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.”

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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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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.

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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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Christmas meal for elderly residents in Hammersmith & Fulham

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A local partnership between the council, charities and volunteers will provide residents over 60 years old with a meal delivered to their home by Christmas day.

According to the Hammersmith & Fulham Council, two in five residents over the age of 60 live alone in the borough.

The aim is for isolated older people to feel less alone during the holiday.

In 2019, the elderly residents were able to enjoy this Christmas activity together in the town hall.

They socialised, had entertainment and gift bags and were then dropped back home.

Together in spirit

Cllr Ben Coleman, Hammersmith & Fulham Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said: “Although sadly we can’t invite residents to join us in person for their Christmas dinner again this year, we want to ensure nobody is left out.

“Last year, residents’ generosity meant we delivered an amazing 500 Christmas lunches to residents spending Christmas alone. This year, our target is 700.

“Any money or time you can give would be hugely appreciated.”

Volunteers preparing Christmas lunches in 2020

Working together

The Council has demographic data, which helps to identify the elderly population.

In parallel, UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham, a local charity connects donors with local people in need.

The charity has a place-based giving scheme, focusing on the area, its needs and where there are gaps to be filled.

Through their fundraising work, the organisation can ensure donations are directed where it is most needed.

UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham has been very active during the pandemic, funding a wide range of organisations.

They financially supported over 140 local groups, from food banks, youth organisations to domestic violence victims.

The team is currently raising funds to finance the festive meals, from both residents and corporate sponsors.

The goal is £28,000, half of which would come from individuals and half from local businesses.

So far, corporate sponsors include local businesses idverde and Shoots & Leaves, as well and local football club Queens Park Rangers.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, meals will be delivered directly to residents’ homes instead.

UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham Executive Director Savraj Kaur said: “The most we can say is they are remembered, the community is thinking of them.

They know that their neighbours are the ones who funded their meal and the drivers who drop the meals are a friendly face.”

Volunteers preparing Christmas lunches in 2020

Team work

The community has stepped up to meet a higher demand of residents this year.

Kaur added: “We are really grateful for everyone who has given, it’s really lovely to see people give to their neighbourhood and it’s important to make it a better place for everyone, not just those who are receiving meals.

We know that a lot of people will feel remembered on Christmas day even if they have to be by themselves.”

The meals will be prepared and delivered by the experienced team at The Smile Brigade and associated volunteers.

The social enterprise offers free and subsidised services and activities for people at risk of loneliness and poverty.

Their community kitchen has supplied thousands of meals to the community, especially for people isolating during the pandemic.

Volunteers will cook the meals for Christmas day and deliver them door to door.

Donations for the Christmas meal can be made here.

Photo credit: UNITED Hammersmith & Fulham

Help us provide Christmas lunches for older residents celebrating alone

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We’re halfway to hitting our fundraising target to host this year’s H&F Big Christmas lunch. But we still need your help.

Through the incredible generosity of residents, local businesses and organisations, the UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham charity and H&F Council have now raised more than £14,000 for the H&F Big Christmas Lunch.

But we still need to raise another £14,000 to provide 700 Christmas dinners for older residents who are celebrating alone this year.

Donate now

“It’s only through the generosity of our residents and businesses that we’re able to provide such an important service at Christmas,” said Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader of H&F Council.

“I want to thank anyone who has already donated their time or money to the cause. And rest assured, a donation of any size – no matter how small – will make all the difference this Christmas.”

Hot meals for Christmas

Two in five H&F residents over the age of 60 live alone.

Each Big Christmas Lunch will include a quality, slap-up hot meal cooked by a professional chef from our community, accompanied by a gift bag full of goodies.

They will be delivered by a friendly face in time for Christmas day – come rain, snow or shine – thanks to Fulham charity The Smile Brigade and its team of volunteers.

H&F’s ground maintenance contractor idverde, Hammersmith-based landscape construction company Shoots and Leaves and Queens Park Rangers football club are just three of the local organisations that have donated sizable amounts to our Big Christmas Lunch appeal.

