Image Text:

PICTURED: Fiona Small

THE YOUNG Mums Support Network had a phenomenal start to 2019 by meeting their crowdfunding appeal target of a staggering £21,129.

This will now fund vital services to support some of the most vulnerable and stigmatised members of the community in an impoverished area of Wandsworth.

The campaign was launched by YMSN CEO, Fiona Small at the Battersea Power station on September 5th 2018. She commented: “We are thrilled to meet our target, and we cannot thank the community enough for getting behind us and offering their support. Our campaign touched a nerve with so many people and organisations. We can now provide essential services to young mums and help them gain new skills and raise their self-esteem.

Small thanked her team for their continuous support in helping the crowdfund campaign be a success. She added. “We were also extremely fortunate to have the expert advice of Steve Pinto, CEO of Wandsworth Chamber. This was vital in connecting with the right people to help us coordinate our campaign. My advice to organisations aiming to crowdfund is identical to the advice given to us by CEO Steve Pinto; just go out there and make it happen! The real heroes are the people of Wandsworth who responded to our call-to-action. “

Reaching the target of £21,129 was an extraordinary achievement for YMSN, as most contributions came from individuals who felt compelled to donate after a social media campaign which highlighted individual stories of service users.

Two exceptional organisations Optivo and L&Q helped YMSN to reach the finish line, along with some motivational words of support from London Mayor, Sadiq Khan who stated:

“You are part of a new wave of Londoners, with a pioneering spirit, contributing fresh ideas to help shape the future of your neighbourhoods and our city. This attitude is crucial to my vision for stronger more integrated communities. I encourage you to show ambition and commitment on behalf of your community, helping to foster a strong sense of civic pride."

Read every story in our hardcopy newspaper for free by downloading the app.