London Challenge Trophy: Crafting Hope Through Competition

Thomas Lyte produce coveted silverware for the London Challenge Trophy, supporting Oasis Community Housing’s adventure fundraising initiative to help people facing homelessness.

This summer, Oasis Community Housing unveiled the London Challenge Trophy 2025, a bold new charity initiative blending adventure and philanthropy.

The concept is simple yet inspiring: teams of colleagues from across London and the South East will take on personal challenges, from skydiving to marathons, all in the name of raising funds to help end homelessness. Throughout 2025, these like-minded teams will embark on UK or international adventures, competing to see who can fundraise the most for Oasis Community Housing’s mission.

The prize awaiting the top fundraising team is no ordinary trophy: it’s the Origin Challenge Trophy, handcrafted by our team at Thomas Lyte, the renowned silversmiths and goldsmiths behind the iconic Emirates FA Cup and Guinness Six Nations trophies. This sparkling silver award is more than just a symbol of victory; it represents the power of community and corporate partners coming together to bring hope to hundreds of people affected by homelessness.

London Challenge Cup Oasis Community Housing Designed and Made by Thomas Lyte trophy warrant

How does the London Challenge Trophy work? It’s designed to be accessible and engaging for businesses of all sizes:

Gather your team: Companies or groups of colleagues form teams to enter.
Choose your challenge: Teams pick any challenge – they can join organised events via Oasis’s partners (like Charity Challenge or Run for Charity) or set up their own unique adventure. Whether it’s a relay race, a mountain hike, or a creative endurance feat, the choice is theirs.
Fundraise and compete: Each team raises sponsorship for their challenge. At the end of the competition period, the team that completes their challenge and raises the most for Oasis Community Housing wins the coveted trophy – and the bragging rights that come with it.

All funds go directly to support Oasis Community Housing’s work with men, women and young people facing homelessness across North East and South East England.

“Oasis Community Housing believes that all children, young people and adults, regardless of age, have the right to live a life free from harm and mistreatment, the right to feel and to be safe.”

Oasis Community Housing: Hope, Not Homelessness

Oasis Community Housing is the driving force behind this initiative, and their ethos shines through every aspect of the London Challenge Trophy. For over 40 years, this Christian homelessness charity has been bringing hope to people facing homelessness, helping more than 1,000 individuals each year by providing housing, support and, fundamentally, a place where they feel they belong.

Working across North East England and South London, Oasis Community Housing addresses both immediate needs and the root causes of homelessness. Their projects range from crisis intervention and supported housing to employment training and domestic abuse support, tackling the issue on multiple fronts.

Crucially, Oasis Community Housing believes in partnership and community engagement. By inviting businesses to take part in adventurous fundraisers, they’re not only raising money but also raising awareness and fostering a spirit of shared purpose.

Every year they deliver vital support, housing and, moreover, a place people feel they belong. They could not deliver what they do without the generous support of their corporate partners and the dedicated individuals within those businesses.

In other words, everyone who swings a golf club, laces up running shoes, or conquers a fear of heights for the London Challenge Trophy becomes part of a larger team helping people to rebuild their lives. And at the heart of that team are partners like us, at Thomas Lyte, who bring our unique talents to the table, to use them for good.

London Challenge Cup Oasis Community Housing Designed and Made by Thomas Lyte certificate

Thomas Lyte: Crafting a Trophy with Purpose

Thomas Lyte’s involvement in the London Challenge Trophy adds a special sparkle – literally and figuratively – to the project. As Royal Warrant holders and the creators of many elite sporting prizes, our expert goldsmiths and silversmiths have poured their skill into handcrafting the trophy for this challenge.

The trophy (aptly named the Origin Challenge Trophy) represents the origin of new hope for those the charity serves, and will surely motivate fundraising teams to give their all.

For Thomas Lyte, however, this commission was about more than artistry – it was about aligning our craft and resources with a cause.

“As luxury goldsmiths and silversmiths, we pour our heart into every trophy we create, but the London Challenge Trophy is especially meaningful as it allows us to use our craft in support of a greater cause,”

“It symbolises not only achievement in competition, but also the strength of community spirit and the profound impact of coming together for a greater purpose. These values reflect our own at Thomas Lyte – nurturing the next generation, giving them space to grow, and equipping them with the timeless skills of our craft.”

Liam Malorey-Vibert, Head of Marketing and Brand at Thomas Lyte

Those values run deep in Thomas Lyte’s company culture. Known for preserving traditional craft through modern apprenticeship, Thomas Lyte actively trains young goldsmiths and silversmiths, passing on the necessary skills to the next generation of masters. In their London workshop, seasoned artisans mentor apprentices in the art of silverwork, reflecting a belief that giving people room to grow and learn is essential for the craft’s future.

This ethos beautifully mirrors Oasis Community Housing’s focus on empowering individuals to build a better future. Just as Oasis’s Aspire programme supports those furthest from the job market with training and skills to help them thrive, Thomas Lyte’s apprenticeship scheme gives young craftsmen the space and resources to gain lifelong skills in their trade. In fact, some of Thomas Lyte’s apprentices had a hand in creating the London Challenge Trophy itself, an experience that showed them how their handiwork can contribute to positive change.