Pecan tackles poverty in Southwark by restoring dignity, belonging and belief through connected community services that address financial resilience, unemployment, equity and isolation.
Content
- Welcome | My first six months as CEO of Pecan
- Highlights at Pecan
- Partnerships and Fundraising
- Employment Support and Opportunities
- Safety, Belonging and Wellbeing | Community Hub and Women's Service
- Financial Resilience & Food Security | Southwark Foodbank & Peckham Pantry
- Volunteering
- Community Events
Easter is a time for renewal and a chance to lift each other up. However you celebrate, you can be part of something bigger: Share A Virtual Pecan Easter Egg
My first six months as CEO of Pecan
“A highlight was the Christmas Challenge, which raised more than £60,000 .”
What has struck me most is the extraordinary strength of this community. In a world that can often feel divided, Peckham and Southwark continue to stand united. A highlight was the Christmas Challenge, which raised more than £60,000 to ensure families had food on the table during the festive season. From local businesses and national trusts to neighbours and families, people came together with remarkable generosity.
I’ve also been warmly welcomed by our community partners and church members, who have hosted me to share Pecan’s work and vision. These invitations reflect the collective effort that powers Pecan, our supporters, volunteers, partners and ambassadors who champion our work every day.
As we move into 2026, our Year of Hope, we invite you to continue walking alongside us. Together, we can keep providing warm spaces, practical support and expert advice for those who need it most.
Rebecca Scott
CEO at Pecan
Highlights
International Women's Day 2026
Thank you to Federated Hermes and one of our trustees for organising International Women’s Day gift packs for members of Pecan’s Women’s Service. The packs were shared during our coffee morning and after appointments, bringing smiles and encouragement to the women who received them. Our CEO, Rebecca Scott, who spoke on the #IWD 2026 panel shared ‘the gift bags were created through donations from their team, local shops and even fellow panelists.’
Wraps, Rice and Drinks
Ali from Shawarma Hut kindly donated some chicken and falafel wraps, rice and drinks for our clients at our foodbank session. People could collect their food parcel, fresh fruit and veg, and enjoy a hot wrap, rice and a drink before heading off.
B&Q Community Day
We were very happy to have a B&Q Community Engagement Day, which involved a refresh of the Pantry. Our aim is to make our members feel welcomed and part of a community network in our shop, and the B&Q Team made that happen. Don’t forget – anyone can be a Pantry member and access this social supermarket model that takes a sustainable and cost-effective approach to food shopping. Remember, £5 gets you up to £15 worth of shopping!
Partnerships and Fundraising
Fundraise for Pecan and together, we can make a difference
No one in our community should face tough times alone. By fundraising for Pecan, you’re helping people access the support they need, from tackling poverty and reducing isolation to making sure everyone feels part of the community.
Pecan’s work only happens because of you – fundraising is key to us being able to deliver the services we do. We would love you to think about supporting us monthly with a donation that you can afford.
To find out more please email fundraising@pecan.org.uk or see our website page: www.pecan.org.uk/donate
Simple Ways to Give This Easter
Easter, with its messages of renewal and hope, is the perfect time to support Pecans clients to rebuild purpose, skills and independence, restore confidence, connection and emotional stability, and create access to financial support and food that preserves dignity and choice. Here are some fun ideas you may like to try at home, work, church or in your community group:
- Share A Pecan Virtual Easter Egg instead of physical eggs. Ask supporters to donate the price of an egg (£2 – £5) to fund Pecans services. Let us know how many eggs you sent!
- Easter Bake Sale: Sell themed treats like Hot Cross Buns and bunny-shaped biscuits to raise funds.
- “Guess the Eggs” Competition: Fill a jar with Mini Eggs/sweets and charge per guess, with the winner taking home the jar.
Every pound raised helps Pecan support people who need it most. And every event, big or small, shows what’s possible when a community comes together.
Royal Parks Half - Join us!
