Wandsworth Care Alliance

What people working in Wandsworth want for better networking events

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Our Voluntary Sector Forum was a great time with 43 of us in the room from over 30 different organisations who work with the community. Thank you for those of you who came on the day.

The point of this event was to meet local organisations and ask, how can we make our forum events better? Together, we’re looking forward to build more empowering networks for people who work with the community in Wandsworth.  

In this article we share the results of ideas in the room, and ways you can join in at our community informed events for non-profits, and community projects in Wandsworth.

What do you like about attending networking events in the sector? You told us

Getting out, meeting people, sharing food, and changing up the routine. Hearing interesting stories, catching new ways of working collaboratively, and learning new things.

What are your biggest challenges to attend an event? You told us

Being too busy, location, lack of capacity, lack of purpose, no built-in time to network, no reason to attend, not knowing who will be there, not having clear communication. Start and end of the working day are better times.

What excites you most? You told us

Contact information being shared in creative ways, some reimbursement for travel/time, knowing who will be there. Having targeted relevant and inspiring information. A calendar of options to enable choice. Sharing, valuing and appreciating each other. Time efficiency with a smooth running order. Creative formats with clear benefits like skills, benefits, wellness resources.

Good follow ups!

How can we make events open accessible and inclusive to all? You told us

Good travel links to venues, sharing advance information. Having a mix of online and in-person meetings. Vary the timings, but the end and start of the day works well to get away from the to do list easily. Think about incentives and engaging ways to include everyone.

We’re taking this feedback onboard to create an exciting new set of events and switch up the agenda. Do you want to come along to an upcoming event?

We have a Children and Young People Forum happening on Tuesday 23rd April – 10am

And save the date for our next VSF – Wednesday 5th June – 10am

Mental health: support and events

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Mental health enables people to cope with everyday life. Our mental health is important to handle stress, ability to learn, work, and contribute to our community. It’s an integral part of health and well-being and impacts the ability to make decisions, build relationships and can shape the world we live in. Having positive mental health or access to resources to help improve our mental health should be a basic human right as it impacts us personally, socially, our community and our development.  
 
Each person has different degrees of difficulty and distress. People may have disorders and psychosocial disabilities or experience significant distress, impairment in functioning, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm.  
 
It is essential that we all work together to destigmatise conversations around mental health, creating a safe place for all individuals to feel empowered to seek help without the fear of judgment or discrimination.

World Bipolar Day is on 30th March 2024. Bipolar UK is a great organisation that provides peer support services to empower people affected by bipolar to live well. Learn more about their services here.

Healthwatch Wandsworth has written a report on mental health and homelessness which shares the community in Wandsworth stories and lived experiences of mental health and homelessness and much more. 

Read the report.

Resources: 
 
Wandsworth Wellbeing Hub: This is a great resource sharing various health and wellbeing services in the Wandsworth Borough.  
To learn more click here.
 
Portus: This organisation is a safe space for understanding self-harm allowing young people to get the right support to help with the difficulties they are facing. 
Learn more here.  
 
Ethnicity and Mental Health Improvement Project(EMHIP): Is an attempt to reduce ethnic inequalities in access, experience and outcome of mental health care.   
Learn more here.  
 
Mind: Mind in Brent, Wandsworth and Westminster. Mind works in the community to provide support, advice and information to empower anyone who may be experiencing a mental health problem.  
Learn more.  
 
Sound Minds: They are a charity helping improve the lives of people who are overcoming mental health issues, particularly from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.  
Learn more.

 
Events: 
 
Wandsworth Warm Spaces: They offer sanctuary to those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. Learn more here.  


 
Walk Wandsworth: An event hosted by Enable offering a free walk led by volunteers, guiding and encouraging people to build up their physical activity at a pace that suits them. Learn more here.

Home Instead, Sunflower Café: A café that runs every Wednesday from 2-4pm. A free and friendly informal group for over 65’s and their carers to enjoy tea, cakes, and activities. Learn more.

