A team of enthusiastic helpers preparing the Christmas meals earlier this week

The H&F Big Christmas Lunch will feed 500 older residents – thanks to your donations

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A team of enthusiastic helpers preparing the Christmas meals earlier this week

[First published by LBHF Council on 23 December 2020]

More than 500 older local residents are looking forward to a Christmas meal after the UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham charity met its target to raise £16,000.  The operation has truly brought the community together.

Working with Hammersmith & Fulham Council, the charity has raised the money, thanks to the generosity of residents and local companies, to pay for the H&F Big Christmas Lunch.

A team has been working on the project since August to help provide the annual H&F Christmas lunch for the elderly – despite the pandemic.

Cllr Ben Coleman, H&F Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to everyone in our community who’s donated time and money to give more than 600 residents a great Christmas Day lunch which they wouldn’t otherwise have.

“Although we can’t invite residents to join us at the Town Hall this year, we’re determined that nobody should be left out at Christmas and have worked hard to ensure we can still support them with a hot meal delivered to their home. Huge thanks to the Smile Brigade for cooking hundreds of delicious meals and to UNITED in H&F for raising the funds with us.”

While Savraj Kaur, Director at UNITED in H&F, said: “We’re thrilled to meet the target, thanks to community donations. It means we can provide meals for older people who were expecting to spend Christmas alone, and may already be suffering the distressing loss of loved ones.”

Community response

The operation has truly brought the community together.

Local social enterprise Smile Brigade have pulled together a team of enthusiastic helpers to prepare and cook the Christmas meals. The task is so vast that preparations started earlier this week and the team will be going till late afternoon on Christmas Day.

While local volunteers from fitness group Good Gym H&F have peeled the sprouts and spuds, and the local e-Cargo Bikes team will deliver the delicious cooked meals.

The fundraising could not have been possible without McGrath Charitable Trust’s Big Give match funding, which doubled the gifts of donors, and a generous £5,000 boost from Landsec, which owns the W12 Shopping Centre.

Vi Chu, W12 Centre Manager, and Ben Anderson, Landsec Social Sustainability Manager, told us: “Landsec are delighted to be supporting the Big H&F Community Christmas Lunch.

“The W12 Shopping Centre is in heart of the Shepherds Bush community and we know what a difficult year this has been for many of our regular customers and their neighbours.

“This great initiative ensures that many local residents who might otherwise be on their own or not having a proper meal will be enjoying a fantastic Christmas lunch.”

The Hurlingham Club also helped, donating the turkeys that the senior citizens will enjoy.

Christmas gift bags being sorted and prepared by volunteers
Christmas gifts being prepared for older residents.

Seven more community groups share latest funding from our Winter Covid charity appeal

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[First published  by LBHF Council on 11 December 2020]

Edward Woods is providing culture-specific flavours to residents in need during the cold winter months

A generous grant is allowing a community centre to provide culturally tailored meals to those forced to isolate as a result of the pandemic.

A £1,000 grant from the UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham charity, working with Hammersmith & Fulham Council, means the Edward Woods community centre is serving up the food that means most to those who need it.

 

It is part of a £5,650 grant share-out to seven community groups… all made possible by the generosity of individuals and businesses who have contributed to UNITED’s appeal fund.

Edward Woods is providing culture-specific flavours to residents in need during the cold winter months; one of three centres within the Urban Partnership Group, working with the Lido Foundation and Nubian Life.

Older people, families and those forced to isolate report that they have found it difficult to locate culturally relevant food parcels, including African-Caribbean and Halal options.

 

Plastic container containing cultural food with Lido Foundation branding on the lid

Cultural food package being prepared

The cultural flavours service helps fight food insecurity and ensures local people with particular dietary needs are not missing out.

“It is vital that we support isolating residents with food parcels as the winter cold bites – but it is also important that those meals are tailored to individuals’ needs where possible,” said H&F Deputy Leader Cllr Sue Fennimore.

Savraj Kaur, director of the UNITED charity which raised and distributed more than £100,000 in grants to local frontline services in the early months of the coronavirus crisis, says more help is urgently needed.

“Our winter appeal will assist those who need our help during the coming months,” she said. “We are so grateful for every contribution, whether large or small.”

Donations can be made here:

Donate to the appeal

 

The cultural flavours service helps fight food insecurity and ensures local people with particular dietary needs are not missing out

 

The latest grant awards are:

Apricot Wellbeing CIC – £1,000
Running a four-week coaching programme for community leaders supporting those impacted by the pandemic.

Bishop Creighton House – £750
Delivering Christmas hampers to people with learning disabilities and mental health issues.

