From the very beginning, their enthusiasm and commitment shone through, but none of us could have predicted just how successful this partnership would become. Over the course of their captaincy year, they raised a truly remarkable £56,137 to support local children and families.

Here’s the story of how they made it happen.

A partnership built close to home

David and Susie already knew about Stripey Stork through previous Ladies’ Captain Claire Brown, who chose us as the club’s charity partner in 2021/22. That earlier connection left a lasting impression.

In their announcement to club members last April, David and Susie explained why supporting a local charity mattered so much:

“Supporting a charity right on our doorstep means even more to our members because they can have the opportunity to get involved, see the impact firsthand and help spread the word about the vital work you do.”

When David and Susie first visited our Reigate warehouse, our van was parked outside unloading after a busy day of deliveries. It felt fitting somehow because that van quickly became the symbol of the partnership and the focus for the year’s fundraising efforts.

At the partnership launch event in April 2025, Stripey Stork CEO Nicola shared why the van matters so much:

The van is so much more than a vehicle. It’s become the heart of our operation, delivering donations to local families who have nowhere else to turn. With your help, we want to keep that van on the road for the whole year, making sure it can reach every family who needs us.

She also shared the story of a mum referred to us by Epsom & St Helier Hospital who arrived to give birth with nothing for her baby and a toddler who was sharing her bed. We pulled together everything they needed – a full newborn pack, a toddler bed, clothes and toys (items all donated by generous local families) – and delivered it the very next day. The hospital told us that without this support, the children might have been taken into care. Instead, they were able to make a fresh start as a family, with the right help around them.

These are the families we help. And these are the families we ask you to hold in mind when you’re fundraising.

Celebrating 130 years of Reigate Heath Golf Club

2025 also marked an incredible milestone for Reigate Heath Golf Club as the club celebrated its 130th anniversary. From brilliant golf throughout the celebrations to a truly special Gala Dinner in June, it was a fitting tribute to the club’s rich history, traditions and strong sense of community.

As part of the Gala Dinner, members and guests took part in a silent auction featuring some fantastic prizes, including 36 holes, lunch at The Wisley and a two weeks stay at holiday home in Lymington, helping raise even more money in support of Stripey Stork.

Reigate Heath Golf Club Golfers in Stripes

Also in June, Reigate Heath got involved in our annual Stripes4Stripey campaign, our biggest community fundraising event of the year.

The day ended with the much-loved Stripes4Stripey Quiz Night, where Reigate Heath entered a team. While they may not have taken home the trophy, they more than made up for it with their generosity and enthusiasm.

Two captains, two huge challenges

August saw both captains take on extraordinary personal fundraising challenges.

David cycled an astonishing 1,000km from the world-famous St Andrews Links to Reigate Heath Golf Club in just over a week. Along the way he tackled steep climbs, unpredictable weather, breath-taking scenery and even a puncture or two, all while raising money for Stripey Stork.

Meanwhile, Susie completed an incredible golfing challenge, playing 90 holes in just five days across ten different golf clubs. From stunning fairways to the infamous Cardiac Hill, she embraced every moment of the challenge.

With both captains, and David’s cycling partner Keith, safely returned to base, celebrations at the club got underway with a Texas Scramble, BBQ and raffle, raising even more money for Stripey Stork.

You can read more about their challenges here: Reigate Heath Golf Club Captains’ Challenges

Reigate Heath Golf Club Captain’s Day

September brought Captain’s Day, a fantastic day of golf, fundraising and community spirit. Alongside the golf itself, members took part in an exciting auction featuring an incredible range of prizes, including a holiday stay, a Shark robot vacuum cleaner and vouchers for rounds of golf at some of the most prestigious courses in England.

But the standout item of the day was something truly special: a Masters flag brought back from Augusta by club member Phil, beautifully framed alongside photographs and a scorecard. Thanks to a contact of Stripey Stork’s Sarah, the flag was made even more valuable with the addition of Rory McIlroy’s signature – a signature only previous Masters winners are allowed to place in the centre of the flag.

Although the reserve price was set at £1,000, members were determined to keep the flag in the clubhouse. In true Reigate Heath style, 52 members each donated, raising £3,315 in total while ensuring the flag stayed at the club.

Bringing Christmas cheer to local children

The festive season brought even more support from the club community.

Members joined us at our Christmas Quiz Night, and David arrived carrying two huge bags filled with brand-new toys for children supported by Stripey Stork.

Club members were also invited to donate new Lego sets beneath the clubhouse Christmas tree, a simple idea that brought in a wonderful collection of gifts for local children.

Evenings of stories, laughter and fundraising

In February, the men’s charity dinner welcomed a packed room of members and guests for an evening of fundraising and entertainment.

The event was hosted by Jamie Weir from Sky Sports and featured guest speaker Harry Redknapp, whose stories and humour helped make it a memorable night while adding even more to the fundraising total.

And the ladies members supported Susie by joining her for fundraising Bridge Nights and Wine Tasting Evenings.

Fundraising Throughout the Year

Alongside these headline events, fundraising was woven into club life all year long.

From the “Captains’ Cocktail”, where £1 from each sale was donated, to raffles, sweepstakes and even playful on-course “fines”, members embraced every opportunity to support Stripey Stork.

One particularly memorable fundraiser involved a very expensive bottle of whisky donated to the club, with David organising a special raffle just for the prize.

Every initiative, big or small, contributed to the extraordinary final total.

Ending the year with the big reveal

David and Susie rounded off their captaincy year with a celebration event at the club in March.

After a day of golf, members celebrated in style with live music from The Incinerators before David and Susie presented us with an incredible cheque for £56,137.

It was a truly emotional moment and a testament to the generosity, creativity and commitment shown by the entire Reigate Heath community throughout the year.

A Genuine Partnership

Reflecting on the year, David said:

We chose Stripey Stork as our charity partner for a number of reasons. Firstly, what they do is transformative and our contributions can make a real difference. Secondly, because they are local it means we are supporting our own community. And thirdly because we know they are a joy to work with, this being the second time Captains of Reigate Heath have chosen to support them.

They are always hugely enthusiastic and supportive in the planning and delivery stages of our fundraising activities, and they really engage with our members at the key events. There is no doubt that the success of our fundraising this year is down to a genuine partnership.

And Susie added:

It’s been a privilege to work with Nicola, Sarah and the team throughout the fundraising challenges and to help support the running costs of the van. It’s been great fun, hugely rewarding and is reflected in the incredible generosity and support shown by the club members and staff throughout the year.

A final word of thanks

To David, Susie and everyone at Reigate Heath Golf Club – thank you. Your outstanding support will make a lasting and profound difference to local children and families, and we are so grateful to have shared this journey with you.

Sarah, Corporate Fundraising Manger at Stripey Stork says:

Working with David and Susie over the past year has been an absolute joy from start to finish. Their energy, creativity and genuine passion for supporting local families has been incredible to see, and the support from everyone at Reigate Heath Golf Club has completely blown us away.

To raise an astonishing £56,137 is simply phenomenal. This funding will make a huge difference to Stripey Stork and will help keep our van on the road, delivering essential items to local children and families who need support the most. Every mile that van travels represents a family receiving practical help and hope at a difficult time, and that simply wouldn’t be possible without partnerships like this one.

We’re so grateful to David, Susie, the club members and staff for embracing Stripey Stork so wholeheartedly and making us feel part of the Reigate Heath community throughout the year.

If your club, company or community group is looking for a charity partner, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at partnerships@stripeystork.org.uk.

