Raised so far
- About
Pecan Day is a fundraising day (part of our wider Christmas campaign 'GIve a Gift of Hope') to support people who access our services, may of whom are in a crisis situation. Individuals, commuities, or organisations can host a fundrasing event - from a coffee morning or a raffle, to collecting urgently required food for Southwark Foodbank.
Pecan Day will fall on 5 December each year, which is also International Vilunteering Day. So we are asking as many people as possible to join us to fundraisie and help transform lives through kindeness, belief and hope on Pecan Day.
#PecanDay2023
*** Pecan exists to see an end to poverty in all its forms: we were created to address the most pressing needs faced by our community, but poverty is nuanced and complicated and the pressing needs expressed through the need for foodbanks, while important, is a symptom of the root causes (low income, debt, unemployment, poor mental and/or physical health, social isolation, loneliness, stigma, discrimination, lack of choice, poor housing etc.). Pecan aims to alleviate some of the symptoms so that people can survive while working holistically on the deeper issues so that people can thrive.
We do this through running a variety of practical services, all of which provide holistic support that addresses the main issues a person comes to us about as well as delving a little deeper into what may lay behind that and what else can be done:
1. Together: provides a range of community, life skills and employability activities in a relaxed environment supporting people learn new skills, understand their rights, and make new social circles. This includes a free café, cultural trips, creative writing classes, crafts etc. support to fill in online forms and Techie Tea Parties for example. There is a need for a member of staff to be employed to provide ad-hoc advice and support throughout the day in our café space, as well as engage with the community.
2. Employment Support: our longest running programme supports people back into work at a pace that suits them, supporting them to feel ready both with skills and knowledge as well as mentally ready to take the next step. We are currently supporting families and unpaid carers (through a Southwark Works contract). There is a high need for more general support such as CV’s, Interviews, applications etc for anyone in the community – we see around 50 walk-ins a month, many of whom we are unable to support under our current funding.
3. Women’s Service: provides a gender specific, trauma-informed services to women who have had contact with the criminal justice system and/or face multiple disadvantage in the community. These women face many of the same barriers as those coming to us through our other services but due to their history, trauma and circumstances require a gender-specific support service. There is a long waiting list for advocacy and a need to employ more advocates to meet the demand in a way that is safe and healthy for our staff as well as our clients.
4. Food Services: our food services provide a range of support from emergency food relief through Southwark Foodbank to exploring how to provide a more dignified, long-term way to shop affordably through Peckham Pantry (open to all, members pay £4.50 per shop for c£15-30 worth of shopping they choose themselves). We also offer a range of advice and signposting support based in our food programmes that aim to go beyond food. There is a need for more quality food in the Foodbank and the Pantry so people can eat healthily, culturally appropriate food and have have choice and diginity.
5. Central/Core Services: our services are supported by a small team of staff dedicated to supporting the wider organisation through HR, Finance, Office and building Management, Marketing & Comms, Fundraising, Volunteer Management and looking after the Wellbeing of staff, as well as supporting the strategic direction, governance and day to day running of the organisation. It is rare that funding covers these crucial elements of running a successful organisation, yet without them, we could not provide the services we do.
