Support Local Charities Through Merton Giving Week


Dedicated focus on fundraising to help grow the Merton Giving Fund

Merton Giving

Merton Giving has reached its first birthday and seen the value of donations or in-kind support by the business community to local causes through the Merton Giving Fund pass £60,000.

 

To continue its work, Merton Giving Week is back for 2019. It takes place from December 2-8, when there will be a dedicated focus on fundraising to help grow the Merton Giving Fund to provide financial support to charities working locally.

 

Merton Giving, a charitable partnership between Merton Chamber of Commerce and Merton Voluntary Services Council and supported by Merton Council, launched in 2018 to provide a focal point for local giving with the aim of tackling inequality in the borough of Merton. Merton Giving encourages people and businesses to give money, time or in-kind support.

 

The Merton Giving Fund has made its first allocation of grant funds distributing over £20,000 to 20 charities working locally.

 

Beneficiaries include the Young at Heart Club, a volunteer led lunch club which provides hot meals and activities to isolated people in the Figges Marsh area. Funding from Merton Giving is allowing them to increase their activities and take their group on outings – helping to combat loneliness and social isolation.

 

Funding was granted to Hearts and Minds, to provide a peer support worker for the organisation allowing them to facilitate weekly sessions for young people aged 14-25 experiencing mental health difficulties.

 

Businesses, community groups and residents across the borough are being invited to join in and do whatever takes their fancy during Merton Giving Week to raise money to help grow the Merton Giving Fund. Participation is encouraged in one of the following ways;

 

Buy One Give Some: Give shopping meaning - nominating a product or service you sell and make a donation for everyone sold during the week. Businesses can be as creative as they like - they could even, for example, launch their own product for a week creating a bespoke cocktail, as Suburban Bar did in 2018, or offer a special dish of the day.

 

Aya Cuisine donated money from every table they served during Merton Giving Week in 2018 and they are set to support the week again this year.

 

Funky Friday Funky Friday is back! Why not dress in funky style on Funky Friday December 6 and make a donation to Merton Giving?

 

Make your own pledge: Businesses could put their professional skills to good use or even run their own event, such as host a quiz, bake off or donate from a sponsored event.

 

This year, Premier Chamber member, Peacock and Co solicitors has committed to making Merton Giving their charity of the year for 2020.

 

Their support will begin with Merton Giving Week when they will be offering their professional skills (and waiving their fees) to write wills in exchange for donations to Merton Giving.

 

This is a great chance to write or update your will whilst supporting Merton Giving. To find out more and book your space contact office@peacock-law.co.uk or call 020 8944 5290. Appointments are limited so please book early.

 

“We are delighted to be able to support Merton Giving, a brilliant initiative that has turned our head and is already making a difference in our community,“ said Katherine Carroll of Peacock and Co solicitors.

 

Diana Sterck, chair of Merton Giving added: “Since its launch just a year ago, Merton Giving has gone from strength to strength raising its profile and connecting with businesses who have given incredible support to help our local communities. Our fundraising week provides the perfect opportunity to harness the community spirit to help grow the Merton Giving Fund to enable us to distribute further grant funding to local charities”. 

 

October 22, 2019