What began as a weekend course in Edinburgh has blossomed into a passion-fuelled vocation for Kayleigh, founder of The Historical Herbologist and one of our partners at our Tree Canopy site. Her workshops are inspiring others to slow down, reconnect with nature, and find healing in the simplest of things - herbs.

Kayleigh works for the Royal Horticultural Society and started looking for a course to grow her professional expertise. She found one at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, which went on to “spark a passion” to explore the way humans have evolved alongside medicinal plants for thousands of years. Kayleigh explains to me how the “earliest records we have date back 49,000 years - it’s phenomenal”.

Kayleigh Sinclair

Founder of The Historical Herbologist and partner of Walton Charity

That course led onto a diploma in herbology, gathering herbs for homework, and eventually running her own workshops. Kayleigh now runs regular workshops open to members of the public, which have revealed to her how deeply people are desperate for reconnection in a life so busy with screens. She has found that “working outdoors has helped make a positive difference to my mental wellbeing. You don’t even have to get hands on - just being outside and interacting with nature is incredibly therapeutic”.

Putting passion into practice

Her workshops reflect that ethos - tactile, rooted in history, and sociable. The most popular of these workshops (which take place in a yurt!) is the herbal tea blending session. The workshops cover the “history, folklore and superstitions of herbs. People can then choose which herbs they like based on what they want, like sleep, digestion or relaxation”.

The most recent addition to her workshops is an introduction to homemade skincare, where guests can make face masks, bath bombs, and other pampering things with dry herbs. As Kayleigh explains, “all my workshops are designed to embrace slow living. You can’t really be stressed out if you’re surrounded by lavender and chamomile”.

Growing a partnership

Her connection with Walton Charity began through a shared project with RHS Wisley. A group of our independent living residents and community allotment members got together to create an exhibition called ‘The Makings of a Modern Day Herbal’. Kayleigh recounts how she “met this wonderful group” and how they had fascinating “memories dating back to the second world war. They remember collecting rosehip to take to the chemist during a national Vitamin C deficiency. They ate things like Haws ketchup, made from Hawthorn bushes. Their connection to the plants was incredible”.

That collaboration soon led to a role advising on the medicinal garden at our Tree Canopy site, Walton Charity’s wellbeing-focused community garden project. She will soon be running workshops from our site, an exciting partnership to reflect a growing need in the community for mindful practices. Kayleigh is passionate about the power of plants and has noticed the shift towards people growing their own since the the pandemic; “it gave people something to care for; something to control in a world full of uncertainty and chaos. Being able to tend to something and look after it has carried on since”, showing a huge demand in the population for ways to reconnect with nature and reap the benefits of being outside.

Honey & Herbs Skincare workshop

Fresh berries

Workshop at the 'Move Your Mind' event

Medicinal garden at our Tree Canopy space

You can find out more about The Historical Herbologist by clicking here, and we will be updating our social media when the new workshops launch at The Tree Canopy. Kayleigh has a packed calendar full of talks and festivals, so keep an eye out for her work!

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Walton Charity’s Green Spaces

Want to feel these benefits of the great outdoors yourself?

Our community allotment is looking for new volunteers! We run sessions twice a week that are open to everyone, especially those that experience a physical or mental health condition or feel isolated. We are also looking for people to ‘buddy-up’ with these members, so find out more here.

Our Tree Canopy site also hosts a range of other projects, including the Elmbridge Tree Wardens, Rewilding Forest School, and Guided Wellbeing. Recently we launched our ‘Space to Grow’ project, a community gardening project reaching people in Elmbridge that are struggling.

We also run corporate volunteering sessions at our green spaces sites, so get in touch today if you want to help your team flourish through the power of nature!

Space to Grow gardening project

Community allotment group

Volunteering

Corporate Volunteering

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Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

Our mission as a charity is rooted in tackling all forms of inequality. One form of inequality that we often come across is gender inequality and its intrinsic link to poverty, as disadvantages based on gender can manifest into real-world effects on employment and health. Additionally, when addressing our main priority focus of child poverty, we also consider the broader impact on parents by supporting projects that empower women and strive to break the cycle of poverty for families.

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To mark International Women’s Day, Amy, our communications and events officer, spoke to some of the talented women that help us in our mission to build an Elmbridge community - where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive.

Walton Charity are proud to have a diverse team with many women taking up senior leadership roles due to their strong merits. Amy spoke with Sarah, our chair of trustees, and Alex, our vice-chair, about what International Women’s Day means to them.

Despite having different backgrounds - Sarah’s a nurse and Alex works in social policy - both are driven by a shared desire to help other people and are motivated by seeing the impact their governance has on their community. Alex explains how everyone on the board of trustees is brought together by “the human factor”.

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Some of the women we work with

When asked specifically about what International Women’s Day means to them, the resounding answer was the desire to celebrate, advocate, and support all women in our shared mission to support a thriving community in Elmbridge.

Alex and Sarah share that this is the ethos of the charity as a whole: everybody deserves a good life and to be lifted up out of poverty and inequality. For some women, they face extra challenges that require additional levels of targeted support, an area we are particularly aware of.

Alex states that “the people I’m most inspired by are the women that are making a success of their lives despite the challenges. In my day job tackling child poverty, I’m very aware of what that looks like, and it’s really flipping hard. Life is not easy for a lot of women, and despite that they’re making a go of it, and within that there are mothers that are managing difficulties and making a success of their lives for their children”.

