On Saturday, 10 August, Walton Charity partnered with Stripey Stork to host our first ever pre-loved school uniform pop-up shop.

The event took place at The Bridge, our community hub in the centre of Walton-on-Thames to support local families who are struggling with rising costs.

Local parents will know that the return to school is an expensive time of year, with rapidly growing children needing new school uniform, shoes, PE kit, and stationery. That’s why we transformed all three floors of The Bridge into a temporary school uniform shop, bursting with donations of pre-loved items.

On the day, we provided 46 Elmbridge families and 77 children with high quality, free items of clothing.

The Bridge was transformed into a school uniform shop with clothing of all sizes available

In total, we provided:

• 356 items of clothing and shoes

• Stationery

• Rucksacks

But the pop-up shop was more than just a money saver. Feedback from the families on the day showed how offering a helping hand meant more than just free items of clothing. For some children, it gave them the confidence to feel good about going back to school.

It prevented hundreds of clothing items from ending up in landfill, saving both money and the environment.

Thank you to everyone who donated school uniforms; your generosity has made a real difference to local families. We also extend our gratitude to our friendly and welcoming volunteers for organising and running the event so smoothly. Lastly, a big thank you to all the families who attended our first pre-loved pop-up school uniform event.

“He really wasn’t looking forward to starting school. Now he has his new shoes, he’s walking proudly with them on””

— Family visiting the pop-up event

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

Adrian’s Silphium is now 8ft tall!

Meet Adrian, one of our dedicated community allotment volunteers.

Adrian has attended the community allotment every week for numerous years, and is also a regular visitor of RHS Wisley. On a visit to Wisley a few years ago, he was inspired by the American prairie beds they had created around the lake of the greenhouse. It was there that Adrian fell in love with the bright yellow flowers of the Silphium, so bought some seeds and took on the challenge of growing his own!

Initially, he had little success, until suddenly one seed turned into a little plant and began to grow. Three years on, those little green shoots have grown to almost 8ft thanks to Adrian’s care and commitment.

Silphium is often known for its ancient species, which is now believed to be extinct. At the time, this species of Silphium was as valuable as gold, and was sung about in Roman poems and songs. Unfortunately, it went extinct in the Roman era due to being overused.

Luckily, Adrian’s species of Silphium has been much more fortunate! His hard work means they are now thriving in our community allotments.

Thank you Adrian!

For more information about how Walton Charity uses its green spaces to provide opportunities like this to grow spectacular plants, or to read more about our fantastic team of volunteers, read here.

Hanna Kerr volunteers at The Bridge as a yoga teacher.

The Bridge is a community hub helping local families from across Elmbridge who are struggling financially but struggle to access government (or other) support. The Bridge thrives thanks to our dedicated team of volunteers. These remarkable individuals ensure the seamless operation of our services, extending a warm welcome to clients and offering support to those facing challenging situations.  
 
Hanna Kerr, a yoga instructor, is one of the volunteers who gives back to our local community by teaching a weekly class at The Bridge.  We recently had the pleasure of discussing her passion for yoga and volunteering. 

How did you get into yoga? How long have you been practising? 

I stumbled into yoga quite accidentally and with some reluctance! My best friend’s mum, a fantastic yoga teacher, always raved about it while I was growing up. After years of hearing about its benefits, I finally decided to give it a try. At 19, I attended my first class and realised that everything she said was true. Since then, I’ve practised on and off. However, my real journey began six years ago when I met an amazing teacher in India. I did my training with her, and ever since, I’ve been deeply immersed in the power of yoga. 

How did your relationship with The Bridge come about? 

I’m passionate about giving back to the community through volunteering. When The Bridge first opened, just over a year ago, I walked in and met Suzy, the manager there. We chatted, and I asked if she would like me to teach. She was delighted, and that’s how it started! 

How often are you at The Bridge? 

I aim to run a class there every week, if my full-time work schedule allows. Fortunately, it usually does! 

