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While caring for a loved one can be an extremely rewarding experience, it can also be an isolating one. Artist Mellezia channelled those feelings to create The RENA Initiative – a CIC offering free visual arts programmes that create opportunities for people to be connected, empowered and valued.

Mellezia explains, “RENA stands for Recognising, Empowering and Nurturing Artists. Rena is also my mother’s name. She taught me that I could achieve whatever I set my mind to and be whoever I wanted to be. I wanted to be able to share that experience of being nurtured and empowered with others.”

Creative workshops

The RENA Initiative is currently delivering HeArty – a project co-designed with residents – where health and wellbeing practitioners come together with artists to share health education through fun and creative activities. Attendees are older women and women from global majority backgrounds ranging in age from 24 to 86. One participant shares, “There are very few spaces like this one in which, as women, we can be totally free to express ourselves and be at peace with one another. We share many things not only about art but also about our lives and that is very special.”

Tackling isolation

A key aim of The RENA Initiative is to help ease social isolation and loneliness. As one participant shares, “The project has done excellent work to educate me, improve my self-esteem, expose my hidden talent, keep me in touch with the community, gain new friendships and have a better quality of life.”

Empowering women

Mellezia mentors others to lead workshops, set up their own business and develop their project ideas. One mentee shares, “I feel Mellezia has a genuine interest in developing my know-how, best practices, care and attention for these workshops and events, which has boosted my confidence. Even if I were to hit a bump, there is always guidance and support.”

Menopause Awareness Month

This year, as in previous years, October’s HeArty workshop was focused on Menopause Awareness Month. Mellezia explains, “Due to the way that women, especially Black women, have been treated by medical professionals in the past, there’s a resistance to asking for help. It’s really important for me to create safe spaces where the community feel empowered and able to advocate for themselves. This year, we partnered with health coach Lorraine Fontaine of TheWellHealthSpace.com to explore how to support brain health and emotional wellbeing through the stages of menopause. Artist Jenny Bardoville then led a session on neurographic art.”

HUC’s grant

We recently awarded The RENA Initiative a £7,684 grant to support its work. Mellezia says, “We could not afford to provide our services without the help of this grant.

“What I love about HUC is that they are embedded in the community. They invest in grassroots organisations and projects that are important to residents. HUC trust and empower us to deliver our services, and they are accessible if we need support.”

Broadening horizons

“The cost-of-living crisis is massively impacting our community,” Mellezia says. “We provide activities that are fun and free. As well as workshops, we go on monthly outings. This month, we’re going to London Zoo; we’ll have a guided tour of the zoological society library, explore the zoo, sketch some of the animals and enjoy a nice lunch. That is something that would otherwise be completely out of reach for many people.”

The women agree. As one says, “This project has given me the opportunity to visit places I thought was out of my reach. It has broadened my horizon.”

The RENA Initiative has turned into a true tribute to Mellezia’s mother and helped Mellezia to work through her grief at losing her mother, “It helps to keep me going, knowing that something beautiful has come out of such immense loss. It is thriving, it lives on and it’s helping others.”

Find out more

The RENA Initiative’s HeArty workshops and outings both take place once a month on a Thursday. If you’d like to join, email info@therenainitiative.com or visit www.therenainitiative.com

Spending time in nature brings a wealth of benefits for children’s mental and physical heath. However, 34% of children in London don’t have a garden and 5% have no access to any outdoor space at all. Families on a low income are more than twice as likely to be deprived of outdoor space as those on a better income.

As Carlos Izsak, the new director of Urbanwise.London, says, “Our grandparents’ generation would explore miles from their home without supervision. Now, children go from their home to their car to school and then back again. They don’t get to explore the outdoors as much. They spend a lot more time on devices and they’ve lost touch with the local environment.”

Founded in 1983, Urbanwise.London gives children and adults the chance to reclaim the natural world. Carlos explains, “We work with young people and community groups to help them learn about the environment, history and geography, including how places have changed and will change.”

The educational charity is based in College Park and Old Oak – an area of high deprivation, where 38% of households have an annual income under £30,000. Over half of the homes are flats or maisonettes and many families can’t afford extra-curricular activities for their children. While the ward includes one of London’s largest public green spaces – Wormwood Scrubs – many residents don’t make full use of it.

Hammersmith United Charities’ grant

We’ve supported Urbanwise.London with several grants over the years. Our latest grant is helping to fund:

• A club at Old Oak’s Family Hub for children and parents
• After-school clubs at Kenmont and Old Oak primary schools
• A summer family event and trips out

All sessions are free for participants and will include hands-on experiences out on Wormwood Scrubs. Carlos shares, “The children might learn how to use simple tools, how to look after themselves outdoors and how to be more resilient if it’s cold or raining. There’s a lot of teamwork involved and our education officer, Lydia, runs creative, sustainable arts and crafts activities with the children, plus some forest school-inspired activities.