“Christmas is about giving, and here at Shoots & Leaves we wanted to give something back to the community which has supported us over the past 22 years,” said Hew Stevenson, founder of Shoots and Leaves.

Another big thanks goes to DEBK Fulham Charity and the McGrath Charitable Foundation for their kind support for the lunch.

We need your help

The Big H&F Christmas Lunch brings our community together to help each other. It relies on the generosity of local people, businesses, and charities.

Here’s how your donation will make a difference:

  • £200 will pay for five Christmas packages of a delicious lunch and a gift bag
  • £40 will pay for one Christmas package of lunch and gifts
  • £15 will pay for one Christmas lunch

Donate now

Or contact Savraj Kaur, executive director of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham at [email protected]

Want to volunteer?

The H&F Big Christmas Lunch wouldn’t be possible without the help of local charity The Smile Brigade and its team of volunteers.

They’re asking for extra volunteers to help deliver lunches from 21 December up to Christmas Day on the 25th. Deliveries can be made by foot, bike, or car – however you like.

The Smile Brigade are also looking for volunteers to help write Christmas cards and make festive hampers. Full PPE and volunteer guidelines will be provided and followed.

To volunteer, please visit The Smile Brigade volunteering page or email: [email protected]

Give a present for the gift bags

We also need presents of soaps, shower gels, toothpaste and toilet roll, warm socks, thermal vests, hats and scarfs. Christmas crackers, non-perishable food items, as well as fruit, vegetables, stuffing, gravy, chocolates, Christmas puddings and mince pies, would also be welcomed.

All gifts should be new and unwrapped and will help create a merrier Christmas for elderly residents spending it on their own.

To volunteer or donate a present to make someone else’s Christmas special, please fill in the volunteer sign up form (Google Forms).

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Please help us give a Big Christmas Lunch to elderly residents on their own

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Local charity UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham and the council are asking for your help in providing a hot Christmas meal to more than 700 older residents who might otherwise go without this Christmas.

We’re trying to raise £28,000 to pay for this – and any amount big or small will make a huge difference.

We’re also looking for volunteers to help deliver the lunch in Christmas week.

“Although sadly we can’t invite residents to join us in person for their Christmas dinner again this year, we want to ensure nobody is left out,” said Cllr Ben Coleman, H&F Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care.

“Last year, residents’ generosity meant we delivered an amazing 500 Christmas lunches to residents spending Christmas alone. This year, our target is 700. Any money or time you can give would be hugely appreciated.”

Donate now

Two in five H&F residents over the age of 60 live alone.

Each Big Christmas Lunch will include a quality, slap-up hot meal cooked by a professional chef from our community, accompanied by a gift bag full of goodies

They will be delivered by a friendly face to residents in time for Christmas day – come rain, snow or shine.

Each donation will make a difference

The Big H&F Christmas Lunch brings our community together to help each other. It relies on the generosity of local people, businesses and charities.

Here’s how your donation will make a difference:

  • £200 will pay for five Christmas packages of a delicious lunch and a gift bag
  • £40 will pay for one Christmas package of lunch and gifts
  • £15 will pay for one Christmas lunch

Donate now

Or contact Savraj Kaur, executive director of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham at [email protected]

Want to volunteer?

The H&F Big Christmas Lunch wouldn’t be possible without the help of local charity The Smile Brigade and its team of volunteers.

They’re asking for extra volunteers to help deliver lunches from 21 December up to Christmas Day on the 25th. Deliveries can be made by foot, bike or car – however you like.

The Smile Brigade are also looking for volunteers to help write Christmas cards and make festive hampers. Full PPE and volunteer guidelines will be provided and followed.

To volunteer, please visit The Smile Brigade volunteering page or email: [email protected]

Give a present for the gift bags

We also need presents of soaps, shower gels, toothpaste and toilet roll, warm socks, thermal vests, hats and scarfs. Christmas crackers, non-perishable food items, as well as fruit, vegetables, stuffing, gravy, chocolates, Christmas puddings and mince pies, would also be welcomed.

All gifts should be new and unwrapped and will help create a merrier Christmas for elderly residents spending it on their own.