Sarah explains that in Walton Charity, we’re lucky to have a strong team full of incredible, dedicated people: “it happens that the board back in the day was all men, and now we’re female heavy! We’ve got more working women on our board than the Charity’s ever had. Without each other and our diversity, be it gender or otherwise, we wouldn’t be as successful as we are. Everyone has different strengths and brings their own value to the team”.

When asked about their own partnership, both agree that they “are different, but a real partnership who’ve got each other’s backs. It gives you a sense of possibility, we’re not alone”. What is clear is that working with so many skilled people creates a wealth of knowledge within the charity which we are hugely proud of.

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Walton Charity support a range of Elmbridge-based organisations and projects that support women and champion gender equality. Recently, we celebrated the launch of the Voices of Hope Elmbridge Women’s Hub, a women’s only space part-funded by Walton Charity and dedicated to fostering creativity and connection through transformative sessions such as a choir. We have partnered with Voices of Hope on multiple occasions to support their initiatives that uplift vulnerable women in the community.

Through our grants programme, we are pleased to fund a range of projects in Elmbridge that champion equality in all its forms, including gender. Find out more by clicking on this button:

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At the heart of Walton Charity is our mission to build a thriving Elmbridge community free from poverty and inequality. We are proud to champion everyone in our community every day of the year and are keen to celebrate the different strengths and experiences of those in our community.

Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

It’s 7pm on a cold winter night when the doors of West Molesey’s night shelter open. From the moment guests step inside, they are met with a warm welcome - staff greet them with a smile, a sleeping bag, bed, and pillow, and a hot meal. Jo, the director of the hub, explains that the shelter (funded partly by Walton Charity), runs on a referral basis from the council and Rentstart, and that “even in people have complex needs, we believe in giving someone a first chance”.

More than just a bed for the night

Jo makes it clear that what she would say to someone that’s never visited a night shelter is “to scrap every preconception you have. For example, we have a 67-year-old homeless male, a 24-year-old homeless female, and everyone in between. Some are parents, some are not, some are single, some are not. Genuinely everyone is different”.

But while the shelter offers vital respite, the ultimate goal is to find them “somewhere sustainable and long-term”.

Glaring gaps

Communications officer Amy met with Jo from the West Molesey Night Shelter

The shelter only operates during the coldest months, from December to the end of March. Jo is blunt about the consequences felt when the doors shut. She states that “this is where the system is totally flawed. If someone isn’t housed by March and there’s no funding left… just imagine the concept of tomorrow, you’re out”. Fortunately, in the previous year, every guest was housed, but this outcome isn’t always guaranteed. The logic seems fundamentally flawed - homelessness is not simply a winter problem; if it doesn’t disappear when the weather warms, why do the shelters?

Jo recognises that a few hours in the evening aren’t enough to help someone start rebuilding their lives, so this year the shelter secured extra funding for daytime supervised sessions.

“What we found last year is that a lot of our guests have complex needs, and you can’t sort these things out in the evening. Opening a bank account, registering for a GP - those things can’t be done at night”.

The additional daytime sessions have already proven hugely valuable, and help build trust with guests much quicker. The night shelter’s partners Rentstart and Transform Housing work hard to not only provide more permanent accommodation, but wraparound support too. These providers visit the shelter regularly, and Jo has even bigger ambitions for wider services, like a hairdresser or GP, to attend the shelter.

A crisis in the making

From working at both the food bank and the night shelter, Jo has seen poverty evolve into something far more complex that it used to be. She explains that “whereas before someone facing homelessness might have just had a few unpaid bills, now they’re forced to make horrendous choices between essentials like rent and food”.

As we know at Walton Charity, poverty and homelessness rarely exist in isolation. It’s often the culmination of unfortunate and traumatic circumstances that, left without intervention, spiral and push people to the brink.

Jo also makes it clear that nowadays, “it’s the people in that middle band of income, those in work that used to scape by but can’t anymore. They aren’t eligible for benefits, meaning that if you don’t prevent it at that middle level, people sink lower. Homelessness is only a little bit away from that. As much as the night shelter is fab, the key thing we’re now looking at is prevention and trying to get people before they get to that point”.

Breaking the illusion of wealth

Elmbridge, known for its affluence, hides a stark reality: homelessness levels are rapidly growing. Jo believes that what is unique to Elmbridge is that “because there is so much wealth, the poverty is hidden. People are ashamed of it and they don’t want to be seen to be struggling”.

Research from Walton Charity revealed that Elmbridge is the 9th most unequal borough in England, with a staggering 75% of those in poverty coming from families where at least one adult is employed. In 2023, just under 15% of children in Elmbridge were living in poverty. Jo agrees with these findings, and cites the staggeringly high cost of living as the reason so many people can’t keep up.

Jo sees two ways to combat the issue in Elmbridge. She says “we need to make it clearer to wealthy residents that there are problems here, and that they could help in a multitude of ways. But alongside this, we need to make sure that we’re still targeting the right people and responding to the changing landscape”.

What’s next?

Five years down the line, Jo strongly believes there will still be a need for night shelters: “in an ideal world, I wouldn’t have to do what I do. But the cost of living isn’t getting any better, and there are so many people who are displaced or in temporary accommodation. We all hope it gets better, but for now, what I would love to have is a space where we have partner services coming in throughout the day so we can move people on quickly but with the right support. They’re not a statistic”.