Interested in securing a place and running with purpose? To all our amazing runners that follow Pecan, don’t worry if you missed the Royal Parks Half Marathon ballot – we have 14 spaces left! Event date: 11 October 2026
Interested in joining any of the above events or supporting an event? Get in touch as we’d love to hear from you!
Contact our Partnership Manager: fundraising@pecan.org.uk
Ways to Donate to Pecan
Big or small, formal or fun, your event can help change lives.
- Enthuse (recommended):
pecan.enthuse.com/cf/partnershipdonations
This option keeps everything simple — all admin is taken care of, we receive the funds straight away, and Gift Aid can be added where applicable.
- BACS Transfer:
Account Name: Pecan
Account Number: 70707422
Sort Code: 20-66-51 (Barclays)
Please include a clear reference stating what the payment is for and who it’s from.
Employment Support and Opportunities
Helping people rebuild purpose, skills and independence through volunteer and employment coaching opportunities.
Employment Support
We currently provide the following programmes:
- Southwark Works: 50+ and those with long-term illness or disability: employability coaching and support for anyone over 55 and/or with a long-term illness or disability to get into and maintain fulfilling employment. Please note: We can also take under 50 with longtime illness
- Southwark Works: Parents and Carers: employability coaching and support for anyone with unpaid caring responsibilities and/or Parents with children under the age of 16 to get into and maintain fulfilling employment.
All participants must be a resident of the London Borough of Southwark and registered on a Southwark Works programme.
If you would like support with employment, please contact us on: employment.support@pecan.org.uk
tel. 0207 732 0007 then select option 2 to speak with a team member.
Training and activities
Digital Impact at Peckham Library: collaborating with Peckham Library to deliver Digital training for age 19 upwards. To join or find out more please contact: employment.support@pecan.org.uk
Safety, Belonging and Wellbeing
Pecan’s aims to provide warm, welcoming and inclusive community spaces, created to reduce isolation, foster belonging and help prevent the escalation of mental health crises. Open to all, it provides a safe and respectful environment where everyone is valued.
To find out more about any of the community activities happening at Pecan please email together@pecan.org.uk
University Placements at Pecan
We have been very lucky to welcome a student placement from Goldsmiths University, into Pecan over the last few weeks. Omar has supported our team delivering Café 55, as well as contributing to central services with his skills and exciting ideas. We have loved having Omar with us, here is what he has to say about the experience:
My name is Omar Elsaaidi and I am a second-year student at Goldsmiths, University of London, studying Social Science, Community Development and Youth Work. As part of my course, I needed to complete a 250-hour community placement. I wanted to find somewhere close to home that was making a real difference in the community, which is how I found Pecan.
After my induction, I quickly realised how much impact Pecan has across Peckham. What stood out to me most was how the organisation tackles food insecurity in more than one way. Through the food bank and the Peckham Pantry, people can access affordable food, but Pecan also supports people beyond that. Services like employment support, the Women’s Service and the Together Space help people build stability, confidence and community. The Pantry in particular shows this approach in action, for £5, members can receive groceries often worth double or even triple that amount, helping their money go further during difficult times.
Although I’m only halfway through my placement, I’m already inspired by the work being done here. I hope to help connect more young people like myself with organisations like Pecan, because getting involved in your community is not only important it’s also incredibly rewarding in how it develops your character.
Workshops and Activities
‘This is my first time at the cafe and I have had a lovely welcomed, so I will definitely be back!’ – Veronica
- Warm Space Café: Every Monday and Tuesday 1-3pm: a warm and welcoming space providing light refreshments and conversation, supported by volunteers. During the winter months, this space is kept warm and warm food is available.
- Cafe 55: Cafe and craft activities held every Wednesday 10.30am-12.30pm aimed at those 50yrs and over, low level support also provided when staff are available. This is a relaxed and fun cafe session, open to anyone over 50yrs who would like to join.
- Creative Writing with Wordsmith: Sadly, this fantastic course has now come to an end. We have had fantastic feedback and look forward to bringing back a similar course when funding allows.
