In celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June, we have joined in the “Plant a Tree for Jubilee” campaign. Working with the Volunteer Elmbridge Tree Wardens, we have planted six fruit trees, creating a mini community orchard at our Mayfield sheltered housing, and have pinned our trees on the Queen’s Green Canopy Map.

The Queens Green Canopy is a tree planting initiative that forms part of the Jubilee celebrations. It honours the Queen’s leadership and encourages people across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”, creating a legacy to benefit future generations.

Down at our Community Allotment, preparations for the celebrations are also taking shape. Our volunteers and residents from our sheltered housing schemes are creating a huge Union Jack and crown from handmade wool pompoms. They’re also busy painting planters in Jubilee colours and we fully expect the Queen (in scarecrow form) to be in attendance for the celebrations!

If you have ideas to involve our sheltered residents or community allotment volunteers in activities to mark the Jubilee, please get in touch. Email us at greenspaces@waltoncharity.org.uk

Every year, Home-Start Elmbridge supports around 140 local families. Their experienced team, which includes 50 volunteers, provide emotional and practical support to families with young children who are experiencing isolation, post-natal depression and physical or mental health issues.

We are delighted to continue supporting their vital work through a three-year community grant of £60,000. This core funding grant will help cover office, administration and support staff costs, expenditure which many other grant-makers won’t fund.

Carol Hodges, Scheme Director, said “This funding is a substantial amount providing longevity to our core services. It provides our charity with the security to maintain and build on services as required. Families are not only having to cope with coming out of COVID restrictions but rising living costs. The number of families struggling emotionally has increased so this support is invaluable”.

Home-Start’s holistic approach provides families with crisis support, ongoing counselling and help with caring for family members facing illness. Their parenthood support groups also provide invaluable peer support to local families.

“Both of my Home-Start volunteers were open, warm and more than happy to help in any way I needed. They were never pushy, always very positive and seemed to adore my kids. Home-Start Elmbridge was there for me when I was struggling really badly”.

We are delighted to be able to again support the delivery of the four week Talking Teens programme to Elmbridge parents and carers.

Talking Teens is run by The Wellbeing Supervisor, Michelle Tucker, for parents and carers of pre-teens and through the teenage years, helping them cope with challenging behaviour and find ways to create a calmer, happier family life.

Michelle provides help in a non-judgemental and supportive way, aiding families to gain confidence, tackle some of the challenges and understand their teenagers better.

Whilst some parents and carers attending are referred by professionals, Elmbridge residents are welcome to self-refer and should contact Michelle Tucker directly: michelle@thewellbeingsupervisor.com

“This has been a great course. I don’t feel alone and it was good to share experiences. I now try to praise my teen and see the positives more. There has been at least one brilliant thing every week that I have used and it has had a real impact.

I think the structure and timing works really well and being accessible by Teams makes it easier to attend and it kept me engaged through the four weeks. Every parent or carer should attend!”

Jean Simango became Head of Advice Services at Citizens Advice Elmbridge West last month. Here she tells us more about her role, how they are bracing for the effects of the energy crisis, and why she would like to see more affordable housing locally.

You have recently taken over as Head of Advice Services, what were you doing before you started the role?

I was a volunteer with Citizens Advice but have worked as a nurse and paralegal.

What is your favourite part of the job so far?

Being part of a group of people who are geared to help. It is rewarding to know we are making a difference in somebody’s life when they feel they have nowhere to turn.

Citizens Advice play a vital role locally, how challenging was it to continue providing your service during the pandemic?

When the pandemic hit, I was working as a volunteer on the Advice Line. We were all working from home which meant we could keep the lines open but it was a real challenge for the clients who weren’t able to contact us over the phone or by email. They were left with no way of getting in touch.

What are the main enquiries you are receiving at the moment?

The most common enquiries we receive are about benefits, debt, housing, employment and Universal Credit.

Has Covid-19 changed the kind of enquiries you receive?

Not really. I feel the pandemic has only exacerbated the issues and widened the inequality gap. With the end of the energy price cap and high inflation we are seeing at the moment, we can only see this gap widening further.

The people we are meeting who have been impacted by Covid-19 have often experienced loss of employment or an upheaval to their finances. We have also seen an increase in relationship breakdowns. This has impacted people from a financial, family and mental health perspective.

People are often surprised to learn that so many people in Elmbridge (particularly children) are living in poverty. Why do you think people don’t know it is a problem?

