Proudly supporting our local community: Elizabeth House

Written by Ellie Wiles.

At The Odney Club, we don't just work in the community – we actively support it! We’re incredibly proud to champion Elizabeth House, Cookham, as our chosen charity for 2026. Spearheading our fundraising adventures and heading up the mission is our amazing Conference Co-ordinator, Tammie Hawkins.

'Elizabeth House is a charity incredibly close to my heart. Losing both of my parents before they had a chance to grow old. This taught me that reaching your golden years is a true gift, and it's a precious stage of life that should be celebrated. Honestly, the members at Elizabeth House are so wonderful, I secretly want them all to adopt me!' - Tammie Hawkins

Tammie Hawkins, Conference Co-ordinator, The Odney Club. About Elizabeth House:

The Elizabeth House team and volunteers are dedicated to providing a warm welcome, companionship, and practical support to independent seniors, as well as reassurance for their families.

'Everything we do for our members is tailored to help them stay active and socially connected, combating the physical and emotional impacts of isolation.' - Elizabeth House

Much like The Odney Club, Elizabeth House creates a warm, "home from home" environment that brings genuine comfort and lifts spirits through freshly cooked meals, engaging activities, and shared laughter. By working closely with families, local service providers, and dedicated volunteers, Elizabeth House ensures its daily support is seamlessly coordinated, empowering members to maintain their independence and truly enjoy later life.

Our fundraising so far:

We’ve been keeping ourselves busy at The Odney Club! Here is a look at what we’ve been doing recently to support this wonderful charity.

• General maintenance: We "rolled up our sleeves" to support with some much-needed hands-on maintenance, such as fitting blinds, replacing lightbulbs, and reorganising furniture.

• Hosted a cream tea: Welcomed guests for a classic afternoon treat here at The Odney Club.

• Shared an ear: We hosted a talk for the residents on the history of The Odney Club and the John Lewis Partnership.

• Hosted the Maidenhead Run Club: The Odney team organised a charity run, providing refreshments to runners and a well-earned tea and cake!

• Local plant sale: We held a plant sale featuring beautiful donations from our wonderful grounds team.

• Baked up a storm: We sold delicious donated cakes and biscuits to our staff and visitors.

• Event pop-up: We hosted a lively stall at our Family Fun Day event, featuring 'hook a duck', 'spin the wheel' and 'tin can shoot-out'.

• Quiz masters: We tested the knowledge of Elizabeth House with an interactive quiz. It was a wonderful way to bring everyone together for an afternoon of friendly competition. We are proud to announce that, thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors and a huge effort from The Odney Club team, we have reached a fantastic £3,374 so far! The hard work continues, and with plenty of time still on our side, we are determined to keep pushing forward and hit our £4,000 goal.

Getting involved:

We want to do even more for Elizabeth House, and we would absolutely love for you to join us. Here's how you can help:

• Donate online: Every single contribution, big or small, makes a real difference. You can add directly to our growing total by making a donation on our Local giving page.

  
  

• Cheer us on: Mark your calendars! We would love your support as our team laces up their running shoes for the upcoming Maidenhead Half Marathon.

Upcoming fundraising events:

• Live Music at The Odney Club: Join us for an unforgettable evening of live music, featuring a tribute to the legendary 1960s rock band, Small Faces. Get tickets here!

• Maidenhead Half Marathon (October 2026): We’d love for you to join us and cheer on The Odney Club team as we take on our upcoming run! We will be running a dedicated hydration and donation station, so come along to soak up the brilliant atmosphere, support the runners, and show your support for the charity. Click for full event details! Maidenhead Half Marathon 2026

Thank you to everyone who has supported our events, bought a plant, or donated so far. Together, we can make a difference.