It was great to be back supporting the school uniform scheme with distribution day! Having helped sort through all the donations a couple of weeks ago, seeing the project come full circle was brilliant.

While certain sizes were in short supply, we had plenty of shirts to hand out, and the families receiving them were so deeply grateful. This initial pilot scheme proved to be a resounding success, laying a great foundation for future drives.

It was a bustling, demanding morning at the Wimbledon Repair Café, but the team's enthusiasm kept everything running smoothly! Tasked with various jobs, from putting up a gazebo and chatting with visitors to monitoring the PAT testing queue - we kept the energy high and the lines moving.

It was a huge success overall, with 34 people through the doors, 20 items revived, and a further 7 visitors guided on the right replacement parts to bring back next month. As a fantastic bonus for volunteering, a pair of secateurs was successfully fixed, ensuring plenty more GoodGym gardening missions can be completed safely in the coming weeks!

We completed two main jobs: repairing and securing a broken section of the perimeter fence, and harvesting a brilliant yield of ripe fruit straight from the trees.

The real plot twist came while digging post holes along the fence line, where we actually unearthed some buried "treasure"! While it might not fund our retirement just yet, it added a whole lot of mystery and excitement to a fantastic session of community teamwork. Another successful orchard mission in the books!

It was a breezy start to the morning at the Eco Fair, where the main challenge was wrestling with displays in some proper gusty weather!

Setting up the display and clothing rails in high winds is no easy feat, but fortunately, there was no shortage of eager helpers on hand. Working together, we managed to pin down the displays, secure the stalls, and get 2 stalls ready for visitors.

With rain on the forecast, we pivoted straight to Plan B: turning the workshop area into a weatherproof party zone!

We were a few hooks short for the decor, so whilst supplies were obtained we kept the momentum going - clearing out the space, sweeping up, and untangling the massive box of bunting so everything was prepped and ready for the final touches.

The room and cafe looks fantastic and is almost ready for tomorrow evening, where there will be plenty to enjoy at the barn dance!

We love helping at the farm as there is always jobs to do. So will be back soon 🤞.

Somewhere beneath a fortress of savage brambles, aggressive weeds, and stray litter lay a secret storage zone. This area was destined to house a special, top-secret item. One that must remain safe, sound, and ready for when Santa Claus himself touches down this December. Failure was not an option; Christmas was literally on the line.

We arrived to find a prickly terrain to which the team just dived right in, hacking through the wilderness.

With fewer tools than we would have liked, we had to get creative. We commandeered a lone, trusty wheelbarrow found nearby for our transport vehicle. As the cutting crew cleared the thorny barricades, others helped Rosemary (from the Rotary) clear the area of litter, ensuring the future festive hub was spotless.

Thanks to the last minute sign ups there is now a Santa-ready storage space. So we left with the knowledge that the December operation is officially secure.

Well done team, you really pulled it out of the bag tonight, especially those who flew in from outside Merton - amazing and of course what we do! Merton Rotary are so very grateful.