August 2025

On Friday 15 and Saturday 16 August, Walton Charity hosted our second pre-loved school uniform pop-up shop.

The event took place at The Bridge, our community hub in the centre of Walton-on-Thames. We transformed all three floors of the hub, which are normally set-up as our shop-without-a-till where working families who are struggling financially can access food and other support.

Local parents will know that the return to school is an expensive time of year, with growing children regularly needing new school uniform, shoes, PE kit, and stationery.

“You have no idea how grateful we are, this has taken so much monetary stress away.”

— Local parent

Nationally, many parents are concerned about the rising costs of uniform, particularly branded items, which mean that they struggle to get all the items their children need by the time September comes around. Expensive branded items also mean that many items can’t be reused by other parents who have children in different schools, increasing the financial burden and the negative environmental impact.

That’s why we decided to open up The Bridge again this year and are so grateful for the huge amounts of high-quality, branded and unbranded items we received from generous members of the public and our partners at Stripey Stork.

On the day, we provided 95 Elmbridge families and 182 children with high quality, free items of clothing. In total, we distributed 962 items of clothing, shoes, PE kits, and rucksacks to local people!

We have calculated that we saved families in total an average of £6,817 across all unbranded items. 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 parents, it lifted a weight off their shoulders.

“I am in tears, thank you and may you be blessed on behalf of me (a single mum) and my son.”

— Local parent

It also prevented nearly a thousand 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 second pre-loved pop-up school uniform event.

Feedback from parents

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

Clare

Charity Manager, The Counselling Partnership

The work of local mental health charity The Counselling Partnership (TCP) – offering one-to-one counselling to adults in Surrey - is delivered by a small but passionate team. It’s clear that their work is a lifeline for many, and a vital part of the wider community-support landscape. Amy spoke to Clare, the charity manager, and Liz, a senior counsellor, to find out more.

A Bridge Between Need and Support

Founded more than 25 years ago by Terri Collins, The Counselling Partnership was set up to meet a gap that has only widened during this time.

“Terri saw a gap – which still very much exists – between people needing mental health support and what is available,” explains Clare, who recently joined TCP in a new, wide-ranging role covering operations, fundraising, marketing, and finances.

“In a nutshell, we’re trying to help as many people as we can who are struggling with their mental health” says Clare. “We make our service as affordable as possible so there isn’t a barrier of people’s finances. We are also fairly unique, in that we can provide both short-term or long-term therapy for up to a year, depending on the needs of the individual”.

The process is kept intentionally simple: clients self-refer, have an initial consultation, and - if counselling is the right fit - TCP identifies which of their counsellors best meets the individual’s needs.

Clare adds “it can sometimes feel like a big step to even contact us in the first place. But from there, the process can be as quick as they want it to be - it’s so different to many places with long waiting lists”.

Liz

Senior counsellor, The Counselling Partnership

“In a nutshell, we’re trying to help as many people as we can who are struggling with their mental health”

— Clare, charity manager, The Counselling Partnership

Who Comes to TCP – and Why

Clients come to TCP with a wide range of concerns, but some patterns have become more noticeable in recent years.

“The issues people present with are varied, but increasingly we’re seeing anxiety, overwhelm, work-life balance, and financial issues,” Clare explains. “While we don’t offer financial advice, we do help people feel less overwhelmed and think more clearly.”

Liz, a qualified counsellor and assessor at TCP, notes a similar shift in the types of conversations happening in these therapy spaces. “The last few years have been very difficult for people from an isolation perspective. Finances are also a worry as well. People want to talk about Covid and cost-of-living pressures,” she says. “There’s a sense of: who can I go to?”.  

Mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Many of TCP’s clients are juggling full-time work, parenting, caring responsibilities, or financial stress – and in some cases, all at once. The charity’s work is about providing a space to pause, reflect, and regain control.

At Walton Charity, we recognise that practical support goes hand-in-hand with emotional wellbeing, which is why alongside supporting TCP we also offer multiple initiatives that help people manage their money. These include directing our community hub and foodbank clients to CAP money budgeting courses, and hosting Citizens Advice sessions at The Bridge and our foodbank to give people access to expert guidance on debt and benefits through the Financial Inclusion grant.

“It’s not about magically making problems disappear,” Clare explains, “but making it easier to manage those issues when they arise. Sometimes just having a safe space to talk is enough. For others, it’s about helping them develop more helpful ways to navigate the stresses of the modern world”.

“We want to help people feel more empowered about how their brain works”

— Clare, charity manager, The Counselling Partnership

Liz talks to me about her approach as a counsellor (which follows the criteria set out by the BACP) centred around helping a client build self-awareness and understanding of how they show up in the world and how they want to show up in the world. “I do a lot of work about what choices have you got, what can you control, and who have you got around you that can help”. It’s about self-efficacy and helping people discover the resilience inside them.