Breaking Barriers – £1,000
Providing remote one-to-one employment support to refugees.

Edward Woods Community Centre (UPG) – £1,000
Delivering culturally specific food parcels to the elderly, families and to those who are housebound or forced to isolate.

Eritrean Social Community – £400
Providing a health and wellbeing workshop to support Eritrean mothers on low incomes.

For Brian CIC – £1,000
Supporting people living with dementia, their families, and friends on the Old Oak estate.

Linacre Court Tenants’ & Residents’ Association – £500
Providing food to isolated people in Linacre Court.

If you are a community organisation, you can apply for funding here

 

QPR FC Women are delighted to announce their new shirt sponsor UNITED in Hammersmith and Fulham

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[First posted by QPR 09/12/2020]

The new partnership will see the UNITED in Hammersmith and Fulham brand displayed on the front property of QPR FC Women’s home strip and training kit this season.

UNITED in Hammersmith and Fulham is a local charity that believe that everybody has something to offer. They get behind community activities and help give a better chance to local people.

“They do a lot of great work in the community and really do inspire people and change lives.” – Steve Quashie

Their job is to galvanise people into devoting the time, money, effort and brainpower needed to create strong communities for all and QPR FC Women are proud to help the west London community become UNITED.

Steve Quashie, QPR FC Women’s first-team manager, said: “They do a lot of fantastic work in the community and really do inspire people and change lives.

“As a club, we are hoping to have an exciting long-term relationship with them and at the same time help them fundraise and create a real sense of community spirit and togetherness moving forward.

“The players and the staff are really behind the partnership and are looking forward to doing some work off the field with them.”

As a club, QPR are proud to promote equality and the women’s side now donning the official 2020/21 kit is just another step in the battle for equality in sport.

Quashie added: “Having the current 2020/21 first-team strip will make a huge difference to the players and really adds that level of professionalism to the women’s side.

“It means we go out and represent this great football club in the same way as our male counterparts and that is a great feeling.

“We have been able to get this partnership through our relationship with QPR in the Community Trust and support from our Women’s board. This once again shows the fantastic support that they give us – it is creating a special feeling within our club.”

QPR FC Women will be wearing their new strip on December 20th when the R’s face Ashford Town at Heston.

This clash will be played behind-closed-doors, but you can follow all the action right here on www.qpr.co.uk

UNITED’s first rapid awards bridge the digital gap

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[First published by LBHF Council on 23 November 2020]

More than £8,000 in grants has been sent to local groups responding to the winter Covid-19 lockdown, including support for volunteers supplying reconditioned tablets and laptops to low-income households.

The money has come from the charity UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham, working in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham Council, and will help fund frontline community activity in the pandemic.

A mix of generous donations from members of the public and local businesses have made the latest grants possible. But more help is urgently needed to support the neighbourhood groups and volunteers who assist others.

Among the grant receivers is Ready Tech Go – a group which tackles the digital divide by reconditioning donated computers so children in low-income families can access the internet and do homework online.

Tomas Evans, of Ready Tech Go, explained: “Now, more than ever, connection to the online world is essential for wellbeing. This grant means we will be able to connect more people digitally, alleviate feelings of isolation and improve mental health and job prospects.”

The volunteer group also enable anyone who cannot access basic online services to get connected, while also allowing refugees and older people stay in touch with their families.

 

Ready Tech Go also enable anyone who cannot access basic online services to get connected

 

Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader at H&F Council, said that Ready Tech Go was making a real difference. “It’s a group which is helping bridge the gap to allow isolated and marginalised people gain the benefits that internet access brings. It’s great to see UNITED once again enabling volunteers to give help where it is most needed,” she said.

The full list of groups benefiting from £8,137 of Winter Appeal grant aid are:

Citizens Advice in Hammersmith & Fulham – £1,000
Providing dongles and handsets to volunteer advisers supporting people who are unemployed or self-isolating.

Minaret CC – £1,000
Delivering culturally relevant food parcels to Somali families.

Notting Hill Genesis Housing Association – £140
Buying mobile phone and tablet Sim credit for isolated people in their H&F care homes.

Old Oak Primary School – £997
Supplying mini Christmas hampers to elderly residents, to alleviate loneliness and to check in on them, door to door, while delivering.

People Arise Now – £1,000
Supporting women, ex-offenders and their families via weekly workshops on health and wellbeing, together with phone counselling, video calls and fruit and veg packs.

Ready Tech Go – £1,000
Technological equipment and support to older people, children and families on low incomes who lack digital connection.

