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We're very pleased to announce that Nicole Francis will be joining Kith & Kids in August as our new CEO.
Nicole comes to Kith & Kids after several roles as CEO in the charitable sector, most recently running a college for young people with learning disabilities. She has also been a Chair and trustee for several charities and worked extensively in the public sector, focusing on skills and further education in Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest. With a degree in economics and certificates in management and counselling, she lives locally and said she's very much looking forward to meeting everyone!
Although the past year has been a sad and difficult one for Kith & Kids, we've got through it with the help of the families, staff team, volunteers and our trustees all pulling together. We're still here, we're still growing and we have lots of new plans afoot. While we gently close the door on a remarkable era for Kith & Kids, and will never forget our former CEO, Marjolein, we also have the excitement of opening a new door, with a fresh pair of eyes at the helm.
The future is looking bright!
We're really looking forward to welcoming Nicole to our Kith & Kids family.
Our Kith & Kids Choir was delighted to join once again with our friends from the Metropolitan Police Choir to perform a concert at St. John the Baptist Church.
It was a fantastic evening of song, wine, and cake held in memory of Marjolein and in front of appreciative audience, and we are thrilled that our long relationship with the Metropolitan Police Choir continues to endure and thrive.
We did it! We aimed to raise £10,000 for our Summer Project and guess what? We've exceeded it - the current total is around £12,000! A massive thank you to everyone who contributed, it means the world to our families.
The Rise & Shine campaign was launched to help Kith & Kids bounce back and shine brighter in our 55th year. We've not only met but surpassed our first goal. What a fantastic start!
We also want to thank the team involved in running this campaign, particularly the amazing support from our former colleague, Danielle O'Reilly.
Kith & Kids members Adam, Bradley & Emma, had a wonderful weekend trip away in Essex, where they did lots of fun activities, with highlights being Eurovision Bingo, the Two Brewers pub, Watermelon Volleyball & an archery coaching session!
Thanks to all our volunteers who supported the trip, and to our friends at Lambourne End Centre for Outdoor Learning - it's an amazing place to visit with an incredibly helpful team.
Our ELSware shop team said farewell to the shop manager, Vilma Hermeraj today.
Vilma has managed the shop since it's opening in 2021, and whilst with us built up a lovely relationship with our members who get work experience there as well as helping to make our shop such a friendly and welcoming space for all who go there.
We wish Vilma the best for the future.
We are thrilled to report that all 12 of our amazing runners completed the London Marathon!
Each runner faced their own trials and tribulations in the build-up and on the actual marathon itself, which included running with a bad knee after being knocked off a bike, having boiling water spilled on a foot during training, or almost completely seizing up with one mile to go!
We had runners attempting their first marathon, to others who were running their seventh! Surender joined us all the way from California and achieved his bucket list goal of having completed every world-famous marathon.
There were runners who hadn't known Kith & Kids before, to runners who already had connections to Kith & Kids, from the BlackRock team of Edd, Rees & Cam, who have been involved with our football team for years, to Sam, whose sister volunteers for us, and then Mark, who is the uncle of our members Harriet and Beatrice.
Kith & Kids would like to thank all our runners, for their hard work fundraising, training, and completing the marathon. You're all K&K heroes!
After two terms worth of fundraising, the ELSP group flew to Edinburgh for their four-day residential project. A 29 strong group of members, volunteers and staff stayed at a city hostel and spent the week exploring all the tourist hotspots, and even some of the nightlife!
Highlights included a terrifying ghost tour, visiting Greyfriars Bobby and hiking up Calton Hill (with an intrepid group even scaling Arthur's Seat.
This residential was a huge undertaking for the group, with the fundraising and preparation beginning months ago, as well as being the longest time and largest distance that some members had been away from their family. Thank you to all the volunteers who accompanied the group and especially to Becky Pickup, who organised it all.
The last time that a 2-1 project wasn't led by our interim CEO Robin was way back in Easter 2003! However, the 2024 Spring Project was in the capable hands of our new Projects Manager, Liz, alongside Rob and Natascha, and it was a great success!
A lot of hard work prior to the project ensured that once again there was close to complete 2-1 volunteer support, which meant that our members received great levels of personal support and could also go on their popular outings into the community.
During the project, there were many different types of outings, including group karaoke, playing darts at the pub, going bowling and visits to the cinema!
We had another football tournament with our friends from BlackRock to finish the term.
25 BlackRock employees and our football team combined to play some amazing matches, as well as support BlackRock's Cam, Edd & Rees, who are running the London Marathon for Kith & Kids. It was great to see so many familiar faces from BlackRock, but also very pleasing to welcome their volunteers who were new to our team.
Our football team absolutely loves playing these tournaments with BlackRock; for an example, see how proud Malik was to receive his team's player of the day trophy!
For their end of term outing, the Monday ELSP group visited the atmospheric Highgate Cemetery on a suitably misty morning.
