Southwark centenarian says support from local charity is like being part of ‘one big family’
The 100-year-old is encouraging everyone to donate to Link Age Southwark’s Big Give Christmas Challenge.
Winnie has been a regular attendee of the charity’s activity groups and social events since 1993. She currently enjoys a weekly Wednesday games hour and the Warm Spaces offering on Fridays, which provides a hot meal, warmth and good company to people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
When speaking about Link Age Southwark, Winnie says “people belong together, I know that the people who come here all wanted to get out from their four walls and see something different.”
Link Age Southwark supports older people and those living with dementia to feel more connected to their local community. They do this by providing regular activity groups across Southwark that are free to access, as well as volunteer befrienders to those people who are housebound.
Winnie cherishes this, “just like one big family, all the friendships I’ve made. I’ve got to know different people, different ways of life, different cultures.”
Winnie grew up in Azenby Road, Peckham, the youngest of 11 children. She recalls the street nearby that was originally a plague pit, then consecrated ground before being tarmacked over. Known today as Warwick Gardens, Winnie says, “we used to play on it as kids, chalking on it, skipping and hopscotch.”
She left school during the war, working first in a laundrette, then as a ‘Nippy’ in a J Lyons tea shop, before becoming a clerk in the army. When war ended, she recalls, “thousands of people going out and celebrating, everyone out on the street talking to each other and making plans for a party.”
Throughout the years Winnie has shared these stories with groups about reminiscence, at shows in local theatres, or simply over a game of dominoes- where Winnie is the reigning champion!
Social contact and connection are central to Link Age Southwark’s mission in creating communities where older people thrive. Winnie is one of 862 people supported this year, as the need for their services continues to increase. The charity relies on donations to support the work and will be taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2024 between 3rd and 10th December.
Aiming to raise £16,000 in just one week, each £1 donated is matched by money from the pledge pot, so your donation is doubled!
This fundraiser starts on Tuesday 3rd December – you can donate here from midday with the campaign closing on Tuesday 10th December. Double the difference you can make for our older community this Christmas.