Wayside Community Centre
Our users are from diverse background with some having different health problems, we provide a range of activities to promote independence of older people, including
• Health and fitness exercises.
• Visits to historic towns, country villages, seaside resorts, and stately homes
• Reminiscence work, craftwork, knitting, sewing, games etc.
• Seminars/workshops on health promotion
Hackney is one of the most deprived boroughs in the country and most of our users are poor and socially excluded through lack of resources and are dependant on organisations such as ours to help raise their potential
Hackney has:
• the highest incidence of over 65s claiming income support in London. (London Research Centre)
• the highest percentage of people over 65 with long term illness in London and disproportionately high levels of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity
• the second highest proportion in the country (64%) of older people (aged 55-84) living alone.
For the past few years we provided 240 exercise opportunities a year, through five weekly sessions run throughout the year. (5 x 48). Plus, a weekly lunch club among the other activities. By providing this service we are giving local people an opportunity to get physically, mentally and socially active enabling them to improve their health and well-being on every level and decrease the risk of stroke and heart disease.
However it’s becoming increasingly difficult to continue provide these services due to the shortage of funding for voluntary organisations as ours. Although we generate some income from the shop this is not sufficient to keep the doors open and unless the situation improve we will be forced to close our doors.
You can help the elderly retain their dignity and independence by making a donation to our project to improve the quality of life for the socially disadvantaged.