RJVN8 Mental Health – £1,000
Funding an extra first call responder and 200 counselling hours for those with mental health needs.

Saint Andrews Fulham Fields Homeless Project – £1,000
Helping homeless people with food cards and takeaway meals, and paying for two gazebos to shelter them while collecting food.

St Pauls’ Hammersmith Church – £1,000
Providing Bags of Blessings in partnership with Bishop Creighton House for those in food poverty, including children from St. Paul’s primary, West London Refugee Centre, clients of St Paul’s money advice centre (Crosslight), and those shielding in the parish.

Donate to the appeal

Savraj Kaur of UNITED thanked those whose donations had made the grants possible, but urged more to give so the funding of frontline groups can continue through the winter.

 

Local media company and partner with UNITED to battle holiday hunger in Hammersmith & Fulham

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Hours before the half term was set to begin, UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham received a call from Immediate Media of Brook Green. The team wanted to use their unused site café to prepare extra meals for those who had fallen through the gaps. The pair set to work and have reached a total of 330 packed lunches for local kids.

Shafali (right) of William Church Estate, picking up packed lunches from Immediate Media’s offices

More families than ever have been facing uncertainty including due to financial struggles due to the pandemic, and the media has been abuzz with news of businesses and people inspired by Marcus Rashford MBE’s awareness campaign that hunger does not go away over the holidays.

Whilst Hammersmith & Fulham Council provided vouchers for all children who are entitled to free school meals, and Westfield restaurants including Pho and Bleeker Burger offered free hot lunches, UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham acted as facilitator so that Immediate Media could reach children in poverty who might have fallen through the gaps.

UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham acted as facilitator between the business and local groups working with children in poverty so that the lunches could reach where they were needed every day of the week.

Ali Foster-Grose Director of Events, said:

“We are so happy to have been able to provide 330 packed lunchboxes and children’s magazine bundles to local communities in need. It’s been great to work with UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham and see the community come together.”

Local groups benefiting from the free packed lunches were:

  • Dads House helps single dads with the practicalities of raising their children alone
  • Sands End Associated Projects in Action (SEAPIA) provides low-cost play and childcare provisions for children aged 4-13 years old
  • People Arise Now  promotes social-economic independence for women, help rehabilitate ex-offender and families of offenders
  • William Church Estate supports local kids hit hard by the pandemic.

 

Shafali, Community Lead of William Church Estate said:

“The kids went absolutely crazy for your donations. Super generous of you to add another 2 chocolate bard to each lunch today and packed another 4 boxes of magazines too!!!! Words can’t express how much this had really helped the children!!”

Savraj Kaur, Executive Director of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham said:

“We’re so grateful to Immediate Media for reaching out so we could match them with those in need of free lunches. It has helped curb holiday hunger for so many local children, and shows that better neighbours really do make better neighbourhoods.”

If you’re a local business with an idea of how you want to help the community, please contact us at [email protected] for advice.

 

Hammersmith BID and UNITED continue fundraising for Homeless Community

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UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham is delighted to continue supporting Hammersmith BID’s Small Tap Big Change initiative, aiming to combat challenges associated with homelessness exclusively in the borough.

 

Despite some success in housing people on the edge, London’s homelessness crisis has deepened since the beginning of COVID-19. Money will be raised online and by textphone until further notice and go go directly to four local homeless charities: Barons Court Project, Glass Door, St Andrew’s Church and The Upper Room.

 

Beneficiary of the Upper Room during the Pandemic:

“Before lockdown, I was working but not in a permanent job. After lockdown, my agency said they no longer had any work for me. I had no money to pay for food or my room. Thanks to The Upper Room, I now have food. They also helped me to get Universal Credit, which is important for me to keep my room and not become homeless. Universal Credit sent me to the Job Centre, and they sent me on a course to help me get a new job. This is a like a chain of good fortune. After the course, I will have a full-time job working as a maintenance area worker. Thanks to The Upper Room, I am starting a new chapter in my life.”

 

Savraj Kaur, Executive Director of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham:

“Our local charities are really concerned about the fate of homeless people this winter, and we as a community can only continue to come together to help them.  We are grateful for Hammersmith BID for launching this project which will leave a legacy for many.”

 

[maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://hammersmithbid.charitycheckout.co.uk/profile” text=”Quick donate”]

 

Alternatively, text STBC 10 to 70085 to donate £10. Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message.

 

 

 

Michael Angus, Director at Barons Court Project

“Homelessness can only be solved if the whole community works together. If we can help more people off the streets then the business and local community benefit and together we can live out our mission “to enable everyone to live the life they deserve”. If we can help more people off the streets then the business and local community benefit and together we can live out our mission “to enable everyone to live the life they deserve”.

