Event Kicks Off Fundraising for South Wimbledon Sensory Unit

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Pub's charity evening supports local centre

Mother Anna Weddell has helped organise a charity event, raising over £1,000, for a South Wimbledon social care charity which supports her son.

Anna Weddell helped staff of her local pub, The Mitcham Mint, in Mitcham, to organise a fundraising evening to raise money for leading social care charity, Vibrance.

Anna’s youngest son, Neil, has been regularly attending All Saint’s respite service in South Wimbledon for over 10 years, which is now run and managed by Vibrance. She wanted to raise money towards the cost of providing a sensory unit.

The majority of the money raised came from the Monster Raffle, organised by bar manager Theresa Collier-Spicer, with local businesses generously donating fantastic prizes such as theatre tickets, hampers, and vouchers for local restaurants and hair dressers.

Speaking of the event, Anna said: “My son regularly attends the respite services at Vibrance, and the service is absolutely fantastic. The staff are wonderful and caring, and have made a big difference to Neil’s life.

“I am over the moon with the amount of money we have raised, and would like to say a big thank you to the staff, and especially to all of the locals and customers at Mitcham Mint, who were extremely helpful and supportive. Theresa worked extremely hard procuring, collecting and preparing prizes, and provided a wonderful buffet on the evening. I would also like to say thank you to everyone who kindly donated raffle prizes, and helped to make the night a great success.”

A cheque for £1,050 was recently presented to Vibrance, and the money raised will be used towards building a summer house to be used as sensory space in the garden at All Saints. All Saints Short Breaks Service, in Wimbledon, provides support to people with both learning and physical disabilities. During a stay at All Saints, service users participate in activities in the local community such as trips to cinema and shops.

All Saints Short Break Service manager, Belkis Sbai, said: “I would like to say thank you to Anna, and all of the staff and customers at Mitcham Mint, for organising such a successful fundraising event. We are saving to build the summer house and for all of the necessary equipment to turn this into a sensory space, so we will have more fundraising activities planned in the future.”

• Ilford based charity, Vibrance, supports 400 people in traditional services throughout London and the South East with learning disabilities and mental health issues, offering a range of community day services, low-support housing, nursing and care homes, short breaks, supported employment, as well as supporting 1,500 people in self-directed services.

March 4, 2016