The Flying Cloud Cafe and Matthew Allchurch Architects (MAA) collectively raised £530 for Teddington RNLI last year by selling cards. 

For six or seven years now, individuals within MAA have been designing cards for the cafe to sell for fundraising equipment for the RNLI.  

The Boathouse Design Studio overlooks Teddington Lock, with the Flying Cloud Cafe just behind it near the bridge. 

Some of those working in the studio are also RNLI Lifeboat crew.  

"We're creatives, so we're architects and graphic designers," Matt Allchurch of MAA said. "A few people here came up with ideas for cards and we've had a few competitions...and we decided to raise money for the RNLI." 

Having sold the cards at the cafe for a good few years now, Allchurch said the costs are paid for so all the profits can go to the RNLI.  

Justine, who runs the Flying Cloud Cafe, also agreed to match the money raised from the card sales.

The cards are designed by people at the boathouse design studio and by local artists including Jill Storey.

Every now and then someone in the studio will come up with another idea for a card, and then MAA will get a thousand printed. But when they're gone, they're gone. 

"We're probably due for another competition to get some fresh designs out there," Allchurch said. Asked if the in-house card contests get competitive, Allchurch laughed and added: "You can imagine." 

Professionally printed, the cards are good quality and kept low-price to raise as much money as possible for the RNLI.  

The money raised goes towards throw line bags (costing around £35 each) for rescuing people in trouble on the water. 

RNLI volunteers give out the throw line bags to businesses beside the water, training them how to use it, so they are prepared if an incident occurs.  

Allchurch said: "We'd rather people have them, given them for free, then not have them."