History of the Furzedown Project Established in 1975 By Norman Levinson MD

I am now very much a retired family medical practitioner; having worked for almost forty years in Mitcham Lane Streatham SW16, which is a suburb of London in the borough of Wandsworth. Early in 1973 there occurred an event, which made me aware of the great danger of isolation in the elderly. Such a couple were found in their house having died, probably about 24 hours earlier. The husband was a double leg amputee, a war casualty and had been looked after by his wife. They had become rather reclusive and had really cut themselves off from their neighbours. When this happens, in time these neighbors assume that no help is welcome and so they were left to cope by themselves. There had been a flu epidemic that winter and it seemed that they had both succumbed. It occurred to me at the time, that somehow this kind of situation should not have arisen. So I started compiling a list of all the elderly patients in the practice to try to discover if there was in fact a problem or even a potential problem of isolation.

I was extremely fortunate in having wonderful help. Attached to the practice were a very keen district nurse, an enthusiastic health visitor and a social worker who happily joined our little group. From the list of elderly patients in the practice we managed to extract about thirty or so names who we knew to be fairly socially isolated. We each took our quota and made arrangements to visit them, but before doing this we had to have some kind of plan. Our idea was to see if we could tempt them out to meet with each other say once a week. In order to do this, we required to find some kind of a hall, which we could use on a regular weekly basis for one afternoon a week. This was not an easy task as such premises needed to be on the ground floor with toilet facilities and a small kitchen where we could brew up hot drinks. After much searching there was only one such place and that was the Baptist Church Hall, which was just a few yards from the surgery, and being on the main road meant that it was easily accessible. The only problem was, that in the past, the church elders did not allow outside organizations to use their premises, but as this was a new idea they looked upon our scheme very favourably. Moreover they would not accept any payment as this was going to be for the benefit of the community and hopefully it would fill a need which at that time was lacking.

We knew that it was not going to be an easy task persuading these patients to venture out, but we devised a plan. The local council was asked if there was any possibility of us being lent two of the school buses just for about two hours one Wednesday afternoon in order to take these people for a run out to a local park. We explained why we wished to do this and that it would only be a one off venture. To our delight they agreed. We now had something to offer, and armed with this we visited our clients and put our suggestions to them. Eventually about thirty six accepted the offer after being visited two or three times. It was arranged that everyone would be picked up by cars, the buses would be outside the church to pick them up and they would be dropped back after about two hours when tea and cakes etc would be served if they would like to stay. All of us hoped that the appointed day would bring the sunshine, which is typical of mid June, and as luck would have it, it was perfect.

The trip was a great success. Dulwich Park was at its best. The sun had shone. The rhododendrons and the roses were in full bloom. All returned in good spirits and seemed to enjoy the tea which followed. They were then asked if they would all like to return the following week; this time there would not be a bus trip, but tea and biscuits would be provided. They agreed to this and at the next meeting they readily fell in with the suggestion that this could be a regular get together. However if this was to be so, we would try to make ourselves as independent as possible, which meant that we should not expect our volunteers to return to supply us with our refreshments, but they would continue to bring the housebound in by car. This being the case we would cater for ourselves which meant asking two or three people to come forward. I would bring in a supply of tea etc., but they would make and serve and of course lend a hand in the clearing up. A very nominal charge was made to pay for any future supplies.

