TG Lynes has donated £7,500 worth of materials each to Friends of Firs Farm in Enfield and Teens Unite Fighting Cancer in Hoddesdon.
The two good causes in North London were crowned champions in TG Lynes’ inaugural Helping Hands competition and are set to receive a makeover boost after winning a share of a £15,000 community fund. The winners were chosen by a team of TG Lynes judges from dozens of entries.
Hearts and Helpers Charity, an Enfield-based grassroots charity set up to support people affected by poverty, homelessness and insecure housing, has also won £1,000 worth of building materials as a runner-up prize.
Andrew Ingram, managing director at TG Lynes, said: “We are delighted to announce our Helping Hands winners. We launched Helping Hands to celebrate our 110th anniversary in 2022 and to support good causes in our area at a very difficult time. We thank everyone who took the time to enter the competition. There really are some amazing causes in our vicinity.
“I visited Friends of Firs Farm, Teens Unite Fighting Cancer and Hearts and Helpers Charity and was impressed by the work they are doing and their plans for the future. I’m looking forward to this work taking place in the weeks to come. I’m sure it will be a tremendous boost for everyone involved with all the groups.”
Friends of Firs Farm has developed a disused green area at Firs Farm Wetlands and Playing Fields into a space that is enjoyed by the local community, according to representatives of the charity.
The volunteers are planning to create a community hub and café adjacent to the wetlands and the TG Lynes prize is expected to help that dream become a reality.
Toni Guiver, Chair of Friends of Firs Farm, added: “We’re thrilled to win the Helping Hands competition. Up to 200 people a day use the Wetlands and this will be a fantastic facility for them to use and a real boost for the local community.”
Teens Unite brings together teenagers fighting cancer to help with physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
The charity has taken over The Old Police Station in Hoddesdon and is using it as a cafe and shop. The Helping Hands funding is set to allow Teens Unite to improve the facility by repairing the roof and installing new toilets.
Lesley Morris, head of trust income and Partnerships at Teens Unite, said: “We are incredibly grateful to TG Lynes for their support, which will make a real difference to the Old Police Station and the services we can offer. We are here to help teenagers and young people at a difficult time in their lives. It’s great to have the backing of TG Lynes.”
The two top prizes winners are hoping to carry out the improvement work in the coming weeks and months.