CHRISTMAS 2021

Over Christmas the Foundation ran two very popular charitable initiatives both in connection with SEAPIA.

Food-Boxes
The first of these, the food-box appeal, was supported by three teams of Hurlingham volunteers to pack and deliver 150 food-boxes to families in the local area. These volunteer days are particularly interactive and are becoming more necessary as the pandemic continues to have a negative impact on families in Hammersmith & Fulham. We have now packed and delivered almost 1000 since we started.

Christmas Presents
Now in its third year, the Club’s gift giving appeal continues to gather momentum (you just had to look under the Christmas tree in Main Reception to see the generosity of our members!). Members were asked to donate a present to a child who otherwise might not receive one this Christmas. This proved to be a hugely popular appeal again and resulted in over 350 presents being taken to the children at SEAPIA.

HURLATHON

The now departed Secretary of The Hurlingham Club, Alan Flitcroft, completed The Club’s first ever Hurlathon, a fundraiser in aid of the newly formed Hurlingham Club Foundation. Alan completed 20 tasks over the course of 11 hours on Sunday. 

The brutal schedule began at 8am with a swim and aqua-aerobics class with Hurlingham PT, Jerzy. This was followed by a spin class and closely contested snooker frame against Paul Cattermull where Alan (after a few chances to win) lost on the last ball. Alan next had 2 hours of racquet sports, winning a game of squash and a game of tennis (this was a particularly grueling part of the day). 

From 1.15 through to 3.45pm Alan had a chance to take a (physical) breather, losing a game of speed chess against (Chief financial Officer) Pier Wilson’s son, winning a bridge table tournament (with the help of Mrs Flitcroft) hosted by Monica davies and completing in an extremely competitive lawn bowls game against Carol Wilson. During this time Suellen Khoury dressed Alan in a toga, complete with crown and goblet for a life drawing hour with the art committee. 

Alan then donned some tartan gear and was put through his paces by dance’s Cindy Gray as he completed a Highland Fling. He was then back with a racquet in hand playing a doubles padels match against the Campiones, before backgammon game against Nicholas Boles and challenge in the cricket net. Moving into the evening, Alan completed a timed croquet course organised by Mark Ormerod. 

Children in the café were treated to a late reading after which, Alan and Piers put on a well-rehearsed four candles sketch. Alan completed his day with a workout and mile run around the club where he was welcomed to polo bar by a small but determined group of supporters who braved the rain and wind to support him throughout the day. 

Our departing Chairman did excellently well during a tough day, braving weather as well as a packed schedule. So far Alan has raised an excellent, £5500 for the newly formed charity.

If you, or anyone you know, has an challenge based fundraiser idea, please get in contact with Foundation Manager, Will Radford will.radford@hurlinghamclub.org.uk

FOOD-BOXES

This initiative began back in November 2020 during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic and was set up to help the vulnerable and isolated in the Hammersmith and Fulham area.In partnership with our charity partner, Sands End Adventure Playground in Action (SEAPIA), we began a fundraising drive with the view to pack and deliver food-boxes to the local area. The initiative gained real traction with the Club. The Hurlingham Club contributed 25 food boxes a week with special emphasis around Christmas and Easter, where we donated 50 food boxes filled with a variety of festive fun. Overall, around 700 families have benefitted from the generous donations and volunteering hours.

The initiative has been hugely well received in the community, Julie (SEAPIA Manager) has been inundated with letters of thanks and has
even been stopped in the street.

During the course of this project we had over 100 volunteers and raised around £8000 in order to complete it on such a large scale.

SEAPIA – GRASS INSTALLATION PROJECT

In 2021 The Hurlingham Club’s Head of Grounds, Neil Harvey visited SEAPIA and advised the charity they needed a total restoration – in order for it to be safe for the children to play on all year round.

After some conversation the Hurlingham Club Community Fund (now THCF) agreed to fund the project. The project cost £10,000 in total, was the largest standalone fundraising ever taken on by the Club and involved the upheaval of the old ground and installation of a sustainable turf.

The project itself was completed in May, has transformed the outside area at SEAPIA and was vital for the development of the charity. It has also been welcomed by the children, parents & those that work at the charity.

SEAPIA PAINTING AND DECORATING

On Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 November 2021, we once again called for volunteers for our next project; painting and decorating the interior of our local charity partner, Sands End Adventure Project In Action (SEAPIA).

We completely redecorated the entire interior of SEAPIA with a team of 30 volunteers across the weekend.