Transforming lives through Kindness, Belief and Hope
Pecan celebrates 35 years in the community – Est. 1989
Welcome
Thank you to our supporters, donors, volunteers and community for your generosity over the last two months. Your support has allowed us to continue with the work we do to support our clients, plus create a programme for events for the community.
This month we celebrate Women’s History Month with two International Women’s Day events and the theme is inclusion. Our Women’s Service’s event (Women Only) is on Thursday 7 March and our Together Hub at Pecan (121a Peckham High Street) on Monday 11 March.
Our food services have been busy this month, Southwark Foodbank raised 730Kg of food – that is 50 small family parcels at the Tesco Surrey Quays collection and raised £1542.72 at their London Bridge February collection. Peckham Pantry continue to welcome new members, but keep spreading the word because ‘Pantries soften the blow of high living costs and create the conditions for communities to grow and thrive, by bringing people together around food.’ – Your Local Pantry
Our March highlight is that Employment Support has two new programmes and new training dates. For further information contact: employment.support@pecan.org.uk
Do get in touch if you want to find out more about our services, volunteering with us or just to find out more about our individual services.
Deborah Hayman-Nkhoma,
Head of Services
Fundraising Update | February 2024
Warehouse volunteering, donations and collections
Trivandi volunteered for our food bank warehouse. They bought required foods and sorted them with the support of the food bank team. They bought 180kg worth of food which is sufficient to feed 13 households of different sizes.
Thank you to Grey who raised raised £1,647 in 2023 for their timesheet submissions.
London Bridge Collection
Every last Wednesday of the month we have a Southwark Foodbank collection at London Bridge from 7-10am with corporate volunteers supporting us. This February a big thank you goes to Ardonagh Speciality for joining us on Wednesday 28 February and helping us raise £1542.72.
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:
- Easter | 26 March or 2 April
Food Services
Southwark Foodbank, Peckham Pantry, Engagement and Southwark Food Action Alliance
Southwark Foodbank
Our stocks are low and ‘We Urgently Require’ Tinned Fruit, Rice Pudding, Pasta Sauce and Jam.
Engagement and Campaigns
‘We were very pleased with how the meeting ran, it was a successful team effort. The enthusiasm amongst the organisers was mirrored in the new participants.’
– Anna, Voices for Southwark
Voices for Southwark is a community organising group based at Pecan, speaking up to make life in Southwark easier and better for everyone. This month, we ran our Voices for Southwark Get Involved Meeting, joined by people who live in Southwark and have been in touch with Pecan’s projects. We all shared what we like about living in Southwark, and then discussed what changes we would like to see.
There was a shared sense that, the more people we are coming together to make life in Southwark easier and better for everyone, the more powerful we can and will be. Stay tuned for updates on Voices for Southwark and our Keep it simple Southwark campaign.
Our Voices for Southwark member Anna says: “We were very pleased with how the meeting ran, it was a successful team effort. The enthusiasm amongst the organisers was mirrored in the new participants.”
Thank you to those who came to the meeting, and to everyone who has supported Voices for Southwark and our campaign so far. A special thanks goes out to Anna, Esther and Simon who presented at the meeting!
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
‘With over 17,400 visits recorded throughout the year, averaging 1,450 visits per month, the Pantry’s impact on the community has been substantial.’
In 2023, Peckham Pantry experienced remarkable growth, marking a 14% increase in client visits compared to the previous year. With over 17,400 visits recorded throughout the year, averaging 1,450 visits per month, the Pantry’s impact on the community has been substantial. The highlight of the year was the Christmas party where we served over 200 clients! This success is attributed to the Pantry’s deep integration within the community and the steady growth of a loyal customer base.
Building on the foundation of retaining a customer base of 2,100 clients, Peckham Pantry welcomed 1,620 new members in 2023. These individuals joined to experience the value of the pantry firsthand. The Pantry estimates that it saved its clients an impressive £270,000 over the year, a testament to its commitment to providing affordable and fresh food options to those in need.
Testimonials from members highlight the transformative impact of Peckham Pantry on their lives. One member shared, “I was using food banks to feed my family but there is only so much you can get and nothing fresh. Peckham Pantry has allowed my children to have fresh fruit and veg and not just tinned. You were really there when I needed help. And everyone is so lovely.”
‘Peckham Pantry has allowed my children to have fresh fruit and veg and not just tinned. You were really there when I needed help. And everyone is so lovely.’
– Peckham Pantry Member
Beyond providing essential food supplies, Peckham Pantry plays a vital role in supporting the local community, especially those facing financial hardships. Demographic data reveals that half of the members had children in their households, and a significant portion were single-adult households renting through social landlords. Moreover, the Pantry serves an ethnically diverse community, with 79% of recent survey respondents identifying as Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic members. This indicates that Peckham Pantry is attracting those who most need support to access affordable food.
Feedback from clients underscores the positive impact of being a Pantry member on both physical and mental health. Many express gratitude for the sense of security and relief the Pantry provides, particularly in ensuring they have enough food after paying bills.
Despite its achievements, Peckham Pantry faces challenges, including maintaining the quality and availability of culturally relevant food items and addressing significant financial hurdles. However, the Pantry remains committed to developing a viable business model to ensure its long-term sustainability while continuing to serve the community.
As we move forward into 2024, Peckham Pantry remains dedicated to its mission of providing essential support to the community and looks forward to overcoming challenges and continuing its impactful work.
Shahid Mughal
Interim Head of Food Services
Steering Group
Peckham Pantry Steering Group is a group of pantry members, volunteers and staff who meet once a month to develop ideas on how to engage with pantry members and members of the wider local community.
- 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 Wednesday 20 March from 10-11am at St Luke’s Church Peckham (Chandler Way, SE15 6DT) 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.