To volunteer or donate a present to make someone else’s Christmas special, please fill in the volunteer sign up form (Google Forms).

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TECH4KIDs: Take your unwanted laptop to Fulham pub to help a local pupil

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A Fulham pub is helping the council’s effort to provide recycled laptops to children who need them.

Used, quality devices can be left at The Rylston pub, and the Ready Tech Go team will give them a Tech4Kids makeover as part of a drive supported by Hammersmith & Fulham Council to boost access to computers.

The pub in Lillie Road, overlooking Normand Park, has been acting as a collection point after manager Jonathan Woollard met Nikos Souslous and Kanwar Singh – both from the BAME-led social enterprise Ready Tech Go – through working with The Smile Brigade, which organised weekly free meals with live music at the nearby Clem Attlee community hall.

“So many people fall through the gaps,” said Jonathan, who passes on donated laptops and tablets to the appeal which is aiming to provide 1,500 local children from disadvantaged families with devices to catch up on their schoolwork.

“It’s great that we have the ability to get them to people who need them. Donating devices that people would otherwise throw away is so simple! The Tech4Kids appeal is doing a great job at getting tech to the people who need it.”

Tech4Kids is run by H&F Council with local charity UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham and Ready Tech Go. The campaign still needs support, and you can donate by clicking the button below.

Donate now

Savraj Kaur, executive director at UNITED, who also co-founded Ready Tech Go, said: “This appeal comes at a critical time for local young people who risk being left behind without access to digital skills and resources.

“We believe tech is a right, not a privilege, and appreciate any contribution of cash or used devices to help us reach our goal and change more young lives for the better.”

You can drop off spare devices – laptops or tablet PCs in any state, complete with charger. Just attach your name, email and ‘Tech4Kids’ with them, and drop off at The Rylston pub, 197 Lillie Road SW6.

If you’re a company with more than five devices to donate, email [email protected] to arrange collection.

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TECH4KIDS: 10-year-old Fulham girl runs to beat digital poverty

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Lottie, aged 10 (pictured) has raised more than £1,100 to donate to our Tech4Kids appeal



 


A Fulham schoolgirl has helped children without a digital device or data by raising more than £1,100 for our Tech4Kids appeal.

Lottie, aged 10, decided to raise the money after she learned of our Tech4Kids appeal when her school started collecting unused devices for disadvantaged children and young people.

During lockdown, she had her own laptop and realised how unfair it was that many children lacked the tech resources she had. She felt so passionately about this issue that she decided to do a 10-kilometre run with a time limit of 90 minutes.

“I wanted to challenge myself and raise money and I thought 10km was impressive,” Lottie said. Her family thought so too.

Donate today

Changing lives

And thanks to Lottie, at least seven children’s lives will be transformed with a new laptop for online learning.

“That makes me feel proud of my achievement and honoured to help local children not as fortunate as me,” she said.

Although she’d done short runs before, Lottie knew 10km would really push her to her limits. Unfortunately, a foot injury meant training was suspended while she healed. Getting back into training and reaching the fitness level required in a shorter time was hard work, but she persevered.

During the run, which took place last weekend (12 September) Lottie said she felt exhausted at the 3km mark, and unsure she could triple that distance. But she kept going, feeling more positive, and when she reached the final 10 metres, she thought: ‘I’ve done it!’. Lottie celebrated completing her challenge with a slice of banana bread her mum and sister baked during her run.

Digital champion

At school, Lottie loves all aspects of ICT (information and communications technology) and is happy her fundraising effort means more local kids can discover ICT for themselves.

So far, Lottie has raised a whopping £1,128.75 to donate to our Tech4Kids appeal.

The Tech4Kids Appeal is a campaign by Hammersmith & Fulham Council in partnership with local headteachers, the charity UNITED in H&F and social enterprise Ready Tech Go to make sure no youngster misses out on the chance to learn.

The appeal still needs more support from residents and companies. With £159 a young person receives a new laptop.

You can learn more or make a donation on the UNITED in H&F website.

