Transforming lives through Kindness, Belief and Hope
Welcome to our November newsletter and the launch of Pecan and Southwark Foodbank’s Christmas Campaign, Give a Gift of Hope.
Also, find out about our new community project Together, which is an adaptation of our Employment Service and HOurbank projects. Plus, what we did to celebrate Black History Month, hear from our trustees during Trustees’ Week, and how our projects are continuing to support our community.
Give a Gift of Hope
Give a Gift of Hope aims to raise £40,000 towards Pecan and Southwark Foodbank to ensure we can be here for the community, Christmas, 2023 and beyond.
This is going to be an especially hard Christmas for too many people. We are already seeing higher rates of hunger this year. Help us to bring hope to families this winter.
In 2022 with the cost-of-living crisis, more families than ever are now having to decide whether to heat their home or feed their family. Therefore, demands on Southwark Foodbank and Pecan have inevitably risen. Your donations will go a long way to helping make Christmas that much more hopeful for people facing crisis and ongoing hardship. Our campaign will also provide gift vouchers and special Christmas parcels for families that access our services.
Together we can Give a Gift of Hope this Christmas and continue to support the community into 2023 and beyond. So, please look out on our social media platforms and share our Christmas donation message.
- Christmas donation link: pecan.enthuse.com/cf/pecan-christmas-campaign
- Download: Give a Gift of Hope Poster
Pecan Christmas Cards and Accessories
Pecan’s online Christmas shop is open.
Online orders can be made via the unique Pecan webshop here.
Orders can also be made by phone on 01227 811642 and all major cards are accepted.
Christmas Cards £5 per pack of 10 cards | e-cards £1.00 per addressee | Christmas Accessories £1-£9
Southwark Foodbank
October was another busy month for the foodbank!
November Shopping List
New member of the Southwark Foodbank Team
We welcomed a new member to the team: Victor Frazer. He joins as Logistics Co-ordinator and driver for the foodbank. Welcome Victor!
Left: Here’s Victor collecting a sizeable harvest donation from Alfred Salter in Rotherhithe.
Throughout September and October, we received donations from schools and churches for their harvest celebrations – helping us meet our high demand.
Foodbank Wednesday at London Bridge
After a brief hiatus, we have resumed our bucket collect at London Bridge Station. We were joined by volunteers from J.P. Morgan and raised over £1,000!
The next collection will be on Wednesday 30 November, 7am-10am.
Upcoming Events: Tesco National Collection
The Winter Tesco National Collection will be taking place on Thursday 1 December – Saturday 3 December at Tesco Old Kent Road and Tesco Surrey Quays. Please get in touch for more information or if you are keen to volunteer.
Email us at: foodbank.support@pecan.org.uk.
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.
In October, we have been supporting the Trussell Trust, the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) and Feeding Britain by signing their joint open letter to the Prime Minister. The letter asks that the Prime Minister ensures everyone has enough income, from work and social security, to buy the essentials. You can read more about the open letter and the hand in at Downing Street here.
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.
Get help with the cost of living crisis
Find out what support you might be eligible for and where to get help.
Together - our community space
‘… we came to an idea: we needed a space in which people can come, keep warm, have a hot drink, play some board games, meet people and just talk.’
Over the past year, we have been exploring how we can better serve our community, how we can bring people together and solve problems together
After much discussion and talking to the people who use our services, we recognised that there is a need for a space in which people can come together, have a hot drink, some food, play some board games, meet people and just talk.
More than this, we found that people were looking for a space that would be enabling and supporting. Helping to discover new skills, share old skills, get ready for employment, access advice and find a range of wellbeing activities. A space that brings local organisations together to ensure the community can access everything available in this wonderful borough.
And so, we are delighted to announce the launch of ‘Together’ a space for the community, hosted by Pecan. We will be officially opening our doors at 121a Peckham High Street, on Monday 14 November with a soft launch, building up our opening times and activities over the coming months.
Contact us to help build the story of Together.
