Supporting Ukrainian refugees

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Hammersmith & Fulham

We’re working to ensure that all arriving Ukrainian refugees are welcomed and supported as they begin to rebuild their lives within the borough.

Everyone is welcome in Hammersmith & Fulham, especially those fleeing conflict, persecution, or humanitarian crisis.

We’re working with H&F Giving and West London Welcome to create the H&F Ukraine Appeal, a fund accepting resident donations for incoming Ukrainian refugees.

All money raised through the fund will go towards supporting Ukrainian refugees in H&F, regardless of the visa they arrived on. This ensures that all H&F based refugees will receive PayPoint vouchers equivalent to the ones the Government is providing to those on a ‘Homes for Ukraine’ visa.

H&F Giving are accepting donations of all sizes and have raised more than £14,000 so far.

Donate now

Image 1Iryna Dydyk with the small backpack she travelled with between Ukraine and the UK

A new life

Iryna Dydyk recently arrived in H&F after fleeing the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

She is being supported by H&F and recently attended one of our Ukrainian welcome events at the Hammersmith Quaker meeting house.

Read Iryna’s story here.

Support for Ukraine

Many of our residents also want to help those on the frontline. If you’d like to help, but aren’t sure how best to, you can find out here.

“Imagine fleeing terrifying danger in your home country and finding yourself in a new part of London, confused about who to trust. We don’t want that to happen to those who land in Hammersmith & Fulham,” said Flora Taylor, Executive Director of Hammersmith & Fulham Giving (Maternity Cover).

“The first arrivals from Ukraine have arrived, but we expect more. A cash donation to the fundraiser will ensure the right professionals, from therapists to legal advisors, including those with the right language skills, are on hand to respond locally.”

Or check out the different ways you can help, and find support here:

Homes for Ukraine scheme: Are you willing to host a Ukrainian refugee? Register your interest on the GOV.UK website.

Please let H&F Council know if you’ve registered your home on the Government website, or require support for a family member on the Ukraine family scheme by emailing [email protected] or calling 0800 145 6095.

Worried about family or friends? Find out who to contact on the GOV.UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals page.

Help for those who have arrived: Visit our refugee and asylum seeker help and support in H&F page.

 

The Sharing Table: A Community Cookbook

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Read more

H&F charity fund gives £200,000 to residents in need

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Image 1Pictured left to right are Clare Hirons, Julie Cavanagh and Rosie Borgia in the new SEAPIA kitchen

Hammersmith & Fulham

A fresh wave of grant aid to grassroots projects means that more than £200,000 has now been distributed to local residents in need.

The Household Support Fund channels government money to support residents with food, energy and water costs, and other essentials.

Set up by Hammersmith & Fulham Council and administered by H&F Giving (formerly known as UNITED in H&F), the fund has made a real difference to dozens of projects.

Savraj Kaur, Executive Director at H&F Giving, said: “We are living through the worst cost-of-living crisis for decades, with income dropping, fuel and food prices surging, and a war pushing boundaries even more.”

Sands End help

One project helped by the fund is Sands End Associated Projects in Action (SEAPIA), which provides low-cost play and childcare for children aged four-13. Director Julie Cavanagh said it ensured that 175 hot meals could be served each week, plus supermarket vouchers to families most in need.

Parents and carers have expressed thanks. One carer said: “The food vouchers help us immensely; I am very humbled by your generosity.” A parent added: “It’s the little things that count, and I feel very lucky to have help like this.”

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Dads House volunteers packing food bank essentials

Other projects to gain funding include:

Active Successful Engagement, which supports parents and carers. The Barons Court Project tackles poverty in the community. Bishop Creighton House helps residents with shopping, food delivery, hot meals, home repairs and utility payments, while Bubblesqueakeat runs a five-day-a-week food stall, distributing to those who can’t afford rising prices.

Dads House funds food bank essentials, Oyster card top-ups and offers help paying bills, and Foodbank Doorsteppers supports the borough food banks and has, to date, collected nearly 100 tonnes of food. Fulham Good Neighbours offers help in the home and garden, including hot meal deliveries.

Both The Kulan Foundation and the Lido Foundation help households with food, utility bills and clothing, while Lets Unite For Autism supports vulnerable families with money worries.

Lucas Ark assists with moving costs and temporary housing, while M&C Foundation supports 120 White City families to access small grants, and the Minaret Community Centre provides culturally appropriate aid to 150 families.