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Alongside our regular volunteers and corporate volunteering groups, we’re also incredibly grateful for the many people who choose to use their employer volunteering or CSR days, annual leave or regular days off to spend time with us. Whether they join us for a one-off session or return regularly throughout the year, every hour given helps us reach more families who need support.

We spoke to four volunteers who balance work and volunteering in different ways. Here, they share what inspired them to join Stripey Stork and why giving their time has become such an important part of their lives.

Jennifer: Using volunteering days to support local families

Jennifer works for WSP and has been volunteering with Stripey Stork for the past two and a half years. Her employer offers two CSR volunteering days each year, which she usually uses in December to support us during one of its busiest periods.

Jennifer says:

“My oldest school friend works at Stripey Stork and introduced me to the work they do. As a solo parent myself, I understand the expense associated with raising a child and I really value the environmental and sustainability ethos behind the charity. I love that well-loved items are given new homes with local families who really need them.

Over the years I’ve helped with everything from clothes sorting and making up bundles to cleaning toys and preparing Christmas gift bags. I particularly enjoyed putting together the Christmas packages – there’s something really special about preparing gifts for children who might otherwise go without at that time of year.

There have also been opportunities for my workplace to support Stripey Stork beyond volunteering. Last year, Stripey Stork received a Summer Legacy Grant from WSP for £2,500, which helped fund mattresses as part of the charity’s safer sleep campaign.

I really look forward to my volunteer days at Stripey Stork. It’s always a welcome break from the stress of office life and volunteering really helps put things into perspective when you see the extent of need within your own local area. The endless cups of tea and biscuits are also a treat in themselves!”

Rosanna: Using workplace volunteering days throughout the year

Rosanna works for Edrington and has been volunteering with Stripey Stork for the past three years. Her employer gives her four CSR volunteering days each year, which she splits into eight half-days so she can help regularly across the year.

Rosanna says:

“My company ethos is to give more, and that really inspired me to get involved. I previously volunteered at a baby bank in Glasgow with some colleagues and was struck by the scale of need. I was deeply moved by some of the stories behind the packages we were putting together, which led me to look for a local charity—this is when I found Stripey Stork.

I’ve helped with a wide range of tasks. I’ve become quite skilled at assembling stair gates, making sure they have all the correct parts and are properly labelled. I’ve also sorted school uniforms and put together clothing packs for children of different ages. It’s lovely choosing outfits you think a child will enjoy, and adding a toy or a book.

Being able to volunteer means a lot to me. I really value the opportunity to give back, meet other local volunteers, and spend time with all the wonderful people who work at Stripey Stork”

Nadeem: Making the most of CSR volunteering days

Nadeem works for Cisco and first discovered Stripey Stork through a lunch and learn session at work. Since then, he has volunteered both as part of corporate group days with his colleagues and independently.

Nadeem says:

“We get ten days to volunteer each year, which is fantastic. Stripey Stork has become one of the main charities I always want to come back to. What I really like is the flexibility. I can join a corporate volunteering day with colleagues, but I can also sign up individually and volunteer alongside the regular Stripey Stork team using my CSR volunteering days

I’ve done a huge variety of tasks – sorting donations, organising stock, moving deliveries, cleaning baby baths and pushchairs and learning new skills like putting together stairgates and Moses baskets.

My employer also donates £7 for every volunteering hour and matches employee donations through Benevity. In a time of growing need, even small contributions from individuals and companies can make a real difference.

Volunteering at Stripey Stork feels purposeful. It reminds you that hardship exists everywhere, even in places people may not expect, and it helps you appreciate what many of us take for granted. I also love that Stripey Stork helps people start volunteering if they’re not sure where to begin. The team are always so welcoming and supportive and their positivity really rubs off on you.”

Juliet: Volunteering on a regular day off

Juliet works a four-day week, which means she has Fridays free. She uses some of that time to volunteer at Stripey Stork and aims to come in every other Friday. She has been volunteering since January last year.

Juliet says:

“My first connection with Stripey Stork came through a local friend and through earlier fundraising that supported the charity. Later, I suggested Stripey Stork as an option for one of my workplace volunteering days. Visiting the warehouse for the first time with colleagues really made an impact on me. It was such a positive, hands-on experience and I could immediately see the value of the work being done.

That experience inspired me to continue volunteering independently. It feels like such a simple way to give a bit of time while making a meaningful difference.

I usually help with sorting clothes, which I really enjoy. There’s something very satisfying about organising items, preparing packs and knowing they’ll go directly to people who need them. I also really value meeting the other volunteers – everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

Volunteering at Stripey Stork means a lot to me. It’s a grounding experience and a reminder of how important it is to support one another. None of us know what the future holds and it’s reassuring to know there are compassionate, community-driven support systems like Stripey Stork in place for people who need them. It’s something I feel genuinely proud to be part of.”

However You Volunteer, It Matters

Jennifer, Rosanna, Nadeem and Juliet all give their time in different ways – through CSR days, regular days off, or ad hoc sessions when they can. What they have in common is a desire to make a practical difference close to home.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you have enough time to volunteer, their stories show that there’s no single way to do it. Whether you can spare a few hours once a month or want to use workplace volunteering days, every contribution helps us to continue supporting local children and parents with the essentials they need for their children to thrive. visit our volunteering section on our website to see how you can get involved.

The post Turning CSR Volunteering Days into Real Impact appeared first on Stripey Stork.

More than a gift bag

Our community, once again, came together by donating brand new toiletries and gifts, which helped us create our orange gift bags. Each mum receives one of these bags filled with carefully chosen pampering treats, along with a handwritten card. The bags also contained lovely extras such as notepads and pens, fluffy socks, and other small gifts to bring an extra touch of comfort and thoughtfulness. While the bag itself may be simple, the thought behind it carries real meaning. For those who receive one, it’s a rare moment where someone has thought just about them. The handwritten message adds a personal touch, reminding them that they are seen, appreciated and worthy of kindness.

This campaign is entirely driven by donations, and thanks to the generosity of our supporters we have been able to provide 733 gift bags to mums and female carers across Surrey and Croydon this year. Every bag is the result of a community coming together to help ensure more mums feel special on Mother’s Day.

For the mums and female carers who receive them, these small orange bags often mean far more than we might expect. They are a reminder that someone is thinking of them and that their role as a parent is recognised and appreciated. Feedback from West Thornton Primary School highlights just how meaningful these gifts can be. One parent shared,

I have never received a gift from my daughter. I feel so touched that I am able to have my first gift – it means so much to me.

Another said,

Thank you so much for the amazing wellness gift. I can’t believe I have received a gift from my son – I feel blessed.

For one mum, receiving a gift from her son was not only brought her some joy but was also something positive for her son to do.

I just wanted to get in touch to thank you for helping our son organise a Mother’s Day present for me. He was so proud to give me something on Sunday. It was a really special moment and wonderful to feel appreciated. Thank you so much for doing something so unexpectedly positivefor our family.

Messages like these show that something as simple as a small bag of pampering treats and a handwritten card can create a powerful moment of joy, helping parents feel valued and celebrated on Mother’s Day.

A community effort

Many supporters dropped off donations directly to our warehouse, bringing items along to their volunteering sessions, adding them to other donations or even making a special trip just to contribute to the campaign. Our Amazon Wish List proved again to be a convenient way for individuals to support the campaign. These individual acts of kindness all added up to something truly special.

We are also incredibly grateful to the many schools and nurseries that organised collections for us. A huge thank you to the parents and carers at Banstead Prep School, First Steps Nursery Merstham, Micklefield School Reigate, The Priory School Dorking, Powell Corderoy Primary School, and Reigate Parish Primary School, who together donated a fantastic number of items to help fill our gift bags.

