Chairman's Report

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2024

We recognised our 40 year anniversary in 2024 and changed our charity name from The London and Slough Run to London and Slough Charitable Trust, updating our branding, website and social media to reflect this.

Our charity had its third year at Dukes House and British Land have now granted us a further three years until 2027, rent free.

Our operations from Dukes House are working well with the collections of surplus food from many sources; local Waitroses, Coop, Tesco, M&S Foodstores, Lidl, Gate Gourmet railway supplies, Costa and many others. We have many teams of multi-faith volunteer packers (a different faith each night) who sort and pack our van for delivery, driven by different volunteers each morning, to an average of six delivery kitchens etc. We are very lucky that they are so dedicated. The Charity could not exist without any of our volunteers, they are the lifeblood of our charity. Still no-one is paid. We also rely on a small group of other volunteers who collect furniture etc and deliver to homeless guests who have been given a room by Slough Council, Macmillan Cancer charity and The Prisoner Release Scheme.

We still use St Joseph’s Church premises in Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross, every Monday throughout the year, for the preparation of soup, tea and sandwiches, which are then delivered to approx 200 homeless guests in London. We have a loyal team who have been preparing these food parcels for many years, for which we are very grateful.

We launched our 40th Anniversary this year with a charity Dawn Walk around Dorney Lake, which raised  much needed funds.  This event was sponsored  by British Airways and Hamptons and was attended by over 100 early morning walkers, including the McGovern family and others, for which we were very grateful.

Our disappointment this year, has been that we have not been able to open a 10 bedroom hostel in Herschel Street, in Slough, for which the Government Levelling Up Fund had given London and Slough Charitable Trust the funds to renovate, upgrade and furnish these premises and house 10 homeless guests.

This did not come about, even though we had fully furnished the property and provided an office cabin in the grounds, so we could fully take over the building at the end of March 31st 2024. Due to Slough Council’s inability to agree to the terms of the Government Contract, they reneged on the deal in the last few days, forcing us to back out and give the Government back the funds and Slough Council had to repay us our costs. Unfortunately, the building still lies empty. Our aim was to help our guests by giving them a place to stay for a period of three to six months whilst they looked for a job and prepared to move into their own private accommodation. Our objective was to assist approx. 40 guests a year through this programme.

Despite this, we still work closely with Slough Borough Council’s Rough Sleeper team to provide support that the Council are unable to, due to the guests not being eligible for financial support or help. We are looking at further ways we can assist the ever increasing numbers of homeless in Slough.

We wish to thank Nuala Fox, our Secretary and Trustee, for her unstinting help over the last 30 years. We would not be where we are without her help and guidance. The Board of Trustees are ‘hands on’ helpers with the day to day running of the Charity and we continue to be grateful to all our volunteers for giving up their time and their selfless and tireless work in support of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in society.

On behalf of London and Slough Charitable Trust, by order of the Trustees.

Malcolm Johnstone

Chairman

London and Slough Charitable Trust is a UK registered charity, number 1000331