The Mother and Child Welfare Organisation provides food parcels, telephone support and utility bill help, and Nourish Hub supports families with cookery sessions. People Arise Now assists former prisoners, while Play Association H&F supports 19 families on low incomes.

Ravenscourt Baptist Church helps with food and bills, while River House Trust buys supplies for its food bank. 

Somali Parents assists families with bills and food, and the St Paul’s Money Advice Centre gives debt advice. The Urban Partnership Group works with families on the White City and Edward Woods estates, West London Welcome assists refugees, and the White City Interfaith Partnership gives out food, sanitary and cleaning items.

Debbie Robinson at H&F Giving said: “This funding is meeting the needs of local people at a time when prompt action to provide targeted assistance is vital.”

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Fulham Good Neighbours volunteers working in the kitchen

 

H&F UKRAINE APPEAL: Help those in need

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Hammersmith & Fulham

Everyone’s welcome in Hammersmith & Fulham. That’s why we’re working to ensure arriving Ukrainian refugees receive the best support possible.

We’re working with H&F Giving and West London Welcome to create the H&F Ukraine Appeal. The appeal will supply support, advice and items to refugees who have fled the conflict and local residents affected by the crisis.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine is destroying millions of innocent lives, and we have seen the horrors of war unfold daily causing a humanitarian crisis,” said H&F’s Lead Member for Refugees, Cllr Rebecca Harvey.

“We at H&F stand with the Ukrainian people and are ready to welcome anyone fleeing the conflict – and we thank those who have reached out to offer support and care to refugees.”

H&F Giving are accepting donations of all sizes and every penny given to the appeal will be spent directly on Ukrainian refugees arriving in H&F.

A £20 donation can help provide refugees with a friendly community space to gather together in and reconnect with each other in H&F. £100 can help provide a mother and child with the essentials, and £500 can help provide therapeutic or casework support for arriving refugees.

Donate now

Support for Ukraine

Many of our residents also want to help those on the frontline. If you’d like to help, but aren’t sure how best to, you can find out here.

“Imagine fleeing terrifying danger in your home country and finding yourself in a new part of London, confused about who to trust. We don’t want that to happen to those who land in Hammersmith & Fulham,” said Savraj Kaur, Executive Director of Hammersmith & Fulham Giving.

“The first arrivals from Ukraine have been helped, but we expect more. A cash donation to the fundraiser will ensure the right professionals, from therapists to legal advisors, including those with the right language skills, are on hand to respond locally.”

Or check out the different ways you can help, and find support here:

Homes for Ukraine scheme: Are you willing to host a Ukrainian refugee? Register your interest on the GOV.UK website.

Please let H&F Council know if you’ve registered your home on the Government website, or require support for a family member on the Ukraine family scheme by emailing [email protected] or calling 0800 145 6095.

Need immigration or visa advice?

The Ukraine Advice Project provides free immigration advice by qualified lawyers for those fleeing Ukraine.

Worried about family or friends?

Find out who to contact on the GOV.UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals page.

To find out more about H&F’s work to support all refugees, please visit our supporting refugees and asylum seekers page.

Help for those who have arrived

GOV.UK – Welcome guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK

H&F Information for refugees or asylum seekers in H&F

Finding a school place

If you know a refugee or asylum seeker who has recently arrived in H&F and is school aged, find out how you can secure them a local school place by contacting our school admissions team on 020 8753 1085 or visit our school admissions page.

Have you received your Covid-19 vaccination abroad?

Book an appointment at a local vaccination site who have the facilities to validate vaccinations that have been administered abroad. Visit the tell the NHS about coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccinations you’ve had abroad page.

 

 

Exhibition capturing diversity of Hammersmith and Fulham returns after pandemic

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Left to right, Kate Walter (curator), Gaia Bini (ex-social media), Savraj Kaur (Producer), Nahwand (photographer) via H&F Giving

Published by SWLondoner, 25 February 2022

Asyia Iftikhar

A touring exhibition celebrating the diversity of Hammersmith and Fulham has opened in Fulham Palace post-pandemic.

The creative project was launched by Savraj Kaur, 38, executive director of Hammersmith and Fulham Giving, in collaboration with London-based photographer Nahwand Jaff, 32.

Named “Humans of Hammersmith and Fulham” and inspired by the popular series “Humans of New York”, it first launched in Lyric Theatre Hammersmith in January 2020.

Kaur said: “I’ve come across so many incredible characters in my day to day interactions.