The Power of Long-Term Work

One of the things that sets TCP apart is its commitment to both short-term and longer-term therapy – offering up to 52 sessions per client. This allows clients to go deeper and develop strong therapeutic relationships.

“There’s not many charities where you can spend 52 sessions with a client,” says Liz.

That length of engagement enables TCP to work with more complex client histories, including trauma, grief, and long-standing mental health challenges.

For Liz, the end of a counselling relationship is often just as meaningful as the beginning: “the joy for me is when a client chooses to finish their sessions because they’ve achieved what they wanted,” says Liz. “They say, ‘Life might not be perfect, but I’m not where I was and that’s good enough. They have the confidence in themselves to have that conversation. Those are magical moments for me”.

TCP’s Dual Purpose

“It’s a real privilege to do the depth of work that you can in that length of time”

— Liz, senior counsellor, The Counselling Partnership

As well as providing much-needed affordable counselling, Clare explains “we also develop the next generation of counsellors”.

That dual purpose - to support clients and train therapists - is at the heart of the charity’s ethos. Many of the counsellors are trainees completing the final stages of their training, supervised and supported by senior counsellors. This is where Liz started working with clients herself, many years ago. This models allows the charity to increase access while growing the supply of local counsellors.

Community, Confidence, and Connection

Both Clare and Liz reflect on the deep sense of community within the organisation and the importance of helping clients build connection in their own lives.

Clare explains how “people are more isolated now, but their home lives are busier, their jobs are busier, social media and news stress them out. They don’t have the headspace”.

TCP’s approach helps counter that loneliness by creating a safe, responsive, and confidential environment that supports its counsellors as well as its clients. “I remember feeling like part of a community”, Liz says of her early days as a trainee. “I still feel like that. If I had a challenge, they are at the other end of the phone. The support I’ve received has been amazing”.

“There’s an ethos about the partnership. It’s rare to find a charity not only focused on low-cost, long-term service, but also on training the next generation of counsellors”

— Liz, senior counsellor, The Counselling Partnership

Making a Ripple

What makes the work of a counsellor so special is that the process doesn’t end when the counselling sessions do.

“I do keep my clients in mind,” says Liz. “It’s not that it’s a weight, but more like dropping a pebble into the pond. I’m the first ripple, and I don’t get to see all the other ripples, but I know they’re there.”

This ripple effect is what drives TCP’s team forward: the sense that by supporting one person, they’re supporting families, workplaces, and communities. That’s where the charity’s impact goes beyond the therapy room.

“When one person improves their mental health, they’re going to be a better parent, employee, and neighbour in the community””

— Clare, charity manager, The Counselling Partnership

Charities House

Walton Charity recognise the strong link between poverty and mental wellbeing, and how the pressures of finances can have a knock-on effect to someone’s mental health and in turn the wider community. That’s why we also create opportunities for people to connect with nature and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors. Through our Space to Grow community garden, individuals and groups from local organisations, including our own community hub, can take time away from daily pressures, learn new skills, and experience the calming and restorative effects of green space – supporting both their mental and physical wellbeing.

“Walton Charity have been really generous,” says Clare. “Our rent is subsidised at Charities House which helps phenomenally. We’ve also received several grants from Walton Charity over the years, including a community small grant to subsidise clients who can only donate a small amount, and more recently a Funder Plus grant to help us to reach more people with our marketing”.

By offering this support Walton Charity help TCP do more of what it does best: giving people space to feel heard and supported.

Clare sums up by adding, “the thing that keeps me motivated is working in an amazing team of committed people, knowing that we are each playing our part in making a real difference to people’s lives”.

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Space to Grow

Find Out More

If you are interested in becoming a client, or want to learn more about TCP and how they support the mental health of people across Surrey, visit https://thecounsellingpartnership.org. Donations to fund their valuable work are greatly appreciated: https://wonderful.org/pay?ref=1076244.

Please do what you can to spread the word about their services to people in your community.

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

In a quiet corner of the Tree Canopy project in Walton-on-Thames, something powerful is happening. We caught up with Pam Winstanley-Fisher, our Community Grower, to find out more about Walton Charity’s green wellbeing initiative, Space to Grow, and the ways it’s helping local people slow down, reconnect with nature, and find calm.

The garden welcomes a wide mix of participants, from mental health groups to local charities, schools, and colleges. People are from all walks of life, but are finding a common purpose in this beautiful outdoor space.

“People feel safe here. So many of our gardeners have grown in confidence.”

— Pam

The flexibility of the project means that while sessions are structured, there is room for people to make their own choices and follow their own pace. Pam explains how “people can choose what they want to do here, so they have the independence as well”.

