Local charities share £6,000 LCF donation

Local charities Home-Start South Warwickshire, NetworkFour, and Stratford Foodbank, have each received a £2,000 donation from the Lodders Charitable Foundation (LCF) to support their vital work in the West Midlands region.

The LCF was established in 2016 and supports regional charities that make a real difference in their communities. Since its inception, the LCF has donated more than £78,000 to local, independent charities.

Home-Start South Warwickshire, NetworkFour, and Stratford Foodbank were named as the LCF’s beneficiaries for its 2023 fundraising. Each was chosen for its dedication to supporting local communities where Lodders has offices, namely in Stratford upon Avon, Henley in Arden, Birmingham and Cheltenham, and are benefitting from money raised from local events organised by the LCF and additional support from Lodders.

Local charities

Home-Start South Warwickshire is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their most challenging times. The organisation helps to give children the best possible start in life by supporting parents as they grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children, and widen their links with the local community.

The charity is using the LCF’s donation to help fund its Family Support Volunteer Service, which provides a wide range of targeted support for parents and children, including one-to-one home visits.

Marie Ashford, Co-founder and Charity Operations Manager, said: “We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Lodders Charitable Trust for their incredible efforts in raising £2,000 for Home-Start South Warwickshire. Through their thoughtful and engaging initiatives like the quiz night, the family dog walk and show, and generous donations, they have woven compassion into action and will make a significant impact in our community. 

“Lodders‘ fundraising efforts could provide up to 26 families in South Warwickshire with one month of support from our at-home one-to-one volunteer service. This support could help families who are struggling with day-to-day challenges, such as financial hardship, mental health issues, or caring for a sick child. The volunteers support parents as they grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children and widen their links within the local community.”

Network Four is a growing charity that, since its inception in 2008, has supported and engaged over 6,500 young people, adults, and families in crisis. Its pioneering Life & Sole initiative is helping to tackle rising levels of poverty in Birmingham by providing free, good quality, pre-loved footwear to adults and families in crisis, and further caring support where needed.

Life & Sole works in partnership with schools, colleges, academies, social services, and West Midlands Police, as well as voluntary sector organisations such as Safer Families.

Stratford Foodbank aims to prevent or relieve poverty in and around Stratford-upon-Avon by providing emergency food supplies to those in need.

Sarah Crompton, Assistant Manager and Operations Lead of Stratford Foodbank, said: “In the first six months of this year, we have distributed 2413 parcels, 36 percent of which were for children. This was an increase of 636 from the same period last year. In July 2023 we distributed 561 parcels, making it our busiest month to date. The support and donation from the Lodders Charitable Foundation will go a long way in supporting the work we do, enabling us to make a real difference to those in crisis and in need of emergency food parcels.”

Making a difference

David Lodder, chairman of the LCF, commented: “We recognise that the ongoing cost-of-living crisis has seen many households struggle, which has put an enormous amount of pressure on charities’ resources as more people seek their vital support and services. Sadly, the West Midlands has recently been identified as the region with the highest level of child poverty in the UK, with more than 38 percent of children living below the poverty line. Charities themselves are also facing growing financial pressure with operational costs having risen considerably.

“It is more important than ever that we support our local charities and the lifeline they represent for our local families, young people, and children. Our three charity beneficiaries for this year are made up of inspiring people who work tirelessly to support others, and we are pleased to play a part in ensuring the continued delivery of their incredible work.”

Events programme

This year’s LCF events programme has included the annual Family Fun Day and Dog Walk in Henley in Arden which attracted over 200 people. Earlier in the year, the annual LCF quiz took place at The Embankment, Stratford, and saw more than 80 Lodders employees participate to raise charity funds.

On 30 November 2023, the LCF is hosting its annual drinks reception at Stratford’s Castle Fine Art Gallery, which is open to colleagues and friends of the Foundation, as well as volunteers and trustees of the 2023 beneficiaries.

Lodders created the Lodders Charitable Foundation (LCF) in 2016 to raise vital financial support and provide help to local charities where it can make a genuine difference.

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