Peckham community group secures “life saving” grant to support elderly residents

A Peckham community group has been awarded a Lottery grant to help provide vital support to the elderly amid the “devastating” Covid-19 pandemic.

Elim House Community Association Southwark (ECAS) has secured £16,690 to run its meals on wheels services for elderly people which will provide Caribbean dishes three days a week for local residents. 

A representative for Elim House Day Centre said: “This service will relieve the devastation of acute isolation and the lack of basic needs for older people due to the lockdown. 

“The Centre has been providing outreach through befriending, support and food. With this grant funding we will also provide meals on wheels for 40-plus old people, some living in care homes. 

“Without this grant the day centre could not provide lunch and some of the old people could go without a proper lunch or dinner. This grant will save lives, provide vital help to the elderly community and improve their quality of life.”

The community group has been awarded the grant by the Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations Recovery Scheme (CCLORS) as part the National Lottery’s Coronavirus £9.5 million support fund that launched in May this year.  

Vidhya Alakeson, CEO of Power to Change, said: “Whilst Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on people right across the country, it has disproportionately affected Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. By bringing together this strategic partnership, we’ve ensured this much-needed financial support is reaching those communities that need it most.”

In total 302 community-led organisations have received financial support through CCLORS to help recover from the impacts of the ongoing pandemic. The total includes 205 community organisations like Elim House that support Black, Asian and minority ethnic Communities.

More information about the meals on wheels scheme can be found on the Elim House website https://www.elimhousedaycentre.com