Our Story
How It All Began & Where We Are Now
The COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 sparked an extraordinary community effort. Inspired by the urgent need for support, three AFC Wimbledon fans came together to form Dons Local Action Group (DLAG) – starting with food collections for vulnerable and self-isolating residents. What began at Morrisons Wimbledon and the Old Rutlishians’ Association rapidly expanded across Kingston, Merton, and Wandsworth, powered by an incredible network of volunteers. While food support remained our core focus, we soon launched ‘Keep Kids Connected’ to provide laptops to children without digital access, and added a furniture initiative after being approached by Merton Mutual Aid. Each step responded to real, urgent needs in our community.
As the pandemic worsened, it became clear that our work couldn’t stop with the emergency response. In summer 2020, we formed a leadership team and continued as part of the AFC Wimbledon Foundation – solidifying our commitment to tackling poverty across our boroughs.
Our services have continued to grow, recently adding DLAG in Tune, which provides musical instruments to young people from low-income households receiving free music lessons through The Jack Lonergan Foundation, and DLAG in Uniform, redistributing unbranded school uniform to families in need. We also provide warm winter coats and homeless support packs. DLAG is now a vital part of the local support network, and we remain committed to helping our neighbours for as long as we’re needed.
5 year interview with DLAG Co-founder, Xavier Wiggins
DLAG is here to stay – supporting our community for as long as we are needed.
Expanding Our Impact
Beyond food, we quickly identified further urgent needs:
Keep Kids Connected – Providing donated, refurbished laptops to children who lacked access to online learning.
Furniture Initiative – Supplying essential furniture and white goods to local residents, in partnership with Merton Mutual Aid.
From Emergency Response to Lasting Impact
As the pandemic deepened, it became clear that DLAG’s work was needed beyond the initial crisis. What began as a grassroots response evolved into a long-term commitment to tackling poverty and hardship in our boroughs. To support this mission, we established a leadership team in summer 2020 and initially became part of the AFC Wimbledon Foundation.
An Independent Charity – Here to Stay
In Spring 2023, DLAG became a fully independent charity, allowing us to expand our reach and strengthen our impact. Today, we continue to provide food, tech, furniture, and essential support to thousands of people across South West London.