Transforming lives through Kindness, Belief and Hope
Pecan celebrates 35 years in the community – Est. 1989
Welcome
Welcome to our Summer newsletter from Pecan.
We are delighted to welcome our new CEO, Peter Edwards.
Peter has volunteer and board experience with charities in London, Leeds and York which support people who are homeless or who have needed a foodbank. He has also served as chief executive of a credit union and as an aide to a senior politician in Westminster. [Press Release]
June is a big month for us: it is Volunteers Week 3-9 June – Pecan could not survive without our incredible volunteers from our community and from businesses around Southwark and wider London. Our volunteers help us to keep the foodbank stocked, the Pantry Shelves full, welcome the community into our free café, run, cycle and fundraise for us, shake buckets at London Bridge every month and so much more. Thank you to all of you for being a part of the Pecan family.
Thank you to all our volunteers, and here are two volunteers: Diane who volunteers with Together and Women’s Service and Michelle who has run letterpress workshops for Pecan and its services.
June is also Pride Month and this year we have been lucky enough to be awarded some funding to help us celebrate and reach more people in our community. We will host a special book club and other events throughout the month and into July. We can’t wait to meet more of our LGBTQ+ community.
Finally, 2024 is Pecan’s 35th anniversary and the 12 June is the day we officially came into existence! So, there’s a good excuse to get yourself a slice of cake and raise a mug of tea/coffee to Pecan.
You can find out more about what is happening in our 35th Year and for Pride month by reading on…
Happy 35th Pecan
Pecan Community Breakfast
12 June, 10.30am-12.30pm
On 12 June 2024 we celebrate 35 years as a community charity in Peckham, so come along, celebrate with us and share stories about your connection to Pecan. We will have a community breakfast in our Together space at Pecan 121a Peckham High Street SE15 5SE.
– All Welcome
Deborah Hayman-Nkhoma,
Head of Services
Community Events
Letterpress Community Day
Photography © John Iona
Nice and Graphic held their final community session at Pecan on 14 May in our Together space. We had an amazing turn out and Michelle was kept very busy making sure everyone had a chance to use the traditional method of printing to create posters to reflect their thoughts on Peckham. Also, thank you to local photographer John Iona, who came along to capture the event and create some beautiful portraits.
To find out more about Michelle’s exhibition in August based on her community project Peckham Perspective, and her donation to Pecan, read the full article in the South London Press.
The Bold Chorus led by Festival Voices
‘Being part of the bold choir was amazing, particularly celebrating together through singing with our Pecan clients and volunteers with uplifting songs’
– Paula, Pecan
To open the summer programme at Bold Tendencies in Peckham, they held a large-scale musical performance which Pecan and many community groups were part of. Twenty people from all sections of Pecan took part in the Bold Choir led by Festival Voices on Saturday 1 June. A great time was had by all and the performances from all the choirs were amazing. Thank you Bold Tendencies!
Bold Tendencies is a non-profit space that celebrates culture and assembly. To find out more about their summer programme: LINK
Fundraising Update
To take part in a challenge or to support Pecan and its services, please contact our Partnerships Manager at Pecan, Theresa Tsui.
Challenge Events 2024 - April and May 2024
London Marathon
London Marathon: Sunday 21 April 2024 – Ben Nice raised £2,091
Ride London
L to R: JP Morgan, London Bridge with Team 4OC and ASDA Food Collection
- Batewells: online fundraiser in December 2023 for Southwark Foodbank and £810 was raised.
- Warehouse Support: Buy Food, Sort Food – 22 May, we had 4 volunteers from JP Morgan supporting the foodbank with £250 worth of food.
- London Bridge Foodbank Collection: 24 April –The 4OC collected £975.74
- National collection with Asda: 10 May – Thank you to EPFR who volunteered for the whole day of collections. grand total of food weighing 549.14kg was collected with £75.13 in cash donations!
Taking the Challenge – from Castle to Coast
Pecan Day – Shahid’s Castle to Coast Triathlon:
On 20 July, Shahid will be doing a 81.2 mile cross country Triathlon – Castle to Coast.
Shahid will be starting from Dorney Lake near Windsor to Brighton Sea Front by: Swim, Bike and Run
Big Half
We are looking for 3 more runners! Half Marathon on Sunday 1 September 2024. If you wish to take part, please contact our Partnership Manager, Theresa Tsui
What is the Big Half?
