The first in our new series, Stars of our Story, features Kensington and Chelsea over 50’s Forum. A massive thank you to Mel Christodoulou and Zara Ghods for taking time out to share this with us.
Look out for more stars in coming weeks!
Zara, Kensington and Chelsea over 50’s Forum:
"Our members are amazing people. People who have achieved things, and lived full lives. And yet as they’ve grown older, isolation has often crept in through the simple circumstances of life.
Loneliness can lead to isolation. When you’ve been lonely for a long time, it becomes much harder to join back in again. Then the lack of mobility, resources and social networks can create a spiral that becomes increasingly difficult to climb out of as you age. That’s where the Forum comes in.
We invite people to take part in our programmes including talks from doctors and health specialists, arts sessions, and history discussions. Most importantly, we see them and value them. We help restore a sense of identity and belonging, gently reminding them that they are living in one of the most vibrant places in the world.
Just look around RBKC; it has everything.
Part of my job is making sure this Forum exists long into the future. When I started we had 96 members. Today we have around 2,500. And I will say this very clearly: every single day I am thankful that Kensington and Chelsea Social Council has played a central, though often quiet, role in that growth.
I say quiet because they are led by a quietly effective leader. She leads a team who are the backbone of the voluntary sector in RBKC.
All of the local voluntary sector has been helped by them at some point through their fo rums, their advice, their training, or simply knowing we can call when we need help.
Our work is powered by volunteers. Many have attended KCSC’s trainings, meetings and events. Some assumed their ‘learning days’ were over once they reached a certain age, but in this borough we have so many people who still want to contribute they just need the opportunity.
KCSC often acts as the connector. They bring organisations together, introduce us to people we may never otherwise meet and give us a place at the table.
Those meetings at the Town Hall matter. Older residents sitting around those tables, sharing their views on policy and services, sometimes holding decision-makers to account when needed because older people can easily be sidelined.
But our members are not wallflowers. They have experience, knowledge and insight to offer.
I’ve also worked across London and I can honestly say this level of support for the voluntary sector doesn’t exist everywhere. Their approach is open always asking how we can work together, how we can bring funding into the sector, or how we can collaborate on projects.
One particularly meaningful moment for us was receiving the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services 2017. The team at KCSC supported the application that helped secure this special recognition for the Forum, and it has made a significant difference to our charity.
Residents may not always know the name KCSC because much of their work happens behind the scenes, but they support the organisations that serve this borough every day.
And that support makes a real difference."
Behind many of the borough’s strongest charities, you’ll often find KCSC quietly supporting them.