What’s important to remember amongst all the pros and cons of night shelters is the real difference they make to the people that use them. For one guest, the night shelter and its volunteers “saved my life… and restored my faith in humanity”. For another, “the level of care that’s shown to us gives us a feeling a worth”.

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You can find out more about the night shelter here, and you can follow this link to learn more about the grant funding that we offer to community projects like these.

Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s communications and events officer

This month, Amy, our communications and events officer, is shining a light on Home-Start Elmbridge, one of our partner organisations, and recipient of our grants, working to promote the welfare of families with at least one child under 5. They have been a lifeline for local families navigating the challenges of parenthood. Amy caught up with Cathy and Olive to learn more about the services they offer and the growing challenges facing families.

Who are Home-Start Elmbridge?

Home-Start Elmbridge support around 190 families in the borough every year through a range of different services. These include home visiting, under-5’s and over-5’s groups, carer support, counselling, financial training, a Dad Matters project, crisis and intervention, and more. Most of the families they support have at least one child under 5, but recently they’ve started to offer their services to families with children up to the age of 11. Whilst their services are diverse, their mission is consistent: to protect the welfare of children and parents so that every childhood is as safe and happy as possible.

A decade of change

Olive recently celebrated her 10-year anniversary with the charity, and Cathy isn’t far off that milestone either. Their long commitment to this organisation is testament to how rewarding their work is, and also means that they truly understand the needs of local families.

Olive makes it clear that “there’s been less statutory support in this decade, and services have been cut”. The cost-of-living crisis and the rising prices of childcare and other essentials means they’re “getting more referrals than ever”. Cathy goes further to explain that “the level of support needed [by local families] has significantly increased over time. Whilst statutory services are stretched and underfunded, Home-Start can get in there and really help”.

Recently, it has been children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) that have been supported by groups. Olive and Cathy agree that there’s also been an increase in “mental health issues like anxiety and emotional distress, especially among younger parents who have had adverse experiences in their own childhoods”.

Times are particularly tough for working families, a fact well-known to us at Walton Charity. Alongside Elmbridge Borough Council and other partner organisations, we recently distributed an in-work cost of living support fund to help local people that are working, aren’t entitled to government benefits, and are struggling to make ends meet. As a fundholder, Olive regretfully states that “unfortunately we had no problem spending that money. Our families are so grateful and it’s made such a difference to them”.

Being there for families

When I asked them if there was a part of their jobs that’s particularly close to their hearts, Cathy was quick to answer; “I love working with the families themselves. I like that challenge, and I get to do a bit of everything. Sometimes I support families with safeguarding concerns. Cases like that won’t leave me. For families that are judged, what they need, and what Home-Start can provide, is consistent support”.

Olive seconds this, explaining that “when we go in to support a family, we’re there until we know that families can stand on their own two feet. We’re not time constrained, and sometimes life throws a curveball, and we have to go back in to help. That’s life”.

Cathy agrees, adding; “they’re often young parents who need a role model to show them they have resilience - and this helps them to grow. Often mums don’t get any praise, and we can give them that praise and tell them they’re a good mum. It gives them confidence. The majority of them move and say Home-Start was the best thing ever. Just this morning I visited a mum with twins and she told me her volunteer saved her life”. After a brief pause, Cathy says, “this is the best job, I love it!”

Changing lives

It’s hard to choose just one example of the impact Home-Start Elmbridge has on the families they work with. From the stories I was given, one in particular stood out:

A young mother with a two-year-old who was very isolated, and when she was referred to Home-Start Elmbridge, there was already a child safeguarding plan in place. With the support of Home-Start’s Crisis Support Coordinator and the tireless team of staff and volunteers, the mother and her child found suitable play sessions, received counselling, and joined the under-5’s playgroup.

As the mother’s social confidence grew, her little one started to develop their speech. Through months of support, she has learnt how to make independent decisions and has finally broken a toxic intergenerational chain.

The support from the team - aided by funding from Walton Charity to attend summer stay and play sessions - meant the mother gained a lifelong loving bond with her child built on a trusting, compassionate relationship that had been modelled for her.

New year, new plans?

Home-Start Elmbridge turn 25 this year, and alongside being the Mayor of Elmbridge’s charity, they have a lot to celebrate!

Olive clearly states that the plans for the new year are “to keep doing more of what we’re doing”.

Raising the profile of the charity and campaigning regularly is also high on the agenda. Their first TV campaign, ‘We answer the cries’, highlighted the isolation, worry, and lack of support that lots of parents feel. I asked Olive how the advert related specifically to Elmbridge, and she explained that “in this area, we have a very wide family base in terms of demographic compared to a decade ago. A lot of parents aren’t from around here, so they don’t have that immediate family support. Lots of families feel like they’re very much on their own”.

Home-Start’s fantastic volunteers make sure parents have someone to turn to. They can access peer support through the parenting cafes and projects, and be signposted to different specialist services. The home visiting volunteers also provide a personalised, consistent connection that these parents need.

Because childhood can’t wait

When asked whether the Home-Start ethos had a special meaning to them, Olive was passionate about how this message guides everything they do. “Our ethos is early intervention, because the sooner you get in there, the sooner you can prevent the problems from escalating. Childhood passes very quickly, so it’s important to have that early engagement”.

Working together to promote the welfare of children

Walton Charity’s delegated fund allows Home-Start to use their discretion when helping families. For example, our fund can be used by the team however they think is best, such as providing transport so that parents can attend the over-5’s project, or so that they can purchase a car seat or supermarket vouchers on behalf of the parents. Protecting children and parents is a key priority area for Walton Charity. We aim to tackle child poverty in Elmbridge by working closely with our local partners who directly support families.

