Christmas Charity Giving

As always, our members pulled out all the stops in the lead up to Christmas to support our local community and charity initiatives.

Our Toy Drive saw more than 200 brand-new toys and games donated to local charity nurseries and community hubs supporting families in need, including IMPS Nursery, Portman Early Childhood Centre, Newpin and Church Street Community Christmas Fair. Big thanks to members Colliers, Marcol, Streathers, Fortius Clinic, Invesco, Graham Capital, Energean, HSBC, Madame Tussauds, Clear View and the tenants of 95 Wigmore Street.

Similarly, our food drive generated hundreds of hampers that were also given to local charities and community groups to distribute to those that needed them most. Enormous thanks to Madame Tussauds, University of Westminster, Hyatt Regency London- The Churchill, Graham Capital, Energean, Poten and Partners, Clearview and BDO.

In addition to the above, many of our members made generous donations of money and gifts. Elemis donated shower products to St Mary’s Social Supermarket and 172 toiletry gifts for the residents and staff at The Marylebone Project. Metropolitan Gaming also donated treats for the residents at The Marylebone Project. Streathers sent a financial donation to Portman Early Childhood Centre while Cromwell Properties donated to Penfold Community Hub and St Mary’s Social Supermarket. Graham Capital sent a clothes donation to Greenhouse Sports and sweet treats for their children’s hampers as well as baby clothes to Home-Start Westminster.  

And, some lovely festive volunteering took place. Colliers’ choir sang at Penfold Community Hub and the team also hosted a bingo and cakes afternoon at Newpin Elderly drop in centre. Selfridges decorated Penfold Community Hub with Christmas decorations. Employees from BNP Paribas helped at Church Street Community Christmas Fair, teams from Elemis volunteered at ‘Homeless Meals’ Christmas dinner at St Mary’s church, and staff at Lane Clark Peacock and Knight Frank helped at Penfold Community Hub’s Christmas Party. Hyatt Regency London- The Churchill, as part of their fundraising for COSMIC, decorated the children’s ward at St Mary’s hospital with Christmas decorations and held a storytelling event at the hotel. They also donated 100 meals for residents at The Marylebone Project as well as hosted the charity’s volunteer ‘Thank you event’. And the team from BDO held Christmas lunch for members of the elderly community at Newpin drop in centre.  

The above initiatives took place as part of our Smarter Giving programme, which facilitates partnerships between businesses and local charities, community groups and schools. The programme has a special interest in the Church Street Ward, an area just north of Marylebone Road, that has historically faced many social and economic challenges. Visit our Smarter Giving pages for more information and how you can get involved.