Warm Welcome Sessions Become a Trusted Community Hub for North Lewisham Residents

Over the winter, Therapy 4 Healing (T4H) partnered with Caribbean Social Forum, North Lewisham Primary Care Network, Red Ribbon Living Well CIC, Lewisham Local and community outreach teams to provide a welcoming space for Afro-Caribbean elders aged 50+, unpaid carers, and residents experiencing loneliness, isolation, poor health, or financial hardship.

Funded by Lewisham Local through Lewisham Council's Warm Welcome programme, the sessions offered much more than a warm place to spend time during the colder months. For many attendees, they became a trusted source of friendship, health information, practical support, and improved wellbeing.

Throughout the programme, T4H provided one-to-one seated chair massage sessions, breathing and stretching advice, and signposting to local support services. Red Ribbon Living Well CIC attended to offer advice and support around hypertension and cardiovascular health, while GP-led discussions provided residents with an informal opportunity to ask health-related questions and receive guidance in a relaxed community setting.

The sessions also created valuable opportunities for partnership working. T4H introduced the North Lewisham Community Outreach Worker to residents who were previously unaware of local services available to them. Information and leaflets were distributed about Warm Welcome venues, free food projects, community gardening opportunities and other support available across Lewisham.

As the weeks progressed, attendance steadily increased and the sessions became increasingly community-led. Members helped shape activities including singing workshops, quizzes, craft sessions, celebrations, and social events. New attendees joined through outreach and word of mouth, including people who had recently retired, experienced bereavement, or were struggling with the rising cost of living.

One regular attendee, a woman in her late seventies, began attending after encouragement from a friend. Living alone with arthritis and limited mobility, she had been spending long periods at home and limiting her heating use due to concerns about energy costs. She quickly became a valued member of the group, enjoying the seated chair massages which helped ease shoulder and back pain, as well as participating in singing sessions and social activities.

During the final session, she was able to speak informally with a GP about her blood pressure and general health concerns. Afterwards, she told us she felt more confident managing her health and appreciated being able to ask questions in a supportive environment rather than a formal clinical setting.

The feedback from participants highlighted the positive impact of the therapy sessions:

"Very good in all areas, relaxing and invigorating. Extra advice was given how to stretch and relieve pain." — Elsa

"Absolutely fantastic massage. Great rapport with therapist. I feel relaxed and calm." — Wendy

"Very lovely and relaxing. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you." — Maureen

"Very relaxing, hit the spot where I have pain in my back. Very sorry they are not coming back next week." — Doreen

"Very enjoyable. Everyone will feel more relaxed after the massage." — Andrew

What began as a Warm Welcome space evolved into something much more: a place where people could stay warm, build friendships, access health advice, improve their wellbeing, and feel connected to their community.

T4H is proud to have been part of this collaborative effort and looks forward to continuing to work with local partners to improve health, wellbeing and community resilience across Lewisham.