(more…)

Why did you decide to apply for a flat here?

I was living in an almshouse in Notting Hill, but they sold the building and we all had to move out. Their plan was to use the money to build a bigger almshouse to accommodate more people. In the meantime, they were going to house us in alternative accommodation, but that was going to be miles away in North London.

I simply didn’t want to go. I’ve always lived in this area, and my daughter lives in Hammersmith. Miraculously, I knew about Hammersmith United Charities’ other almshouse, Sycamore House, so my daughter went to see the Scheme Manager Chris. While there wasn’t a flat available in Sycamore House, luckily one came up in John Betts. I was so grateful. And I must say, I am very happy with my little flat. It’s absolutely lovely.

What makes you happy with the flat?

When I came to see the flat, it had been occupied for a very long time, so I asked if they could possibly repaint it all white. They did that, so I have this smart little drawing room, and they also put in a new kitchen and new bathroom. It’s just heaven.

It is a little on the small side; I had to get rid of an awful lot of my furniture, but other than that it’s perfect. My daughter is nearby and my three grandsons come to have supper, which is lovely.

Do you like the outside space?

The garden is wonderful and I have a gorgeous ginkgo tree just outside my front door, which gives me huge pleasure. I’m quite disabled, so I can’t do much gardening, but I did bring a rose bush with me from my previous garden, and two camellia bushes, which are sitting on either side of my front door.

It’s a marvellous setup really – a wonderful oasis in the middle of a busy city. It’s so quiet and I feel very safe here.

Have you met many of the other residents?

I’ve met one or two, who have been tremendously kind. I went to the Macmillan Coffee Morning. One can go to weekly coffee mornings, but they’re a bit early for me.

Do you feel that you’ve been welcomed by the Scheme Manager and other Hammersmith United Charities employees?

Everybody has been so helpful and nice. I’m just so relieved I made this choice and that they were able to accommodate me. I’m extremely happy here.

Find out more about living in one of our almshouses

Atinuke (fondly called Tinu by her friends) is the Scheme Manager at John Betts House.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 

I moved to London from Nigeria 32 years ago and have been working in health and social care for 23 years, focusing on mental health, social care and housing. I am passionate about making a positive impact on people’s lives.  

I have four wonderful children and what I call my ‘community family.’ As a Sunday school teacher, I love listening to people and sign-posting them to the help they need, as many struggle alone. It’s fulfilling to use my skills and training to support my community. 

And what does your job at Hammersmith United Charities entail? 

I started at John Betts in July 2023. My primary role is to ensure that residents have a safe and secure home, making sure everything is functioning properly and that everyone is well taken care of. I also assist residents with applications for adaptation aids and Housing Benefit, and I have good professional relationships with our local surgeries. Residents know they can always come to us for support. 

We host weekly coffee mornings, and on the first Thursday of each month, we enjoy fish and chips together. On the last Thursday, one of our residents cooks a meal for everyone. And I look forward to more resident-led activities in the coming year.  

It must be reassuring for residents and their families to know that you’re here to offer support? 

It’s incredibly reassuring. For instance, when one resident was in the hospital, I checked in regularly, asking if there was anything I could help with. Another resident, who has a life-limiting illness, often tells us, “If it wasn’t for the support that is available living here, I don’t think I’d still be here.” It is reassuring to know that residents value the offered support, and it gives families peace of mind, which comes back to me been satisfied with the work I do. 

You must get to know some of the residents really well? 

Absolutely! They get to know us too. For example, now that my younger daughter is at university, residents often ask how she’s doing, and they share pictures of their grandchildren or stories of their university life, which are always very interesting to listen to.   

Do you enjoy working for Hammersmith United Charities? 

Yes, I truly feel we are a supportive team. I lost my sister last year, and the level of support I received, particularly from the Chief Executive, was beyond what I expected. Even though I hadn’t completed my probation, I felt encouraged to express my grief, and their support helped me feel at home here. I’m proud to be part of this team and the impact we make in the community is amazing. 

I believe you ran activities at John Betts House to celebrate Black History Month? 

Every Tuesday, we watched stories highlighting the contributions of Black individuals to our area. Despite the discrimination they faced, such as signs saying, “No dogs, no Blacks, no Irish,” their impact has been significant. Residents engaged with the videos, reminiscing and sharing memories, and we enjoyed tea and cake together afterward! 

Do you have any Black heroes? 

I greatly admire Nelson Mandela. He inspires me with his resilience; despite his struggles, he always saw hope. His journey reminds me not to give up on myself. As a Black person, I believe in the importance of resilience – keeping your head high and believing in yourself is essential. In my role, we receive training in dignity, diversity and inclusion, promoting equality and acceptance for everyone.  

We asked one of our residents, Clodagh, about Tinu. She said, “From the first day she arrived, it was clear that Tinu had brought with her a deep knowledge of community living and the needs of residents – support, a listener, a problem-solver, and a proactive approach to health and wellness, both physical and mental.  

“She walks smiling into any meeting and lights it up with ideas, plans and information, and leaves us to decide. She absolutely owns her role in a sometimes difficult and complex job.”  

Find out more  

You can watch a video about Hammersmith and Fulham’s Black history here. 

How long have you been living in Hammersmith?

I arrived in Hammersmith in winter 2001. I was born in Madrid, Spain, on the 5^th of November. When I first heard the huge Bonfire Night celebration in a park here, I was stunned, and more so when my friends explained to me the history behind that date. Since then, I have celebrated my birthday with Guy Fawkes night and the sound of firework displays at London parks.

I went to Camberwell College of Art and studied a Master’s in Paper Conservation that I enjoyed a lot. Caring and protecting old books, photographs and paintings with my hands was an extraordinary experience that I have kept in my heart.

