Dear friends, colleagues and stakeholders
This week we mark the Windrush Anniversary and celebrate Windrush Day on the 22nd. Click here to read the story of the Windrush Generation. And here today we cover the challenges with isolation and connecting online, self-care and project sustainability, and Black Lives Matter.
It’s been a packed and intense couple of months for many, with last week being Loneliness Awareness Week, we bring you this newsletter to share the key learning and tips we’ve captured from our partners delivering projects for Connect Hackney – our programme of 25 projects to prevent and reduce social isolation and loneliness for those over 50 years old.
There are thoughts, ideas and useful gems shared by our delivery partners that I’m sure many of you will resonate with whether you deliver projects of any kind, or attend them, as well as some valuable resources from the wider Hackney CVS. Subjects include the challenges with isolation and connecting online, self-care and project sustainability, and Black Lives Matter.
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Hello! I’d like to introduce myself – my name is Sarah Warman and I am the new Learning and Engagement Lead for Connect Hackney.
I’ve spent the past 18 months as a delivery partner for a Digital Inclusion Project called Silver Connections, for Groundwork London.
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I made the transition to this role one month into lockdown, having navigated its transition into an online offering, and supporting isolated participants into a totally new way of learning – a great challenge!
But one that I have found, as have many of our partners, also spawned imagination and creative solutions and possibilities. I am here as your go to if you have any thoughts, ideas or learning to share in these constantly shifting times.
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Time to Zoom: Physically isolated but digitally connected?
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Connect Hackney team meeting. Clockwise from left:
Tony Wong, Sarah Warman, Kim-Lien Ong
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Like many of you, we also held our first online Zoom session in May working with our delivery partners for Connect Hackney. There are technical hiccups even for those of us that would consider ourselves tech-savvy. So you can imagine the additional difficulties when Connect Hackney project participants are commonly without the tech skills, experience, lacking the digital devices and software, without access to Wi-Fi and, quite commonly – in our participants’ over 50s age bracket – also very wary and distrustful of going online due to fear of scams.
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This is a complex issue that was passionately spoken about by our delivery partners, and you can read more to get ideas and tips on how to navigate these digital divide related challenges including:
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- Useful project adjustments
- App / software/ device recommendations
- Insight into what our partners are doing for those that cannot or will not go online
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Self-care and sustainability: people and projects
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The past couple of months have been a challenge for us all – including those working hard to keep our invaluable projects going at a crucial time.
Many delivery partners have worked over hours to navigate the humanitarian issues and support high levels of trauma, anxiety, isolation and loneliness.
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These are experiences that many of us have felt over the past few months during lockdown. Self-care and sustainability to prevent burn out and ensure project longevity are of crucial importance, so that we can continue to do great work and improve lives.
We have collated information on our website, so that you can:
- Read more about our project partners experiences, insights, and solutions
- Access links to useful resources
- Discover a self-care tip from me (I also practice as a Wellbeing and Alexander Technique teacher)
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Following the murder of George Floyd and the international grief and movement for change that has awoken, Connect Hackney would like to state our commitment to illuminating and eradicating racism.
We are examining the relevance of this movement to all corners of our work and our partners.
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Click link below to read our Connect Hackney’s statement and initial plans, as well as to contribute your relevant thoughts and ideas.
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Other Hackney news and events
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Covid-19 VCS Recovery & Resilience strategic planning survey
Please complete this COVID-19 VCS Recovery and Resilience strategic planning survey. The findings will be crucial in helping us understand how we best support the voluntary and charity sector in its recovery from COVID-19. And there is £250 incentive for one lucky respondent!
Forum meeting: Inequalities and Digital Divide on 30 June
In this meeting Hackney CVS want to hear from people about what to do about the Digital Divide.
Book here
Hackney Giving funding is now open
Hackney Giving is offering grants of up to £3,000 to small not-for-profit organisations in Hackney which are responding to the coronavirus crisis.
Apply here – deadline 6 July
Immediate Theatre launch Hackney Social Radio
Hackney Social Radio was developed as an extension of Immediate Theatre’s work with over 50s.
Read more
Loneliness Awareness Week podcast featuring Charles from Connect Hackney’s media group.
One of Connect Hackney’s media group, Charles Daniel, discussing loneliness and the impact of Covid-19 in a podcast by Thrive LDN.
Listen here
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If you have thoughts and ideas about the issues discussed, or valuable relevant learning (especially with regard to working with those over 50 years old), please do email me.
Thanks for all that you do, and wishing you well.
Sarah Warman
Connect Hackney
Learning and Engagement Lead
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