Organised by London Marathon Events, The Big Half is a vibrant, inclusive half marathon with a fun, festival atmosphere. The 13.1 mile course weaves through London from Tower Bridge to the iconic Cutty Sark in Greenwich.
Pecan Food Services
Southwark Foodbank, Peckham Pantry, Engagement and Southwark Food Action Alliance
Southwark Foodbank
ASDA Collection
On the 10 and 11 May, Southwark Foodbank volunteers, Genevieve and Daniel were at ASDA to hand out shopping lists and encouraging shoppers to donate food. The generosity from the people of Southwark resulted in an incredible 550kg of food donations. These contributions are vital in helping us provide for those in need within Southwark, a massive thank you to everyone who donated came down and donated.
Trussell Trust Rolling Road Show 2024, London
On Thursday 16 May, Daniel and Silja attended the Trussell Trust Rolling Roadshow in London. This event brought together volunteers, staff, and trustees from foodbanks within the Trussell Trust network. Our team had the opportunity to connect with others, share experiences, and listen to inspiring talks from former clients who have transitioned from foodbank users to members of the Trussell Trust.
Silja (Client Support Lead)
This month Silja, our Client Support Lead, recently helped a foodbank client secure a double bed, a mattress, a £210 food gift card, a washing machine, and bed sheets. In her ongoing efforts to support our clients, Silja has been collaborating with the National Energy Action (NEA), an organisation that offers energy advice. Silja invited an NEA adviser to join our foodbank session on Thursday, 30 May, to provide clients with valuable advice on managing energy arrears and using energy efficiently.
On the Wednesday 29 May, Daniel and Emily were at London Bridge station for the monthly London Bridge collection. In May, the Southwark Foodbank team raised a total of £1166.93! Thank you to everyone who came down and donated.
Thank you to all our Foodbank volunteers for your unwavering dedication and hard work. Your efforts make a massive difference in the lives of so many in our community. Thank you!
Engagement and Campaigns
“Keep it simple Southwark”, to make it easier for residents to access information and support with money matters.
Voices for Southwark is a community organising group based at Pecan speaking up to make life in Southwark easier and better for everyone. The group is made up of people who have been in touch with Southwark Foodbank and Pecan’s projects.
Voices for Southwark are currently running a campaign, “Keep it simple Southwark”, to make it easier for residents to access information and support with money matters.
In May, members met with Councillor Stephanie Cryan and Eugene Nixon, Southwark Council’s Head of Strategy & Compliance to share their experiences with accessing information and support in Southwark. Voices for Southwark presented a proposal for an easy-to-use, dedicated website for support with money matters in Southwark. This would enable residents to navigate information more easily and ultimately access the right advice and support when they need it. Southwark Council representatives are interested in the proposal, and Voices for Southwark will continue this conversation with them.
If you are interested in hearing more or getting involved, please contact our Community Engagement Officer Flora.
Legislative Theatre Project with the Trussell Trust
Pecan and Southwark Foodbank are currently participating in a Legislative Theatre project with the Trussell Trust.
Legislative Theatre uses theatre games, scenes and discussion to understand everyday experiences of problems, and redesign rules, budgets and laws to address these problems. A group of people who have been in touch with Pecan’s projects have created and will be performing a play about issues with housing, social security and work.
We want to share this play with our community in Peckham and Southwark, so watch this space for updates. Thank you to the Trussell Trust for this opportunity, and to our brilliant team of facilitators!
Southwark Food Action Alliance – Food Map
Southwark Food Action Alliance (SFAA) are a food partnership based in Southwark and hosted by Pecan. The alliance consists of local food providers, charities and community partners, residents, businesses and more. These individuals and groups work together towards a collective goal of achieving an affordable, inclusive, healthy, and sustainable food system in Southwark.
The SFAA food map is an online map which signposts information on the free and low-cost food services available to the community in Southwark. It includes information on location, opening times, the type of food offered, and any extra support a service might provide. Services on the food map include foodbanks, community fridges, food pantries and more. Check it out here or click on the map.
Peckham Pantry
Peckham Pantry is a membership scheme that will make your money go further. Members of Peckham Pantry pay £4.50 per shop, which gives access to fresh fruit and veg and store cupboard favourites – to the value of £15 or more.
Peckham Pantry – an alternative, sustainable and dignified model of community-based food support
The impact and sustainability of Peckham Pantry evaluation has been released, and gives an in-depth view, with key findings of an alternative model of community-based food support.
