Wandsworth Care Alliance

Community Spotlight: Ace of Clubs

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The Ace of Clubs provides a welcoming space for people experiencing homelessness, vulnerability, and marginalisation. More than just a day centre, Ace of Clubs is a family-like community where individuals are met with dignity, compassion, and genuine care.

Their centre is located on St Alphonsus Road. Ace of Clubs provides essential, immediate support for those facing difficult circumstances. Guests can access safe shelter, nutritious food, warm clothing, laundry facilities, and showers, basic needs that form the foundation for stability and wellbeing.

Through kindness, consistency, and meaningful relationships, the team creates an environment where people feel seen and valued. From this supportive starting point, staff work closely with individuals to help them move forward, connecting them with vital services such as accommodation, welfare support, rehabilitation, training, and healthcare.

Feedback and impact from the community

The impact of Ace of Clubs is best reflected in the words of those who use the service:

“I always feel valued at Ace of Clubs. It’s really improved my self-esteem and helped me feel so much more confident as an individual.” – Jackie

“Ace of Clubs provides everything you need to live, the staff are really helpful and I’ve made a lot of friends here over the years as well.” – Jennifer

These testimonials highlight the centre’s role not only in meeting practical needs, but in rebuilding confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging.

How you can support Aces of Clubs

Ace of Clubs continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of the community. They are currently seeking volunteers who can commit to one weekday per week to support their lunch service where you will be helping with food preparation, serving meals, setting up the space, and clearing afterwards.

In addition, the organisation is keen to expand its offer to include activities such as art sessions, meditation, IT classes, and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). Volunteers with skills or experience in these areas would be especially welcomed.

Donations are also greatly appreciated, particularly toiletries, clothing, cutlery, and crockery.

The charity also need support in:
-Venue spaces to hire at discounted rates
-Equipment donations
-Stationary
-Volunteers
-Fundraising support

Get in touch

If you’re interested in volunteering, supporting, or learning more about Ace of Clubs, please contact:

Tabby Fistein, Volunteering and Community Coordinator
Email: tabbyfistein@aceofclubs.org.uk
Phone: 073 4994 8875
Website: https://aceofclubs.org.uk/

Registered Charity Number: 1055187

Follow our Whatsapp Channel!

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We’re making it easier than ever to stay in the loop with Wandsworth Care Alliance’s latest updates.

Follow our channel ‘Wandsworth Care Alliance’ on Whatsapp! You’ll receive important information right to your phone! Perfect for keeping your community informed and for staying up to date with what’s going on in Wandsworth.

To access WhatsApp Channels, make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp downloaded on your phone and go to the ‘updates’ tab at the bottom left-hand side of the screen. Make sure you tap the bell icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen to turn on notifications so you never miss an update.

International Women’s Day Spotlight: Nina’s volunteering journey supporting community voices

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How did Nina start volunteering?
Nina started volunteering through a friend who was involved with the work of Healthwatch during the Covid period. Her friend was helping Healthwatch carry out a survey on new mothers and their maternity experiences. Knowing Nina’s background and skill set, her friend felt she would be a great fit to help with the surveys.

Nina is an antenatal teacher with experience running programmes and organising training, and she holds an MA by research.

She began volunteering with Healthwatch on the Enter and View team and has continued to support the team when needed, contributing to various surveys such as the early discharge from hospital survey. Nina has also volunteered with Wandsworth Care Alliance, helping to collect data for the team following a referral from Max at the Healthwatch Wandsworth team.

What motivated Nina to volunteer?
Nina was motivated to volunteer with Healthwatch Wandsworth because she was interested in the topic of parents and maternity experiences, and it connected well with her research background. She explains that a friend recognised that she could contribute and would likely enjoy the work, which encouraged her to get involved.

Although she had not specifically planned to volunteer with Healthwatch Wandsworth, the opportunity came up at the right time and felt like the right thing to get involved with.

What challenges did she notice while volunteering?
Through her volunteering with WCA, Nina recognised the challenge was not speaking with people but rather getting through to them, as many organisations and individuals are busy. She acknowledges that this can be difficult to overcome because people’s availability varies.

How does Nina feel about her impact as a volunteer?
Nina says she feels very pleased when people say she has made an impact. She believes that the work she has contributed has been appreciated by the teams she has supported.

For her, the word “commitment” is important. When she volunteers, she approaches it seriously and with purpose. She explains that she does not volunteer simply to try something out she volunteers because she believes it is the right thing to do.

At the same time, she feels that volunteering is not only about what she gives but also what she gains from the experience. She enjoys taking on tasks, doing them well, and making the most of the opportunity. Nina also emphasises that she genuinely cares about the people she works with.

Has volunteering helped Nina feel closer to the community?
Nina says she has learned a great deal through volunteering with Healthwatch Wandsworth because of the projects she has been involved in.

One of the most recent projects was a mental health project where volunteers visited Hollybourne to carry out interviews. Nina found this particularly challenging. Although she had previously worked with people experiencing post-natal depression, she had not previously had conversations with individuals who had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Despite the difficulty, the experience gave her valuable insight into an area she had not encountered before.

Will Nina continue volunteering?
Nina says she plans to continue volunteering with the Enter and View survey team for the immediate future. She also enjoyed spending two days working in the office, noting that it had been a long time since she had worked in an office environment and that it was nice to experience that again.

If new projects arise, Nina says she would be happy to get involved and contribute again.

To discover volunteering opportunities please visit our volunteer service page here.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Bilal Meah’s Volunteering Journey with Power2Connect

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Bilal is one of the many registered volunteers on our volunteering Wandsworth platform who used the platform and was able to successfully volunteer. Bilal’s volunteering journey in the borough started when he was registered on the platform in 2023 and has now been volunteering for more than a year in the borough of Wandsworth with Wandsworth based charity Power2Connect.