Elmbridge is often seen as a wealthy borough and lots of people make the assumption that all residents are well off. This makes it hard to address the pockets of poverty that do exist. And often people don’t want to come forward and talk about their situation.

There has been a sharp increase in living costs (food, fuel etc) recently. Are you seeing an effect on people locally?

Yes and no. Covid is still masking what will be the real issues when they do eventually surface. As I mentioned, with the energy cap coming to an end we foresee a huge increase in demand for our services. We are hoping to find ways to address these issues before they become emergencies.

Availability of affordable housing in Elmbridge is an ongoing problem, with house prices and average rents around double that of the national average. What challenges does this present for people locally?

The availability of social housing is a real problem. And people worry about not being able to stay in the borough if there is no suitable housing. When rents keep increasing, there are less affordable rental properties available, which pushes people out of Elmbridge. Since April 2021, we have received 455 housing-related enquiries, a 25% increase on the previous year. Most of these are about renting or rented properties.

What is the biggest change you would like to see locally?

More affordable housing for a start. I would also like to see more support for local charities and for our local shops.

Citizens Advice Elmbridge West is a local charity which provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone who lives, works or studies in the communities of Walton, Weybridge and Hersham. Find out more about the services they provide and how they can help.

Citizens Advice Elmbridge West is one of 14 local organisations to hold a Walton Charity delegated fund, supporting people and families in Elmbridge on low incomes, particularly during times of crisis or financial hardship.

Following the publication of our five-year plan, our Green Spaces Manager, Karen Heynike, is on the lookout for opportunities to make our land and estates to work harder, adding social value for our local Elmbridge community.

She recently conducted a survey, asking our partnering charities and volunteers whether they felt there were enough opportunities available for local charities and community groups to get involved in outdoor projects and the overwhelming response that there wasn’t.

Walton Charity has four allotment sites in Walton and Hersham and we know that our allotments provide local residents with social contact, exercise, and group interaction. Good for the body and mind!

Our community allotment provides the benefits of horticulture and gardening to vulnerable and socially excluded adults and we have witnessed that those taking part in our regular activities have built both confidence and independence.

The new kitchen garden at our sheltered housing provides a wonderful place for our residents to come together to grow fruit and vegetables and to swop recipe ideas for the organic produce. It’s also a great social place to just meet up and chat too.

Now Karen has a new project in the making – the Tree Canopy Project. Her vision is to provide space in our woodlands to run activities that will benefit local community groups – woodcarving, mushroom walks, and forest school activities for both adults and children. Her plan also includes giving charities their own growing space.

A survey respondent said, “Green social prescribing is becoming more important for people’s mental health and as a Team Manager for Elmbridge Social Prescribing I fully endorse this project. I believe there is no other type of project in the borough of Elmbridge like this.”

Although Karen is already in discussion with partners, she welcomes new ideas from charities and community groups. She is also happy to discuss any of our existing schemes. Please do get in touch – kheynike@waltoncharity.org.uk

“Walton Charity’s Community Allotment projects are always wonderful activities and provide much needed community wellbeing. Not only do they give local people the means to get together and enjoy wholesome outdoor activities, but they always contribute to the improvement of areas used by the local community,” said one of our Community Allotment participants.

As we begin to emerge from the pandemic, we are firmly focused on the future and how we can help Elmbridge to recover. We also see it as an opportunity to create change, making Elmbridge a place where everyone can thrive.

In our newly published five-year plan, we share our commitments for the next five years (from 2022-2027) and our plan for working with our partners and the local community to support more people across Elmbridge.

While COVID-19 has affected all our lives, the impact has fallen unevenly and unequally. Those already struggling have been hit hardest and for many people living in our borough, life post-pandemic is full of uncertainty. Even before the pandemic, Elmbridge was a borough of extreme inequality. While some people living in the area are very well off, many are struggling. The pandemic has exacerbated these inequalities and we are seeing increasing numbers of families living in poverty.

Over the next five years, we are committed to working with our partners to tackle child poverty in our local area, to help alleviate the housing crisis in Elmbridge by providing more affordable homes, and to find new ways of working with and for our local community.

You can read more about our five key priorities in our newly published plan. And if you have ideas about how we can help improve the lives of people in Elmbridge, come and tell us. Only by listening to our community can we evolve, grow and continue to meet the needs of the people we serve.

