Voluntary Action Camden Newsletter – 16th December 2022

Christmas 2022 Update to Members and Subscribers

16th December 2022

Merry Christmas from Voluntary Action Camden! Scroll down for new Camden VCS funding, local warm spaces and free meals, and festive entertainment recommendations.

Camden Council is set to announce new funding for the local voluntary and community sector in the coming days.

Click here to sign up to the Camden VCS newsletter and to be notified as soon as the funding is announced.

You can also watch VAC’s recent Cost-of-Living Crisis Forum here to find out more about the challenges the sector is facing and the resources that are available.

When the VAC team sat down this month to discuss our recent work, one topic loomed large over the conversation – the cost of living. This crisis has affected almost every aspect of VAC’s work and it was the focus of our latest Voluntary Action Forum.

The Cultural Advocacy Project and Community Links team have been discussing the subject with groups and individuals across Camden. They have been helping residents to connect with resources to assist with energy bills, to get them the food they need, to access mental health support services and much more.

The cost-of-living crisis has meant that more residents than ever before need advice and support, and with pressure rising on local resources, VAC staff continue to provide safeguarding training for organisations that require it. New and innovative pilot safeguarding courses are currently been arranged for the new year.

Beyond the cost-of-living, members of the team are also collaborating with the University of Southampton to research the effects of Long Covid, meeting with local hospitals to discuss referral support, and recruiting volunteers to assist with our community work.

In November, VAC and Volunteer Centre Camden celebrated Trustee Week with a highly successful Trustee Appreciation and Networking Event, which sought to provide the recognition that Trustees in Camden deserve.

Elsewhere, and in collaboration with local VCSE organisations, VAC has been working on a Community Action Research project. Neighbourhood-based research partners are looking for solutions to the challenges of accessing health services and alleviating social isolation.

As one member of the Community Links team commented “social prescribing work never ends” and nor does VACs commitment to a healthy, prosperous and connected Camden.

With energy costs soaring, many people will be at home with only limited heating during the Christmas period.

If you’re looking for somewhere warm in Camden to relax, work or catch up with friends during the festive period, click here to find a warm, welcome space near you.

Community Champions Camden are also offering free, Community Kitchen meals to eat together or take-away throughout December. Click here to sign up.

Keith recommends:
Watch: Can’t Get You Out of My Head (BBC iPlayer)

Read: Decolonial Marxism by Walter Rodney

Eat: Mince pies and brandy sauce

Alex recommends:
Listen to: ‘The Science of Everything’ and ‘Radio Lab’ podcasts

Watch: SAS Rogue Heroes (BBC), The Peanut Butter Falcon (Netflix), I Shouldn’t Be Alive (Prime)

Eat: anything from Marion’s Kitchen – delicious and (some) fairly simple Asian dishes to cook at home!

Donna recommends:

Read – Tim Spector’s ‘Food for Life’ – myth busting about health, and nutrition, and exposing misinformation from the food industry (oh… and coffee and wine are good for you!).

Listen – I’m a bit addicted to ‘The Rest is Politics’ podcast

Make for keeping warm – sew 3 sides of a cotton bag (no plastic-based or metallic fabrics), fill 1/3^rd with pearl barley, or another cheap grain, sew up the 4^th side. Microwave for 1 minute. Use instead of a hot water bottle – cheaper than boiling a kettle!

Hasel recommends: 

Watch: The Martian – a film with Matt Damon who’s alone in space

Read: Short stories – try ‘Grimm Tales for the Young and Old’ by Philip Pullman or ‘Best British Short Stories 2020’ by Nicholas Royle.

Make: I love a sticky toffee pudding, especially in cold weather. It’s nice and warming.

Ella recommends:

Watch: FIFA Uncovered (Netflix) – shocking layers of scandal and corruption!

Read: ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. The societal issues it deals with – the criminalisation of poverty and the privilege of affording warmth – are very timely today.

John recommends:

Watch: Andor (Disney+)

Read: ‘The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August’ by Claire North

Dianne recommends:

Watch: Invasion (Apple TV+)

Read: ‘Rationality’ by Steven Pinker

Make: My favourite sticky toffee pudding recipe

Play: Hedbanz – a fun game to play with the kids and currently £8 in Argos

Nasrin recommends:

Watch: The Courier – a cold war thriller based on a true story of friendship and sacrifice. For something more festive, watch Klaus to bring out your inner child (both on Netflix).

Read: ‘Life after Life’ by Kate Atkinson about the journey of life and alternative possibilities.

Play: Monopoly Deal Card Game, a classic in card version (no need to search for those missing pieces!).

Mandira recommends: 

Make –  MoMo, a type of Nepalese dumpling!

VAC Festive Opening Hours

Voluntary Action Camden will be closed from 24/12/22 – 3/1/23.

The Community Links team will also not be working during this period – in an emergency, please contact Camden Council on 020 7974 4444.

The regular newsletter will resume on Friday 6th January 2023.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from Keith & the VAC team: Alex, Dianne, Donna, Hasel, John, Ella, Mandira, Manuella, Nasrin, Ricky and Lola and all the Trustees and Volunteers.

Our mailing address is:
Greenwood Centre, Greenwood Place, London, NW5 1LB

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.