Transforming lives through Kindness, Belief and Hope
Welcome to our December Newsletter
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Please note that Pecan takes a well deserved break from Friday 22 December and will re-open on Tuesday 2 January 2024 – find out what we have been up to in December and the exciting things coming up in 2024.
We wish Chris well on his new journey, as we get ready for our new season. If anyone has a passion for social justice and a love of community, then this position as CEO at Pecan maybe for you.
December has been extremely busy with our Christmas campaign: not only are we campaigning to raise £45,000 to support Pecan’s services throughout 2024, we have also given out 150 vouchers to households across Southwark (that access any of the Pecan services) alongside our gorgeous Pecan tote bags filled with Christmas goodies. Through generous donations and support from volunteers, we are making sure some of the stress at this time of year is lessened.
This month we also celebrated Pecan Day, which was launched this year as our big fundraising day that leads into our Christmas campaign. Thank you to all who supported us. Pecan staff had a fun day fundraising with a shared lunch and karaoke! If you missed it this year, look out for it in 2024. Before you find out more about what we have been up to in the run up to Christmas, please click and share some of the links below:
- Our Christmas campaign runs until 31 January 2024: Give a Gift of Hope:
- Christmas cards: https://www.pecan.org.uk/support-while-you-shop/
- Southwark – Here to Help
- SFAA Food Map: https://lmcu.uk/40PMlje
- Affordable Christmas in Southwark: creditunion.co.uk
Deborah Hayman-Nkhoma,
Head of Services
Wellbeing at Pecan
Wellbeing is extremely important here at Pecan – not only do we want to see improved wellbeing for all our clients and wider community, but we see good wellbeing in our staff and volunteers as the fundamental building block from which we can deliver our services. Burnt out staff cannot effectively support our community.
Pecan staff have been thinking about Wellbeing as part of a wider research project – what it is and how we measure it. And we WANT YOU to get INVOLVED.
We’ve been fortunate to be awarded a £10,000 grant from King’s College London for this study. The project includes a Masterclass from Philosopher Roberto Fumagalli on 24 January. Please contact Alex, our Wellbeing Lead for more details if you’d like to attend. We’re keen to involve everyone in the ‘Pecan Community’
Email: alex.porter@pecan.org.uk
Fundraising Update
We would like to thank all our wonderful funders and supporters for keeping Pecan going in 2023. It has been a tough year all round and your support means the world to us and most importantly to the clients who come to our service:
Corporates: Redant, Bechtel, Coveo, members from NetworkRail, Kier, Ofcom, Pinterest, Fisglobal and Bechtel.
Funders: Big Give, Charles Hayward, Coop Causes, Dentons, UKMEA LLP Charitable Trust, Garfield Weston, Girdlers Company, GLA, Henry Smith, Impact on Urban Health, Kings College London, London Community Foundation, MADL (Nisa), Merchant Taylors Company, MoJ/MOPAC, Partnership Southwark, Southwark Charities, Southwark Council, Southwark Works, The Cranfield Trust, The David Family Foundation, The National Lottery, Trussell Trust and United St Saviours’ Charity.
… And donations of Christmas treats
Thank you to all those who kindly donated to us for the Christmas event with treats, vouchers and books. We had wonderful volunteers help to pack and give out these goodies, from: Bishopsgate Insurance, Norton Rose Fulbright, WE Hopscotch, We Are Lucid Group, Michael O’Mara Books, The Literacy Trust and JP Morgan.
London Bridge Collection #1
On 29 November, six Folio staff alongside the foodbank team raised £3,218.
London Bridge Collection #2
Our Christmas London Bridge Bucket collection was supported by a team from Area and the fabulous choir London Oriana. They raised £5758.78.
Equans
The warehouse had five volunteers this month. They bought and organised emergency food parcels for our sessions.
Peckham Pantry
We had a Pantry stock take and it was great to have support from a team from Vanguard
London Marathon
Our brave runner for 21 April 2024: Ben Nice from TMT finance.
Community Support for Pecan
As a community charity, we appreciate the local support we receive that champions the work we do towards ending poverty.
Pecan and its services aim to change attitudes towards food supply within Southwark, along with our holistic approach to people who access advocacy within our Women Services through to our Employment programme with Southwark Works. Plus, we have our Together project, which is a warm space as well as a venue for free programmed community events.
Women’s Service at Nice and Graphic Printing workshop and a team from Bishopsgate Insurance sorting the books donated by Michael O’Mara Books.
So, THANK YOU for some wonderful community support this December:
- The NBHD Project held a DJ night at Tola Peckham on 8 December with all proceeds donated to Pecan and Southwark Foodbank.