Community groups also got involved. Thank you to the 5th Reigate Guides, Godstone Baptist Church and The Bookham Bees WI for their brilliant collections and for encouraging their members to support the campaign.

Support from local business and partners

Local businesses stepped up too. In Coulsdon, the window of Walter & Mair Estate Agents became something rather special. The team asked their local community to bring donations for our A Gift For Mum campaign to their office. In return, they would add the name of a mum or special person to their Mother’s Day window display. It was a simple but meaningful idea that brought the community together while supporting mums in our community.

Our friends at Celtic Contractors, long-time supporters of Stripey Stork, once again contributed some wonderful donations. Alligator Pear in Tadworth generously donated a large box of beautiful items for us to include.

The Surrey County Council’s Women’s Staff Network organised a collection at their offices as part of their International Women’s Day celebrations and dropped off a fantastic selection of items at our warehouse.

We were also delighted to receive fantastic support once again from two of our corporate partners. LNRS and Unum not only donated items but also used an in-house volunteering session to help pack 237 gift bags and handwrite cards, adding that extra special personal touch. Lactalis organised a collection at their office and donated several large bags of items, which were packed into gift bags ready to be delivered.

Our team always find this session very rewarding, knowing that the gift they carefully wrap or card they write will remind someone that they are seen and valued, when they might otherwise feel forgotten on Mother’s Day.

Tamsin Dixon, Community Relations Manager LNRS

Powered by volunteers

As always this campaign wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of our volunteers. This campaign is always a team effort and our corporate volunteers have worked alongside our regular Team Stork volunteers to ensure that every bag was thoughtfully packed and ready for delivery.

Every donation, collection and act of support has helped make this campaign possible, ensuring that more mums and female carers receive a small reminder that they are valued and thought of.

Finally, we wish all the mums and female carers we support a very happy Mother’s Day.

The post Helping Mums Feel Celebrated This Mother’s Day appeared first on Stripey Stork.

But something children love and value so deeply can quietly become a source of pressure for parents.

When money is tight, a costume, however simple, is another cost to find. We hear from our referral partners about children who would rather stay off school than stand out because they don’t have a costume like everyone else. No child should feel excluded from a day that is meant to celebrate reading and belonging.

Costumes are not an ’essential’ like a cot or pram, and they are not a core part of our work, but because dressing-up items often arrive in donations alongside toys and clothes, we keep them. We store them carefully for moments like this, so that when a request comes in, we can respond.

And this is where our volunteer Lottie comes in.

Lottie has taken real care with our World Book Day packs. She doesn’t simply pull a costume from a box. She thoughtfully matches outfits with the right books, adds accessories wherever she can, and creates complete little story sets. Each pack feels considered and personal. It turns a donated costume into something special. Something that says to a child, you matter, and you deserve to take part.

That ability to be responsive and flexible and to meet needs as they arise is only possible because of Team Stork. Because of the donations we receive. Because of the volunteers who sort, store and prepare items with such care. Because our shelves are stocked, we can say yes when a referral partner gets in touch.

If you would like to support our work, the best place to start is our online wishlist. It is always up to date with the items families need most. From time to time, we will make specific seasonal call-outs, so do keep an eye on our social media channels.

Every donation helps us do what we do best: remove barriers, reduce stress, and make sure children can feel confident, included and ready to learn on World Book Day and every day.

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In this blog we highlight the partnership that we’ve built with Therfield school in Leatherhead. They first referred to us in March 2025 and since then we have supported 274 families with essential items, school uniform and Christmas presents. Over the past year this partnership has continued to grow, with students choosing to support Stripey Stork through their annual RAG week.

We asked a senior leader at Therfield School what this partnership means to them.

At Therfield School we are really proud of the relationship we have built with Stripey Stork since March 2025. When I first visited the Stripey Stork warehouse in Reigate I was absolutely blown away by the scale of the organisation and the wonderful things they were doing for the community.

We have since developed a brilliant partnership and we are really proud to have raised over £2500 for Stripey Stork through non-uniform days, our RAG week and our recent Battle of the Bands event. Stripey Stork have helped some of our most vulnerable families during some of their most challenging moments, including providing hygiene packs, clothing packs and winter warmer packs for families in need. Our students (and their mums!) absolutely loved the Mother’s Day gift bags we were able to provide them with, these were such high quality, full of beautiful luxury bath products, our students were really proud to be able to gift them. One of our mums said: I just wanted to pass on my enormous thanks for the kind and lovely gesture. The gifts were such a wonderful surprise and the card a really lovely touch. The wonderful products were items that I as a Mum wouldn’t ordinarily purchase for myself and were so gratefully received, I felt so very lucky.

The Christmas campaign, Santa Stork, was equally successful, we were able to provide high-quality gifts for some of our most disadvantaged students to take home, we supported them with wrapping them in school. It really meant a lot for them to be able to gift their brothers and sisters with presents they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford, whilst making sure they got something too! Stripey Stork have also provided all of our disadvantaged students with rucksacks full of stationery which have supported them with being prepared for school and eased the financial cost for families of replacing equipment or purchasing it in the first place.

Our partnership with Stripey Stork means that when something goes wrong for one of our families, or they are in need of a little bit more support, we have a clear pathway and a first port of call to go to for additional help. This isn’t something that we had previously – so we are extremely grateful for Stripey Stork’s work and the dedication of their workers and volunteers. Thank you, from the entire Therfield School community.

It’s incredibly encouraging to see young people developing an understanding of the challenges faced within their communities and choosing to take action to support them. The Sixth Form’s annual RAG week is a brilliant example of this in action. Through their creativity, energy and enthusiasm, students raised vital funds for Stripey Stork, helping us provide essential items to families facing hardship across Surrey and Croydon. Some of the highlights included a bake sale, the teacher lip sync battle, student talent show and the RAG concert.

Their fundraising makes a real and lasting difference, and we’re hugely grateful for their compassion, commitment and community spirit.

Could your school support us with fundraising events?

We’d love to hear from any schools interested in fundraising for Stripey Stork. Whether it’s a non-uniform day, a sponsored challenge, a RAG week or something completely different, your support helps us continue providing essential items to families across Surrey and Croydon. Every fundraiser, big or small, makes a real difference. Visit our website for details.

Are you a teacher or school staff, who wants to support students in hardship with practical items?

We provide practical support to families across Surrey and Croydon, helping them access essential items such as school uniforms, clothing, toiletries and equipment. Our aim is to make getting help simple and stress-free, ensuring families can focus on what matters most while we step in to provide the items they need, when they need them. As a member of staff you can easily make a referral to us on behalf of a family. Details on how to refer to us are on our website.

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For many children, not having the right uniform, shoes, backpack, stationery or PE kit can make school a daily challenge. It can mean standing out for the wrong reasons, missing out on activities or experiencing bullying and stigma. These are barriers no child should face.

We aim to removes those barriers. By providing the essentials, we help children feel like they belong, boost confidence in the classroom and allow them to focus on learning.

Increased support in 2025

As demand grew, we supported 7,503 children across 4,116 families. Our 2025 support included:

• 21,170 items of school uniform
• 2,567 filled school bags
• 3,648 pairs of school shoes/trainers

School uniform remains one of the most requested forms of support, helping children to attend school feeling included and ready to learn. This year, we provided:

• 3,538 polo shirts
• 3,971 pairs of trousers
• 2,479 skirts and pinafores
• 3,460 shirts
• over 1,000 jumpers

Each of our school bags is thoughtfully prepared and filled with the essentials children need, including a water bottle, notebook, pens and pencils, colouring supplies, highlighter pens, an eraser, ruler, pencil sharpeners, a pencil case and an activity or puzzle book. Secondary school bags also include a scientific calculator and maths set.

