An Islington-based community network helped more than 1000 individuals deal with the cost-of-living crisis last year while engaging 536 volunteers, according to their recently published annual report.
Octopus Community Network, made up of 15 Islington community centres, hosted a series of events last year, including some themed ‘cost-of-living’. It hosted food banks and handed out other items such as toiletries. It also gave out £40,000 worth of free shoes.
“The events were a combination of stalls [to provide saving advice], freebies and providing information… but also acted as a gateway for residents to talk about other issues and concerns,” said Colin Adams, who has served as Chair of Octopus Community Network for more than five years now.
The network hosted “warm spaces” events from November to March: “What we offered was that when residents had to turn their heating off and they needed a warm space to come to, they could come here.”
“We’d give [attendees] a bit of food and a cup of tea or coffee and we’d talk to them about the issues and concerns they have and how we can help them,” Mr Adams continued.
Octopus organises events and activities in three different sectors, namely ‘Urban Growing’, focused on developing Islington’s green spaces, as well as ‘Health & Wellbeing’ and ‘Social Action’.
Last year, it changed its emphasis to providing residents with cost-of-living help, after realising that was what the community needed.
“We reflect back and adapt the agenda of the network to the feedback we get. Because we’re a network, we can mobilise our services and resources quickly. It allows us to address immediate issues that individuals and communities may face,” Mr Adams said.
“Our volunteers make me humble”
Due to the low amount of funding available, the network relies heavily on volunteers – 536 of them last year, who between them logged a combined 28,062 working hours. “The volunteers are there because they want to make a difference. Without them, these events couldn’t exist… our volunteers make me humble,” Mr Adams added.
Reflecting on the year Octopus has had, he concluded: “I’m happy with our year overall but there are still some areas where we can do more. Community doesn’t stop. It’s not just from nine to five.”
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