- Form SE15, an independent shop in Peckham organised an online raffle for Southwark Foodbank with great prizes from local businesses and raised a total of £1,073.70.
- Nice and Graphic donated a free letterpress printing workshop for a group from our Women’s Service.
- Michael O’Mara Books donated children’s and adult non-fiction books for our Christmas Southwark Foodbank sessions.
- The National Literacy Trust donated three big boxes of children’s books from early years to young adults.
- Commuters at London Bridge.
- Drawing People Together Festive workshop in Together
- Peckham Pantry is a part of Co-op’s Community Fund until October 2024, so becoming a member (£1) you can support the pantry every time you shop.
Food Services
Southwark Foodbank, Peckham Pantry, Engagement and Southwark Food Action Alliance
'During these 6 months, Southwark Foodbank provided 4,028 emergency food parcels.’ - The Trussell Trust, 2023
'Coop Members can officially support Peckham Pantry as part of the Local Community Fund'
What a whirlwind of activity in the world of Foodservices! Thanks to the incredible support from our local community and businesses, our warehouse has been buzzing with energy as we manage an unprecedented influx of food donations. In the month of November alone, we received an impressive 9,100 kg of food, and our dedicated team at the foodbank worked tirelessly to distribute 8,500 kg to 318 households, benefiting over 900 individuals.
The Peckham Pantry, always at the heart of our community, experienced a bustling period with over 1,500 visits. We took pride in providing not just food but nutritious options at fantastic value to our clients. In collaboration with the Southwark Council, we initiated a program offering healthy snack packs to our clients with school-aged children, ensuring a holistic approach to community well-being.
Did you know that Coop Members can officially support Peckham Pantry as part of the Local Community Fund? Their support is helping us raise funds and bolster our efforts to make a positive impact on the community we hold dear.
Here’s to the spirit of giving and the power of community coming together! Thank you for being a part of our journey.
Whilst Southwark Foodbank continues to provide emergency food to people in crisis, we know that emergency food is not the answer to poverty. That’s why we partner with Thames Reach and Citizens Advice whose advisors attend food bank sessions. This ensures that people who use our service have access to good quality financial assistance and are able to maximize their income. One example of the impact of this work for one person who used our service was a successful pension credit – meaning the individual involved will now receive a monthly payment of £81 on top of their state pension and received a back payment of £2,000.
Please note Re: Donations: We cannot take alcohol or medicine, and any baby items, please donate to Babybank: https://littlevillagehq.org/uk-baby-banks/
Kindness, Belief and Hope in November
This month in foodbank we’ve been blown away by the generosity of the general public. We had a very successful collection at London Bridge at the end of November. And the three-day collection at the Tesco Superstores in the borough were amazing. We collected a tonne more than last year’s collection. A huge thank you to all the corporate volunteers who braved the cold at London Bridge and at the front of the Tesco stores.
Thanks also to our regular foodbank volunteers who gave up even more of their time and supported us.
Southwark Food Action Alliance
SFAA are currently creating an online list of the food related Christmas events happening over the festive period.
If you or your organisation is holding a relevant event and would like it to be circulated more widely, please add it to the Google document linked below. Please note that by adding your event details to the document, you are consenting for it to be shared with all SFAA members, on the SFAA website and social media, and potentially by SFAA Members and third parties including Southwark Council. Please do not include information or contact details you would not want to be shared.
Southwark Christmas Food Events 2023
We look forward to hearing about your events, and please let me know if you have any questions!
Email: sfaa@pecan.org.uk
Engagement and Campaigns
‘Voices for Southwark have decided to start a campaign, to make it easier for residents to find information and access financial support’
At Pecan’s food projects, we want to see a Southwark where emergency food is no longer needed. But we can only achieve this by organising together as a community to address structural issues.
Our community organising group Voices for Southwark meet once a month at Pecan. Based on their own experiences as Southwark residents, Voices for Southwark have decided to start a campaign, to make it easier for residents to find information and access financial support. To get involved or find out more, please email Flora here.
You can be the change this Christmas and support the Trussell Trust’s campaign
We all agree that everyone should be able to afford the essentials. But right now, our social security system is driving more and more people to food banks. Stand with us, and people facing hardship in our community, to help us change this.
The Trussell Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation are calling on UK political party leaders to support the introduction of an Essentials Guarantee within Universal Credit to ensure that the basic rate at least covers life’s essentials, such as food and bills. Add your name to the petition here.
Peckham Pantry
Peckham Pantry Steering Group are hosted a Festive Coffee Morning on Thursday 14 December from 10.30-11.30am at Peckham Pantry on Peckham Park Road. The steering group is made up of pantry members and ambassadors who help the pantry team develop ideas and make decisions on how to engage with the local community.
