From the start, until now, in 2025, our fantastic volunteers are the lifeblood of DLAG.
Hailing from all walks of life, each of them spares a couple of hours a week, but collectively, all these small efforts combine to create a huge, practical powerhouse of care and concern for others.
To our existing volunteers – we salute your great efforts and dedication.
Turning up in all weathers and circumstances, supporting each other, and truly making a difference to many, many local families in need, as well as struggling, vulnerable and isolated members of our community.
We are always ready to welcome new volunteers to our ‘family’. Whatever time you can spare, we can utilise!
To our hugely kind community – a massive thank you to our wonderful supporters. Week in, week out, ordinary folk hand over food and cash donations, large and small, and our volunteers are regularly humbled and moved by the generosity of so many, who give what they can. Many people stop for a quick chat and some mention that having been through tough times themselves, they are glad to be able to help others in a difficult situation.
In the beginning.
Responding to the crisis and chaos of the 2020 pandemic, three Wimbledon AFC fans got together with the aim of “just doing something” at a time when many community neighbours felt confused, powerless and often scared.
Isolation and fear became the norm for a while, but in a small corner of Merton, a call for help had already been answered by the very first volunteers.
On March 20, 2020, DLAG was born.
In just 5 short days from sending an initial message, founders Craig, Cormac and Xavier had galvanised friends and contacts to find a storage space and crucially, the manpower to start collecting food outside Morrisons supermarket in Wimbledon. And as they say, the rest is history. And what a history!
Although the Covid restrictions of the time were tough, the trio were inspired and impressed with just how many people had come together immediately to offer their help, ideas and enthusiasm – supporting those who needed it most.
Where we are now.
Founder, Xavier says, “It’s amazing. Each month we now supply between £80-90,000 worth of food. Since the beginning we’ve supplied food for over 6.5 million meals, distributed 3,700 devices, including laptops, and also thousands of items of furniture – and that’s before we even mention warm coats and homeless packs. It’s now a massive scale.”
Partnerships
Volunteers are now a familiar sight at many supermarket collections stalls, throughout Merton, Wandsworth & Kingston, decked out in the distinctive bright blue and yellow colours of Wimbledon AFC. Football remains a passion for the founders, and the connection with the Wimbledon club remains key, “It’s a very important partnership and while we are fundamentally about fighting poverty, it’s doing our club good too.”
Partnerships with local, national and international business supporters continues to grow. The generosity of Cappagh in supplying a base for the all-important food distribution Hub has been invaluable, and we are hugely grateful for support from Sky, Microsoft, Unilever alongside many, fantastic local businesses in South-West London.
Here’s to the next 5 years!
To find out more about DLAG, how you can volunteer or become a business partner, please get in touch with us: