20th Anniversary Initiative Helps Bring a Brighter Future for Bromley Families

26 August 2021

As part of our 20^th anniversary celebrations here at FFT, we created a themed programme of activities to run over 12 months from the date of our birthday on 19^th April. Twenty for Twenty consists of four themes, each with five initiatives, all focused on our Practice values of enhancing engagement, support and relationships.

The Charity and Social Value theme, headed by theme ambassadors Lynn Bekir and Adam Keys, furthers our 20-year commitment to supporting charitable and community-based causes.

Planned initiatives include coaching and mentoring within our clients’ communities, helping local people build confidence and skills and improve their life and work prospects. A fund of £20,000 has also been set aside to support causes and initiatives aligned with our very own Effinity Charitable Foundation, established to support the development and education of young people.

We also pledged to dedicate time and financial support to up to 20 social value or community activities, the first of which we are proud to report is poised to help a number of families in the Bromley area who would otherwise have struggled to kit their children out in the uniforms they need as the schools re-open for the new term.

Huge demand for school uniform from Bromley families in need

Bromley Brighter Beginnings (BBB) is a charity dedicated to helping families living in financial hardship across the London Borough of Bromley. Staffed by volunteers, the charity receives requests for help in providing school uniform from teachers and social and refuge workers. Where possible, BBB meets these requests, sourcing top quality pre-loved items or purchasing new items.

During the 2020-2021 financial year, BBB helped more than 89 families with school uniform. This was over double the number of families assisted the year before, and the recent pandemic-related hardships are likely to increase these requests even further. School uniform can in some cases cost £300-£400.

Supporting the cause, FFT has donated in excess of 140 items of clothing including shirts, skirts and PE kits suitable for a range of age groups.

Handing over the uniforms on 26^th August to BBB trustee Tracy Griffin, FFT Associate Lynn Bekir said: “Bromley Brighter Beginnings relies on donations of items from the local community to help families in need throughout the borough. The families they help, many of whom are fleeing domestic violence, are referred to the service by professionals. We are very pleased that we were able to contribute in some way to the wonderful work this charity does, relieving the pressure on parents at such a crucial time as their children return to school.”

Fellow Twenty for Twenty Social Value theme ambassador and FFT Associate Adam Keys added: “This was the first of a number of initiatives that we have in the pipeline as part of the Practice’s 20^th anniversary-led charity and social value commitment. Supporting the hardworking volunteers at BBB, and the families they take care of, has been very humbling for FFT.”  

“This donation from FFT will help many vulnerable families across the borough.”

Jenny Manning, Fundraising Volunteer at Bromley Brighter Beginnings said: “We are so grateful to Faithorn Farrell Timms for their donation of new school uniform. We are currently seeing a huge demand ahead of the new school year. School uniform can be very expensive and, for families struggling financially worrying about how they will find the funds to purchase these items, it can be hugely stressful.

“For lots of parents it is simply impossible for them to provide all the items schools require. We want to relieve some of this pressure on parents and ensure all children across the borough can go to school wearing the correct uniform and feeling proud and confident in their appearance. This donation from FFT will help many vulnerable families across the borough, so a big thank you from all of us at Team BBB.”