More community groups receive donations from UNITED in Hammrsmith & Fulham Coronavirus Response Appeal

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Michael Angus, director of Barons Court Project

Another dozen community groups have benefited from emergency grants to help those on the frontline fight the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.

Thanks to a surge in generous donations and the support of H&F Council, a further £10,085 has been distributed this week by local charity UNITED in Hammersmith and Fulham.

It takes the total of awarded grants to £30,535 to 33 groups in the space of three weeks, reaching an estimated 18,785 at-risk people in the borough. Recently, Brook Green-based mixer drink company Fever-Tree donated £10,000 to the appeal.

Contribute to the appeal

UNITED chair Kevin McGrath said that the appeal for funds would remain open as long as the current emergency lasts. “We’re proud to work at such a speed, enabling and distributing vital funds to those protecting those residents most at risk,” he said.

Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader at H&F Council, added: “The response to this appeal has been swift, generous and heartwarming – and it is making a real difference to those most in need in our community.”

Group awards

The following organisations have received new grants from H&F Council and UNITED:

Barons Court Project – £1,000
Phone credit allowing homeless guests to stay in contact with friends and family and call trusted team members for support.

Elmgrove House Extra Care Home – £350
Providing arts and crafts, model-making, jigsaws and writing sets to counter isolation for those with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health conditions, sensory impairments and substance misuse issues.

Family Friends – £1,000
Food and essentials to 25 vulnerable families in the north of the borough.

For the People, From the People – £1,000
Activity packs, food parcels, toiletries, masks and gloves to those in isolation.

H&F Law Centre – £785
Purchase of laptop and printer to enable legal advice to be given remotely to people in poverty, applying for benefits, on job issues, loss of housing, and homelessness.

Harrow Club W10  – £300
Helping those in poverty or temporary housing with online support sessions.

Mother and Child Welfare Organisation  – £1,000
Food, medicine, fuel, support and advice for elderly people in the Somali community.

Play Association H&F – £1,000
Buying PPE and giving extra support to families with children with special education needs.

Sands End Associated Projects in Action – £900
Weekly activity boxes and support for the children of at-risk households.

The Minaret Centre – £1,000
Creating a distribution point at the Somali community centre for supplies to those facing food poverty.

Violence Intervention Project  – £750
Supporting young people involved in gangs and violence, and their families.

West London Welcome – £1,000
Ensuring asylum seekers have medicine, food, housing and financial support, plus phone credit to maintain regular contact.

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

Click here to donate to the UNITED in H&F Coronavirus Response Appeal.

Fever-Tree Gives £10,000 to UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham’s Coronavirus Response Appeal

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[London, 15 April, 2020] Fever-Tree, the global premium mixer brand and one of London’s most distinguishable companies, is joining in the local fight against coronavirus.

 

The Company, whose head office is located in Brook Green, Hammersmith, has donated £10,000 to the UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham Community Coronavirus (Covid-19) Response Appeal.

 

The fund was created to enable local individuals, businesses and foundations across the borough to support local response.

 

The donation will be distributed to locally based non-profit organisations dealing with the effects of this emergency. This includes frontline groups who are working with people who face risk as a result of coronavirus in Hammersmith & Fulham and those whose vital services are affected by the social distancing and self-isolation measures in place.

 

This includes those particularly focusing on the extra needs of at-risk groups, including people who are:

 

  • at risk of complications severe enough to require hospital care, including high-risk elderly people, local people with HIV, and other life-limiting conditions
  • at risk of being unable to cope with isolation, such as the learning-disabled community, and those with mental health conditions likely to be heightened by the situation
  • at risk because they’re living in poverty, including families who are struggling to meet the cost of food, since children are unable to access school and consequently free breakfast clubs or lunches that they normally rely on

 

Fever-Tree’s £10,000 donation, as well as other funds raised, will go to these groups.

 

Jess Ainley, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Manager at Fever-Tree, commented:

 

“The impact that the COVID-19 virus outbreak is having on communities is unprecedented, particularly on those most vulnerable in our society. It is more important than ever to come together and support one another. With our head office based in Hammersmith, we want to show our gratitude and support for the invaluable work that UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham are doing in our local community to help the people who need it most at such a challenging and unsettling time.”

