Cllr Guilherme Rosa, Lambeth’s Deputy Mayor, worked with the Lambeth Portuguese Community Wellbeing Partnership, Brixton Reel film festival, The North Lambeth Local Care Network and the Lambeth Patient Participation Group Network to create a St Martin’s Day event for all the family. It included Portuguese folklore dancing, singing, films, football, music, science workshops, etc.
Information on health, work and more
Services and information available included Lambeth Council’s Regeneration Team talking about a major redevelopment to provide new homes in Stockwell, the Council’s Economic Inclusion team advising on employment opportunities for the Portuguese community, NHS healthcare and healthy living advice, Age UK, a carers charity, the police, the Stockwell Partnership and Millwall and Fulham football clubs
Making the news
It created a huge amount of interest in the Portuguese-speaking community – and not just in Lambeth. The Portuguese Ambassador attended, local community radio broadcast live, Portuguese journalists came and it made national Portuguese Television – mainly due being St Martins Day with free warm chestnuts! The Facebook post has over 25,000 views with multiple shares, likes and comments.
Chestnuts and food
50 Kilos of chestnuts got roasted, served and eaten – using a chestnut oven borrowed from local restaurant Serrana. 20 other local restaurants donated over 30 platters of food and 15 litres of wine. The partnership planned and set up the whole event in under a month.
A chance to meet
Kieron Boyle, CEO of Guy’s and St Thomas Charity – who funded the day, alongside Lambeth Council – called it:
“A great opportunity to bring together the Portuguese speaking community in Lambeth, and a chance to introduce the many local services and expertise available to them. Supporting events like these allows us to get closer to important local communities and really understand what matters to them when it comes to keeping happy and healthy.”
Next steps for the partnership
A follow-up meeting for the Lambeth Portuguese Community Wellbeing Partnership to discuss next steps will be between 3.30-5.30pm on 20 December 2017 at the Health Foundry in Waterloo, SE1 7LL (www.healthfoundry.org). This will be followed by a Christmas celebration between 5.30-8.30pm – if you would like to attend please email Will Nicholson wanicholson@gmail.com
More information
videos taken on the day give a taste of the activities and atmosphere.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xt7xxtl5hqxs0vq/IMG_3467.MOV?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0rgsn9a4vytrwa4/IMG_3484.MOV?dl=0