Do you have more resources to share on this article on mental health? Email communications@wandcareall.org.uk so we can share resources and support one another.



 

Volunteer case study: Deirdre’s story

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Alice met with Deirdre a volunteer for Learn to Love to Read about her volunteering journey and experience using the Wandsworth Care Alliance, Volunteering Wandsworth website.

Deirdre has lived in Wandsworth near St. George’s hospital for near 15 years and has always commuted to central London as a practice nurse, as a result she hasn’t been able to know many people in the area.

Deirdre wanted to do some volunteer work but never really found the time as she worked throughout the week. Having recently reduced her working days and deciding that now would be the best time to connect locally through volunteering. Deirdre, googled volunteering in Wandsworth and found the Volunteer Wandsworth website hosted by Wandsworth Care Alliance, where she got a chance to scroll and see what was on offer locally.

Deirdre knew she cared a lot about children and their education. She didn’t grow up with a lot of money but was fortunate enough to have support from her family with reading stories together and having books in the house. Deirdre has always felt concerned for young children who don’t have the support that their peers do and could potentially fall behind in their education because of this.

She felt that primary school was particularly important, to catch inequality early and make sure children don’t feel left behind as they became teenagers. Deirdre hadn’t heard of Learn to Love to Read prior to seeing the charity advertised on Volunteering Wandsworth, but when she found the opportunity on Volunteering Wandsworth, it seemed the perfect fit.

It took a few months for Deirdre to get through her DBS checks, receive her and partake in an online phonetics training session, before getting started with the children in her school.
Since last November Deirdre has been volunteering and reads with three 8-year-old children every Friday afternoon, and she really enjoys it.

Deirdre say’s ‘It’s a nice opportunity to build a bond with these children each week, watching them grow in confidence each week’.

Deirdre joked humbly that ‘It makes her happy to see them smiling brightly when the teacher brings them out of the classroom to meet her, but they were doing multiplication sums today so perhaps they would be happy no matter what’.

We think she’s just very humble, and that these 3 children treasure their time with her to get this dedicated attention, as well as the chance to get lost in an exciting story. Everyone loves stories and we’re grateful to Deirdre for sharing her volunteering story with us.

Learn to Love to Read are a great local charity in Wandsworth who keep connected with volunteers like Deirdre through special training with phonics, regular emails, volunteer coffee mornings and fundraising events like their upcoming pub quiz! We hope you might like to show them some support.

We asked Deirdre:

What are three rewards you get from volunteering?

  1. Doing something worthwhile
  2. Meeting new people
  3. Getting involved in local community

Would you like to volunteer locally? Surf Volunteering Wandsworth

International Women’s Day: celebrating and supporting women

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International women’s day (IWD) is a globally celebrated day annually on the 8th of March. IWD gives a focus on important issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. This year’s campaign theme is ‘inspire inclusion’, where we aim to inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion and for women themselves to be included and felt a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. Together we can create a more inclusive world for women.

At Wandsworth Care Alliance (WCA),we are committed to supporting individuals, families, and communities in Wandsworth. We share and advocate for a range of services includes health advocacy, community engagement, and support for caregivers. But beyond these vital services, WCA plays a crucial role in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment within the Wandsworth community.

We provide resources and support to ensure women have access to essential healthcare services, including reproductive health, mental health support, and preventative care. By prioritising women’s health and well-being, WCA contributes to breaking down barriers and promoting a culture of inclusivity and support. WCA also shares opportunities for growth such as career development, networking events, activities and so much more to allow women for all walks of life to come together and connect, collaborate, and share their experiences.

Resources:

The menopause charity:
This charity aims to educate everyone so that perimenopause and menopause are properly understood. They want women to understand the changes that are happening to them and be able to know what to do next. They also want to ensure that health care workers, employers, friends, family and co-workers understand and have the appropriate resources to be able to provide correct information and support.

To learn more click here.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG):
Wandsworth is committed to developing an ambitious, long-term strategic approach to ending violence against women and girls. Wandsworth now has a safe space where women or girls, or anyone who is feeling vulnerable can go.

