Positive Ageing

2020 marks 70 years that Blackfriars Settlement has been working with local older people in the north of Southwark. We have a well-established service with a track record of providing high quality support and activities for older people, and enriching the lives of those who come to us through our diverse programme of activities. We are known as somewhere where people will get the help they need, and will be met with a smile and a warm welcome.

What we offer:

Our befriending service: matches trained volunteers with local older people who are unable to go out by themselves and who are at very high risk of loneliness. Befrienders visit weekly: it might be about company and conversation, for some it will be about getting out and doing something they enjoy with the support of the befriender.

Positive Ageing at the Settlement

The Positive Ageing service works in three priority areas:

Social activities: Members come to make and meet friends and get involved in activities which are fun and rewarding. We run creative and craft sessions, discussion groups, music, day trips, special events, the weekly knitting and crochet group, as well as provide three hot, two-course lunches each week. We also organise two trips away each year. Fridays are meetings of the Crusoe Club for older people with visual impairment. Monday afternoons Franks Club meets – a social session for men with pool, darts, cards and conversation. Our Nightingales Singers entertain at community events.

Health & Wellbeing activities: a range of activities aimed at improving the physical health and well-being.  These include: strength and balance exercise classes with tutor trained by the Falls Prevention Clinic, Forget-Me-Not group for those concerned about their memory, singing for COPD, information events, yoga classes, and access to the free older people’s osteopathy clinic.

Information & Advocacy: the team are always available to answer enquiries and help with issues of concern to members. Where needed they will forward on to specialist sources of support.

For more information please click here