Charities- updates

Dear Friends,

The recent spring sunshine has been such a tonic after the winter gloom, and I trust our March newsletter will provide further cheer and encouragement. 

We are excited to share that we have been selected as one of three charities to benefit from Bishop Christopher’s 2025 Lent Call. We also have a range of resources available if you are interested in hosting a Lent lunch or perhaps taking on the challenge of training for the London 10k on 13th July. In addition, our dedicated supporters are organising several exciting events in the coming months, including a theatre evening on 10^th April and a Rock Choir concert on 21st June. Please check our website for regular updates on news, events, funding successes and our ongoing work.

At the heart of our mission is the desire to support families in overcoming life’s challenges and to help children build secure, confident futures. Our incredible Welcare team continues to offer both practical and emotional support, working to assist parents and families facing multiple challenges. One of the ways we help, particularly during this ongoing cost-of-living crisis, is by accessing grant funding and other opportunities on behalf of those we support. You can read more about how we helped one grandmother and our partnership with Feed London here.

All our efforts—whether raising funds or increasing awareness—are driven by a single purpose: to ensure we can continue providing essential support to both parents and children, and ultimately, transform lives for the better. We are always delighted to have the opportunity to share our work with partners, and we recently had the pleasure of welcoming three international students to our Redhill centre.

I don’t often share staff news, but I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the retirement of Kate Silcock, who has served with unwavering commitment and compassion for 19 years. We are deeply grateful for her dedication to the mission of the charity.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support, prayers, and encouragement. Your generosity makes everything we do possible.

With very best wishes,

Anna Khan,
Welcare CEO

For those of you who prefer a printable version of our newsletter, you can access this here. 

Dear Friends,

Autumn brings its own magic and a return to familiar routines - it also means that the Welcare newsletter is due!

First, I am pleased to share Dylan’s Story which demonstrates how the place we secured on the ‘Wave Project’ (a six week surf therapy programme) helped build confidence, overcome anxiety and build self-esteem. This case study (with names changed) also provides a glimpse of the massive armoury in the tool kit of our wonderful staff team of family support workers – their skill working with parents and children, asking the right questions, actively listening, making connections, and using  local knowledge and professional skills makes a lasting impact on parents and children and this is just one of the many lives we have transformed, with your help and support.

Welcare continues to provide practical support for families, especially those on the lowest incomes who have been hit hardest by the continuing rise in the cost of food and utilities. This year we worked with Feed London to provide food boxes filled with fresh healthy seasonal ingredients, recipes and supermarket vouchers to help families through the school summer holidays. To learn more about our achievements, including the value of our practical support to families, please read our Impact Report 2023-24.

On 22 July we said farewell and thanked Chris Elliott for serving as Chair of trustees and strengthening our relationship with Southwark Diocese. I am very pleased that our Treasurer, Chris Taylor, has agreed to take on the role of chair for the next twelve months.

Sue Floyd once again ran the London 10k and raised £510. Before the Covid pandemic we had a small team taking part and over the next twelve months I am determined to recruit new runners to support Sue and raise vital funds for Welcare. We have purchased 10 places for the Saucony London 10k on 13 July 2025 and I need your help to fill these with our friends, relatives and supporters – anyone who supports our mission to give children a secure and confident future. The event takes place in our capital city, it has a fantastic atmosphere, the roads are closed and there is live music to motivate runners and supporters. We ask that each runner pledges a minimum of £250 and hopefully more. To sign up for a place visit our London 10k page.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Service of Thanksgiving which will take place at Bromley Parish Church at 11.30am on Friday 15 November. All are very welcome to attend the service and to enjoy the delicious lunch afterwards. This year our trustee, the Venerable Allie Kerr (Archdeacon of Bromley & Bexley), will give the address, and we will be joined by the Mayor of Bromley, Cllr Dr David Jefferys. Many of you will know that we are one of three mayoral charities for 2024-25 and it would be wonderful for him to meet our supporters after the service.

Finally – please follow and share our latest news, events, stories and especially our appeal for London 10k runners. With your help, we can build a strong and resilient supporter base and increase awareness of our work. 

With sincere thanks for your support of our work,

Anna Khan,
Welcare CEO

For those of you who prefer a printable version of our newsletter, you can access this here.