BLACKFRIARS SETTLEMENT 

Provision of services to combat loneliness, to improve health/wellbeing and to provide information and advocacy enabling older people to access benefits/income advice and specialist services.

Common Purpose grant from the Environment, Neighbourhoods & Growth department

Neighbourhoods Fund - North West grant from the Environment, Neighbourhoods & Growth department for The Orb Space

Covid response

Common Purpose grant from the Environment & Leisure department

Neighbourhoods Fund - North West grant from the Environment & Leisure department

Blackfriars Settlement based in Southwark is using funding to run their Thinking Ahead Project (TAP) over the next five years. TAP is a preventative mental health project that works with ....more

Blackfriars Settlement based in Southwark is using funding to run their Thinking Ahead Project (TAP) over the next five years. TAP is a preventative mental health project that works with beneficiaries to address issues head on and overcome barriers. TAP will provide access to groups that encourage peer support and help improve interpersonal skills. Activities include creative arts computer access and training life skills and support coaching and mentoring to access and progress in learning and work. The programme has been developed to provide transition into greater independence through education learning and community engagement.

Additional hours to support the Mental Health & Wellbeing and Positive Ageing services to meet increased levels of need during social distancing. Enable continued delivery of support via expanded ....more

Additional hours to support the Mental Health & Wellbeing and Positive Ageing services to meet increased levels of need during social distancing. Enable continued delivery of support via expanded methods: face-to-face, telephone, online and emergency deliveries, to meet diversity of need including of the 'Clinically Extremely Vulnerable'.

The funding is to further develop and adapt online groups and activities which help Women, and BAME people who are facing Mental Health Challenges, cope with Covid 19 Crisis. Helping reduce ....more

The funding is to further develop and adapt online groups and activities which help Women, and BAME people who are facing Mental Health Challenges, cope with Covid 19 Crisis. Helping reduce isolation, build resilience and coping strategies, process and manage difficult feelings and facilitate a shared sense of community support.

NET, Comic Relief and Children in Need will use this funding to provide: increased support to vulnerable people and hidden groups, thus reducing the burden on public services; reach local grassroots ....more

NET, Comic Relief and Children in Need will use this funding to provide: increased support to vulnerable people and hidden groups, thus reducing the burden on public services; reach local grassroots and small organisations who can provide an on-the-ground community response to the crisis; and, support local charitable organisations to mobilise volunteers to enable better targeted support in communities through empowered local groups.

"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to ....more

"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to operate, thereby reducing the burden on public services.2) To ensure essential services are provided to vulnerable people, both in the short and long term through increased community support through the work of charitable organisations."

A grant of £14,252 to fund the essential and urgent costs outlined in the appliciation, so that the organisation can carry on providing support to Londoners.

‘It gives my life purpose and meaning, I now have somewhere to go and feel less isolated and lonely.’ Our offer includes: Craft sessions Music and singing sessions Day trips out Special events ....more

‘It gives my life purpose and meaning, I now have somewhere to go and feel less isolated and lonely.’ Our offer includes: Craft sessions Music and singing sessions Day trips out Special events e.g. afternoon teas, carol singing, Mardi Gras Knitting and crochet group Strength and balance exercise classes (tutor trained by the Falls Prevention Clinic) Forget-Me-Not group for those with the early stages of dementia Information events (nutrition, keeping warm and well) Yoga classes Coffee mornings Church service Massage Pedicure Manicure Reflexology Hairdresser Reading group Men’s group Open Mike evenings Indian dance sessions Access to free clinic hosted here, provided by the University College of Osteopathy Regular information and advice sessions by volunteer solicitors e.g. avoiding scams, making a will Two annual holidays Three hot two-course lunches each week. Our Positive Ageing (PA) project is a lifeline for many of our members. They have no family nearby, many have medical conditions, visual impairment or the early stages on dementia. For all of them isolation is a huge risk factor. Each year we support over 500 older people. This number is rising. Shaped directly by the needs of the members, the PA service works in three priority areas: Combatting isolation: a diverse range of activities which draw members in and promote social mixing, building friendships and community, build members skills and sense of achievement, and allow them opportunities to make a contribution and give back to their community. Health & Wellbeing: a range of activities aimed at improving the physical, mental and emotional health of members. Information & Advocacy: the team provide an ongoing, highly responsive information service, answering members’ enquiries directly, or forwarding them on to specialist sources of support. Examples of the most common enquiries are for blue badges, problems with housing, accessing dial-a-ride etc. ‘It's brilliant, she's a godsend. It's changed my life a lot. I look forward to seeing her.’ – of a befriender. Befriending: matches trained volunteers with local older people who are unable to go and who are at very high risk of isolation. Weekly visits provide support tailored for the individual: it might be about company and conversation, for some it will be about getting out and doing something they enjoy with the support of the befriender. Many befrienders find themselves providing information or carrying out small practical tasks which the older person is not able to undertake, or flagging up issues of safety which the PA team respond to. A recent example was an infestation needing to be referred to pest control. We also provide telephone befriending and also have hospital befrienders who visit weekly. This funding will build the sustainability of the PA service enabling us to apply for additional funds to develop the service we offer, in particular the Befriending service. Blackfriars Settlement (BFS) is part of the COPSINS consortium currently through to the negotiation stage of the tender process for the Southwark Older People’s Hub. Should we be successful we expect a significant increase in demand across our services.

