Wandsworth Care Alliance

Corporate Volunteering: Milk & Honey PR Joins Forces with WCA

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At Wandsworth Care Alliance (WCA), we’re always looking for ways to connect local charities with organisations who are keen to give back to their community. That’s why we were delighted to sit down with Milk & Honey PR, a global communications agency which sees its responsibility to people, purpose and planet as core business drivers.

We spoke with Havana Frakes, Client Assistant and UK Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) lead, and Petrina Marks, Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO about how their company is already giving back and what they’re looking to do next.

Milk & Honey PR is an award-winning, B Corp-certified communications agency that helps ambitious, purpose-driven organisations tell their stories and build meaningful connections. With offices in London, Munich, New York, and Singapore, the agency specialises in strategic PR, nurturing purpose driven brand reputations and creative storytelling all with a strong focus on people, purposeful impact, and positive change.

Current Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) activities:
Milk & Honey PR has always had community spirit built into its values. The team already:

  • Partners with Plan International to support young women and girls.
  • Supports charities through their Purpose Academy, a six-month pro bono training programme that equips charities and not for profit organisations with skills in PR, storytelling, and digital communications.
  • Offers each employee two volunteer days per year to dedicate to charitable causes.

“CSR is part of how we live as a business. For us, it’s about impact, seeing the real difference we can make for people in our community.” – Petrina Marks, Senior Executive Assistant at Milk & Honey PR.

Looking local: opportunities in Wandsworth

While Milk & Honey PR has previously supported local and global charities, the agency is now keen to expand its work with a renewed focus on initiatives in Wandsworth.

They’re particularly interested in opportunities where they can:

  1. Make a tangible impact that’s visible in the community.
  2. Support causes within easy reach of their Clapham office.
  3. Contribute their professional communications skills as well as their time.
  4. Work with charities where their efforts can be used effectively, without additional costs for the charity.

From helping at food banks, to packing donations, to running creative fundraising events, the team is open to a wide range of opportunities.

Havana Frakes added, “For us, CSR is a moral obligation to give back to the communities we live and work in and team bonding is an added bonus.”

Sharing skills and stories

One of the most exciting offers from Milk & Honey PR is their willingness to share expertise. Their team is open to helping charities raise their own profile by sharing stories through their communication channels.

As Petrina said, “We’re an award-winning global PR agency, so if a local charity needs help telling their story, that’s something we’d be delighted to support.”

A First for WCA

We’re thrilled that Milk & Honey PR is the first corporate organisation featured in our Doing Good in Wandsworth initiative. By showcasing their journey, we hope to inspire other businesses across the borough to follow suit and build meaningful partnerships with local charities.

This is just the beginning. With a new Clapham office opening soon, Milk & Honey PR is ready to get even more involved in the local community.

Get involved

If you’re a Wandsworth based charity looking for corporate support, whether that’s skilled volunteering, fundraising, or practical help, Milk & Honey PR would love to hear from you.

Contact Havana at havana@milkandhoneypr.com

And if your organisation is interested in connecting with local businesses for volunteering or support, don’t forget to register your opportunities on WCA’s volunteering platform and sign up to our quarterly doing good in Wandsworth newsletter here. Please email communications@wandcareall.org.uk to be featured in our next edition. If you’re a corporation who is supporting our local charities, please do reach out so we can share all the incredible work you are doing towards the local community.

Together, we can build stronger links between businesses and charities making Wandsworth a borough where everyone benefits and is supported.

Funding available for Women’s Health activities

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Wandsworth Care Alliance is distributing, on behalf of South West London (SWL) NHS, small grants of up to £2k for projects to improve awareness, education and self-management of women’s health (particularly in areas such as menopause, urogynaecology, and menstrual health) amongst women and young girls who struggle to access traditionally delivered NHS services. You can apply to deliver at least one of the following:

  1. Targeted and culturally specific workshops/activities – This can include a number of community-based gatherings, workshops or other initiatives providing women with a safe and familiar space to discuss menopause, urogynaecology, and menstrual health and provide access to preventative care.  As part of the grant, VCSE organisations will be expected to nurture and empower up to 3 local advocates/champions from their own communities who can support the organisation in running the activities and continue to engage women around their health after the project has ended. 
  1. One large-scale, expert-led online or in person learning event per borough attended by up to 250-300 people or/and a series of learning events that reach 250-300 people in total (e.g. webinars, Q&As, workshops) addressing menopause, urogynaecology, and menstrual health, designed to be accessible, culturally appropriate, and scalable across local populations. Please note we will only provide one grant per borough for this.
  1. School-based menstrual health education programmes to improve understanding among young girls, reduce stigma, and promote long-term well-being and/or – VCSE groups applying for this type of project will need to prove they are already working in schools.