“We don’t normally work with creative projects but it’s been a nice way to bring art to the community. Some people featured in the exhibition have never been to an art gallery before.

“We live in a really diverse borough with some of the most expensive homes in the country while 30% of children are born into child poverty. But we all share the same space.”

Now returning bigger than ever, the free exhibition displays portraits and accompanying interviews of over 50 residents in the borough.

Photo of caucasian woman, profile of shoulders and face wearing a green fleece. The fleece has words reading "hammersmith and fulham foodbank"
REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL ISSUES: Daphine Aitkens advocates for foodbank users. Credit: Nahwand Jaff and H&F Giving

The interviews aim to give an insight into the lives and experiences of various local people from community initiative leaders to ordinary residents.

One participant, Daphine Aitkens, ex-CEO of Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank said: “Foodbank clients are not scroungers, but real people with real issues which can be solved.”

Speaking about the people she has encountered in her job, Aitkens added: “One was a mum who turned to prostitution to feed her child. When she came to us she didn’t need to prostitute herself anymore, she was able to cover her debts, got therapy, some parenting support with her gorgeous child.”

Photo of caucasian woman sitting in office with a sign behind her reading "Hammersmith and Fulham Law Centre." She is wearing a dark top.
CHANGING LIVES: ex-CEO of H&F Law Centre Sue James fights for justice in the community. Credit: Nahwand Jaff and H&F Giving

Before becoming a photographer, Jaff spent five years working as a delivery driver for the Waitrose on North End Road and got to know the area.

Jaff then began working on the project in 2019 and said: “It was very sporadic, Savraj would ask me to come down and take portraits while she interviewed.

He added: “It would be nice to continue profiling as many people as we can since so many people are doing such good work.

“I remember there was someone whose family had been in the area for over 100 years and as a diaspora the idea of being in one place for generations is so strange. It’s very beautiful.”

As the exhibition continues to tour, Kaur explained: “We’re calling it a living exhibition and long after I’ve gone it would be nice if we added faces and stories.”

The Humans of Hammersmith & Fulham exhibition is open daily from 10.30am to 4pm at Fulham Palace in Bishop’s Avenue until 10 March and will later continue to tour the borough.

Celebrating our diversity: Humans of Hammersmith & Fulham

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Hammersmith & Fulham

Humans of Hammersmith & Fulham exhibition at Fulham Palace until 10 March 2022

A captivating collection of photographs and stories celebrating local residents is on show in a free exhibition at Fulham Palace.

The ‘Humans of Hammersmith & Fulham’ exhibition showcases the portraits and tales of around 70 local people in a creative project aiming to promote a sense of belonging across the borough.

Created by local charity H&F Giving, the exhibition features the stories of residents in their own words, including volunteers, sportspeople and those pivotal to services through the pandemic. The displays are being showcased throughout the historic rooms of Fulham Palace until 10 March.

“The exhibition focuses on collecting photographs and interviews to form a living catalogue of individuals from Old Oak to Sands End to inspire belonging, sharing, and inclusion for all,” explains Savraj Kaur, executive director of H&F Giving (formerly known as United in Hammersmith & Fulham).

“A key part of the exhibit is the voices of the people, through direct quotes which capture the mood of communities and individuals.”

Stories from across the borough

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Somali-British civil society leader Adam Matan OBE

Among the stories are those of Fulham Palace volunteer Marvel, who recalls meeting the Duchess of Cornwall; Somali-British civil society leader Adam Matan OBE; and Solidarity Sports founder Sean Mendez, who helps local children reach their potential through health and fitness.

Produced in collaboration with volunteer portrait photographer Nahwand Jaff and curated by Kate Walter, the exhibition was first launched at Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre in January 2020 by H&F Giving’s patron, Lord Alf Dubs.

Since then it has grown, and it continues to do so as new images and stories of residents who “live, work or play in the borough” are being added to the collection, adds Savraj, using “storytelling for our [charitable] purpose”.

“It’s turned out to be what I had hoped – a way to convey social issues, to tackle prejudice, and to learn more about our neighbours,” she adds.

Go and visit

The Humans of Hammersmith & Fulham exhibition is open daily from 10.30am to 4pm at Fulham Palace in Bishop’s Avenue until 10 March and will later move to the Imperial College Invention Rooms.

Find out more by visiting H&F Giving online.

 

 

We’re now H&F Giving!

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Our new name reflects our purpose

We are delighted to announce that we have recently changed the name of our charity from United in Hammersmith & Fulham to H&F Giving to distinguish it from other local charities and clarify our role in the community.

