Reach and Connect news archive

Haringey community groups and individuals recognised with awards for supporting people with dementia 

10 local groups and an individual have received Haringey Loneliness Awareness Award in June 2026. 

On Monday 15th June at 12 noon in Transmitter Hall, Alexandra Palace, 10 local groups and an individual were presented with special awards by the Mayor of Haringey, Councillor Dawn Barnes to recognise their contribution to tackling loneliness and social isolation in Haringey through their compassion, innovations, support and outreach. 

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Reach and Connect support local VCS initiative 

Paul Higgins, Community Connector at Reach and Connect, has recently supported with Ariam Shed, a community workshop dedicated to the repair, restoration, and upcycling of furniture. Haringey Community Collaborative, delivered by Public Voice and Mind in Haringey, is also supporting the new initiative. 

Located within Clements House in Northumberland Park, Ariam Shed is a community workshop dedicated to the repair, restoration, and upcycling of furniture. The initiative provides a welcoming and inclusive environment where residents can develop practical skills, build confidence, enhance their wellbeing, and contribute to reducing waste through creative reuse. 

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Haringey Loneliness Awareness Week Awards 2026 

As part of Haringey’s annual Loneliness Awareness Week programme, the Reach and Connect team established a celebration award and ceremony. 

The awards recognised groups, organisations and individuals who contributed to tackling loneliness and social isolation in Haringey through their compassion, innovations, support and outreach. 

Each year the focus is on a particular type of support, which for this year was support for people living with dementia and their carers by building positive social connections and reducing loneliness. 

10 groups and individuals were nominated and chosen to receive an award. They were: 

• Café Palais at Alexandra Palace for their free 1920s café concept and monthly event with artistic activities and refreshments for older people, people living with dementia, and their carers. 

• Cypriot Centre Dementia Friendly Groups for providing the opportunity for people living with dementia to engage socially with others in a supportive and friendly environment. 

• Hilldene Court Memory Café for their relaxed, comfortable, social gathering, that enables people experiencing memory loss, their loved ones and carers, to connect, socialise and get together. 

• Home Instead for their ‘Cup Full of Memories’ café for older adults, including those living with dementia, offering a relaxed and friendly environment for sharing stories, meeting new people, or enjoying a quiet cup of tea. 

• Kissing it Better Calendar and Online Carers Events for their bi-monthly digital and printed calendar (with over 100 regular activities for residents age 55+), their twice weekly online carers groups, and face to face visits with elderly patients at Whittington Hospital. 

• Park Theatre Dementia Friendly Programme for the welcome, connection, activities and joy they provide for people living with dementia and their companions. 

• Sensing A Place – Hands on Heritage for People Living with Dementia for their interactive sessions with reminiscence and group discussion on familiar topics that spark conversation. 

• Singing for the Brain for bringing people affected by dementia together to enjoy singing songs they may know and love, in a fun, friendly and social environment. 

• Ted Meyer for his dedication and commitment to visiting patients and performing for them. His commitment and compassion are greatly appreciated by hospital patients, their families, and staff. 

• The Unpaid Carer Shanty Crew (North London) – An unpaid carers group who change the words of sea shanties to reflect their experiences as carers. Their aim is to encourage a network of unpaid carer shanty crews across the UK to gather and renew words to reflect their own experiences. 

The awards were presented at a ceremony and launch event for Loneliness Awareness Week on Monday 15th June at Transmitter Hall, Alexandra Palace. 

The week of activities highlighted the importance of talking about loneliness, reducing the stigma that surrounds it, and encouraged people to support each other. 

Community Connector Ashley Grey from Haringey Reach and Connect lead the event in collaboration with Alexandra Palace’s Cafe Palais. 

Community Café Helps Bereaved Resident Find Purpose and Connection 

When a Haringey resident in his seventies lost his wife unexpectedly, his life was transformed in an instant. Grief left him isolated, disconnected from his friends, and struggling to find meaning in daily life.  

That changed when he discovered Reach and Connect’s Over 50s Conversation Café. The weekly sessions provided a safe and welcoming space where people can talk, listen, and share their experiences. Initially quiet and withdrawn, he gradually opened up, finding comfort in conversations and companionship.  

“It is always a pleasure to come to the Thursday Conversation group,” he shared. “The contact with interesting people from different backgrounds is stimulating… It is good to talk, as they say! And to listen! The kind and friendly atmosphere is much appreciated.”  

From Participant to Community Leader  

As his confidence grew, so did his involvement. He began helping with refreshments, greeting new members, and contributing actively to group discussions. Before long, he stepped into a co-facilitator role, supporting others through their own challenges and helping organise community events.  