For more information click here

Girl guiding London:
Girl guiding has great opportunities for young girls and leaders looking to join them, providing non-stop fun, learning and adventures. They cover a wide range of South West London areas.

Discover more and get involved.

Talk Wandsworth:
Talk Wandsworth offers a wide range of therapeutic groups and courses that take place across Wandsworth.  They also offer several wellbeing workshops designed to support a variety of needs.

For more information click here.

AGOE Empowerment Network:
Agoe Empowerment Network CIO are a charitable organisation that serve Wandsworth and wider London communities. They support underprivileged women and families from disadvantage backgrounds who have English as their second language. Their aim is to support women and families and help empower them to overcome obstacles they are facing.

To learn more, click here.

Events:

Enable community are offering free fit mum classes in Wandsworth.

These are free physical activity classes for new mums in Wandsworth. The session is wonderful and allows new mums to bond with other mums and create a social hub through physical activity, the best thing is that the mums can bring their children along as well.



Richmond women’s hub:
The women’s hub is a new service which aims to deliver holistic support, enabling women survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence or multiple disadvantages who live in the borough to thrive and recover in a community wellbeing setting.



For more information click here.

Women enterprise awards:
The Women’s Enterprise Awards have been created to spotlight the achievements of female entrepreneurs in the borough, many of whom run a successful business whilst jugging the needs of their families.



For more information, click here.

Breathe mum’s event:

Breathe Melodies for Mum’s is a free group singing programme for mothers and their babies looking to boost emotional and mental wellbeing.

They are hosting a free 10-week programme for new mums with babies aged 0-9months, for Wandsworth residents.

For more information and to sign up click here.

Do you have more resources to share on this article on International Women’s day?
Email communications@wandcareall.org.uk so we can share resources and support one another.

Health Inequalities Fund: welfare support and legal advice for all people

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people sat in a group with laptops collaborating

To be effective in tackling health inequalities we must not just react to illness but also prevent illness by helping people to live well and stay well. Some people may struggle to access welfare and legal advice, (particularly those belonging to less advantaged groups).

People need a good standard of living and protected rights to stay healthy.

WCA are programme managing the Health Inequalities Fund to allocate funds to voluntary sector projects in Wandsworth and create a steering group to deepen conversation about this issue and address barriers to accessing local services. Project delivery will run from March 2024 – March 2025.

What groups are we working with that experience health inequalities?

Organisations who work with the community in the following 6 theme groups are being invited to collaborate and join the following project information sessions.

19th February – 11:00-12:00 Unpaid/young carers project – RSVP

19th February – 14:00-15:00 Learning difficulties/autism project – RSVP

20th February – 11:00-12:00 Black/Asian/Global majority ethnic project – RSVP

20th February – 14:00-15:00 LGBTQIA+ project – RSVP

21st February – 14:00-15:00 Asylum seekers and refugees project – RSVP

22nd February – 14:00-15:00 Socially isolated people project – RSVP

Is there funding available to support the projects?

Funding may be available to support people with activity addressing these issues at the discretion of the lead organisations who will be organising an engagement group in March 2024.

Could you be a project lead?

Do you believe your organisation is a leading voice in Wandsworth on engaging people in one of these 6 key themes? You could be a project lead and access funding support from £10k-£80k.

Project leads will receive a fund and a programme manager for development support.

We are taking project proposals for 6 project leads (1 per theme) in the voluntary sector from 5th February – 29th February.

What’s the expectation for health inequalities project leads?

These projects must build on insight (from existing work with one of the above themes in the community) but we also expect you to propose a new approach to work and activity to engage people in welfare support and legal advice.

You must be prepared to engage other organisations in the delivery of this work at steering group meetings.

You must agree reporting requirements and accommodate external evaluation at the end of the project.

How to apply to be project lead

Register your interest by emailing communications@wandcareall.org.uk

We will be in touch with more information.

Want to hear about other funds and opportunities for voluntary sector organisations in Wandsworth? Join our mailing list.

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