The Maypole Project

This Loneliness Awareness Week, The Maypole Project is proud to highlight the often-hidden impact of loneliness on families living with complex medical needs, disabilities, and long-term health conditions 💜

Loneliness can affect anyone, but for children, young people, and families navigating the challenges of disability, chronic illness, or caring responsibilities, feelings of isolation can be especially significant.

Our Living with Chronic Pain Group is a great example of how we help tackle loneliness and reduce isolation. This relaxed, non-judgemental support group for those aged 11+ provides a safe space where young people people can talk, listen, share experiences, or simply spend time with others who understand the challenges they may be facing.

Sometimes, knowing you're not alone can make all the difference.

This Loneliness Awareness Week, we're celebrating the power of connection and the importance of creating supportive communities where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

If you would like to know more about the support groups we offer, please get in touch by emailing [email protected] or call us on 01689 889 889 📧📞

Did you know that The Maypole Project is part of the Co-op Local Community Fund this year?

Co-op members can influence how and where they share their profits by choosing local charities to support.

Why not sign up to be a Co-op Member and choose The Maypole Project to support today?!

Find the link to join in our bio - thank you!

🎉 Today, we’re celebrating International Day of Play – a time to recognise the power of play in supporting children’s development, wellbeing, and emotional health.

This year’s theme is "Choose Play – Every Day", highlighting the importance of making time for play and recognising the positive impact it has on children’s lives.

At The Maypole Project, we provide play therapy for children with complex medical needs and their siblings. Play therapy is a child-centred form of support that uses play, creative activities, and self-expression to help children explore their feelings, process experiences, build confidence, and develop coping skills in a safe and supportive environment.

For children facing medical challenges, and for their siblings who may also be affected by these experiences, play can be a powerful way to communicate emotions that can be difficult to put into words.

This International Day of Play, we celebrate the importance of giving every child the opportunity to play, express themselves, and thrive 🎨⚽🧸🛝📖🎼🚀



If you’d like to find out more about our play therapy service or any of the other support we offer, please contact our helpline on 01689 889 889, or send us an email on [email protected] 💜

A huge THANK YOU and well done to everyone who took part in this year's Chislehurst Half Marathon! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Nice Work

We hope you enjoyed the race, the atmosphere, and the route as much as we enjoyed putting it on!

A special thank you goes to our incredible team of volunteers. From the marshals out on the course, the water station teams, and the car park marshals, to those at HQ handing out medals and bananas, our wonderful masseuse, and everyone working behind the scenes — thank you for helping everything run smoothly and, most importantly, for keeping our runners safe throughout the day.

We'd also like to give a big shout-out to all the local companies, corporate teams, community groups, and scout groups who joined us on the day to lend a hand. Notable thanks go to Henderson Biomedical , Greenwich Local Labour and Business Royal Borough of Greenwich, Rotary Bromley Game Changers, Beckenham Rotary, Sidcup Rotary, My Tribe Homes , The 5th Chislehurst Scout Group, Paul from Chislehurst Massage & Rehabilitation, & Michael Jaworski for capturing the day 📷 Your support, enthusiasm, and willingness to get involved helped make the event such a success.

We're also delighted to share that, thanks to your support, we raised and incredible £5,000 from this year's event! This incredible amount will make a real difference to the children and families supported by The Maypole Project, helping us continue to provide vital services and support when they are needed most.

Events like this simply wouldn't be possible without every runner, volunteer, supporter, sponsor, and donor who played a part. We look forward to seeing you again next year! 🎉🏅💜

Don't forget to share your photos from the day and tag us! 📸

🎉 We're so excited to be attending Community Links Bromley Volunteering Fair 2026! 🎉

What a fantastic way to celebrate the end of Volunteers' Week and showcase the incredible impact volunteers have across our community.

