London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is located southwest of central London and incorporates the towns of Wimbledon, Mitcham and Morden. There are 199,300 (2007) residents. The main commercial centres in Merton are Mitcham, Morden and Wimbledon, of which Wimbledon is the largest. Other small centres include Raynes Park, Colliers Wood, South Wimbledon, Wimbledon Park and Pollards Hill.
The Borough is predominantly suburban in character, with high levels of commuter flows in and out of central London due largely to the good connections with the London Transport network.
The River Wandle joins Merton at Watermeads, which is south of the borough and runs to Trewint Street in the north of the borough where it then continues its journey through London Borough of Wandsworth to the Thames.
London Borough of Merton's Arts Development team has strong links with the local community and runs a number of projects throughout the year in partnership with local artists and arts organisations.
Embroiderers' Guild
The Embroiderers' Guild is a crafts association and educational charity. 16 graduates of the Royal School of Art Needlework founded what was then a society in 1906. The first local branch was established in 1931. The Guild offers a comprehensive programme of contemporary exhibitions, workshops, City & Guilds courses, lectures and tours (UK & overseas) and much more! It has over 25,000 Members and subscribers throughout the UK and abroad, 238 Branches and 95 Young Embroiderers Groups. The Embroiderers' Guild publishes six issues of
its magazine Stitch a year.
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) was set up by Parliament in 1994 to give grants to a wide range of projects involving the local, regional and national heritage of the United Kingdom. They distribute a share of the money raised by the National Lottery for Good Causes.