Transforming lives through Kindness, Belief and Hope
Welcome to our February Newsletter
Did you know Pecan turns 35 years old in June?
As part of marking our 35th year in Peckham, we thought we would just remind everyone of the scope of our work tackling poverty.
Why? Because Pecan exists to see an end to poverty in all its forms: we were created to address the most pressing needs faced by our community: but poverty is nuanced and complicated and the pressing issues are expressed through the need for foodbanks, while important, is a symptom of the root causes (low income, debt, unemployment, poor mental and/or physical health, social isolation, loneliness, stigma, discrimination, lack of choice and opportunity, poor housing and so on). While so many of these issues are systemic, Pecan aims to do whatever we can to alleviate some of the symptoms so that people can survive, while working holistically on the deeper issues so that people can thrive.
Christmas at Pecan L to R: Writing course at our Together Hub, Peckham Pantry and our Steering Group ‘Voices for Southwark’
We aim to achieve this through equipping people in our community both practically and emotionally to believe in their potential. We treat people as individuals, transforming lives through holistic support, and with communities to influence decision making, working towards wider societal change that will end poverty in all its forms. Everything we do is underpinned by our Values: Kindness, Belief and Hope.
How? We deliver a variety of practical services, all of which provide holistic support that addresses the main issues a person comes to us about as well as delving a little deeper into what may lie behind that and what else can be done. You can find out more about each service further on in this newsletter.
- Together
- Employment Support
- Women’s Service
- Food Services: Southwark Foodbank, Peckham Pantry, Pathfinder
- Engagement & Campaigns
- Southwark Food Action Alliance (SFAA) – Hosted by Pecan
Our services are supported by a small team of staff dedicated to supporting the wider organisation through: HR, Finance, Office and Building Management, Marketing & Comms, Fundraising, Volunteer Management and Wellbeing of staff, as well as supporting the strategic direction, governance and day to day running of the organisation.
Deborah Hayman-Nkhoma,
Head of Services
Fundraising Update
January 2024
L to R: Team Ofcom are early risers, as they supported Southwark Foodbank at London bridge and collected £848. Megan from HOCHTIEF-MURPHY Joint Venture (HMJV) delivering a cheque to Pecan as we were their chosen charity for 2023 and Thank you to NBHD Bristol – Tola, Peckham who fundraised event on 8 December 2023 and raised £460.
Thank you to Saltash Construction for contributing (£100) to International Womens day in February.
Volunteer to run for Pecan at the Big Half event on 1 September 2024. Get a free place through us by emailing theresa.tsui@pecan.org.uk! More information on the Big half The Big Half – The Big Half
Let us know if you would like to do any charity runs and fundraise for Pecan and we can support you with your entry place (and more!). A list of runs can be found here: Run For Charity – Events Calendar
Challenge Events 2024
London Marathon
Our brave runner for 21 April 2024 London Marathon is Ben Nice from TMT Finance.
Ride London
Holy Rollers will be taking the challenge again for Pecan on Sunday 26 May 2024.
Awareness Events
Get involved and support our awareness events through volunteering or donating.
Up coming events:
- International Women’s Day | 5 March 2024
- Ramadan | 5 or 12 March
- Easter | 26 March or 2 April
Lunar New Year at Pecan
We celebrated our first the Lunar New Year event at Pecan thanks to Lien, a resident of Peckham for 40 years and her friends. We celebrated with food, music, tai chi and karaoke. Plus, we had a short film to give everyone an insight into the history of the Lunar Year, zodiac animals and how and why there are slight variations in Vietnam and Thailand.
Happy New Year!
Wellbeing: Masterclass on Wellbeing in the Workplace
‘You can’t pour from an empty cup.’
The wellbeing or welfare of our clients, members and users of our services is extremely important to Pecan. So, we are delighted to partner with Kings College on a Wellbeing in the Workplace project. Colleagues enjoyed a fascinating and engaging masterclass on theories of wellbeing from Dr. Roberto Fumagalli, as part of the project.
Our Wellbeing Lead Alex hosts a Women Only ‘Wellbeing and Self-Care on Zoom’ on Wednesdays from 2-2.45pm.
Join Alex for a gentle session of self-care. There’s no expectation to actively participate, just listen and enjoy our calming activities. Attendees often report dropping off! Feel free to join with camera on or off.
Watch this space for new wellbeing sessions coming soon in Together.
To join the session, email womenshubs@pecan.org.uk for zoom link. All women welcomed!