This year, we provided

• 177 pre-school bags
• 722 infant school bags
• 1,011 junior school bags
• 657 senior school bags
• 611 lunchboxes and PE bags

Our long-term local charity partner, Sal’s Shoes, once again helped ensure children could start school in well-fitted, suitable footwear by providing brand-new school shoes and trainers. Having the right shoes can make a huge difference to a child’s comfort, confidence and ability to fully take part in the school day.

This year, we distributed

• 1,346 pairs of trainers
• 2,302 pairs of school shoes

The difference this support makes

Our partners see first-hand what happens when children don’t have the essentials they need for school and the difference that timely support can make.

Without this provision, 60% of partners felt families would have gone without some items altogether or been forced into debt to cover the cost and half believed children would have had to attend school with unsuitable items. As one partner shared:

The parent would have had to borrow money from family, or not pay their bills, to afford the uniform.

The impact of receiving support goes far beyond practical items. 75% of partners told us it had a significant impact on children’s wellbeing and sense of inclusion.

That confidence carries into the classroom. 82% of partners felt the support contributed very significantly or quite a lot to children’s school engagement and attendance.

Perhaps most powerfully, the benefits are felt across the whole household. 92% of partners said parental or carer worry was reduced, 55% said families could redirect limited resources to other essentials and 75% reported children were happier and more confident.

Reaching more families, in more ways

As demand for School Days continued to grow, so did the way we delivered support. This year, deliveries became an even more vital part of how we reached families. In 2024, we delivered School Days referrals to 1,792 families; in 2025, that number rose to 2,746 families, supporting 4,509 children. By delivering directly, we saved our referral partners valuable time and costs, helping them support as many families as needed without additional pressure.

We also expanded our pop-up shop model where families had the chance to attend in person, try on items and choose what each child needed. Stock was delivered in advance and any surplus collected to prevent waste.

In 2025, we supported 14 pop-up events across 7 primary schools, 1 secondary school, and community settings including baby banks, foodbanks, a community hub and a mental health and wellbeing centre.

Powered by volunteers

School Days wouldn’t be possible without our incredible volunteers, who give their time, energy and care to support children in our community. Throughout the year, regular volunteers and corporate groups helped sort pre-loved uniform, make up referrals and prepare school bags. One volunteer said:

Just blown away by the scale of the need in the local community. The work Stripey Stork do is amazing!

We were proud to involve young people too, from Duke of Edinburgh participants to students from Woodfield School, offering supported volunteering that builds skills and confidence. Local schools also joined in – notably Reigate Grammar School, which celebrated its 350th anniversary by pledging 350 school bags and spending a day volunteering.

In total, volunteers contributed 2,747 hours to School Days in 2025, helping clean, check, sort, and pack items and supporting referral partners, ensuring thousands of children start school ready, confident, and included.

Strengthening support through schools

In 2025, we worked more closely with schools and their staff to make sure families facing hardship could access the practical support they needed. With the cost-of-living crisis putting pressure on households and other support services stretched thin, schools were often the first to spot children struggling.

We received referrals from 144 schools, up from 86 in 2024, and supported 3,829 families via schools, compared to 1,917 the previous year.

Alongside this, our donation drives collected high-quality, pre-loved school uniform from families, schools, PTAs and community groups. Many schools have more unbranded stock than they can sell or store. Through School Days, these items were repurposed, helping children start school fully equipped while reducing waste.

Moving forward

With your continued help, we can ensure that even more children walk through the school gates feeling confident, included and ready to thrive.

There are lots of ways you can support the School Days campaign including;

• Donating your pre-loved uniform. We accept donations of preloved and new non-branded school uniform of any colour, PE and swim kit, and brand new backpacks and stationery. A full list of items we can accept, and how to donate, can be found here.
• Organising a collection of uniform. Please get in touch with us if your school, PTA or community group would like to collect uniform. Email school@stripeystork.org.uk.
• Making a cash donation. This helps us to provide some of the items that need to be bought new, and to meet special requests, for example for adaptive uniform.
• Holding a stationery donation drive. This is a great way for your school, business or community group to support the campaign. Please get in touch with school@stripeystork.org.uk if you’d like help with a poster or any more information about doing this.

If you are a professional working with families who need support with school essentials, please see our referrals page.

The post School Days 2025 appeared first on Stripey Stork.

The report includes regional data, as well as trends around child poverty, and summarises the difficulties faced by children in low-income families in the UK.

The long-term data shows clear differences in how poverty affects different groups. Children have consistently faced the highest poverty rates of any age group, and this gap has widened again in recent years. After falling in the early 2000s, child poverty rose from the early 2010s onwards, dipped briefly during the pandemic, and has since climbed to its highest level in over a decade (31% in 2023/24).

The report also shows that more people than ever are now classed as being in ‘deep poverty’ – meaning their annual household incomes don’t meet the cost of essentials. Or as The Guardian puts it, ‘the poorest families are getting poorer’.

Child poverty remains high, at 4.5 million children.

The report describes families with children as being a group facing ‘unacceptably high’ levels of poverty. Children in single parent families, larger families, and those with disabilities are still disproportionately affected, and more families than the previous year are now in ‘deep poverty’, with an income far below the poverty line where they could access a reasonable standard of living. Although recent announcements of changes to the 2 Child Benefit limit are welcome and are expected to have an impact in the future, this will take years – the change is forecast to only reduce the number of children in poverty to 4 million, by around 2030. And with nearly 70% of families referred to us having 1 or 2 children, there will be no change for the majority of the demographic we support.

Child poverty in areas of Surrey and Croydon is rising.

England still has the highest child poverty rate of all the UK (31%). The South East has an overall poverty rate of 19%, and London of 26%.

Here, we can examine at constituency level the rates of child poverty in any area: https://www.jrf.org.uk/uk-poverty-statistics/geography.

Though this is by no means the only indicator of need, below are some of the child poverty estimated rates for some of the key areas we work in, compared to the report released last year.

While these numbers are lower than some areas of the country, they are still worryingly high. These seemingly small percentages still represent thousands of children in poverty. For areas that are seen as affluent, where it is possible to achieve a very high standard of living, it can still be difficult to ‘see’ the true picture of life in poverty for those whose standards of living are far lower (and some of the families we help tell us that this stigma can be a barrier to them getting help). Poverty exists everywhere, and in some areas of Surrey (at a more local level than the data above) we see higher levels of deprivation: Surrey data confirms that there are neighbourhoods within the most deprived 20% of England, and a further 22 among the most deprived 30%. Behind the data, are families like this one, with few belongings, moved suddenly to new accommodation, and unable to keep warm.

Our continued commitment to families in poverty.

We know that the need for our service remains significant, and the data just reinforces the attention we’re paying to delivering more in areas like Spelthorne and Woking. In Croydon, where we have been focusing our efforts on increasing provision, we can see there are real increases in need that mean we must continue to do what we can as a service to connect and provide there.

With the cost of living, lack of affordable housing, childcare and other significant financial challenges still ongoing, we know that our service will continue to be a lifeline for families and the partners who support them. We also remember that there are many families who may not – on paper – meet the definition of poverty that data like this report examines, but still face hardship. Some for a short time, some for the long term, and as we are here for them now, so we want to be there for every family who will need us over the coming years.

Your support is invaluable in helping us to do that. You can help by donating your pre-loved items, making a financial donation or fundraising for us. Every donation makes a real difference to a family.