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TECH4KIDS: New laptops help Wendell Park pupils beat the digital divide

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Image 1One of the five children given laptops at Wendell Park Primary in Shepherds Bush

Young students at Wendell Park Primary in Shepherds Bush can now access online learning thanks to laptops donated via our Tech4Kids appeal.

The Tech4Kids appeal aims to bridge the digital divide, so no child misses out. “We didn’t realise how many kids didn’t have access to the internet until the pandemic,” said deputy headteacher Rosemarie Peters. “Not having that access is so limiting.”

Five children were given laptops, and all agreed that it would make homework easier and open new worlds. Four chose maths as their favourite subject and are fans of the Times Tables Rock Stars app that builds skills in multiplication.

It now means homework can be submitted directly, rather than manually. “School is better with a laptop,” said Year 3 student Hidayah. “For homework, it’s really amazing.”

Dior, in Year 4, said: “It’s pretty cool for maths games,” while Year 5’s Aissatou said: “I feel happy to have a laptop because I had to use my mum’s phone screen, which was tiny.”

Erza, in Year 5, said life had been transformed as there was now no fighting over the single laptop at home, while Fifi, in Year 4, said: “It’s meant I have my own space, and can do my own work.”

The Tech4Kids appeal aims to eventually provide 1,500 laptops to children in need across Hammersmith & Fulham.

Savraj Kaur, Executive Director of United in H&F, who is collecting the funds, urged more businesses and residents to get involved and donate. “Local companies Agylisis and Immediate Media were the first to fund this campaign, and residents have come forward too,” she said.

Donate here

At the start of the pandemic, Wendell Park primary conducted a survey to see who could get online on a laptop or desktop computer – and who couldn’t.

“We were shocked by how many children didn’t have a laptop, and were trying to do homework on a phone,” said Ms Peters.

The Tech4Kids Appeal is a campaign by H&F Council in partnership with headteachers, the charity UNITED in H&F and social enterprise Ready Tech Go. Every £159 raised means that another young person receives a new laptop.

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TECH4KIDS APPEAL: How laptop recycling can beat the digital divide for young people

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Image 1Cllr PJ Murphy, Mayor of H&F, at Ready Tech Go’s workshop

 

The Mayor was guest of honour when he met volunteers at a project which ensures no child in Hammersmith & Fulham is denied access to online learning.

Donate today

Cllr PJ Murphy – who is supporting the Tech4Kids appeal – visited the west London workshop which recycles laptops for children and young people and was introduced to helper Mandeep Sahota.

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Workshop helper Mandeep Sahota

Mandeep began volunteering as he, too, had been a child with very limited access to the internet. His father died when he was nine, and it was only through second-hand hand-me-down laptops and help from neighbours that he was able to get online and do schoolwork.

Today he works as a cloud engineer, having studied computer science at the University of Westminster. “We’re so reliant on the internet today,” he told the Mayor. “I can only imagine the frustration pupils without devices must have felt during the pandemic, when libraries were closed.”

Mandeep told the Mayor that he got enormous satisfaction from refurbishing laptops or tablets, knowing the difference they make. “It’s a really good feeling to see people getting benefits from recycled devices,” he said.

At the weekend’s workshop, nearly 100 devices were checked and prepared for young people by the Tech4Kids volunteers. Cllr Murphy also met Savraj Kaur, executive director of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham, who also co-founded Ready Tech Go, and others in her team.

The Mayor said: “To see a group of people willingly give up a precious Saturday for the benefit of others is amazing. What really struck me is the team’s complete selflessness. They will never directly see the joy on kids’ faces, the pride they will have and how their lives will be enriched, but I hope they all take great comfort from the fact that they are changing people’s lives.”

The team was refurbishing some of the 240 devices that have so far been donated by local residents, customer data science company Dunnhumby and life sciences platform Medidata.

The appeal still needs more support from residents and companies, with £159 providing a brand-new laptop to a young person.

The Tech4Kids project is a drive by H&F Council in partnership with local headteachers, the charity UNITED in H&F and social enterprise Ready Tech Go to make sure no youngster misses out on the chance to learn.

You can learn more or make a donation on the UNITED in H&F website.

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