- Age UK – 55+
- Contact the Elderly – 75+
- Dalgarno – in and around W10
- My Care, My Way – 65+
- Open Age – 50+
- Pepper Pot Day Centre – BME in and around W10
- Persian Care Centre – Over 50, Farsi speakers
- The Advocacy Project – Those with mental illness, learning disabilities and older people
- The Cara Trust – Older people living with HIV
- The Second Half Centre – 50+
- The Silver Line – Helpline for 55+
- Westway Community Transport – Mobility issues
- Venture Community Centre – in and around W10
Age UK
Provide a range of services to help over 55s to stay independent in their own home, including befriending, social activities, escorting, practical help, shopping and decluttering services. They can also offer assistance with benefits, social care needs, and energy efficiency/ fuel poverty. Carer support.
Lots of information guides can be downloaded from the main Age UK website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/information-advice/guides-and-factsheets/
W: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/kensingtonandchelsea/
A: 1 Thorpe Close, London W10 5XL
T: 020 8969 9105
Nationwide Advice Line: 0800 678 1602
Contact the Elderly
Supported by a network of volunteers, Contact the Elderly is a national charity that organises monthly Sunday afternoon gatherings for small groups of older people aged 75 and over who are dealing with loneliness and social isolation. Check the website for details of local groups.
How it works: Each older person is collected from their home by a volunteer and taken to a volunteer host’s home for the afternoon. The group is warmly welcomed by a different host each month, but the drivers remain the same which means that over the months and years, acquaintances turn into friends and loneliness is replaced by companionship.
W: https://www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk
T: 0800 716543
Dalgarno Trust
A community centre serving North Kensington. Several programmes including; social activities, community champions, health works (fitness classes and nutritional advice), youth programme and a foodbank. Also aims to support those who find themselves isolated e.g. elderly.
A: 1 Webb Close, Dalgarno Way, W10 5QB
T: 020 8969 6300
E: reception@dalgarnotrust.org.uk
My Care, My Way
Aimed at over 65s, My Care My Way is a service that was developed to help older people remain independent in their communities and have more control over their health and social care.
Teams, embedded in local GP surgeries, aim to develop holistic care plans with clients that cover all aspects of health and social wellbeing e.g. weight loss, stopping smoking, finding social support or help filling out forms. Part of the work also consists of linking patients to a range of third sector services, such as Age UK or Open Age.
Examples of services clients can be referred into include:
- One to One services – such as befriending, dementia support, decluttering, escorting, exercise at home, advocacy and social advice, massage therapy, walking support and home safety checks.
- Group Activities – such as African Dance, supported gym sessions, community lunches, men’s only activities, arts projects and gardening.
Plans can be drawn up through 1 hour consultations at either the St Charles Health and Wellbeing centre in Exmoor Street, or the Violet Melchett Health Centre in Flood Walk. These consultations will usually involve the patient, GP, case manager and other health professionals (e.g. social workers). Alternatively, housebound patients can be visited at home.
Referrals into the service are via GP surgeries.
Open Age
Service for over 50s in K&C. Aim is to enable people to sustain their physical and mental fitness, maintain an active lifestyle and develop new interests. Provide over 350 weekly activities at more than 60 sites, as well as group outings.
Offer facilitated telephone groups for those who are housebound. Support also for older carers. One to one work for the particularly isolated is available.
T: 020 8962 4141 (head office)
A: St. Charles Centre For Health & Wellbeing, Exmoor St, London W10 6DZ
Pepper Pot Day Centre
Provide a comprehensive service for active and disabled over 50’s, from the African, Caribbean & BME community, in K&C, to enable them to live more independently in their own homes. Provides a range of activities, day care, befriending and outreach for isolated individuals and hot African and Caribbean meals. Transport to the centre is available.
W: http://www.pepperpotcentre.org.uk
A: 1A Thorpe Close, Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5XL
T: 020 8968 6940
E: reception@pepperpotcentre.org.uk
Persian Care Centre
Provides help, support and advice to older Persian people as well as a welcoming meeting place where over 50s Farsi speaking people of K&C can socialise, meet new friends and get involved in activities, cultural events and exciting outings.
W: http://www.shahinpersiancarecentre.co.uk
A: 70, Tavistock Road, London W11 1AN
T: 0207 221 5763 / 07961 447116
E: info@shahinpersiancarecentre.co.uk
The Advocacy Project
Charity working with people using or wishing to use mental health services, older people and people with learning disabilities. They work to encourage and support people to express their views with regard to their health and treatment. They also gather service users views about services, and run a local choir to promote social cohesion.
A: 73 St Charles Square, London W10 6EJ
T: 0208 969 3000
E: info@advocacyproject.org.uk
The Cara Trust
Cara Trust provides social welfare and health information services for people with HIV, particularly as they grow into older age. Key services include:
- Specialist housing support – including Home Share matching.
- Weekly social activities
- Expert seminars on HIV & Ageing issues
- One-to-one Buddies for older people
- African peer support project
- Small grants casework & advocacy
- Expert social workers
- Food bank
A: 240 Lancaster Road, London W11 4AH
T: 020 7243 6147
E: mail@caralife.com
The Second Half Centre
Hold over 60 hours of activities and classes each week for those age 50 years and over: Exercise from Zumba, Pilates, Yoga and Stretch and Tone; Art from Acrylic painting to Pastels; International Cooking Classes, IT skills from basic Emailing to Excel will be taught in our dedicated IT room. They also offer Crafts, Nutrition, Singing and dancing, Adult Parenting and many other classes.
W: www.thesecondhalfcentre.com
A: St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing , Exmoor St, London W10 6DZ
T: 0208 962 5500
E: mail@openage.org.uk
The Silver Line
A confidential, free friendship and helpline for older people across the UK. Open every day and night of the year. A specially-trained team:
- Offer information, friendship and advice.
- Link callers to local groups and services.
- Offer weekly friendship calls with volunteers. Letter writing also available.
- Protect and support older people who are suffering abuse and neglect.
68% of calls to the helpline are made at night and weekends.
W: https://www.thesilverline.org.uk
Helpline: 0800 4 70 80 90
Westway Community Transport
A charity set up to meet the transport needs of individuals and groups with mobility difficulties who are resident in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Organise group minibus hire, shopping trips, regular services for local groups, and volunteer drivers. Contract and paid driver work also undertaken
Website: https://westwayct.org.uk/services/rbkc-residents/
Tel: 020 8964 4928
E: info@westwayct.org.uk
Venture Community Association
The Venture Centre is a community resource and development centre situated in W10, serving the North Kensington area.
It runs a full programme of activities, courses and public events, which reflect the needs of the surrounding community and include: Dance, Zumba, Pilates and Yoga for wide range of ages (including 50+); a sewing club, computer support, acupuncture, advocacy sessions, adventure playground and children’s activities, social events and church groups.
W: http://www.venturecentre.org.uk
T: 020 8960 3234
A: 103a Wornington Road, London W10 5YB
E: info@venturecentre.org.uk
DirectMe.org 