Community charity South London Cares hosts Art Sale to raise funds to tackle loneliness in the community

Community charity South London Cares is hosting an art sale to raise vital funds for their ongoing work, tackling loneliness in the community.

The South London Art Sale has been curated by artist Emma Thistleton and will feature work from former Turner Prize nominees Bruce McLean and Simon Patterson, as well as local and emerging artists.

The art sale will take place at Downstairs At The Department Store in Ferndale Road, Brixton on March 19 from 7-9pm.

Selected works will be exhibited and sold over the evening, with 40 per cent of the proceeds to be donated directly to South London Cares to fund their charitable work tackling social isolation and loneliness across South London.

Recent research has revealed that, across the UK, one in 10 older people see their friends or family less than once a month and 10 per cent of GP appointments are taken by an older person with no other condition than that they are lonely.

Younger people too, can feel the damaging effects of social isolation and loneliness.

The Office of National Statistics recently cited those in their 20s and 30s are among those most at risk of chronic loneliness.

Curator Emma Thistleton said: “I was keen to work locally to me and with a charity that I admire and South London Cares certainly fits that bill.

“It is an honour to be working with such an incredible team of hard-working, forward-thinking people. I am blown away by the work they do and the difference they make.”

Founder and chief executive of The Cares Family, Alex Smith said: “We know that in London the problem of social isolation runs particularly deep, with 90 per cent of older people in London reporting feelings of loneliness, and almost a third of all Londoners saying they feel little or no sense of community.

“As part of our ongoing fundraising, we’re so excited to host this one-off event connecting South London Cares with south London artists, and to bring communities together to raise money for our programmes in 2020.”