Wallington Day Care Service, which supports people who are living with dementia and a range of age related conditions, has thrown a Thank You Party for London’s oldest Badminton Club, St. Margaret’s Badminton Club in Tooting, South London for all its fundraising endeavours for the Service over the last year.
“Each Badminton season, St. Margaret’s Badminton Club and its Members choose to support and fundraise for a local or national charity,” said Shirley Bradley, Head of Day Care Services. “We were extremely grateful that for the 2025-2026 season, the Club voted and decided to fundraise for Friends of the Elderly’s Wallington Day Care Service.”
“The 250 members of the Club came to their decision to support us as their former Treasurer, Sue Smith was a client at Wallington Day Care,” added Nicky Davies, the Manager at the Service. Throughout the year, the Members undertook a wide and eclectic range of challenging and fun activities to raise funds for the day care service. “In addition to visiting and volunteering at the day care service, meeting the clients and getting involved with all their activities, we also hosted our own 100k cycle ride over the Surrey Hills, took part in a Triathlon, held two pub quizzes, two raffles and ran the Northern Line, from Edgware to Bank in London,” said Club Member and Charity Secretary, Marie Kaune.
“It was great to come together as a Club, away from the badminton court and work as a team to give back to the community,” added Kieren Easton, the Club’s other Charity Secretary. “We visited Wallington Day Care many times throughout the year and got to know the clients really well. We played seated badminton, which is played with a balloon instead of a shuttlecock, quite a bit, as they all really enjoyed the game, taking part and trying to beat each other. I was so impressed by their Badminton stokes and power, and also by their enthusiasm, it was contagious. Each match was full of laughter, cheering and joy.”
“We have a wide and varied activities calendar at Wallington Day Care as we like to ensure that the clients have the opportunity to join in and participate in a
diverse and wide range of meaningful activities,” added Nicky. “When Kieren and the Club Members introduced seated badminton, the clients adored it and it’s now a firm fixture. It’s not only wonderful for social interaction and physical activity, but it is great for helping hand to eye coordination and developing agility skills as the clients hit the balloon to each other, just like a shuttlecock. The Club also very kindly donated sets of badminton racquets so we are looking forward to carrying on the activity”.
To say a huge thank you to all of St. Margaret’s Badminton Club, Nicky and her team hosted a final session where we presented handmade and badminton inspired gifts and cards. “It’s the least we could do to say a massive thank you to everyone at the Club. The clients have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Members and having lots of fun, taking part in all the meaningful activities, especially the Seated Badminton,” continued Nicky.
“We were very happy to be able to support and fundraise for Friends of the Elderly’s Wallington Day Care Service,” continued Marie. “We have loved spending time with the clients and raising as much as we possibly could for such a worthwhile charity.”
“Having St. Margaret’s Badminton Club volunteer at the day care service throughout the year has been fantastic for the clients’ physical and mental wellbeing, and we are all so extremely grateful for their amazing fundraising efforts, it has been a real honour to be supported by them,” added Nicky.
“St. Margaret’s set themselves a fundraising total of £3,000, which they totally ‘smashed’, raising an amazing £3,453. On behalf of everyone at Wallington Day Care Service, I’d like to thank everyone at the Club for all they have done for the clients throughout the year and, we hope, that they won’t be strangers and will be back to visit us again very soon,” concluded Shirley.
Find out more about Wallington Day Care by calling 020 8669 7398 or emailing [email protected].