Are you retired or are you still working?

Very probably, I am retired now, but as my main job was, and still is, to study, I am lucky and I continue studying, with less compromise now, but still with a lot of pleasure. So I could say that I am retired and also working… or more likely neither!

Why did you apply for a home at John Betts House?

First of all, for my health. My heart deterioration made it impossible to continue living with a lot of stairs, garden, etc and the doctors suggested that I live in a better place to manage my heart condition. My main concern was to continue living in Hammersmith, where I have lived for all my time in London. A friend of mine spoke to me about John Betts House.

Do you feel that you’ve been welcomed to John Betts?

Since the first day, I could feel a good energy, vibration and environment at John Betts, Sycamore House and Hammersmith United Charities as a whole. Personally, I have received all the help needed to establish my new life here, with the paperwork, the logistics and the daily routine. I have felt myself listened to, cared for, and treated with a high respect for my life, my own space and decisions.

What do you think of your new home?

My new flat is by a lovely point of the garden where I can see the different flowers and plants changing colour and forms. I can see also my neighbours and talk to them and enjoy their plants and produce in their pots, like chillies and small tomatoes.

Behind the house, is the allotment with vegetables and aromatic plants. Three gardeners take care of them and they encourage us to take care of the beds during the time the plants are growing.

Now I feel a little stronger, I would like to plant some vegetables in spring. The gardeners show the best disposition to help me.

The flat itself is comfortable, safe and very adequate for my needs. The kitchen is wide enough and I enjoy cooking in it. The flat is also very bright and warm. I feel that I am in a friendly and calm space.

Have you met any of the other residents?

Yes, there are a lot of spaces where you can meet with the other residents, and always when I need something like information, or when I meet them at the laundry or allotment, I have always found them to have the best disposition and friendly answers. I think they are attentive and respectful.

Have you been to any of the activities that are organised?

Until now, my participation has been irregular due to the conditions of my health, but now I hope to assist more regularly. I have been to some coffee mornings and other meetings at John Betts and Sycamore House, but unfortunately less than I would have wanted.

What do you think of the location?

It is a neighbourhood where people are happy living here. Many of my friends live nearby. I enjoy the diversity, the old factories and breweries, art and film studios, the number of workshops and craftsmen, small museums (such as Emery Walker’s House and William Morris’), squares, pubs, houses and old facades. I also appreciate all the old trees, Bishop’s Park, the long walk along the river under the old trees and the continuous changes of scenery.

The small shops, fishmongers, hospital, good transport and other services, along with the almost absence of hills or slopes, make it very convenient.

The Upper Room began as a trestle table of sandwiches outside a church. 34 years later, it offers a suite of services for socially disadvantaged people. The charity also hosts other local organisations, such as Glass Door and Citizens’ Advice, to ensure people can access the information they need to move forward.

One of The Upper Room’s key aims is to support people on their journey towards gaining a secure job. In many cases, the charity’s clients face multiple barriers to employment, from not being able to speak English, to a lack of digital skills, UK-recognised qualifications and work experience. Those with a criminal history often face additional barriers, so as part of its package of support, The Upper Room enables ex-offenders to get their driving licence and gain work experience through volunteering.

CEO Iain Cooper shares, “This year, 44 ex-offenders have gained their licence through us. Doing so significantly improves their employment chances, which helps them to stay away from crime.”

Suicide prevention

One of The Upper Room’s newest programmes aims to reduce the risk of suicide for Polish men aged 40 to 60. Iain explains, “As a group, these men are particularly vulnerable to suicide, partly because of a macho culture where men don’t discuss their feelings.”

The Upper Room has partnered with mental health charity Rethink to offer counsellor-led safe spaces when men can share their experiences. Most of the men who take part are homeless and many struggle with alcohol mis-use. Iain says, “We’ve seen a tangible difference in the men; the mood has started to lift. One of the men is a rough sleeper who’s been a regular at The Upper Room for a long time. He was starting to have severe mental health issues. He came to the group but didn’t say anything for three or four weeks. One day, we sang Polish folk songs together. Someone was taking photographs and in one of the photos this man is smiling. Nobody here had ever seen him smile before, and he couldn’t remember the last time that he’d done it.”

Funding

The Upper Room receives no government funding and has seen a significant increase in need over the last few years. The number of people sleeping rough in London has more than tripled since 2008/9. In Hammersmith & Fulham alone, 462 people were found to be sleeping rough in 2023/24.

Iain shares, “In 2022, we served around 20,000 hot meals to people who were homeless or experiencing food poverty. In 2023, that increased to just shy of 33,000. We’re expecting to serve closer to 40,000 meals this year.”

HUC launched the Flexible 3 Year Grants (F3YG) programme to make it easier for charities to cope with the increase in demand, and to plan ahead. We recognise that many charities are struggling with expenses such as wages, rent and utility bills, so F3YG grants can be spent on core costs.

The Upper Room is one of our newest F3YG holders and will be awarded £15,000 a year for three years. Iain says, “Without the back office to support the front office, the front office would fall over completely. You need systems, processes, hardware and so on. Our team are exposed to really traumatic stories on a regular basis, so they need access to proper mental health support. Funding for those kinds of core costs is hard to come by, so knowing that we have that money in the pipeline is game changing.”

Corporate partnerships

The Upper Room is keen to hear from businesses looking for a charity partner or volunteering opportunity. Iain says, “We can offer really positive away days for staff. Employees truly enjoy getting the chance to give something back to their community, and the business can get some great shots for their social media channels.”

If you’d like to find out more about The Upper Room’s corporate packages, please email uradmin@theupperroom.org.uk or call 020 8740 5688.