The OCS team is uniting their strength and determination for an incredible cause! They're set to run the Big Half Marathon with the ambitious goal of raising £3,000 for Pecan, a charity devoted to empowering individuals and families facing adversity. Every donation will help provide essential resources, food, and support to those in our community who need it most. By contributing, you’re not just supporting the runners, but also making a profound impact on countless lives. Let’s rally behind the OCS team and help them cross the finish line with pride – together, we can make a real difference!

Runners:

1. Kellie Newell     

2. Martin Frost

3. Mark Dakin

4. Marc Anthony

5. Tom Copsey

6. Jack Overington

What Pecan do:

Pecan is a charity based in Peckham that works within the local community to help people find ways through seemingly impossible barriers to a better future. We want to help people not only survive but thrive!

We do this through several core projects, all of which provide a dignified and holistic approach to tackling the causes of poverty not just the symptoms:

·      Southwark Foodbank – provides emergency food parcels plus advice and signposting to support.

·      Peckham Pantry – Choose at least £15 worth of food for just £4.50 in our shop, plus advice and signposting to support.

·      Women’s Service – Gender specific, trauma informed advocacy and support for women facing multiple disadvantage.

·      Together – Community and life-skills activities at our café space, tackling loneliness, isolation and poor wellbeing.

·      Employment Support – Help to get people back into work, through professional guidance and employment skill sessions.

Our Vision is transforming lives through Kindness, Belief and Hope.

Our Mission is to restore futures and see an end to poverty in all its forms. We aim to achieve this through equipping people in our community both practically and emotionally to believe in their potential and thrive.

We tackle the issues that cause poverty – low income, lack of choice, no access to the internet, social isolation, poor wellbeing, discrimination etc., not just the symptoms. To do this we provide emergency support for someone in crisis but aim to work with people before they reach crisis point and supporting them out of crisis.

Your Donations

By sponsoring our runners and donating to Pecan, you help us to provide year-round support to our community through consistent and quality services.

The money raised will provide:

• £15 could provide an emergency food parcel with enough food for 3 days.

• £30 could enable someone to benefit from a one-to-one employment preparation session, supporting them out of poverty through earning an income.

• £40 could help a woman receive one-to-one support from one of our Advocates, enabling her to address her needs.

• £55 could run a café session in Together, supporting those who are lonely and socially isolated to better mental wellbeing.

• £100 could stock our Pantry shelves with healthy, nutritious, culturally appropriate food.