Fun activities for Southwark’s older people during the cost-of-living crisis

Southwark Charities is pleased to announce grants that improve the wellbeing of Southwark’s older residents aged 55 plus during the cost-of-living crisis.

Day trips

Excel Beyond Barriers CIC A new community organisation that supports the well-being of older people, younger people and communities. The grant is contributing to the costs of a coach trip from the Kingswood Estate, South Dulwich for older people attending.

Goose Green Lunch Club Part of St John’s PCC East Dulwich, the Lunch Club comprises 30 older people from East Dulwich, Peckham, Camberwell and Walworth Road. It meets in the Church’s Goose Green Centre every Thursday for lunch and socialising. The grant is funding the club’s annual trip to and meals at Woodcote Green Garden Centre.

St Paul’s PCC Lorrimore Square – St Paul’s Church has been serving Walworth’s community since 1856. The grant is to support the annual Summer trip in 2023 to the seaside for older people from diverse backgrounds who do not normally have the opportunity to leave London. 

Socials

Magdalen Hall Tenants & Residents Association – The TRA serves a large social housing estate in West Bermondsey, by Tower Bridge Road, comprising St Saviour’s, Purbrook and Aylwin Estates with around 700 properties, and Magdalen Tenants Hall. The grant is supporting the costs of the weekly coffee mornings and activities for older estate residents for one year between July 2023 and July 2024.

Rockingham Tenants & Residents Association – ‘The Rockingham’ is a large social housing estate in Elephant & Castle, comprising 950 households. Its Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) aims to bring the community together through a range of activities at the Rockingham Community Centre, the management of which has recently been handed over to the TRA from Southwark Council. The grant is supporting weekly coffee mornings for older Estate residents including refreshments, socialising and support with I.T.

Walworth Golden Oldies – a charity providing fun social activities for mainly Afro-Caribbean older people, currently at Walworth Methodist Church. The grant is supporting the costs of providing weekly meals and social activities for service users. 

Sports and Exercise

Bolivia Latin Age CIC – A new community organisation which promotes the wellbeing of older Southwark residents that have Bolivian, Latin American and Spanish speaking heritages. The grant is supporting the costs of exercise, yoga, tai-chi and dance activities at Walworth Methodist Church for over 55’s living in Southwark.

Paxton Green Time Bank – Based at the Kingswood Estate, South Dulwich, Paxton Green Time Bank is a charity that supports its members to help others by sharing their skills in return for a time credit which can be exchanged for receiving someone else’s time or (where available) theatre tickets and day trips; and provides social activities for older people. The grant is supporting the costs of its yoga exercise and knit & natter groups for older people attending the Time Bank hub on the Kingswood Estate, June to December 2023.

Theatre

Dot Collective – Our grant is supporting the charity with the costs of an open air ‘Alice in Aerialand’ production (based on the classic ‘Alice’ story) and storytelling workshops for older people across care homes and community venues in Southwark, Summer 2023.

London Bubble – a charity and theatre company at Elephant Lane, Rotherhithe providing community theatre activities for children, young adults and older people. The grant is supporting the creation of a new theatrical production which will be performed, by its older adults performance group, at sheltered housing venues in Bermondsey, Peckham and (funded by Rotherhithe Consolidated Charities) in Rotherhithe. 

Click here for details of these and other current and recent grants.

Matthew Allgood, Grants Manager, Southwark Charities said:

We are delighted to support fun activities that benefit Southwark’s older residents (55 plus), such as day trips, socials, sports & exercise and theatre productions. Charities and community groups working for the wellbeing of older Southwark residents (55+) are welcome to discuss their ideas, proposals and plans with us. Tel: 020 7593 2004 Email: grants@southwarkcharities.org.uk