When asked what a typical day at Space to Grow looks like, Pam made it clear that “there is no typical day”, although each sessions follows the same kind of routine. “I prepare the site in the morning, and then lead the group through activities. Once they go home, I follow up by sending them any skills or information we learnt”. The sense of purpose and peacefulness is a major benefit of this project.

For Pam, one example stands out: “one lady walked back and forth to the gate four times before coming in on her first session”. Now, she comes regularly, showing how much her confidence has grown.

Pam is passionate about the power of nature to heal, and to teach us things about ourselves. Nature and our mental and physical wellbeing are intertwined, and for Pam, the “link is clear and undeniable. It has been proven how important nature is for our wellbeing and I fully believe this”.

Even on cold or wet days, the community garden is up and running. Pam jokes that “in gardening its all about being prepared - there’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong choice of clothes!”.

The lessons we all can learn from Space to Grow are particularly relevant in our modern world: “nature reminds us in life that things can fail, things can go wrong or don’t work out and that’s okay - it’s about accepting this and trying again. It’s about planting another seed and knowing at least the snail had a nice dinner!”.

“Nature reminds us in life that things can fail, things can go wrong, or don’t work out, and that’s okay.”

— Pam

In an age of instant gratification, gardening becomes a powerful antidote, because “you don’t get instant results when you plant something, you have to have patience, you have to care. You need to check on it, water it and look after it. But the reward of that first shoot, first leaf, or first fruit never fails to delight!”.

The social aspect of our community growing project is just as important as the physical work. Space to Grow creates a space for conversation, shared experience, and moments of laughter.

Walton Charity has a variety of green spaces, and we are proud to provide opportunities to the local people to benefit from being outside. Space to Grow sits within our Tree Canopy site, which houses Rewilding Forest School, Guided Wellbeing, and the Elmbridge Tree Wardens, all of which involve the community in green initiatives. We also host a community allotment project twice a week which provides a space for anyone interested in gardening, particularly those with mental or physical conditions.

Pam reflects on working with Walton Charity, and says it’s “been fantastic and very rewarding! I’ve been a gardener for a while now working in a number of different role. Taking on this Walton Charity project, developing and growing it into a space to support adults and children using green therapy was the best career decision… and who wouldn’t want a ‘green’ office!”.

Staff and trustees at Walton Charity always tell Pam that Space to Grow has “exceeded expectations”. The site has burst into life and the transformation has been incredible. But it’s the impact on those that have been coming along that is the most impressive.

Pam has a wealth of experience in working outdoors, and she shares how she’s “always loved working outside. I worked in education as a Curriculum Gardener for a few years with primary age children. I began supporting some small intervention groups there using green therapy which was incredibly impactful. With ‘Space to Grow’ I get to work across many different age groups to support both physical and mental wellbeing”, and this opportunity has given Pam the room to create something really special.

Space to Grow is all about community, health and wellbeing, and biodiversity. We want to create a safe place for people to come together and build relationships with nature and each other. It’s a place to create a foundation for healthier people, as well as a healthier ecology and biodiversity. Space to Grow is a place to share, to love, to connect, and to learn how to grow.

“Space to Grow is a place to share, to love, to connect, and to learn how to grow.”

If you’d like to find out more about Space to Grow, please click here.

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

30 July 2025

In this edition of our Spotlight Series, Amy spoke with Eleanor Miller from Elmbridge Community Link (ECL), a small but impactful local charity enhancing the lives of people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Based in Charities House in Walton-on-Thames, ECL provides safe, inclusive spaces for people to learn new skills, grow their confidence, and feel part of a wider community.

At ECL, the aim is clear: everyone deserves to feel included, valued, and connected, and it’s important that “people feel good about themselves” after visiting.

“Everyone says how happy ECL makes them feel. That’s the word people use the most”

— Eleanor Miller, ECL

A Growing Community

ECL has continued to grow over the years, shaped by the needs and voices of the people it serves. With a wide range of weekly sessions on offer, such as board game nights, AllSports, multi activity days, music workshops, and outings, the charity plays an important role in the lives of local people.

“Our mission is to enhance the lives of people with learning disabilities and/or autism”

— Eleanor Miller, ECL

Their mission underpins everything Eleanor and the team of committed volunteers and staff do, from designing inclusive sessions to making people feel welcome from the moment they walk in.

Eleanor describes how they “want to prevent people feeling isolated. Especially nowadays when young people spend so much time on their screens. We want to make sure people get out and socialise”.

Celebrating Confidence and Skill

ECL’s sessions are about more than just fun. Although this is a key part, the sessions are also a chance to learn new skills and improve confidence. Eleanor explains how some people that come to their AllSports session “have now gone on to mainstream sports teams” and others into paid employment.

