Record donations from North Gloucestershire

Updated: 13 Jun 2023

North Gloucestershire Oddfellows has donated more than £16,000 to charities to support the vulnerable during the pandemic.

While the pandemic put the group's usual social events on hold, the Oddfellows' North Gloucester Branch turned their attentions to needy causes, donating a record-breaking £16,175 since the first Lockdown in March 2021.

Alex Walker, Development Officer of the Branch, said: “The Oddfellows is about making friends and helping people, and people needed our help more than ever during the pandemic.

“Each year our chairman chooses two charities to receive our support, but this year we extended it to other causes, helping fund PPE equipment for a convalescent home and donating cash to 11 foodbanks across our district. We’ve definitely donated more this year than any other.”

Supporting good causes

Each year the North Gloucestershire Branch donates a portion of its income to charity, donating £66,000 since 2007.

As well as making cash donations to the Blue Cross and CICRA, a charity for children with crohns and colitis, the Society has also funded much-needed PPE for Merton House Hotel in Ross, which provides specialist accommodation for the elderly and people with disabilities. It has also formed a partnership with the hotel to support its members, as well as providing a defibrillator and medical equipment.

Oddfellows trustee Garth Morgan (centre) is pictured with Tim Shelly, project coordinator, and service users at the Ross Community Garden. 

Community gardens is latest beneficiary

Ross Community Gardens, which works with adults with learning disabilities, mental ill-heath and the long-term unemployed, is the Oddfellows’ latest beneficiary. They received £200 for a new garden strimmer.

Alex added: “We are thrilled to support Ross Community Gardens. It’s a fantastic charity which does wonderful things in the community, so we decided to ask if there was anything we could help with. They said a strimmer would be very useful so we were happy to oblige!”

Tim Shelley, Project Leader at Ross Community Garden, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the members of the Oddfellows who have generously donated money for a new strimmer. This will make such a difference to our project. Through the help, support and kindness of local groups like this, we can work together to make a difference in our local community.”

Find out more about how the Oddfellows and its branches give back to the community.