Jackie Lodge
Chief Executive

Download our new Five-Year Plan

Walton Charity trustee and housing association director, Rob Mills, has spent three decades working in the housing sector. Here he reflects on his experience and why housing is more than a roof over your head.

I became a trustee for Walton Charity at the beginning of 2020, just before we went in to the first lockdown, so nearly all my board meetings have been virtual. The work of the charity is wide ranging, but the support we provide in housing and tackling homelessness is very close to my heart.

I have worked in housing for 30 years and joining Walton Charity feels like coming full circle. Although I started in housing as volunteer project worker in a homeless hostel in Chester, my first paid job was as a housing trainee for Elmbridge Council, before the housing moved to PA Housing. As a young housing officer, I managed properties in Vicarage Fields and Thamesmead in Walton.

I am now a director for a national housing association but that experience of working on the front line and supporting residents in Elmbridge all those years ago has stayed with me ever since.

The difference affordable, safe, and secure housing can make to someone’s life is huge, and it is so much more than just a roof over your head. It is somewhere warm to come home to; it can help with your mental and physical health; it can provide space for children to do their homework; and increasingly it is somewhere to work from. I feel the Covid pandemic has only heightened the importance of housing.

A local primary school recently used part of their Opportunities Fund, awarded by Walton Charity, to buy two bikes and cycle helmets so that pupils whose families are unable to afford bikes can still take part in the school’s Bikeability training scheme.

Walton Charity awards Opportunities Funds to local schools each year to support students from low-income families with learning and other enrichment activities, ensuring they have access to the same opportunities as other students.

The school’s Business Manager believes the extra funding is important for ensuring all students can take part in activities and learn skills that will help them in the future.

“The Opportunities Fund really helps with promoting inclusivity at our school and ensuring no one is missing out.”

— School Business Manager

Walton Charity Delegated Funds are held by twelve local organisations who work directly with local Elmbridge residents on low incomes. The Funds can be particularly helpful during times of crisis or financial hardship but, used flexibly and creatively, they can help to find a route out of poverty.

One of our Delegated Fund holders, the Elmbridge Family Centre, provide support to families with children aged 0-11 years. Recently their Senior Family Support Worker, Katie Vinnicombe, shared some stories of local families helped through the Delegated Fund.

Lisa’s story

Lisa was recently referred to Elmbridge Family Centre for help. She’s a single mum who left her job working for a school catering company at the end of August. She had accepted a job with another company and was due to start on 1st September but, due to a delay in her DBS check, Lisa was unable to start her new job on the planned date. Using the Walton Charity Delegated Fund, the Elmbridge Family Centre could provide gas and electricity vouchers to help Lisa through her short-term crisis.

Clare’s story

Clare had heard about the Elmbridge Family Centre and approached them for help when she was struggling with her son’s behaviour. He had been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Clare was forced to give up work to home school him while the family waited for a place at a specialist school.

To add to the pressure facing the family, Clare’s husband lost his job during the Covid pandemic. Due to benefit delays, the family had accrued mortgage and utility bill arrears and were struggling to cover everyday costs. As soon as Harry was allocated a place at a specialist school, the Elmbridge Family Centre funded a new school uniform for both Harry and his sibling, taking some of the financial pressure off the family.

“The Delegated Fund allows us to make some, often very quick, judgement calls on helping a family when they can see no other way to get support……..We can support them quickly, taking additional pressure off the family.”

— Katie Vinnicombe

We work with local partners to tackle the causes and symptoms of poverty in Elmbridge, and support other charities to deliver services that meet the needs of the local community. One of the ways we do this is to provide affordable housing, office space, green space and other operational buildings.

As we emerge from the pandemic, we are interested to hear from not-for-profit organisations who need more affordable operational premises.

We want to hear your thoughts on:

• the sort of premises your organisation needs to help deliver your services.

• the facilities and amenities you need to operate.

• the times and / or days of the week you would like use of an Elmbridge community building.

We have some exciting opportunities we believe could deliver real benefits for our local community.

To send us your thoughts, ideas or to arrange an informal discussion, email Jackie Lodge at jlodge@waltoncharity.orguk.

“Everything we do, we do for the children. We want everyone to have the same opportunities to learn.”

— Lynn Williams, Head Teacher

We talked to Lynn Williams, Head of Chandlers Field Primary School, about some of the challenges local families are facing since Covid-19, and why more children than ever need help with basics like school uniforms.