Our place-based giving scheme was formed by 400-year old Dr Edwards and Bishop King’s Fulham Charity and Hammersmith United Charities to inspire people to devote the resources required to create a stronger borough. Led by Savraj Kaur we have distributed more than £400,000 in grants to local community groups and since March 2020. Furthermore, we has spearheaded fundraising encouraging the public to give more than £160,000 to fund urgent community need, including the Tech4Kids campaign to get 1,000 children in poverty their own laptops with connectivity, and the Big H&F Christmas Lunch delivery for hundreds of isolated senior citizens. Our creative project Humans of Hammersmith & Fulham has also been touring community venues since the beginning of 2020, featuring portraits and interviews of local people, that help dismantle prejudice and exclusion while inspiring belonging, discussion and sharing in the borough.

Towards the end of 2021 we took the decision to rebrand because our original name was beginning to hold us back. People seeking support or funding told us they found the name confusing; it didn’t make it clear that we are a separate charity from one of our founders. We want to make it as easy as possible for people seeking support to find and get it.

We chose the name H&F Giving because it encapsulates what we do and aligns with the growing network of giving schemes across London. Giving to charities and community groups and connecting people to give to causes that matter locally is at the heart of what we do. And so, H&F Giving better represents our rapid evolution, and helps ensure everyone can understand our unique role. It clarifies our aim of connecting the borough, so that every person and every generation has what they need to thrive in Hammersmith & Fulham.

Savraj Kaur BEM, Executive Director of H&F Giving, said:

“The idea of giving locally has developed so much in our borough. From awarding grants to local groups on the frontline to encouraging people to share what they have, it’s become central to the spirit of what we do. Now it isn’t just what we do but we’re called, and our warm and dynamic new brand is a representation of what we have grown to live and breathe daily.

“I’d like to thank everyone who contributed their time and expertise to the project and say a special thank you to our outgoing trustee Michail Tzouvelekis. His clear direction and insight have helped to set us on the path to further growth and impact in the borough.”

With support from London Funders, we were able to fund the change and have Louise Kavanagh and Georgie Lowry to develop a distinctive new brand to support this change in name and wider identity. This included a logo and complementary materials, and a new strapline, vision, mission and values.

We will be applying this new brand identity to our website and other materials in the coming months; this will be achieved with corporate supporters Blueprint Partners and WebFX who are working with us to create an even better website in 2022.

We hope you like it as much as we do!

Big Christmas Lunch ‘a roaring success’

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Cllr Coleman visits volunteers prepping Christmas lunches and gift bags for the H&F Big Christmas Lunch
Hammersmith & Fulham

“You’ve made my day!” exclaimed Betty Richens, one of 800 isolated senior citizens in the borough to receive a festive meal and gift bag as part of our Big H&F Christmas Lunch.

The event was a huge success, thanks to a concerted community effort to ensure residents living alone did not feel neglected.

Local social enterprise The Smile Brigade played a vital role in preparing the meals and organising volunteers to assemble the lunch packages, then deliver them to hundreds of addresses throughout the borough.

Betty Richens summed up the response after receiving her festive lunch: “You’ve made my day! I’ve been spoilt through and through with a perfectly cooked meal, fruit, veg, Christmas pud, plus two books,” she said.

“When you’re alone, not only the food but having someone thinking of you is invaluable. Thanks a million. Your heart is certainly in the right place.”

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Volunteers at the Smile Brigade

Another who received a meal praised “the delicious food, gifts and groceries which are most welcome and make Christmas Day very special”, while yet another added thanks “for the lovely turkey dinner” and the gifts which accompanied it.

We worked with local charity UNITED in H&F to raise funds for the project. The generosity of the community was matched by local organisations including idverde, our contractor for grounds maintenance services and landscape creation projects.

There was also support from local partners, such as football club QPR, Hammersmith landscape design and construction company Shoots & Leaves and the McGrath Charitable Trust.

“We knew Christmas would be challenging for many elderly people who have suffered great losses during the pandemic,” said Savraj Kaur, Executive Director of UNITED in H&F.

“We wanted people to know they weren’t alone, and it was incredible to see the community coming together to make 25 December brighter for our isolated residents.”

Nikos Soulous, Logistics Administrator for The Smile Brigade, said: “It was such a joy being part of the community Christmas meals project, and to help get free meals and gifts to 800 isolated and vulnerable local residents. Working with so many wonderful colleagues and volunteers made an otherwise difficult job so much easier and enjoyable!’”