That kind of progression - whether it’s joining a sports team or gaining a qualification - is always celebrated. Recently, “two clients went to Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership and then came to our Wednesday session to show off their certificates. They were so proud and happy with their achievements and they both said that it was by coming to ECL that they have gained the self-confidence to go out and learn a new skill”.

Putting People First

ECL listens to what people want, and this makes a profound difference to the people that come along. For one of their members who has multiple and complex needs, attending regular weekly sessions has benefitted him in a multitude of ways, including his physical health and mental wellbeing. “His enjoyment is evident at every session and the volunteers are delighted to see his self-confidence grow as he masters new skills. He now protests at returning home at the end of a session and says he’d rather spend more time at ECL! Thanks to their brilliant sessions, he is happy and content with his peers”.

This impact isn’t just felt by the members - it runs through the whole team and community. For Eleanor, “going to the sessions is the highlight” of her working week.

The Challenge

Like many small charities, ECL is aware of the bigger picture. “The biggest challenge is how competitive funding has become. Nationally and locally, funding has gone down, but we can see that the need is increasing”.

Despite these challenges, the team continues to show up with the help of their highly dedicated group of volunteers.

“Our volunteers are the bedrock of our organisation”

— Eleanor Miller, ECL

Behind the scenes, collaboration is just as important. ECL benefit from the discounted office space provided by Walton Charity at Charities House. “I love the ethos in Charities House. We share an office with Walsingham Care [one of ECL’s funders] which is lovely, and we really appreciate their support”.

The Motivation

When I asked Eleanor what keeps her motivated, she made it clear that the charity “feels like family”. That sense of community is built day by day through consistent support, a dedicated team of volunteers, and a range of life enhancing activities. In Eleanor’s words, it’s “pure joy”.

“ECL feels like family”

— Eleanor Miller, ECL

The goals of ECL are simple but crucial: to continue their vital work, sustain attendance, and reach even more people who need regular support. “The future plans are to keep our numbers buoyant. We’re always looking for more members, volunteers, and donors”.

Want to get involved?

ECL is always looking for new volunteers, donors, and members. If you’d like to find out more, please visit their website at https://www.eclwalton.org.uk/, or donate to their latest fundraiser!

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

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the Almshouse Association’s Innovation for Living Award for outstanding innovation that enhances the lives of our residents.

The award was presented on 19 June by Willie Hartley Russell, Chairman of the Almshouse Association, and Simon Port, Chair of the Awards Committee, in celebration of our work to create “inspiring community projects highlighting the power of partnership and collaboration”. We were proud to be recognised for three of our almshouse projects, including the building of Grantchester Place - affordable accommodation for key workers - the kitchen garden at Fenner House, and the RHS Wisley project with residents and our community allotment volunteers.

We know affordable housing is desperately needed in Elmbridge, one of the most unequal boroughs in the country. Our research finds that average house prices in Elmbridge are 14 times the national average, and for key workers in particular, private rent for a one bed home is unaffordable for 93% of newly qualified nurses in London and the South East.

Almshouses have also been proven to increase the life span of residents, as the social aspect of living in an almshouses helps mental and physical health. The BAYES study draws on findings that loneliness has the equivalent negative health impact to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and that friendships make a difference towards a healthy, happy life. We are proud to provide almshouse accommodation that is centred around preventing isolation.

Walton Charity has a long history of providing almshouses to local residents. Mayfield dates back to 1774, and in that time we have built a second property for over-55’s and two key worker accommodation properties. This provision of affordable, safe, and secure housing aligns closely with our mission as a Charity to alleviate poverty and create a thriving Elmbridge.

Thank you to the Almshouse Association for recognising our almshouses, and a big thank you to our wonderful team for making this possible. Most importantly, we want to thank our residents for their involvement in all these projects and who are at the heart of our housing.

19 June 2025

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

June 2025

On 18 June, Walton Charity were proud to join the Walton & Hersham Foodbank, alongside over 700 campaigners, at Westminster for Trussell’s Guarantee Our Essentials lobby day, urging MPs from across the UK to back a stronger social security system that ensures everyone can afford the basics.

We met with our MP for Esher and Walton, Monica Harding, to highlight the real impact the current Universal Credit system is having on local residents. Week after week, we see people at breaking point, people forced to choose between food, heating, or other essentials. Last year alone, 7,458 food parcels were distributed across Esher and Walton (Parcels by Postcode Tool, Trussell).

No one should need to rely on emergency food.

The event took place on the same day the UK government introduced its draft welfare reform bill, which is proposing cuts that could push 440,000 disabled people into severe hardship. We stood in solidarity with people experiencing poverty, fellow food bank volunteers, and campaign supporters like Nish Kumar, to call for urgent reform.

