As well as facilitating employee volunteering opportunities, did you know our Community Programme has a commitment to supporting the charitable giving aims of our business members? Each year we help channel the equivalent of tens of thousands of pounds worth of donations from our business members looking to support local good causes right on their doorstep.
From surplus stock to food drives, raffle prizes to client experiences, we help harness the good will of our business members for the benefit of local charities and schools, helping create a vibrant, resourceful and connected community.
Here we take a look at some recent connections.
Bridgepoint supports Leonora House
Carers and residents at a local older people’s residence were kindly treated to a respite stay courtesy of volunteer partner, Bridgepoint.
Staff and residents at Leonora House, a supported housing scheme on Lanark Road for older people and those living with disabilities, enjoyed a restful evening away at a retreat in Surrey on 5 March 2025.
Bridgepoint, based at 5 Marble Arch Place, were first connected with Leonora House in September 2024 through our Community Programme. An employee volunteering team spent an autumn afternoon helping spruce up their garden, alongside the Lord Mayor of Westminster, interacting with its staff and residents.
Since witnessing first-hand, the amazing work its staff carry out around the clock, the company felt this gesture would be a well-deserved treat for staff and residents.
During their overnight stay, guests benefited from a relaxing spa treatment, access to nature and a three-course meal of fine dining.
Leonora House staff and residents enjoyed a break at the countryside retreat courtesy of Bridgepoint.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Bridgepoint for this opportunity. It has provided an opportunity for those staff and residents to have an experience together in a new setting, and has resulted in a boost in staff morale and our residents feeling a valued part of the community. This would not have been possible without Bridgepoint’s support.
Pooja Gosavi, Activities Manager, Leonora House
Tate & Lyle and Marble Arch Place support FoodCycle Marylebone
Local office employee food donations have helped address the surge in take-up of local free community meals.
Tate & Lyle, a world leader in ingredient solutions for healthier food and beverages, and other employees based at Marble Arch Place, contributed a range of store cupboard essentials and lesser-donated key ingredients to FoodCycle Marylebone in June 2025.
FoodCycle Marylebone, based on Rossmore Road, runs community meals for local people from all walks of life to eat and have conversations, supporting people’s health and mental well-being.
So far this year, the charity is feeding on average 55 local people every Wednesday evening at its community meal in St Paul’s Church, Marylebone. However due to many local food projects unable to continue their services over the summer holidays, FoodCycle is expecting demand for its service, offered all year round, to significantly grow. During the summer of 2024, they were feeding an average of 78 people per week.
Through our Community Programme, employees focussed their efforts on supplying products often in short supply and versatile in their use. For example, items such as pulses, lentils and other meat-alternative protein sources, as well as pesto which can be used both as a base for sauces and a flavour enhancer when herbs are not available.
Store cupboard essentials which are in constant use, such as pasta and oil, were also contributed to help make sure no-one is turned away when they arrive for a meal.
Donated items included store cupboard essentials such as pasta, beans and lentils.
Food & Wellbeing Project Manager, Bill Miller (right) receives the donated items.
The Portman Estate supports The Rise Partnership Trust
Earlier this year, The Portman Estate moved offices to a new home on Great Cumberland Place and reached out to our Commnuity Programme to help find a good home for its surplus office equipment.
We were delighted to connect The Portman Estate, a property company, with our new community partner, The Rise Partnership Trust, a group of schools providing education to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The selection of nearly-new items – which included a selection of office chairs, tables, desk lamps and a bench – have been used to replace worn out items in classrooms, school offices and staff rooms, saving the schools hundreds of pounds in furniture costs.
Surplus furniture during a buisness office move now benefiting local schools.
Donated desks and office chairs have helped kit out school staff offices and staff rooms.