The cemetery generously offered the group a free guided tour (which was so evocative and informative) as well as free entry, which enabled the group to also have a pub meal together afterwards.
Thanks to Highgate Cemetery for such an interesting day, and for all the wild garlic they were allowed to pick as well!
Kith & Kids was the chosen charity by Bowes Park Community Choir when they performed their Spring Concert at Alexandra Park School.
Many thanks to Jill Maben-Mead for introducing us to the choir – it was a lovely evening.
Thanks also to one of our members George, whose wonderful greeting cards were sold at the event to raise money for Kith & Kids.
Due to having a station collection happening on the last day of term, the Friday ELSP group went on their end of term outing a week early and visited the world-famous London Zoo.
They had a picnic whilst there and the entire group thoroughly enjoyed their day – they'll definitely be returning!
Many thanks to Peter & Suzy Godfrey for organising a quiz night at St Mary Magdala Church Hall.
There was a great turnout, and everyone enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere and head-scratching questions, with some much-needed funds raised for Kith & Kids.
We ended the term on a high, with some exciting days out. Our children's group were thrilled to attend a soft play session at Clown Town. We think our volunteers equally enjoyed the day.
On our adult's group outing our members enjoyed a fun afternoon filled with dressing up for their very own photoshoot before they danced the afternoon away. We took a trip to one of our favourite spots, Rowan's for a Karaoke session, while others enjoyed a more relaxed afternoon at the movies.
There was a fantastic atmosphere on the day.
We are very happy to announce that our Projects Co-ordinator of many years, Liz Smith, has been permanently promoted to the role of Projects Manager.
In her new role Liz will oversee the running and development of the Weekend Clubs for adults and children, the 2-1 Social Development Projects, and the Summer Camp (alongside Rich Pickup) - amongst other duties.
Over the years Liz has been a committed member of the Kith & Kids staff team, successfully running all the above activities, and having a hand in many others, and has shown her dedication to supporting our members and families.
Her promotion is well-deserved - congratulations Liz!
For the next three months Liz will be ably assisted by former Projects Co-ordinator Robin (Rob) Walton who has returned to help us out for this period.
Thanks Rob!
The choir has a new leader! We are very pleased to announce that Tania Dunn has taken on the role. Tania has been a volunteer with Kith & Kids and a member of the choir since 2022.
We're certain that she and our choirmaster Tony Regan will make a brilliant team. We also wish to thank Natascha Franklin for doing a great job running the choir since we lost Marjolein.
Since the pandemic, there has been a pronounced downward trend in in-person volunteering, and even though we have an amazing group of volunteers, Kith & Kids has also struggled get enough numbers for our activities of late.
Which is why our Projects Team were so pleased that after some changes in the interviewing and training schedule, they had almost complete 2-1 support for our members on the Xmas Social Development Project.
With the increased volunteer numbers, everyone on the project was so excited to be able go on the outing trips mid project again – they're always a massive highlight for our members and volunteers!
Our choir has had a busy week!
Fresh from one of our favourite Xmas traditions – singing to our friends at Penningtons Manches Cooper law firm, the choir then spread Xmas cheer singing carols at Highbury & Islington and Baker Street stations for two nights in a row.
As well as singing their hearts out for over two hours each night, the Choir helped raised over £4000 for Kith & Kids. Thanks to everybody who helped with the collection, and especially to Natascha Franklin for organising everybody and to our wonderful choirmaster Tony Regan.
The Management Committee has informed the staff team how some roles will be re-allocated in the wake of Marjolein's passing. The main change is that Robin Stone will be assuming the Interim CEO role.
We also wish to offer our gratitude to our Management Committee Chairperson, Venessa Illich, who has offered to continue in the role and is working tirelessly to help Kith & Kids through a difficult moment.
We continue to move forward with our fundraising efforts. The Dosh Squad – a group of skilled parents is working in conjunction with Robin to secure new grant funding.
Kith & Kids is extremely fortunate for all the time and effort that Venessa and her team continue to offer.
We were thrilled to be approached by Monica from NatWest to play a tournament with our football team and a group of her colleagues.
The weather was abysmal throughout the afternoon, but all 50 K&K players, volunteers, and NatWest players still managed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, with some hot skills helping to warm them up in the torrential rain.
We had some great feedback from the NatWest team and would like to thank them for funding the day. Hopefully we will work together again soon.
Klasp (Kith & Kids Lifetime Advocacy Support Project) has moved in to new, larger premises in Enfield.
They now have two stores:
• 43 Church Street, Enfield, EN2 6AJ, which sells furniture, electricals, collectibles, and clothes.
• 50 Church Street, Enfield, EN2 6AX, which offers furniture and collectibles.
These stores are a vital form of funding for our advocacy staff.