Q. Each year Walton Charity gives funding to schools across Elmbridge to support low-income families with school-related costs. How does this funding help pupils and families at your school?

We believe that everyone at our school should have the same opportunity to learn. The funding from Walton Charity enables children to take part in activities and trips that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to do. For example, each year we are able to offer funding, giving some children the chance to take part in a residential trip that they would have otherwise missed out on.

We are also able help a lot of families with everyday essentials like school uniforms and school shoes that they simply can’t afford. As a school we try to keep uniform cost down by selling iron-on badges rather than branded uniforms and offering a Uniform Exchange but there are still lots of families who need help.

Clothing, school shoes, pens and pencils are things that people often take for granted but can make a real difference to how children feel about going to school. Children just want to feel the same as everyone else. We don’t want anyone to feel different.

Q. What other kind of support do you offer to local families?

Everything we do, we do for the children. And many of the ideas for initiatives at the school come from the children themselves. Our Uniform Exchange not only helps families to access free uniform, it also encourages recycling and cuts down on waste which is important to our school.

This year, for the first time, we are introducing a gift of a stationery pack for children who are not able to get their own pens and pencils. It’s something we haven’t needed to do before.

During the Covid lockdowns and the school holidays we were also able to help with food for our families. There was often a delay between families registering for the government food box scheme and receiving supplies, so we stepped in and made sure families had food. We also helped with internet access and computers to support home schooling and opened the school to some of our most vulnerable children.

Q. Have you noticed an increase in demand for support since Covid hit last year?

There were families who were struggling before the pandemic so I wouldn’t say the demand is worse, but it is definitely more widespread. During the first lockdown we started to hear from (and about) families who have never needed help before. Our Family Support Worker has had to be proactive because many families who were struggling were reluctant (or didn’t know how) to ask for help.

Lockdown had a significant impact on lots of local families emotionally and financially. People lost their jobs or weren’t eligible for the furlough scheme. Some faced housing issues, and many struggled to cover the increased cost of being at home - especially the food and utility bills. We have helped a lot of families this year with back-to-school costs and expect to see the effects of lockdown and the pandemic, on some families, for at least another year.

Q. People are often surprised to hear that more than 12% of children across Elmbridge are living in poverty (according to End Child Poverty data). What is your experience of local poverty as a headteacher?

It’s worth remembering that the 12% is an average across the borough, there are some pockets within Elmbridge where poverty rates are much higher. A very high percentage of children at our school are eligible for Pupil Premium support and free school meals. It’s not what a lot of people would expect in Surrey.

Although we get Pupil Premium funding from the government to support the most vulnerable children at our school, there is a whole band of children who don’t quite meet the criteria but who need support. Funding from Walton Charity helps us to plug this gap and make sure no one at our school is left behind.

A child’s experience at primary school is paramount to their future. It sets them on a successful learning journey. We want to do everything we can to make sure it is a positive experience.

Last year Walton Charity gave Opportunities Funds to 11 local schools. We also funded catch up programmes, online learning and extra computers at schools across Elmbridge . Through our Back to School Appeal, we are helping more local children have a great start back to school this year.

On Monday 13th September, Walton Charity’s staff were both delighted and honoured to receive The Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate of Appreciation for our work during the Covid pandemic.

The presentations took place at a special event, held at the Riverhouse Barn in Walton, where six #Elmbridge organisations were presented with certificates from Deputy Lieutenant, Rob Douglas.

The Lord Lieutenant’s Certificates of Appreciation were launched in February 2021, with the aim of recognising those who contribute exceptional service to our local communities, but whose efforts are often overlooked.

During the pandemic, we totally changed the support model for our sheltered residents and our community allotment volunteers, ensuring that they felt safe and supported. Through a programme of virtual events and activities, they were able to keep in touch with staff and each other, learn new skills, and try their hand at new activities.

Recognising the increased need for financial support for both residents and local organisations, we increased our financial support and committed a record £557,579 in grants funding.

During lockdown, when children were unable to attend school, we launched our ‘Computers for Kids’ Appeal, and donated 57 new laptops to #Elmbridge schools, enabling underprivileged children to access home learning.

Other #Elmbridge organisations to receive awards were: Relate West Surrey, Home-Start Elmbridge, North West Surrey Samaritans, Walton & Hersham Foodbank, and The Surrey Coffee Co.