A devoted charity volunteer from Tooting has been recognised for 30 years of service helping to raise money for vulnerable children.

Trish Arathoon started supporting The Children’s Society in 1987 when she became the charity’s collection box coordinator in her local parish of Upper Tooting and over almost three decades has helped to raise more than £30,000 for the charity. 

Over the years the retired library manager has worked tirelessly to raise vital funds for The Children’s Society as part of the Holy Trinity Church on Trinity Road by co-ordinating collections but also by organising Christingles, garden parties, cake sales and sponsored knits. Since 2009 she has also helped organise the church’s annual Walk & Explore events which have raised over £13,500 for the charity. 

This year Trish and her team of keen walkers travelled to Kent and covered almost 10 miles between Hever and Leigh, visiting three country churches along the way and raised over £600. On the walk Trish was pleasantly surprised to be presented with her certificate of recognition by the charity’s Diocesan President for Southwark, Dave Farris. 

On receiving her award, Trish said: “We were so lucky with the weather on our walk and everything worked out perfectly. The surprise presentation really was the icing on the cake and totally unexpected!”

“I started supporting The Children’s Society thirty years ago when I took over from the previous collection box co-ordinator and since then I am proud to have increased the number of regular collectors from 26 to 41 in that time – all contributing their spare pounds and pennies to a very worthy cause!  

“I’ve really enjoyed my time volunteering for The Children’s Society and have no plans to stop yet! The thing that keeps me going more than anything is knowing that the money we have raised is going to help children that desperately need it.” 

The Children’s Society’s Relationship Manager, Jonathan Mann said: “We want to say a huge thank you to Trish for her dedication and effort over the last 30 years. She has contributed so much of her time and energy towards the work of the charity and we are enormously grateful to her for that. 

“Volunteers like Trish form such a vital part of our mission to change children’s lives and we wouldn’t be able to do it without people like her. We work to help children and young people who have nowhere left to turn, so with the support of inspiring people like Trish, we’re able to continue our life-changing work”

For more info about local volunteering contact Jonathan Mann on 0207 841 4502, or click here.