The Future needs of Southwark’s BAMEelderly community

Southwark’s BAME elderly community is growing. We want to work with funders and other stakeholders to positively respond to changing patterns of need. We see the need for local programmes to help reduce isolation and promote independent living and wish to do more by providing an attractive range of challenging and interesting activities that aim to end social isolation and instead bring older people together within a positive and creative environment.
 
In doing this we will be aiming to build on our links with specialists from dance, local art galleries, and universities and colleges such as Goldsmiths University and Camberwell College of Arts, which are local, and to involve many volunteers from the local community.
 
Our service will seek to support clients to follow their hobbies and interests, which in turn will enhance their self confidence and independence while decreasing their sense of isolation. Although this project is open to all older people we intend to have a specific focus on the BAME community.
 
Our funders and the need for other support
 
I would like to thank our funders as well as our many in kind supporters for sharing our vision and working in partnership with us to improve and sustain our services to local seniors.
 
Our supporters include Walworth Methodist Church, Southwark Council, Southwark Charities Trust, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London and Quadrant Housing Trust, Morrison’s Supermarkets, Southwark Pensioners Centre and AgeUK Southwark.
 
Thanks very much for your trust and continuing support which is very much appreciated by our members.
 
For the future, we are actively seeking sponsors or extra funding to:
 
1. develop our programme including our ‘greening neighbourhoods’ projects, which with support will aim to recycle materials and make high streets and church grounds more colorful and attractive,
2. deliver a range of wellbeing events which meet social needs, such as our proposed song, dance and movement sessions
3.  deliver creative and digital learning activities which enable inclusion, choice and dignity in older age
 
To help meet costs we make a small charge to our members that contributes towards our meals and other running costs. However, members who have financial difficulties can receive a free service, and are helped to access any available grants and individual funding. 
 
Board of Trustees
 
Mr Russell Profitt MBE Chair 
Mr Vernon Bailey   Treasurer
Ms Cherrie Stevens    Secretary
Mrs Abigail  Campbell  Trustee
Mrs Grace Singh   Trustee
Mr James Thorpe  Trustee
Ms Gloria Brown  Trustee
Mr Colin Hunte    Trustee
Rev David Harman  Trustee
 
Volunteers 
 
Moji Coker
Michael Edie
Isolene Clarke
Bertram Ghent,
Josephine Lindsay           
Enid Mbabaze
Jacqueline Crooks
 
Please contact us to hear more about our work or to suggest how together we can continue to serve the local community.
 
Walworth Golden Oldies Community Care Project
Walworth Methodist Church
54 Camberwell Road, London, SE5 0EN