Contribution towards additional food, DBS and technology costs.

Our Positive Ageing service which has switched all support activities to remote working but has no functioning laptops and is struggling to keep providing support to the nearly 300 older people. We ....more

Our Positive Ageing service which has switched all support activities to remote working but has no functioning laptops and is struggling to keep providing support to the nearly 300 older people. We have tried all sources (our various corporate contacts, Better Bankside etc) to borrow laptops, but so for without success. This is severely hampering our ability to continue providing support.

Common Purpose grant from the Environment & Leisure department

Neighbourhoods Fund - North West grant from the Environment & Leisure department for The Orb Space

COVID-19 community grants wave 1 grant from the Finance & Governance department

COVID-19 community grants wave 2 grant from the Finance & Governance department

COVID-19 community grants wave 3 grant from the Finance & Governance department

Provision of services to combat loneliness, to improve health and wellbeing and to provide information and advocacy enabling older people to access specialist services.

The Switched-On project aims to help improve life opportunities and support the transition into education, volunteering and work, through regular, informal digital support in a friendly and sociable ....more

The Switched-On project aims to help improve life opportunities and support the transition into education, volunteering and work, through regular, informal digital support in a friendly and sociable weekly club. Digital access and skills are vital in successfully navigating day to day online activities/interactions (benefits, housing, online security, medical and other appointments etc) but which can prove overwhelming for those with mental health conditions.

A project also focused on older people, ‘Positive Ageing’ will deliver a programme of activities, outreach and befriending for those living in the Borough and Bankside area. It aims to reduce ....more

A project also focused on older people, ‘Positive Ageing’ will deliver a programme of activities, outreach and befriending for those living in the Borough and Bankside area. It aims to reduce social isolation and increase wellbeing by enabling older residents to be active and feel included in the community.

Common Purpose grant from the Place & Wellbeing department

Local Community Offer grant from the Childrens & Adults Services department

Local Community Offer grant from the Childrens & Adults Services department

Community Capacity grant from the Place & Wellbeing department

Neighbourhoods Fund: Borough Bankside & Walworth grant from the Housing & Modernisation department

Blackfriars’ older people service focuses on over 65s in the Bankside area, and includes outreach, a range of activities within the centre itself, and befriending. The service helps to reduce ....more

Blackfriars’ older people service focuses on over 65s in the Bankside area, and includes outreach, a range of activities within the centre itself, and befriending. The service helps to reduce social isolation and increase wellbeing amongst older residents, and to enable them to feel part of the community. The funding will support the salary and on-costs of the older people service manager for 1 year.

Youth grant Apr-Sept 2017 grant from the Environment & Social Regeneration department

Local Community Offer grant from the Childrens & Adults Services department

Community Capacity grant from the Housing & Modernisation department

Play Service grant from the Environment & Social Regeneration department

The project will address the prevention of mental health reaching a crisis point for individuals living in and around the London borough of Southwark. A variety of activities, including music, ....more

The project will address the prevention of mental health reaching a crisis point for individuals living in and around the London borough of Southwark. A variety of activities, including music, gardening and dance, will be offered to enable beneficiaries to reconnect with their community, support their peers, and build upon and discover untapped skills, such as leadership, team working and fundraising.

Community Capacity grant from the Housing & Modernisation department for Core costs

Community Support Services grant from the Childrens & Adults Services department for Older people's services

Youth service - main grant grant from the Environment & Leisure department

Play Service grant from the Environment & Leisure department

£39,000 over two years (2 x £19,500) for the staff and project management costs of delivering 216 hours per year of ESOL classes to Entry Level and Entry Level-1 standard.

Address the physical health inequalities and improve wellbeing opportunities.