Our own community hub also welcomes working families referred to us by Home-Start who are struggling financially and can make use of our shop-without-a-till and advice services. Feedback from the families they refer is that “they absolutely love going to The Bridge as they like how they’re looked after there”.

We also provide a grant to cover their core costs, and community grants to support the Dad Matters project and perinatal mental health crisis support work. Working in partnership with Elmbridge Borough Council and Walsingham Care, we have distributed a Partnership Fund to Home-Start Elmbridge to support their home-visiting volunteer service.

Home-Start Elmbridge are based at Charities House and make use of the discounted office space that we offer local organisations.

Making a difference

I asked what keeps Olive and Cathy coming through the doors of their office every day for a decade. Their answer was unanimous: for both, it’s “the team that we work with. We all have the same goals, and we have a great dynamic. In a small team we all muck in”. Cathy, who works very closely with the families, loves that side of the job too; “I like making a difference, and even when it’s challenging, I love what I do. When you hear that it’s meant everything to these families, it’s so satisfying”.

To finish the interview, I then asked whether they both see themselves working at Home-Start for 10 more years. This was met with plenty of laughter, but once the laughter died down, Olive paused before adding, “I hope Home-Start will still be around. We support parents and there will always be parents and children, and we want to grow and stay with them”.

Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

Find out more about our grants

We know that Christmas is a time of festivity and indulgence, but for many families, it also brings added worry.

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Christmas is often the biggest occasion of the year for those who celebrate it, but for families in poverty, it is often a time of added concern. Throughout the year, finding the money for rising bills, food, housing costs and other essentials like school uniform can be a struggle, but at Christmas, extra presents may be completely unaffordable. For children experiencing poverty, waking up on Christmas Day means they often wonder if Santa has forgotten them. For their parents, this guilt has a huge impact on their wellbeing.

As we found in research from our Elmbridge Poverty Profile, 13% of children in our borough were living in poverty in 2022, and we know that this figure has only increased since then. That’s why we partnered with the amazing Stripey Stork to support their Christmas Appeal.

The main reason that families are referred to Stripey Stork is due to low income. Other reasons include refugee or asylum seeker status, domestic abuse, a disability preventing work, and debt. This Christmas, 13% of referrals to Stripey Stork (who operate across Surrey and Croydon) came from Elmbridge.

This year, Stripey Stork ensured that families received essential items they could use throughout the year, such as blankets and books. Your donations provided these bundles of essentials, and Stripey Stork’s partners provided the age-appropriate Christmas toys.

Your generosity throughout our Christmas Appeal meant we could give £12,686, half of which was raised by you, and half of which was match funded by us!

Thank you so much - your donation meant that 486 children in 262 families in Elmbridge had something to open on Christmas morning.

Stripey Stork have shared that “behind every request is a family who are struggling, who want to give their children a memorable Christmas and who often find it hard to ask for help”.

Whilst we extend a huge thank you to everyone who donated, we also wanted to share what it meant to the families themselves:

“I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the incredible support you’ve provided. As a single mother, life has been incredibly challenging. It was such a relief not to have to worry about buying gifts, especially during this difficult time. Your kindness has lightened a heavy burden, and I can’t thank you enough for the joy and relief you’ve brought us”.

Stripey Stork also told us about a father who had lost his wife and was finding it hard to provide the magic of Christmas to his children:

“Christmas is a time of joy and togetherness, but for some families, it can also be a season of worry. After losing his wife, this devoted father found himself navigating the challenges of single parenthood while working tirelessly to provide for his family. As Christmas approached, the weight of his responsibilities grew heavier. He wanted nothing more than to give his children a magical Christmas, but the cost made it impossible. When he was told that Christmas presents had been arranged for his children, he was stunned. Overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers and the knowledge that his children would wake up to presents under the tree, he broke down in tears. In that moment, his worries lifted, replaced by gratitude and relief”.

The professionals that refer families to Stripey Stork also appreciate the huge impact the Christmas Appeal has:

“Supporting victims of domestic abuse whereby the gift of making magic happen at Christmas is the difference between feeling like giving up, or, with a little helping hand, feeling they are capable of healing, accepting help, growing, and living a happy life”.

We are proud supporters of Stripey Stork, and are always overwhelmed by the generosity of our Elmbridge community. Thank you to everyone who donated over Christmas - you helped us spread some festive magic to local families.

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Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

Find out more about Stripey Stork

31 January 2025

“A place where people can be themselves”: How The Bridge is transforming lives across Elmbridge.

The Bridge, a community space opened by Walton Charity in 2023, is benefitting people across Elmbridge, according to a recent report.

Walton Charity’s community space, The Bridge, is offering holistic support to the significant benefit of clients in both the short-and-long-term, a report published today has found. Analysis revealed that 72% of Bridge clients no longer need external support after ending their engagement, with their lives in a more stable place than when they before coming.

The Bridge was set up in March 2023 as a community space in central Walton-on-Thames, offering practical support for people and families across Elmbridge. The pilot aimed to help working families struggling with the rising cost of living, offering breathing space and a helping hand for a time-limited period. The Bridge offers a dignified shopping experience for families, alongside tailored services to address the wider issues they may be facing. In the words of a client, “it’s there to be a bridge during your hardest times”.

