Supporting people in need in partnership with Merton Council
Tooting & Mitcham Community Sports Club would normally be spending the early-summer months completing the season for its various non-league football teams and preparing for a busy summer’s activity at their multi-sports facilities.
As the home of a wide number of local sport clubs, including Tooting Bec FC, Smallholdings ABC and Hillcroft Lacrosse, the club sits at the heart of the local community.
This summer, though, the club took on a new mission: supporting households in need across the Merton area during the covid-19 pandemic.
Established in May, the Community Food Cupboard aimed to provide food cupboard essentials for households in need across Merton and the surrounding area.
The scheme was established as a partnership between Merton Council’s Youth Employability Programme – Towards Employment, Merton Voluntary Service Council, Merton Community Transport, and Tooting & Mitcham Community Sports Club.
“We are very grateful for the support of our staff as well as Phil, Alan and Andy who have enabled the club and the Council to help many families in need during these challenging times.” Jackie Watkins, Director of Tooting & Mitcham Community Sports Club
Each week, volunteers including club staff Ashley, Emily and Cheyenne alongside Phil Steventon and Andy Harrup have been helping to sort, pack and distribute food parcels, with Alan Richards providing a regular supply of donations to the Community Food Cupboard.
As regulars at Tooting & Mitcham United FC matches, Phil, Andy and Alan offered to support the initiative as soon as they heard the club was getting behind it.
The impact of the scheme was highlighted when, in the first week alone, over 80 Merton households trusted the partners to provide critical support.