What are the benefits of yoga for people going through a difficult time? 

During tough times, prioritising self-care can be challenging and yet it’s vital. We often push ourselves to do more, but we forget to pause and think about our own well-being. Even just 5 minutes of yoga can work wonders. Movement helps release stressful energy that lingers, leaving us feeling irritable or snappy. Breathing exercises calm the nervous system, allowing us to cope better with life’s challenges. Tapping into your breath is a natural way to manage stress and find peace. 

Can anyone practise yoga? 

Absolutely! If you can breathe, you can practice yoga. 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to try yoga? 

You don’t need to be super flexible or have 60 minutes to spare. In truth, all you need is your body, your breath, and just 60 seconds. Breathing mindfully can significantly reduce stress levels. Don’t worry about being judged in class either—most of the time, the only one judging you is yourself. As a teacher, I’m thrilled when students show up, and I look forward to guiding them through the practice.  

If you are interested in joining Hanna’s yoga classes at Walton Bowling Club, she is offering the first class free of charge.  Classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6pm. 
Please contact Hanna for full details: hello@hannayoga.co.uk 

Read more about The Bridge here

Thea is a student at Three Rivers Academy in Walton on Thames. We asked Thea to look back on her experience and share her thoughts.

Why did you choose to do your work experience at Walton Charity?

I decided to do my work experience at Walton Charity because I was uncertain about my future career path. I believed that gaining experience with a charity would provide valuable skills and insights, regardless of the direction I eventually choose. Plus, the opportunity to help people in my local community was something I appreciated.

Let me walk you through my week:

Day 1: Introduction and research

On my first day, I had the chance to meet Rob Mills, the Chief Executive Officer of Walton Charity. He gave me an overview of the charity’s 800-year history and its mission. My main task was researching the support and grants available for students entering further and higher Education. It was fascinating to learn about the ways the charity assists people.

Day 2: Community Allotment and social media

Tuesday took me to the community allotment on Terrace Road. I spent the day finishing a mural and doing some gardening. Being outdoors and chatting with volunteers made it a fun day. I got the chance to create a social media post too.

Day 3: Foodbank and Fenner House

Wednesday morning was all about the Walton & Hersham Foodbank. I helped them by stocking the donations of food and I gained great insight into how the foodbank operates at the same time. In the afternoon, I visited Fenner House, which is one of the charity’s independent living schemes for older people. I did an inventory of tools with the maintenance team. Attending a virtual team meeting provided more valuable insight into the charity’s collaborative efforts.

Day 4: The Bridge and more foodbank duties

On Thursday I started at The Bridge, which is a great new project helping people who are struggling to make ends meet. I restocked shelves in the shop and learned about its function. Sorting donated school uniforms was another task. Later, back at the foodbank, I replenished supplies from the stocks at the warehouse. I also categorised Elmbridge’s numerous charities using Excel—a revealing exercise as I had no idea how many charities operated in such a small area.

Day 5: Research and event planning

On my final day I researched transport options for residents of Fenner House and Mayfield (both are Walton Charity’s independent living schemes). Additionally, I searched for local bands that could perform at summer events for the residents.

Which roles did you particularly enjoy?

Although I found each day unique and interesting, I most enjoyed going to the foodbank because I felt that was the role in which I most actively got involved with helping people in the community, and it was great to learn more about how it works. All the volunteers were really friendly and made me feel at ease when I was there.

Any final thoughts on your work experience week?

I really enjoyed my time at Walton Charity because everyone I met was really lovely and made me feel welcome throughout the whole week. At the beginning, I had no idea about how many different things the charity does and how much it contributes to our local area, so I am very grateful I got to learn about everything it offers. It was also really important to find out about poverty in Elmbridge and how often it goes unnoticed. The entire week was varied, interesting and always kept me busy and challenged.