If you’re @CoopUK member or customer, you can give the gift of community spirit this Christmas. Donate to the Co-op Local Community Fund and they will match your donation, so causes like us will benefit! Find out more at coop.co.uk/givethegift
Women's Service
The Southwark and Lewisham Women’s Hubs offer safe, welcoming, one-stop-shop support for those affected by the criminal justice system, and for women seeking support, information, and community.
The Hub is closed between 21 December – 2 January 2024
This is Us
Usemi – Black Women’s Mental Health Group Photography Project
I enjoyed the session. It was stimulating and interesting
– Usemi Attendee #1
Usemi – A Black women’s mental health group that runs its sessions at the Women’s Service Hub.
From October to November as part of Pecan’s Black History Month programme, photographer Myah Jeffers ran a series of practical workshops in collaboration with a group of the Usemi participants. The workshop sessions involved exploring their ‘sense of self’ through portraiture, voice recordings and documentary photography. The sessions provided the women with a chance to have agency over their own stories and material for an exhibition in the new year.
I found these sessions very interesting and bringing me a little out of my shell. I thought I would not see it all the way through, but I am glad I did. Love the black and white photos.
– Usemi Attendee #2
Events
- Tuesday and Thursday: 10.30am-12.30pm: Coffee Morning Drop-In (hot drinks, crafts, toast, pastries) at the Peckham Hub.
- Thursday: 12-1pm: Movement with Lisa.
- Usemi – Black Women’s Mental Health Group. 2.30pm-4pm at Peckham Hub
- Kathleen’s Mental Health Drop-In: 11am-12pm at the Peckham Hub (Psychosis is this month’s topic)
- Hub Lunch: Thursday 21 December, 12.30-2pm at the Peckham Hub.
Employment
As a Southwark Works partner, we provide a range of 1-2-1 support and workshops to parents and carers looking to get back into work.
Great News: We supported 35 clients to gain Level 3 Accredited qualification in Paediatric First Aid.
Training 2024: All our training and workshops are closed until January 2024, and our new courses in 2024 will be:
- SIA for Security Level 2
- Emergency First Aid Level 3
- Health and Safety Level 2
- Safeguarding Level 2
- Interview workshop
- CV workshops
Pop in to book an appointment with one of our advisors or email employmentsupport@pecan.org.uk
Together
Together is Pecan’s Community and Life-skills programme.
At Together we are offering a range of activities aimed at providing a social space for the community, a chance to learn new skills, get support with a range of life-skills (setting up a phone, filling out forms online, budgeting etc). As well as opportunities to volunteer and/or to lead your own sessions and try out ideas in our space. Plus, we have a Community Café and Warm Space so pop in and enjoy free refreshments in a warm space.
Our community cafe is open every Monday and Tuesday, 1-3pm. All welcome!
Please get in touch to let us know what you want to see happening in your community or to join the email listing: together@pecan.org.uk
Creative Writing for Wellbeing
Our sessions have ended, but we will be holding another writing workshop in the new year. In the meantime, keep writing.
Facilitated by Wordsmiths – Creative Writing for Wellbeing in a relaxed environment which allows creativity to flourish.
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.
Bread & Salt is facilitated by W.E.C. International
Volunteers
At Pecan we appreciate the support of our volunteers and the impact they make on the work we do towards ending poverty. Each Christmas we all celebrate together – volunteers, staff and trustees at a joint Christmas party to reflect on the year that will soon be behind us, and to socialise with everyone connected to Pecan and its services.
If you are interested in volunteering at one of Pecan’s services, then drop in between 10am-4pm Monday to Friday, or email: welcome@pecan.org.uk.
Vacancies
Volunteering Opportunities
Christmas Day Dinner | Peckham Soup Kitchen –The community event will take place at Mercato Metropolitano, 42 Newington Causeway, SE1, from 12pm to 4pm on December 25 | LINK TO REGISTER
Christmas Services at All Saints Peckham | LINK
Theatre Peckham | Christmas show Rapunzel – until 24 December 2023.
LINKWinter Wonder Library | Wonder into your local library this winter, join in with the activities, read some wonderful books and win great prizes | All Southwark Libraries 9am-5pm
2024 Events
- Things to do on New Year’s Day 2024 in London | LINK
- What’s on at Peckham Levels | LINK
- Family Space: CultureTree | Saturday 27 January 2024, 11am – 1pm, FREE | South London Gallery, 65-67 Peckham Rd, London, SE5 8UH | LINK
- LGBTQ+ Film Club | The first Friday of every month at Dulwich Library | 5.30-7.30pm | LINK
- Black History Walks | Image of the Black in Reynolds and Hogarth | Friday 19 January 2024, 6.30 – 7:45 pm | £5 Eventbrite link