In the first nine months after opening, around 90 members of the local community accessed The Bridge at least once. Feedback from clients has been overwhelmingly positive, with those interviewed reporting benefits including an increased sense of self-worth, improvements in diet, and reduced anxieties. One client noted that access to The Bridge “meant that I could eat decent food when I couldn’t afford it”, easing the gap between paycheques. Another found that the homely interior made them look forward to visits: “it’s this lovely bright space and it’s almost like a cafe […] it’s a nice experience”.

Rob Mills, Chief Executive at Walton Charity, said:

“Our vision for The Bridge is to help those who have nowhere else to turn. The Under the Radar report that we commissioned in 2022 showed us that it is working families in Elmbridge who are really struggling, with 75% of children living in poverty locally coming from working families”.

“The Bridge has successfully reached out to [working] families to give a helping hand when they need it most. The success of the pilot is due to the people involved: partners, funders, staff and volunteers, but most importantly the individuals and their families that have been coming to The Bridge over the past year. By offering a beautiful space and more control over the food they choose, families have taken the opportunity The Bridge has provided to get back on their feet and access the support they need at this point in their lives”.

“The whole purpose is to support them through a transition, not to create dependency at all… We give them the breathing space and we give them the hope. We say, ‘don’t give up, we can support you’. And we make sure they are aware that there is a helping hand whilst they’re going through that journey.”

— Walton Charity staff member

The Impact and learning from The Bridge in Walton-on-Thames evaluation report has been published by Walton Charity. For further information, please contact communications@waltoncharity.org.uk

Amy meets Andy

For the second instalment of our Spotlight Series, Amy, our Communications and Events Officer, caught up with Andy from Rentstart to find out more about homelessness in Elmbridge.

Who are Rentstart?

Rentstart offer a holistic approach to support people facing or experiencing homelessness. From the moment someone walks through the doors of their hub in Walton high-street, a process begins where the individual is assessed practically, and perhaps as importantly, emotionally.

Andy makes it clear that it’s a different process for each person, just with the shared goal of finding them somewhere to live. Depending on their circumstances and needs, Rentstart can offer a multitude of support, from a hot shower to photography workshops. Rentstart’s support team can also offer practical help with filling out forms, which can be one of the biggest barriers for people facing homelessness.

“The system when someone is in that position is complex. It’s a minefield, especially when you’re in a vulnerable place”

— Andy, Rentstart

As community engagement manager, Andy’s main job is to educate the public about what street homelessness really is, “not just what people think it is”.

He explains that one of the biggest challenges in his role is that “there’s a huge misunderstanding about what homelessness is. In reality, it’s very complex, and every individual has their own story, journey and reasons”.

“The people that we work with are no different to you or I. That’s a barrier that we try and break down. Homelessness is not a sub-culture. It’s simply that everyone has problems, and it just so happens to have manifested into homelessness”

— Andy, Rentstart

Worrying signs

When asked whether issues around insecure and unaffordable housing are getting worse, Andy is quick to answer; homelessness is “getting worse nationally and in Elmbridge too. There is a trend of seeing more people needing our help”.

In 2024, nearly 600 people visited the hub with concerns about homelessness.

As we know so well at Walton Charity, Elmbridge is the 9th most unequal borough in the country, with huge disparity between the wealthiest and poorest residents. We see first-hand how headlines like ‘Elmbridge is the Beverly Hills of England’ mask the concerning levels of poverty and make open conversations about poverty and inequality difficult.

Moreover, Andy explains, the cost-of-living crisis has recently magnified financial problems for people who were already vulnerable. The crisis has a dual effect on the housing market, as landlords also suffer from rising costs. As such, the stock of affordable rental properties is decreasing, whilst the need for them is growing. It’s a difficult issue that Rentstart is working hard to combat, and their voice around key debates is incredibly valuable.

Rentstart’s Big Sleepout, Rentstart, rentstart.org.uk, 2024

Bringing the community together

Andy plays a major role in bringing local people together. The most recent Sleep-Out saw 75 people from all sectors of the community come together to spend a night sleeping outdoors in cardboard boxes. Andy states that the main takeaway of an event like this is to give people “a deeper understanding of what street homelessness is”. It’s the physical discomfort, but most overwhelmingly, it’s the sense of being vulnerable. Andy is adamant that anyone who participates will “never look at street homelessness the same way”. The Sleep-Out will be returning later this year, so keep an eye out for your chance to get involved.

New year, new mission?

Regretfully, Andy explains that whilst their priorities change to ensure they remain impactful, “the mission is sadly the same”. He explains that “in the Old Testament, 3000 years ago, it was written, look after the homeless. 3000 years on, we still haven’t got it right. In 3000 more years, will we still be struggling with homelessness?”

It’s certainly an interesting question, and with increasing difficulties around affordable housing, it’s hard to predict.

We know from our Elmbridge Poverty Profile and our Under the Radar report that average house prices in Elmbridge are 14 times the average earnings, with average monthly rents being 41% higher in Elmbridge than the rest of the country. 80% of people surveyed by us in 2023 said they think there isn’t enough affordable housing in Elmbridge. Key findings from our research reveals that a growing number of working families (where one of both parent is in work) are facing poverty, showing that the gap between poverty and wealth is shrinking.

Other factors like the high number of empty homes in Surrey compound the issue. Andy expresses his shock at the statistics that there’s more space given to golf courses than to social housing in Surrey, yet he’s “brought back to hope and purpose when the community responds and moves forward”.

