Transforming lives through Kindness, Belief and Hope
Welcome to our November Newsletter
Welcome marvellous readers to our November newsletter – rounding up everything that has been going on at Pecan, what’s coming up at Pecan and how you can get involved.
November sees the launch of our Christmas Campaign – Give a Gift of Hope 2023 – this year our aim is to support those who access our service to enjoy Christmas with dignity and hope: Lessening the financial worry this time of year can also bring. Give a Gift of Hope will focus on 3 areas:
- Providing Christmas Food Parcel’s to ensure our clients have enough food over Christmas.
- Providing Christmas Goodie bags plus Vouchers to give a little extra Christmas cheer to our clients.
- Raising £45,000 in monetary donations to support the above as well as supporting our services (Foodbank, Pantry, Women’s Service, Together and Employment) to deliver critical services throughout 2024.
Pecan Day 2023
To help raise funds, food supplies and awareness, this year we are launching our new initiative Pecan Day, as part of our Christmas Campaign. On Tuesday 5 December, we are asking everyone to get involved in a day of volunteering/fundraising, in your offices, Churches, schools or homes. Get sponsored to wear a Christmas costume to work; hold a bake sale; run a food collection; host a quiz: anything that brings a little joy to people while raising money (or food) for Pecan.
Want to get involved? www.pecan.org.uk/pecan-day
Don’t forget to use the hashtag #PecanDay2023
- Follow us social media
Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook – @Pecan121a
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/company/pecan - Get Involved!
Contact Pecan to be part of Pecan Day at: fundraising@pecan.org.uk
Fundraising Update
Current and upcoming fundraising events.
The Big Give
Women and Girls Match Fund: We are absolutely delighted that we hit our target and raised over £10,000 during this campaign week. Thank you to everyone who gave, it means so much.
London Bridge Collection
Thank you to our wonderful volunteers from JP Morgan and Cap Gemini who helped us collect an amazing £2,062.44 over two dates in October.
November’s collection (29/11) will be supported by Folio and December’s collection (13/12) by Area.
The Big Half 2023
A HUGE thank you to Ryan Davren, Euan Fleming and Daniel Waring who ran the Big Half to raise money to support Pecan’s clients thrive. They have raised an amazing £935. Please do keep giving and help them reach their £1,500 target.
Ride London 2024
We are very excited that the Holy Rollers will be taking to their bikes for us once again 26th May 2024. Please show your support for them and look out for donation links in 2024.
London Marathon 2024
We have a brave runner for 21st April 2024: Ben Nice from TMT finance.
Food Services
Southwark Foodbank and Peckham Pantry
'The [Harvest] collection generated a large amount of food that will be a tremendous help to the many households throughout the borough that we support. ’
'During these 6 months, Southwark Foodbank provided 4,028 emergency food parcels.’ - The Trussell Trust, 2023
Thank you to all the schools, churches and businesses that supported our Harvest 2023 collection. The collection generated a large amount of food that will be a tremendous help to the many households throughout the borough that we support.
Trussell Trust & Southwark Foodbank Mid-Year Stats:
On the 8 November, the Trussell Trust released its mid-year stats.
Between April and September this year, food banks in the Trussell Trust network provided 1.5 MILLION emergency food parcels. This is the highest number of parcels that the network has ever distributed in 6 months, and a 16% increase from the same period in 2022. During these 6 months, Southwark Foodbank provided 4,028 emergency food parcels.
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/
Engagement and Campaigns
‘Let’s get back to the source of the crisis and see how we can fix things from there.’ – Esther, Voices for Southwark
In October, some of our Voices for Southwark members attended the London Assembly’s Cost of Living Conference at City Hall. The conference aimed to hear from Londoners and organisations supporting them about real-life impacts of the cost of living, to identify further steps that will make a difference to Londoners.
Hear from Anna and Esther, who are members of our community organising group Voices for Southwark, about their experiences being part of the conference.
“I felt honored to be at the Cost of Living Conference. We had Marina Ahmad, London Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark sitting on our table, who was also on one of the four panels of the day. After each topic was presented, there was a chance for discussions to take place amongst the people seated together. I found this a chance to get to know people at our table and the work they do to alleviate the effects of the London cost of living.
What I am taking away from the day is that there was a consensus for me in the closing summary that Londoners need to know first of all where they can get the support they need.”
Anna, Voices for Southwark member
“I found the London Assembly’s Cost of Living Conference very relevant, with interesting topics, and important questions and issues raised. As an outcome of the conference, I would like to see a reduction in some vital costs. Let’s get back to the source of the crisis and see how we can fix things from there.”
Esther, Voices for Southwark member
If you would like to learn more about Voices for Southwark and Pecan’s community organising work, please contact Flora, our Community Engagement Officer via email.
Peckham Pantry
Corporate Volunteering at the Pantry
A big thank you to Vanguard, who will be helping with the Pantry’s stock take on the 6 December 2023.
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.
A big thank you to everyone who donated to and shared our Big Give – Women and Girls Match Fund fundraiser.
