An extra special festive day for our H&F community

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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 team@hfgiving.org.uk.

Find all photos here.

Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch 2023

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Help ensure that 500 elderly and vulnerable people will enjoy Christmas Day

We are working in partnership with H&F Council to raise funding for the Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch. We want to gather the elderly and isolated, who might otherwise be alone, for a festive meal full of fun and friendship.

Around 500 people will be treated to a delicious two-course Christmas lunch at the Novotel London West, Hammersmith. They will be greeted by friendly volunteers and served by professional staff. Attendees also receive a gift bag and vouchers.  We’ll be running a complimentary bus service for anyone who can’t make their own way to the venue.

Last year was the first time in three years that this event had been held in person, as the pandemic meant we couldn’t bring people together in 2020 and 2021. We had fantastic feedback and so much fun that we are delighted to hold the event again this year. We hope to bring older people in the borough together to celebrate with companionship and Christmas cheer.

This event is completely funded by local giving, with donations from businesses and crowd funding. We’re calling on the community for support. Please give so we can make it happen.

 

Each donation makes a difference on Christmas Day

We need to raise £40,000* – and we’re asking for your help to make it happen. Their special day relies entirely on the generosity of local individuals, businesses and foundations.

  • £1,000: Could bring joy for a table of up to 10 older people living alone. They’ll enjoy a full lunch together whilst making new connections, enjoying live entertainment, raffle, and receiving a gift package to take home. A friendly face will pick them up and take them to the venue on December 25 – in rain, snow or shine, and return them home afterwards.
  • £70: Could pay for one isolated resident’s full Christmas package. This includes a delicious two-course lunch including dessert, live entertainment, raffle, and a gift bag full of goodies to take home.
  • £60: Could pay for transportation for an elderly person, to and from the Novotel Hotel on Christmas Day.
  • £30: Could pay for a two-course meal for an older, isolated resident to enjoy with new friends.
  • £10: Could add a bit of sweetness to the day by covering the cost of an after-dinner festive mince pie, warming winter hot drinks & some festive biscuits for an elderly person to enjoy.

Looking for 2023 sponsors & larger gifts from local corporates and foundations

  • We are looking for sponsors to kindly support this event. Help can be provided in the form of funding, goodie bag gifts and decorations.
  • We welcome business donations of £1,000+  Click to email – you could get a charity receipt, logo placement, shout out. Find out more here.
  • Give a larger amount by BACS. Click to email for bank details. Please send a completed Gift Aid Form if you’re a UK taxpayer

* Any excess funds raised will go towards providing support and engagement activities for older and vulnerable residents in the borough throughout 2024. 

 

Looking to sign up?

Whether it be to attend the event, sign up someone you know or to volunteer on the day or leading up to it, all information can be found here.

Or if you simply have a question and want to get in contact, we’re happy to help. Contact Louise Wilson, Executive Director, H&F Giving, at team@hfgiving.org.uk

 

 

245-mile bike ride raises almost £3,000 for Community Coronavirus Fund

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Jack Upcraft, local Engineering Manager, organised more than a dozen cyclists participating on stationary bikes and raised almost £3,000 for UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham’s Community Coronavirus Fund.

 

Andy Slaughter MP for Hammersmith & Fulham, and Patron of UNITED, celebrated the succes:

 

“What a fantastic achievement by Jack, Smart and 245 Hammersmith, rallying so much support for such an important and urgent cause. UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham have raised tens of thousands to help those afflicted by the Covid-19 crisis locally. But you don’t have to cycle 245 miles to help, you can just take your wallet for a walk and sponsor the ride.”

 

After the ride, Jack said:

 

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to raise money for a great cause. I’m also grateful for the support of Smart Managed Solutions and the 245 team who helped with the event. Who knows… maybe next year we might try and go even further!”

 

 

Carly Bright, General Manager at 245 Hammersmith, said:

 

“I couldn’t be prouder of all the efforts put in by Smart Managed Solutions and the 245 team, especially Jack for organising the event and raising so much. We are excited to have made such a great connection UNITED in Hammersmith and Fulham in these trying times. Our team are thrilled to able to have given back and have had a lot of fun doing so.”

 

It is not too late to give to the team’s efforts, today:

 

Make a donation to the Jack Upcrafts Page Raising Money for the United in Hammersmith & Fulham Covid-19 Response Fund

 

 

About Smart Managed Solutions

Over the past 15 years, Smart have worked in the world’s top data centres and commercial facilities, providing quality engineering services.

We help the world’s smartest companies maintain their facilities to the best possible standards, through a customer centric experience.

We are one of the few facility companies who understand that people are at the core of every organisation, as such they are the most important investment we will ever make. Even as technology advances and buildings change, it is our leadership and personal contributions as Smart individuals that ultimately set us apart from our competitors.

Clients approach us for many different reasons. As a result, we have built a diverse team of world-class managers, engineers, contract supports and consultants, to ensure that we can meet any challenge.

