We try to do our bit
Thames Con events are very passionate about helping charities and giving back. Every event we hold has an element of fund raising and we always give free trader/vendor pitches to charities. In lock down we used our own business funds to buy supplies like toilet paper and soap for those that couldn't afford it and we hand delivered supplies to people's homes when they were isolating and couldn't leave home.
Charities we support
Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue
A dedicated wildlife rescue centre, operating across Oxfordshire and Berkshire. In 2021 OWR rescued over 4500 wild animals including fox cubs, deer, ducklings, owls, bats, badgers, and many other different species of wildlife. Thames Con raised over £500 for a new Deer shed for OWR back in 2020 and continue to support this Charity on a regular basis.
Models for heroes
The first charitable organisation in the UK to support the use of model making hobbies within former and current Armed Forces and Emergency Service Personnel in the United Kingdom. To support with mental health, happiness and social inclusion. We have raised funds to send staff members on mental health first aid courses and supported other fund-raising activities.
Centre Point for the Homeless
The UKs leading youth homeless Charity working to end youth homelessness by 2037. Our very own Kira (lisa Maxwell) is an ambassador for centre point and in 2021 we helped raise over £600 for them. We can continue to support this charity and other local Homeless Charities in Oxfordshire.
Michael J. Fox Foundation
With the help from our friends Dangerous BoB (Hollywood prop master) and his wife Nancy, we have helped raise funds for the MJF Foundation for Parkinsons research. If you see BoB at one of our events, be sure to go and say hi, he has some fantastic stories about his time working in film.
No strings International
No Strings strives to educate children around the world about how things can affect them, and what they can do to help themselves. It might be to do with loss because of conflict or disaster, and how to cope. It might be health related; about diarrhoea, malaria, or HIV. Or how to be safe where there are landmines, or during floods, cyclones or earthquakes. No Strings delivers these messages using spellbinding lessons played out through sometimes fun, sometimes moving, but always pithy and world class-quality puppet films. In 2020 we raised over £500 for NSI.
NEW for 2022 Norwich Puppet Theatre
Their community and outreach work is focused on delivering arts and cultural experiences to children and young people in Norfolk who experience few engagement opportunities. Our friends at the British Puppetry Guild support NPT and we would like to help them raise funds to continue the great work they do in the community.
Do you have a charity that needs our help?
We are always happy to hear about new charity projects that need support. If you run a charity or know of one that could use some help, please email us with all the details and please include the organisations charity number.