Social support

Alive works to prioritise health and wellbeing into later life. The Grateful Society’s funding alongside that from St Monica’s, Quartet, the Anchor Society and John James Foundation supports three valued groups of The Malcolm X Elders, The Evergreen Club, and the Golden Agers Club which, between them, provides a total of 130 older people from BME communities with vital social support, activities, and help accessing services. They were set up to tackle isolation and loneliness among the elders and bring people together to form friendships and have fun.

With the help of volunteers, this community club organises a weekly lunch and quiz for pensioners at risk of social isolation and loneliness in a local restaurant, whose owner charges food at cost price only. For some, this is the only social engagement they have all week and is very special and valuable. An 81 yr old said “I don’t think you will ever know the difference that staff and volunteers made to me during the pandemic. I felt scared and alone but their calls, care and laughs, flowers, Sunday lunches and jigsaws made me feel positive and connected.”