Thanks to everybody who organised and contributed to it, and I would definitely recommend work experience at Walton Charity to any student at Three Rivers Academy – it’s so local to the school and a great place not only to learn about the world of work, but also the importance of helping other people.

If your company is interested in providing work experience opportunities, please contact Three Rivers Academy.

We love it when two of our partners get together to help the local community – and we have a fantastic example with BRITE Box and Herb Fresh.

BRITE Box is a weekly recipe kit provided to local families via schools, offering fresh ingredients and cooking instructions to help cook delicious budget friendly meals. BRITE Box helps with the weekly food budget but also encourages children to enjoy getting involved in the kitchen, whilst providing opportunities to try a range of foods, flavours and recipes and build resilience for the future.

Walton Charity has supported BRITE Box by providing a community grant of £65,000 over three years, which will enable the project to provide weekly meal kits to 180 local families. Herb Fresh is based on land owned by Walton Charity in Hersham and provides fresh herbs to supermarkets across the country. They are a long-standing tenant whose aim is to not only grow herbs, but to do so in an environmentally friendly way which benefits the land and local community.

Herb Fresh provided the mint for BRITE Box’s Moroccan meatball recipe, supplying over 100 boxes to 10 schools in the area. The boxes smelt amazing!

We’re sure this addition of fresh and local ingredients will be much appreciated and there are plans for the two to work together again in the coming months.

Walton Charity has a long history of tackling poverty in Elmbridge and our more recent initiatives include the Walton & Hersham Foodbank and The Bridge.

Nine members of PwC recently joined us at our Tree Canopy Project in beautiful woodlands in Walton to take part in corporate volunteering.

Corporate volunteering is a key part of what we do here at Walton Charity, and we rely on volunteers from companies such as PwC to help us grow our projects and maintain our outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Throughout their day, the team worked hard preparing beds for planting, clearing ivy, weeding pathways and laying woodchip, and digging out brambles.

We all know about the benefits of being outside, but taking part in a group activity such as this not only helps improve physical and mental wellbeing but promotes teamwork and giving back to the community.

The team also visited The Bridge where they learned about our community hub which supports working families who are struggling with the rising cost of living. We are grateful to PwC for their £250 donation towards our Bridge Appeal, which is being matched by Walton Charity.

To find out more about our corporate volunteering days click here.

To donate to The Bridge Appeal click here.

“I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for hosting us on Friday. We were all in awe of just how much you all do as part of the Walton Charity and were honoured that we could support you.”

— PwC

Walton Charity is delighted to announce that Burwood Preschool will be creating a forest school at the Tree House, Burhill Road, Hersham.

Following a competitive tendering process, Burwood Preschool was announced to be the new tenants of the property owned by Walton Charity. They have now taken over the property, and over the summer are planning on transforming it into a forest school.

By leasing the property and land to the preschool at a low rent, they will be able to pass this saving on to local parents – taking pressure off families on low incomes.

Burwood Preschool plan to run the forest school alongside their already established preschool to allow an offering of both to local children.

Samantha Hope, Burwood Preschool Manager, commented: “We aim to provide a different approach to learning. The children who are currently joining preschools have been born during the pandemic and we have noticed they are struggling to play, interact and have social and language delays.

“To help them overcome these struggles we will provide a child-centred inspirational learning process, which provides children the opportunity to take risks in a controlled environment and explore and develop a love for nature. A number of families in the local community do not have access to regular outdoor space, and therefore, many children have not been able to experience nature in the way they will each day at Forest school.”

Rob Mills, Chief Executive at Walton Charity, commented: “We are excited to see the expansion of our green spaces commitment with this latest partnership with Burwood Preschool.  As part of this project, children from across the area will be able to attend preschool while learning about nature and benefiting from the great outdoors.”

To find out more about the forest school, or to register your interest, email Manager@burwoodpreschool.co.uk

Yesterday, we were joined by contractors from JS Wright and Emmerson working with The Hill Group at Fenner House, where they helped the residents build new kitchen planters for residents. 