The funding programme will be targeting women who struggle to access traditionally delivered NHS services in the following areas:

  • Addington (Croydon) 
  • Belmont (Cheam & South Sutton) 
  • Benhill (Central Sutton) 
  • Berrylands (Kingston) 
  • Beverley (Kingston) 
  • Cricket Green (Merton) 
  • Croydon North (Croydon) 
  • East Merton (Merton) 
  • Fairfield (Croydon) 
  • Falconbrook (Wandsworth) 
  • Figges Marsh (Merton) 
  • Furzedown (Wandsworth) 
  • Ham (Richmond) 
  • Hampton North (Richmond)
  • Heathfield (Richmond)
  • Latchmere (Wandsworth) 
  • Lavender Fields (Merton) 
  • Norbiton (Kingston) 
  • Petersham (Richmond) 
  • Pollards Hill (Merton) 
  • Queenstown and Battersea (Wandsworth) 
  • Ravensbury (Merton) 
  • Richmond Riverside (Richmond) 
  • Roehampton (Wandsworth) 
  • Roundshaw (Beddington, Sutton) 
  • Shaftesbury (Wandsworth) 
  • St Helier (Sutton) 
  • Sutton central (Sutton) 
  • Wandle Valley (Sutton) 
  • Whitton (Richmond)

The SWL Gynaecology Clinical Network can provide materials such as patient information leaflets, links to reputable resources and power point presentations to support these activities. The team can provide you with a list of local NHS clinicians you can invite to attend your session. You are welcome to use your own clinicians, as long as the clinical information provided during the sessions is in line with NHS guidance. Please note that requests for a NHS clinician with dates and venue should be sent at least 5 weeks in advance. We have very few clinicians available and their attendance is not guaranteed even if requested on time. Please include in your budget £100 to contribute to clinicians’ expenses, as this might be needed.

Download and read the full details and guidance of this funding below.

SWL – Womens health grants fundDownload

There is going to be an online information session for organisations interested in applying to this funding opportunity on 8th October 2025 at 10 am. Book your space by emailing Jessica@wandcareall.org.uk

There will be a training session that all successful organisations and their women health champions will need to attend, run by the SWL ICB, on the 20th November 2025.

Deadline for applications is 20th October 2025 at 5 pm. Decisions on applications will be shared by the 10th November 2025. Apply here.

Power2Connect: Driving Digital Inclusion and Sustainability this September 2025

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Can you briefly introduce your organisation and the work you do? What are your main values, and how does sustainability fit into your mission?

Power2Connect are primarily a digital inclusion charity based in Wandsworth, with a mission to bridge the digital divide ensuring everyone has equal access to technology, digital skills, digital confidence and connectivity so that they are able to thrive in an ever-growing digital world.

Sustainability fits into our mission mainly through access to devices. We collect used laptops, tablets and smart phones from local residences and businesses and bring them to ROSE community centre where our team of IT volunteers who will wipe and refurbish the devices which will get redistributed back out into the Wandsworth community. We work with Schools, food banks, citizens advice and lots of community groups who will identify people who need a laptop and are not able to access them themselves.

How do you involve staff, volunteers, or service users in your sustainability efforts?

We have different volunteers at Power2Connect, we have IT volunteers who are key with helping us to wipe and repurpose devices so that they can be redistributed back into the Wandsworth community.

We also have transport volunteers who will go across the borough collecting unused devices from our drop off points and they will also deliver the devices to schools and community groups who pass them on to people to keep and use. All of our volunteers are very big on Power2Connect and spreading the word, if anyone mentions that they have a smart phone at home laying around they suggest that they consider donating the device to Power2Connect.

Service users at our digital drop ins share the work that Power2Connect are doing and they also share about our device recycling and repurposing program which allows people who hear about the drop-in sessions so they can drop in their unused devices here.

How does your sustainability work support the local Wandsworth community?
People want to help their local community and Power2Connect offers a place to do that in terms of people being able to donate their devices to local people. To date we have collected 4,500 devices, we have refurbished and redistributed 4,200 in the local borough to local schools and organisations.

We work with over 150 referral partners (schools, community groups across the borough and Wandsworth food bank) across the borough to give out these devices completely free. More devices given to Power2Connect also mean less devices that will end up in local landfills.

Have you seen any tangible results or improvements from your sustainability efforts?

We’ve had donated over 4,500 and we have distributed over 4,200 we have carried out surveys to our partners and parents have reported increase in grades and have seen an increase in motivation towards home learning and an increase in health and wellbeing with their families. These devices help the whole family, and we hear lots of lovely stories from our partners and residents who have received devices.

What lessons have you learned that other organisations could benefit from?

When it comes to sustainability it’s about thinking of how to make it as easy as possible for someone. Power2Connect have made it easy for people to be able to safely and securely drop off your own device which will get given back out to the local community to have a second life that will help others.