An Essentials Guarantee would ensure that Universal Credit always covers life’s essentials like food, housing, and energy. This aligns with our core mission of tackling poverty and supporting those most in need in our community.

You can find out more about the campaign here: https://www.trussell.org.uk/support-us/guarantee-our-essentials

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

13 June 2025

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Lambert Place

In an impactful step towards tackling the local housing crisis, Walton Charity has launched new secure, affordable homes for key workers. Ten newly built almshouses in Esher and Thames Ditton have recently been opened to local health workers, educators, and essential service providers at a time when key workers continue to be priced out of the places they serve.

This marks a milestone in the local charitable foundation’s 800-year history of service to the Elmbridge community.

A new home, a new chapter

One of the new residents, Chelsey, a single mother of two and a local key worker, spoke emotionally about the transformation the new home has brought to her family’s life:

“I was in a very small flat before, with no garden. It wasn’t nice and homely, so I’d always have to go out and spend money all the time. Now I can sit outside when it’s sunny, with my boys kicking a ball around and jumping on the trampoline. It makes the family happier.”

— Chelsey, resident

Grantchester Place

Responding to a growing crisis

This initiative could not come at a more urgent time. According to a 2024 report from Shelter, renting in the private sector is unaffordable for 45% of newly qualified nurses nationally. In the South-East, this rises to a staggering 93%. Walton Charity’s research has also revealed that Elmbridge is one of the most expensive and unequal boroughs in the country, meaning the housing challenge is particularly stark.

Recognising this, Walton Charity has made a bold commitment to tackle unaffordable housing and homelessness in Elmbridge: to build and acquire at least five new bedspaces each year, with a particular focus on key workers.

“The pandemic really showed us how much we rely on key workers. Every little helps, and we understand the immense difference safe and secure housing makes to someone’s life. It is not just a roof over your head, but it’s somewhere to call home, where children can play and do their homework, where health and well-being is improved, and where you can bring friends and family home. We’re proud to give them the homes they deserve.”

— Rob Mills, CEO, Walton Charity

Rooted in history, building for the future

Mayfield, circa 1902

Walton Charity is one of the oldest charities in the country, tracing its roots back over 800 years, pre-dating the signing of the Magna Carta. Its first almshouse was built in 1774 in Walton, and it has provided charitable housing ever since. Unlike other forms of social housing, almshouses are owned and managed by local charities, offering long-term, low-cost accommodation rooted in community values.

Today, the charity’s work is as diverse it is impactful: it manages independent living schemes, green spaces, a foodbank, and a community hub, as well as awarding substantial grants to local organisations.

The ten new almshouses in Esher and Thames Ditton represent an evolution of the charity’s legacy. While their other almshouses, Fenner House and Mayfield, are for over-55’s, these homes are designed for working families - ensuring that essential key workers can live affordably in the communities they serve.

Community impact

With 9 adults and 11 children moved in, or preparing to move in, the impact is immediate and life changing. Some residents have come from the private rental sector, others from their parent’s homes, and a few from periods of homelessness or sofa-surfing.

“These are people doing vital jobs in our community - nurses, care workers, teachers, and more. As long as they remain a key worker, this can be their home for life.”

— Sarah Tomkins, Chair of Trustees, Walton Charity

Walton Charity is proud to be part of the solution - by providing safe, secure, affordable, and long-term homes for the vital people in our community, they are building an Elmbridge community where everyone can thrive.

Lambert Place official opening event with the Mayor of Elmbridge, Sarah Tomkins Chair of Trustees, and Rob Mills CEO - 13 June 2025

Walton Charity would like to thank Sigma Homes, Red Loft Property, Potter Raper, and Elmbridge Borough Council for their vital contributions.

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For press enquiries, please contact Amy Dixon at communications@waltoncharity.org.uk

Instagram @yourwaltoncharity / Facebook @WaltonCharity / LinkedIn @Walton Charity

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This article has also been published on the Almshouse Association website, Surrey World, MSN, PAD Magazine, Housing Digital and shared by Antler PR.

June 2025

We’re excited to be taking part in the Great Big Green Week, a national initiative to encourage people to make eco-friendly swaps in their daily lives. It’s a huge opportunity to show the strength of our green community.

We have lots going on in our green spaces, and our existing weekly initiatives already prove that we are pretty green! Here is what we do to help the environment and protect our natural world:

• Community Allotment- The allotment reduces carbon emissions from food transport, captures and stores carbon (for example through composting), reduces waste, boosts biodiversity, promotes renewable energy (like through rainwater collection), and generally encourages sustainable lifestyles through social cohesion and seasonal eating.

• Tree Canopy: We have numerous projects on our site (Space to Grow, Rewilding Forest School, Guided Wellbeing and the Elmbridge Tree Wardens) who foster a deep environmental connection, build awareness and eco-conscious values, support biodiversity, promote low impact living, encourage regenerative thinking and promote education which can spark interest in green careers, activism and policy change.