Bilal a university graduate is currently volunteering whilst looking for paid employment and has had experience with volunteering at Kensington library helping people with gadget and technology enquiries. Bilal decided to volunteer with Power2Connect as he was first referred the opportunity by an NHS social prescriber who found the platform and helped him to apply through on the Volunteering Wandsworth platform. Bilal was encouraged to volunteer as a way of being outside and having an activity to do with his time. Bilal knew he wanted to do something that he felt capable of doing and the Power2Connect volunteering opportunity he felt he could do.

“A lot of the issues people have in this volunteering position are simple things like accessing emails or creating accounts to buy train tickets, there isn’t anything that is too technical it’s more day-to-day things for people who have been effectively left behind digital divide”.

Before volunteering Bilal’s past skills included working in retail, dealing with customers, and knowing how to deal with computers and phones. This has helped contribute to the skills and knowledge that Bilal has which help him today in his current volunteering role. Growing up Bilal was interest in computer repairs and building his own computer and has experience in phone repairs. A lot of people want to do basic things, and they need help in those things, and you don’t need very technical knowledge to do that, it’s more about knowing how to prioritise what the persons needs are doing things step by step, so they understand and having patience for that.

How has volunteering helped you or impacted you?   

Bilal has helped someone create an appointment for a GP for example and has also helped a few people with various other needs in need when they come to the Power2Connect digital sessions and he feels good when is able to help.

“Power2Connect are a helpful and supportive team”.

Bilal would recommend Power2Connect as they are a helpful and supportive team and if you a have a problem there is always someone in the team to speak to. Bilal feels supported as he volunteers with the Power2Connect team and enjoys volunteering with Power2Connect so much that he would be happy to have a job with the Power2Connect team.

Discover volunteering opportunities on our platform here.

Spotlight on Bright Path Unity Village CIC: Empowering Young People and Families in Wandsworth

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Bright Path Unity Village CIC is a new, community-rooted organisation based in Wandsworth, dedicated to empowering young people, young parents and families to build stable, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Bright Path exists to uplift voices that are often unheard and to create safe, inclusive spaces where people feel valued, supported and able to thrive. Through mentoring, wellbeing support, life skills development and culturally responsive community programmes, the organisation works alongside residents facing barriers related to education, housing, mental health, parenting, employment and navigating local systems.

Their mission

Bright Path Unity Village CIC’s mission is to support young people and young parents in Wandsworth through practical guidance, emotional support and advocacy. Their work is rooted in early intervention, prevention and long-term empowerment helping individuals build confidence, resilience and positive futures.

Their approach blends one-to-one mentoring with creative, youth-led group activities and community-based programmes that promote wellbeing, leadership and connection.

Current projects

Bright Path delivers a range of targeted projects designed to meet the needs of different groups within the community:

  • Empowering young girls – Empowering young women to rise, build confidence and thrive.
  • Next Generation – Supporting young men to challenge harmful stereotypes and develop strength through respect, purpose and accountability.
  • Rebuild – Helping young ex-offenders rebuild confidence, direction and a sense of belonging within the community.
  • Bright guides – A peer mentorship trainee programme that equips young people to lead and support others with compassion and confidence.
  • Bright futures – Supporting young parents to maintain stable family networks and grow in confidence, skills and wellbeing.

Bright Path’s work spans several key areas:

  • Mentoring & Coaching – One-to-one and group mentoring to help young people set goals, navigate challenges and access opportunities.
  • Life skills workshops – Sessions covering financial literacy, employability, digital skills, leadership and personal planning.
  • Wellbeing – Activities such as meditation, journaling, emotional regulation and confidence-building.
  • Young parent support – Peer support groups, parenting workshops, family activities and signposting to services.
  • Advocacy – Accompanying young people to statutory meetings, housing appointments, court hearings and interactions with services.
  • Inclusive practice – Occupational therapy-informed adaptations to ensure activities are accessible for disabled young people and parents.
  • Community events – Youth forums, cultural celebrations and inter-generational activities that strengthen community connections.

What the Community thinks

The impact of Bright Path’s work is reflected in the experiences of those they support:

“Bright Path helped me rebuild my confidence after leaving school. The mentoring sessions showed me I’m capable of more than I thought.” — Young person, 17

“As a young dad, I didn’t know where to start. The parenting group gave me support, practical help and a space where I didn’t feel judged.” — Young parent, 20

“Having someone sit with me in my housing meeting made a huge difference. I finally felt like somebody was on my side.” — Young person, 18

“The workshops helped me manage my anxiety and learn new life skills. I feel more in control of my future now.” — Young woman, 22

Get involved

Bright Path Unity Village CIC relies on community support to keep services accessible and expand their reach. There are many ways residents, professionals and organisations can help:

  • Volunteer as a mentor or peer supporter
  • Deliver skills-based workshops (e.g. CV writing, digital skills, creative arts, wellbeing)
  • Partner with Bright Path on referrals, joint programmes or events
  • Refer young people who may benefit from mentoring, wellbeing support or advocacy
  • Support inclusive practice through SEND or disability expertise
  • Donate or sponsor resources, including space, equipment or materials
  • Attend or support community events

Get in touch with them and learn more!

Bright Path Unity Village CIC
CIC Number: 16739333
Email: brightpath.village@gmail.com
Phone: 07415 958598
Instagram: @Bright_pathcic

Bright Path Unity Village CIC is building a future where young people and families feel supported, heard and empowered, and they’re inviting the Wandsworth community to be part of that journey.

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