Nigel Poole

Who will stand in the gap? - Ezekiel 22:30

The Living Well Standing in the Gap

The Living Well

17 years ago The Revd. Dr Nick Reed moved in the vicarage at Holy Trinity Penge, having previously served in Tower Hamlets working with those on the fringes of the community including the homeless. One winter, early into his ministry, six homeless people regularly came to the church seeking help. Warm drinks, lunch and conversation took place effectively 'birthing' The Living Well.

Living well is a caring community that aims to be a place where people feel respected, valued, accepted and loved. Their objectives are to provide a safe and welcoming environment for vulnerable men and women, working with partners to support people with different needs, including poverty, social isolation, homelessness and mental health issues including addictions.

Their services are free to use and include a foodbank, a clothes bank, a weekly community meal, a community choir and community garden, counselling and mental health support, help with addictions and providing advice and support with benefits and housing.

Living well serves the entire community and works with a number of diverse partners to ensure they reach as many people in need as possible, with all aspects of their lives taken into account (physical, emotional and spiritual).

This approach to the whole person is at the heart of their vision and values.

The Location - Holy Trinity Penge SE20

The Volunteers - Living Well has grown so that there are now over 200 volunteers.

Supporting Those in Need - Foodbank & Home Deliveries

During 'normal' times the Living Well we see over 200 guests visit them every week for their food bags. During the first lockdown (March 2020), they saw a drop of approximately 12% in numbers visiting the foodbank due to self-isolation and shielding, but an increase in the number of new registrations, particularly families.

So they introduced home deliveries for those self-isolating and made over 1000 food deliveries between March and December 2020 as well as giving additional support to St Hugh's Community Centre where they supplied 188 family food boxes between April and July 2020.

The Guests - Respected, Valued, accepted and Loved - [restricted views due to sensitivity]

Community Meal

In previous years, the community lunch was always the highlight of the week, where up to 100 guests would get a home-cooked meal every Friday and the time to sit together and socialise. For some this would be the only cooked meal they would have all week and the one opportunity to mix with friends.

Due to the need to socially distance the meal is now a takeaway hot meal served with a smile and a homemade cake for pudding. However, it is still as popular as ever with the busiest day seeing over 130 people fed.

BLEND Choir

Throughout lockdown, Living Well have kept caring and looking out for each other, lifting each other up, over the phone or socially distanced sharing their creative writing, musical inspiration, and achievements.

Since late April 2020, a piano has been wheeled out on a Friday lunch time. With mostly dry weather people have made music, supported by Sali-Wyn Ryan, a local violinist from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This resulted in the first Living Well BLEND festival - two online concerts from Holy Trinity a mix of Classical Popup's interspersed with stories and poetry.

"Out of adversity comes opportunity" - Benjamin Franklin

Going Against the Flow

A Slow Shutter Speed Walk the Wrong Way!

Refracted Street Art

Street Art Penge

Refracted Sunset

Sunset Crease Park Beckenham - 25 January 2021

Lectio Divina - [Latin - Divine Reading]

Pause - to be still, Rejoice - with a Psalm, Reflect - on the Bible, Ask - through prayer - Yield - to His will

Pause - to be still

Lectio Divina - [Latin - Divine Reading] - meditation on the Bible based on a traditional monastic tradition that has been used by Christians for centuries - a rhythm for life.

Pause - to be still; Rejoice - with a Psalm; Reflect - on the Bible; Ask - God to help us and others; Yield - to His will in our lives.