February Newsletter

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2022.  

With January behind us, we are looking ahead to 2022 with motivation, determination, and energy. And what better way than to start the year than to share some of our news with you and say a big thank you to our donors and supporters.

To keep up to date with our work follow our on Instagram: @quintessentiallyfoundation.

New Year. New Mission.

This year sees Quintessentially Foundation enter a new chapter as we turn our focus to helping children overcome the impact of poverty on their lives.  

There are over 700,000 children living in poverty in London - the highest rate of child poverty in England. They face challenges daily which prevent them from reaching their potential. Yet there are grassroots organisations which offer proven solutions. They are often overlooked and underfunded – less than 5% of charities receive 85% of total charitable income. We want to change this and help the smaller charities that make a substantial difference.  

We will find and fund innovative, impactful grassroots charities in London and help scale them up to reach more young people. Through funding and tailored support, we will ‘turbo charge’ them and allow disadvantaged children to access their life-changing services. We look forward to sharing more about the projects and organisations we will work with very soon. 

If you want to join us on our new mission, then get in touch: info@quintessentiallyfoundation.org  

Impact spotlight: The Childhood Trust

The Fayre of St James’s 2021 raised over £200,000 for Quintessentially Foundation and The Childhood Trust. Here we shine a light on The Childhood Trust’s Christmas Campaign and some of the projects that it helped fund. 

The Christmas Challenge is a match-fund campaign supporting about 100 projects that provide a range of practical and emotional support to disadvantaged children living in the capital. These projects cover a range of areas, including cultural and educational projects, sports and activities, food banks, mental health support, and human rights and advocacy work. 

Three Projects that featured in last year's Christmas Challenge include:

MAN&BOY: Empowering boys to reach their full potential. The charity supports boys by giving them a male role model as well as offering holiday camps and learning courses.  

SOLACE WOMEN'S AID: The charity offers a range of services to children and young people so they can move through their trauma and continue to reach their dreams as they grow up. 

THE RUGBY PORTOBELLO TRUST: The charity supports children and young people from in and around North Kensington to overcome barriers and reach their potential. 

Impact spotlight: The Spring Community Hub

Spring Community Hub exists to make sure no one in the Southwark community goes hungry. They provide food and clothes and work with people to help them escape food poverty, build confidence, and find community. 

Quintessentially Foundation supported the Spring Community Hub’s 2021 Christmas appeal with a £5,000 grant which was match-funded by The Childhood Trust Christmas Challenge. 

Felicia Boshorin (CEO, Spring Community Hub) passionately shared with us at the Fayre of St James’s the stark reality of life for many children in London. “There are children going hungry every day” which makes them less likely to achieve their development goals and true potential at school. Before visiting the Spring Community Hub many children had never seen a whole cooked chicken and would be “lucky if they get a hot meal.” Last Christmas we were able to help change that! 

The Christmas appeal exceeded its fundraising target, raising more than £19,000, feeding more than 300 families and providing Christmas gifts for all the children. The food bank continues to support families & children week-on-week, all year round.

For opportunities to volunteer with the Spring Community Hub email us on info@quintessentiallyfoundation.org.

Dates for your diary:

Wednesday 8 - Sunday 12 June 2022
Quintessentially Foundation Bike Ride: Pisa to Rome
To register please click here. 

Sunday 27 February 2022 at 08:30 - 12:00
The Welcome Club Ride through the Thames Valley.
Sign-up here.

Sunday 27 March 2022 at 08:30 - 12:00
The Spring Club Ride through the Surrey Hills. 
Sign-up here.

Sunday 15 May 2022 at 08:30 - 13:00
The Foundation 100km Club Ride.
Sign-up here.

Tuesday 29 November 2022
The Fayre of St. James's, London 
To register please click here.