This feature was written by Local Giving Programme Manager, Simone Riddle from Lewisham Local for a feature in the Catford Chronicle.
More than 70% of people recently told Team Catford’s Your Catford Life survey that they would like to be more involved in community activities in the area. People who had already got involved in community activities during the pandemic told surveyors they felt they had gained new skills, including a broader outlook, patience and confidence.
The Catford Chronicle partnered with Lewisham Local to compile a helpful round-up of ways to support Catford and our community.
- Volunteer with one of Lewisham’s many amazing local groups (you can do anything from helping out in nature to playing music or giving time to a foodbank)
It is not just our survey that concluded giving to other people actually helps us, too. According to the Mental Health Foundation,, helping others has been found to reduce stress and improve our sense of emotional wellbeing. It can also help us feel more connected to our local community, improve our support networks and encourage us to be more active.
There is a huge variety of groups looking for volunteers in Catford, which helps satisfy different interests and time capacities.
If you like being outdoors, why not join Friends of Mountsfield Park? They run a volunteering session on Sunday mornings at 11am. Or bring the kids and get messy in nature at the Wild Cat Wilderness, which runs on Saturday mornings and weekdays!
Do you love cooking and hate food waste? It is well worth volunteering with FoodCycle Lewisham or Catford Fridge. The charities operate out of Lewisham Irish Community Centre on Saturdays, who is also currently looking for trustees to join their board.
If you have some spare time, you could also help someone back into work by becoming an Employment Advisor Champion with the Salvation Army’s Employment Plus programme. Or if you would like to give using your musical skills, perhaps consider volunteering to perform with Give A Song, an inspirational initiative bringing music to the doorsteps of local Catford residents.
2. Share your passion and skills with others – at a time that suits
Not everyone has the time or capacity to volunteer on a weekly basis. This can put people off participating in the community, but there are other, less time-consuming ways to give back.
One route is to join the Rushey Green Time Bank, which can allow you to share your skills with others and learn new ones, flexibly.
Another is to become a mentor, or to offer a free consultation session, as part of Lewisham Local’s training programme for community groups. The charity would love to hear from anyone interested in taking part: email hello@lewishamlocal.com.
3. Fundraise for a local group by playing the new Lewisham Community Lottery
Launched in autumn 2021, the Lewisham Community Lottery enables local charities to fundraise – all while giving players a chance to win weekly cash prizes. What’s not to like?
Some of the Catford-based groups you can choose to support include Abbotshall Healthy Living Centre, Corbett Community Library, Arts and Heritage Centre, Catford Soup Kitchen, Lewisham Irish Community Centre, Young Lewisham Project, Friends of Torridon Primary School PTA and Bring Me Sunshine. Local causes will receive 50% of the proceeds of all ticket sales, and ticket winners have the opportunity to re-gift their winnings to a local charity. If you’re part of a local group, you can also sign up to fundraise through the lottery for free!
4. Sign up to volunteer to support the Lewisham Borough of Culture programme near home
Lewisham is officially London’s Borough of Culture 2022. It’s an exciting time for the area, and a chance to build on all the cultural happenings already underway. The more people who get involved, the better.
Lewisham Local is running the volunteering programme for Borough of Culture, and aims to welcome everyone to get involved during the year.
You may be a seasoned volunteer having volunteered previously or, this may be your first time. Training will be provided, and there are a variety of roles with flexible commitments including Borough of Culture Hosts, Explores (16-24s) and Lewisham Locals. Read more and sign up via the Lewisham Local website.
5. Consider buying a Lewisham Local Card to invest in local good causes – or receive one for free if you volunteer your time to make Catford an even better place!
The Lewisham Local Card supports good causes in our borough and rewards you for shopping locally. Join a community of cardholders and gain access to discounts and offers across many of Catford’s vibrant independent businesses, and in indy ventures across the borough.
Throughout the coming month you will be able to get a card for £10, with the amount put towards supporting local good causes. If you don’t have cash to give, but you do have some time, you can volunteer within the borough and receive a card absolutely free.
6. … Here are just some of the local independent Catford businesses you can access with the card
Did you know that every £1 spent in a local small business, 63p stays in the local economy?
Show your support for small businesses by using your spending power for good, enriching our community in Catford.
The Lewisham Local Card allows you to access dozens of offers at independent businesses. For example, you will be entitled to a discount on membership at vibrant destination Catford Mews and health centre Fit4Less Catford. You can also make savings with Catford Pilates, save 10% at Turkish brand Istikbal Catford, at Caribbean takeaway legend Cummin’ Up Catford, at Catford Cars, Catford Beds, Catford Print and Couriers, Joy’s Health Sanctuary, Taste of Jamaica and many more. You can find a full business directory on the Lewisham Local website.
7. Become a champion of local Lewisham loos!
It may not be the most glamorous of ways to give and get involved, but community toilets are an essential asset for older people, families with young children and people experiencing bladder issues.
Lewisham Local is looking for generous people to champion its Community Toilets scheme, and help make sure everyone who needs a place to go, knows they will have somewhere safe and private.
Look out for the Community Toilets stickers, download the app on the Lewisham Local website, or volunteer to become a mystery shopper to test out the borough’s toilets.
8. Support a project providing food for those in need
Covid brought into focus how many people are struggling to afford to cover the costs of day-to-day living.
There are many projects doing amazing work providing free food and community meals in Catford, including Catford Fridge, Catford Soup Kitchen and FoodCycle Lewisham. Some of the local projects in Lewisham have seen a reduction in volunteers and donations since lockdown ended, and could do with some extra help. Could you lend a few hours? If so, please do find a local group in the directory on the Lewisham Local website.
9. See if your employer would like to connect to Lewisham Local – or link up with a local cause directly
Although working from home has become widespread since March 2020, many people who live in Catford still work outside of the area, often in Central London.
Lewisham Local is always open to introductions to businesses and employers interested in supporting social causes. If your employer gets in touch with the charity, they can talk about ways to support Catford-based causes. This could include being matched with a group for spending volunteering days, forging links with local mentoring projects, supporting a local cause through your employee payroll giving scheme, or simply joining the Lewisham Community Lottery.
It is also always possible to reach out to local Catford-based initiatives directly, via their websites or social media pages.
The charity promotes a variety of Catford-based events providing an interesting time for people of all ages and interests.
To name just a few, events listed include those provided by: Catford Comedy Club, Spark Storytelling, Anti-Racist Children’s Breakfast Club, plays, films, charity quizzes and free workshops.
You can even add your own upcoming events to the calendar, so take a look and get in touch!
Find Lewisham Local here, or get in touch with the team on: hello@lewishamlocal.com