Transforming lives through Kindness, Belief and Hope
Welcome to our March Newsletter.
International Women’s Day (IWD) is on Wednesday 8 March, this year the theme is #EmbraceEquity. IWD as a celebration and as a campaign is very close to our hearts at Pecan. Our Southwark & Lewisham Women’s Service works with women who have faced multiple disadvantage and overcome huge obstacles to building better lives for themselves, with support from our amazing advocates.
Women everywhere still face huge inequity and discrimination.
Did you know:
77% of mothers experience discrimination in the workplace.
There is a 32% drop off, of women at managerial level.
11% of women leave the workforce entirely after children.
There is still a 14.9% gender pay gap.
Full time childcare costs are an estimated 44% of an average salary, disproportionately affecting women.
More women are sentenced to prison for first-time offences than men.
Women are more likely to be arrested for low-harm offences.
In 2020 Black women were twice as likely to be arrested as white women with 7% of women in prison being Black and Black British ethnicity, compared to 3.3% of the population and 9.4% identified as foreign national.
There is a lack of representation for women and girls in policy makers/ing.
#EmbraceEquity
Fundraising at Pecan
Events make up a part of our fundraising, and we are aware so many people have continued with running, cycling or an activity to support their physical and mental health since the lockdowns. Now we are at a new point, we encourage using these new skills as a way to support your community charity.
Our next challenge event is Ford RideLondon 2023.
Ford Ride London 2023
We have 5 places available for Ford RideLondon. If you would like to be one of our Team members or ride solo for Pecan, please email our Partnership Manager Theresa at: fundraising@pecan.org.uk
Details about registration will be shared with you, and then you can decide if you would like to be part of Team Pecan.
Deadline to apply: 17 April 2023
PECAN PROJECTS
Women's Service
Women’s Service are holding an International Women’s Day event*. All women are welcome to come and celebrate with us on the 7 March, from 11am-3pm. There will be food, crafts, a make-up artist, nail painting and performances from some of our hub members.
* This is a women only event
Mental Health Drop-In
Our first Mental Health Drop-In was a real success. We had six women come along to discuss and receive advice about mental health issues. It resulted in two referrals to services, as well as advice on other services available. One attendee who felt very isolated outside of work, has managed to change her hours around so she can attend the drop-ins. She has reported an improvement in her mental health, from coming to the group and engaging in the activities, to not feeling so isolated.
New Workshops
- Comedy workshop: starts 14 March and will run for 6 weeks, 11:30am – 1pm at the Southwark hub.
- MOVEment: We are joining back up with the MOVEment charity
- Pilates: Class will be starting at the end of the month, date and time tbc.
Food Services
Southwark Foodbank
Southwark Foodbank Bucket Collection at London Bridge | 22 February
The next collection: Wednesday 29 March, 7-10am at London Bridge
Thank you foodbank volunteers
A massive thank you to many of our foodbank volunteers who helped people apply for the council’s cost-of-living fund. Whether it was handing out a form at one of our foodbank sessions, sitting with clients to complete forms, or submitting the referrals online, it all made a massive difference.
Urgent Needs
The warehouse is very low in stock of the following items:
- Cereal
- Pasta Sauce
- Tinned Fruit
- Tinned Veg
- Instant coffee jars (100g)
Q&A with a food bank volunteer: John
How long have you been volunteering for Southwark Foodbank and in what capacity?
Since March 2022, as a driver
What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
The sense of camaraderie
What is one piece of advice you’d give prospective volunteers?
To keep an open mind.
A Southwark where everyone can afford the essentials
Alongside our day-to-day work of supporting our community with emergency food, we want to build a future where none of us have to rely on a foodbank, because we all have the money for the things we need.
We are currently working closely with members of our community who have used our foodbank and Peckham Pantry to develop a local campaign for a Southwark where everyone can afford the essentials. To get involved with our community organising activities, please contact Flora, Community Engagement Officer.
Peckham Pantry
As the cost-of-living crisis continues, we were contacted by Good Morning Britain to give our feedback. Chris Price, our CEO, spoke with Jonathan Swain at the Pantry about the steady rising cost for every day basics leading to food insecurity.
'Food inflation is still sky high.'