“People who have had a life with everything in it collapse in front of you. It’s utterly heartbreaking. What Rentstart do is help someone get back to a place where they are regaining self-belief, purpose, and hope. These are the things that are missing when you are homeless.”

— Andy, Rentstart

Personal motivation

Despite the joy of seeing the community coming together, tackling homelessness is not easy, so what really motivates Andy to keep going?

He explains that when he was made redundant in 2008, he was invited to work with a homeless charity. “I’d never done anything like that in my life. That’s where my learning started”.

The incredible work of the Rentstart team and their ability to be agile in response to the ever-changing landscape of homelessness is also a big highlight.

Yet what stands out the most is knowing that he’s “doing something hugely important and ultimately positive”.

*Names and photos don’t relate to client stories

“Alex* had a terrible accident and couldn’t work due to physical and mental health issues. Rentstart got him somewhere to live, and he’s rebuilding his life again”

— Andy, Rentstart

Andy urges the public to get involved in that “life changing process by donating or participating in events” and help seek positivity where it may be hard to find. It’s clear from speaking with him that he treasures the clients he meets and the transformation he gets to witness: “to help someone find that within themselves is what it’s all about”.

Working together - the role of Walton Charity

Through our grants, we help fund the vital work that charities like Rentstart do, working collaboratively to build an Elmbridge free from poverty and inequality. Housing is one of our four priority areas, and we work hard to make affordable housing available to those who need it.

Read Anna’s story

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We do this by offering some of our properties to Rentstart’s clients, and we also have a small number of other social housing properties. You can read about how our social housing has made a huge difference to people like John.

We also offer independent living at our two almshouses for Elmbridge residents aged over 55. Residents pay a maintenance contribution rather than rent and live in self-contained flats with a range of social activities available. For some of our residents like Anna, they have made them feel at home for the first time.

Recently, we had the privilege of welcoming two families to our new affordable key-worker properties. These properties get us one step closer to enabling local people to live in decent homes they can afford.

Walton Charity’s policy and communications team keep a close eye on relevant developments, such as the Government’s reform of Right to Buy, legislation from the 1980’s that significantly changed the landscape of social housing in Britain. Improvements to this scheme could safeguard future social housing and reverse decades of underinvestment in this sector. We welcome the review and hope for a strong commitment to get affordable housing back on track.

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Homelessness is not just about the absence of a roof; it’s the absence of security, self-belief, and hope. In our local area, individuals face the daily struggle of finding shelter, warmth, and a sense of belonging. It’s more important than ever to champion the work of Rentstart and work together to build an Elmbridge community free from poverty and inequality. Please consider getting involved in such a life changing process by donating or participating in events.

Interview by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

Published 24/01/25

To celebrate the successful conclusion of The Bridge Appeal and the remarkable amount raised, we brought together the incredible volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to this fundraising journey. Amy and Tom from our comms team sat down with some of this amazing team to hear their reflections on the Thames Bridges Trek—a 25km walk across 16 London bridges—to find out what inspired them to get involved, and what the challenge meant to them.

Jeanette spoke candidly about her personal motivations: “This year has been an interesting year for me personally because I was diagnosed with cancer last Christmas. As I was coming towards the end of the main treatment, I thought, why don’t I do this?”.

“I love walking, I love London, why don’t I take on the challenge?”

— Jeanette, volunteer and trekker

For Nina, our foodbank manager and fellow trek participant, it was all about connection and purpose: “It was a way of doing something as a team and raising the profile of The Bridge.” She added, “we knew it was going to be a challenge, but not so much of a challenge that we didn’t think we could do it.”

Celebrating the amazing trekkers: Louise, Suzy, Jeanette, Nina, Vicki, Hayley, and Andrea

Celebrating the amazing trekkers: Louise, Suzy, Jeanette, Nina, Vicki, Hayley, and Andrea

Celebrating the amazing trekkers: Louise, Suzy, Jeanette, Nina, Vicki, Hayley, and Andrea

Celebrating the amazing trekkers: Louise, Suzy, Jeanette, Nina, Vicki, Hayley, and Andrea

The energy and atmosphere of the day proved to be a real highlight. From the first group warm-up to doughnuts at the Oval cricket ground pit-stop, to finally crossing the finish line and receiving their hard-earned medals, the team found motivation in every moment. Being surrounded by thousands of other walkers added to the excitement—and even the sunshine played its part!

“When I got home, I thought about how many thousands of pounds were raised for charity. It was just a jolly good feeling”

— Jeanette, volunteer and trekker

Reflecting on the finish line, Jeanette was quick to describe how she felt: “Fine!”—though she clarified that the relief of finishing was enough to push aside any fatigue. Nina agreed, describing the final boost of crossing the line: “the worst bit was walking back to the tube station—that was hard work!”.

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Thanks to the phenomenal efforts of our walkers and the generosity of our local community, an incredible £6,058 was raised for The Bridge, our shop-without-a-till in the centre of Walton-on-Thames. This achievement exceeded our fundraising target, ensuring its doors can stay open for longer to provide essential support for more working families.

We couldn’t be prouder of this fantastic team and the difference they’ve made to local people.

You can find out more about The Bridge by watching the video below.

2024 marks 250 years since the first recorded Walton Charity almshouse.

The charity itself has been in existence for over 800 years, making it older than the Magna Carta!