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How does it work?

Sharegift specialise in accepting small shareholdings that would cost more to sell than they are worth, generating substantial funding for charities like us. They also accept larger donations of shares.

Simply mention Stripey Stork when you make your gift.

Who are ShareGift?

ShareGift is an independent UK registered charity (No.1052686) which specialises in releasing the money locked up in small shareholdings, but accept donations of any size. ShareGift works by collecting together small lots of shares until there are enough to sell and then donating the resulting proceeds to a wide range of charities.

To date ShareGift has donated over £60million and supported thousands of charities, and last year we were delighted that they chose to support our work.

ShareGift make their grants based upon a variety of factors including the suggestions of their donors. You can help support our work by donating any size of shareholdings you may have to ShareGift and mentioning Stripey Stork.

Simply visit www.sharegift.org or reach out to the team on 020 7930 3737 or help@sharegift.org.

You can continue to support our work in many ways including donating your pre-loved items, making a financial donation or by taking a look at the many other ways to donate.

The post Turn your unused shares into support for Stripey Stork appeared first on Stripey Stork.

And that’s exactly where Santa Stork steps in. That’s where you came in.

Every year, something extraordinary unfolds. A community of Team Stork volunteers, corporate partners, local businesses, schools and individuals come together with one shared belief: that every child deserves to feel magic on Christmas morning.

Your support matters

Thanks to you, we have supported 5,650 children.

Each gift bag they receive is carefully put together by one of our volunteers, who handpick a present based on the child’s age and interests. It might be a Lego set to fire up their imagination, a cuddly doll, a football ready for kickabouts or an art set to let their creativity run wild. Every bag includes the main gift, a book, a fun stocking filler and a little chocolate treat, all bundled together to create a moment of pure Christmas joy on Christmas morning.

Making Christmas Personal, One Wish at a Time

This year, we once again teamed up with Truly Giving to help even more children experience the excitement of opening a gift on Christmas morning. When a child had their heart set on something specific, our referral partners could submit a request directly to Truly Giving. From there, kind-hearted donors stepped in to purchase that exact present, ensuring each child received something truly special and chosen just for them. This year Truly Giving supported 1,200 children, this is in addition to the 5,650 children directly supported by us.

This year, Truly Giving provided over 1,200 Christmas presents to children who may otherwise have gone without, and we simply could not have done it without Stripey Stork. We love working with them – their support with administration, transport, storage and delivery is invaluable. Our volunteers were truly blown away when they saw the scale of the work Stripey Stork does to support children and families all year round, and by the care, compassion and attention shown by every member of their staff and volunteer team. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and feel genuinely blessed to work alongside them.

Susie, Truly Giving

The Community That Made Santa Stork Happen

Santa Stork is made possible by the incredible generosity of our community, and this year truly reflected that spirit. We’re so grateful to everyone who shared their time, donated items and supported us in so many ways. From dedicated volunteers to organisations that donated and hosted collections, as well as the schools and community groups who came together to gather items. Every effort helped make a real difference. Here are some of the highlights from this year’s campaign:

We were supported by a huge number of individuals who chose to donate by making a monetary donation, a virtual purchase through our online shop or buying items through our Amazon wish list. The shop allowed supporters to fund specific items we were running low on, giving us the flexibility to buy exactly what was needed. Amazon parcels arrived in their hundreds, and because the wish list was regularly updated to reflect incoming requests, we knew the gifts being sent were the right ones. When stocks of popular items such as Barbie dolls, footballs and teenage gifts ran low, the response was incredible, with Amazon vans arriving full of parcels just for Santa Stork.

Individual heros

Every year, Emily and Jo bring a touch of magic to Santa Stork with their generous donation of Lego sets. Their thoughtfulness turns Christmas morning into a moment of excitement and creativity for children across Surrey and Croydon, sparking imaginations and smiles in countless homes.

Penny Kirk’s support for Stripey Stork shines all year round, and this Christmas she went above and beyond by rallying the Oxted community to collect over 400 gifts. Her energy, organisation and commitment brought the community together, turning generosity into joy for children across Surrey and Croydon.

Kirsty from Socials with KL, Georgia, a trainee teacher whose mum is a referral partner, and Kate from Surrey Mamas really went above and beyond in their support for Santa stork. Their donations made a significant difference to us being able to meet every request.

Freddie from Oakhyrst Grange School championed Stripey Stork by delivering a presentation to his fellow pupils, who then voted to make us their Charity of the Year. The school community quickly rallied together, organising a fantastic Santa Stork collection. Freddie’s enthusiasm has inspired his classmates and helped bring festive joy to children across Surrey and Croydon, showing how one young person can make a real difference.

Supporter Stephanie found a fun way to support Santa Stork. She had her annual gingerbread house decorating party for her children and friends and asked them to donate a gift.

15 Surrey libraries acted as drop off points for Santa Stork, making it easy for supporters from all corners of the county to donate gifts. By opening their doors to the community, the libraries became hubs of festive generosity, helping people come together to share kindness and ensure that requests could be fulfilled.

Reigate Methodist Church held their annual Christmas Tree Festival featuring the Stripey Stork tree. Their congregation also kindly collected brand new gifts.

Ralph James Estate Agents Reigate once again supported Santa Stork at the Reigate Business Guild Christmas Fair selling cakes and hosting a game to raise a fabulous £400.

Christmas concerts are a special way of bringing communities together and spreading festive cheer and Walton Voices and Voicerox did exactly that through their performances. Alongside filling venues with music and celebration, both choirs raised funds for Santa Stork through audience donations, with members of Walton Voices also collecting gifts. Their concerts combined community spirit with generosity, making a real difference in helping Santa Stork fulfil requests this year.

Sporting clubs also brought people together in support of Santa Stork, showing how shared activities can create real community connection. Reigate Squash Club supported Santa Stork by attending our quiz and donating a selection of sporty gifts, while Reigate Ladies Joggers combined their annual tinsel run with a charity rafle to raise money for Santa Stork. Pleiades Netball Club also rallied their members to collect gifts. Each club’s efforts helped turn team spirit into generous support that made a real difference. In2Training Gym in Farnham also contributed by asking their members to donate brand new gifts. The response was fantastic and helped us to stock our shelves with the gifts we needed.

Churches in the local community once again played a vital role in supporting Santa Stork, showing how faith and fellowship can bring people together for a common cause. The United Benefice of Lingfield and Dormansland organised a fantastic collection and arrived with a huge car load of gifts. Christ the King Church in Salfords organised a collection once again, while St John’s Blindley Heath, St Nicholas Church and St Stephen’s in South Godstone all rallied their congregations to gather gifts.

We were also incredibly grateful to Barclays Walton, Specsavers Dorking and Tesco Hookwood, who all donated lovely collections and helped spread the word about Stripey Stork in their local areas. Their support played an important part in raising awareness and generosity within the wider community.

Schools Bringing the Spirit of Christmas to Life

Across 24 schools, nurseries, and colleges, children and young people brought festive spirit to life by collecting gifts and chocolate for Santa Stork. Some schools have supported us for many years and are long-term friends and supporters of Santa Stork, while others were inspired to get involved for the very first time — with school communities and parents and carers responding in droves. In some cases, individual schools contributed hundreds of donations. It was wonderful to see such kindness and generosity, proving how powerful community action can be in helping fulfil festive requests. Banstead Prep School, Dunottar School, Glenesk School, Glyn School, Kiddi Caru Nursery, King Edward’s Witley School, Little Raccoons Nursery, Mickelfield School, Nescot College Public Services Department, Oakhyrst Grange School, Playtime Day Nursery Chessington, Powell Corderoy Primary School Dorking, Reigate Grammar School, Reigate Parish Church Primary School, Reigate St Mary’s Preparatory and Choir School, Sandcross Primary School, St Aiden’s School, St Bede’s School, St John’s School Letherhead, St Matthews Infant School Cobham, The Ashcombe School, The Hawthorns School and The Weald School Beare Green.

