New Larchwood
- Continuing to support the not-for-profit community café, increasing awareness of healthy eating and food from other cultures
- Continuing to support gentle exercise for older people and to encourage group independence
- Developing a local Men's Health Group
- Developing an Older Peoples' Music Project in partnership with WRVS Heritage+
- Coordinating service providers to talk at coffee mornings
- Supporting and developing the citywide profile of the allotment group and generating interest locally in green issues
New Larchwood, an extra care facility for older people with access for all the Community on its lower ground floor, is situated in the heart of Coldean, a quiet and semi-rural estate set into a valley in the north-east of Brighton. Community Participation Worker Steve Andrews has been involving the home’s residents and local people in groups and activities together since 2006. This work helps to combat the isolation that older people might experience through the chance for them to get involved in activities and meet other people.
- Supporting the community café as an umbrella to community events, including a second successful tea dance, concerts and health days
- Café given Healthy Choice award and healthy eating scheme, the Tuesday Suppers, set up
- Supporting the setting up of an Activities group and securing their own funding
- Supporting a programme of exchange visits with other day care and extra care schemes
- Setting up a local allotment group
- Supporting production of Art installation Tea service by The Friends of Coldean, which has travelled throughout Sussex and featured at Bankside Gallery in London celebrating art by over-60s.
"I meet some very good friends, and have enjoyed the company and the things we have done"
New Larchwood resident
"The Cafe has got really good this past year. We've got some really good people running it"
New Larchwood resident
"I've become chair of the Cafe, been on Food & Hygiene and First Aid courses and it's all been worthwhile"
Community Cafe volunteer
“When I first saw Jean (local Community activist) I felt she was lacking in confidence and depressed and since then she has gained self-esteem and enjoyed the responsibility of cooking and running the Café. This seems to be the way forward for isolated people. There are many and varied activities at New Larchwood and these are raising the quality of life for a number of people. This has a positive result in a community like Coldean which seems cut off from the rest of the City.”
Cllr Pat Hawkes
| Relevant Document(s) | Size |
|---|---|
| 50+ Older People's Services Directory - Coldean May 2010 | 166.27 KB |
| Coldean Teaset at Bankside 2009 | 235.32 KB |
| Evaluation - New Larchwood Participation Project 2006 - 2009 | 537.79 KB |
| Hollingbury & Stanmer Ward Profile 2009 | 1.51 MB |