“We also explain that the Scrubs is a resource for them to use and tell them about activities that they can join. It’s not just about connecting with nature; it’s about connecting with the local area and its history.”

The impact

Urbanwise.London aims to close the opportunity gap by offering children from families on a very low income the chance to engage with nature in a way that their better off peers may take for granted. 93% of children who participate in an Urbanwise.London project report feeling happier and calmer after sessions. Teachers and community staff say that children’s behaviour and focus improves.

As one parent fed back, “My child came home excited and confident – he talks about nature in a way he never did before. This is the first time I have been able to keep him attending a club outside of school.”

Other projects

Urbanwise.London also runs several other projects for people around Hammersmith, including:

• Guided walks focusing on culture, heritage, wildlife and wellbeing
• Greener Canalside, where a team of volunteers tidy and replant the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal, including litter-picking by kayak!
• Local studies sessions and projects with schools

Black History Month

One of our previous grants enabled Urbanwise.London to create a film for Black History Month. The film showcases historical figures who have made an impact on Hammersmith, from Mary Seacole to Ellen and William Craft.

Find out more

To keep up to date with Urbanwise.London and find out when projects are open to new participants, sign up to the charity’s newsletter.

If you’d like to volunteer to help more children enjoy nature, the charity would love to hear from you. Email learn@urbanwise.london.

Title: Administrative Officer

Salary: Up to £28,000 (Full Time Equivalent)

Reporting to: Chief Executive and Clerk to the Trustees

Based at: This is an onsite role based at Sycamore House and John Betts House, both in Hammersmith

Hours of work: 25 hours per week, 09.00 – 15.00, occasional extra hours to support meetings or events

About us

Hammersmith United Charities is a community-focused charity with a rich history dating back to 1618. Rooted in the heart of Hammersmith, we support local people through three core areas:

• Sheltered Housing: We provide safe, affordable homes for older residents in our two almshouses, fostering a sense of community and well-being.
• Grant Making: We award grants to local organisations addressing complex social issues such as poverty, inequality, and mental ill health, making a tangible impact in the community.
• Community Action: We strengthen the community by creating partnerships, amplifying voices, supporting new ideas, and providing practical support to help local initiatives thrive.

Hammersmith United Charities is a small, fun, and hardworking team where everyone plays an important part in building a stronger community. This role would suit someone who is kind, organised and enjoys variety in their work. If you are looking for a friendly workplace where you can make a tangible difference every day, we would love to hear from you.

Role purpose

This role is at the heart of Hammersmith United Charities’ day-to-day operations. As Administrative Officer you will ensure the smooth running of our reception and office functions, providing a professional and welcoming first point of contact for residents, visitors, and partners.

You will support the Chief Executive and wider team with administration and projects, helping us to meet our regulatory requirements and deliver excellent services to our residents and the local community.

Principal tasks and responsibilities

• Reception – Provide a warm and professional welcome to residents, visitors, and contractors; manage phone calls, emails, and post; ensure reception runs smoothly.
• Resident and Housing Support – Be a helpful point of contact for residents, liaise with contractors, assist with admissions, support resident events, and provide admin support to the Housing team.
• Meetings and Events – Arrange and coordinate meetings and events, including logistics, refreshments, budgets, and minute-taking when needed.
• Office Administration – Oversee office supplies, office and IT equipment and invoices/expenses; prepare and file documents; keep systems and databases accurate and up to date.
• HR & Data Protection – Support recruitment and leaving processes, maintain HR and other databases, and ensure compliance with GDPR and data protection policies.
• Communications – Support the production and dissemination of materials such as newsletters, handbooks, leaflets, invitations, websites or social media posts.
• Team Support – Provide general administrative and project support to the Chief Executive and senior team; contribute to a positive, collaborative work environment.
• Policies and procedures: Follow all required policies and procedures and complete any training required. This includes but is not limited to: Health and Safety, Safeguarding, GDPR, Cyber Security, Complaints, and Equality Diversity and Inclusion.

This job description sets out the main duties and responsibilities of the job at the time when it was drawn up. Such duties and responsibilities may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot in themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the job

This role is subject to a DBS check and social media checks may be made as part of the recruitment process.

Person specification

We are looking for someone who will enjoy being at the heart of a small, friendly team and who takes pride in keeping things running smoothly.

