Wellbeing boost through Access for All

Residents are benefitting from a boost in wellbeing and connecting with new friends thanks to discounts for long term activities such as art classes and allotment gardening through our Access for All scheme.

“Art helps you express yourself and it’s a really important tool to help with your wellbeing each day,” explains Putney resident and Access for All member Georgina.

“It’s helped me to relax, puts me in a really good zone, and helps me to switch off.”

Local art classes are proving positive for hardworking Georgina, who attends weekly sessions with support from the council’s Access for All scheme.

“It’s achieving an ambition I’ve wanted to do my whole life,” says Georgina, 60, who also works at South West London Recovery College in Tooting.

After enrolling on Putney School of Art and Design’s two-year diploma programme, Georgina is exploring ways to create art that is meaningful for people with sight loss – along with three-year-old guide dog Tawney.

“Access for All has helped financially and it’s helped me to be able to afford all the materials,” adds the mum-of-two.

“It’s a really positive thing to do and it does make you feel less isolated. It opens up the world to you.”

Wandsworth Council’s Access for All programme is Britain’s best concession scheme and provides eligible residents 50% to 100% discounts on key council services and local activities.

So far, more than 12,000 residents have signed up. Weddings at council venues, room hire, e-bike usage, free baby boxes, swimming lessons, allotment fees and bereavement services are among the array of concession opportunities on offer.

Access for All supports local art students

Lifelong Wandsworth resident Dave, 75, says the scheme has “really helped me out, because there’s no way I could afford to do my art classes without Access for All”.

“It’s changed me completely, I’m more mellow now, more relaxed and more confident in what I do,” says the retired painter, decorator and martial arts specialist.

Former police support worker Ellen first started going to Putney School of Art and Design as a teenager in the 1960s, but has rekindled her love of art with support from Access for All.

A long-term health condition means life can be tough, but Ellen has made friends who are “like another family”.

“It’s been a terrible struggle to find my fees each term so the scheme has been wonderful,” adds the 75-year-old.

“The council doing the Access for All scheme has made it much more affordable. You’re living in the moment and enjoying the moment.”

Access for All breaks down barriers and makes sure all residents have an equal chance to access local opportunities, with discounts and offers on sports and leisure, education, great days out and other essential services.

The scheme has surpassed 100,000 bookings, which includes more than 93,000 discounted visits to local leisure centres, as well as bookings for cultural or community events and activities such as education at Putney School of Art and Design.

Suzanne’s story

Keen gardener Suzanne is a plotholder at Garratt Park Allotments and says the fresh air and exercise make a huge difference to her life.

The concession from being an Access for All member gives Suzanne a financial discount which allows her to pay for the occasional taxi to her plot, which is usually two buses away, when carrying heavy gardening equipment.

“I find it a great help coming down here, it’s friendly and there’s a lovely community down here,” explains the 82-year-old Battersea resident.

“I’m very lucky to be an Access for All member and once you are on the scheme, you get so much information about activities and making things cheaper and more accessible.”

To see the full list of offers and check out the eligibility criteria, please visit the dedicated Access for All webpage.