Lashings

Our partnership with Lashings has been absolutely crazy so far and we have enjoyed lunches with some sporting icons. Thomas Bjorn, Matt Dawson, Jason Robinson, Tony Cottee, James Collins, Kevin Nolan, Glenn Hoddle, Stuart Pearce, Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor have helped us to raise almost £10,000 so far this year. The team at Lashings have been a huge part of our journey already and have helped us to continue to support people across the UK.

Go Privilege

We had an amazing day at The Cheltenham Festival this year thanks to Go Privilege who had a fundraising day in their suite on the Thursday. 200 racegoers took the time to listen to what we had to say and then gave very generously helping to raise over £4000 on the day!

Hera Sale

Carol and the team held another Hera sale this month of all brand new stock kindly donated by Hera. They gave up their time as they always do and raised a very impressive £1500 on the day. It takes great effort to pull these sales together, not only on the day but before and after, liaising with other local charities, supporting them with clothing to help their own beneficiaries.

Big thanks to Carol, Rachel and Leah for their hard work!

Winter Ball

Our Winter Ball is creeping up on us, and we are delighted to announce that we are going to be hosted by the brilliant Stephen Chenery for the evening, and entertainment will be provided by the mind-bending Matt Daniel-Baker and the incomparable Sol Bernstein!

6 A-Side Football Tournament

We are still looking for teams to join this year's tournament at The Gerard Buxton Sports Ground in Royal Wootton Bassett. It's open to anyone over 16, is just £100 per team for up to 8 players, and is looking to be a brilliant day of quality fun and football!

We’d love you to get involved, so if you are interested, you can sign up below:

Or drop an email to kris.walklett@bestmates.org to register your interest

Summer Party

The prep is in full swing for this year’s Summer Party at The Old Town Bowl in Swindon. Saturday 8th August 2026 from 12:00 to 17:30, we’ve got fun for all the family and can’t wait to see everyone there.

We do have some slots available for any local DJs that would like to support the day by playing for an hour or two. If you are interested, please get in touch either by calling us on 0300 303 6283 or emailing corinne.paul@bestmates.org​

Our Hera Heroes

We want to take a moment to recognise something special.

Our Hera Heroes… what these women have done is nothing short of incredible.

Carol, Rachel, Leah and the team have raised £19,750 for Best Mates. Let that sink in for a second.

But it’s not just the money.

It’s the time, the effort, the care… and the way they’ve shown up for people across our communities, again and again.

Alongside raising funds, they’ve been out there actively supporting others, donating stock, giving their time, and making a real difference to organisations including:

• Swindon Sisters Alliance
• Big Breakfast Plus
• Night Shelter
• Prospect Hospice
• Cancer Research UK
• Prospect Hospice
• Sue Ryder
• Swindon Scrapstore
• The Salvation Army

That’s community impact.

A huge part of this has also been made possible through the continued support from Hera Clothing, providing end-of-line products that have helped generate funds and support those in need.

And to take it even further, Thames Water stepped in and matched a portion of the funds raised, increasing the impact even more.

People helping people. No fuss. No spotlight chasing. Just doing the right thing.

We see you. We appreciate you. And we want to recognise you for the outstanding contribution you’ve made, not just to Best Mates, but to the wider community.

You really are our Hera Heroes 💙

Community Impact Round Table Launches in Swindon

At Best Mates, everything we do is built around one simple belief, no one should face life’s toughest moments alone.

That belief was at the heart of something new we launched this month, the very first

Community Impact Round Table in Swindon.

Interestingly, it all started with a raffle prize at the South West Business Awards. Jeff Tucker, Co-Founder of Best Mates, won a business meeting with lunch for eight people. Rather than using it as a typical meeting, he saw an opportunity to do something different.

To bring local charities together.

The idea was simple.
Get good people in a room.
Talk. Listen. Share.
And explore how we can support more people, together.

The room was filled with organisations doing incredible work across our communities, all supporting people facing different challenges. What quickly became clear is that while each organisation plays a vital role, there is even greater strength when we connect, communicate and collaborate.

One of the biggest takeaways from the session was awareness.
So much support exists, but not everyone knows where to find it. By building stronger relationships between charities, we can help make sure that more people are guided to the right support at the right time.

The conversation was open, honest and at times powerful. It highlighted the challenges many people are facing, but also the passion and commitment of those working every day to make a difference.

Jeff shared:
​“This was about creating space for real conversation. When we understand what each other does, we can work better together. If that means even one more person gets the support they need quicker, then it’s worth it.”

This first round table did exactly what it set out to do. It brought people together, sparked new connections, and laid the foundations for ongoing collaboration.

We are already looking at how we continue this, bringing more organisations into the conversation and strengthening the support network across our communities.

Because when we work together, we don’t just raise awareness.
We give people a better chance of finding support when they need it most.

Birthdays!

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish some of our Mates a very happy birthday over the last month…..

We hope you had a fantastic day and were spoilt rotten!!

Could You Be a Mate?

As Best Mates continues to grow, the need for more people willing to step forward and make a difference grows as well.

We are currently recruiting more 'Mates' - individuals with lived experience who have faced their own challenges, found a way through, and now feel ready to help guide and support others walking a similar path.

Being a Mate isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about understanding. It’s about listening without judgment. It’s about saying, “I get it,” and meaning it. That shared experience can be incredibly powerful for someone who feels alone or unsure where to turn.

If you’ve come through tough times and are now in a place where you feel strong enough to support someone else, we would love to hear from you.

​www.bestmates.org, email contact@bestmates.org or pick up the phone and call 0300 303 6283.

Volunteers Needed - Join the Team

We’re also expanding our wider volunteer network, led by our very own Kris Walklett, who has stepped up to help coordinate and support volunteers across our growing number of events.

Whether it’s helping at Walk N Talk, supporting community events, assisting with admin, or simply being present to share the Best Mates message, there are many ways to get involved.

Volunteering with Best Mates means becoming part of a team that is actively changing lives in local communities. It’s hands-on, meaningful, and rooted in genuine care for others.

If you’re interested in becoming a Mate or joining our volunteer team, please get in touch -

​www.bestmates.org email contact@bestmates.org or pick up the phone and call 0300 303 6283.

Together, we can continue building something that truly makes a difference.

For more details and to sign up to any of our events, please go to https://bestmates.org/our-events/​

Here’s a snapshot of the impact we’ve made together up to 30th April 2026, showing how your support is changing lives.