 

UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham has partnered with Hammersmith & Fulham Council have partnered to promote and distribute all funds raised as part of a coordinated effort with the voluntary sector to help those in need whilst helping stop the spread of the virus.

 

Savraj Kaur, Programme Development Lead at UNITED, said:

 

“We’re thankful Fever-Tree has stepped up to support local efforts in this testing time for so many people, charities and companies alike. It means we can provide immediate relief to those facing the most risk today, including those who were already in poverty or isolated and those who face new challenges in the many more weeks to come. We encourage any other local business who is able to give a portion of sale or profits, to follow suit, too.”

 

100% of funds raised will help groups working with people who face risk as a result of Coronavirus in Hammersmith & Fulham.

 

You can read more about the appeal here.

Another £8,000 awarded to local groups helping coronavirus response

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Original post on LBHF Council website

Nicky Flynn, The Upper Room

As the community pulls together to fight the coronavirus, eight more local groups have been awarded grants to help them respond to urgent need.

An additional £7,800 has been paid by Hammersmith & Fulham Council and the charity UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham in a second batch of funding to community bodies on the frontline of supporting residents.

The grant aid will directly help nearly 13,000 of the neediest people during the current lockdown.

“The most vulnerable in our community are finding the current crisis hardest to manage – so it’s vital that groups such as these play such a vital local role in helping them,” said Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader at H&F Council.

“Our voluntary groups and local charities are at the sharp end of delivering assistance, and we are so grateful to them for all they do.”

Among the groups assisted is the Masbro Elders Project. Coordinator Tina Wood said: “At such a difficult and frightening time for many of our elders, we are very grateful for this grant, to support and assist those in urgent need.”

How to apply

UNITED in H&F has streamlined the application process, to assist hard-pressed volunteer groups.

Savraj Kaur, Programme Development Manager at UNITED in H&F, explained: “We know frontline groups are incredibly busy in these trying times, so we’ve created a short and easy online application form to save time.”

As the coronavirus pandemic continues its grip, UNITED has pledge to keep fundraising to help, with the community’s generosity already exceeding the target of raising £50,000 to distribute.

Group awards

The following organisations have received new grants from H&F Council and UNITED:

Carers Network – £1,000
Virtual meet-ups for unpaid carers unable to attend support groups.

H&F Mencap – £1,000
Help for disabled adults and children no longer receiving usual support.

People Arise Now – £800
Essential groceries, with the focus on the families of ex-offenders.

St Albans Fulham – £1,000
Aiding young people via weekly remote youth clubs.

St Etherelda’s Fulham – £1,000
Delivering groceries to Fulham area residents who are isolating.

St Peter’s Fulham – £1,000
Supporting the Love Your Neighbour scheme for the ill and vulnerable.

The Upper Room – £1,000
Language services, and homeless support.

UPG Masbro Elders Project – £1,000
Shopping and food delivery to vulnerable older people.

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

Click here to donate to the UNITED in H&F Coronavirus Response Appeal.

More than £12,000 awarded to local groups helping coronavirus response

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Originally published on Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s website

Hammersmith & Fulham Council and local charity UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham have awarded more than £12,000 to 13 community groups helping support residents during the coronavirus outbreak.

The groups awarded the grants include pioneering Fulham substance abuse theatre group Outside Edge and youth charity Solidarity Sports.

Together, this funding will work to improve the lives of an estimated 4,434 people at risk and living in Hammersmith & Fulham.

Anyone can give to the coronavirus response appeal here.

“We’re truly grateful to see these local groups step up to help local people in these unprecedented times,” said Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader at H&F Council. “We hope this funding is the start of some great work that is desperately needed during the pandemic and is something that residents can continue to support.

And Savraj Kaur, Programme Development Manager at UNITED in H&F, said: “We’re delighted to have begun giving the first tranche of awards to those helping the most vulnerable in the quickest way possible. We continue to welcome grant applications – in particular from grassroots organisations.”