The rather depressing feeling we had, was for the first two or three weeks there was very little social contact. They came each time and occupied the same seat they had used before and hardly any conversation took place unless one of us instigated this. We changed the seats around so that it was difficult to know where they had sat the previous week. Gradually as they became more involved with serving and making the refreshments, conversation started. They even discovered neighbours they had not seen for years and in two or three cases it transpired they had even been in the same school. We then put an idea to them, instead of paying for the refreshments; what if they were able to make things, then sell them at say a Christmas Bazaar and with the proceeds we could maybe organise a summer outing or two, or even a trip to a local theatre. It all seemed a bit too ambitious but it would give us something to aim for. This was agreed and a committee was formed with a secretary, treasurer and a chairperson. At that time I was involved with the Adult Education Institute and I was able to persuade them to let us have a tutor once a week for two or three hours. I acquired the use of a local school hall for a one off half day. Our tutor was able to prepare a whole range of ‘hands on’ practical demonstrations of different crafts so that our members could try their hand and then decide which would be most suitable for us. The additional attraction was the presence of the Mayor of Wandsworth who agreed to come wearing the official chain of office and who would open this workshop and stay for a while finding out what it was all about. In fact he stood at the door and welcomed all who came. This was a great fillip indeed. From this day on our group became established and I discovered that one of the men had been a physical training instructor during his army career. Unfortunately in recent years he had suffered from bouts of depression, but he was approached to see if he would hold a class for the members during the afternoon in order to keep them mobile. He agreed to do this. It was a great success and he looked forward to holding this session. His wife subsequently told me that giving him something constructive to do had made a tremendous difference to his outlook and he spent some time during the week devising different exercises and games. He continued to do this until well into his eighties, and to the best of my recollection did not succumb to any further depressions.

Our tutor also set about implementing what had appealed to the members at the school workshop. It was hoped that if this was a success it might be possible to hold a sale of work once a year and with the proceeds we would be self-sufficient. As our members grew more confident they started phoning and visiting each other. What began to happen was, in time of need there was always somebody they were able to phone for assistance. The great thing was, they returned in full numbers every week. Those who were able to come independently did so; the others were picked up by our volunteers. After a few months it became apparent that what they were making under the watchful eye of our tutor was of very good quality. In fact the local library volunteered to put on a display of their work which was great encouragement to all. The first sale of work generated great excitement. We were able to have posters done professionally and for nothing. The local shopkeepers willingly displayed them prominently so that most people in the area were aware of the coming event. On the appointed day everyone was apprehensive on two counts. They worried that very few people would come and even if they came would they buy anything. In fact it was very well attended and they pretty well bought everything. With some of the proceeds a very successful Christmas party was held to which all our voluntary helpers were invited, also the Mayor who had been such a help and the pastor of the church, to whom we were able to give a token donation as a measure of our gratitude. The sale of work and the party henceforth became annual events.

The committee met regularly and proper minutes kept and typed. Each person had a job. The treasurer kept an account of the cash and I deposited this into a Post Office Account in the name of the group which was called The Wednesday Friendship Club, and in all the time I have been associated with it, the spirit of true friendship has always been present. One of the several highlights of the year was a full day’s bus trip, which was organised by one of the committee. Either my nurse or myself went with them to make sure that all was well but eventually this was not really necessary but my nurse usually managed to organize her week so that she could go along to make sure all was well. Many of them had not been to the seaside for many years. These outings, the sale of work, and the Christmas party became established annual events. Sadly all the original members have passed on, but the group remains active and an annual Christmas lunch still takes place. Although this project was so successful it was really a rescue operation to bring a few isolated elderly persons together to socialize and to integrate them back into society. The next item on the agenda was to try to prevent such situations arising.

One morning in 1973 a young man presented himself at my surgery after I had finished a morning’s work. He had come from an organisation called Task Force in Battersea. Some how they had heard that I had a particular interest in the elderly and that I was at that time engaged in setting up what was about to become the Wednesday Friendship Club. He had gathered over the grapevine that I would be interested in setting up some kind of project which would actively involve most of the pensioners in our locality and would hopefully prevent such isolation from occurring in the future. This was the beginning of many meetings which at times seemed that all we were able to do was to talk and plan and that nothing more tangible would ever come of it.

We were fortunate in being able to obtain a representative from the local Law Centre and of course from Task Force without whom I am certain the project would never have materialised. The solicitor proved invaluable when it came to drawing up documents and advising us generally on legal matters and task force certainly kept the momentum going. Again we were able to involve the district nurse who was attached to the practice, my health visitor, a social worker and an occupational therapist from Wandsworth. The first and most important step was to find out if the relevant local population was in favour of such a scheme. What we did was to have three or four volunteers armed with tape recorders. On a predetermined morning they were to place themselves at strategic spots and to stop any person who appeared to be of pensionable age; to ask them if they would like to see set up a centre which would be open five days each week and would be run by people of their age group for themselves. There was an overwhelming majority in favour. This was the start of a lot of work that was going to prove very exciting.