Festive Fun with a Purpose

This year marked the first-ever Santa Stork Christmas Quiz at Reigate Manor Hotel, following the success of our Stripes4Stripey quiz in June. Guests brought along brand-new gifts and teams made up of volunteers, staff, corporate partners, referral partners and friends competed across 10 rounds of Christmas-themed questions. Laughter, friendly rivalry and generosity filled the room, with the event raising £3,000 that will help Santa Stork bring Christmas joy to families across Surrey and Croydon.

Workplaces Turning Festive Spirit into Real Impact

13 different corporate groups joined us throughout Santa Stork. Volunteers logged donations, created Christmas jumper bundles and carefully assembled present bundles – while embracing the festive spirit with Christmas jumpers, music and mince pies. Many groups went further, collecting donations in their workplaces and sharing the Santa Stork story with colleagues, friends, and family and even donating gifts themselves. Thank you Celtic Contractors, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Naked Ideas, Partners Group, Peoplesafe, Pfizer UK, Powertutors UK, TotalEnergies, Toyota,  Unum UK, WTW and Your Finance Team.

Long-term supporters Celtic Contractors went above and beyond this Santa Stork campaign. They came to our Christmas quiz, volunteered at one of our corporate sessions and donated a remarkable number of gifts. Their energy, generosity and festive spirit brought joy to every session and played a key role in helping Santa Stork fulfil requests during the season.

Morr and Co brought festive cheer to Santa Stork in more ways than one this year. They joined in the quiz and stepped into the role of Santa Claus, personally delivering gifts to partners across Surrey. Beyond that, they lent crucial support by transporting donations between locations, ensuring everything reached Santa Stork in time to be packed into gift bundles. Their generosity, energy, and festive spirit helped make a real difference in bringing Christmas joy to families.

Meet the Elves Behind the Magic

Behind every gift and every festive bundle, our wonderful volunteer Elves have been hard at work, bringing energy, cheer and care to Santa Stork. From sorting donations to assembling presents, no task is too big or small for them and their enthusiasm fills every corner with festive spirit. Thank you to: Alison B, Alison N, Amy, Angie, Ann G, Ann T, Anna M, Anna T, Anne Marie, Bern, Bridget, Caroline, Caz, Carolyn, Celia, Debbie, Elizabeth, Emily, Emma, Fiona, Georgina, Helen, Jill, Joanne, John, Julie, Kate, Kathryn, Katie, Kersten, Laura, Lois, Lottie, Lynn, Margarida, Megan, Melanie, Moira, Pauline, Penny, Rowena, Sally, Sarah B, Sarah C, Susan Hi, Susan Ho and Viv.

This project would also not be possible without the hard work of our staff team: Abbie, Chris, Gill, Jayne, Millie, Sara, Sarah and Victoria.

What Christmas Joy Really Means

Behind every request is a child dreaming of the magic of Christmas morning – the excitement of unwrapping a gift and the reassurance that Santa hasn’t forgotten them. Santa Stork brings that joy to life, creating moments of wonder and happiness that, even if just for a little while, make the world feel kinder, brighter and full of festive magic.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the beautiful gifts you provided for Crawley Happy Baby. I cannot begin to tell you the joy they brought to our children and their mothers.

Happy Baby

In a time of such uncertainty and isolation, your kindness provides a moment of joy. These gifts were so much more than items, they are a message to this mother that she and her children are valued and supported by their new community

West Thornton Primary School

This Christmas, a particular family were experiencing significant financial hardship, struggling to provide even the most basic necessities. The amazing support from Stripey Stork and all of its supporters who donate every year, has brightened up this child’s life. This kindness eased the pressure on the family. The mum was truly grateful at the generosity of the gift and this has enabled them to feel a sense of relief this Christmas. She was very emotional and thankful.

Harris Primary Purley Way

And finally… Thank you

Baldwin and Robinson Law
Banstead Guides
Banstead Prep School
Barclays Chessington
Bassil Shipman Trust
Betchworth and Buckland Society
Betty Riseley Trust
Beauty Banks
Books by Bow
Booktrust
Celtic Contractors Ltd
CJ from Sal’s Shoes
Creative Assembly
Dean and Charlotte Holborn
Dunottar School
Emily & Jo Kennett
Father Jim Christ is King Church Salfords
FESPA
Fourleaf
Gallagher
Gamely
Gibson Games
Glenesk School
Glyn School
Holburns stores
Horley Town Council
Horley WI
In2Training Gym, Farnham
Jane Babbage
Kiddi Caru Nursery
King Edward’s Witley School
Lactalis
Little Raccoons Nursery
LNRS
MAM Baby
Mickelfield School
Morr & Co
Music Gateway
Naked Ideas
Nescot College Public Services Department
Nestle Purina
Nicola B Designs
Oakhyrst Grange School
Partners Group
Penguin Random House
Penny Kirk & friends
Peoplesafe
Pfizer
Playtime Day Nursery Chessington
Pleiades Netball Club
Powell Corderoy Primary School, Dorking
Powertutors UK
Ralph James Estate Agents, Reigate
Rebecca Paul MP
Reigate Grammar School
Reigate Heath Golf Club
Reigate Joggers
Reigate Manor Hotel
Reigate Methodist Church
Reigate Parish Church Primary School
Reigate St Mary’s Preparatory and Choir School
Reigate Squash Club
Rickwood Estates
Royal Caribbean Cruise Group
Sal’s Shoes
Sandcross Primary School
Scheidt & Bachmann
Socials with KL
Specsavers Dorking
St Aiden’s School
St Bede’s School
St John’s Chruch Blindley Heath
St John’s School Letherhead
St Joseph’s
St Matthews Infant School Cobham
St Nicholas Church Godstone
St Stephen’s South Godstone
Stephanie and friends
Surrey Libraries
Surrey Mamas
Surrey Moves
Tesco Hookwood
The Ashcombe School
The Hawthorns School
The Rowan Bentall Trust
The Watermill Pub, Dorking
The Weald School, Beare Green
Therfield School
Total Energies
Toyota
Trinity Oaks CofE Primary School
United Benefice of Lingfield and Dormansland
Unum UK
Vinarchy
Voicerox Choir
Waitrose Distribution Centre Support Team
Walton Voices
Wingate Foundation
WTW
Your Finance Team

The post Santa Stork 2025: Behind the Presents appeared first on Stripey Stork.

Family matters

‘Family’ has been the running theme of Stripey Stork’s year, which is why it has been specifically chosen for our festive bauble this year. This isn’t a new word to be thrown around at Stripey Stork, in fact, it’s one of the cornerstones of our strapline: ‘Family. Support. Recycled’. It’s why we do what we do – we help families experiencing hardship in Surrey and Croydon. This year, however, we wanted to give the families we support more of a voice in our service, so that it can be shaped with them, rather than for them.

The kick start into this mindset came earlier in the year, when we signed the Good Company’s End Poverty Pledge, reaffirming our commitment to working towards a poverty-free Surrey. Although we already embed many of the pledge’s principles, an important and tangible action for us was to form our own Lived Experience Action Group (LEAG). This consists of members of our Advisory Panel, specifically those with lived experience, and some key members of staff. They meet regularly to discuss any potential changes or enhancements to our service, review the language we use, consider how information could be better accessed, and explore improved ways of gathering feedback. As a result of this group, we have already changed the structure and content of parts of our website; giving families a clearer pathway and informative experience when seeking support from us.

