Latest news from partner organisations and key volunteering opportunities in the borough. We update this page regularly, so look for the 🔥 to find the latest news.
Company Three provide space for young people to express themselves. During this crisis, they’ve started an amazing Coronavirus Time Capsule, which is a weekly record of the pandemic made by teenagers. It provides space for young people to articulate their current situation, maintain relationships and engage creatively in this period. Check it out!
A social enterprise that works with young women affected by gangs, in their statement on their website they inform about their next steps:
“We will:
● Endeavour to provide young women with the resources to keep in touch with us;
● Maintain regular contact with young women where possible;
● Maintain regular contact with professionals networks who support the young women
and who hold statutory responsibility;
● Maintain our safeguarding efforts as a priority;
● Undergo an individual risk assessment for each young woman to inform our priorities
and action planning in the context of COVID-19;
● Attend scheduled meetings remotely, where there is the facility to do so.
If you need to make contact us, please email: hello@abianda.com”
Brandon Centre is a charity providing a range of mental health and sexual health services to young people living mainly in Camden and Islington. Our Islington Counselling and Psychotherapy Service continues to be available for young people aged 16-21. We are currently offering counselling and psychotherapy over the telephone and via video calling. Please e-mail counselling@brandoncentre.org.uk to request a referral form or for further information.
At Help On Your Doorstep they knock on over 20,000 Islington doors and work with over 2,000 Islington residents every year. This is their latest update: “At Help On Your Doorstep we work tirelessly to ensure we remain available to residents who want to contact us when they need advice and support from services. What’s more, we are running a proactive telephone outreach to the most vulnerable residents. Amongst other things we are contacting over 1,000 residents who are potentially at risk due to health, mobility or age to find out what support is needed related to basic food, heating, social contact and physical and mental health needs. We continue to keep in regular contact by telephone to alleviate isolation and anxiety.
“During the past month we have given phone support & advice to 900+ residents, worked with 18 GP practices to support their patients, set up befriending & deliveries for vulnerable isolated residents.”
“We have updatedour self help information page to help you find the information and support that you need during the coronavirus crisis. We are updating this website on a regular basis.”
“Feel less isolated and more energised by taking part in one of our Good Neighbours online activities.” More info.
Their Social Prescribing programme, funded by Islington Giving, has proven an ability to reduce isolation among residents in the borough. “For those with broadband at home, we are now offering live and interactive groups and classes! All Claremont members are welcome to join any of the groups.” Here’s their current timetable, as of 6 April, 2020. The sessions are live and interactive!
Monday
1.00pm – 2.30pm: Music songs and memories – coming very soon!
✔2.00pm – 3.00pm: Uke (Via Jitsi)
✔2.30 – 3.30pm: Strength and Balance
Tuesday
✔10.30am – 11.45am: Tap
Film and TV club coming soon
Wednesday
✔10.00am – 11.00am: Strength and Balance
✔11.45am – 12.45pm: Funky Disco
✔2.00pm – 3.20pm: Creative Dance
✔3.30pm – 5.00pm: Book Club
Thursday
10.00am – 11.30am: Gospel – from next week we hope
✔10.45am – 11.45am: Tai Chi (Dave’s Zoom)
✔12.00pm – 1.00pm: Salsa
✔4.00pm – 5.00pm Yoga
Friday
✔10.30am – 12.00: Coffee morning
✔Handouts only: Arts and Craft
✔1.00pm – 3.00pm: Creative writing
Flamenco & Castanets – coming soon!
Support for vulnerable parents in Islington: “Whilst The Parent House is closed, we are still available for support over the phone. New, past or current parents please call 0207 837 1383.
We are listening to parents’ concerns and what they want and will soon be offering opportunities to come together online, to share and learn from these experiences.
We are hosting Zoom Support sessions for all our Level 2 and Level 3 Peer Mentors, some of whom are still providing weekly support to their mentees over the phone. ”
“Hi Parents of Islington, how are you all doing? We’d love to hear from you and would like to ask if you could share some pictures or videos of you and your wonderful families about how you’ve been coping and what you’ve been up to. Don’t forget to tag us too!”
A national charity that supports kinship carers in Islington. “Our advice service is open as usual and whilst our advisers are handling an unprecedented number of enquiries at the moment, they will help you as soon as they can. We also urge you to join our Kinship Community so that we can stay in touch. Over the coming weeks we will be sharing stories, experiences, tips and signposting you to additional support.”
Read their latest article on The impact of coronavirus on kinship families.
🔥 “Lots of kinship carers are getting in touch about children returning to school. There’s advice on our website and please give our advice team a call if you need to discuss your situation. We’re here Mon-Fri 9.30am-3.30pm & Tues & Thurs evenings, phone: 0300 123 7015”
Solace Women’s Aid works with women and children who have been affected by domestic and/or sexual violence in Islington and beyond.
“We are here for you in Islington and our phone lines are open: 020 3795 5070. If you are in immediate danger call 999. We will not be hosting any face-to-face training at this time. All our open training courses are postponed until further notice. We will be working behind the scenes during this time to update our training and make plans for the future, so if you would like to reach out and discuss anything with us, we remain available by email and phone.”
“We have up to 70 spaces for women & children, ensuite facilities, food provided, welcome packs & toys for children, with specialist support. Open to agencies and women direct to contact us. ”
“Is your child worried about#Coronavirus? We have put together a page full of information and resources for parents, educators and other professionals who work with children.”
