Let’s finish what we started: A letter from our lead trustee

With £350,000 in new funding secured, we’re ready to wrap up 2025. But not before a few thank yous. Lead trustee, Gariesh Sharma, looks back at some highlights and shares what in store for next year…      

First and foremost, thanks for your support.

Our community continues to speak clearly and loudly about the need for a regenerated pavilion at Moormead Park. This support keeps us going.

Two themes shaped 2025: access and funding.

 On access, a special thanks to Malgorzata Kozicka (Gosia) who worked tirelessly to introduce many of us to the sport of Boccia at the St Margarets Fair and our Community Picnic. It can be difficult to explain what “improving access” really means – but for anyone who played Boccia or watched, the benefits were obvious.

Thank you also to Louise Ross from Strathmore School for helping us better understand what children and young people with complex learning difficulties need from Moormead Pavilion, and how we can design the space to support them.

On funding, we’ve had a breakthrough! Our trustee Vanessa James and volunteer Anthony Richman put together an outstanding bid for the Richmond Community Fund. With help from our Ward Councillors, Alex Ehmann and Katie Mansfield, along with guidance from Julie Gavin at Richmond CVS, we were awarded £350,000!

This takes us to well over halfway towards our overall funding target. I can’t emphasise enough how critical this is. It puts us on the last lap of what has been a long and gruelling race.

Progress happens when we work together

Our charity is run by a small group of volunteers, and we succeed by partnering with local organisations, groups and clubs. A special shout out to St Stephen’s Primary School and its Headteacher Liz Bachour, who spoke on our behalf at the Planning Committee meeting, sharing a deep understanding of children’s dignity and how it’s undermined by the current lack of toilet facilities.

We’re also hugely grateful to Friends of St Stephen’s (FOSS), whose charity bike rides keep raising much-needed funds for the pavilion. With school budgets under enormous pressure, that generosity is a powerful signal of support, and one we will proudly highlight as we approach future funders, including the London Marathon Foundation.

Thanks to Tom Bird and Will Flower (Friends of Moormead Park), Mike Clubbe (St Margarets Fair), James Bishop (Moormead Cricket Club) and Eamonn Newell (Twickenham Cygnets FC). You don’t just run brilliant local institutions – you’ve also made time to help move Moormead Pavilion forward.

Finally, thank you to our brilliant trustees and volunteers. The purpose of our charity is to:

• create a safe, welcoming space that supports local sport and wellbeing

• strengthen social connection

• improve access for those who currently face barriers to using the park.

You all give your time and energy to bring Moormead Pavilion to life in the service of our community.

Now, for the final steps

Looking ahead to 2026, our focus is simple: finish fundraising, keep the community involved, and take the practical steps needed to get construction underway.

My biggest Christmas wish is that we can appoint a Director for Moormead Pavilion Ltd in 2026. The Director will help shape the pavilion’s future and, crucially, help us appoint a café operator.

We’re also looking for trustees and volunteers to help manage construction, insurance, compliance and legal matters. If you can help – by volunteering, donating, introducing us to a potential sponsor/funder, or simply sharing our updates – we’d love to hear from you.

Happy holidays and here’s to our shared success in 2026.

Best,

Gaz