Mayfield circa 1870

The Origin of Mayfield

Our original almshouse was built in 1774 on what is now the site of Mayfield.

It was recorded in 1870 that “as long as memory and tradition extend, the Mayfield site had been used as a property devoted to charitable uses”.

In 1870 this property was occupied by 14 residents - one widower, two married couples, six widows, and three unmarried women.

They were elected by the Vicar and could live rent-free for life.

Mayfield circa 1902

Evolution

Between 1902 and 1912, the old buildings were replaced by four new blocks of two or three cottages, providing nine dwellings and a caretaker’s lodge.

In 1966, the Edwardian cottages were replaced by the first wing of the current Mayfield building, containing 28 flats, a warden’s residence, communal rooms. gardens, and offices for the Charity.

Mayfield was eventually extended in 1995 to provide 47 flats, and further refurbished in 2018 to provide 53 flats.

Mayfield circa 1995

“Since I was 18, I’ve lived at 40 different addresses, but I am pleased to say that I now feel at home”

— Anna, Mayfield resident

Fenner House - Mayfield’s modern counterpart

Fenner House, named after one of the Charity’s principal benefactors, was built in 1983 on allotment land.

“It was the best thing that had happened to me for a long, long time. I feel safe here. I feel secure.”

— Ian, Fenner resident

It now provides 52 self-contained flats, arranged around a communal garden.

Our almshouses aim to encourage companionship, a sense of security, and a feeling of community for local people.

One of our guiding principles as a Charity is that the provision and maintenance of our almshouses for the benefit of those in need is upheld.

We are proud to offer these properties to Elmbridge residents over the age of 55 who can live independently. You can find out more about our independent living schemes here.

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A detailed account of the history of Walton Charity was carefully compiled by David Nash in his book “I Give and Bequeath”. A copy can be requested from admin@waltoncharity.org.uk.

Article by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

Karen and Terry meet Jenny from Rentstart

Terry’s Tasty Tips is a recipe book with a difference! Designed to make a real impact, the book offers simple, budget-friendly meal ideas, providing invaluable support to Elmbridge residents who are navigating the challenges of financial pressures.

The idea for a recipe book full of delicious low-cost meals came from Terry Baillie, one of our Almshouse residents. Terry originally shared the recipes with his sister and niece so that they could cook up some of his tried and tested dishes. Gradually, the project grew larger, so Terry enlisted the help of Walton Charity’s green spaces manager Karen to take pictures whilst he cooked, due to their friendship formed whilst working on the community allotment together.

The recipes were so well received that Terry wanted to share them with more people who will benefit from his handy tips. He decided to share his recipe book - designed by communications officer Amy - with local charities supporting vulnerable people.

“I have enjoyed seeing something that just started as an idea put on paper and shared with lots of people”

— Terry

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Rentstart is a homelessness charity located in Walton-on-Thames. It helps house approximately 100 individuals every year, and aims to support its clients through each step of the journey - from the moment they walk through the doors to the day they settle into a home of their own.

“Thanks to the incredible generosity and hard work of Terry, we are thrilled to introduce this thoughtfully created recipe book. We are deeply grateful for this initiative and excited to share this resource with those we serve”

— George, Rentstart

A copy of Terry’s Tasty Tips will be included in every welcome pack that Rentstart’s clients receive, helping them settle into their new accommodation and gain important skills to keep themselves happy and healthy.

The recipe book were also distributed to The Bridge, offering families delicious ideas for using the fresh produce they pick up from the hub's shop-without-a-till.

A copy can be requested by emailing communications@waltoncharity.org.uk

Interview by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer

Rod Thorn, joined by one of the Project’s regular feline visitors

In honour of National Tree Week we met with Rod Thorn, passionate horticulturalist and member of the Elmbridge Tree Wardens. Our team members Karen, Amy, and Tom headed down to Walton Charity’s Tree Canopy Project to learn more about Rod, and what motivates him to plant trees across Elmbridge.

Branching Out

Elmbridge Tree Wardens work across the borough to get trees and hedges planted, alongside surveying and preserving our existing trees—making vital contributions to the area’s biodiversity.

Rod’s interest in the project has a spiritual origin. “My first keen interest in trees was understanding them from a Druidry perspective—trees are obviously important to them. It’s kind of grown within me over the past fifteen years.”

Being part of the Elmbridge Tree Wardens was a way of exploring this passion, whilst also contributing something tangible for present and future generations. “I want our descendants to have trees around them”, Rod says; “the feel of those tall beings” is something which everyone should have the opportunity to experience.

Rod with Karen Heynike, Walton Charity’s Green Spaces Manager

Tree’s Company

During his time with the Tree Wardens, this interest has only grown stronger. Rod is clear on just how essential trees are to all our lives, not least due to climate change. A typical mature tree can absorb a hefty 22kg of carbon dioxide per year. Though, given that each person in the UK leaves a carbon footprint of roughly 10 tonnes in this time, it would take a shocking 450 mature trees to offset the annual emissions of one person.

Frost settles over the Tree Canopy Project’s herb garden

Trees can benefit our wellbeing in other ways, too. They can “provide shade and air conditioning in extreme weather, and potentially even help with flood risk if planted correctly.” As many Elmbridge residents will attest, something as simple as a walk in the woods can help reduce the day’s stress, and even help with anxiety and depression.

Putting Down Roots

On the morning we interviewed Rod, he was hard at work planting the Tree Canopy Project’s newest additions: two wild pear trees.