Our core service

2025 in numbers

Although we believe that numbers are not the ultimate measure of our impact, they do provide a useful indicator of how well we are meeting demand for our service.

In 2025, we’ve helped a total of 16,907 families (and 30,280 children). This includes referrals made on behalf of specific families, as well as items collected or delivered in bulk by other baby banks and partner organisations. Please note, this year and going forward, we’re including the additional families supported through our Santa Stork Christmas campaign (more on this below).

We’ve given out approximately 82,650 items this year, including:

• 5,619 clothes packs.
• 585 newborn packs.
• 1,252 safe places to sleep.

We’ve worked with 441 different partner organisations who refer families to us that need a helping hand.

School Days

School Days is our school readiness campaign, providing preloved and new school essentials all year round so children (up to college age) can thrive in their education.

In 2025, we’ve supported 4,116 families (7,503 children) with school items, including:

• 2,567 filled school bags.
• 3,648 pairs of school shoes/trainers (thanks to Sal’s Shoes for their continued support).
• 21,170 items of school uniform.

Now in its third year, School Days is supporting more families than ever before – 32% more than in 2024. As the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit hard, school items are understandably not a priority for parents struggling to make ends meet when there are bills to pay, mouths to feed and homes to heat.

To manage the high amount of School Days donations, collections and deliveries, our project site at Raven House in Redhill continues to work hard for us. This year, we’ve expanded the range of school items we stock, worked more proactively with schools and increased directly delivering to them. We have supported 14 pop-up uniform shops, which are a brilliant way to reach families and give them the choice they deserve.

We are especially thankful to all the local schools and PTA’s that have organised preloved uniform collections and coat drives, enabling families to donate good quality items their children have outgrown or no longer need. It truly reflects ‘Family. Support. Recycled’ and it means so much to families like this:

“The family had children who were in school uniform that was too small for them and marked/stained. This opened them up to bullying, embarrassment and reluctance to engage. Since receiving the items, the children have felt more included and the mum feels less guilt about not being able to provide for the children. She was overwhelmed with the kindness of your charity.”

Spreading Our Wings

We are now in the final year of the Spreading Our Wings three-year programme (ending June 2026), funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. Below are some highlights of what we’ve been able to achieve in terms of capacity and reach:

• Our target was to have the operational capacity to respond to 20,000 referrals a year by the end of 2026. The changes we have made, including the new workshop, put us in strong position to do that as demand continues to grow year on year.
• We have 24 regular delivery hubs (16 more than a year ago), enabling us to deliver specifically requested and bulk items closer to referral partners, where travelling to us was previously a barrier.
• In the last year, 286 referral organisations have used our delivery service, supporting 8,111 families (that’s 59% of the total families supported by us this year). This has been made possible because of our very own electric van which continues to be an essential ‘team member’.
• We are now working with 65 referral organisations in Croydon (who mostly access our service through deliveries). This has been a focus for us as it’s an area of high need which was previously underrepresented by support services like ours. We have also extended our reach to West Surrey – specifically Woking, Spelthorne, Guildford and Waverley, with rising referral numbers in Surrey Heath.
• In the past year, we have benefited from 19,083 volunteer hours from a broad range of volunteers, including 2,839 hours through our corporate volunteering programme. We have extended our volunteering offer to include more opportunities, such as Saturday sorting sessions and home-based working, which has helped us process the high volume of preloved donations arriving weekly.

“Fab organisation – referral system is easier now and excellent to have the Guildford hub to pick up from. Makes my life so much easier knowing I don’t have to factor a long drive to my busy diary.”

– Referral Partner Survey, 2025 –

New workshop

A key element of this project has been the opening of our new workshop at 55 Albert Road North – next door to our Reigate warehouse – with the official opening event held in May. This newly renovated, additional space has been a dream come true, and we honestly don’t know how we managed without it.

The workshop provides an accessible space with designated areas to process, safety check and clean large equipment items. It has also enabled us to welcome more volunteers and benefit from the additional storage space.

Partnerships

We are grateful to the businesses, schools and community groups that choose to support us – through giving their time, energy and/or donations. Here are some of this year’s highlights.

Unum

At the beginning of 2024, we were delighted to be chosen as the charity partner for Unum’s Dorking office for the next two years. Following a very successful partnership – raising over £45,000 to date, joining us onsite for over 1,200 volunteering hours, supporting all of our seasonal campaigns, regularly donating preloved items, and, last but absolutely not least, covering the first year’s rent for our new workshop – we were even more delighted when they announced they would like to extend the partnership for a third year.

“Unum is so proud to be supporting Stripey Stork as our charity partner and we are delighted to have been able to play a part in their growth journey. The work that the charity does is so impactful and I cannot wait to be on site sorting out donations again soon.”

– Mark Till, Chief Executive Officer, Unum –

Reigate Heath Golf Club

Another partnership highlight was being chosen by Captains David and Susie as their charity of the year, following a visit to our warehouse. Over the summer, they both took on immense personal challenges: David cycling 1,000km from St Andrews Golf Club in Scotland to his home course, while Susie playing 90 holes in 5 days across 10 different clubs. Their incredible efforts raised over £20,000, and you can read more about their challenges here.

As if we weren’t blown away enough, their Captains’ Day in September raised a further £18,000. They were then able to add this to some more funds already raised and double it by donating through our Big Give Christmas Challenge in December (more on this below). What a shining example of what can be achieved through determination and imagination, supported by a network of friends and players.

Reigate Squash Club

Another mutually beneficial partnership is with Reigate Squash Club, who have also extended their support into the second year. In 2025, they held a summer BBQ, ran a racket competition, took part in Run Reigate, got a team together for both of our quiz events, organised collections and supported our seasonal campaigns. A truly first-class team!

In-kindness

New items donated – either by small independent businesses or national corporations keen to support us with surplus or discontinued stock – are an important part of our model. MAM Baby really get this and have continued to support us with ongoing and generous donations of baby bottles, sterilisers, breast pumps and soothers, ensuring these essential stocks are kept topped up. They have also seen the impact of this support through regularly volunteering with us.

Schools

We always say at Stripey Stork that kindness starts at a young age. We love seeing children embrace this ethos and are always happy to support schools when they choose to support us through their activities; from organising donation drives to running gift collections. We’re grateful to every single school for thinking of us and it’s no surprise that we are often front of mind, as many of the schools that support us are also on the receiving end of this kindness. Two schools, in particular, deserve a special mention because of their fundraising creativity and enthusiasm.

At St Johns School in Leatherhead, a group of Year 8 students organised a 10-mile sponsored walk as part of the First Give programme to raise funds and awareness of hidden child poverty. As a powerful act of empathy, they also took part in a ‘Go Without Day’, arriving at school without bags, snacks or essentials. They went on to win the competition, securing £1,000 in additional funding on top of the money they had already raised. You can read more about their fundraising efforts here.

As part of Reigate Grammar School’s 350th birthday celebrations, they challenged themselves to donate and fill 350 secondary school bags for the local children we support. The impact was felt far and wide, with hundreds of children able to start the academic year with confidence and dignity.

Our wonderful volunteers

“This is an opportunity to make a significant difference to the lives of children and parents who are struggling. The culture at Stripey is inclusive, friendly, encouraging and built on an ethos of high standards. So much care and effort goes into quality checking and preparing the items that are needed. I love telling people about what we do at Stripey Stork as so proud to be part of the team.”

