HEALTH & WELLBEING

 Supporting adults in the London Borough of Lewisham to recover from mental ill health and stay well, making use of local community services. 

Enable host the Lewisham Healthy Walks programme, providing a huge variety of friendly walks across the borough, ranging from beginner-friendly to more challenging. 

Happy Feet

Happy Feet is a not-for-profit toenail cutting service run by Age UK Lewisham and Southwark, for over 50s. They can offer fingernail and toenail cutting for clients at local clinics.   

HumanKind provides information, support and treatment around drugs and alcohol. 

IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies)

IAPT is a talking therapy service. It is targeted towards those with mild to moderate mental health difficulties and covers a range of related issues including low mood, anxiety, phobias and sleep problems. These include short-term one to one therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Guided Self-Help Sessions. They also offer group therapy and workshops for those with milder symptoms, and those who would rather engage in therapy independently will have immediate access to their online CBT service. 

Lewisham Primary Care Dietetics Service 

If you are underweight, have recently lost or are continuing to lose weight the team can investigate the reason behind it and help you gain a healthy weight. If you are interested in losing weight, they can support you with practical advice and information. 

Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network (LRMN)

Offer confidential immigration, housing and welfare benefits advice to people from refugee, asylum seeker and migrant backgrounds living in Lewisham and neighbouring boroughs. Have many wellbeing services at LRMN, including counselling and emotional support. Some of our projects are tailored to specific experiences – such as our Women Together project which supports migrant women who have experienced trauma due to gender-based abuse. 

METRO offer practical support, advice, advocacy, mental-health drop-ins, onwards referrals and peer-led social groups for people in the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Stop Smoking Service 

NHS service to help you stop smoking with support work and / or medication, both on 1-to-1 or group basis.

Sydenham Garden is a unique wellbeing centre utilising its gardens, nature reserve and activity rooms to help people in their recovery from mental and physical ill-health in Lewisham. 

GETTING SOCIAL

Volunteer Led Befriending Service led by our own Volunteer-led services team.

Catbytes provide support with learning how to use digital devices such as phones, computers and tablets. They also have devices which you can borrow for free. 

Our Person Centred Planning service involves giving our service users up to 8 weeks of in-depth, person centred support with exploring relevant local groups and services, and building their confidence and motivation to attend them. Read more here. 

Rushey Green Time Bank

Lewisham Local operate the Rushey Green Time Bank, a friendly group that meets regularly and takes part in a huge range of activities from singing to writing, walks to art and much more. 

An affordable, volunteer led community transport service for older and disabled Lewisham residents, run by our own volunteer-led services team.

FINANCES

Advice Lewisham supports with benefits reviews and application, form filling, liaising with the DWP and debt advice. Advisors can provide support over the phone on 0800 231 5453 or face to face if needed. They are open Monday – Friday between 9:30am – 12:30pm and 1:30pm – 4pm.

Part of the Trussell Trust Fund, the Foodbank helps people in crisis with short-term support like food and toiletries. Each parcel contains a week’s worth of food and can cater for specific diets (Halal, vegetarian, dairy free…). They also offer advice around money, housing and employment support.

 Little Village is like a food bank, except rather than food they provide donated clothes, toys and equipment for babies and children up to the age of 5. Their website keeps an up-to-date list of the items they have available and whenever we refer someone to them, they will provide tailored support to ensure that families get the items they need most. 

South East London Community Energy (SELCE) can visit you to give tailored advice about keeping warm, saving money with energy companies and accessing funding for heating and insulation.  

SAFETY

The Athena service, run by Refuge, provides confidential, non-judgmental support to those living in the London Borough of Lewisham who are experiencing gender-based violence. Our services support women and girls aged 13 and over, and men aged 16 or over – including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or are unsure of their sexuality.

Linkline 

Linkline can supply you with a pendant alarm, or other monitored sensors, to provide a response in an emergency. For example, if you had a fall and were unable to get up or reach the phone, you could press the button and it would call the Linkline team, or a person of your choice, to alert them. Please note there is a charge for this service and you need to have a landline.

The team will visit you to test / provide smoke alarms in your home and assess fire risks or hazards, including if you would need help leaving your home in case of an emergency. 

Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams

The Neighbourhood Police Team can advise regarding crime prevention, home security or incidents of crime or anti-social behaviour in your area.   

LIFELONG LEARNING & EMPLOYABILITY 

Adult Learning Lewisham

Adult Learning Lewisham offer adult education courses in a wide range of subjects including English and Maths, childcare, employability, music, art and crafts, languages and digital skills. They have a generous bursary scheme available, for those on low income that would like to access their courses. 

Lewisham Local – Volunteer Brokerage Service  

If you would like help finding a volunteering role, Lewisham Local Volunteer Brokerage service gives 1:1 support to help you find a suitable volunteering opportunity. 

HOUSING

Offer services for homeless people, those who are sofa surfing or in temporary accommodation. People can come to our Gateway centre to have a shower, do laundry and eat breakfast, access healthcare and get Advice & Support service for guidance through housing provision and benefits. 

Local volunteers (“runners”) help people with tasks they can no longer do themselves. Runners can carry out a local grocery or amenities shop (maximum £30), pick up medication, provide befriending or help with small odd jobs. 

Lewisham Occupational Therapy

OT provide equipment and home adaptations (e.g. grab-rails, bath seats, perching stools) if you have any difficulty using the facilities in your home.     

SPECIALISED HEALTH SUPPORT

 Blind Aid supports people with visual impairments; they can provide home visits, equipment to help you stay independent and other practical support. 

Carers Lewisham offers information and advice (including benefits advice), emotional support, groups, meetings and more for anyone who cares for someone else on an unpaid basis. 

The Falls Team can provide help to prevent falling, such as mobility equipment, Strength & Balance classes, physiotherapy and home support visits. 

The Support Hub helps people with a dementia diagnosis with a range of services including information, advice and support. If you have not received a formal diagnosis, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 instead.   

PLUS encourages involvement in the local community through employment and leisure opportunities for people with Learning Disabilities, these include gardening, keeping-fit, arts and crafts and social group activities such as bowling and rambling. Short breaks and supported day trips are organised for groups or for individuals.