- Bread & Salt with WEC UK: Friday’s 10am – 12pm (Term-time only). Arabic speaking cafe provided by WEC UK. The group provides guidance on additional support services available in Southwark. We offer hot drinks and light refreshments, including fruit and cake. If you are interested in joining, please contact together@pecan.org.uk
Pecan also hosts:
Women Only Coffee Mornings: Coffee mornings take place every Tuesday and Thursday 10.30am – 12.30pm at our Women’s Service. These sessions provide refreshments and crafts and a chance to connect with other women in the community.
Email for venue details: womenshubs@pecan.org.uk *Please note that we cannot give individual advice or advocacy at the coffee mornings.- Southwark Every Woman’s Centre (SEWC): Sewing Course
Thursday from 10am-1pm (12 week blocks). For further information, please contact SEWC Administrator Lidya: lidya@southwarkeverywomanscentre@outlook.com
- Andy’s Man Club (AMC): Every Monday evening, 7-9pm. Pecan work in partnership with Andys Man Club to bring a men’s only peer support group to Southwark.If you are interested in joining, please contact welcome@pecan.org.uk
Women's Services
Our Impact:
- 95% of women feel safer and less isolated
- 90% feel more in control of their lives
- 90% progress in housing, safety, mental health or income
Pecan’s Women’s Service is a non-judgmental and safe women-only space in Southwark and Lewisham. We support women affected by the criminal justice system and women in our community with multiple unmet needs. We provide gender-specific, trauma-informed care through a mix of practical advocacy and holistic relational wellbeing support.
We currently provide the following:
- Women’s Specific Services: In partnership with Women in Prison (WiP) we currently deliver the MoJ/MOPAC Women’s Specific Services in London: Southwark and Lewisham.
- We provide 1-2-1 Advocacy to women who have had contact with the Criminal Justice System (CJS). This programme is referral only.
**Please note: Due to a waiting list, referrals are currently paused.
If you would like to partner with us to deliver services to women, please contact: womenshubs@pecan.org.uk
How you can support us, please donate:
- £25 Funds travel to attend appointments
- £75 Funds one counselling session
- £250 Supports group community activities
- £1500 Funds a full advocacy journey
- £10,000+ Helps reduce our waiting list and expand capacity
For more information or to discuss how you can donate please contact fundraising@pecan.org.uk or donate here: www.pecan.org.uk/donate
Financial Resilience and Food Security
Poverty is more than a lack of money – it can mean losing dignity, belonging and belief, which is why Pecan stands alongside the Southwark community with practical support and encouragement that restores hope. From January 2025 to March 2026, Southwark Foodbank distributed over 11,700kg of food and essentials to partners across the borough, helping feed families, support older residents and strengthen the local safety net so fewer people fall through the gaps.
Southwark Foodbank and Peckham Pantry
As one partner shared, “Pecan is the backbone of our food supply … we can rely on them when our community needs it most.”
Foodbank Easter Closure
The following Southwark Foodbank sessions will be closed over Easter:
- Thursday 2 April
Peckham Methodist Church
- Friday 3 April
Bermondsey Methodist Church
- Monday 6 April
Peckham Methodist Church
The first session after the Easter period: Wednesday 8 April at City Hope Church.
The Peckham Pantry is supporting 1,700 Households a Year.
The Peckham Pantry continues to support around 1,700 households each year, helping families access affordable food in a welcoming community space. While the membership model keeps food costs low, the fee alone does not cover the full cost of running the service.
We’re incredibly grateful to the partners, donors and funders who help make the Pantry possible. Support from the Big Give Christmas campaign helped us maintain opening hours during the busy festive period and will continue to support operations into 2026. As we review how the Pantry and Pop-Up Pantries can best serve local residents, we warmly welcome your support. You can help by volunteering, becoming a member, or making a donation to keep this vital service running.
