Help launch South London Socials!
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Fleur and I'm fundraising to start a community group for older and younger adults across South London, called South London Socials.
Like so many, I was devastated by the sudden closure of the charity South London Cares, in October 2023. South London Cares worked to bring older and younger adults together across South London, to have fun, build friendships, meaningful connections, bridge generational divides and reduce loneliness and isolation. I was lucky enough to work as their Social Clubs Coordinator, creating a fun, free and exciting monthly programme of silliness and new experiences for south London locals to enjoy together. Through this job, I got to witness first hand the magic that happens in communities when there are spaces for them to come together. I got to witness the friendships built, the joy created, the confidence gained and as a proud born and raised South Londoner, felt even more rooted in my community.
When South London Cares suddenly closed, the network of over 2000 older and younger locals who attended their events found themselves with nowhere to go and no way of contacting the friends made within this community. With the current loneliness epidemic and divisive political landscape it is more important than ever that we come together. Due to the cost of living crisis, it is also so important that older people and people living on a low income have free warm spaces to go to. I would like to start South London Socials to try to fill some of the gap left by South London Cares, by creating spaces for the community to come together again and to enable the South London Cares community, as well as the wider South London community, opportunities to reconnect.
South London Socials will create free, fun and accessible social clubs across South London. The social clubs will take place in accessible public venues like local pubs, cafes and community centres, to help locals feel more connected and rooted in their community.
The money fundraised would allow me to:
- Produce leaflets to raise awareness about South London Socials and re-engage people who engaged with South London Cares.
- Run 4+ free social clubs per month for 3 months, or 2+ free socials clubs per month for 6 months
- Cover mailing costs to send out the programme to people who are digitally excluded.
- Complete funding applications to the Lottery, Arts Council England etc for sustainable funding.
Any additional funds will be used to run extra clubs over a longer period of time while I try to secure longer term and sustainable funding.
I know pennies are tight for a lot of us at the moment, but any contribution would honestly mean the world to me! Thanks so much in advance.
Organizer
Fleur Finch
Organizer
England