – you have all made the day for hundreds of our elderly neighbours!

See you next year.

 

Want to get involved in the Big Christmas Lunch 2024?

If you or your business would like to sponsor or get involved in next year’s event, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Find all photos here.