JS Wright and Emerson are currently working with The Hill Group in Elmbridge, redeveloping Thames View House in Walton-on-Thames, and they were keen to give something back to the local community.  

We’re delighted that the team signed up for Corporate Volunteering, and their skills were put to good use. Working with the residents, the team helped fill the planters, ready for the seedlings which residents have been growing. 

Rob Mills, Chief Executive at Walton Charity said: “My first job in Elmbridge thirty years ago was as a housing officer managing Thames View House, so it’s really interesting to see the re-development of the site being carried out by The Hill Group. It’s testament to their community spirit that they’ve once again helped those in the local community by taking part in Corporate Volunteering. 

“A great day was had by all, and we can’t wait to see what grows in Fenner House’s kitchen planters over the coming months. It’s a brilliant way to bring all the residents together, get outside and produce home-grown fruit and veg.” 

For more information on Corporate Volunteering, click here.  

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week (13 to 19 May), and this year’s theme is “Movement: Moving more for our mental health”. We all know that getting moving is good for both our physical and mental health, which is why Walton Charity’s Community Allotment is open to all, regardless of their gardening experience.

Today we meet Mary, one of our community allotment volunteers. Here she describes how she feels about the community allotment. Remember, if you would like to join us then feel free to get in touch!

What made you join the Walton Community Allotment?

I retired from quite a busy career and found that I needed some routine in my life, and I wanted to do something worthwhile.

What is your role as a volunteer?

I’m happy to be there as part of the group and just to help in any way I can.

What’s the best part of joining the Community Allotment?

Joining the allotment has given me some structure in my life, it gets me out of the house for a few hours and it’s a very positive thing to do.  I love being outside gardening it’s gives me fulfilment. 

What have you learned since joining the allotment?

The answer is plain and simple. There are genuine and nice people from all walks of life who are happy to see you and there is absolutely no pressure; it’s very easy going.

What is a typical day at the allotment?

I arrive at 10 o’clock and speak to Karen the allotment manager who asks me what I would like to do, which normally consists of weeding, my favourite job. There are other tasks such as sowing seeds, planting out and digging up vegetables.  

At 11 o’clock we all sit down together and have a cup of tea/coffee and there are usually some great cakes to have with our mid-morning snack.j

After that, I continue with what I was doing and chat to people. The time just flies by, before I know it, Karen is telling me that it’s time to pack up and I always feel very pleased with my efforts. 

What piece of advice would you give someone wanting to join the Community Allotment?

Just give it a try, there is absolutely no stress whatsoever and if you decide to join our community, Karen the group leader is lovely. She doesn’t put any pressure on you, always asks how you’re feeling when you arrive in the morning and what would you like to do; it’s just a very positive way to spend a few hours.  Everyone is accepted for who they are, just be yourself! 

Navigating the challenges of parenting adolescents can be daunting, especially when access to support services is limited due to changes in statutory provisions. Parents often find themselves feeling isolated, unsure of where to turn for help. This is where Families Thriving Together steps in. We talked to Michelle Tucker, Founder & CEO, Families Thriving Together about the programmes she runs to help families.

Q Michelle, parenting adolescents is a journey filled with challenges. How does Families Thriving Together assist parents during this critical phase?
A It’s true, the path of parenting teenagers is often complex and unpredictable. Our organisation steps in precisely when parents feel most isolated, providing a supportive and non-judgmental environment. We equip families with the necessary tools to build confidence, address challenges head-on, and foster a deeper understanding of their adolescents.

Q The ‘Talking Teens’ programme seems to be a cornerstone of your approach. Can you tell us more about it?
A Absolutely. ‘Talking Teens’ is designed to bridge the support gap for parents and carers. It’s a flexible programme that accommodates both face-to-face and online participation, creating a safe space for open discussion. This group dynamic is invaluable, as it helps individuals realise they’re not alone in their struggles.