The impact of the café has been profound:  

• Emotional Well-being: Reduced loneliness, improved mood, and a renewed sense of purpose.  

• Social Integration: Expanded friendships and meaningful social interactions.  

• Empowerment: A transformation from participant to volunteer leader.  

His story highlights the healing power of connection. As author Parker J. Palmer says, “This story reminds us that connection can heal—and that every act of participation brings hope.”

Celebrating Healthy Ageing at Haringey’s Age Well Festival 

On 20 September 2025, Bruce Castle Park and Museum hosted Haringey’s second Age Well Festival, an event that brought together older residents to celebrate community, wellbeing, and the joys of healthy ageing. 

The festival, organised in partnership with Haringey Council, Public Voice, Haringey Reach and Connect, and several creative and voluntary organisations, offered a vibrant programme of activities designed to both celebrate older communities and shine a light on the importance of ageing well.  

A Day of Connection and Celebration  

Kicking off at midday, the festival invited visitors to take part in creative workshops, wellness sessions, live music, dance, and performances. More than just entertainment, the activities encouraged older adults to embrace healthy lifestyle choices, challenge ageist stereotypes, and explore the wide range of services available to support their wellbeing.  

The Age Well Festival sent a clear message: older residents are a valued and vital part of Haringey’s community.  

Promoting Health and Positive Change  

Ahead of the event, Haringey Reach and Connect worked to raise awareness about the benefits of making positive lifestyle changes later in life. Their focus was on highlighting the support, services, and opportunities available to improve health outcomes for older residents, particularly for those most at risk of developing long-term conditions.  

One of the festival’s central themes was tackling health inequalities in Haringey. The borough’s 2023 Public Health Report identified particularly high levels of long-term conditions in the east, where diverse communities face elevated rates of diabetes (8.4%) and hypertension (12.6%)—both above GP Federation averages. The festival sought to shine a spotlight on these challenges while promoting pathways to healthier, more connected lives. 

Celebrating Age Without Limits Day 2025 

The annual Age Without Limits Day is a moment for us all to come together and take action to end ageism. Initiated by The Centre for Better Ageing, it highlights that Ageism is the most widespread form of discrimination in the UK.   

Between 2024 and 2025, half of people over 50 in England experienced age discrimination. Older job applicants are less likely to be hired or receive training and older people receive different medical treatment or don’t seek help because they assume it is a normal part of ageing.  

Haringey Reach and Connect, delivered by Public Voice in partnership with Mind in Haringey to support residents aged 50 and over, saw the day as an opportunity to recognise the value and contributions that older people make in their communities and to look at the different ways we can learn about each other and tackle stereotypes. 

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Artful Codgers receive new funding to continue bringing joy through art 

The Artful Codgers art group was given a fresh boost with funding for eight additional sessions, thanks to Haringey Circle. This followed the overwhelming success of last year’s workshops, led by Alice from Haringey Reach and Connect.  

Held weekly in Bounds Green, Artful Codgers is a relaxed and inclusive art group where older participants can explore different artistic mediums in a pressure-free environment. The focus is on expression, experimentation, and enjoyment.  

The group met at Shaftesbury Hall, near Bowes Park station. This location was chosen by Haringey Reach and Connect to fill a gap in activities for older residents in the area.  

The group supported 10 to 11 participants with a waiting list in place. It was further enriched by the help of Natika, a dedicated volunteer, and Zak, an intern from King’s College.  

Beyond creative expression, the sessions build confidence and independence, and encourage members to take ownership of the group.

Haringey Age Well Festival launches in celebration of older residents 

On 13th May 2025, over 100 people attended the launch of this year’s Age Well Festival 2025 at Alexandra Palace. The venue, which only seats 60, was packed beyond capacity with older Haringey residents from both the east and west of the borough, as well as Haringey Councillor and professionals working across health, wellbeing, and community services.  

The launch event highlighted the growing need for initiatives that empower older adults, celebrate ageing, and strengthen intergenerational bonds in the community.  

The evening began with a creative sash-making workshop, followed by a welcome address by Councillor Emily Arkell, Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities and Leisure, who touched on the collaborative spirit of the event.  

Key presentations followed from Polly Frayne, Programme Manager for Haringey Reach and Connect, and Emma Betts, Community and Partnerships Engagement Officer for Haringey Parks and Leisure Service. They outlined the goals and successes of the Age Well Festival 2024, emphasising its unique approach of being led by and for older people.  