Read Linda’s blog post [LINK]
Peckham Pantry Steering Group Meeting
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is on Tuesday 2 July 2024, 9.30-10.30am, and meetings take place at Pecan with the option to join online. If you would like to join our Steering Group, attend the next meeting, or just share an idea for Peckham Pantry, please contact Flora on 07929 999 006.
DIARY DATE: SUMMER EVENT - 27 June 2024
Peckham Pantry Summer Event
Where? Peckham Pantry, 49-53 Peckham Park Road, SE15 6TU
When? Thursday 27 June 2024
What time? 11am -1pm
OPEN TO ALL
For more information email: flora.schweighofer@pecan.org.uk
The impact and sustainability of Peckham Pantry.
Join us for our steering group’s summer event to celebrate Peckham Pantry, including the launch of our new impact report.
There will be cake and other treats, a raffle with fantastic prizes, and a colouring table and reading corner for children.
Women's Service
Women’s Service: provides a gender specific, trauma-informed services to women who have had contact with the criminal justice system and/or face multiple disadvantages in the community. This includes 1-2-1 advocacy, workshops and activities, weekly drop-ins and monthly hub lunches. All women (including Trans women) are welcome in our warm, welcoming, inclusive space.
Diary Date:
Our Women’s Service Summer Event will be held on Thursday 25 July,
11am-3pm at our Peckham Hub
Streetwise Opera
Women’s Service outing to Streetwise Opera
This event was part of the ‘Re:Discover Festival’ – a celebration of African and Caribbean heritage through the voices of people who have been homeless. The event featured a performance by Paterson Joseph of ‘Sancho & Me’, and a performance by Streetwise Opera of ‘Opera Express’.
The women really enjoyed the performance. Streetwise Opera will be coming to our hub on Tuesday 25 June to deliver a music making workshop.
Pride Month 2024
Every Thursday from 10.30am-12.30pm
- 6 JUNE: Making a pride flag out of crepe flowers/ history of the pride flag
- 13 JUNE: Sophie’s Singalong – singing songs by LGBT artists
- 20 JUNE: Ella’s pride scrunchies – making hair scrunchies in rainbow colours
- 27 JUNE: Doreen’s Jars – DIY bath salts in pride colours
June – September Events
Workshops and Drop Ins are as follows:
Tuesdays
- Movement with Lisa: 12.15-1pm at Peckham Hub.
- USEMI Black Women’s Mental Health Group: 2.30-4pm at Peckham Hub.
Wednesday
- Wellbeing with Alex on Zoom: 2pm-2.45pm. For the zoom link please email womenshubs@pecan.org.uk
Thursdays
- Coffee Morning Drop-Ins: Every Tuesday and Thursday 10.30am-12.30pm at the Peckham Hub.
- Beginner’s Embroidery with Alyssa: 2.30pm-3.30pm at Peckham hub.
- Hub lunch: Last Thursday of the month, 12.30-2pm.
Employment
Employment Support: our longest running programme supports people back into work at a pace that suits them, supporting them to feel ready both with skills and knowledge as well as mentally ready to take the next step. We are currently supporting families and unpaid carers (through a Southwark Works contract).
If you are looking for support to learn or to gain employment, please contact Pecan –Employment Support team on 0207 732 0007 then select option 2 to speak with a team member. We have many short courses that can boost your chance to secure your desired job role.
Employment Support Training Opportunities:
For further details and to register on the courses, please contact employment.support@pecan.org.uk
- Functional Skills in Maths | Entry Level 3 | 10 June 2024
- Food Hygiene | Level 2 | 19 June 2024
- SIA (Security officer) | Level 2 | 26 June 2024
- First Aid at Work | Level 3 | 27 June 2024
Level 3 Pediatric First Aid for people that wants to work with children | Level 3 | 27 June 2024
Health and Safety | Level 2 |July 2024 (date tbc)
Safeguarding | Level 2 | (Date tbc)
Together
Together is Pecan’s Community and Life-skills programme.
Together provides a range of community, life skills and employability activities in a relaxed environment supporting people learn new skills, understand their rights, and make new social circles. Everyone’s welcome! Activities include free café, cultural trips, creative writing classes, crafts and support to fill in online forms. We signpost onto other Pecan services and partner organisations to ensure all needs are met.
Volunteers
At Pecan we have THE BEST volunteers! These fabulous people give up their time to help us provide vital services.
Volunteers’ Week 2024
Elizabeth, our volunteer of 14 years, was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a thank you card from Vashti
On Thursday 6 June we held our annual volunteers’ week event in our Together space.
