On Weds 13th December Channel 5 News visited our Christmas party at the Ladywell sports hall, to witness and film the successful relationship between WfW, young students from the Lewisham based Pupil Referral college, Abbey Manor, and the specialist Lewisham Dementia Service.
Two years ago, under the watchful eye of Abbey Manor College mentor, Errol Walker and WfW manager Matt Beale-Collins, students began to get involved, maintaining the bikes and helping the residents get around on them. Two of the students became so passionate about the project that earlier this year they were awarded the Cycling Grants London Award. As well as learning new skills, the students developed warm friendships with the residents from the dementia unit.
“The partnership is a huge success”, said WfW session manager, Matt Beale-Collins. We’re so glad that we could facilitate such a warm and enabling community. “It was a joy to see people smiling, laughing and singing along to the songs at the Christmas party. It was in itself an opportunity to celebrate the unique partnership which developed between our 3 groups.”
The short Channel 5 News video can be seen below…