Little Village, Mizuho London’s charity partner, has played an important role in our London office’s community engagement work over the past three years.
Throughout this time, we have been proud to contribute to their vital work in supporting families with young children under the age of five living in poverty.
The partnership with Little Village has been defined by shared purpose, aligned values, and a tangible social impact for families in need. Our colleagues have consistently approached this partnership with creativity, empathy, and commitment, whether it is organising team fundraisers, contributing essential items, or volunteering in Little Village’s warehouses.
Little Village’s achievements have continually reminded us of the value generated when organisations come together with clarity of purpose and a commitment to meaningful, sustained impact – and we are incredibly proud to have contributed to their mission.
This is why we are delighted to share the reflections below, written by Little Village, on the journey we have taken together and the impact our partnership has made.
At Little Village, we see first hand how powerful corporate partnerships can be when they are built on shared values, trust, and a genuine commitment to community impact.
That is why our relationship with Mizuho means so much to us.
We were chosen as Mizuho’s Charity of the Year in 2023, and over the past three years this partnership has grown into something truly meaningful. It has been shaped not just by fundraising totals or volunteering days, but by people showing up consistently, creatively, and wholeheartedly for families across London.
From the outset, Mizuho colleagues have embraced the partnership with energy and care. Teams have organised and taken part in a wide range of staff led fundraising activities, including five a side football tournaments, quiz nights, bake offs, annual Christmas raffles, sweepstakes, and city races. Each event has been driven by colleagues coming together to do something positive while building connection within their own teams.
Alongside this, many colleagues have taken on significant physical challenges in support of Little Village. They have run and cycled in events including Royal Parks, London Landmarks, and L’Étape du Tour, committing months of training and determination to raise funds for families they may never meet but deeply care about.
Some challenges deserve special mention
David took on L’Étape du Tour, one of the toughest amateur cycling events in the world. He cycled 131km through the French Alps, climbing 4,500 metres. It was an extraordinary achievement and raised vital funds for Little Village.
Lucky completed the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu over four days and nearly 26 miles, one of the most iconic and demanding treks in the world. Turning a once in a lifetime experience into meaningful support for families is a powerful reminder of what individual commitment can achieve.
Mizuho’s support beyond fundraising
Across six corporate volunteering sessions, 89 colleagues have given 458 hours of their time at our Wandsworth warehouse. They packed bundles, sorted donations, and prepared essential items to be sent out to our baby bank hubs across London.
When Little Village shared an urgent call out on social media for nappies, Mizuho colleagues responded immediately, donating 288.5kg to ensure families did not go without. In total, 1,031kg of baby and children’s items have been donated by Mizuho colleagues, giving pre loved essentials a new life and keeping them out of landfill.
Together, Mizuho colleagues have raised £158,216 through staff fundraising. Sixteen colleagues took on challenge events alone, raising £10,873. We have also shared moments of pride, including attending three Lord Mayor’s Shows, celebrating what is possible when organisations come together with shared purpose.
Partnerships like this matter more than ever
Little Village continues to grow because the need is still there. Every week, families are referred to us because they are facing financial hardship, housing insecurity, domestic abuse, or sudden changes in circumstance. As the cost of living continues to impact families across London, demand for our support does not slow down.
Long term partnerships like the one we have with Mizuho allow us to plan sustainably, respond quickly, and grow with intention. When a relationship is built over years, it works. Understanding deepens, trust is established, and impact grows within local communities.
We are incredibly grateful for everything Mizuho and their colleagues have done so far, and we truly hope to continue building this partnership together. With their ongoing support, we can keep reaching families when they need us most and ensure more children across London have the essentials they deserve.
Thank you to every Mizuho colleague who has run, cycled, trekked, volunteered, donated, organised, and supported Little Village along the way. You are a vital part of our village, and we hope to continue this journey together.
