The Vineyard is Reopening…We can’t wait to see you all again!
It’s been a tough few months for everyone at the Vineyard with our shop, cafe, drop-in service and studio closed due to Covid-19, and the tragic loss of Norman Chingwaru, our beloved Drop-In Centre Supervisor.
But we’ve still been collecting donations and offering foodbank delivery services for those most in need in the local area. We are open at specific times to receive donations of food, please telephone our single point of contact during the Covid -19 crisis: Mob: 07516 935655
And we can now share some good news – we have re-opened Works of Love and we are preparing for a safe re-opening of our main services, hopefully in September!
This will be a gradual process, and we won’t be able to go right back into how things were before, but we’re taking the first steps.
Works of Love, one of our most popular community roots projects, reopened on Monday 20th July.
Anyone in the borough of Richmond can enrol to learn both basic and advanced sewing skills in our studio (socially distanced of course) with expert help and guidance.
We’re running classes every Monday (Skills Day), Wednesday (Sewcial Sewing), and Friday (Project Day) from 9:30 – 12:30.
For more information about Works of Love and other regular events, please contact our coordinator, Susie via WOLsewing@vineyardcommunity.org
As a preparation for our other services, we have started the removal of the existing brick shed and are working on our little extension.
Several companies have responded to the Covid-19 crisis by offering a matching program for all donations to charities made by their employees. Please enquire with your employer and make sure you don’t miss this matching opportunity as it makes a difference for us!
Our story
How we help
Our services are available to anyone in the community who needs support. They include:
Find shelter, food and support.
Opening times: Monday-Friday 8:30am-11:00am.
Get advice from our case workers and medical support from our community nurse.
Opening times:
Care and support: Monday-Friday 8:30am-11:00am
Nursing service: Monday and Wednesday 8.30-11:00.
Learn new skills in our Roots and Works of Love groups that can help you flourish in life with confidence or support you towards employment.
Over 200 local front line care agencies refer to the Richmond Foodbank, part of the national Trussell Trust foodbanks.
Opening times: Monday and Thursday 12:30-16:30.
Other times and distribution centres: see website
Donate and purchase used goods.
Opening times: Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00pm.
Lunch closure 1.15 to 2.15pm.
Drop by for lunch or afternoon tea.
Opening times: Monday-Thursday 12:30-16:30
Enrol and learn both basic and expert sewing skills and earn an AQA accreditation.
Please contact desiree@vineyardcommmunity.org for future course dates.
Overcoming crisis
We have broad experience helping people tackle all manner of personal crises, including:
- Addictions
- Loneliness
- Mental health problems
- Homelessness
- Financial issues
Help us
There are dozens of ways you can help us, from running a fundraiser to volunteering on our site.
Run a business?
Local businesses often lend us their time and raise money on our behalf. See how your organisation can help us.
Why we exist
Richmond is known as an affluent borough but it’s also home to thousands of vulnerable people. We help these individuals in times of personal crisis and along the road to recovery. We also strengthen our community by widely engaging with local volunteer and corporate support to help us in this work.
Richmond in crisis
- There were 3,985 rough sleepers in the capital at the end of 2019, a 26% increase on 2018
- In the last quarter of 2019, 52 were recorded in Richmond, of which 27% were women. 23 were new rough sleepers
Source: Chain-reports
- Richmond Foodbank has over 2,500 annual referrals from over 200 front-line care agencies
- The average weekly income of people referred to foodbanks is just £50 after housing costs
- Almost 20% of people had no income at all in the month before visiting
- Almost three-quarters of people at foodbanks have a health condition
- 22% of people at food banks are single parents – compared to 5% in the UK population
Source: The Trussel Trust Nov 2019
For an in depth review of social needs in the London borough of Richmond see the independent report:
On the Edge