Coinciding with their 90th anniversary, Transport for London’s Lost Property office recently moved into their new home, a 60,000 square foot facility in West Ham, the largest of its kind in Europe.
Specialising in recovering over 200,000 items annually, the office organised a charitable bake sale as part of its community engagement efforts, choosing the Any Old Irons as the beneficiaries of their fundraising initiative.
“Our senior manager asked us to find a charity in the local area to which we could give back to,” said TfL Lost Property Assistant Clarence. “We stumbled upon the Any Old Irons. I used to be a care assistant, so I’m very aware of the struggles the elderly face in terms of loneliness and social isolation.
“When I read up on this programme, I thought we simply have to support these guys! I’m delighted we managed to raise so much money. I hope the funds go a long way for them!”
Exceeding all expectations, the bake sale raised an impressive sum of £587, which TfL Lost Property kindly donated to the WHU Foundation’s Any Old Irons programme.
In total, the Any Old Irons frequently brings together 130 West Ham fans aged 65 and over across its two groups in Newham and Hadleigh. Donations such as these are essential in enabling the Any Old Irons to bring the two groups together, something which was achieved for the first time in December for the annual Christmas social.
“The funds are so valuable for us,” explained committee member Maureen Hankin. “We are so grateful. The money will help us plan some more field trips and most importantly organise another event bringing the Newham and Hadleigh groups together!
“The group means so much to us. It’s a reason to get out of bed and not sit in front of a TV. Social isolation is a massive issue for the elderly, so to have these frequent meetings is such a blessing.”
In addition to the donation, TfL Lost Property invited some group members to explore their new warehouse in West Ham.
An enlightening experience, the participants were offered insights into the processes behind losing and retrieving items. The visit also included plenty of heartwarming stories of children being reunited with their most treasured possessions.
Although wallets, bags and phones are the most common possessions retrieved from commuters, among the items which most caught the attention of the Any Old Irons were a bionic leg, a taxidermied fox wearing a crown, and a 1995 pictogram sent from Sweden thanking staff for returning a suitcase.
As a thank you for their generous donation and exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the remarkable warehouse, the Any Old Irons extended an invitation to members of the Lost Property team at TfL to join them at their monthly social at the iconic Boleyn Tavern on Green Street.
“I was surprised in a really good way,” Clarence remarked on his first impression of the Any Old Irons. “Seeing first-hand what the charity does, how it helps, and seeing what the donation is going towards has reassured us that the money will have a great impact.”
Commenting on the impact of the programme on its participants, long-time committee member Eileen Wade said: “We’ve had people meet at Any Old Irons and you would think they’ve known each other their whole lives! Everyone knows each other on a first name basis, and we all worry about one another. It’s like another family.”
Wrapping up their visit, the TfL Lost Property team expressed a desire to continue supporting the Any Old Irons, enquiring about additional ways in which they could contribute, which prompted Eileen to humorously suggest: “Send some nice handbags our way!”
Any Old Irons is a social inclusion programme set up in partnership with Friends of The Elderly and The Mercers’ Company, aimed at bringing together West Ham United fans who are aged over 65. For more information, click HERE or contact [email protected].