Food Services
Southwark Foodbank, Peckham Pantry, Engagement and Southwark Food Action Alliance
Pecan Food Services: Our food services provide a range of support from emergency food relief through Southwark Foodbank to exploring how to provide a more dignified, long-term way to shop affordably through Peckham Pantry (open to all, members pay £4.50 per shop for £15-30 worth of shopping they choose themselves). We also offer a range of advice and signposting support based in our food programmes that aim to go beyond food.
Engagement and Campaigns
Voices for Southwark is our Pecan community organising group. Based on our own experiences as Southwark residents, we are running a campaign for easy access to information and support on money matters.
We want to hear your thoughts on this. Come along to our Get Involved Meeting on Friday 23 February from 10.30-12.30 at Pecan, to hear more and join our campaign. The more we are, the more powerful our voices become.
To RSVP and for any questions, please contact Flora on 07929 999 006.
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
Steering Group
Peckham Pantry Steering Group aims to help the Peckham Pantry team develop ideas and make decisions on how to engage with Pantry members and members of the wider local community.
We are a group of members, volunteers and staff who meet once a month and organise monthly coffee mornings and other events. All pantry members and ambassadors are welcome to join!
Our next meeting is on Tuesday 12 March 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.
Or just pop by our next Peckham Pantry Coffee Morning on Thursday 22 February from 10.30-11.30am at Peckham Pantry on Peckham Park Road, to join us for a cuppa and a chat!
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.
Stand-up Comedy Course at the Women’s Service
At the Women’s Service we provide a wide range of workshops, drop-ins and events for our members and the wider community.
One of our current workshops is a stand-up comedy course with community comic Kym Winstanley who delivers workshops and short courses within a number of organisations that work with people affected by mental health, homelessness or the criminal justice system. Over six sessions participants learn the building blocks of a comedy routine using stories from their own lives as material.
Stand-up Comedy Course at the Women’s Service: Every Thursday from 11.30am-1pm, until 22 February.
This is Us Photography Project
Usemi – The black women’s mental health group that runs its sessions at the Women’s Service Hub collaborated with photographer Myah Jeffers on a sense of self project called This is Us.
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.
The women are now in the process of curating their work to display at the International Women’s Day event at the hub on 7 March 2024. As this is a women-only space, their work will also be displayed at Pecan later in the month.
January – March Events
USEMI Black Women’s Mental Health Group: Tuesdays 2.30pm-4pm
Wellbeing and Self-Care with Alex on Zoom: Wednesdays 2pm-2.45pm (email womenshubs@pecan.org.uk for zoom link)
Clean Break Poetry Workshop: Thursdays 2-4pm (short break at 1pm)
Movement with Lisa – Starting 23 January: Tuesdays 12-pm-1pm
Stand-up Comedy Course at the Women’s Service: Starting 18 January, Thursdays 11.30am-1pm, until 22 February.
Coffee Morning Drop Ins: Running every Tuesday and Thursday, 10.30am-12.30pm – tea/coffee, pastries, toast, crafts, colouring, quiz books, free Wi-Fi, warm space.
More workshops to be announced in the Spring.
International Women's Day 2024
DIARY DATE: This year we will be holding our International Women’s Day even on 7 March 2024, from 11am-3pm. Workshops, music, nail painting, crafts, meal, performances. More details to follow.
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).
IT sessions at Peckham Library
‘We believe that improving your understanding, skills, and experience in all things digital is essential in today’s employment world, and we are here to support you every step of the way.’
– Pecan’s Employment Support
Pecan’s Employment Support and Peckham Library have collaborated to create an IT/Digital course at Peckham Library based on our clients’ requirements. The course is designed for beginners and intermediate learners and is being delivered by an experienced professional. Thanks to Kate at Peckham Library for warmly welcoming everyone and giving the attendees a clear breakdown of the course. It was great to see a member from our Together Hub at the session too, as Pecan’s projects work holistically together.
To secure your place, please contact employment.support@pecan.org.uk
Please note that there are limited spots available, and once capacity is reached, you will be placed on a waiting list for the next available class.
Employment Support Training Opportunities:
For further details and to register on the courses, please contact employment.support@pecan.org.uk
- SIA for Security Level 2
- Emergency First Aid Level 3
- Health and Safety Level 2
- Safeguarding Level 2
- Interview workshop
- CV workshops
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 etc. support to fill in online forms and Techie Tea Parties for example. We signpost into other Pecan services and partner organisations to ensure all needs are met.
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. Plus, our Creative Writing workshop is being is into week three and the attendees are having a positive experience. To join the Together mailing list, please contact Vahsti: together@pecan.org.uk
Community Cafe
Together Cafe re-opened for the new year on Monday 8 January. Opening hours are Mondays and Tuesdays, from 1 pm – 3pm. The cafe is now officially being registered as a Warm Space – All are welcome. The cafe is free and provides a space to relax and socialise whilst enjoying the free warm refreshments provided.
