Maundy Relief – 25 years

Maundy Relief was established in October 1998, 25 years ago by our charismatic and highly motivated founder, Dorothy McGregor. She was helped by friends and colleagues Len Singleton and Alan Freeman.

Their purpose was to support local people who were struggling in life, and they did so by providing food, the opportunity to talk and receive companionship and by offering a concept difficult to define but easy to recognize: love. Their mission was to offer an immediate response to poverty and need and this has become our formal statement of purpose, something that has served us very well for 25 years as a touch stone and reminder of why we are here.

What began as a small lock-up store for donated items of food quickly developed and grew, largely through the material and emotional sacrifices of Dorothy and growing numbers of supporters.

A number of premises were purchased and rented on Abbey Street and Maundy Grange became the hub of our activities. It provided a homely, comfortable and much loved centre for our work and Dorothy could be found there from very early in the morning until late at night, always welcoming and ready to address whatever troubles and concerns were brought to her.

Dorothy died in 2013 but her example determined the culture of Maundy Relief and those she gathered around her continue to turn no one away and remain the ‘first port of call and last resort’ for many.

With time Maundy was able to attract the funding needed to offer a broad range of services and employ very skilled staff and volunteers (upon whom we depend). We offer counselling, benefits and other advice, physical and mental health support, advocacy, befriending, recreational activities, food parcels and household goods, emergency accommodation and support into rented accommodation. And of course, we continue to provide a warm welcome and hot meal to anyone who visits us.

As we have become a highly regarded charity in the area, that receives referrals from NHS and social services colleagues and many other charities, our influence has grown as has our profile. We have won several national awards for excellence, have a high profile locally and at times nationally and are key to future developments at strategic level across our area.

We are a very professional 21^st Century charity that understands the ‘business’ we are in. However, we are only as good as our people and are blessed to have fantastic and loyal volunteers supported by a small team of paid staff who are led by Dorothy’s worthy successor, Lucy Hardwick.

We have come a long way in 25 years. We hope that Dorothy would be proud of what we have continued to build on her behalf and of those who need us most. Sadly, it seems there will be a continuing need for ‘an immediate response to poverty and need’ and it is our intention to fulfill our mission for as long as we are required.

Mike Rose, Chair of Trustees, Maundy Relief, May 2023