My name is Simon Coates, and between 1st March 2021 and 31st October 2021 I will be undertaking the challenge to hike 2000 miles in aid of 16 charities whose work is close to my heart. I am aiming to raise at least £1000 for each of the charities I am supporting, and these funds will make a real difference in enabling the charities to continue their work and survive the extremely challenging times we find ourselves in.

You can find out more about the challenge and keep track of how I am getting on on my website (www.charityhikes.org.uk), by joining the challenge Facebook group (www.facebook.com/groups/ukcharityhikes) or by following me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/charityhikes).

Whitchurch Silk Mill

Whitchurch Silk Mill, like so many important cultural and historic gems across the country, has been hit hard by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has rocked the world since the start of the year. In March 2020, the Mill closed its doors for three months, turning to digital means to continue its mission of educating the public in the history of the production, design, distribution and sale of silk and other textiles. Our trainee weaver did live online demonstrations of traditional hand weaving and Question and Answer sessions for our audiences, as well as making available digital resources, including ideas for teachers, tips for crafters, and family friendly fun to provide much needed relief to those people stranded in their homes.

Whitchurch Silk Mill brings to life for new generations the history of Britain’s oldest working silk mill still in existence, providing an opportunity for them to gain first-hand experience of the skills, techniques and methods used to create beautiful silk fabric in an industrial setting. Since re-opening on 6 July, the Mill has seen just 20% of pre-Covid visitors return to this industrial treasure. Tiered restrictions and further indeterminate periods of national lockdown have caused the Mill further hardship.

We have been fortunate to benefit from some emergency funds and government schemes. However, the reality is that the closure of the Mill for a third of the year, combined with a severe reduction in income across the Mill, shop, and café, means that we are now at the brink of a major crisis – literally hanging by a thread. Our current estimate is that there are only sufficient funds to meet the Mill’s running costs until the end of 2021, combined with essential repairs necessary to fix the waterwheel and the welcome building roof.

At this critical moment, we are asking if you would consider supporting Whitchurch Silk Mill to help secure this irreplaceable resource for the future generations. With your help, we will be able to bring back Whitchurch Silk Mill from the precipice it currently stands on and ensure that it has a robust foundation on which it can not only ride out this storm but move forward with confidence.