A public pensioners’ meeting was arranged at the local Health Centre which was extremely well attended. Groups were formed led by those of us who were involved from the start, ideas were put forward as to what exactly would be the purpose of our proposals and what would be best way of bringing these to fruition. There was certainly a unanimous vote that we should go ahead and there were numerous offers of help. A steering committee was formed with representatives from each of the groups. They would work together with the originators until our project was in existence when a general meeting would be called when office bearers and a committee would be voted in. The first task was to try to get funding. We were optimistic, as the kind of project we envisaged was pretty unique. In fact we were unable to discover a similar one anywhere else. The committee met to discuss exactly our aspirations and after several meetings and many weeks we finally committed our ideas to paper. Our objectives were to acquire a local centre, which would be open Mondays to Fridays inclusive; to stimulate community care and to encourage a positive self-help image by the older person. To realise a positive role for themselves in the community and to be able to use specific skills possibly made redundant by retirement. We hoped to set up a kind of buying cooperative where we could buy foodstuffs at economical prices and especially cater for those living alone. We would introduce recreational and educational activities, either run by the members themselves or possibly supplied by outside agencies such as the local Adult Education Authority. One important avenue we hoped to explore was the visiting of the housebound elderly and if possible to bring them out to the centre where they would be able to participate; but in order to fulfill this last idea we would have to acquire some kind of transport.

We would also operate a limited advice centre where members could call in to seek help and if it was beyond our ability to deal with it ourselves we would be able to refer them on to the relevant agency.

These ideas were submitted to Wandsworth Council with an application for a grant to finance the project. They in fact were very sympathetic, and if we were able to find suitable premises and then present them with a proposed financial package and our aims, they would consider our case. A shop was found in the immediate locality, which would serve our purpose. We had it surveyed professionally and without charge and all was well. Our occupational therapist examined the rooms and presented a report as to what changes would be necessary to adapt the shop to our needs. Our solicitor advised us on the lease and rent. Tasks such as drafting a constitution, negotiating for premises and applying for charitable status were all handled most successfully. The facts were collated by Task Force and finally sent to the Council. I knew that the Mayor was in favour of the idea and that he would do his best to help. The application included a salary for a community worker. This we thought was vital for even with all the goodwill and offers of help from the senior citizens, our aims could not be achieved without someone with some knowledge of community care and who would be there full time. This would not detract from the fact that the centre would be run by the members for the members and the worker could be likened to that of a catalyst in a chemical reaction. We also asked that the grant include a sum for some kind of transport so that the housebound could be brought in. This was submitted to Wandsworth Council in 1973 and the salary of the Community worker was estimated to be £2000 and that of a part time secretary was £500. The rent of the proposed premises was £1000 and the total sum asked for was £7500, but this did not include a figure for the purchase of a vehicle or its running costs. The reason for this omission was that we had originally included this but were advised the Council would not accept it. The application for the grant was successful as was the subsequent acquisition of the premises, which were converted to the needs of the future members.

Up until then the regular meetings were held at my surgery and very occasionally at my house. The last recorded one that I was able to unearth took place on 25^th October 1974. The next meeting was to be the first of the annual general meetings which would be held in the local Baptist Church Hall and would be the venue of every such occasion since. We had in the meantime appointed our first worker. He was going to have a fairly daunting task since neither he or us really knew how things were going to work out. As it happened his appointment was really successful. He was a young Australian, the son of a Vicar "down under" and had a great empathy for our ideas. He became extremely popular with all the members during his year with us. At this first meeting it was gratifying that almost a hundred pensioners attended and many ideas were exchanged. Everyone was delighted to hear of the excellent progress that had been made and that the premises were ready for occupation and the Furzedown project was ready to start. The first committee was elected and their first meeting in the new premises was to take place a few days later. At this stage I would like to pay tribute to the Wandsworth Councillors who irrespective of which political party has been in power have always been extremely supportive and helpful, especially the late John Dixon. For many many years we have been also so lucky to have had the interest and on numerous occasions the help of our constituency member of parliament the Hon.Tom Cox. He has attended and spoken at many of the annual general meetings.

