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Square Peg Activities: Helping Keep a Vital Boldmere Charity Open

Square Peg Activities has supported disabled children, young people and adults in Boldmere for 12 years. Now the charity urgently needs help to keep its doors open. Discover how you can support its £20,000 fundraising appeal and Christmas Toy Drop.

Local disability charity appeals for community support as it prepares for Christmas toy collection and Sensory Santa events.

For 12 years, Square Peg Activities in Boldmere has been providing a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for disabled children, young people and adults.

Now, the charity is appealing for help from local residents and businesses to ensure its much-needed services can continue.

A safe space that means so much

For many families, finding somewhere their children can play safely, feel comfortable and simply be themselves can be difficult.

Square Peg Activities provides a secure play environment, particularly valued by families with autistic children and children with ADHD.

Its facilities include wheelchair accessibility, an accessible changing area with a hoist, and a stairlift, helping make activities available to people with a wide range of needs.

The charity welcomes families from Boldmere and the surrounding area, as well as visitors who travel further to access its specialist facilities.

Activities for all ages

Square Peg Activities offers a varied programme throughout the year, including:

After-school clubs
A youth club for teenagers
Two home education sessions
Sessions for disabled adults and carers
Saturday play sessions
Holiday Stay and Play programmes

Regular term-time and holiday sessions are free to attend, helping remove financial barriers for families.

The charity also organises special events, including its Pumpkin Patch, Sensory Santa experience and an annual pantomime trip to Birmingham Hippodrome for more than 200 people.

An urgent appeal to keep the doors open

Despite the difference it makes to local families, Square Peg Activities urgently needs financial support to continue providing its services.

The charity has launched a JustGiving fundraising appeal and is encouraging anyone who can help to make a donation.

Every contribution, large or small, could help protect an invaluable community resource.

Support the appeal: https://www.justgiving.com/page/squarepegactivities

Christmas Toy Drop – local businesses can help

With Christmas approaching, Square Peg Activities is also inviting local businesses and residents to support its Christmas Toy Drop.

The charity is collecting new, unopened and unwrapped toys and gifts to support its annual grotto for disabled children and adults.

Donations can be delivered to participating collection points or to:

37–39 Gate Lane, Boldmere

The charity is asking for donations before December.

Businesses interested in supporting the appeal could make a real difference by helping collect gifts from customers, employees and the wider community.

Sensory Santa returns this December

Square Peg Activities is also preparing for its special Sensory Santa experience, taking place on the first two Sundays in December.

The event offers families an opportunity to enjoy some Christmas magic in an environment designed with their needs in mind.

A community worth supporting

For the families who depend on Square Peg Activities, this is much more than somewhere to play. It is a place of friendship, understanding, support and belonging.

At What’s On in My Town, we’re delighted to help raise awareness of the charity’s work and encourage our local communities to get behind its fundraising and Christmas appeals.

Together, we can help Square Peg Activities continue making a difference.

Coffee with a Cause: St Giles Hospice Opens Café 83 at Barton Marina

A new café is preparing to welcome visitors to Barton Marina this November — and every cup of coffee will help support a very special cause.

There is something rather lovely about enjoying a coffee beside the water, watching the boats drift past and taking a little time out from the bustle of everyday life.

From Thursday 5 November 2026, visitors to Barton Marina will have another reason to stop and stay awhile, as St Giles Hospice opens Café 83, its very first café venture.

But this isn’t simply another place to enjoy breakfast, lunch or a slice of cake. Café 83 has a much bigger purpose: helping to generate vital income to support the hospice’s care for local people and their loved ones.

A Name with a Special Meaning

The name Café 83 is a tribute to 1983, the year St Giles Hospice was founded.

More than four decades later, the hospice continues to provide care and support to people across Staffordshire, North Birmingham and surrounding communities.

The new café represents an exciting step in the charity’s efforts to develop sustainable ways of funding that work.

With increasing demand for hospice services, ventures such as Café 83 offer people another simple, enjoyable way to make a difference.

Coffee, Cake and a Waterside View

Situated beside the Mooring and Boat Sales building at Barton Marina, Café 83 will enjoy a quieter position overlooking the moored canal boats.

With seating for 40 people, the café promises a welcoming place for residents, walkers, boaters, families and visitors exploring the marina.

The menu will include breakfast and lunchtime favourites such as bacon and sausage sandwiches, toast, teacakes, jacket potatoes, sandwiches, baguettes and sausage rolls.

There will also be cakes, hot and cold drinks, a children’s menu and an all-day selection, with bar snacks available during the evening.

And there’s good news for dog owners too: four-legged visitors will be welcome, with water and treats provided.

More Than Just a Café

St Giles hopes Café 83 will become a popular gathering place for the local community.

As well as everyday visits, the venue will be available to hire for private celebrations, including birthdays and baby showers.

The venture also marks an important development in the hospice’s fundraising activities, complementing its network of charity shops throughout the region.

Every purchase will help contribute towards the charity’s work supporting people living with terminal illnesses and their loved ones.

Opening Day — And a Free Coffee!

