About Familia Project & Funding
In Summer 2020 Lewisham Local and Lendlease came together to address emerging data that BAME communities were disproportionately affected by the impacts of Covid-19. Through working with Lewisham BME Network, a new partnership of BAME-led organisations came together to address some of the gaps in provision and the Familia Project was born. Lewisham Local and Lendlease funded 5 different BAME-led groups £10,000 in total to address:
- Telephone Befriending Service
- Group Wellbeing Sessions
- Zoom Healthy Walks
- African, Caribbean and Asian Hot Meal Delivery Service
Impact
Clients and their families really valued the service. Much needed personal contact was provided in a way that included people who otherwise might have been overlooked. Telephone befriending service received double the number referrals they had spaces which demonstrated the need for BAME provision. Overall people received a service tailored to them that made them feel special . Volunteers went over and beyond to ensure people needs were met through their understanding of what was required and making them feel special in cultural specific ways and always with a smile.
A collaborative model for BAME organisations developed and being formalised to target services to those most impacted by COVID and fill gap in provision identified by Public Health England, insight from this work shared with other groups and networks wanting to extend their services to this target group.
Video on the Familia Project
Familia Project Impact Report