A few days ago I unearthed a memo which had been written many years previously by a member who had omitted to sign it. It concerned one of the many successful ventures, with the heading "The Project Co-operative Shop" which continues to this day. It is as popular as the day it started and I quote -" Way back in the early days of the Project, the idea was conceived of having a "shop" on the spot where members could purchase small items of non-perishable household goods."

At that time Wandsworth Borough Council was running a wholesale depot from which stocks could be purchased. It was agreed that the Council would supply and deliver the starting stock which would be sold at cost and replacements would then be bought from the depot. A team of volunteers was formed. Of course with the passage of time, the original volunteers dropped out but willing hands were always available. A major change came when the council decided to close its depot. They kindly allowed us to keep the cash and stock in hand and no time was lost in transferring our trading to the local cash and carry stores. I would add that by this time we had managed to raise £600 to purchase a second hand minibus of which, £100 had been donated by The Wednesday Friendship Club. They had an interest in this since it could hopefully be used to transport any of their disabled every Wednesday and could therefore be used to bring any less active members of the project to the shop. It would thus enable any housebound member to get out and make their purchases but also to meet others. Every Friday the minibus would go to the cash and carry and purchase stock replacement, extra volunteers were recruited to help load and unload the minibus. The team would go through the invoices and the goods priced so that they could be sold at cost. Come Wednesday morning they would be ready to greet the customers with a smile. The memo ends with the following – "Long may this continue as the importance of the shop cannot be over emphasized – not just as a money saving concern, but for its social benefits. It is a real pleasure to go into the project on a Wednesday morning and see some 40 or so of our members sitting around having a cup of tea or coffee, chatting away with old friends and relaxing from the cares of the world. This is really care in the community as the original team of founders envisaged."

The original minibus had a very limited life but it was nursed along for two or three years by a committee member who prolonged its viability by a great deal of tender loving care. We were then presented with a brand new vehicle by the Rotary Club of Streatham. I was asked to attend a lunch at which I was presented with the keys and it was with considerable trepidation that I drove it down to the project. It was agreed by the committee that henceforth a fund would be set up which would help to pay for the next vehicle. This has proved to be an excellent scheme. Although we have been very fortunate always to have had outside help towards the purchase, the members have each time raised the necessary amount successfully. There are so many aspects of the early days that I could relate which would possibly be of little interest now. A few are possibly worth recollecting. The first concerns the publication of a regular news sheet which was originally called The Moyser Mail which was produced every six weeks or so. We had acquired an old printing machine which successfully seemed to spread its ink all over the operator’s hands. The Mail contained all kinds of useful information as to the activities at the centre and many of the members contributed stories, recipes, etc. The person who was originally in charge of this had retired early on health grounds and was finding it a bit of a problem in finding something of interest to do. This was just the kind of thing he wanted and made a tremendous success of it. He was greatly missed when he succumbed to illness but there have always been others who have been able to continue the good work. This newssheet is still published regularly and there are always interesting articles and anecdotes contributed by the members.

The Minibus has played a tremendous part in the life of many of our members. During summer months regular day trips are undertaken to various coastal resorts; every week the housebound are brought in, as well as its function in keeping the weekly shop fully stocked. What must be admired and applauded is the way in which the vehicle was looked after by a member of the committee. What is more during all the, to my knowledge there has hardly ever been an occasion when a volunteer driver or escort has been found wanting.