While receiving a package cheered many elderly residents, being part of the project was also uplifting for those who worked on it.

“Thank you for letting me participate as a volunteer in this year’s Christmas support campaign,” said volunteer Chrissie Hammond. “It was a truly profound experience.”

Image 3
Volunteers out delivering Christmas lunches

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H&F Christmas Lunch serves up a shining example of community spirit

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Lunch action: From left, Peggy Coles, H&F Dementia Action Alliance; Cllr. Ben Coleman (H&F), Steve Hollingworth AD leisure, sport & culture (H&F); Miss Jo Stokes Clem Atlee Centre co-ordinator; Nikos Souslous, logistics administrator for The Smile Brigade

 

 

The Big H&F Christmas Lunch was an enormous success, thanks to an amazing community effort. Around 800 isolated, older people in the borough received a delicious meal and a gift bag for Christmas Day and knew they were not alone.

 

“You have made my day!” said Betty Richens, who received a lunch package. “I have been spoilt through & through: perfectly cooked meal! Fruit, vegetable, X’mas Pud! 2 books – when you are alone, not only the food but having someone thinking of you is invaluable! Thanks a million! Your heart is certainly in the right place!”

 

Another recipient emailed later and said: “Thank you sooooooo much for the delicious food, gifts and groceries which are most welcome and make Christmas Day very special.” Another sent their thanks “for the lovely Turkey dinner” and the gifts which accompanied it.

 

HF Giving worked in partnership with H&F Council to raise funds for the project. The community was very generous, and it was supported by some incredible local organisations such as idverde, top sponsor and the UK & Europe’s leading provider of grounds maintenance services and landscape creation projects.

 

There was also fantastic support from our own iconic football club QPR and Hammersmith landscaping company Shoots & Leaves. We are also grateful to the McGrath Charitable Trust for their kind contribution.

 

“We knew Christmas would be challenging for many elderly people who have suffered great losses during the pandemic,” said Savraj Kaur, Executive Director of HF Giving. “We wanted people to know they weren’t alone, and it was incredible to see the community coming together to make December 25 brighter for our isolated residents.”

 

Local social enterprise The Smile Brigade also played a vital role in preparing the meals and organising a group of wonderful volunteers who worked extremely hard to assemble the lunch packages and then deliver them to hundreds of addresses throughout Hammersmith and Fulham.

 

Nikos Soulous, Logistics Administrator for The Smile Brigade, said: ‘It was such a joy being part of the community Christmas meals project and to help get free meals and gifts to 800 isolated and vulnerable local residents. Working with so many wonderful colleagues and volunteers made an otherwise difficult job so much easier and enjoyable!’”

 

While receiving a package cheered many elderly residents, being part of the project was also uplifting for those who worked on it. “Thank you for letting me participate as a volunteer in this year’s Christmas support campaign,” said volunteer Chrissie Hammond. “It was something I’d been attempting to go for a long time and was a truly profound experience.”

 

Many people put an enormous amount of effort into making the H&F Christmas Lunch happen. We are truly grateful for everyone’s valuable contribution, which made a big difference to hundreds of lives on Christmas Day. The results show what we can achieve when we work together.

 

 

A huge thank you to our 2021 sponsors and grant givers

We are thrilled to have received support from these organisations. Their support played a vital role in funding the H&F Christmas Lunch.

idverde was our top sponsor. The leading provider of grounds maintenance services and landscape creation projects in the UK and Europe has been extremely generous.

 

Queens Park Rangers FC – We appreciated our iconic local football club contributing to the community.

 

Shoots & Leaves – We’re grateful for support from this local company that supplies hand-picked Christmas trees, plus lights, stands, and other landscaping services.

 

The McGrath Charitable Trust was set up by the McGrath family in 2000 to help those in need and we are incredibly grateful for their contribution.

 

We are also grateful to all members of the community whose generous support helped us meet our fundraising target.

Local charity champions star in the New Year Honours

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Image 1
Pictured is Savraj Kaur (left), director of the charity United in Hammersmith & Fulham, with H&F Mayor Cllr PJ Murphy. ARCHIVE PHOTO

 

Three local residents whose efforts have made a huge difference to those less able to cope during the pandemic have been recognised in the New Year Honours.

Fulham couple Julian and Maria Sturdy-Morton have been awarded British Empire Medals for organising fresh food deliveries to housebound people. “We’re both thrilled to bits,” said Julian.