Skills and qualities

• Organised and reliable, able to work independently with high standards and strong attention to detail.
• Able to meet deadlines and juggle different priorities calmly and effectively.
• Friendly, approachable, and confident in dealing with people from all walks of life.
• Resilient, empathetic, and kind when working with people who may be challenging, or may face serious challenges themselves, whilst maintaining healthy professional boundaries
• Clear and professional communicator, good written and spoken English.
• Numerate, able to carry out routine calculations, check invoices and manage budgets.
• Good IT skills, especially with Microsoft 365 applications, and happy to pick up new systems quickly.
• Discreet and respectful when handling sensitive information.
• A positive, can-do attitude, willing to be flexible and get stuck in where needed.

Previous experience of

• At least two years’ experience of working in administration, office support, or reception.
• Dealing with the public face-to-face, on the phone and by email.
• Organising meetings or events.
• Working in a charity, housing, or similar organisation is desirable but not essential.

Qualifications

• Good general education including English and Maths at GCSE.

How to apply

Please complete the application form (see opposite on desktop or below on mobile) and send to officeadmin@hamunitedcharities.com by mid-day on 27th October 2025.  We expect first interviews to be carried out online on Wednesday 5th or Thursday 6th November with second interviews the week after.

If you would like an informal chat about the role or need any help or adjustment with the application process, please contact Victoria at officeadmin@hamunitedcharities.com

Massage, reflexology and other hands-on therapies can bring so many benefits, including:

• Aiding relaxation
• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Easing physical pain and tension
• Improving sleep
• Improving flexibility and ease of movement
• Combating loneliness and social isolation and creating connections

However, the price of private therapies can be out of reach for many people, including those who are retired, disabled or not in paid work. In other words, the people who would most benefit are often those who can’t afford to.

Community Massage London offers free and low-cost massage, reflexology, shiatsu and acupuncture in community settings across Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea.

The CIC was set up in 2018 by Teresa Meekings and Ray Prosper. Teresa says, “We recognised the need to support marginalised communities with their health and wellbeing. People often think massage and reflexology are a luxury, but complementary therapy isn’t about pampering; it’s about taking care of yourself, focusing on what matters to you, and making meaningful progress in your physical and emotional wellbeing.

“Each session is shaped around what the client wants and we offer practical self-care tips they can use at home. This helps clients to feel listened to and in control of their own health. Complementary therapies are also preventative tools and have been shown to reduce GP and A&E visits.”

Tackling loneliness

Many of Community Massage London’s clients live alone and are struggling with social isolation. The treatment they receive may be the only time they experience the touch of another person that month. Teresa shares, “A lot of the benefits of massage are down to the power of touch. The sessions give people a reason to come out of their home. The time focused on them, combined with the therapist’s caring touch and compassion, can help them to feel more connected and cared for and so reduce their anxiety and stress.”

As one participant said, “These sessions are invaluable, the caring touch is something special to look forward to each month.”

Volunteers work alongside the therapists, offering refreshments and a friendly person to talk to. They can also signpost people to other organisations that can offer support.

Hammersmith United Charities’ grant

Our grant has enabled 24 people to benefit from up to 12 complementary therapy sessions at White City Community Centre. The sessions last for 20 minutes and participants can choose between massage and reflexology. Most participants are over 60 and on a low income.

The CIC suggests a £10 donation from clients who are in paid employment and a £5 donation from those who aren’t, making the treatment considerably more affordable than a private session.

Teresa says, “We couldn’t do this without grant funding. We have to cover the cost of paying the therapists, hiring the hall, administration, insurance, scheduling software and things like that. We really need the grant funding in order to be able to make this affordable for people.”

World Mental Health Day

Community Massage London is taking part in a World Mental Health Day event on 9th October 2025 at St Mary Abbots Church, Kensington Church St, W8 4LA, 12 to 4pm. Organised by SMART London, the event will include various wellbeing activities, a free lunch and a Q&A session. Email admin@smartlondon.org for more details.

Impact

Community Massage London’s clients have reported all of the above benefits and more. A post-treatment survey found that 82% of participants experienced a reduction in stress and 65% a reduction in pain. Many people experience multiple improvements. One client shared, “I’m having better sleep, less pain, less swelling in legs and feet.” Another said, “I have benefitted from the sessions both mentally, (as a Carer for my mum) & physically.”

Find out more

If you’re on a low income and feel that you’d benefit from Community Massage London’s complementary therapies, visit www.communitymassagelondon.co.uk to book a session.

Would you like to enable more people to benefit from complementary therapies? You can support Community Massage London’s work by:

• Donating via Go Fund Me.
• Supporting the CIC at no extra cost by doing your usual online shopping through Easy Fundraising. Every time you shop online from one of the 8,000+ retailers (including Amazon, eBay and several supermarkets), a percentage will be donated to Community Massage London.