The local charity that for nearly 60 years continues to keep on caring…
White Lodge provides services that enable those with a range of disabilities, their families and carers to lead fulfilling lives. They support over 2,500 individuals across Surrey and beyond through a diverse range of services for all ages and abilities. White Lodge is based on a wonderful two acre site near St Peter’s Hospital in three specialist buildings with great facilities and highly experienced staff to best enable those with disabilities to reach their potential.
At the time of going to press White Lodge has been operating throughout these challenging circumstances for over a year. The effects of the pandemic have inevitably hit their services hard. However, White Lodge has been mindful throughout that the pandemic can bring even further isolation and loneliness to people with disabilities. So they have adapted their services to ensure everyone has been included, no matter what their situation. This could be from disabled adults joining a remote physio and fitness session at home or zooming in to join friends on a quiz to a disabled child and their family receiving a child therapy session via their child therapy virtual hub.
Apart from the earlier closure of services that were mandatory and nationwide they have still been able to run all their services on site and/or remotely throughout the pandemic with the exception of a few clubs. This is due to the dedication, expertise and passion of the staff at White Lodge. White Lodge are simply a lifeline to so many, even more so during the pandemic.
(It costs over £2.5 million a year to run White Lodge and with costs not being fully met by statutory funding, they rely on voluntary donations of over £560,000 per year just to maintain their vital services. With so many events being canceled their ability to raise these vital funds has been hit hard. Their traditional forms of fundraising and events in the community fell by 66% so they have had to adapt to new virtual means.
The public have been amazing but with so much uncertainty in the economic recovery the charity’s services are reliant on the continued support from the community.
There are many ways you can help support White Lodge. Either through a much needed donation or fundraising activity towards their ‘Keep on Caring Appeal’, or by simply volunteering your time. Take a look at their website to see all the great work and events that can still take place. Do feel free to contact the friendly fundraising team if you’d like to offer any support:
Email us at: fundraising@whitelodgecentre.co.uk or Call: 01932 567131
