Key to Joy is excited to announce participation in this year's Big Give Christmas Campaign with Hampshire Cricket Foundation as its champion funder. Key to joy is a local charity and membership club for adults with learning difficulties and neurodiversity.
From its beginnings as a Friday Night Club in Fareham in 2019, undergoing a rebrand to Key to joy in 2023 and expanding their team, being selected by Hampshire Cricket Foundation is a huge sign for continued growth and development for this local Fareham charity.
Having brought so much joy to its members through a range of life-enhancing activities, Key to joy has outgrown its small, shared venue and needs a larger venue a new home from home for its members and the people who support them. A larger premises would enhance member experience and enable Key to joy to support more adults with learning difficulties and neurodiversity.
With the generous support of the Hampshire Cricket Foundation, every donation made during the Big Give Christmas Challenge will be matched, doubling the impact of every single donation. This means, if Key to joy reaches the £8,750 fundraising target on the Big Give platform between 3-10 December, matched funds raised would be £17,500 toward their home from home campaign.
While it’s a huge undertaking for a local independent charity in its beginnings, used to raising funds through raffles and more modest community events, Key to joy is determined to step up to the challenge and make double the difference. Chair of the Trustee Board at Key to joy, Christine Mouat, said:
“There is so much potential for us to reach more adults with learning difficulties in the Fareham and Gosport boroughs that are isolated and need our support. Being part of such a huge nationwide campaign is a big step for our charity, which started its roots as a Friday Night Charity. We are incredibly excited and proud to have Hampshire Cricket Foundation as our champion funder. It’s an ambitious target to reach, but we're determined to do everything we can to make it happen. Even better, with the generous support of the Hampshire Cricket Foundation, every donation made during the Big Give Christmas Challenge will be matched, doubling the impact every single donation.”
Head of Customer Experience at Hampshire Cricket Foundation, Greig Stewart added:
“Hampshire Cricket Foundation is passionate about supporting small, independent charities. We are looking forward to seeing this brilliant charity grow and it is an absolute pleasure to be part of their journey, through the Big Give.”
Key to joy have three core activities running through the Big Give campaign period from 3rd to 10th December:
3rd, 4th & 9th Dec: Indoor sponsored rowing challenge Gosport to Isle of Wight
Sat 7th Dec from 10am-1pm: Fareham Town Christmas Carols singing and signing
Sun 8th Dec from 6.30pm: Charity comedy night at Fareham Social Club
The comedy night, https://keytojoy.org/biggive is particularly exciting with an excellent lineup that are predominantly neurodivergent and 100 percent funny, including; Paul McCaffrey (BBC Radio 2), Joe Wells (The Neurodivergent Podcast), Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer and Sunjai Arif.
Key to joy’s neurodivergent MC for the night is local comedian, Emma Ashley-King who is pleased to be supporting a cause close to her heart. She said:
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be MCing Key to joy’s comedy night. Not only will it be a great night full of laughter, thanks to the fantastic comedy talent appearing, but we’ll also be raising funds for neurodiverse adults and those with learning difficulties. As a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and dyspraxia later in life, I understand how challenging things can be.”
The Fareham Social Club have been incredibly supportive, sharing the event with their members both at the club and across their digital channels.