Smart offers a truly flexible solution to meet your needs, systems and processes. Our teams will happily be trained to work from client bespoke systems where required, no questions asked.

Smart are not a faceless corporation. We are operationally led and business focused on providing visible management, alongside a team who believe in our core behaviours; Empowerment, Integrity and Passion – that is the Smart way.

Since being awarded the contract at 245 Hammersmith Road Smart have been making progressive strides to ensure that our social value output sits as a priority. We are very happy and honoured to be able to support such a great charity and we have been overwhelmed with the support and donations received so far. UNITED in Hammersmith and Fulham is a fantastic organisation, and one that we will continue to support. Smart are very much looking forward to the next fundraising opportunity.

 

About 245 Hammersmith

245 has been designed to offer a 5 star hotel ambience, with service levels to match for our occupiers and their guests.

We have employed a best in class dedicated team to meet the high standards required by progressive occupiers. Our onsite front of house and management team will provide exceptional levels of service. From a warm welcome as you enter the building, a full concierge service, and a full events programme designed to enhance the experience of working at 245.

We want our occupiers, guest and the surrounding local community to use our independent barista or food and beverage operators to catch up with friends, family and colleagues at breakfast or lunchtime. We are the place that the 245 Community can relax and take part in the up and coming events whether that be food pop ups, live music, showing of the world cup, Wimbledon or maybe a movie night. If they want to be more active they can book into one of the classes run by local personal trainers and organised by our front of house team. It is a place where the 245 Community can come together to raise money for others or even give a little back to the local community.

The highly qualified team will take a hands-on approach to managing the building, providing an agile and proactive response to management issues raised. We are creating a new occupier and owner relationship built on trust and transparency. The 245 team are there to help.

At 245 we are striving to be more than just a place of business, we want our occupiers to be part of the ‘245 Community’, with the help of our internal portal and app our occupiers and staff will be able to see what events are occurring and gain information on the building anytime anywhere. Using the portal occupiers can book in guests, deliveries or even hire the library area for team events. They can use the 245 loyalty card to obtain discounts at the surrounding retail, leisure and hotels.

 

Lord Dubs Launches Humans of Hammersmith & Fulham Exhibit

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‘Humans of Hammersmith & Fulham 2020’ is a unique photo exhibition tour presented by United in Hammersmith & Fulham. The charity hopes that it will take away prejudice and exclusion, and inspire belonging, discussion and sharing.

 

The exhibition, which is open for free at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, was launched at a reception attended by many of the ‘Humans’ themselves – including campaigner for unaccompanied child refugees Lord Alf Dubs. Also a Patron of United, he said:

“Congratulations to United for such a wonderful exhibition. It’s wonderful to see so many local people recognised”.

Alf Dubs Launches Humans of Hammersmith & Fulham 2020. Photo: Justin Thomas/H&F Council

The collection of photographs and interviews was produced by Savraj Kaur at United, who engaged with volunteer portrait photographer Nahwand Jaff. They were delighted by the turnout and the Human’s reactions to seeing themselves or people they recognised from daily life.

 

Mayor Daryl Brown toasted the exhibition. Photo Jason Joseph

 

The work is an ongoing catalogue of those living, working and playing in the borough. Photo Jason Joseph

 

Almost 100 people turned up to the launch and shared stories of the borough. Photo Jason Joseph

 

United in Hammersmith & Fulham is a local organisation that inspires and helps fund activities that promote a strong sense of togetherness in our diverse London borough. This is achieved by connecting those who want to support the community with local causes that will best use their investment.

Chair of United, Kevin McGrath, DL, OBE, said:

“We invite anyone to come and see this exhibition which will continue to form a living catalogue of individuals from Old Oak to Sands End.

It really shows how wonderful our borough is and the value of all the communities within it. Those who are strangers but neighbours with so much in common too.”

 

Team United including CEOs of founding organisations HUC and DEBK. Left to right: Vivienne Lukey, Chris Hammond, Savraj Kaur, Priyesh Pattni, Helen Fagan, Victoria Hill, Julian Hillman, Jonathan Martin. Photo Justin Thomas / LBHF Council

 

The collection features everyday people of the borough. Photo Jason Joseph

 

Visitors can experience their neighbours, and the entire neighbourhood, in a new light. Photo Jason Joseph

 

Humans of Hammersmith & Fulham 2020 will tour the borough in various venues. You can currently view the exhibition for free at The Lyric Theatre, 9am to 11pm, Monday to Saturday, until Saturday 22 February. You can also keep up to date with tour venues through the year at unitedhf.org.

Left to right: curator Kathryn Walter, digital curator Gaia Bini, producer and interviewer Savraj Kaur, and photographer Nahwand Jaff. Photo Jason Joseph

 

You can view the exhibition for free at The Lyric Theatre until 22 February, before it moves to it’s next location. Photo Jason Joseph