Q Does FTT run other courses apart from the ‘Talking Teens’ programme?
A We do. In Elmbridge we run The Parenting Puzzle for anyone parenting any age child. As well as that, we run the following free services:

• Keeping the Child in Mind which is a 4-week programme for those wanting to ensure the child is at the heart of parenting and to avoid parental conflict.

• Parenting Puzzle for those with children under 5.

• Welcome to the World for expectant parents and their partners/friend/family member.

• Lastly, we offer 1:1 or whole family parenting and family mediation, which is a paid service that is tailored to the needs of the family.

Q Funding is often a hurdle for organisations. How has Families Thriving Together managed to provide these services free of charge?
A Thanks to the generous support from entities like Walton Charity, which recently granted us £7,000, we’ve been able to extend our reach to around 100 Elmbridge families in 2023 alone. This commitment allows us to offer our services without cost, ensuring that no family is left without support.

Q As you celebrate nearly two years as a charity, what has been your driving force?
A The journey began back in 2009 when I started delivering parenting programmes. The transformation I witnessed in people’s well-being and family dynamics was profound. It became clear that sustainable management of this work meant providing support freely, normalising the need for it. Therefore, becoming a charity was the only way forward, despite the challenges it entailed.

Q Raising funds is a continuous challenge. How do you navigate this aspect of the charity?
A Indeed, with statutory services facing budget cuts, essential programmes like ours risk disappearing. We’re constantly fundraising to prevent parents from falling through the cracks, focusing on prevention rather than crisis intervention. It’s a tough but necessary endeavour to keep our mission alive.

Q Looking ahead, what’s the vision for Families Thriving Together?
A Our vision remains steadfast: to nurture and encourage peer-to-peer connections, thereby enhancing the health, well-being, and confidence of families. We want to empower them to support each other. With the continued backing of our community and supporters like Walton Charity, we’re optimistic about the future.

As part of #GoodtoGrow2024, we hosted an open day at our Community Allotment on Terrace Road, Walton on Thames, to celebrate our volunteers and also showcase to potential referrers the opportunities to join our growing project .

There was cake, origami bee making, positive affirmations (also bee-related!) as well as sunflower seed planting. It was wonderful day where we joined as a community to celebrate nature and the positive impact it can have on our physical and mental health.

Good to Grow Week runs all week (22 – 29 April) and is organised by the charity Sustain. The week celebrates the new growing season and is a chance for volunteers and community members to help out in their local garden, while supporting and enjoying the valuable community food growing spaces around the UK.

We’ve had a great time supporting this week, and we hope it’s inspired you all to get growing! If you would like to know more about our Community Allotment (no tools, skills or experience necessary!) then get in touch.

Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care (SDAC) is a registered charity that provides vital support to people in Surrey who struggle with alcohol or substance abuse issues. Thanks to our small grant of £5,000, the charity can now offer more help to the growing number of Elmbridge residents who need their services and they are currently helping 34 Elmbridge clients.

SDAC operates a telephone counselling service and a programme of free counselling sessions to those referred by professionals such as GPs, alcohol liaison nurses in hospitals, or other agencies. The support is open to those affected, as well as their families and friends. Sessions are tailored to the clients’ needs and may be weekly, or as often as twice a day if a client is in crisis. The charity continues to help clients for up to a year after their therapy has ended by offering wellbeing check calls at weekends.

The charity is currently supporting 97 clients with a dual diagnosis of mental health illness and substance abuse issues. Many substances can aggravate the symptoms of an existing mental health illness and the charity estimates that this number will increase sharply over the next year.

Worryingly, SDAC is also helping an increasing number of frontline workers such as NHS workers, GPs, police officers, firefighters and social workers. They report turning to alcohol or drugs due to the increasing strain caused by their work.

If you or someone you know needs help with alcohol or substance abuse issues, you can contact SDAC on 0808 802 5000 or visit their website.