Friday 1st March 2019 - programme success; funding problems; media possibilities

Top - Thirlmere Ct, N16 - Thurs 28th Feb;  11:30am

Bottom - Adelaide Ct, E9 - Thurs 28th Feb; 4:00pm

Posted 12:30pm

We are two weeks into our programmes at Resedential Housing in Hackney, and the feedback has been absolutely brilliant. We love the interaction, and the response has been fantastic. This week we introduced the groups to boxercise, and this went down a storm. PT Dean (Zombie) puts us through stretches first, and then we different exercises each week. Luke is knowledgeable as we dissect nutrition and how it relates to mental health. And Lazza oversees it, bringing it all together, demonstrating that we all just need to be more proactive and improve the choices we make in our daily routine.. It has gone down very well.

The potential is there. Sadly, funding isn't. We knew this, but wanted to show we can adapt and design our programme around all types of individuals and service users.

We are now approaching Anchor Hanover, Hackney Public Health, and Hackney NHS, to put in an ambitious Lottery bid ton provide a three year intervention in all AH homes in Hackney, focusing on well being, isolation and building awarenesss on a healthier lifestyle centering around movement, nutrition and fun.  It may just be our only way in.

We say this, as Luke and I have had an up and down week on a couple of funding opportunities. The Mayor's Active Londoners fund was welcoming applications. Howere, they were only providing six grants between 25K and 75K, and had over 400 applications, and had opened up around sixty opportunities for 5K. It really is not enough.

The other fund we approached was the ConnectHackney - who welcomed applications for working with over 55s on three subjects (dementia intervention, mental and physical health, and isolation). However, they were only funding one from each topic, for 85K over 18 months. Seriously not enough money or chances.

It is very very frustrating for people like us, starting out. How are we meant to be encouraged to develop and establish if there are so few opportunities to discuss money with people?

We have asked the Islington Tribune (local paper) to come along to our final session at Thirlmere Court, Newington Green, for feedback,, quotes and feature.

We have asked the Hackney Gazette to come along to our final session at Adelaide Court, Homerton, as the Hackney Speaker is attending, again for a feature, quotes, and feedback.