It was lovely to be back in person with our third opportunity this year to chat in a smaller, informal group at Shinner and Sudtone followed by travelling together to Sutton Soup.
We had our usual lovely mix of familiar and new faces. You might recognise Peter, the Chair, from our Volunteer Story of the Month feature this month.
Read about our visit in January here and our April here.
The Sutton Soup team have done a lovely write up in their newsletter you can read here.
With over 180 people it was a great turn out on the night. A night run by amazing volunteers who demonstrate the power of volunteering. There were four really strong pitches and The Fantastic Freddie Foundation won the vote and £1435.
Save the date for 17th October. Secure your place here.
Sutton Befrienders
The four organisations pitching included Gill and Jenny from Volunteer Centre Sutton’s Sutton Befrienders who were looking for help with a wellbeing fund to support isolated adults in Sutton without friends or family to remember them on their birthday or Christmas with a personalised gift. They were talking about an intergenerational project too where Young Commissioners could get involved in wrapping the presents at Christmas for them and potentially even help deliver them!
The Sutton Befrienders team help combat loneliness – they said loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day! Retirement, losing a partner, disability, illness and other life circumstances can lead people to feel lonely. Their service is in huge demand and the need to recruit volunteers is constant. This includes carefully matching users with a volunteer befriender for weekly contact and support to re-engage in the community. They also offer activities such as walking groups, music and movement, exercise classes and much more. However, some can’t join in through ill health. Sadly some users have little or no family and little contact with anyone other than carers, and the visiting befriender is often the only person with whom they have meaningful communication each week. If you are able to support or help those on their waiting list requiring a befrienders, find out more: https://vcsutton.org.uk/sutton-befrienders/
The other three organisations were:
The Fantastic Freddie Foundation
The winning organisation: The Fantastic Freddie Foundation. Founder Charlie was first to pitch, explaining how they started and their efforts to allow disabled adults to live full lives not being excluded but enjoying activities with everyone else. They have taken young people to football matches, festivals and an accessible club night. They asked for money to help towards subsidising costs (so money is not another barrier to participation) and ensure they can continue to serve the young people of this community. He obviously did an excellent job as they won! To find out more: https://thefantasticfreddiefoundation.com/
219 Sutton & Cheam Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC)
Five enthusiastic and eloquent representatives from the 219 Sutton & Cheam Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC) gave a very polished pitch telling us how, apart from learning discipline and focus, teamwork and confidence (all of which they displayed in abundance) they try to give as much to the community as possible by volunteering at events and supporting the Royal British Legion. They were keen to win to raise funds to help purchase and repair instruments for the Squadron Band.
To find out more: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068562751489
St Raphael's Hospice
Bonita and Gero, father of Luca who was cared for at St Raphael’s hospice, pitched for St. Raphael’s Hospice explaining how they provide a sanctuary of care and compassion during the most challenging times. They are fund-raising for a new Tree of Life, a handmade sculpture for their gardens. Family and friends can engrave delicate copper leaves to hang from its branches as a memorial and testament to the love, care and friendship with which they are given.
To find out more: https://www.straphaels.org.uk/
Kids Clothes 4 All
Last Sutton Soup’s winners, Kids Clothes 4 All also presented an update that thanks to winning, they have gained friends and supporters and their winnings allowed them to host a donation day, the generous donations allowing them to sustain their mission and has helped them feel optimistic about their future. To find out more: https://www.kc4a.co.uk/
Pitching at Sutton Soup
If you are an organisation interested in pitching at Sutton Soup click here.
If you’re interested in volunteering with them contact them here.
Save the date
The next Volunteer Coordinators' Forum event is our super casual Bring Your Own Picnic and Games on Thursday 8th August. 12-2pm drop in at Manor Park or if it’s heavily raining, at the Volunteer Centre Sutton office.
If you would like to join our next social and Sutton Soup, it will be Thursday 17th October. Tickets available here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sutton-soup please send Natasha an email to let you know to expect her NatashaBlok@vcsutton.org.uk.
Thanks to Sutton Soup for creating another extraordinary evening. Also thank you to them for sharing photos and text.