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 15, 2023
Official inflation figures will reveal the latest monthly inflation figure. @SwainITV shows us just how much the prices have gone up. pic.twitter.com/kkJFE3SQmu
Community
Together
L to R: Oyster Day out to the South London Gallery, Techie Tea Party and the audience at Creative Expressions showcase
Oyster Day Out
Members enjoyed an afternoon out at South London Gallery on Friday 24 February. The gallery hosts some interesting contemporary art, as you can see from the photo above.
Some members visited the café for refreshments, whilst others browsed the bookshop and made a few purchases.
‘It is great to just get out of the house, meet others and have a good chat’ – Oyster Day Out member
Creative Expressions Showcase
Creative Expressions rounded off its 6 week series of workshops with a presentation performance on Friday morning, 24 February.
Five of the participants who had been working on their storytelling and poetry performance skills summoned up their courage to perform at the showcase. The audience was made up of Together participants and some members of Pecan staff. The recitals ranged from the humorous to the confessional. Later, each of the performers confided that they had made progress in their communications.
Prior to the showcase, our creative group had focused on their public speaking and performance abilities. After the event, there was a great sense of achievement and mutual congratulation.
March Activities
- Together Café | Every Monday and Tuesday 1-3pm | Free soup, snacks, and hot drinks. Come to chat, for company, to play board games or just to be.
- Discussion Group on Zoom (Virtual) | Each Thursday 3.30pm onwards
- Oyster trip | Friday 31 March
- Techie Tea Party at Together Space Café | 30 March and 4 May | 12.30-2.30pm. Hill Group will be hosting another two free Tea and Tech workshops to help residents in the local area who are struggling to get online or use their devices.
> Register for 30 March HERE
> Register for 4 May HERE
If you are interested in any of our activities, or would like volunteer, then please contact us by email, together@pecan.org.uk
Our work in creating the Together Hub is to provide a holistic pathway of support that helps to build the community, by transforming lives through ‘Kindness, Belief and Hope.’
Employment Surgeries
New Training Dates
| Course Name | Level | Last Enrolment Date | Starting Date | Number of Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Digital Skills | Entry 3 | 28/02/2023 | 02/03/2023 | 22 days - Monday to Fridays |
| CSCS Construction | Level 1 | 02/03/2023 | 06/03/2023 | 16 Days Monday - Friday |
| Functional Skills English | Entry 3 | 28/02/2023 | 01/03/2023 | 10 Days Monday - Friday |
| TST Firm Security | Level 2 | 10/03/2023 | 14/03/2023 | 22 days Monday - Friday |
Southwark 2030 at Pecan
Sharing ideas with Southwark Council
When Southwark 2030 launched, we took the opportunity to hold a discussion session at Pecan.
On Wednesday 1 March in our community café ‘Together’ we held a mini #Southwark2030 discussion led by Jess Leech from Southwark Council. It was uplifting to hear from people who feel passionate about their community and showed support for each other during the discussions, especially on some challenging subjects. The points raised were succinct and highlighted the importance of keeping the good aspects that work within a borough and supporting grassroot projects.
Hopefully, some of our attendees may create their own discussion group or run a workshop together, as there was lots of networking afterwards.
So, watch this space!
Vacancies
Community events and useful links
WOW Festival | 10-12 March | Women of the World (WOW) is the world’s biggest, most comprehensive festival celebrating women, girls and non-binary people. www.southbankcentre.co.uk
Feminist Library | 7, 14, 21 & 28 March from 11am-1pm | 161 Sumner Road, London, SE15 6JL | Free Walking & Drawing, Wellbeing workshops facilitated by artist Rebekah Dean feministlibrary.co.uk
Spring Equinox celebrations for young children | Saturday 18 March, 10am-1pm | The Green Nunhead, 5 Nunhead Green SE15 3QQ | Fun nature activities, seed sowing and arts and crafts with the Nature Club.
Tel. 020 7732 6543WHO’S ON IT – A celebration of youth culture | Saturday 18 March, 3-9pm | South London Gallery | 65 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8UH
www.southlondongallery.orgThe Peckham Settlement | If you have an idea for a community event or project but need a grant to get it off the ground, then apply to The Peckham Settlement. The Peckham Settlement is a volunteer-run local funder, providing small grants of £100 – £3,000 to charities and community groups in Peckham and the surrounding areas.
Special Initiative Programme | Small Grant | General Grant