A few years ago, it became apparent that the project had outgrown its home The premises next door became vacant and the committee persuaded the Council to allow us to take this over. This has been a tremendous boon to further development. There are many aspects I have not attempted to describe since I have not been personally involved in the so very successful growth and community spirit which this project has engendered in the area. It has been due to the dedication and enthusiasm of each committee and the members generally. This is reflected in the great effort made each year to raise the significant amount of money necessary to meet the shortfall between the council grant and the total expenditure. It is also reflected in the many genuine friendships struck and even one or two marriages made.

As I have already said, my object in writing this was to describe how these two projects were started and to indicate the team work that was involved from the start. I know it has all been really very worth while. The great success of the whole concept has been due to many factors. Would like to pay tribute to the continuing enthusiasm of all the members and as I have already said to the dedication shown by every committee since the start. We have always been lucky in the choice of Project Managers and their staff who have been so tremendously supportive and inventive that things have gone from strength to strength. Since the beginning it has always been a question of team work and we have had super teams. I have always felt very proud to have played albeit a small part in this.  

To bring Dr. Levinson’s story up to the present day and look at how the Furzedown Project and the Wednesday Friendship Club have developed over the years, I will start with the Wednesday Friendship Club. I am very happy that they continue to meet every Wednesday at the Project, after moving from Mitcham Lane Baptist Church in 1998 when the church was being refurbished. We still have members attending today that were recruited from Dr.Levinson’s days. It remains a very popular group with about 15 members meeting every week all year round, the only weeks they will not meet will be main holidays such as Christmas and occasionally at Easter.

As for The Furzedown Project I believe it has gone from strength to strength over the years. Since expanding the premises our membership has increased to approx. 300. Our big activity room gives us the ideal space to have regular classes which are supported by Wandsworth Adult Education Department. The weekly classes include Yoga, Relaxation, Keep Fit and Music and Reminiscence. We now also run a very popular weekly Tai Chi class, as well as classes that meet regularly for friendship, such as the Evergreen Club who meet every Tuesday to play bingo and have a cup of tea and a chat. We also have our keen artists who meet every Friday; our loyal Bridge Club who meet on a Thursday and our very popular Darts team who meet every Tuesday and Friday. Dr. Levinson has already mentioned the popularity of The Wednesday Shop and I also cannot emphasize enough how important this facility continues to be to many of our members. It also seems to go from strength to strength and we are all truly grateful for the hard work and commitment of all the volunteers who have kept it going over the years.

In May 2000 it was a small turning point for the Project when we received funding from Bridge House Estates Trust Fund to set up our own Home-Visiting Scheme. We were aware of at least 40 housebound members who we hoped we could provide a valuable service. Our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Julian Lloyd has now set up the visiting scheme, visiting many housebound people in the local area and also providing hospital visits and telephone support to many who are waiting to be allocated a volunteer.

The above account gives a brief outline of what the story of the Project is today. To look at why we continue to be so successful and why I hope we will continue to strive on, we only have to look at the true commitment, hard work and dedication of the volunteers and members involved in the project. This is reflected very clearly in the fundraising efforts made by the members. Although we are grateful to Wandsworth Council for their continued support, we are not fully supported by them and over the years we have had to find 10% of our expenditure. We are very grateful to the members for their continued efforts and support and are always nearly wholly responsible for most of the funds raised.

Since the introduction of the Home–Visiting Scheme we have recruited many more volunteers now reaching a total of 55. Many of the volunteers are still drawn from the Project membership. The ages of our volunteers now range from 20 to 85, most of them in the age range of 60 to 85.

The uniqueness of the Project is that the people running the service also benefit from the service provided and the dedication shown by the members ultimately shows how crucial they believe it is to their own well being and that of the well being of their neighbours. The Furzedown Project promotes health, maintains independence and most of all gives more control back to people over their own lives. The members and volunteers know more than anyone how important these things are as we get older and that is why they continue to turn up every day and I believe will do for a very long time yet!

As for the staff over the years, I think again Dr. Levinson is right when he said that the Project has drawn lots of people, each bringing something different and each supporting the project through inevitable change over the years.

I hope today we can look back with pride at what has been achieved over the years, and thank all the many people involved in making their Project the success it is today.

Margaret Joyce (Former Project Manager)