• Gardening Club at Fenner House, one of our independent living schemes - By encouraging residents to come along and get stuck in with weekly gardening activities, we blend climate action, community care, and local collaboration.

• The Bridge - our community hub and ‘shop-without-a-till’ for working families who are struggling financially is also very green - It reduces food waste, methane emissions and resources, reduces the footprint of emergency food through lower packaging and transport emissions and works to promote a circular economy. The school uniform pop-up shop we hosted last August was another great example of combining poverty tackling ideas with sustainability by reducing textile waste and emissions, lowering demand for new production, saving water and energy, and teaching sustainable values to people in the community.

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 You can find out more on our website about our green spaces and keep an eye on our Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn to see the regular events and activities we have on offer. Have a look at all our beautiful photos taken across our green spaces recently:

Want to get involved? Anyone can take part in a Great Big Green Week activity! There are so many events going on across Elmbridge, so check out their website to search for an event, or take part in one of ours. We are currently looking for new people to join our community allotment - everyone is welcome.

Article by Walton Charity’s Amy Dixon, Policy and Communications Officer and Anna Clifton, Community Development Officer

9 May 2025

Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to reflect, connect, and shine a light on the people and organisations who make a real difference locally. Amy spoke to Jack, Area Coordinator for Elmbridge at Mary Frances Trust (MFT), a mental health and emotional wellbeing charity operating across Surrey.

Rooted in the Local Community

With a background in social care, Jack brings both professional experience and personal connection with the local area to his role. Mary Frances Trust celebrated its 30th anniversary last year — a milestone that speaks to its strong roots and lasting impact. The charity was founded by Mary, a journalist and care worker, and Frances, a social worker, who saw a gap in support services across Surrey and took action.

“We’ve stuck to their core values and try to operate in a way they’d be proud of. Mary’s grandson is now one our trustees and it’s lovely to connect what we do back to that legacy.”

— Jack

A Holistic Approach to Mental Health

One of the sensory plaques at our Space to Grow project

Mary Frances Trust offers a mix of structured support and group activities designed to support people’s mental and emotional wellbeing. They are best known for their Community Connections programme, run in partnership with Catalyst Support and Waythrough (formally Richmond Fellowship), as well as other services in conjunction with local authorities, the NHS, and funders like Walton Charity.

Jack describes how the charity runs both “peer support groups and courses, but also arts and crafts, yoga, and more holistic activities”. This mix of support is centred around the approach that people can improve their mental health through holistic, social activities, and by getting stuck in with a community project.

One of their recent programmes is in collaboration with Walton Charity’s Space to Grow — a community gardening project offering calm, outdoor spaces for individuals and groups to be led through nature-based activities.

“One of our clients said she felt so relaxed and safe there.”

— Jack, in reference to Walton Charity's Space to Grow project

Doing a shared activity, Jack explains, often makes connection easier, as “sitting opposite someone and talking about your feelings is hard. But doing some weeding or going on a wellbeing walk can feel much simpler”.

Tackling Isolation and Loneliness

For Mary Frances Trust, community connection is key. Jack shares a client story with me to highlight the importance of face-to-face socialisation when tackling isolation. “We had a client referred after losing his wife. Traditional support didn’t suit him — he just needed a friendly face and something to get him out the house. He now comes to our coffee morning most weeks. That kind of low-pressure, ongoing support that MFT offers is rare”, but clearly essential in making a difference.

Many Mary Frances Trust clients depend on the consistency of these groups as a steady part of their week. And it’s not just in-person support that makes a difference. “We were one of the first in Surrey to offer online provision during the pandemic”. Their agile, proactive approach to offering support means they have a wide range of well-developed support services for people to choose from.

Client's artwork from the Art Group which runs at St Peter's Community Hub

Growing Needs, Growing Services

When asked about whether he’s noticed a change in demand for mental health services, Jack is quick to answer; “there’s no doubt that demand for support has increased. Referrals are up. But I think people are more willing to talk about mental health now, which is good and we want to help end that stigma.”

The charity has grown to meet this need and works closely with partners and funders to expand what’s on offer.

“We’ve recently launched a gaming group in Leatherhead. We’re always evolving based on what clients tell us they want”. A core value at Mary Frances Trust is coproduction, which involves the client in decision-making and the scope of the charity to ensure that what’s on offer is meeting their needs.

Looking Ahead: Greener, Kinder Support

Jack and the team and aware of new challenges around mental health which are increasingly emerging too, especially those linked to technology and social media. To help combat this, Mary Frances Trust is embracing “green prescribing” and nature-based approaches as part of the solution.

