Children living in disadvantaged areas are less likely to have access to books and more likely to fall behind in school, with 1 in 8 children in the UK not owning a single book. To tackle this, Doorstep Library provides disadvantaged children with access to books, helping them develop literacy skills and discover the joy of reading.
To support this crucial charity during lockdown, The Argyll Club’s Victoria, Knightsbridge & Sales team compiled their own delicious recipes in an online cookbook (here), which is being sold online with all proceeds going to the charity and has so far helped to raise over £1,000.
Meanwhile, The James’, Soho & Westminster & Human Resources team have also been busy delivering bags of toys and picnic blankets to St Vincent’s Family Project which supports young families in Westminster with parenting, housing, income, relationships and health.
The Argyll Club’s Love 4 London charity initiative was launched in order to help those who need it most in the city during difficult times. The business has 38 workspaces across central London and its teams have grouped together to hand-pick a local charity that is close to The Argyll Club’s buildings and close to their hearts. They have then crafted their own bespoke fundraising projects, which include everything from a sponsored walk past statues of inspirational women for a female homelessness charity to creating recipe books for disadvantaged children’s libraries.
Commercial Director Beth Hampson commented on the initiative: “We’re a London business through and through; we’ve been around for over 20 years. We love the city, its buildings and its streets and, most importantly, its people. Faced with a national lockdown, we were determined to support the capital through another tricky phase and ensure our team can use their time to support smaller charities that have been particularly hard hit this year. We’re so proud of the team pulling together during this turbulent time and supporting others in the city, and hope that our projects inspire others across London to do the same. To get the city back on its feet, our vision is simple: working together.”
The seven projects that make up the Love 4 London initiative are:
The Mayfair (North) & Marylebone and Property Team are working with The Marylebone Project (which supports female homeless and rough sleepers) by organising a warm clothing collection and sponsored walk in January, which will run from The Argyll Club’s workspace at 20 North Audley Street to The Marylebone Project’s headquarters, passing monuments of inspirational women like Millicent Fawcett, Florence Nightingale and Virginia Woolf.
The Victoria, Knightsbridge & Sales team are putting together an online recipe book and proceeds will go towards Doorstep Library in Belgravia, which delivers books to disadvantaged children and volunteers read to children.
The Mayfair (Brook St) & Marketing team have organised a toiletries collection that will contribute to ‘fresh start’ boxes for West London Mission, which is part of Westminster Council’s sleeping rough network initiative.
The Mayfair (South) and IT Team are filling a 30kg box with unwanted clothes, jewellery and other collectables and Vintage Giving will value the items and donate their worth to Cancer Research.
The Holborn, Covent Garden & Finance team are working with Covent Garden Dragon Hall Trust, which provides opportunities for social, educational and recreational activities development, by holding a food collection as well as asking colleagues, family and friends to donate the cost of their commute to the charity whilst working from home. The team are also putting together ‘Christmas Shoeboxes’.
The St James’, Soho & Westminster & Human Resources team are working with St Vincent’s Family Project, which supports young families in Westminster with parenting, housing, income, relationships and health, by collecting toys, providing support at charity sessions and holding a sponsored Christmas Jumper day.
The City & Customer Services Team have partnered with The New Normal in Spitalfields, which supports people who have suffered loss, and are holding a raffle with donations from staff, partners and local business.