 

Find out more – or give directly – at the Small tap, big change website.

 

About UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham

United in Hammersmith & Fulham is a charity that enables activities which bring people, communities and neighbourhoods together to improve people’s lives. Its aim is to support the work of others to build stronger and more inclusive neighbourhoods and communities in the borough, linking those with time, money and skills with those in need.

 

Alternatively, text STBC 10 to 70085 to donate £10. Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message.

 

 

Published 1 October, 2019.

Vacancies for a Community Grants Officer and Trustees

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We are interested in hearing from people from diverse communities, who reflect our local area. We are also keen to hear from first time Trustees.

Volunteer Trustee Role Description

Community Grants Officer Job Description

Black Lives Matter at UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham

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Recent events in the USA have put a much needed spotlight on global racial injustice, and shown that ethnicity can literally be a matter of life and death. We at UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham have set out a series of actions to play a stronger part in eliminating inequality and prejudice every day.

 

Our organisation was created with the very intention of building a fairer society, and so we consider ourselves as allies, standing with those who are leading global and local campaigns to ensure black and other minority voices are respected, represented, and taken into account globally.

 

We acknowledge, however, that we are not yet an internally diverse organisation and that it’s time change this to better uphold the values we promote. That is why, with immediate effect, we are working on concrete actions to build equality, diversity and inclusion into all levels of our operations.

 

Today, we have begun the process of welcoming applications across all levels of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham, with a focus on encouraging black and other minority communities to apply at whatever level of  they feel resonates with their experience and/or aspirations*:

 

  • Volunteer Patrons (open to nominations)
  • Volunteer Trustees (currently hiring)
  • Paid Community Grants Officer (currently hiring)
  • Paid Community Grants Panel (hiring Autumn/Winter 2020)

 

Alongside this drive to shake up our internal make-up, we will continue to reflect on how we are presented to our communities, and how well diversity and gaps are addressed in our campaigns and partnerships. This includes effective design and implementation to ensure:

 

  • Communities holds the information needed to make effective decisions
  • Prioritising targeting funding to address disparities including race inequality
  • Ensuring our application processes are truly accessible, especially for black and other minority-led micro and small organisations
  • Regular monitoring, and publishing publicly available data, on our reach

 

Meanwhile we call for anyone in Hammersmith & Fulham to join us  and leave a legacy for a more just and fair society for all, and not let these momentous times pass us by.

 

Because better neighbours really do make better neighbourhoods.

 

Signed,

 

Kevin McGrath DL OBE – Chair

Savraj Kaur – Executive Director

 

*Anyone interested in the above roles can arrange a chat with Sandy at Moon Recruitment by emailing [email protected] with the subject ‘UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham: [Your Name]. Thank you!

UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham Issue First Ever Annual Impact Report

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As we release our first ever Annual Impact Report (March 2019-20) we are incredibly proud of our achievements. We have had to flex, change and be responsive with the times and have big plans to continue a long way.

A full pdf copy is available for download here.

Coronavirus charity fund hits the magic £100,000 mark

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[First printed by LBHF Council on 16 July, 2020]

Jack and the team. Photo credit Tomas Evans

A sponsored bike ride has helped local charity UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham reach £100,000 in grant awards to local frontline projects working to support residents in need during the pandemic.

Engineering manager Jack Upcraft recruited a dozen cyclists to take part in a 245-mile stationary bike event, raising nearly £3,000 and pushing the charity’s community coronavirus total – working with Hammersmith & Fulham Council – past the huge figure.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to raise money for a great cause,” said the breathless cyclist afterwards. “Who knows… maybe next year we might try and go further.”

Donate to the appeal

Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader at H&F Council, congratulated the cyclists on their efforts. “To help the UNITED charity reach such a high total is simply magnificent and it’s allowed so many organisations to offer vital help to some of our most needy residents,” she said.

The money raised by the charity has come from the public and local firms in the borough… but more is still needed to continue to support volunteers and neighbourhood groups.

Thanks

Savraj Kaur, Director of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham, thanked everyone who, over the past three months, has generously contributed to reaching the £100,000 total.

“It’s been so moving to drive this appeal. We still encourage giving as we continue to help those in need, and prepare for future uncertainties,” she said.

The bike fundraiser was staged under an awning pitched in the square outside 245 Hammersmith, the office building in Hammersmith Road, where general manager Carly Bright also praised Jack’s pedalling skills.

Also backing the biking effort was Smart Managed Solutions, the building’s engineering contractor.