“There’s real science behind the idea that getting your hands in soil is good for you. People are starting to see that”. Jack thinks that people will “always need charities like ours”, as mental health will always be a key part of people’s wellbeing. Unlike other charities that tackle issues like homelessness or addiction for example, Mary Frances Trust hopes that people will always reach out and ask for help when they need it.

From Support to Strength

Jack shares a story of a client who lacked confidence to attend her local health club. After joining MFT’s walks and yoga groups, she felt ready to go independently and make the most of her membership.

Lots of potential! - An empty bed at our Space to Grow project

“She said MFT was like a trapeze artist’s safety net. It’s there when you need it, and it’s not judgmental. That’s exactly what we aim for. We’re not about rushing people to move on but instead helping them to move away from our support when it suits them”

— Jack

For the team, it’s just as important that people work to maintain their mental health. Many of the sessions that Mary Frances Trust offer allow people who have been referred to benefit from a boost to their wellbeing.

Jack describes how every new referral starts with a one-to-one appointment and a personalised plan. Between him and the client, “we’ll collaboratively put a plan together”. Their progress is then reviewed after three months, but support continues as long as it’s needed.

Clients are also offered a range of signposting, including practical support for things like benefits, housing, money issues and more. They have a dedicated member of the team that can advise on these topics and contribute to getting someone back on their feet.

The Heart of It All

So, what keeps Jack inspired?

“It’s all about the people. With MFT, we get to offer something positive — something people want to take part in. Seeing people grow in confidence and move forward is what it’s all about. Every day, we get to make a positive difference in someone’s life. That’s what keeps me going.”

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You can find out more about Mary Frances Trust by following them on social media, or by signing up for their newsletter.

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

As a leading charitable foundation in Elmbridge, we are committed to alleviating poverty for everyone in our community, through a carefully considered and compassionate approach. We have seen increasing demand across our foodbanks, and have just had our busiest year on record, feeding a staggering 5,295 people in the course of 2024-25. 1 in 14 people in Walton & Hersham have had to use a foodbank, and we need to find sustainable solutions to food poverty through the wider services we and our partners provide.

To ensure that we can continue providing food, wraparound support and other services through a high-quality, caring operation, we have decided to expand the support we provide to the local community to incorporate the premises at Church Farm Shop, currently leased to Piglets. We know that the closure of Piglets will be a disappointment to many, but following much consideration and planning, this decision was made with the best interests of our community at heart. 

Walton Charity want to build an Elmbridge community free from poverty, and as part of the next phase in developing The Bridge, we will be using the Church Farm Shop premises for wider community and charitable purposes rather than letting the building for commercial use. As well as a foodbank, following some refurbishment we have plans to open up the space to be used as a community hub, and be available for charities to support local families.

Please look out for further updates in the coming months.

What began as a weekend course in Edinburgh has blossomed into a passion-fuelled vocation for Kayleigh, founder of The Historical Herbologist and one of our partners at our Tree Canopy site. Her workshops are inspiring others to slow down, reconnect with nature, and find healing in the simplest of things - herbs.

Kayleigh works for the Royal Horticultural Society and started looking for a course to grow her professional expertise. She found one at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, which went on to “spark a passion” to explore the way humans have evolved alongside medicinal plants for thousands of years. Kayleigh explains to me how the “earliest records we have date back 49,000 years - it’s phenomenal”.

Kayleigh Sinclair

Founder of The Historical Herbologist and partner of Walton Charity

That course led onto a diploma in herbology, gathering herbs for homework, and eventually running her own workshops. Kayleigh now runs regular workshops open to members of the public, which have revealed to her how deeply people are desperate for reconnection in a life so busy with screens. She has found that “working outdoors has helped make a positive difference to my mental wellbeing. You don’t even have to get hands on - just being outside and interacting with nature is incredibly therapeutic”.

Putting passion into practice

Her workshops reflect that ethos - tactile, rooted in history, and sociable. The most popular of these workshops (which take place in a yurt!) is the herbal tea blending session. The workshops cover the “history, folklore and superstitions of herbs. People can then choose which herbs they like based on what they want, like sleep, digestion or relaxation”.

The most recent addition to her workshops is an introduction to homemade skincare, where guests can make face masks, bath bombs, and other pampering things with dry herbs. As Kayleigh explains, “all my workshops are designed to embrace slow living. You can’t really be stressed out if you’re surrounded by lavender and chamomile”.

Growing a partnership

Her connection with Walton Charity began through a shared project with RHS Wisley. A group of our independent living residents and community allotment members got together to create an exhibition called ‘The Makings of a Modern Day Herbal’. Kayleigh recounts how she “met this wonderful group” and how they had fascinating “memories dating back to the second world war. They remember collecting rosehip to take to the chemist during a national Vitamin C deficiency. They ate things like Haws ketchup, made from Hawthorn bushes. Their connection to the plants was incredible”.