According to Rod, these wild pear saplings were “grown from seeds taken from a wild pear tree growing by the Royal Cambridge Home in Molesey. It’s an old tree, and wild pears in general are quite rare.”

Easing one of the wild pear saplings into a planting hole

For anyone excited to sample a wild pear, however, you may want to think twice. The grown trees will “produce lovely blossom and... very hard, inedible fruits.” 

Pining For Adventure?

Surrey is England’s most wooded county, and so Elmbridge Tree Wardens are never short of work. Rod has previously participated in a “seed collection event, where we went with volunteers to Esher Commons, collected chestnuts and acorns, and planted them.”

Regular goings-on also include donations from people who may have a potted tree they don’t know what to do with, which are taken to the Warden’s dedicated tree nursery prior to planting.

Given that over 60 different native trees can be found in the UK, does Rod have a personal favourite?

“It changes, but I think at the moment I’m very much a fan of beech trees—they have such lovely leaves in the autumn. I go to a beech forest, and it’s just marvellous.”

To learn more about joining the Elmbridge Tree Wardens, visit https://www.surreytreewardens.org.uk/members/elmbridge/, contact info@surreytreewardens.org.uk or follow them on Facebook.

Interview by Tom Walden, Walton Charity’s Policy and Communications Manager

Our Spotlight Series will feature a different local organisation each time. Each interview will explore shared priorities and start conversations about the differences we can make in our local community

To launch our new Spotlight Series, Amy, our Communications and Events Officer, sat down with Debbie and Julie from Walsingham Care to find out more about their invaluable work in the local community.

Who is Walsingham Care?

Walsingham Care provides financial assistance to individuals or carers over 60, who are living in Elmbridge and are in financial need.

This year, Walsingham Care have directly helped 755 people, a 45% increase from the previous year. They have issued 341 grants and in total have reached 2048 individuals through a mix of direct grants, indirect support, and grants issued to other organisations.

When talking to them, the team's passion for their work was clear. They are keen that the charity reach everyone in the community who could benefit from these services, giving grants to numerous organisations working to alleviate social isolation.

"We know that older people can be harder to reach in the community", Debbie notes, and so she ensures they "support organisations that reach a wide audience of older people, as well as offering both one-off and ongoing support to individuals”.

When giving these grants, Walsingham Care prefer to focus on long-term impact. For Debbie, this mean nurturing "relationships between organisations and ourselves so that we are more than just a sticking plaster of temporary support", and funding "longer term help such as benefit checks, support packages and even care home fees when council support doesn't stretch far enough".

“We were made aware of an older person who was hungry. When we delved deeper, we discovered that his wife had dementia and he was struggling to cope. We stepped in and funded cooking support for the husband and a dementia group for his wife. This provided much needed respite.”

— Case study

Working in partnership

A key example of Walton Charity working closely with Walsingham Care is the Partnership Fund 2024, which alongside Elmbridge Borough Council, is providing grants of up to £5,000 to projects that help vulnerable residents with their health and wellbeing. Any non-profit organisation or community group operating within Elmbridge is eligible to apply, particularly those that work to reduce social isolation.

The close working relationship between Walton Charity and Walsingham Care enables peer-to-peer mentoring to take place. Both charities share the same priority area: to alleviate financial poverty within Elmbridge. For Debbie, this common goal means “a lot of knowledge is shared between us as we all want to help the same people”.

Walton Charity also support Walsingham Care by offering discounted office space in Charities House, as well as providing funding to their organisation.

Changing needs of local people

Debbie and Julie have noticed the needs of local older people changing in the last few years. They have seen the impact of the cost-of-living crisis going “hand-in-hand with the lasting impact of the pandemic on the health of older people”. Debbie outlines this by explaining how in some cases, “a minor illness that wasn’t treated during the pandemic can become more complex, meaning that a person can no longer work”. She describes the knock-on effect this can have on their income, which then impacts the care they can afford.  

Debbie notes the growing demand she’s noticed for community initiatives that get older people “out of their house and into warm places”. Grants from Walsingham Care fund organisations that run these community projects, showing how they can “step in financially to help people get back on their feet and empower them to not have to rely on charity long-term”.

“A 94 year old man was carrying his 95 year old wife up the stairs. Statutory services couldn’t provide a stair lift quickly enough, so we sorted it within a few days. Their safety was the most important thing on our minds.”

— Case Study

Support for unpaid carers

According to Debbie and Julie, “support for unpaid carers goes hand in hand with support for older people”, as grants from Walsingham Care can be used to provide equipment or respite care that not only “helps an individual get their independence back, but also gives their carer independence too”.

“One beneficiary that will always stick in my mind is a person with Parkinson’s and MS who was stuck in an unsuitable chair that tipped him sideways. Funding from Walsingham Care and Walton Charity bought him a specialist chair that could move between rooms, helping him become part of the family again and enabling his carer to go out without worrying.”

— Case study

What motivates you and your team?

To finish the interview, I ask Debbie and Julie why the charity holds such meaning for them. After a brief moment of reflection, they share, "we’re a close team, where everyone can support each other through the emotional side of our work." They build on each other's thoughts, explaining how rewarding it is to witness the positive outcomes that stem from “fostering strong working relationships and implementing efficient results”. Most importantly, they emphasise the profound impact of their efforts and "how the lives of the people we help can transform so quickly”.

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To read more about Walsingham Care, click here.

Interview by Amy Dixon, Walton Charity’s Communications and Events Officer