How can people in Wandsworth support your sustainability efforts?

You can donate your devices using the website, there are multiple drop off points across Wandsworth, you can volunteer your time, and you can donate financially. There are many ways to support.

To donate, volunteer and to learn more please visit Power2Connect’s website here.

Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIO) Network Meeting recap September 2025

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The VIO Network meeting was held online on Wednesday 10th September where we joined by speakers, job coaches Chance James and Emma Buckell of Shaw Trust who spoke on Volunteering Without Barriers: Neurodiversity and Engagement Lead Cassim of Kooth who spoke about Mental Health in volunteering.

In the meeting Shaw Trust speakers gave a presentation and discussed the ways in which organisations can incorporate methods to support neurodivergent volunteers through communication that supports the needs of neurodivergent young people, identifying and removing barriers whilst creating adaptions in volunteering opportunities. Shaw Trust shared that they are happy to offer free training to help build inclusivity in the workplace.

Kooth who support children and young people between the ages of 10 – 25 across 6 SWL boroughs gave a presentation on the services that they provide. A free online, safe and anonymous counselling and emotional wellbeing support platform. Kooth who open 365 days a year provide different types of practitioners for the needs of all young people who are referred to them or get in touch. Kooth believe that no problem is ever too small to speak with them about.

If you would like to get in to contact with any of the speakers, you can contact the speakers by their email addresses.

Chance James – chance.james@shaw-trust.org.uk
Emma Buckell – emma.buckell@shaw-trust.org.uk
Cassim Kaweesa – ckaweesa@kooth.com

Sustainability September; Sustainable Volunteering Opportunities in Wandsworth

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If you’re passionate about sustainability, community, and making a positive impact, there are plenty of volunteering opportunities and local initiatives in Wandsworth that align with greener living. From digital support to gardening, cooking, and waste reduction, here’s how you can get involved.

Volunteering opportunities

Digital Champion – Tech-Your-Time: Help bridge the digital divide by volunteering as a Digital Champion. You’ll be supporting people to gain essential digital skills, enabling them to access services, stay connected, and feel more confident online.

One-Off Volunteering Day – Pick and Pack Baby Bank Helper: Join a local baby bank for a day to sort, pack, and distribute essential items for families in need. A perfect short-term opportunity with a big impact.

Client Gardener Support Volunteer: If you love being outdoors, you can support clients with gardening, helping them connect with nature while maintaining community green spaces.

Community Growing Sessions

  • Every Sunday, 10 am – 12 pm: Join weekly gardening sessions that focus on growing food together and sharing skills.
  • Mindful Growing (Tuesdays, 12.30 – 2.30 pm): Combine sustainability with wellbeing by engaging in mindful gardening practices.

Wandsworth Digital Champions: Become part of a wider network of volunteers helping residents develop digital confidence and independence.

FoodCycle – Cooking or Hosting: Contribute to FoodCycle in SW11 by cooking or hosting free community meals made from surplus food. It’s a great way to fight food waste while bringing people together.

Sustainable charities and businesses

Curating Space to Grow – Paradise Cooperative Charity Wandsworth: A green hub for community-led food growing, education, and sustainability initiatives.

The Friends of Wandsworth Common: Support conservation and community projects to keep Wandsworth Common thriving as a shared public space.

Waste Not Want Not (Battersea): An initiative tackling food waste by redistributing surplus food to those who need it.

Reuse Workshop – WRWA: Hands-on workshops where you can learn practical upcycling and reuse skills while reducing waste.

Richmond Furniture Scheme: A social enterprise giving furniture a second life, reducing landfill waste, and supporting vulnerable people.

First Mile – Business Waste Solutions: Helping local businesses recycle more and send less to landfill with sustainable waste collection services.

Upcoming events

The Good Life – Sustainability Skills Workshops

Practical workshops designed to help you develop hands-on sustainability skills, from growing food to reducing waste at home.

Sustainable September – Green-Focused Events Across Wandsworth

Wandsworth’s “Sustainable September” returns with over 80 events and activities celebrating environmental action. Wandsworth Borough Council
Highlights include:
• Balham Big Green Fair (6 September) Wandsworth Borough Council
• Paradise Cooperative Harvest Festival (7 September) Wandsworth Borough Council
• Sustainable Saturday Spectacular (13 September) Wandsworth Borough Council
• Southfields Harvest 10th anniversary (27 September) Wandsworth Borough Council
• Nature walks, repair and recycle cafés, recycled art, community growing, fruit pressing and lots more.

Why get involved?

Sustainability starts with community. Whether you have an hour a week or just a day to give, volunteering locally helps reduce waste, supports biodiversity, and builds stronger social connections. By engaging with these opportunities, you’ll be part of the growing movement for a greener, more resilient Wandsworth.

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