‘I love the warm welcome I get at the hub; I join in conversations and activities. I feel more confident in the community socialising. I feel included.’
– Women’s Service User
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. There will be crafts, activities, USEMI women’s photography exhibition, music, nail painting, crafts, meal, performances.
For more details email: womenshubs@pecan.org.uk
8 March 2024, marks International Women’s Day – ‘a day that focuses on women’s rights and achievements.’
Women’s Service* are proud to celebrate this day with the women in our community at our own event on the 7 March 2024, 11am-3pm at our Peckham Hub. This event will include crafts (making your own plant pot, scrunchies, bath salts), will feature an exhibition of photography by USEMI, performances of poems written by our workshop attendees, songs celebrating women, a visit by Smartworks, and much more.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Inclusion: Together We Rise’
“Inclusion to me means access to services for those who are marginalised in some way by society due to race, sex, mental health, disability etc. I think of inclusion as the opposite to oppression, where people are accepted for who they are and are treated in the same way as those who are not marginalised in society.”
– Kathleen, Women’s Advocate
Inclusion is very important to us at Women’s Service. It has been said the Hub, and more specifically, our drop-ins, are imbued with a strange magic that other visiting professionals cannot quite believe. Women from all walks of life sit together, drink coffee together, they talk, they knit, they make friends. It sounds simple enough, but what really makes this a special place is that a lot of these women are from backgrounds, or have pasts, that put them at multiple disadvantages and social stigma that increases the risk of exclusion from other spaces.
*Women’s Service is also known as Southwark & Lewisham Women’s Service (SLWS)
March – April 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
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.
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).
New Employment Support Programmes
Employment support for economically inactive people (economically inactive participants only)
- Offers tailored employment support to economically inactive residents with complex needs and multiple barriers to employment;
- Support targeted on residents who do not qualify for, or whose needs may not best be met by existing DWP support, including Work and Health Programme Pioneer Support;
- Support includes a mixture of outreach and engagement, community interventions, and key worker support to improve labour market outcomes to help participants move towards and into work.
Basic skills, life skills and career skills provision for people who are unable to access training through the adult education budget (unemployed participants only)
- Offers opportunities for unemployed participants to engage in learning and development, to upskill, and to move toward and into employment.
- Support targeted on residents who are unable to access appropriate AEB-funded provision, and who are not eligible for, or whose needs would not best be met by DWP funded provision.
- Deliver soft outcomes for participants e.g. building confidence, improving motivation, supporting wellbeing, personal development, improved management of health and mental health conditions.
- Support includes a mixture of outreach and engagement, community interventions, and keyworker support to improve labour market outcomes to help participants move towards and into work.
Employment Support Training Opportunities:
For further details and to register on the courses, please contact employment.support@pecan.org.uk
Heath and Safety Level 2 – 13 March 2024
Food Hygiene Level 2 – 27 March 2024
IT – 2 April 2024
SIA Door supervision Level 2 – 11 March 2024
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.
International Women’s Day | 7 March, 12.30-4pm
Come and celebrate International Women’s Day at Pecan. The theme this year is ‘Inclusion’ and we will start the day with a light lunch, then there will be talks on inclusion in different environments, and wellbeing information available to take away. All Welcome
Pancake Day at Together
We celebrated Pancake Day on Tuesday 13 February, and had a fabulous time. Attendees enjoyed the pancakes, snacks and company so much they decided to recite some poetry and prose from their creative writing session with Wordsmiths.
A Big Thank You to Morrisons for their very generous donations
Morrisons gifted us a food hamper earlier this month. Rose Morgan surprised us by pushing a trolley through the rain with her colleague Paul to deliver the soup hamper during our Together Café session. A big thank you to the Morrison Stars who have supported us over the last year.
To read more about Rose and the amazing staff at Morrisons: Four Morrisons colleagues named in Queen’s New Years Honours list
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 11 March – 22 April, 10.30am-12pm.
Please note: 1 April – No season, Easter Break
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 have THE BEST volunteers! These fabulous people give up their time to help us provide vital services.
Mark
Mark is one of our most valued and reliable volunteers. He makes sure we never run out of toiletry packs for food bank parcels and his many anecdotes about his celebrity friends never fail to keep us entertained.
Also, Mark volunteered as part of the Winter Sleepout fundraiser for London City Mission, and they have raised over £3000. The annual sleepout raises funds to help provide rough sleepers in London with hot food, clean clothes and help with finding accommodation. There is still time to support London City Mission!
Volunteering Opportunities
International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month
- Feminist Library | Events in March 2024 | LINK
- Southwark parkrun To celebrate International Women’s Day, are planning to have an all female pacing team on Saturday 9 March. Would you like to pace? If so please email southwark@parkrun.com
- International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month 2024 Events in London | LINK
- Language Café | English Language by and for Latin American Women in London Every Wednesday at 2:30 pm (via Zoom) | LINK
- Acts Of Resistance: Photography, Feminisms And The Art Of Protest | South London Gallery, 8 March – 9 June 2024 | FREE Exhibition | LINK
Southwark
Evening Iftar: Faith, Place and Migration | Saturday 16 March 6-9pm at Staffordshire St, SE15 5TJ | Join the Old Kent Road Mosque for a fast-breaking meal during the month of Ramdan. A delicious and warm opportunity to meet the mosque community and share experiences over a plate of traditional Nigerian food | LINK
Chess Night Thursday | Thursdays from 5.30pm | Social, Copeland Park SE15 | LINK
Peckham Sessions Open House | Sunday 24 March 12-7pm |A day of creativity, community and celebration | Mountview 120 Peckham Hill Street SE15 5JT | LINK
Self-Guide | Camberwell Black History Walk – A self-guided walk exploring black history in Camberwell from John Primero (d 1615) to John Boyega. | Guide
