Knowledge & Practice

What a day!

Today we welcomed 25 young people and 10 adults from displaced families for a session full of warmth, learning, and joy.

A huge thank you to everyone who made it possible:
The Felix Project for the food delivery - we cooked together, learned together, and ate well
In Kind Direct for the gifts that had the children beaming
Croydon Council for the opportunity to serve our community
goodfoodmatterscharity and Blue Touch - brilliant partners, every time

This is what community looks like. 💛

Last week we delivered our first wellbeing session at Chelsham House ward at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and what a moment it was!

A huge thank you to the ARCC EMHIP (Ethnicity and Mental Health Improvement Project) team for your support in organising and delivering this new project. It means so much to work alongside people who care as deeply as you do.

Knowledge 4 Practice has been selected as one of 10 community organisations taking part in the VCSE Inreach Project; bringing creativity, connection and fun to acute mental health wards on evenings and weekends.

We're bringing Sip and Paint, Bingo, Fashion Parade and Board Games to patients, creating space for joy and expression during what can be a really difficult time.

Our hope is that when residents come back out into the community, they already know us, and feel ready to join in with what's happening on their doorstep.

We're so proud to be part of this alongside: Amuru, Come Out of Hiding, Enable, Floating Counselling, Genesis Impact, Key Changes, Maroon Fitness, Off the Ropes and PTP Usemi.

Read the full announcement via the link in our bio.

Join Nutan Rameshwari for a fabulous yoga class at the CVA Active Communities Hub, Upper Mall, Centrale Shopping Centre (opposite Starbucks).

Wednesdays 12.30pm - 1.30pm
Fridays 12pm - 1pm

All welcome. No experience needed, just come as you are.

Only £3 a session!

A great way to move your body, clear your mind and connect with others in the community.

Email [email protected] or call 07572 877 378 to find out more.

Health, community and good conversation, what a combination!

Knowledge 4 Practice was proud to support ARCC (Asian Resource Centre for Communities) to deliver a community health talk in Purley, and it was everything we hoped for: interactive, engaging and genuinely informative.

The health checks team reached more than 35 people on the day, covering self-care, mental health, mindfulness, nutrition and physical activity. The response was so positive that other organisations are already asking us to come and deliver the talk with them...watch this space.

We look forward to more joint work with ARCC as we tackle health inequalities across Croydon together, including support around weight management and long-term wellbeing.

Stronger communities start with better health.
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Calling all young cooks in Croydon!

We're so excited to be part of the Croydon Cooks Youth Award; a brand new cookery competition for young people aged 9–16, funded by and HAF, with Knowledge and Practice, and goodfoodmatterscharity

Through food, young people build confidence, creativity, teamwork and life skills, as well as celebrate the cultures and communities that make Croydon special.

Ingredients provided at every stage.

🎥 Stage 1: Make a short video about a dish that matters to you: deadline 6 August
🔪 Stage 2: Cook a two-course meal at your hub: Summer holidays
🏆 Stage 3: Grand Finale in a professional kitchen: Christmas holidays

Teams of up to 5 young people.
Applications close Sunday 5 July at 17:00.

Apply now 👇
https://forms.gle/TLcjNDdfzssgtdPSA

Questions? Email Gifty or Amanda:
[email protected]
[email protected]

We're going into the wards!

Knowledge & Practice has been selected as one of 10 community organisations to deliver wellbeing activities in South London and Maudsley's acute mental health wards as part of the VCSE Inreach Project.

Read the news here: https://slam.nhs.uk/pressreleases/ten-local-community-organisations-to-deliver-wellbeing-activities-on-our-acute-mental-health-wards-5527

We'll be bringing creativity and expressions, with: Sip and Paint, Bingo, Fashion Parade and Board Games to patients on evenings and weekends! Creating space for connection, creativity and fun during what can be a really difficult time.

We're so proud to be part of this
VCSE Inreach Project - South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, alongside:
Amuru, Come out of hiding, Enable, Floating Counselling, Genesis Impact, Key Changes, Maroon Fitness, Off the Ropes and PTP Usemi.

The VCSE Inreach Project brings local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations into slam wards to offer activities that support wellbeing, meaningful engagement and recovery during admission while encouraging people to reconnect with their local communities following discharge.

The programme will offer a range of creative, physical and wellbeing-focused sessions, designed in collaboration with ward teams and service users. Activities include:

-Group fitness and movement sessions adapted for wards
-Music-based workshops focusing on expression and enjoyment
-Therapeutic arts and creative writing sessions

These sessions will be delivered over evenings and weekends to introduce structured activities and reduce feelings of isolation and boredom.

Co-funded by Maudsley Charity and NHS England Inpatient Quality Transformation funding, this project will support the ten local groups to deliver activities that meaningfully engage our service users and support with their transition back into the local community.

A huge thank you to Courtney W and the team at Transport UK.
One of our much-valued volunteers recently lost his phone on the bus and was understandably very distressed. Courtney went above and beyond; putting out a call, tracking down the driver, and making sure our volunteer got his phone back safely.
It is a small act that makes an enormous difference to someone who gives so much to this community. It is also a reminder that there are truly dedicated, caring people in our city who look out for one another.
Thank you Courtney, your colleagues and for supporting your staff to be the very best they can be.
We are so grateful.

What a beautiful afternoon!

We had the joy of spending time with families who have sought asylum and the warmth and community spirit they brought was truly infectious.
A heartfelt thank you to Croydon Council for their funding, which helps make meaningful, dignified experiences like these possible.

The highlight...An incredible meal prepared by one of the parents, a professional chef, who shared their expertise and culture through food, cooking for the whole group. The families said it was "the best meal."

From a shared table to laughter and play in the park, the afternoon was a beautiful celebration of the skills, joy, and belonging that every family deserves.

A huge thank you to and all our incredible volunteers! Because of you, we continue to grow our reach and make a real difference.
This week we supported over 100 families with fresh produce, and we're so grateful for every pair of hands.
We're now also looking for donations of cooked meals to expand what we can offer. If you or your community can help, please get in touch, every contribution counts. Just drop us a DM.

Thank you to for your continued support. We couldn't do this without you.
🙏
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To donate or volunteer, drop us a message anytime.

Sunshine, flowers, and the most heartwarming afternoon.

Our learning disability community spent a beautiful day outside, learning the art of flower arranging, and creating stunning bouquets to gift to their carers as a little thank you.

And the good news doesn't stop there. Thanks to the wonderful for providing fresh vegetables, one of our community members has been learning to steam and cook their own meals! and the results are life-changing. Their doctor has noticed real improvements: weight loss, better diabetes management, and a whole new relationship with food. In their own words:

"It has helped my health and is changing my lifestyle. I look forward to Thursday foodbank."

This is why we do what we do. Real skills. Real change. Real community.

A huge thank you to and for funding this wonderful project and making moments like these possible. Your support opens doors, builds skills, and creates joy.

Here's to more days just like this.
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