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.

Cost of living: support and advice

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The cost-of-living crisis has become a huge worry for individuals and families across the UK. The rising cost of energy and everyday expenses such as food has been having an impact nationally as well as locally.

The burden of maintaining a decent standard of living seems to be becoming more daunting each day. There are also huge concerns about how the crisis is impacting people’s mental and physical health.

At Wandsworth Care Alliance we have been investigating the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on the local community and how it’s been impacting them since 2022. The aim of our report was to gain insights into how it is impacting people’s mental health, physical health, lifestyle, and financial status. We conducted a survey in which 165 people took part in and from that we found that 14% of people were concerned about food costs and 22% were negatively thinking about the future.

People who are most vulnerable whether due to physical health, mental illness or financial status have been the most affected by the cost-of-living crisis so far. One response from a survey participant was “Through my work at Wandsworth food bank, I am speaking with people who are badly affected by the cost of living crisis every day and hearing about how it is troubling their mental and physical health due to a lack of money for essentials such as food, gas and electrics.”

Read the latest report here and discover more about what we investigated and found.

What is next?

Recently Wandsworth Council announced a council tax freeze which means for Wandsworth residents they will pay the lowest council tax in the country. The council is also increasing it’s cost of living support package to £15 million.  You can find out more information on this here.

There is also a wide range of support and advice available on Wandsworth cost of living hub and a free helpline available too.

Healthwatch England conducted a survey indicating that a considerable portion of respondents struggle to afford essential healthcare expenses such as medications, dental care, and transportation to medical appointments.

Read more here.

Resources:

Free gym and Swim Scheme: Residents are reminded that more people are now eligible for free gym and swimming sessions at council leisure and sports centres. Young people who are on free school meals can receive free sports activities and swimming and adults who are on certain benefits are also able to get access to the gym. Learn more and see if you’re eligible for the free gym and swim scheme.

Talk Wandsworth: Wandsworth offer various mental health services one of which is called Talk Wandsworth. They provide free confidential talking therapies for people over the age of 18 for problems such as stress, worry and low mood. You can refer yourself or be referred by a healthcare professional. Learn more here.

Wandsworth food bank: If you’re unable to cover food and essentials Wandsworth food bank is available, find out more information here.

Family Action

Family Action transforms lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation across the country. They help strengthen families and communities, build skills and resilience, and improve the life chances of everyone they work with. Family Action work to tackle some complex and difficult issues families are facing such as financial hardship, mental health problems, social isolation, learning disabilities, domestic abuse, substance abuse and alcohol problems.

With our findings from the cost-of-living report we found that 14% of participants were concerned about the increase of food costs. “I have to buy less, eat less. I look for the reduced-price items in the shop and have smaller quantities and eat what I can afford.” Approximately 57% of the participants said the cost of everything (particularly household bills) has increased and they are struggling to buy necessities. One participant shared they had gone into debt for the first time as a result. Family Action carries out vital work to help families, they have two services which aim to provide quality discounted food for families and another to ensure young people have access to healthy breakfasts they need to thrive at school. They also help with mental health support by offering a free family line which allows parents/carers to talk through the pressures they are facing in confidence. Family Action always need volunteers and donations to deliver their vital work.

Volunteer

Donate

Events in the area:

Enable Community – Warm Hub


Enable community are running a free hub where you’re able to come into a safe warm space at Wandsworth Council’s Community Hubs.

Richmond Women’s hub


This event is to help empower women to thrive. It will allow women to connect with other women and take part in free activities.

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

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