OCO Connect

29/05/2026

🏃‍♀️🌳 Couch to Brockwell is coming to Lambeth! 🌳🏃‍♂️

OCO Connect is excited to be leading the development of Couch to Brockwell, a family fun run that will bring together local residents, Lambeth contractors, community organisations and the voluntary sector for a fantastic day of community spirit, wellbeing and fundraising.

As one of our flagship social value projects, the event aims to raise money for local community initiatives while creating an opportunity for people from across the borough to come together, get active and have fun.

From the very beginning, our vision has been to deliver this event through a truly collaborative approach. We are already working alongside a growing number of Lambeth contractors and partners who are helping to shape and support the event, and we know that by combining our skills, resources and networks, we can create something far bigger than any one organisation could achieve alone.

That’s what social value is all about — organisations coming together to create lasting impact for the communities they serve.

We’re currently looking for organisations and individuals who would like to get involved. Whether you’re interested in volunteering, sponsoring, donating, providing activities, or supporting the event in another way, we’d love to hear from you.

Together, we can make Couch to Brockwell a fantastic celebration of community and a force for good across Lambeth.

📩 Please contact me if you’d like to be part of the journey.

01/05/2026

Last week, the OCO Connect team attended a Southwark Council Social Value event, run by Southwark Council in partnership with Plentific, bringing together residents and organisations to connect people with opportunities that can truly change lives.

It was inspiring to see so many residents attending and actively exploring job opportunities, training pathways and support services available within their community. We had some fantastic conversations on the day — offering career advice, guidance on training, and practical support to help individuals take their next steps with confidence.

Events like this are exactly what social value is all about — connecting people to opportunities and ensuring no one is left behind.

We’re excited to follow up with many of the residents we met and continue supporting them on their journey.

20/04/2026

Welcome to a Monday night at ANDYSMANCLUB☕️

No judgement, no fees and no pressure to talk. Just a brew, a biscuit and a safe space to chat.

We now have over 350 groups running across the UK and online, every Monday 7-9PM (excluding bank holidays) for any man 18+.

Visit our website to find your nearest group or drop us an email to [email protected] to join our online groups.

09/04/2026

We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend and enjoyed some well-deserved time with family and friends. 🐣

At OCO, we’re incredibly proud of our staff, who came together to support local families by collecting nearly 100 Easter eggs to donate to the Bromley Borough Foodbank.

The eggs were delivered last week, just in time for Easter, helping to bring a little joy to children and families who may otherwise have gone without.

A special thank you to Liz O’Connor, who led this initiative from start to finish — organising the collection, gathering the donations and personally delivering the eggs to the food bank. Your effort and dedication truly made this happen.

Moments like this show the power of teamwork and community spirit, and we’re proud to play our part in supporting the communities we serve.

09/03/2026

Amazing stats!👏👏

Record figures again, please if you know of any male over 18, let them know there are now 340 branches nationwide for them to walk into and be welcomed by like minded men.
Every Monday from 7pm until 9pm
Except Bank Holidays

09/03/2026

🌱 Unlocking the Full Potential of Lambeth’s Young People

OCO Connect is proud to be part of the Full Potential Lambeth programme, an initiative designed to help young people gain meaningful workplace experience while supporting local organisations.

Through this programme, employers have the opportunity to host an intern for 6 months with the role fully funded by the Greater London Authority at the London Living Wage — creating a fantastic pathway for young people to develop skills, confidence and experience in a real working environment.

Last week, we attended a speed networking event as part of the programme, where we had the chance to meet a number of talented young people interested in joining OCO Connect as interns. We were incredibly impressed by the calibre, enthusiasm and ambition of the candidates we met.

We’re now looking forward to the next stage — interviewing those who expressed an interest and welcoming new talent into the Connect team.

Initiatives like this are exactly why OCO Connect exists: to create opportunities, build confidence and help open doors for the next generation.

Together, we can help unlock the full potential of Lambeth’s young people.

25/02/2026

11/02/2026

💚 The Impact Continues… 💚

In 2025, OCO Connect was proud to help bring to Southwark by connecting them with Pecan to provide a safe, welcoming venue in Peckham.

Since then, the impact has been incredible.

📊 Andy’s Man Club Peckham is continuing to grow as a vital lifeline for men’s mental health:
✔️ 295 men have attended since the group launched
✔️ Attendance continues to rise, with 19 men attending in one week alone — including six first-time visitors

The feedback from those attending highlights just how important this support is:

💬 “It’s good to have somewhere to go and talk.”

💬 “We began as strangers, but we soon became friends on a shared journey of healing.”

Stuart, Regional Area Lead South at Andy’s Man Club, shared:

“Having a safe, non-judgemental place to attend on a Monday is supporting and changing lives… We at AMC can’t thank Pecan enough for supporting the community and making a difference.”

Seeing this initiative thrive is exactly why OCO Connect exists — to bring organisations together and help create meaningful, lasting support within communities.

Together, we are helping people feel supported, connected and heard — and that changes lives. 💚

📍 Andy’s Man Club Peckham
🕖 Mondays | 7pm – 9pm
📍 Pecan, 121a Peckham High Street, SE15 5SE (Men only)

09/12/2025

🌟 Proud to Support All Kids Can in Transforming Community Space in the Borough of Greenwich🌟

OCO Connect is delighted to see the incredible progress at Joan Currie Hall in Middle Park — a once-underused space that is now becoming a vibrant community hub thanks to the vision and dedication of All Kids Can (AKC).

Under the leadership of Chris Eather and his team, AKC has long provided specialist and inclusive childcare services across schools and community settings. Their newest initiative — revitalising Joan Currie Hall — opens the doors to even greater support for local families, young people and vulnerable adults.

We were proud to contribute £25,000 worth of renovation work to help bring this project to life. Our role included transforming the space so AKC can:
✔️ Run breakfast, after-school and holiday clubs
✔️ Provide wellbeing rooms and classrooms
✔️ Offer therapeutic services for children who need one-to-one or quiet time
✔️ Support adults aged 18–59 with disabilities
✔️ Create an inviting hall for community use throughout the week

This work aligns perfectly with OCO Connect’s mission to deliver meaningful social value, improve community spaces and expand access to wellbeing and training opportunities.

A huge thank you to Chris and the AKC team for their passion and partnership — we are proud to support a project that will positively impact people of all ages for years to come.

We look forward to continuing our work together on future community initiatives across the borough. 💚

31/10/2025

🌪️ Community spirit knows no boundaries 🌿

While on a family trip to Jamaica, our founding member Tony Leeden found himself in the middle of Hurricane Melissa. Once the storm had passed, Tony and his family rolled up their sleeves and joined hotel staff and guests in the clean-up effort — clearing debris, cutting down fallen trees, and even helping to clean the pool.

This moment truly reflects what OCO Connect stands for — compassion, community, and taking action when it matters most. 💚

Whether at home or abroad, that spirit of connection and helping others never switches off.

We’re so proud to have colleagues like this i— showing that Connect doesn’t stop, even on holiday! 🌍✨

28/10/2025

We’re absolutely thrilled to share that OCO Connect has won the Pride of Southwark Award at the Achievement Recognition Awards in London! 🏆✨

This award is such a special moment for us — it recognises the incredible work our team, partners and community have done together to make a positive impact in Southwark and beyond.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey. We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved — and even more excited about what’s still to come. 💚