To see a list of activities and more information, please click on the button below:
Women's Service
Black History Month and upcoming events
In October we celebrated Black History Month at the hub in great style:
- We made Ojo de Dios in the colours of people’s national flag.
- We had a film screening of Becoming, a documentary on the life of Michelle Obama.
- We made African beads.
During our monthly hub lunch, we gave out booklets, curated by Doreen, showcasing black women throughout history. One of our hub members gave a 10-minute talk on her experience of mental health and services and spoke about how the hub had been an important place for her. It was really inspiring to hear her story and see where she is now.
Download: Black History Booklet by Doreen Davies, Women’s Service
Women's Service - 5 Years Old
Cat Millar, Manager at Women’s Service, said:
“It is an absolute honour to celebrate five years of being open today. A huge thank you to all of our staff past and present, to our funders, but mostly to every woman who comes through our hubs and make our service what it is.”
What’s coming up
- Women’s Service Monthly lunch – Thursday 24 November.
- In November we will begin to get ready for Christmas, with a festive craft session each week, leading up to our Christmas event on Tuesday 20 December.
Peckham Pantry
Coop is coming to Peckham Pantry
In November 2022, Peckham Pantry will be taking part in celebrating the partnership between Coop and Your Local Pantry on Wednesday 16 November.
Peckham Pantry will be part of a campaign film to promote Your Local Pantries. The Pantry team, ambassadors and some customers will be on set at the pantry, as this campaign will highlight authentic stories and experiences of using a membership community food club. So come down and enjoy celebrating our local Pantry in Peckham and join in the food centred activities with Coop.
Celebrating turning two years-old
Also, we turned 2 years old on 22 October, but we had a birthday celebration on 3 November, 12.30-4pm at Peckham Pantry and shared some photos on the Pantry’s and Pecan’s socials. The tea and coffee station was very successful at the party, so now you have the choice of having a hot drink before or after a shop.
Community Events at Pecan
Black History Month and upcoming Community Events
On Friday 28 October, our community group members travelled to the Bank of England Museum to learn about the bank’s connection with Slavery in Grenada.
There was information about where British coins, notes and gold originally came from, as well as where they are mined and stored. The visit spurred lots of discussion around slavery which was really interesting.
The exhibition runs until
April 2023: LINK
Creative Writing Workshop
7 October to 2 December | Facilitated by Peter Aleksin
Each week, group members get the chance to write according to the exercises that are set and, if they wish, to share what they have written by reading aloud. The group is certainly diverse in terms of ability and includes those who still feel challenged to get their thoughts on paper through to those who have already been published. The atmosphere, however, is encouraging and affirmative and the emphasis is in taking part. As one participant remarked, “You’ve created a lovely space to be.”
November event
Members visited the Queens Gallery to see the Japan: Courts and Culture exhibition.
Upcoming November Community Event
25 November
Oyster Day Out: Christmas Market Walk to Southbank.
Members are looking forward to visiting Southbank Christmas Market, it includes a walk from London Bridge along the river then on to Trafalgar Square to see the Christmas lights.
If you wish to attend, please email Viola Etienne
Trustees' Week
Trustees are an integral part of the management and running of Pecan. They work on a voluntary basis, bringing together their unique skills and expertise from other roles to ensure that we deliver our community services to the best possible standard. They make sure Pecan’s work stays relevant with its key goals and central values of Kindness, Belief, and Hope.
Paul Jones our chair of Trustees, kindly answered a few questions for us:
Why did you become a Pecan Trustee?
I received an email asking for Trustees. I had followed Pecan’s work since its early days and was impressed by the staff’s passion to give people help or even a fresh start in life.
What aspect of Pecan and its work inspires you?
It is the belief that everyone has value and should be treated with dignity.
What comments, tips or encouragement can you give to anyone considering becoming a Trustee?
The Board is a team which includes people with expertise in accountancy, governance, HR, law and management. So, you don’t need those skills yourself! If you want to help people in Southwark, that’s the main requirement. Then your experience volunteering, management or fundraising will add value.
