Berkeley and Momentum Children’s Charity have concluded a truly impactful and meaningful seven-year partnership that began in 2017.
Since the start of their collaboration, Berkeley St Edward staff have raised £450,000 in unrestricted funding for Momentum through diverse initiatives, including staff fundraising and Give As You Earn contributions - allowing Momentum to allocate funds to the areas where it’s most needed.
In addition, Berkeley Foundation has supported Momentum to build its resilience through offering capacity building support and unrestricted grants during the COVID pandemic and cost of living crisis bringing the partnership commitment to nearly £600,000.
This substantial support has enabled Momentum, a charity that supports children and their families with terminal illnesses, to expand its services significantly. The charity has increased the number of families it supports by 147%, extended its presence from 6 to 10 hospitals, and hired a full-time social worker who assists families in accessing essential financial support. Momentum also recognised an increased demand for bereavement services after the pandemic and has been able to expand these resources accordingly.
Reflecting on the partnership, Bianca Effemey OBE, founder and Chief Executive of Momentum, shared:
“Momentum is a small charity, and Berkeley has truly become part of our family. Whether it’s helping us pack advent calendars at Christmas or giving the Momentum barge a good scrub in spring, you’ve always been just a phone call away whenever we’ve needed you. One memorable example is when we needed a summer house for a young boy who was living with cancer amongst other conditions, and for him to feel safe, he needed a calm and quiet environment. Berkeley took immediate action, constructing the building to help make this dream a reality. You have raised a phenomenal amount of money for Momentum over the years - it is impossible to put into words the incredible impact this has had on our charity and all the families we support.”
Tom Pocock, Managing Director of Berkeley Homes (Central London) added:
“We have been truly honoured to partner with Momentum over the past seven years. The work the charity does is nothing short of extraordinary. For any parent, facing a child’s illness is a nightmare, but Momentum ensures that no family has to navigate it alone. Its wraparound services offer comprehensive support—from counselling and creative therapies to special experiences—bringing a vital layer of comfort and care to families when they need it most.”
Clare Maddison, Interim Head of the Berkeley Foundation, echoed Tom’s sentiments, saying,
“Momentum has been an outstanding charity partner over the last seven years. It has provided meaningful opportunities for Berkeley staff to volunteer their time and talent and we’re delighted to see the impact that the partnership has had on so many families.”
Together, Berkeley and Momentum have created a lasting impact on families facing challenging times, and both organisations are proud to reflect on the extraordinary outcomes of this inspiring partnership.