And Savraj Kaur, director of the charity United in Hammersmith & Fulham, has also won a British Empire Medal after drawing on her experience in disaster zones to launch a rapid-response appeal during the first lockdown – raising £100,000 in the first month by working in partnership with H&F Council.

The New Year Honours aim to mark the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK. The BEM has the same status as an OBE or MBE.

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Savraj Kaur (back row, left) meeting with children who’ve benefited from Tech4Kids and Ready Tech Go equipment. ARCHIVE PHOTO

Savraj Kaur

The citation from the Cabinet Office says Savraj Kaur’s British Empire Medal is for “services to the community in Hammersmith & Fulham, particularly during Covid-19”.

It is “so well deserved”, says H&F Leader Stephen Cowan, who described Savraj as “a fighter for social justice, often working around the clock to help people”.

Cllr Cowan added: “She’s prolific… from tackling isolation and providing Christmas meals to getting tech to young people who cannot afford it, but need it for their studies. She’s making a real difference.”

The 38-year-old from Fulham Reach is director of United in H&F. And her speedy efforts to set up the lifeline appeal – in partnership with H&F Council – helped raise funds for local community groups as the first pandemic lockdown struck in March 2020.

As individuals and firms donated, she spearheaded a system of micro-grants so aid could reach those in need without delay.

More than 140 local programmes were funded, assisting 130,000 people, from domestic violence victims to at-risk youths and Fulham war veterans, while isolating senior citizens received culturally appropriate food parcels.

Savraj has also been working with H&F Council to tackle ‘digital poverty’, co-founding Ready Tech Go, a BAME-led initiative refurbishing laptops and tablets for families without access to technology as part of our Tech4Kids Appeal.

“I’m humbled, and must say that the real achievements each day are happening thanks to volunteers, paid workers or simply great neighbours who are doing so much with so little recognition,” she said of the BEM, adding special mention to Kevin McGrath, her chair at the time the pandemic hit.

Born in Hammersmith Broadway, Savraj worked in the UK and overseas (including providing humanitarian relief in Iraq) before joining United in H&F.

A board member of West London Welcome, which supports refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, she is also a co-editor of UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action Report.

Image 3
Pictured are Maria and Julian Sturdy-Morton who have each been awarded British Empire Medals. ARCHIVE PHOTO

Maria and Julian Sturdy-Morton

The Fulham couple have each been awarded British Empire Medals for services to the community during Covid-19, diverting resources from the cultural and social networks which they have run for more than 13 years to provide fresh food parcels to those in need.

Maria and Julian, who live in Edenhurst Avenue, and who both turn 70 this year, run A Bit of TLC Ltd, a 1,200-strong group of mainly retired people in the borough who enjoy outings, hosted excursions, walks, concerts and breaks.

After the pandemic put a halt to most activities, the group changed focus to organise food shopping and prescription deliveries to those isolating.

Julian liaised with several of the wholesalers at New Covent Garden Market, whose supply businesses had fallen off a cliff as hospitality closed, and – with the help of 150 volunteers – set up a distribution hub at The Hurlingham Club to prepare fresh food parcels for home delivery.

“We found some shocking instances of local poverty,” said Julian. “We found one 80-year-old man living in half a garage near Putney Bridge, with no fridge or heating. He didn’t even possess a tin-opener, using a chisel instead.”

He joined a list of 500 households who received regular food parcels, including the first-class fish and meat from wholesalers that had originally been intended for Mayfair’s finest restaurants. One hundred of those 500 homes were provided with food completely free, while contributions were made by those that could afford to.

“We were lent a large area by The Hurlingham Club to use as a packing shed, and our 150 volunteers managed to package up more than 12 tonnes of fresh produce for distribution,” said Julian. “We obsessed about hand hygiene and social distancing – and reported no Covid cases among our volunteers!”

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Blues manager Emma Hayes has been elevated to OBE

Emma Hayes

Five years after being made an MBE, Blues manager Emma Hayes has been elevated to OBE for services to football in the Honours.

She’ll attend Buckingham Palace in the summer to receive her gong after completing a remarkable quadruple with Chelsea Women – the club she has managed for a decade – in the past season: WSL trophy, FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield.

It crowns a year in which she was inducted into the newly created FA WSL Hall of Fame, established herself as a forthright TV pundit and signed a new contract with Chelsea.

“It was a huge shock to hear I had been awarded an OBE. It’s an unbelievable honour for me and my family and a privilege I take very seriously,” she said.

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