Members responses to the NHS Livery Kitchen initiative has inspired us to invite you and your families to get involved in a challenge.  

As you would expect, the Company and Charity have already made generous donations to a number of charities and good causes helping those involved with or affected by the coronavirus pandemic. We have also been pleased to support Grocer members with their own initiatives.

Each day the Grocers' Charity receives requests for support. Together we think we can do more to help.

So here is your opportunity to do something worthwhile and fun whilst raising money for good causes dealing with the impact of the pandemic. We are purposefully targeting smaller charities who do a fantastic job in normal times, but whose work is even more important now, yet they are struggling to raise urgently needed funds.   

Why the '1180' Challenge? The Pepperers' Guild, from which the Company evolved, was first recorded in the year 1180 and the Guild was formed in a spirit of mutual aid. It is a simple concept; we all do something fun/challenging related to the numbers 1,1,8,0, and then donate £11.80 or £118.00 (or more!) to the Grocers' Charity.  

How much should I raise/donate? As much as you like...! We have set a target of £20,000. If doing the challenge isnt for you, you can just donate instead; £11.80, £118.00 or £1,180 (or any amount you like!). A number of members have suggested they would like to gift the money they would have spent on attending Company dinners and other events to a good cause.... Thank you.

When shall I do this? Start today if you wish. But we thought it would be fun to target Friday 29th May 2020 as a day for us all to do, or complete, our challenge (together). The 29th May is the date on which, each year, the Company holds its Commemoration Feast in commemoration of St Antonin (patron saint of the Pepperers), the foundation of the Company and the Restoration; on 29th May 1660 King Charles II returned to London led by the Grocer Lord Mayor Thomas Alleyn. The Commemoration Feast has been held every year since 1678 on, or as close to, 29th May as practical.  

How to get involved? This is a Challenge for all ages, abilities and interests. Just think of an activity relating to the number 1180, such as 118 or 11.80. You may consider doing 1 hour of daily physical activity over 18 days up to 29th May.

1. Choose your 1180 challenge (take a look below for some inspiration)

2. Get your friends and family involved, or ask them to sponsor you.

3. Take on the challenge preferably on, or leading up to, the 29th May, and donate.  

There are no rules - its the taking part that counts. The main thing is get creative, have fun and raise money for the Grocers Charity, which is supporting a wide range of COVID-19 related activity.  

Come up with a challenge, let Elizabeth, our Assistant Beadle, know what it is, and have fun doing it, and donate!

Here are some ideas of how you and your friends and family could participate in the #1180grocerschallenge:

Please email your images, videos and details of your challenge to Elizabeth at assistantbeadle@grocershall.co.uk who will share them for you on the Grocers Instagram account and the Facebook Group. Use the hashtag #1180grocerschallenge when posting to your social media accounts.

We all love prizes - so there will be a PRIZE for each of these categories!

Image credit: (Kitchener) Plakat Museum Vienna