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.

 

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.

 

The City Bridge Trust awards £180,000 for the development of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham

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The City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, has awarded £180,000 to Hammersmith United Charities for the development of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham as a place-based giving scheme in the diverse London borough. The project links those who want to support the community with local causes in-need that will best use their investment.

 

The grant will be released over five years (£47,000; £43,000; £37,000; £31,000; £22,000) with a focus on core funding.

 

Dhruv Patel, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust Committee, said: “At a time when public finances continue to be under significant strain, place-based giving schemes like UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham are playing a really important role in tackling disadvantage in London.

 

“By using their grassroots knowledge of the issues which matter to local people and matching those who want to  help their community with causes in need of support, they’re doing a fantastic job of building stronger communities and helping to make the borough a fairer place in which to live and work.”

 

Victoria Hill, CEO of Hammersmith United Charities said “We are grateful for the support of the City Bridge Trust to further our mission to revive the spirit of local philanthropy in partnership with Dr Edwards and Bishop King’s Fulham through the creation of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham.

 

“It will help continue the work that has already reached tens of thousands of people in need and bring people together to make Hammersmith and Fulham a borough where everyone thrives.”

 

Kevin McGrath DL OBE, Chair of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham, said “This grant from the City Bridge Trust means we can further important work to make our London borough a fairer place in which to work and live.

 

“We call for local individuals, businesses and institutions to partner with us through our activities, to ensure that local causes which are most in-need, such as homelessness, isolation, health inequality and racial disparity, are recognised and responded to in the most effective way possible.”

 

The City Bridge Trust, which was founded in 1995, gives £25m a year to charities fighting inequality and disadvantage in London.

Thirteen more local projects benefit from COVID-19 grants

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West London Welcome provides food parcels for asylum seekers and refugees. PHOTO: TOMAS EVANS

[As published by LBHF Council]

Another 13 projects have been awarded grants from the charity UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham, working with Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

The grants, made possible by the generosity of the public and local firms, will support frontline community activities to help residents in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

But more help is needed, with a plea being renewed for further donations to assist the efforts of volunteers and neighbourhood groups.

One of the local bodies benefiting from the latest tranche of grant aid is West London Welcome, which provides food parcels for asylum seekers and refugees whose plight has got steadily worse through lockdown.

The new batch of grants totals £11,682, helping 4,445 people. It means that 96 separate activities have been funded by the charity, which has now distributed £89,327.

“Thanks to more than 400 donors we have been able to help so many people,” said Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader of H&F Council. “If you can help, it’s not too late to make a donation to help local residents in need.”

Latest group awards:

Barons Court Project – £578
Sharing 2,000 printed wellbeing packs with other community groups, including the Foodbank, Smile Brigade and Hestia.

Bishop Creighton House – £1,000
Continuing to meet the need of 250 older socially isolated people with complex health needs, via telephone checks and extra support.

Citizens Advice Hammersmith & Fulham – £1,000
Providing 30 hours of interpreting for those hit hardest by Covid-19, and unable to access benefits support.

Elmgrove House Extra Care Home – £350
Providing activities for residents who are shielding, and those able to take part in communal gardening, crafts and exercise.

Family Friends – £1,000
Shop & drop service for disadvantaged families with children under 16.

Fulham Good Neighbours – £1,000
Enabling weekly online social clubs to tackle isolation and loneliness for older people in Fulham, including an art club and reading group.

Old Oak Primary – £987
Buying books for a lockdown library, to encourage 250 children, many on estates, to enjoy reading.

Outside Edge Theatre Company – £1,000
Online drama and pastoral care to support recovering addicts and those at risk of, or affected by, addiction.

Peabody Community Foundation – £997
Running a four-session podcasting project, telling the stories of Old Oak during COVID-19.

River House Trust – £771
Buying three sets of bistro tables and chairs so older people with HIV can be invited for socially distanced tea.

Sands End Associated Projects In Action – £1,000
Buying a gazebo to enable outdoor activities for children who have spent weeks indoors, with the focus on woodwork and nature.

The Violence Intervention Project – £1,000
Restarting a mobile food service to young people and families at risk of violence.

West London Welcome – £1,000
Keeping the foodbank going through the summer for refugees and asylum seekers.

 

If you’re a community organisation you can apply for funding here.

 

130,000 people have been helped by charity drive

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Stoll provides housing, support and advice for 157 war veterans

[As published by LBHF Council]

As the grant distribution programme from the UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham charity enters its 10th week, it has made a difference to more than 130,000 people.

Working together with H&F Council, the Hammersmith-based charity has been making fuss-free awards to frontline community groups supporting residents during the pandemic.

This week, a Fulham veterans’ group is benefiting from the generosity of corporate and individual donors – housing charity Stoll – with its imposing white gateposts beside Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium in Fulham Road.

Established to support wounded soldiers returning from the First World War, its founder, Sir Oswald Stoll, set up the first home in Fulham in 1916… and it has been on the site ever since.

 

Housing for veterans

Stoll provides housing for 157 veterans, an advice drop-in service, specialist medical and mental wellbeing support, social activities and community care for those living independently.

“It’s important that we remember our veterans,” said Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader at H&F Council. “The work of Stoll makes a big difference to so many who served their country in time of conflict. And I’d like to thank everyone for their generous donations.”

The latest batch of grants total £4,000, bringing to 83 the number of organisations and groups awarded grants. In total, £77,645 has been distributed.

There is still a need for donations, to continue the programme of assistance in response to the virus.

 

Latest group awards

West London Covid-19 Support Group – £1,000
Providing tailored food deliveries to elderly, vulnerable and disabled residents in the borough.

Urban Partnership Group – £1,000
Food distribution and delivery on the White City estate, particularly to those affected by changes to the furlough scheme.

Stoll (the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation) – £1,000
Enhancing the independent living service and other support for elderly veterans, including domestic support for the frail and disabled.

Yarrow Housing Limited – £1,000
Art material, delivered by bicycle to people with learning disabilities, so they can express their feelings about coronavirus using visual art, and providing emotional support, helping reduce their risk of them being targeted and exploited.

 

If you’re a community organisation you can apply for funding today via UNITED’s website.