We surpassed our goal of £10,000 and raised £10,185 (Just over £11k after Gift Aid)! We are absolutely over the moon and couldn’t have done it without you. The services we provide are so needed by women in Southwark and Lewisham with a range of complex needs and vulnerabilities, and this sum will help us tremendously!
Women’s Service Drop-Ins
This month, our drop-ins are open as usual, and we have a few workshops on. Please see the below timetable. As always, please note that our workshops and drop-ins are women-only.
- Tuesday and Thursday: 10.30am-12.30pm: Coffee Morning Drop-In (hot drinks, crafts, toast, pastries) at the Peckham Hub.
- Tuesday: Movement with Lisa: 12pm-1pm at the Peckham Hub
- Usemi – Black Women’s Mental Health Group. 2.30pm-4pm at Peckham Hub
- Wednesdays: Wellbeing with Alex on Zoom, 2pm-2.45pm
- Thursdays: 2 November 14 December | 12pm-2pm Clean Break Poetry Workshop at the Peckham Hub.
Recurring events
Kathleen’s Mental Health Drop In (all welcome) : Last Tuesday of every month, 2pm-3pm at the Peckham Hub.
Hub Lunch: Free hot meal on the last Thursday of every month at the Peckham Hub, 12.30-2pm.
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.
Training courses this month:
Safeguarding | 22 November 2023 | 9.30am-5pm
Venue: 376 Walworth Rd, London SE17 2NG
Also available is current information relating to Universal Credit and childcare support.
Pecan started to deliver the Families and Unpaid Carers programme in July 2023, so far, we have registered 92 local people who are receiving support to secure sustainable employment. To date, 3 people have been successful in gaining work with a further 6 awaiting the completion of background checks and DBS certificates. We have also successfully trained 22 of our clients at accredited Level 2 in Safeguarding Children and Young People, and Pediatric First Aid. If you would like to find out how to register for employment support, please contact employment.support@pecan.org.uk
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
Black History Month
Film Screening
During Black History Month we enjoyed holding a series of craft sessions, a creative writing workshop, a book club, and screened a film ‘Not Our Problem’ presented by Dr Patricia Dark from Southwark Archive Library. The film is about the experience of being Black and living in Southwark in 1984.
Black Thrive – Black Men Wellbeing Space
Black Thrive host a wellbeing space inviting black men in Southwark to a health and well-being session. The first session was held on Thursday 2 November 2pm – 4pm at Pecan Community Café. Future dates tbc.
Black History Month Book and Discussion Group
Thursday 30 November | 1pm – 3pm at Pecan Community Café.
In celebration of Black History Month, courtesy of Pecan & Southwark Council, 8 lucky participants received a copy of Girl, Woman, Other by the author Bernadine Evaristo, joint winner of the 2019 Booker Prize and shortlisted for the 2019 Gordon Burn Prize. Described as “A must-read about modern Britain and womanhood”.
Photography Exhibition until 30 November 2023 | 11am-3pm: Monday – Friday
‘Street Portraits’ by local photographer Kitty Laing
Please contact us if you wish to attend on a Thursday.
Creative Writing for Wellbeing –
Mondays 11am – 12.30pm | 6 November to 11 December 2023.
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
London Challenge Poverty Week
16 – 20 October 2023 was Challenge Poverty Week
Pecan hosted a Finance, Energy and Health event across both 121a Peckham High Street and Peckham Pantry. The event was in partnership with E.ON, Citizens Advice, Thames Reach, Elifinty and Southwark Council. At the event we were able to offer advice and support to nearly 100 people as well as hand information to many more.
In addition to this, Pecan were involved through two events with the Greater London Authority (GLA). Our CEO Chris Price was invited to be part of an expert panel at the GLA Economic Committee and faced questions from the committee members on the issues of poverty that Pecan see everyday.
‘… we were able to offer advice and support to nearly 100 people as well as hand information to many more.’
Flora Schweighofer Pecan’s Community Engagement Officer attended the GLA Challenge Poverty with two members of Southwark Voices. It was a great opportunity for the members to speak truth to power.
Vacancies
Volunteering Opportunities
Photography Exhibition until 30 November 2023 | 11am-3pm: Monday – Friday ‘Street Portraits’ by local photographer Kitty Laing | Pecan Community Café
FREE Creative Writing Workshop | Mondays 11am – 12.30pm: 6 November to 11 December | 6 week series of creative writing. Facilitated by Wordsmiths.
- NBHD | 56 Peckham High Street SE15 5DP | 11pm-4am
Supporting Peckham and fundraiser for Pecan and its services: LINK - The Green Nunhead | 5 Nunhead Green SE15 3QQ | The Green Room Acoustic Music Sessions | Friday 17 November, 1&8 December, between 1-3pm | FREE
- Family Space: Rooted Rhapsodies | South London Gallery | FREE, drop-in workshop for families | LINK
- Theatre Peckham | Christmas Show: Rapunzel – 5-24 December 2023 | Discount tickets (£7.50) for residents on the following estates: Aylesbury, Pelican, Sceaux Gardens, Southampton Way, Yellow Brick, Willowbrook, Lettsom and Clifton estates.
- Southbank Winter Festival | 28 October 2023 – 7 January 2024 | LINK
- All Saints Peckham | December events | LINK
