Abundance Wimbledon
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    • 2021 Newsletters >
      • 2021 Season Wrap Newsletter
      • September 13 2021 Newsletter
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      • July 6 2021 Newsletter
      • June 10 2021 Newsletter
      • 2021 Early Spring Newsletter
    • 2020 Newsletters >
      • 21 October 2020 Newsletter
      • 14 September 2020 Newsletter
      • 7 September 2020 Newsletter
      • 24 August 2020 Newsletter
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      • 2020 Spring Newsletter
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      • 23 September 2019 Newsletter
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      • 26 August 2019 Newsletter
      • 12 August 2019 Newsletter
      • 29 July 2019 Newsletter
      • 2019 Summer Newsletter
    • News Archive >
      • Learn how to make jam, chutney and cordials and liqueurs
      • Fruit press at the May Project
      • Abundance Southfields
      • New Orchard at Haydon's Rd Station
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      • The Fruit Press
      • 2012 - The Weather
      • The Abundance Update
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Volunteering


Abundance Wimbledon have a trusty group of energetic and enthusiastic volunteers who ensure that as much locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables as possible can be used either at local charities or via our cordial, chutney and jam makers (and then sold at our Annual Fruit Day).

To find out more information or register your interest as a volunteer, please either complete the form below or email Juliet direct at [email protected]

The Details

We are most active in the months of June-mid September which is the ripening season for an array of fruit and vegetables.

We have regular volunteering opportunities available for:

  • Fruit and Vegetable Pickers
  • Drivers
  • Jam/Cordial/Chutney Makers
  • Pie and Cake Makers (For Fruit Daystall)
  • Plant Donors (For Fruit Day Stall)
  • Fruit Day Volunteers (to wo/man stalls)

As we are visiting people's private gardens, we must adhere to the following important guidelines:  All volunteers must:

  • Be 18+
  • Act in a safe and responsible manner
  • Be polite and mindful of each donor's requirements (as advised by their Area Coordinator)
  • Follow any UK Government Guidelines (particularly in relation to Covid-19)
  • Have an appropriate UK drivers license (if volunteering as a driver)

What does an Area Coordinator do?

Area Coordinators (as the name suggests) look after a particular area in the (mainly) Merton area and coordinates the donations (from private gardens), picking and delivery of the fruit and vegetables.

The Area Coordinators look after the following areas:
  • Martin Way Allotments
  • Morden/Mitcham
  • Merton Park
  • Raynes Park - North
  • Raynes Park - South / Motspur Park
  • Wimbledon Park
  • Wimbledon

How the volunteering process works for pickers and delivery drivers:
  1. Volunteer completes the online Volunteer Sign up form and emails it to Juliet at [email protected] to register their interest and what role they would like to do
  2. Juliet refers the volunteer to their local area coordinator. 
  3. Area Coordinator and Volunteer meet via email/in person (dependent on availability and social distancing)
  4. Area Coordinator will sign up Volunteer to WhatsApp contact group.
  5. Area Coordinator will contact all in WhatsApp Contact Group when there is picking or delivering to be done.
  6. Volunteer completes tasks for area.

Often, we receive notice of fruit ready for picking on one day and the donor requires it to be picked the next (and in a certain time frame).  This means that we are really appreciative when our pickers and drivers can be either:
  1. flexible with their availability; and/or
  2. advise us of their best available times; and/or
  3. be easily contactable by WhatsApp

so that we can match the donations/picking with the pickers and drivers easily and on a timely basis.

If you have not received advice about picking this season, please feel free to contact your Area Coordinator and chat about where and when the next pick is likely to be (if they know!).

We are totally reliant on our donors advising us timings for picking that suit them, so it can be a juggling act getting everyone organised.  We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding.

For Fruit Day Volunteers

Volunteer completes the online Volunteer Sign up form and emails it to Juliet at [email protected] to register their interest and what role they would like to do.

You will be contacted by the Fruit Day Coordinator prior to Fruit Day and, according to your interests, assigned to a stall or activity.  Contact will be maintained by the Fruit Day WhatsApp group.

What we achieved in 2020

Rescued Fruit
To demonstrate the impact of our work, in 2020, we saved:
  • 1243 Kgs Apples
  • 287 Kgs Pears
  • 23 Kgs Plums
  • 20 Kgs Quinces
  • 13 Kgs Blackberries
  • 11 Kgs Crab Apples
  • 8 Kgs Cherries
  • 4.5 Kgs Strawberries
  • 3 Kgs Gooseberries
  • 0.5 Kgs Sloe Berries

An incredible total of 1,613 Kgs of saved fruit in 2020!

Distribution to local Charities 2020

We have given 442.5 kgs (27%+ of all fruit picked!) to local good causes
 
95.5 kgs to Commonside Community Trust
49.5 kgs to Friends in St Helier
47 kgs to Regenerate Barnes
44 kgs to The May Garden Project
40 kgs to St Teresa’s Home for the Elderly
34 kgs to Wimbledon YMCA
23.5 kgs to Merton and Morden Guild
22 kgs to Labour Party Food Bank
18 kgs to Dons Local Action Group
15 kgs to Dundonald Brownies
10 kgs to Trussell Trust Food Bank
10 kgs to Street Kitchen
10 kgs to Winterdown Livery
10 kgs to Barnfield Riding for the Disabled
9 kgs to Oak Tree Nursery
5 kgs to Lee House
Download your Volunteer Sign Up Form
Email your completed Volunteer Sign Up Form
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