Creative Writing for Wellbeing
FREE Writing course begins every Monday from 15 January – 19 February, 10.30am-12pm.
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
Thrive and Future Men
As we put the final touches together for our 2024 programme, we have been in discussions with Black Thrive and Future Men to be part of it. Black Thrive started in Lambeth back in 2016 and they ‘address the inequalities that negatively impact the mental health and wellbeing of Black people in Lambeth …’ with the aim to ‘transform the Black experience from surviving to thriving.’
Future Men work with young fathers from late teens up to ages of 25 years, will be in our Together space to meet with their clients offering one-to-one support and offering activities. Dates to be confirmed, and for further details email Vashti: together@pecan.org.uk
websites: futuremen.org | blackthrive.org
Volunteers
At Pecan we have THE BEST volunteers! These fabulous people give up their time to help us provide vital services.
Brenda
I attend my local church and one of the members Ish is a Trustee at Pecan. At one of our services, Ish announced Pecan’s new project the Together Hub and invited parishioners to volunteer in the newly opened Together Café.
Born and raised in Peckham, I still live in the area. I am a retired music teacher and taught in local primary and secondary schools. I often bump into my past students and their parents and it’s a joy to see them all grown up. My children have all grown up and started their own lives.
Before joining Pecan, I spent several years caring for my husband who sadly passed away from dementia and felt ready to get more involved with my community. I decided to make time for myself and upon hearing about the project, joined Pecan as a volunteer in October 2022.
It’s great that Pecan can offer a free warm space for Southwark residents. One of the Together Hub projects is the Together Café offering free warm refreshments and a space to socialise.
I meet a great cross section of people and see my role as supporting our members without judgment and providing space for them to express themselves and lead conversations. Our members feel this is a welcoming and comfortable to interact with others and it’s a pleasure to witness them develop acquaintances and friendships. I enjoy providing a much needed service meeting visitors who pop in for a quick chat and engaging with our regular members.
It is a pleasure volunteering and using my professional and personal experience to offer support to members and visitors to the Together Café.
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.
The Big Winter Sleep Out 2024
From 24 February to 25 February, our foodbank volunteer Mark will be doing a sleep out fundraiser to raise money for rough sleepers in London.
This will be Mark’s fourth year doing the sleep-out fundraiser! Please donate and make sure to acknowledge is bravery when you see him around Pecan.
Volunteering Opportunities
Lunar New Year
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival is a two-week festival based on lunar cycles. For this reason, the date of the festival changes yearly.
- Craft | Chinese New Year with a craft session (suitable for children aged 5 and over) Open to all, no need to book | 10 February, 2.30-4pm | Una Marsden Library, 62 Thurlow Street SE17 2GN | LINK
- The Garden Cinema | The Chinese Cinema Project is an exhibition initiative presented by The Garden Cinema. It showcases works from emerging and under-represented Chinese filmmakers. | LINK
- Chinese New Year 2024 in London | LINK
LGBT+ History Month
LGBT+ History Month is for everyone; whether you work in education, a museum, a library or an art gallery, a business, a service, or are a member of a network/social group or an individual.(Schools Out)
- Poetry and Polari for LGBTQ+ History Month in Southwark | An adults’ creative workshop run by Southwark Heritage for LGBTQ+ History Month | 28 February, 6-7pm | Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library, 147 Walworth Road London SE17 1RW | LINK
- Peckhamplex | Under Your Nose – The Story of the Black Lesbian & Gay Centre (18), Rainbow Plaque Launch Event | Sunday 18 February, 2pm | LINK
SE15
- Theatre Peckham | Windrush Generation(s), Spoken Words and A Song for Ella Grey, February 2024 | LINK
- Social Table Games | Wednesdays from 7 February, 10.30am-13pm | The Green Nunhead | LINK
- Peckham Levels | Calendar of events LINK
- CLF Art Lounge & Roof Garden | From Live Jazz to Spoken Word, Cabaret & Beyond – All taking place Weds to Sunday LINK
- Peckham Vision | Peckham Vision’s community shop is in Holdrons Arcade. Information displays & exhibition every day during Arcade opening hours, lights on 2pm-8pm
- All Saints Women | If you’re a woman looking to pray with other women, or if you’d value meeting a woman one-to-one with a pastoral care need, drop a line to women@allsaintspeckham.org.uk | LINK
- Community Mapping Day | Film Club, Spanish Book Club, Poetry Workshop | LINK
