We’ve partnered with The Childhood Trust, London’s child poverty charity. It means our team can do more than donate: they can roll up their sleeves and build a child’s bedroom.
Our involvement with the charity allows our team to offer hands-on support that can have a positive impact on children’s lives. During the summer, several 1st Formations employees visited a home in North London to decorate and furnish a young child’s bedroom. This was part of The Trust’s Transforming Spaces initiative.
Here’s why we chose The Childhood Trust, what happened during our first volunteering day, and what’s next.
- 1st Formations is now an official corporate partner of The Childhood Trust and has donated £25,000 so far.
- In July 2026, eight members of our team renovated the bedroom of a young girl.
- We have more plans to support the charity, including a festive gift drive and further volunteering in 2027.
Who is The Childhood Trust?
The Childhood Trust is a charity focused on tackling child poverty in London. It works with grassroots charities and community groups that provide localised support for children and families. It also runs Transforming Spaces, which enables corporate partners to help improve children’s bedrooms and living environments.
Why we chose The Childhood Trust
One in three children in London live in poverty. The Childhood Trust works to address the effects of this by supporting organisations that help children and families across the capital.
As 1st Formations is based in London, we have a connection to the city and its communities. Helping children and families in our local area felt like a natural fit. Being located in the same area also means we can offer practical assistance.
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We wanted a partnership where employees could contribute firsthand. Transforming Spaces allows our team to volunteer and see the difference their work can make. Having a positive social impact is important to us.
Graeme Donnelly, CEO & Founder of 1st Formations, said:
Every child deserves a safe, happy place to grow up, but too many children in London don’t have that. That’s a heartbreaking truth – one I don’t think any of us should be willing to accept. The Childhood Trust does incredible work to change it, and we’re thrilled to be supporting them. London is our home. We want to help make it a better place for every child here.
“I’m so proud of our team, who are already using their volunteering days to get involved. They’re seeing first-hand the difference the Trust makes and helping to bring hope to families across the city. We’re excited for the fundraising events still to come, and even more excited to see the difference The Childhood Trust makes for children across London.
Turning a house into a home: our first volunteering day
As a corporate partner, we make a financial contribution that means our employees can take part in Transforming Spaces volunteering.
On 16 July 2026, eight members of our team headed to North London for our first Transforming Spaces corporate volunteering day.
Led by Kris, a volunteer for The Childhood Trust, we renovated the bedroom of a young girl just before her second birthday. Our volunteers built furniture, sanded and filled walls, and painted the room.
Angus Park, Services Manager at 1st Formations, said:
After a full day of hands-on work, we finished knowing that a child now had a bright and comfortable space to call their own. We could see real change at a grassroots level and play a part in that.
Why a bedroom matters
Only 2% of social homes are let as furnished or partly furnished. As a result, some families moving into social housing may not have essential household goods. Furniture poverty can mean children don’t have a bed for their bedroom.
The Childhood Trust’s Transforming Spaces initiative recognises the importance of bedroom furniture for children. The programme helps children have an appropriate space with suitable furniture and furnishings. It’s about much more than decorating a room.
Having a clean, comfortable, and personal space can improve a child’s sleep and development. A room to play, study, and be creative can also help children build their sense of stability, confidence, belonging, and pride. Plus, it can encourage them to socialise and invite their friends home without worrying about judgement.
£25,000 for London’s children
As of November 2026, we’ve donated £25,000 to The Childhood Trust. This funding backs the charity’s work with children and families in London affected by poverty, including support for grassroots organisations and community programmes. The Trust also uses fundraising to pay for its own initiatives like Transforming Spaces.
What’s next for our partnership
Our first volunteering day in July was just the beginning. We’re looking forward to continuing to work with The Childhood Trust, with more volunteering and fundraising ahead.
In December 2026, several 1st Formations employees will take part in the Santa in the City Fun Run to raise money. We’ll also be taking part in a winter gift drive for children and families. Our team will shop from a wish list put together by The Trust.
Next year, some employees will also run the HOKA Hackney Half. Plus, we plan to take part in two more Transforming Spaces volunteering days, with room makeovers likely to happen in February and March 2027.
Find out more about our partnership with The Childhood Trust.
If you’d like to support the charity’s mission, you can donate directly to The Childhood Trust.
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