The Fair is always one of the annual highlights for the local community and those travelling from further afield. But it’s not just about having fun and being a showcase for local talent, businesses and organisations. Every year we donate the profits to worthwhile causes, with donations being divided between local schools and charities.
Supporting our schools:
5 local schools (Orleans Primary, St Mary's C of E Primary, St Stephen's C of E Primary, Orleans Park & Deer Park School) provide volunteers and generally help make the Fair such a success, for which we are very grateful:
Orleans Primary School run the BBQ
St Stephen's C of E Primary School organise the 5-a-side football and provide volunteers for Fair stewarding
St Mary’s C of E Primary School run the Eco-cup stall and are responsible for litter picking
Orleans Park School run the Pimms stall
Deer Park School run the Silent Auction
Supporting charities:
TO APPLY TO BE ONE OF OUR CHARITY RECIPIENTS, PLEASE EMAIL charities@stmargaretsfair.org
Every year we receive applications for support from many fantastic local causes and organisations. It is always a hugely difficult task for the Committee members to choose those that are to receive a donation. Last year’s beneficiaries were:
SPEAR
SPEAR is a local charity supporting people experiencing homelessness to find a place to call home and provide a range of services to improve their health, wellbeing, skills and begin to look more positively towards an independent future.
The Fair donation has helped their work at Penny Wade House in Richmond, a hostel which offers 14 single occupancy rooms for clients with the most complex and challenging of support needs, including physical and mental health issues. The hostel is staffed 24/7 to ensure it is a safe and therapeutic environment, where clients can start their journey from homelessness to independence.
space2grieve
space2grieve offers free, confidential, one-to-one bereavement support to anyone living in Richmond borough. A local charity, their team of highly trained volunteer bereavement specialists provide support to adults, children young people and families at the ETNA Centre, as well as in schools, remotely on the phone or via Zoom. The sessions are free and available through self-referral via their website, www.space2grieve.org.uk, or phone at 0751 937 6363.
space2grieve also supports compassionate cuppa, a free monthly drop-in grief café at the ETNA centre, providing peer support and connection for bereaved Richmond residents. The Fair donation helped space2grieve launch their Children and Young People (CYP) service to every primary and secondary school in the borough so that any family in grief knows where to turn. The CYP service is busy with referrals, with many parents accessing tailored advice to help their grieving children.
The Mulberry Centre
The Mulberry Centre is a local, independent charity and award-winning cancer information and support centre based on the grounds of West Middlesex University Hospital. Set in a purpose-built building with a peaceful, secluded garden, they offer practical ways of enhancing emotional, psychological and physical well-being. These include counselling, coaching, complementary therapies, support groups, workshops, well-being classes, and social activities.
All their services are free and available to anyone affected by cancer: those with a diagnosis, their family, friends, carers and those bereaved by cancer. To receive support, you do not need a GP or hospital referral – you can self-refer at any time. The grant from the Fair has enabled them to provide their free services to St. Margarets residents, supporting them through a traumatic time in their lives.
Senior Citizens’ Christmas Dinner:
The Fair also helps fund an Annual Christmas Dinner for around 70 local senior citizens at the Turks Head. Not only is this a dinner with all the trimmings, but we also have local choirs and school children to spread the joy of Christmas. It’s an event that is loved by all our local senior citizens, and if you know of anyone who might like to attend let us know!
Over the past three years we have made a special donation to help fund a day out to Kew Gardens for children of Oxford Gardens Primary School, near Grenfell Tower. The pupils, staff and community have had to deal with consequences of the tragic fire. The trips to Kew have been hugely appreciated by everyone concerned and provided an opportunity for pupils to create positive new experiences.
Supporting community projects since the first St Margarets Fair:
The wonderful Radio West Middlesex are always on hand to help proceedings go smoothly, and over the years, we've also supported a vast number of local charities in addition to those above, including:
Ruils, PowerJam, Richmond Homes and Lifestyle Trust, HANDS, Me Too and Co, The Portcullis Trust, Home-Start Richmond, Cochlear Implanted Children’s Support Group, The Mulberry Centre, Homelink Day Respite Care, Crossway Pregnancy Crisis Centre, Richmond AID, Friends of Crofters, Whitton Social Centre, Richmond Welcare, River Thames Boat Project, Environment Trust for Richmond upon Thames, Heatham House, South West London Alzheimer's Society, Richmond Carers Centre, Richmond-upon-Thames Talking Newspaper for the Blind, Richmond Crossroads Care, Richmond Advocacy, Homes for Life, Princess Alice Hospice, Roy Kinnear Trust & Shooting Star Trust, Richmond Environmental Trust
If you’d like more information or have any queries relating to our support of local charities, please email: charities@stmargaretsfair.org