All the #stalbanspostboxes toppers are made with love, imagination and possibly some swearing, and at no cost, by volunteers.
We run the postboxes project for the community – and believe it’s a true community project with volunteer makers, local business sponsors and then donations, love and support from the wider community.
Business sponsors generously gave their money.
Admin, emails, phone calls, helpers, web designers and hosters, map artists, app designers, photographers, Facebookers, bloggers, Instagrammers, all donating time and expertise behind the scenes.
We choose charities for the work that they do locally and for the wide range of people they support in and around St Albans.
ALL money received for the topper sponsorship is paid direct to the charities. Admin and support is provided by Clare and team at Atlas Translations; and Candy Stuart and Lucy Dronfield co-ordinate the fabulous volunteers on the yarnbombing team – who work practically all year!
2024 Charities – Gaddesden Place Riding for the Disabled and Up on Downs.
St Albans Postboxes – quick history!
Since we started, we have supported many charities, large and small. All providing support to many sections of the community:
Dec 2018 Earthworks, Counselling Foundation, Ollie Foundation – £10 191.60
Dec 2019 Age Concern St Albans, Small Acts of Kindness £12 344.44
Summer 2020 covid special St Albans and District Foodbank and Open Door St Albans £3 520.56
Dec 2020 St Albans and District Foodbank and Open Door St Albans £26 494.52
Dec 2021 The ADD-vance ADHD and Autism Trust and YOUTH TALK £30 097.50
Dec 2022 St Albans Community Pantry and St Albans Action for the Homeless £25 219.20
Dec 2023 Cancer Hair Care and Hertfordshire MIND Network £25 006.75
Dec 2024 Gaddesden Place Riding for the Disabled and Up on Downs £31 564.65
We stipulate that whoever we support must be a registered charity. They must provide evidence of this, and they must have an official charity bank account, run by Trustees. We also require the charity to be registered with a charity fundraising platform such as Just Giving or Give As You Live Donate. This means donations are made directly to the fundraising platform and split and distributed directly to the charities – no money passing through anybody else.
By changing our charities each year, we are shining a spotlight on different charities each year, and helping different charities. Each charity is different – we believe all are deserving of our support for the work they do in the local community.
Of course there are 100s of causes we could support. Unfortunately, especially with a cost of living crisis, a recession and everything else going on, more people than ever need more support in all sectors.
We work hard to keep the project running as simply as possible. If you have a suggestion for a local registered charity, you are welcome to contact us, or suggest to the charity that they put themselves forward. We also welcome any help with social media, photography, and marketing, press etc.