Residents from the Unwin and Friary Estate in Peckham, London Borough of Southwark have been given the chance to take the lead in improving the Health and Well Being of their own neighbourhood thanks to “Well London”. Well London is a programme which works on estates throughout London to improve health and well being.

The programme has arrived on the Unwin and Friary and residents are being encouraged to develop their own health and well being project ideas in areas such as healthy eating, mental well being and physical activity.

£20,000 has been allocated by Well London for residents to apply to set up and run their own projects. This sum of money will be shared between successful projects. Young people aged 14 and over are particularly being encouraged to apply.

Residents will have a chance to consider and decide which applications are successful by voting for project ideas at a neighborhood event to be held at the end of March.

Ideas for projects will be submitted by application to Peckham Voluntary Sector Forum (PVSF) a local charity who is coordinating the Unwin and Friary Well London Programmme.

Applications can be submitted between now until 13^th March 2013 with the neighborhood voting event taking place on the 23^rd March.  Please click on  links for an application form Unwin and Friary Application form ; the application guidance notes Unwin and Friary Guidance Notes (A) ; and publicity leaflet Unwin & Friary Funding Publicity leaflet-a3

Some residents are already excited about the Well London idea and have already volunteered to do something about improving health where they live by forming a group called the Well London Delivery Team. The role of the group is to provide health improvement information and to encourage people to organise and participate in health improvement activities.

Delivery team member David Lessore says “It’s high time that our community got into action and came together to try and become healthier”Another Well London Delivery Team member Ijeoma Bono- Odo adds “Well London is bringing the community together to encourage healthier life styles”

David Reid, PVSF Well London Coordinator, said; “We will be working with individuals and groups in the community to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in Well London and take a lead in local decision-making. What we want is for people to take ownership of the projects that matter and to make this happen we have set up a process where residents can run their own projects and participate in voting for  the projects that mean the most to them.”

Residents will be able to pick up an application form a number of different locations in and around the Unwin and Friary Neighbourhood including Peckham Park Baptist Church, Leyton Square Adventure Playground, The Children’s Centre on Leyton Square , The Bird in the Bush Centre and Peckham Voluntary Sector Forum.