Peckham Pantry Opening Times
- Peckham Pantry, 49-53 Peckham Park Road –Tuesdays 10am-4pm, Wednesdays 9am-4pm, Thursdays 10am-7pm, Fridays 9am-4pm and Saturdays 9am-3pm
- St.Luke’s, Chandlers Way – Wednesdays 11am-2pm
- Rachel Leigh Community Hall, 32 Andrews Walk – Tuesdays 11am-2pm (from 15 April 2025)
- Easter Closure: Good Friday (2 April) and Easter Bank Holiday Monday (6 April)
Volunteering
Volunteer Workshop Facilitator Opportunities
We welcome individuals who would like to share their skills or expertise in volunteering in activities or workshops as a facilitator.
- Corporate/Business:
fundraising@pecan.org.uk - Community:
together@pecan.org.uk
What’s happening in the community
Easter and Local Activities
Register by 11:59pm on 20 April 2026 to vote in the following elections on 7 May 2026
Easter
- Southwark Churches | Easter Sunday Services LINK
- What’s on at Southwark Cathedral at Easter LINK
- Dulwich Library | Saturday 19 April | 2-3pm
Ready, Set, Egg Hunt! Join in the Easter Egg Hunt at Dulwich Library. LINK - Kingswood Library Monday, 14 April 2025 | 4-5pm. Join us for a delightful Easter egg hunt at the library! Our shelves will be hiding colourful books with prizes. LINK
- The Globe Church | Saturday 28 March | 10.30am – 12.30pm
Join us for a joyful Community Easter Egg Hunt – a fun-filled day for the whole neighbourhood! LINK
Community
- Local Funding | Peckham Settlement LINK
- Regular Community Events in SE15 | Peckham Live Listing LINK
- Bold Tendencies Reopening 15 May 2026 with it’s new season, and Frank’s Bar opens from 16 May – 20 September 2025
- SET Social | Textiles and Self-Soothing | Book FREE tickets via Eventbrite
Drawing from neurodivergent practices and trauma-informed methodologies, the sessions are open to all but particularly welcoming to neurodivergent participants.
What: Drop-in textile-based art sessions designed to support mental wellbeing.
When: Every Friday, 2–4 pm, from 20 February to 5 June 2026 - Ceramic Expressions | Peckham Platform | Book a FREE ticket via Eventbrite
A free ceramics and mapping workshop for 14-17 year olds in South London. Bold Tendencies Summer Programme: Euphoria | 15 May – 12 September 2026 LINK
Safety in our homes – Home Fire Safety Checker: Keeping Southwark Safe | London Fire Brigade
Fire safety starts at home, and the quickest way for residents to understand their risks is by using London Fire Brigade’s Home Fire Safety Checker. It’s an easy online tool that gives personalised advice in minutes.
How the Checker Helps
By answering a few simple questions, residents receive clear guidance on:
- Electrical and cooking safety
- Escape routes
- Smoke alarms
- Everyday hazards
The Checker also highlights if someone qualifies for a free Home Fire Safety Visit, where our crews can offer in‑person advice and fit smoke alarms if needed.
Try it here: www.london-fire.gov.uk/home-fire-safety-checker
Why It Matters in Southwark
Many of the fires we attend start from small, avoidable risks. The Checker helps people spot problems early and take simple steps to protect themselves, their families, and their homes.
Our Ongoing Work
Alongside the Checker, our teams across Southwark continue to support vulnerable residents, visit high‑risk homes, and work with local partners to reduce preventable fires.
What You Can Do
- Encourage residents and partners to use the HFSV Checker
- Share the link widely across the borough
- Remind people to test smoke alarms regularly
A few minutes using the Checker can make a real difference to safety across Southwark.
In the event of an emergency please call:
- Samaritans: 020 7734 2800
- Shelter: 0300 330 1234
If you are in need of some well-being support please call:
- SANE Line: 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day)
- Hope Line UK: 0800 068 4141 (Weekdays 10am-10pm, weekends 2pm-10pm)
- Mind: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
- Rethink Mental Illness: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
- Shout: Text ‘Shout’ to 85258. It is free and confidential to text this service from all major networks