📅 Saturday 6th June 2026
⏰ 11:00am – 3:00pm
📍 Bromley United Reformed Church, 20 Widmore Road, BR1 1RY

The fair will bring together around 30 local charities and community organisations, offering a great opportunity to discover how you can make a difference in Bromley.

Some of our wonderful Maypole volunteers, along with Laura our Volunteer Administrator, will be there to chat about the rewarding volunteering opportunities available with The Maypole Project, and will be able to share their experiences in helping support children and young people with complex medical needs and their families.

The event is FREE to attend and no booking is required – just drop in and say hello!

We can't wait to meet you and celebrate the amazing spirit of volunteering in our community 💜

🏊‍♀️ Take on the Hever Castle 1 Mile Swim for The Maypole Project! 🏊‍♂️

Could you take on a 1 mile open water swim and make a difference for local children and families?

Join at the Castle Race Series Multisport Weekend at Hever Castle – an action-packed sporting festival featuring swimming, running, triathlon and multisport events for all ages and abilities.

📍 Location: Hever Castle
📅 Date: Saturday 26th September 2026
🏊 Event: 1 Mile Open Water Swim
💷 Registration Fee: £25
❤️ Minimum Sponsorship: No minimum sponsorship – simply raise what you can!

👉 Sign up today and secure your place! As part of Team Maypole, you'll receive encouragement, fundraising support and a warm welcome from our team.

For more information, contact our fundraising team:
📧 [email protected]
📞 01689 851596

🌟 Happy Volunteers' Week 2026! 🌟

This week, we want to celebrate and thank our incredible volunteers who truly are the heart and soul of The Maypole Project 💜

With an amazing team of over 80 volunteers, we simply couldn't deliver the support and services we provide to our families without you! From helping with fundraising and events, activity clubs and outings, to therapeutic support for all members of the family (plus so much more!), each and every one of you makes a real difference to the families we support.

Your dedication, kindness, time, and enthusiasm help keep our services running and our community thriving. We are continually inspired by the generosity you show and the impact you make every day.

To all of our wonderful volunteers: thank you for everything you do. We appreciate every single one of you and are so proud to have you as part of our Maypole Project family. 💜

If you are inspired this week to start your volunteering journey, please get in touch! Email us on [email protected] 📧

🏃‍♀️🌳 Join for this year’s Royal Parks Half Marathon ! 🌳🏃‍♂️

Looking for a challenge while making a real difference? Sign up to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon as part of Team Maypole and help support children with complex medical needs and their families 💜

This stunning London race takes you through some of the capital’s most beautiful parks, all while raising vital funds for The Maypole Project.

Whether you’re a seasoned runner or taking on your very first half marathon, we’d love to have you on the team! 🙌

By joining Team Maypole, you’ll receive:
✨ Dedicated fundraising support
✨ A Maypole running top
✨ Lots of encouragement from our team
✨ The chance to make a huge impact for local families

Places are limited, so don’t miss your chance to be part of something amazing! Email us now on [email protected]

Sign up today and help children with complex medical needs and disabilities 💜

A huge thank you and well done to this year’s Downe May Queen, Dot Spicer, for choosing The Maypole Project as her chosen charity 💜

Thanks to her fantastic efforts, she raised an amazing £200 to support the work we do with children and families.

Thank you, Dot, for your kindness, generosity, and support — and thank you to everyone who donated and helped make this possible 👑

Today, an amazing team from Access Insurance are taking on a 12-mile walking challenge from East Croydon to Orpington to raise vital funds for The Maypole Project 💜

A huge good luck to our fab walkers — Jordan, Justin, Assynia, George and Alfie — who are supporting a cause that is very close to their hearts.

They’ve already raised an incredible £500 and are hoping to raise even more! 👏

If you can, please support them by clicking the link below. Every contribution makes a difference and helps us continue supporting children and families who need us most.
https://givestar.io/gs/access-insurance-walk

Good luck team — we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way and ready to cheer you when you pass the Maypole Office! 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️