A big thank you to Vashti who organised a fabulous Volunteers’ Week event to celebrate our Pecan community and to welcome new supporters.
Volunteer Week 3-9 June
The Together Hub relies on the kindness of our volunteers who commit their free time to support us at the Together Hub Café.
We are pleased to announce two longstanding volunteers Diane Carter and Brenda Lamothe have been nominated for Community Southwark’s Volunteer Champion and invited to attend the ‘Southwark Stars’ award ceremony held in the wonderful Tate Modern to receive their award in acknowledgment of their service and commitment to Pecan. Diane and Brenda go above and beyond supporting the Together Hub.
Workshop Facilitators
Do you have skills and experience providing well-being, life skills, or creative activities?
Pecan requires volunteer workshop facilitators to join our programme of events and activities at our Together Hub in Peckham.
Please contact contact Together Coordinator, Vashti Henry at together@pecan.org.uk or by telephone 020 7732 0007
Pride Events
During June and July we will be holding events to celebrate Pride Month, including:
- Film and discussion
- Book Group
- Men’s Writing workshop
- Coffee Morning
Community Café
Our community cafe is growing in numbers, plus we are a warm hub too. So, pop down on Mondays and Tuesdays from 1-3pm for hot drinks, soups and snacks. To join the Together mailing list, please contact Vahsti: together@pecan.org.uk
Creative Writing for Wellbeing
FREE Writing course begins every Monday from 13 May – 24 June, 10.30am-12pm.
Facilitated by Wordsmiths – Creative Writing for Wellbeing in a relaxed environment which allows creativity to flourish.
Bread & Salt is facilitated by W.E.C. International
Bread and Salt | Fridays: 10am – 12pm
You are welcome to relax with friends and make new ones.
‘Bread and Salt’ is a common phrase, rich in meaning across the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Russia. We welcome all Arabic-speaking cultures. The drop-in offers a welcome and friendship to all, but in particular, to guests from across the Middle East and North Africa.
Wellbeing at Pecan
Wellbeing session for staff: May 13-19 was Mental Health week, focusing on the links between activity and wellbeing.
Exercise releases “feel good” hormones, that reduce feelings of stress and anger. It also helps us feel better about our bodies.
Pecan staff took part in an information and exercise session with an old friend of Pecan, Rachael Partleton. Rachael is a personal trainer, campaigner and passionate about the benefits of strength and fitness Nebufitness
Staff loved the session, saying it was “really informative and great to hear more about how fitness improves brain function”
“I really enjoyed it, made me think about how I can exercise without the need for expensive equipment”
Vacancies
Volunteering Opportunities
- Language Café | English Language by and for Latin American Women in London | LINK
- PACT Programme | LINK
- Poetry Group | Camberwell Library | Fourth Monday of every month,
3-4pm | For further details, email: Camberwell.Library@southwark.gov.uk - Film Club | Mondays from 12.30pm: Weekly group for a wide range of genres. See in the library for details of the next film screening or email: dulwich.library@southwark.gov.uk | Southwark Library Adult Activities
- Pride Month | Tate Britain | Free LGBTQIA+ gallery tours. Tate Britain is laying on LGBTQIA+ guided tours of the galleries as a way to mark Pride month. Each tour is free and on a first come-first served basis. Tours are led by volunteers | Exhibition tours ends on 22 June 2024
- Jazz, Show Tunes and Salsa, Pride in Southwark at Bermondsey Square | 7 July, 2-6.30pm | LINK
SE15
- Uncovering Peckham | Community Archive Workshop, 8 June, 2-6pm | LINK
- Staffordshire St – A PAINTING SHOW | Until 16 June 2024 | Weds – Sun | 12-6pm | 28 painters will exhibit an entire spectrum of work.
Staffordshire St LATES Folk Club | Kentish Hooden Horse | Thu 27 June 2024 7-9pm Welcome to Folk Club! A place for the lost, found, and freshly made folklore and customs of the fair isles of Albion: Éire, Cymru, Alba and England | LINK - Peckham Levels | What’s On | LINK
- Bold Tendencies Summer Programme | LINK
- Peckham Festival 2024 | 13-15 September | LINK
- Peckham and Nunhead Free Film Festival 2024 | 1-10 September | LINK
- Healthwatch Southwark | Free health advice, checks and talks | Friday 28 June and 26 July, 11am-2pm | Cossall Estate TRA Hall, 48 Mortlock Close, Peckham SE16 2QB
- SE London Book Festival | LINK