That collaboration soon led to a role advising on the medicinal garden at our Tree Canopy site, Walton Charity’s wellbeing-focused community garden project. She will soon be running workshops from our site, an exciting partnership to reflect a growing need in the community for mindful practices. Kayleigh is passionate about the power of plants and has noticed the shift towards people growing their own since the the pandemic; “it gave people something to care for; something to control in a world full of uncertainty and chaos. Being able to tend to something and look after it has carried on since”, showing a huge demand in the population for ways to reconnect with nature and reap the benefits of being outside.

Honey & Herbs Skincare workshop

Fresh berries

Workshop at the 'Move Your Mind' event

Medicinal garden at our Tree Canopy space

You can find out more about The Historical Herbologist by clicking here, and we will be updating our social media when the new workshops launch at The Tree Canopy. Kayleigh has a packed calendar full of talks and festivals, so keep an eye out for her work!

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Walton Charity’s Green Spaces

Want to feel these benefits of the great outdoors yourself?

Our community allotment is looking for new volunteers! We run sessions twice a week that are open to everyone, especially those that experience a physical or mental health condition or feel isolated. We are also looking for people to ‘buddy-up’ with these members, so find out more here.

Our Tree Canopy site also hosts a range of other projects, including the Elmbridge Tree Wardens, Rewilding Forest School, and Guided Wellbeing. Recently we launched our ‘Space to Grow’ project, a community gardening project reaching people in Elmbridge that are struggling.

We also run corporate volunteering sessions at our green spaces sites, so get in touch today if you want to help your team flourish through the power of nature!

Space to Grow gardening project

Community allotment group

Volunteering

Corporate Volunteering

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

Our mission as a charity is rooted in tackling all forms of inequality. One form of inequality that we often come across is gender inequality and its intrinsic link to poverty, as disadvantages based on gender can manifest into real-world effects on employment and health. Additionally, when addressing our main priority focus of child poverty, we also consider the broader impact on parents by supporting projects that empower women and strive to break the cycle of poverty for families.

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To mark International Women’s Day, Amy, our communications and events officer, spoke to some of the talented women that help us in our mission to build an Elmbridge community - where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive.

Walton Charity are proud to have a diverse team with many women taking up senior leadership roles due to their strong merits. Amy spoke with Sarah, our chair of trustees, and Alex, our vice-chair, about what International Women’s Day means to them.

Despite having different backgrounds - Sarah’s a nurse and Alex works in social policy - both are driven by a shared desire to help other people and are motivated by seeing the impact their governance has on their community. Alex explains how everyone on the board of trustees is brought together by “the human factor”.

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Some of the women we work with

When asked specifically about what International Women’s Day means to them, the resounding answer was the desire to celebrate, advocate, and support all women in our shared mission to support a thriving community in Elmbridge.

Alex and Sarah share that this is the ethos of the charity as a whole: everybody deserves a good life and to be lifted up out of poverty and inequality. For some women, they face extra challenges that require additional levels of targeted support, an area we are particularly aware of.

Alex states that “the people I’m most inspired by are the women that are making a success of their lives despite the challenges. In my day job tackling child poverty, I’m very aware of what that looks like, and it’s really flipping hard. Life is not easy for a lot of women, and despite that they’re making a go of it, and within that there are mothers that are managing difficulties and making a success of their lives for their children”.

Sarah explains that in Walton Charity, we’re lucky to have a strong team full of incredible, dedicated people: “it happens that the board back in the day was all men, and now we’re female heavy! We’ve got more working women on our board than the Charity’s ever had. Without each other and our diversity, be it gender or otherwise, we wouldn’t be as successful as we are. Everyone has different strengths and brings their own value to the team”.

When asked about their own partnership, both agree that they “are different, but a real partnership who’ve got each other’s backs. It gives you a sense of possibility, we’re not alone”. What is clear is that working with so many skilled people creates a wealth of knowledge within the charity which we are hugely proud of.

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Walton Charity support a range of Elmbridge-based organisations and projects that support women and champion gender equality. Recently, we celebrated the launch of the Voices of Hope Elmbridge Women’s Hub, a women’s only space part-funded by Walton Charity and dedicated to fostering creativity and connection through transformative sessions such as a choir. We have partnered with Voices of Hope on multiple occasions to support their initiatives that uplift vulnerable women in the community.

Through our grants programme, we are pleased to fund a range of projects in Elmbridge that champion equality in all its forms, including gender. Find out more by clicking on this button:

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At the heart of Walton Charity is our mission to build a thriving Elmbridge community free from poverty and inequality. We are proud to champion everyone in our community every day of the year and are keen to celebrate the different strengths and experiences of those in our community.

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