While the coronavirus pandemic continues and residents need extra support and care, UNITED will continue to raise funds. So far, they’ve smashed their £50,000 target thanks to the generosity of the local community.

Group awards

The following organisations have received some of the £12,650 awarded by H&F Council and UNITED:

BHCAC – £1,000
Person-centred and advocacy charity providing services over the phone for older people who speak English-Bosnian-Serbo-Croat languages, during the pandemic.

Bishop Creighton House – £1,000
BCH is currently responding to a spike in demand and referrals, including for food parcels and collecting prescriptions for older people, as well as making daily phone calls to its network.

Citizens Advice H&F – £1,000
Funding will help provide new laptops to enable more volunteers in working remotely to help with advice on benefits, debt, housing and employment rights.

For Brian CIC – £1,000
Funding will help the social enterprise create a ‘buddy system’ for those with dementia and ensure they’re protected during isolation.

Let’s Unite for Autism – £1,000
Supporting parent/carers of those with special needs children who need additional help and support ‘home-schooling’ while local schools are closed.

Outside Edge – £1,000
The theatre company in Parsons Green will use the funding to bolster its support for residents affected by addiction through its use of drama. The group works to prevent relapse and continue to foster a new virtual sense of community.

River House Trust – £1,000
The trust offers activities and peer support for older people with HIV, many of whom are immuno-compromised, in poverty and isolation, and with a wide range of other underlying health conditions.

Solidarity Sports – £1,000
The sports charity provides tailored care packages for parents in poverty, struggling and in need of a high level of emotional and practical support.

The Smile Brigade – £1,000
During the coronavirus outbreak, the non-profit group is cooking and delivering 400 free meals to vulnerable residents, as well as packing and providing essential care packages.

This New Ground – £1,000
Creatively enable the learning-Disabled community to connect through remote activities and virtual platforms when isolated.

Bubble & Squeak – £950
Funding will help them adapt a food stall structure (pay-as-you-feel) for those living in food deprivation, to delivering healthy produce packages locally.

St Andrews Fulham Fields – £900
Funding will allow the established homeless project to continue to offer food, including essential care items to vulnerable residents.

Dance West – £800
Funding will go towards producing ‘Dance West Digital’ tutorials and bite-sized classes for adults 55+ and families with children under the age of 5 years to stay active in isolation.

 

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

 

UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham Launch Community Coronavirus (Covid-19) Response Appeal

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UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham Charity has launched a Community Coronavirus (Covid-19) Response Appeal. This enables local individuals, businesses and foundations across the borough to support local response.

 

The Appeal is in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham Council, and is part of a coordinated effort with the voluntary sector to prevent and respond to the pandemic. 100% of funds raised will help groups working with people who face risk as a result of Coronavirus in Hammersmith & Fulham.

 

You can give online now.

 

How will the fund help?

We will provide micro grants directly to groups supporting the population in Hammersmith & Fulham. This includes those particularly focusing on the extra needs of people who are:

 

  • at risk of complications severe enough to require hospital care
  • at risk of being unable to cope with isolation
  • at risk because they’re living in poverty

 

This includes conducting deep cleaning for community hubs and purchasing protective equipment for frontline workers, but also creative ideas that help others adjust to and live through social distancing, help people cope with anxiety, and help resolve practical consequences of isolation.

 

Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, said:

 

“These are surreal times. All of us are making changes to our lives we never imagined we’d be doing. But this is real, and we can get through it.”

 

UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham is a local charity that inspires and helps fund activities that promote a strong sense of togetherness in the diverse London borough. This is achieved by connecting those who want to support the community with local causes that will best use their investment. They are experienced with giving microgrants and express their capacity to unlock the potential in the borough to support one another.

 

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

 

“It is vital that this fund is part of the community response in preparation for what’s to come The needs of our older community will likely change very rapidly over the coming weeks and months and so we are committed to doing what we can to help support.”

 

To donate, or even fundraise remotely, visit our Covid-19 page by clicking here.

 

Alternatively, if you’d like to volunteer please see information about the borough’s Community Aid Network, by clicking here.

 

Thank you.

UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham Sign Funder statement on Covid-19

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18/03/2020

UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham, along with a wider group of funders, recognise that the covid-19 outbreak is an exceptional event that will have an impact on civil society groups, and want to offer reassurance that we stand with the sector during this time. We wish to be as helpful as possible during the coming weeks and months so that civil society groups can focus on the vital work of supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. We understand that there will be times when staff and volunteers will not be available, when beneficiaries may need services to be provided in different ways, or when systems need to be flexible to ensure that needs are met.

If your community, services or organisation are affected by the covid-19 outbreak, and you receive grant[1] funding from us, we are committed to:

  • Adapting activities – we recognise that you may experience difficulties achieving some of the outputs or outcomes we agreed for your grant during the outbreak, and would like to be able to maintain our grant payments to you at originally-agreed levels during this period, so please have a conversation with us if you are affected in this way;
  • Discussing dates – we don’t want to add pressure, so if you think you will struggle to meet a reporting deadline please get in touch with us so that we can agree a more realistic time for you to get things to us wherever possible;
  • Financial flexibility – we know you may need to use your funding to help cover sickness, purchase equipment, or deliver services differently, and we will be reasonable if you need to move money between budget headings to ensure your work can continue; and
  • Listening to you – we are here if you want to talk to us about the situation you’re facing, but we’ll wait for you to call us so that these conversations are at the right time for you.

We also recognise that there may be further shocks to the system caused by covid-19 that may impact on your other income streams, or require a more urgent response from funders. Where we have any news on emergency funding we commit to publishing this on the London Funders web page below so you can see all available programmes in one place.

This statement is being coordinated by London Funders, but is not only for their members or funders in London, so if you have other funders or supporters you think would like to sign this please ask them to get in touch with the team at [email protected]

You can see the current list of funders who have committed to this statement alongside us at https://londonfunders.org.uk/about/covid-19

[1] This does not apply to commissioned services or contracts where there will be separate discussions between commissioners and provider organisations

Lord Dubs Launches Humans of Hammersmith & Fulham Exhibit

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

Mayor Daryl Brown toasted the exhibition. Photo Jason Joseph

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

UNITED supports business community’s homeless initiative

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Small tap, big change is an initiative launched by Hammersmith BID aiming to combat challenges associated with homelessness exclusively in Hammersmith & Fulham; UNITED is supporting with the collection and distribution of funds.

 

Fixed donations of £2 per tap will be collected at contactless devices in pubs, shops and office buildings across Hammersmith town centre, with the additional option to give donations online of any value. This will empower residents, businesses and visitors to make a positive difference for those facing challenges associated with homelessness in the borough.

 

Money raised will go directly to local homeless charities operating in the borough, funding additional beds, hot meals, washing facilities, outreach services and life skills coaching. The charities that will benefit from Small tap, big change in 2019/20 are the Barons Court Project, Glass Door, St Andrew’s Church and The Upper Room.

 

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

 

 

Kevin McGrath, Chair of United in Hammersmith & Fulham & Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

“At United in Hammersmith & Fulham, we want to inspire everybody to be a better neighbour. One of our key aims is to support local people in need, whoever they are, so Small tap, big change is vital; it allows locals to donate easily and effectively through contactless devices in everyday places, to help drive real improvements for those facing homelessness challenges in the borough.”

 

Patricia Bench, BID Director at Hammersmith BID

“Small tap, big change will provide a simple and straightforward way for all of us to help people literally on our doorsteps.  We know Hammersmith businesses want to help address issues around rough sleeping in the area and Hammersmith BID looks forward to working with them for this great cause. We cannot wait to spread the Small tap, big change message and support the work of fantastic local projects.”

 

Michael Angus, Director at Barons Court Project

“Barons Court Project has to raise £150K annually for our work with people who are homeless, so it is essential that we get as many donations as possible. Small tap, big change is a fantastic initiative which allows the community to be involved in solutions to help end rough sleeping. At our drop-in centre we meet basic human needs such as showers, laundry and hot meals and then offer 1-1 support to get people off the streets. We also have a range of life skills and activities to enable everyone to live the life they deserve. Your donations will ensure we can keep offering our vital services to people in need”.

 

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.

 

Published 23 October, 2019