And some responses from some of our other trustees:
Why did you become a Pecan Trustee?
‘I love Pecan’s vision of transforming lives through kindness, belief and hope. I also want to be part of the solution of restoring futures and seeing an end to poverty.’ Jenny Brown
“Being a trustee is one of the most powerful ways in which you can contribute to an organisation that you believe is doing amazing work. It’s a vital and stimulating role, ensuring the charity is not only reaching its goals, but is forward-thinking and running as efficiently as possible. As Pecan trustees we are responsible for setting the direction of the charity and ensuring that it moves forward with clarity and good governance.” Ish Lennox
What aspect of Pecan and its work inspires you?
As a young woman, I benefitted immensely from the education that my parents worked hard to give me and would not be where I am (both personally and professionally) without it, so, I am keen to ensure all girls and women have this access. Terryna D’Souza
“I admire Pecan’s commitment to providing holistic support, giving hope and helping people to turn their lives around.” Esenam Agubretu
What comments, tips or encouragement can you give to anyone considering becoming a Trustee?
“Being a trustee is vital work: assuring delivery and performance and deciding how best Pecan can use all its resources. Everyone’s life is enriched by the opportunity to support others and being a Trustee offers an opportunity to do this. As a trustee group we respect each and every one of our Trustees and the different perspectives and experience they bring.” David Porter
“Being a trustee is a great way to be involved with a worthwhile cause or activity, when you aren’t able to commit the time to actually work for them. Skills learned in one area can be brought to bear in another, possibly more ‘worthwhile’ one. It’s enabled me to see beyond emergency food provision into the other aspects of Pecan’s work and get a much broader vision.” Eleanor Orr
- Find out about all our Trustees here: www.pecanorg.uk/trustees
- Trustees’ Week: trusteesweek.org
We Sustain Weekend
Our CEO Chris Price, took part in a panel discussion on 21 October as part of Mecarto Metropolitano’s #WeSustain weekend. The focus was on:
- What do we mean when we say food is a human right?
- How do we stop access to nutritious and sustainable food being a privilege for the wealthy, and open to all?
The Panel was hosted by MM’s Chair Julio Bruno with fellow panel member was Nikki Psarias of the Caritas Food Collective and introduced by the inspiring Andrea Rasca, Founder and CEO of Mercato Metropolitano.
In the Panel discussion Chris said:
Foodbanks and free food distribution are not a sustainable or dignified long-term response to food insecurity. When people become reliant on free food, then their self-belief is damaged and the opportunity to hope for a better future is much more difficult to see as viable …
When people have dignified access to healthy food, then health and wellbeing is increased. Opportunity to grow is increased. When these fall into place, people can increase the contribution they plan in society, and the need for expensive health interventions decreased. Making life better for all of us.
November 2022 Community Noticeboard
Events and useful links for November 2022
Spring Community Hub | November 2022
Spring Community Hub will be partnering up with The Big Give to run their Christmas hamper campaign from the 29 November – 6 December.
Donations open 12pm on the 29 November.
Website: Central Southwark Community Hub- Peckham Vision Event | 28 November, 6pm- 9pm | Seminar and discussion group on community grassroots activism Venue: Peckham Level
- Theatre Peckham | Christmas show Scroogelicious.
Website: Theatre Peckham
- Camberwell Library Conversation Cafe | October- December 2022
Starting on the 13 October, Camberwell Library will run its weekly Conversation Cafe until the 8 December. The Cafe is an informal discussion session for Spanish and Portuguese speakers looking to improve their English.
Website: Conversation Café – Southwark Council
- Peckham Library | November 2022
Regular events take place at Peckham Library.
Website: Peckham Library Events
Southwark Cathedral Events | Southwark Cathedral is a vibrant place of worship, prayer and reflection with a busy programme of events which includes music recitals, concerts, heritage talks and family activities:
Website: Southwark Cathedral Events
