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Kim Owen joined White Lodge, a charity that provides services to people with a range of disabilities, their families and carers, in 2022, originally as Community Engagement Manager. From the start, she leaned on a small group of long-standing and committed fundraising volunteers to help run fetes, Christmas fairs and collection cans. As her role moved into Challenge Events, Carol Ellis came on board as Community Engagement Lead – and between them, they began to build something bigger.
In 2023, the group began to grow after Kim went along to Voluntary Support’s Volunteer Recruitment Fair at Egham Orbital and met some new volunteers. This coincided with the fundraising volunteer team’s remit beginning to broaden as they looked at efficiencies, taking on bucket shakes, and helping run corporate volunteering days.
In February 2025, this informal network of committed volunteers was officially set up as Friends of White Lodge – affectionately known as FOWL. What had been a loose group of helpers became a cohesive team, which today is 17 members strong.
“We recognised early on that volunteering is as much about what volunteers get out of the experience as what they can do for us,” says Kim. “We are one team, with volunteers supporting the fundraising team, but FOWL have the freedom to have regular meetings and organise their own events, as well as supporting the fundraising team’s events,” Kim explains.
FOWL members are hands-on with all of White Lodge’s official events, but they also run their own. Importantly, the group has its own Facebook page, a deliberate choice, giving FOWL ownership and a voice that’s distinct from White Lodge’s own channels.
As well as regular FOWL meetings, the group organises more informal coffee mornings and pub get-togethers, helping members stay connected socially, not just as a rota of helping hands.
In 2025, FOWL and White Lodge’s wider community fundraising effort gave an impressive 879 volunteer hours. Community fundraising activities include:
Events through the year included the London Marathon, Superhero Tri, Village Fair, Cherry Fair, Goose Fair and a Quiz ‘N’ Pizza night. In 2025, the group raised £4,421 through its own events and activities, and supported the White Lodge team at several events. Their support has enabled White Lodge to massively increase its reach and presence across Runnymede and Spelthorne – and was the reason FOWL won Volunteer Team of the Year award at our 2026 Runnymede and Spelthorne Volunteer Awards.
White Lodge also relies on service and befriending volunteers alongside its fundraising team – different roles, but part of the same wider volunteering community.
Carol Ellis, Community Engagement Lead, says, “They are passionate ambassadors for disability inclusion and for White Lodge. Whether they are cheering on runners at the London Marathon, supporting inclusive events such as Superhero Tri, facilitating corporate volunteer days or leading community outreach activities, they bring warmth, enthusiasm and positivity everywhere they go.”
White Lodge is always looking to recruit more volunteers, but Kim and Carol are conscious of the risk of burnout. Unlike employees, volunteers can’t simply be told to stop overworking; it takes a more careful, personal approach to make sure people don’t take on too much.
For organisations looking to build their own volunteer fundraising team, these are their top tips:
Find out about local volunteering opportunities and keep up to date with local events & fundraising news by subscribing to one of our bulletins.