Long shadows: our winter ramble from Whyteleafe via Kenley airfield and on to Coulsdon Common took in some stunning scenery
Inside Croydon’s autumn amble from Whyteleafe to Coulsdon Common, via Kenley airfield, raised £80 in donations for local charity Garwood Foundation.
Nearly 20 loyal readers and hardy ramblers applied to take part in the walk, led by Ken Towl and following a section of the London Loop. And all of them made a donation to the Garwood, with iC topping up the money to a suitable, round figure.
Inside Croydon is proud to have nominated the Garwood Foundation for its 2024 charity appeal, encouraging our readers to donate, support and engage with the South Croydon-based charity’s vitally important work at a crucial time in its history.
Founded in 1952, the Garwood Foundation provides a range of services for people with disabilities in Croydon and the surrounding boroughs. They operate a school and life skills centre, Rutherford School on Melville Avenue, a day centre on Bramley Hill, a residential home, Jean Garwood House, and run fund-raising charity shops on South End and in Addiscombe.
This year is a specially challenging one, as the charity looks to meet ever-increasing demand for their services while modernising Rutherford School, “providing an even greater space where not only can our students thrive, but members of the community can, too”.
The Garwood Foundation is Inside Croydon’s nominated charity for 2024
The Garwood Foundation has a £2.5million programme of capital improvements designed to support the flexibility that is needed to accommodate the very complex medical and physical needs of people with profound and multiple disabilities.
Glinting in the sun: the cliffs of the disused Riddlesdown Quarry were an impressive sight under dramatic November clouds
Most of the funding for the ambitious “Space To Thrive” project has already been secured, and the Garwood Foundation is now appealling to the Croydon public for one last push to reach the target.
Quite the climb: hauling ourselves to the top of the Downs made for a very demanding start to our winter amble
They are asking local companies, sports clubs, pubs, schools and community groups to stage fund-raisers, from hosting coffee mornings, to taking part in a sponsored challenge event or staging a pub quiz.
The charity can support you with marketing collateral and promotion.
Inside Croydon tries to arrange guided walks, or collaborate with local rambers’ groups, two or three times each year, for our readers to get together and blow the cobwebs away, while experiencing some of the beautiful landscapes on our doorstep.
On our latest walk, staged on November 17, the daunting climb from our meeting point soon revealed behind us the Riddlesdown Quarry glinting in the low, November sunshine beneath some forbidding slate-grey clouds on the other side of the steep-sided valley.
Ken Towl led us on past the World War II Battle of Britain fighter base at Kenley, and across Hayes Lane and on to our final destination, The Fox on Coulsdon Common (much recommended). It was then that the walk – less than three miles, although with what seemed like lots of climbing – all seemed most worthwhile.
Thanks to all those loyal readers who signed up and took part. Look out for future walks in 2025…
- To find out more about the Garwood Foundation and its work, click here
- To make a donation to the Garwood Foundation, click here
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
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