Festival alumni also shared their experiences from last year’s Age Well Festival, including:  

• Luisa Brands, CEO of Oldalone UK;  

• Lily Labonte, Active Wellbeing Officer;  

• Anita Yiannoullou of Haringey Walks.   

A closing Q&A was hosted by Councillor Lucia das Neves, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, and Wellbeing, who, expressed support for the event’s role in promoting active and connected ageing.  

Guests were then invited to enjoy refreshments, engage in more creative workshops, and leave personal pledges about how they plan to age well.  

The Age Well Festival 2024 has already made a measurable impact:  

• Over 600 attendees to date  

• 10 delivery partners  

• 40+ partner organisations and groups  

• 6 funders  

• 60 volunteers  

Designed as a joyful celebration of later life, the festival seeks to raise the profile of older people, showcase skills, foster social connections, share information creatively, and build intergenerational ties.

Kicking Off the Age Well Festival 2025 

In March 2025, the Haringey community gathered at Bruce Castle Museum in Tottenham to mark the official launch of the Age Well Festival Project 2025, coinciding with Haringey’s Women’s History Month. The event – a collaboration between Reach and Connect and Haringey Council – paid tribute to the success of the previous year’s Age Well Festival and looked ahead with renewed energy and creativity.  

The afternoon brought together residents, artists, and activists for a special exhibition showcasing highlights from the 2024 Age Well Festival. Guests enjoyed drinks and refreshments while viewing a collection of images and creations that captured the spirit of last year’s celebration. A series of short talks and a presentation reflected on the 2024 Report and outlined the exciting plans for the year ahead. You can read the report here.  

Central to the launch were two banner-making workshops, inspired by the theme of “Women in Protest.” Participants, many aged over 50, were invited to craft banners that will lead this year’s Purple Parade. The workshops were filled with conversation, creativity, and collaboration.  

The launch event encouraged attendees to contribute their own ideas and pledges for the festival, reinforcing the message that the Age Well Festival is a space for all voices, especially those of older women, to be heard and celebrated.

Celebrating Men on the Move 

In October 2024, Reach and Connect spoke with Sam, a Social Prescriber who worked for South West Haringey Primary Care Network, and Guillaume, a member of Men on the Move and now a Walk Leader, about their experience of the men’s focused walking group.  

Men on the Move is a walking group specifically for men in the borough of Haringey. The group has been a joint effort between Sam and Paul Higgins, a Community Connector at Haringey Reach & Connect. 

The aim of the walk is to combat loneliness in older men, build their self-esteem, help them get fitter and connect them with other activities and services locally. 

Watch the video to find out more about the walking group and the impact it has had. 

Celebrating Healthy Ageing at the Age Well Festival 

The inaugural Age Well Festival brought a sense of community to Haringey, which took place 21 September at Bruce Castle Park and Museum. The festival was designed to connect older residents of Haringey and highlight the importance of ageing well.  

Organised in partnership with Haringey Council, Public Voice, Haringey Reach and Connect, and a host of creative and voluntary sector organisations, the festival delivered a fun array of activities that celebrated older communities while raising awareness about healthy aging.  

A Day of Connection and Celebration  

Starting from 12 PM, the festival featured creative and wellness activities, live music, dancing, and performances. It offered older adults an opportunity to challenge ageist stereotypes, embrace healthy lifestyle choices, and connect with services and programs that promote well-being. The Age Well Festival made a bold visual statement about the value and importance of older residents in the community.  

Raising Awareness and Promoting Positive Change  

In the lead-up to this inaugural festival, Haringey Reach and Connect raised awareness about the benefits of positive lifestyle changes for older adults. Their goal was to promote a wide range of services and activities that enhance health outcomes and well-being for older residents, especially those at risk of long-term health conditions.  

A significant focus of the festival was on reducing health disparities in Haringey, particularly in the eastern parts of the borough where communities are more diverse and face higher rates of conditions like diabetes and hypertension. The 2023 Haringey Public Health Report highlighted these disparities, revealing that communities in the east had the highest diagnosed rates of diabetes (8.4%) and hypertension (12.6%), both well above the GP Federation averages.  

Bridging the Health Gap  

In collaboration with the Haringey GP Federation Health Inequalities Team, Reach and Connect took the message of healthy aging directly into these communities. By listening to residents and understanding the barriers they faced, the partnership sought to address the health gap and encourage engagement with wellness services.   

The festival offered workshops, health screenings, and educational opportunities, giving residents access to essential information about services that could support their well-being.