Café 83 officially opens on Thursday 5 November 2026 at 10am, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion.

And there’s an extra little treat for early visitors!

The first 50 customers through the door on opening day will receive a free coffee.

It’s a lovely way to celebrate the beginning of what promises to be an exciting new chapter for St Giles Hospice.

A Café Worth Supporting

Whether you’re taking a stroll around Barton Marina, meeting friends for lunch or simply fancy a peaceful coffee beside the boats, Café 83 offers a wonderful reason to visit.

And knowing that your visit is helping support local hospice care makes that coffee taste just a little sweeter.

We wish everyone at St Giles Hospice and Café 83 every success with their new venture.

Visiting Café 83

Location: Barton Marina, Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire

Opening: Thursday 5 November 2026, from 10am

Regular opening: Seven days a week — individual daily hours to be confirmed

Dog-friendly: Yes

Website: https://cafe83.co.uk

Further information: https://www.stgileshospice.com/news/cafe-83-barton-marina/

What’s On in My Town — celebrating local businesses, community initiatives and the people making a difference.

St Giles Hospice Fundraiser Represents West Midlands at Pride of Britain Awards

A remarkable fundraiser who dribbled a football more than 2,000 miles from Morocco to the Midlands has represented the West Midlands at the prestigious Pride of Britain Awards.

Football coach James Lewis attended the national ceremony in London after being named the region’s Fundraiser of the Year.

His extraordinary fundraising achievements have helped raise more than £129,000 for St Giles Hospice, making him the charity’s biggest individual fundraiser.

An incredible journey for St Giles

James completed an 86-day challenge, travelling from Morocco to the Midlands while dribbling a football.

The journey was undertaken in memory of his father, who received care from St Giles Hospice when James was just 11 years old.

The challenge attracted considerable attention and support, helping James raise substantial funds for the hospice.

His fundraising page has now reached £75,680 for the challenge alone, while his lifetime fundraising total has exceeded £129,000.

The achievement earned him the West Midlands Fundraiser of the Year title in September and a place among 17 finalists competing for the national award.

Representing the region in London

James attended the Pride of Britain Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House in London, accompanied by St Giles Hospice events manager Sam Colclough.

Although the overall Fundraiser of the Year award went to 85-year-old Barry Walden from Hull, James’s selection among the national finalists was a significant recognition of his dedication.

Barry received the national honour in recognition of 65 years spent raising money for charities through his singing.

For James, the evening provided an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of fundraisers from across the country.

A proud moment for St Giles Hospice

St Giles Hospice Chief Executive Elinor Eustace welcomed James’s achievement and the recognition it brought to the charity.

His fundraising has made a substantial contribution to the hospice, which provides specialist care and support to people and families facing serious illness.

The challenge has also inspired young people, with James sharing his experiences in schools.

His determination, commitment and willingness to undertake such an extraordinary journey have made him an outstanding ambassador for the charity.

Pride of Britain television broadcast

The Pride of Britain Awards ceremony will be shown on ITV1 and ITVX on Thursday 22 October 2026 at 8pm.

For supporters of St Giles Hospice, it will be another opportunity to celebrate the remarkable achievements of a fundraiser whose efforts have made such a difference.

James may not have taken home the overall national award, but his journey from Morocco to the Midlands has already secured something equally important: lasting support and recognition for a charity close to his heart.

Sutton Santa Run 2026 Seeks Local Business Support for Christmas Charity Fundraiser

Businesses across Sutton Coldfield are being invited to support this year’s Sutton Santa Run, which will raise money for two local mental health charities.

The popular festive fundraising event returns to Sutton Park on Sunday 6 December 2026, bringing together runners, walkers, families and local businesses for a Christmas-themed 5K.

Organised by SE Fitness Running & Walking Club, the event will start at Town Gate at 10am.

Now in its third year, the Sutton Santa Run will raise funds for Acacia Family Support and Our Place Support, two organisations providing important support to people and families experiencing mental health difficulties.

Last year’s event raised almost £6,000 for the charities, and organisers are hoping to build on that success in 2026.

Local businesses invited to get involved

The organisers are particularly keen to encourage businesses across Sutton Coldfield to support the event through sponsorship.

Opportunities start at £100, making it possible for businesses of different sizes to participate.

Companies can also encourage staff members to join the run, bringing colleagues together for a festive activity while supporting worthwhile local causes.

The event has particular significance for Acacia Family Support, which has been selected as the Royal Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce’s charity of the year for 2026–2028.

A festive event for everyone

The Sutton Santa Run welcomes participants of different ages and abilities, whether they prefer running, jogging or walking.

Christmas fancy dress is encouraged, with prizes planned for the best-dressed individual and family.

The event offers an opportunity to enjoy Sutton Park during the festive season while helping two charities continue their work in the local community.

Event information

Date: Sunday 6 December 2026
Time: 10am
Venue: Sutton Park, Town Gate, Sutton Coldfield
Distance: 5K
Charities: Acacia Family Support and Our Place Support

Businesses interested in sponsorship can contact Kate Davarzadeh at Acacia Family Support.

Further event information and participant booking are available through the SE Fitness website.