The Maya Centre provide a free counselling service in Islington for women who have experienced mental health issues, trauma, gender based violence, including domestic violence, physical abuse or childhood sexual abuse and harmful traditional practices. They have closed their centre, but are able to offer support and counselling by phone and online.
Ma Shanti supports single Asian mums and their children by providing advocacy, guidance, support, workshops, social activities and signposting. They are offering online support to Asian single mothers and their children online activities include yoga, arts & crafts, support groups and cooking club. They are also providing group support via WhatsApp. Please call 07340 990119 or 07904 034 278, Mon – Fri 9am – 3pm or email director@maashanti.org or admin@maashanti.org
Video Statement from the Director, Catherine Skinner on some of the issues faced by the families they support now and before the lockdown. #DomesticAbuse is not just about violence.
Maa Shanti are offering online support groups for single Asian mums every Thursday @ 2pm, get in touch with them for more info and access.
MEWSo aims to defend and protect women from violence both at home and in the wider community. Some MEWSo sessions are now available online: “If you don’t have Zoom on your computer or smartphone, MEWSo facilitators can help talk you through setting it up. Classes are every Wednesday, 10.30am until 12noon and it includes a bit of yoga, too. If you have children, they are welcome to join in. It might help use up some of their excess energy.” Sign up now by sending a message to office@mewso.org.
Interested in supporting LBTQ+ women? MEWSo is looking for volunteers to support LBTQ+ women living in London who come from Middle Eastern, North African and Asian communities. Call 07579 801 366
MEWSo needs more volunteer befrienders to support isolated women in the community who are feeling lonely and forgotten. Call: 07579 801 366 or email: office@mewso.org
Talk for Health provides user-friendly, talk based routes to wellbeing. They offer online taster sessions. Keep an eye out on them on Twitter and don’t miss the next one. Or check out their Eventbrite site to register for upcming sessions.
Body & Soul is a charity that supports children, young people and families in Islington who have experienced childhood adversity or trauma. They’ll be offering different online opportunities to build a sense of community in these difficult times. You can find a special Covid-19 page on their website with all the information about what they’re doing.
- Mindset Body & Soul is providing a weekly MindSET Livestream session that will be accessible to any young person in psychological distress. You can register for each session and receive a link that will provide access to the event. MindSET delivers effective, concrete skills to help young people manage emotional distress, skills that have been essential to our members at risk of suicide and self-harm. You can register here.
- Evening Yoga Flows: Breathing deep and letting go of the day. Part 1 and Part 2
- Connection Body Meditation led by Darryl one of the DBT therapist’s at Body & Soul
- Five Senses – Guided Meditation by Body & Soul “Join us for a Five Senses meditation led by Darryl one of the DBT therapist’s at Body & Soul. Now more than ever we need a little help unwinding & letting go of the day.”
Urban Hope is a youth club in Canonbury street that provides a safe environment for young people to form friendships, access opportunities and try new things “In the following days we will be posting ideas to keep you entertained and happy while you’re at home. Here is the 1st one. We at Urban Hope believe that gratitude changes everything – even (and especially) in difficult days like the ones we are living. You can sign up to our Bake & Craft Off challenge”
They provide safe spaces and community activities focusing on arts, nature and wellbeing where people can connect for better health and wellbeing. They are delivering their activities differently to support people during Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. You can find tips, virtual nature and art programmes & more on their website.
🔥 “We’ll be delivering our arts, nature and wellbeing activities differently to support people during the pandemic, including providing info and signposting. For more info email us at info@slt.org.uk”
A community network of young professionals and older neighbours hanging out and helping one another in our rapidly changing city. Every day at 11am, they’ll be posting a daily creative distraction for younger and older neighbours to do at home, under the hashtag #AloneTogether. More info here.
Organisation tha offers services to local residents seeking mental health advice and support. “Although our community and face-to-face services are suspended, we are all working 9:00-5:00 remotely to support our service users during these uncertain and challenging times. We are also creating and preparing digital group activities – please let us know if you are able / interested to join these.”
🔥 “Our client-led #LGBTQ+ service is offering online social groups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. More info”
Volunteering opportunities
If you/your business wants to help, please approach a local group or check out Voluntary Action Islington (VCA). You can also email volunteer@vai.org.uk. This includes if you would like volunteers to support your work.
The BIG Alliance currently has a bank of volunteers with specific skills and expertise ready and waiting to support our key community organisations in Islington during this time. This includes support and advice with digital, HR, legal, finance and fundraising, and supporting beneficiaries.
Latest opportunities from Volunteer Action Islington:
🔥 MEWSo are looking for women volunteer befrienders. The role is for women befrienders to support the LBTQ+ volunteering scheme for women in BAMER communities
Light Project Pro International are looking for #volunteers to deliver food packages around Caledonian ward. More info.
Mer-IT are looking for #volunteers who will be working from home & make cold calls. You will be contacting companies over the phone & per email & inform them about the project & ask them for donations. More info.
Food Banks in Islington
Islington Council has put together an interactive map of all the food banks in the borough so that they are easy to find. You can find it here.
The People’s Army is an Islington-wide support organisation to assist those in need during the Covid-19 crisis. They are able to provide help with shopping, errands and pet care. They can also provide meals to vulnerable communities.
Please get in touch with them if you need support or can offer help in any way.
Islington Crisis Fund
We have also launched a Crisis Fund to support the most vulnerable people in Islington during the Covid-19 outbreak. Every penny raised will go directly to support the groups and organisations we know and trust to deliver essential services.
Please donate and share!
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