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 corporatevVolunteering, 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.

Walton Charity has been chosen to partner with RHS Wisley Gardens as part of their RHS Gardens of Imagination 2024 project, part-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The work, as part of the Inspiring people to grow campaign, includes collaborating with an artist to explore through creative workshops, how modern-day herbal remedies are represented in Elmbridge’s growing communities. This can be through the healing power of gardens, as well as gardening and plants.

As part of their work, the artist will explore the following questions with people and communities:

Volunteers at RHS Wisley Gardens

• What plants or green spaces help you and/or your community with health or wellbeing?

• How would you like to capture and communicate the effect of these plants or greenspaces?

A combination of residents from our independent living schemes and volunteers from our Community Allotment have been enjoying exploring these questions through workshops, writing poetry, cyanotype printing, origami and personalised tour of the Herbarium and library at RHS Wisley Gardens.

We are currently halfway through the project; workshops will finish in June culminating in an exhibition in late summer at RHS Wisley Gardens. Watch this space!

St John’s Church in Walton is more than just a place of worship. It is also a community hub that offers a range of services and activities to help people in need.

Thanks to a grant of £15,000 from Walton Charity, the church has recently hired a community engagement worker. Her role is to coordinate the volunteers and develop new ways of reaching out to the residents of St John’s Estate, Fieldcommon, and other areas in Walton.

Café and foodbank volunteers

One of the services provided at the hub is a community café, where people can enjoy a hot drink, free cakes and pastries and a chat. The café also serves as a gateway to access other forms of support, such as advice and guidance on issues like social security and housing. The church works closely with other local organisations, such as PA Housing and Surrey County, to provide these services.

The Walton & Hersham foodbank operates on Thursdays and Fridays from the hub. The food bank volunteers give out emergency food supplies to those who are referred by agencies as in need of support.

The church also runs a playgroup for pre-school children every Tuesday. The playgroup, called ‘Play and Chat’, provides a fun and friendly place where children can play, and adults can socialise. Free breakfasts are offered to those who cannot afford to have one at home.

The Reverend Dave Bixby said, “The £15,000 grant will really help our goal to expand the provision of St John’s as a community hub, and we are so very grateful to Walton Charity for their support. Everyone is welcome to find a warm, safe and welcoming space at our Community Cafe on Thursday mornings as well as parents and carers with preschool children on Tuesday mornings. We look forward to having more open times throughout the week as the community hub develops.”

The hub at St John’s Church is a place where people can find hope, friendship, and a sense of belonging. The church is always looking for new ways to support its community and make a positive difference in people’s lives.

Being a new dad can be exciting, but also stressful and overwhelming. Many fathers struggle with their mental health during this transition, especially if they face additional barriers such as isolation, poverty, or lack of family support. That’s why Home-Start Elmbridge, a charity that supports families with young children, launched ‘Dad Matters.’ The project aims to improve the wellbeing of new and expectant fathers and help them have the best possible relationship with their family.

Walton Charity awarded £10,000 for the initial pilot project, which started in 2023, in partnership with other Home-Start organisations in Surrey.

‘Dad Matters’ works in collaboration with the maternity services of Ashford & St Peter’s Hospital, filling a gap in the local area where there were no other initiatives supporting new dads. The project reaches out to fathers at their partner’s antenatal appointments, where 92% of dads are present, and invites them to join ‘Dad Chat’ groups. These are informal sessions where dads can share their feelings and concerns with other dads, away from their partners. The project also offers targeted ‘Dad Chats’ for those who need more support, such as those with mental health issues, those supporting mums with post-natal depression or those experiencing difficulties accessing services.

The pilot project has been a success, receiving positive feedback from the dads and the health professionals involved. The dads reported a closer bond with their baby, better access to services and improved emotional wellbeing. Health professionals are starting to recognise the need to support dads (which will in turn support the mother and child). Providing a holistic support for families.

Walton Charity has continued to support the project by awarding a further £10,000 grant to Home-Start Elmbridge to enable them to extend the ‘Dad Matters’ project’s reach and impact to make a difference to the lives of local dads and their families.