Following our recent Summer Residential Project to Littlehampton, two of our ELSP members Anthony & Wolfy asked if we might consider only running two projects next year instead of the usual three but have one of those projects be an extended trip further away from London.
We took a vote amongst all 13 members who attend these projects, and they unanimously chose for the longer trip! We then asked both Monday and Friday ELSP group members to choose a preferred destination, research it and then present to their groups.
We took another vote, and thanks to a wonderful presentation from Louis Baker……… Edinburgh, here we come!
Marjolein's memorial service was held at Green Acres, Epping Forest, and many came to celebrate her life and times with Kith & Kids.
It was a lovely, albeit sad occasion, with tributes to Marjolein from friends, Kith & Kids members, colleagues, and her family, with a song by Kate Bush (who Marjolein adored), and a very moving performance of 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' by the Kith & Kids choir.
It has been a terribly difficult month for everybody at Kith & Kids as we all mourned the sudden passing of our CEO Marjolein de Vries.
Kith & Kids is often described as being like an extended family for its members and their families, volunteers, and staff team, and Marjolein was a huge part of that family, with her warmth, compassion, sense of humour and dedication so vital in making Kith & Kids such a special place.
Marjolein was involved with Kith & Kids for over 30 years, beginning as a drama work-shopper before taking on Projects Coordinator role and then as CEO for the last 20 years.
Marjolein had an unswerving commitment to Kith & Kids and continued to take on extra roles when needed, also leading our fundraising efforts and choir with her usual passion and humour.
She will be sorely missed.
Our football team had a brilliant time when they played their annual summer football festival alongside our friends from BlackRock.
We combined both groups to make a mini tournament amongst ourselves, and everyone had a wonderful time, getting to show off their skills in sunny weather in front of cheering spectators!
Congratulations to Kojo, Alex, Nick, Scott, and David Y for winning the player of the day award for their respective teams, and to Jack and Jake, who shared the best goalkeeper trophy. The Golden Boot trophy was won by John, with a whopping 8 goals!
The games were typically hard-fought, but still played in great spirits, with the Green team emerging victorious. Everyone then enjoyed a drink together in the clubhouse afterwards.
Thanks to everybody who helped make the day so special, but particularly to Edd and all the crew from BlackRock - their support always makes this day such a highlight for our members.
The Monday ELSP group had a brilliant end of term outing this week when they visited the RAF Museum in Hendon.
Whilst there, they shared a picnic that everyone brought a dish to, controlled drone spy planes(!), walked through some very famous aircraft, and braved a 4D flying experience!
It was a lovely way to celebrate all the hard work during the term. A massive thank you to our volunteers for their dedication and enthusiasm, and they will all look forward to starting again in September!
It was an extra special D's Day this year.
We remembered some of our loved ones at Kith & Kids who are no longer with us by unveiling their very own memorial bench at Coram's Fields. Coram's Fields holds a special place in Kith & Kids heart, as it's where we held our first weekend activities over 50 years ago!
We celebrated a big birthday of Richard Horne, one of our long-standing work-shoppers, whilst our members & volunteers enjoyed all the fun & games in the sunshine, alongside all the children and their families present at Coram's Field who were more than welcome to join in.
Well done to all our London Marathon runners!
All our runners completed the course and raised vital funds for Kith & Kids. We thank them all for their hard work.
We are celebrating the one-year anniversary of our ELSware charity boutique in Chingford!
A huge thank you to everyone who has helped make it such a great place for training and shopping alike: our wonderful volunteers & trainees, donors & customers, and of course our fabulous manager Vilma.
Also, great kudos and thanks to our KLASP sister shops in Enfield for their invaluable support. We are truly humbled by the enormous amount of goodwill we have received from so many throughout the year.
Our first Respite Weekend for the year happened last weekend.
Whilst away, the group took part in a photo challenge, which included making their own album cover; Adam's homage to Johnny Cash was particularly impressive!
The highlight for the group was going to see the panto Cinderella ('Oh, no it wasn't!'. 'Oh, yes it was!; etc). Some of the members even go up on stage to help the performers!
It was a lovely start to the year, and they're all looking forward to their next trip away in March.
We are very excited to announce our very first Children's Club has happened.
Offering a regular club for children aged between 8 & 12 has long been a goal of ours and after a lot of hard work from our Projects team, Liz & Robin, and our Family Support Manager, Sarah, we had four children having a great time with volunteers at the first club!
The Children's Clubs will be held fortnightly, in the morning before our usual Weekend Clubs happen in the afternoon. Both activities will be held in Treehouse School in Muswell Hill.
Our ELSP group has just completed their 4-day Winter Residential Project, where they stayed at a hostel in the Kent countryside.
A major highlight of the trip was the karaoke party on the final night, where everybody sang at least once up on stage. The entire group's stirring rendition of 'We Are the Champions' brought the house down.
Take a look here at a range of videos highlighting our work.
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