What’s Happening
Ray’s Playhouse fundraising campaign
Fulham Social Hub announces Ray’s Playhouse as their new community cause with 10% of all business membership and additional fundraising going towards the campaign to refurbish their outdoor sandpit area. The playhouse located in William Parnell Park (known to Fulhamites as Pineapple Park) is a lasting legacy to Ray Bender who was born and raised in Fulham.
Ray’s Playhouse is a charity funded early years children’s centre, providing daily inclusive stay and play sessions for parents and careers with children under 5 years old. The charity was set up in January 2011 to save the Sands End Playhouse which had been operating in Fulham for over thirty years and relies on donations from individuals, trusts, corporate givers and foundations. Fulham Social Hub founder, Zara Thomas told Urban Village LDN “we’re delighted to be supporting the campaign to upgrade the playhouse’s outdoor facilities and can’t thank our current members enough for their support with this community cause”. You can find out more about Ray Bender’s lasting legacy on the latest episode of “Fulham Chronicles” https://youtu.be/DfLk9u5dRTc?si=cRuoE-P_i5I0vHGU or join Fulham Social Hub at their next networking / social event on Thursday 24 at Uncommon Fulham. Everyone who lives and / or works in Fulham welcome hello@fulhamsocialhub.co.uk
Fulham Horticultural Society
Once upon a time each of the old ‘villages’ of West London had its own horticultural society but now only the Fulham Horticultural Society remains. This society was founded in 1924 and still, today, holds a show where a variety of cups and other prizes can be won. These include the Royal Horticultural Society’s Banksian Medal, the National Vegetable Society medal and the British Pelargonium and Geranium Society’s Spoon.
After a break the autumn show is back on Saturday 12 (2.30- 4.30pm) at All Saints Church Hall, entry is FREE so do go along and support! It’s been a tough summer for gardeners and allotments but you should be able to see a selection of beautiful flowers including dahlias, chrysanthemums and other plants, pot-grown plants for those with patios or living in flats and there are categories for all sorts of vegetables.
For bakers and jam makers there are cakes, jams and bottled, pickled fruits on show. They also have art, photography, crocheting and children’s' classes. Homemade cakes and tea will be available to buy and Matthew Pottage from Gardeners’ Questions Time will be handing out the prizes.
Sleep Out
Glass Door is a homeless charity based in Fulham so we like to support their annual sleep out. This year on Friday 9th October 2026, over one hundred people are expected to join Glass Door Homeless Charity’s 14th annual Sleep Out. Glass Door is hoping to raise £100,000 from the Sleep Out, which will help fund the charity’s services and help people to build a route out of homelessness.
Participants can take part in-person at the Duke of York Square in Chelsea, or remotely from anywhere in the world. This year is especially poignant as sleepers will wake up on World Homeless Day – Saturday 10th October having just experienced a glimpse of what someone might face whilst being homeless in London.
Jo Carter, CEO of Glass Door Homeless Charity, said: “Our Annual Sleep Out brings friends, neighbours, colleagues and families together with one shared purpose: to help people who have nowhere to call home. Every pound raised helps us provide the support people need to leave homelessness behind and rebuild their lives. It's a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when a community comes together with compassion." One of last year’s Glass Door Sleep Out volunteers said: “There are people on the streets, day in, day out. 24/7, 365. This is just a way of helping out, really.”