– Volunteer Survey, 2025 –

The feeling is entirely mutual. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of what we do, and we genuinely couldn’t do it without them. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication, kindness and collaboration. It was fitting that volunteer Sam was recognised for these very qualities at the Mayor of Reigate and Banstead Volunteers Awards, scooping up an Individual Award.

Our volunteers rise to the challenge year after year so we can continue to meet growing demand, and they’ve seized opportunities along the way. This includes some of our more experienced volunteers stepping into Area Lead roles, as well as those working out in the community organising remote working teams (with particular thanks to Penny and Kate). We’ve even uncovered a few DIY enthusiasts within the group, alongside volunteers keen to be van drivers when needed.

Our young volunteers

Our Duke of Edinburgh volunteering programme continues to go from strength to strength. This year, the scheme has achieved:

• 1,268 volunteer hours completed.
• 50 students from 7 schools/colleges have volunteered.
• 36 Bronze, 13 Silver and 2 gold students have completed awards.

As part of the Mayor of Reigate and Banstead Volunteers Awards, it was also wonderful to see the team of regular volunteers who support these students – Jo, Ann, Nicky, Sue and Sally – recognised with a Team Volunteer Award. Alongside their patience and kindness, they bring backgrounds in teaching and Scout leadership, giving us confidence that our students are in capable hands.

Also supported by Helen, our Volunteer Co-ordinator for Young People, we welcomed a small group of students from the Orpheus Centre, a local charity supporting disabled young people. They joined us weekly for 6 weeks and it was a pleasure to watch them grow in confidence and independence over that time.

Fundraising events

Mummy Pig’s baby shower

It isn’t every day that you get to host a baby shower, let alone for a cartoon piglet! So, when we heard the news that Peppa Pig was welcoming a baby sister, we knew we had to jump on the opportunity. It’s a fun and playful way to highlight a serious issue: the growing number of families who need our help when welcoming a new baby. In collaboration with The Belfry Shopping Centre in Redhill, we ran children’s activities throughout May half term, with opportunities for families to donate new items for local babies and new mums in need. At Stripey Stork, we’ve always believed in responding creatively and compassionately to whatever comes our way. This baby shower might have been for a fictional pig, but the need it highlighted is very real.

Stripes4Stripey

This annual stripey fundraiser takes place in June, with supporters wearing stripes and shouting about it to raise vital funds for our ongoing work. This year was a record-breaker, raising £6,933, and you can read all about it in our blog. Thanks to Reigate Manor for hosting our Stripey quiz in the evening, Unum for sponsoring the event and everyone who joined us – making it a sell-out and a cracking night. It was so successful that we had requests to organise another, which we did, later in the year in aid of our Christmas campaign.

Run Reigate

In September, we returned to Priory Park with a fantastic team of 50 runners for Run Reigate. We’re grateful to all the individuals, corporate teams and families who chose to run and fundraise for Stripey Stork. Their collective efforts are never in vain, and they raised an amazing £20,360.

A teenage boy from Ukraine, Volodymyr, truly stole the show this year. We had been supporting Volodymyr and his family since they settled in Reigate after fleeing the war in Ukraine. Wanting to give back, Volodymyr asked if he could run the 10k for us – and of course, we were honoured.

“I have never forgotten this kindness and the way it made us feel welcome and safe.”

The surprise came when Volodymyr shared his fundraising page on a local Facebook group in an attempt to reach his £200 target. Within just two days, he had raised over £1,000. He was more shocked than anyone, telling us emotionally that he had never experienced kindness from strangers like this before moving here. You can read Volodymyr’s story here.

We were delighted when Volodymyr later joined our Advisory Panel, bringing a unique perspective as a refugee and a teenage boy. In fact, one of his first tasks was researching what Christmas gifts teenage boys would enjoy.

Challenge events

We’ve been incredibly lucky to have some amazing people take on fantastic challenges for us this year. These include:

• Ecem and Georgina, who both ran marathons.
• Anna, Susie and Lauren, who completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon, and Josh and Alex for doing the Kingston Half.
• Rickard and Neil, who cycled to Paris.
• Naomi and her colleagues from the Surrey Children’s Services Pre-Birth Team, who took on the Surrey Three Peaks Hike.

These are just the highlights. We are grateful to every Stripey Stork fundraiser and their family, friends and colleagues for supporting them through sponsorship and encouragement. If a challenge event is part of your plans for 2026 then we’d love to support you. More details here.

Seasonal campaign

A Gift for Mum

This campaign is one of the constants in our annual calendar. We – alongside our supporters and referral partners – know how important it is to show mums and female carers that they are appreciated, and what better time to do this than Mother’s Day. This year, we distributed 770 pampering gift bags, each accompanied by a special card handwritten by one of our volunteers. You can read more in our blog.

Santa Stork

This is our Christmas giving campaign, which you can read all about in our results blog: https://stripeystork.org.uk/santa-stork-2025-behind-the-presents/.

We supported 5,650 children with Christmas gifts, in addition to the 1,200 children directly helped by Truly Giving with specific gift requests. We had originally estimated this figure to be closer to 4,000, which highlights just how severe the pressures of Christmas are in the current financial climate. Once again, our project site at Raven House has been transformed into Santa’s grotto, our elves – from regular volunteers and staff to corporate groups – have been busy sorting and packing gifts, with a constant stream of present bundles being collected by referral partners or delivered directly to them.

Following the successful partnership we formed last year with Truly Giving, we joined forces once again to help fulfil those extra-special gift requests. For the popular and timeless gifts, our incredible community of supporters far and wide truly stepped up and answered every call.

The Big Give

To round off the year, we once again took part in The Big Give’s Christmas Challenge. Last year, our focus was on raising funds for safe and warm places to sleep. It proved to be a hugely impactful campaign: we won the Newcomer Award and by September, we had already reached our target of providing 1,000 safe places to sleep.

The demand for these items is continuous, and referral partners have come to rely on us to provide them. For this year’s Big Give campaign, we made the decision to extend our focus to include winter warmth items, such as clothing, coats, prams and cosy toes. Our target was £108,000, enabling us to supply and process these essential items throughout the upcoming winter months. We’re delighted to say we hit our target – and then some – and you can read all about it in our blog.

We’d like to give special thanks to the following foundations and businesses for having faith in us by contributing to the match funding pot: the Shanly Foundation (our Champion Funders), the Wisley Foundation, the Borrow’s Family Charitable Trust, esure, Alchemy Foundation, Unum and Celtic Contractors.

Below are some impact stories that demonstrate the need for safe sleep and winter warmth – and how, thanks to this campaign, we’re going to be able to say ‘yes’ to all requests like these:

• How a freezing family found warmth
• A cot, a fresh start and a new beginning
• From shared sofa to big girl bed
• Safer Sleep: Cherishing important milestones without worry

Our Impact

Whilst we don’t work directly with families, we hear about the impact of our work almost every day. It’s there in the quiet words of a referral partner telling us that, without our support, a family in crisis would have had no presents on Christmas Day. It’s in the gratitude of a grandparent dropping off a cot we had gifted for their grandchild after mum had fled domestic abuse with nothing. And it’s in the meaningful donation from a mum we once supported, who is now in a better place and wanted to give something back. Each of these moments means so much in their own special way.

As we have grown, so too has our impact. Last year, we began capturing this more formally in the first quarter of the new year through an annual Impact Report. You can read our 2024 Impact Report here.

We’ll leave you with one special impact story that shows how small actions can make a big difference: From football boots to a bright future

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

– Anne Frank, 1944 –

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