Sunderland's African Caribbean Community Association got off to a flying start when it received £40,000 funding from money raised by Health Lottery North East and Cumbria. Since then, it has become the heart of this previously isolated community, providing chat, food and fun that brings people together.
But its work goes deeper than that, giving its members a real voice in the locality. “We started the association in 2017 as we felt there wasn’t a cohesive unit of people of African heritage in Sunderland and South Shields,” explains project worker Lucky Pemu. “It gave us confidence to take part in city-wide events and we were accepted by the community in Sunderland and got ourselves integrated into social, political and cultural activities in the North East.”
More than £120 million has been raised through The Health Lottery, supporting 3,200 grassroots projects across Great Britain – 200 of which are in the North East and Cumbria. And £157 million in prizes has been scooped by players. Even buying a £1 ticket helps raise funds that will benefit good causes like the African Caribbean Community Association.
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“Our centre is a place where we can meet and talk over a coffee or a bowl of pepper soup. The kitchen is the heart of it – the women here pride themselves on their cooking,” says Lucky.
Even during lockdown, people could pop into the centre, cook a hot meal and then take it home or to others who needed it. Now that restrictions are easing, the city centre location is once again becoming a buzzing hub.
“The funding meant we were able to cushion the stress that people faced during Covid,” says Lucky. “Here we talk, we laugh, there’s singing and dancing, there’s food and there are computers. We help improve people’s mental health and they feel less isolated.
“It’s a family unit. My daughter will come in on the way home from school and we have octogenarians. I take pride that we’ve bridged that gap in Sunderland, and we have reduced health inequality.”
Lucky recognised the importance of computer literacy in the community, and the centre offers training to all visitors.
“Two people have already found jobs with Tesco and we’re now liaising with the Job Centre to identify vacancies so we can train our members to fill them,” he says. Lucky is in no doubt that the funding received from People’s Health Trust with money raised through The Health Lottery made this centre for confidence-building, socialising and support what it is today.
“It’s my home. There’s no timetable, no opening time or closing time. You just come and talk and laugh and sing and eat. We’re always smiling.
“When you buy a ticket for The Health Lottery, I can tell you every penny raised is wisely spent. You are saving lives. You are reducing health inequality. You are giving somebody confidence. You are building a future for somebody. With confidence, a lifespan is increased, so I want to say thank you to the players of The Health Lottery."
Food, fun and friendship
“I’m fortunate to be working 25 hours a week, but I’m here 40 hours a week!” says project worker Lucky Pemu. “We’re based near the city centre, and on a weekend here you’ll always find people chatting. The women go straight to the kitchen and begin cooking, and you’ll find the men doing jobs around the place.
“In the week, you’ll find people at computers and kids come in after school. I can say 70 per cent of us, including the older generation, know how to use a computer now and they can apply for jobs.
“They say in Africa on market days you don’t need a town crier because people just gather. That’s what happens here. It’s a real morale booster.”
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