Handing over the Sunflower and Rose Café to Home Instead Croydon

It was very emotional handing over the Sunflower and Rose Café to Home instead Croydon this week. We had a lovely party to say goodbye to all the attendees that have been coming to our cafes in the Lambeth area. I would like to thank them all for making my role fun and teaching me so much.

The Sunflower Café started 5 years ago, with me and volunteers Nancy (Tony’s mother) and Mary. We started with just one attendee, and we now have a total of forty attendees coming to both the Sunflower and Rose Café weekly.

Three smiling women standing arm-in-arm in a room with wooden floors and white walls. - Home Instead

I would like to say thank you to all the Home-instead (Wandsworth) caregivers, who work alongside me at the cafés, and help to make the sessions a safe and engaging environment, for all.

A special thank you goes out to Angela, Gita, Modupe, Donna, Christine, Simone, and our volunteer Debra, who always goes above and beyond to contribute to our sessions. Debra, your support has not gone unnoticed, and I appreciate all your input.

Three women sitting at a table, smiling, with a mostly empty hall in the background. - Home Instead

I would also like to extend my thanks to the facilitators who run free sessions for us. Without them the café will not be the same:

Amy and Vicky (Frog Life)

Dave and Rosemary (Music therapy)

Nick (musician)

Mycal (memory Disco)

Norma (Poetry and memory box)

Sue and Brenda (Art and Knitting)

Anna Maria (SLAM Art Therapy)

Holly (Wallace collection)

Dulwich Picture House

Tayo (Ebony Life)

Four people smiling and holding sunflowers while standing on a wooden floor in a light-colored room. - Home Instead

As we move the Sunflower Café to the Balham Baptist Church, on the 6^th of September 2023. I am excited to continue collaborating with my caregiver team and current and new facilitators. I look forward to the new adventure, including setting up a café at Dulwich by the start of 2024.

Let us help to minimize isolation and increase holistic well-being for the over sixty-fives in these areas, like we have achieved in Lambeth.

Thank

Kemi Browne

(Community Engagement Manager)

A group of nine people stand indoors, smiling, with one person holding a bouquet of flowers. - Home Instead

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