Zebras Children and Adults charity started back in 2015, where in the beginning it was formed as a parent and children recreational group that meet fortnightly. The aim was always at children, people and families who face disability, discrimination and were not able to attend regular activities like other people can.

For many years this was a success, so much so that in January 2017 the organization gained registered charity status meaning that it would be able to access funding that would otherwise be difficult to tap into.

The organization has always been not for profit, and over the years we have had countless volunteers willing to give their time to support the charities aims and objectives – which are to give support to those most in need in our communities who face disability, poverty, and emotional difficulties.

Over the past 5 years the charity has been developing projects which really accelerated in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. At a time when people were trying their best to survive the charity had one of its most successful years with funding meaning we could provide a service which had become a lifeline to people during that time and for past 4 years, this project is called the fruit and veg for families project.

In brief, we provide families who are referred to us or self-referred a fresh bag of fruit and veg weekly, which was funded to purchase, this had been carefully calculated so that we could give as much as we could to each family in need. To give you an idea of its reach to date we gave over 450 people each week within these areas – North London, Suffolk and Norfolk the deliveries to their door. Many of these families are facing poverty, have children who are living with life limiting conditions and without our support would face further financial challenges.

This project speaks for its self with its success with the numerous amounts of feedback we receive from genuine people, here are just a few of their quotes which have been given permission to share with you:

Its not only this project that makes our work so special. During the pandemic we turned an unused space into our first premises with the support from the community, and successful grant applications. This space called the Zebras Hub is now used daily in Enfield North London where we hold many activities that benefit, children, their families and individuals.

In 2022 we expanded our work to the Suffolk area after recognizing a need for support and now have a further Zebras Community hub which is used daily by the community, and most recently has opened up as a charity and coffee shop which intime will offer another project that gives people with disabilities the chance to gain work experience with us, which can if possible lead to going on to paid employment elsewhere.

Our work is so vital and has been proven to be successful. Within the past 5 years the charities income has grown from £9.35K - £101.49K – this only being possible from donations, and very successful grant applications.

This rapid growth has meant that it had taken the charity from being a small entity to a medium charity and for its first time was able to offer some paid employment to support the management of all of the work load.

At the end of a successful year in 2023 we had re-applied to a major funder to support this amazing work for a further three years. This would have given us more time to develop and to look into becoming self sustained – which in reality without large grants is quite an impossible task, however it can be done but with time.

Sadly, we received the news in February that the funders will not be taking our application further meaning that £72,000 of the £101, 000 we had reached would not be given. This is devastating to a any charity and has really shook us and the community we support.

Next years accounts will be showing a massive decline from what was so positive and going up and up.

Since this sad news we have been trying desperately to survive, even adapting our application to see if we could try again. We waited a further 8 weeks to be told again that they will not fund us. The reason we have been given is that they are oversubscribed and have so many other projects they already support.

As we’ve said this has shocked us all, as we know this can happen to charities and were aware it could but given the scale of our work and the reach and real difference we are making we – the community and us at the charity find it very hard to believe.

We have been given no advice as to what to do, and have been trying our hardest to generate an income through fundraising and the new charity shop we have in Suffolk.

The deficit in money means we are now having to potentially lose job roles that are so much needed – we have over 50 volunteers, however senior roles are needed when an organization reaches a certain level, that you cannot expect volunteers to do.

It is so unfair how funding can be given to help with a project and then taken from you without any kind of staging down.

We really did not want to have to put this to the public, but have been given no choice, that is why we are attempting to try and raise the funds needed to keep the charity alive.

We know it’s difficult for people to give, but please, we are asking you today, if you are able to support us, even a small amount will help make difference. And you can also help us by sharing this fundraiser with people you know, as you just never know who may see this and give their support.

Please help us today, any money we raise will help keep the charity going longer until we hear of any news for further funding applications we have applied for – which there is never any guarantee of being a success. Just to give you an idea, it can take anywhere between 4-6 months to get a result from a funder. Unfortunately time for us is running out and we are not sure that the charity will still be running at the capacity it was by the end of this year without some dramatic change.

Thank you in advance for anything you can do from the community we serve and us all at Zebras Children and Adults charity.