Bring Me sunshine is a collaboration of different churches coming together to provide activities and events for older people in the community to help combat isolation and loneliness and promote health and wellbeing ,all of which are Dementia friendly. Bring me Sunshine is about bringing sunshine and cheer to older people in Catford.

It started several years ago under the scheme of Holidays at Home, creating a holiday type experience without leaving the community, based around hospitality, entertainment, physical exercise and Reminiscence.  Each event saw between 80 and 100 older people attend.

The Diamond club a weekly older peoples club based at Holy cross initially coordinated this but the project with the support of the local council, Public Health Lewisham and church leaders has recognised the benefits of these events for older people as well as the volunteering team which has grown to 30 plus from the  local community and  now has five churches involved.

The churches initially involved were Holy Cross Catholic church, 208  Sangley Rd, Catford, SE6 2JS, St Andrews the apostle church, Sandhurst rd., Catford, SE61XD and Brownhill rd., Baptist church, SE61AU, this year we have expanded and St Laurence church, 37 Bromley Rd, Catford, SE62TS and the Salvation Army, 23, Brownhill rd., Catford, SE62HE have  joined us.

 December 2023

 Bring Me Sunshine apologises for the lack of updates on its website over the last year. The team have been working very hard connecting with 100s of older adults through its monthly fun filled events in different church halls with lively entertainment and warm hospitality, outreach and telephoning befriending and partnering with wonderful projects across Lewisham to keep lifting spirits. We hosted a huge intergenerational Windrush event in June for 140 people and delivered Quadrille dancing from Januka, drumming from Happy drums and intergenerational dancing from Goldsmith’s dance academy.

100 elders enjoyed a silver Ball with wonderful entertainment from Peachy Beat.

Outings to the theatre and especially the pantomimes at college park players brought joy and laughter.

 A week’s holiday to Llandudno and a trip up Snowdonia was a highlight of 2023 for 80 people.

Magazines to 200 mainly isolated elders have been received monthly and more recently quarterly.

The coordinator has had a packed year and in June was given the honour of the British Citizens award the BCA in Westminster palace. “Laughter is medicine for the soul” and that’s a big part of Bring Me