For the second edition of the Fightback and our final one of 2020, we were joined by local community champion Dr. Abdoulie Sanneh from the Northam Local Conversation.

Abdoulie works for local charities and community organisations across Southampton that take action and address pressing social issues within the most deprived areas. Northam is one of these areas and where Abdoulie is mainly based. Supported by West Itchen Community Trust and funded by the people's Health Trust and the Health Lottery South East, Northam Local Conversation offer help and support to residents in the local community. During the pandemic, they’ve travelled door to door (covid secure) to help tackle loneliness, set up food banks, organised exercise classes, art projects, healthy cooking classes, mindfulness sessions and lots more to support the most vulnerable. They've seen a huge increase in community spirit and residents have been forming new social connections and friendship which is fantastic to see.

Abdoulie has also founded a project called IKAN; a project set up to transform abandoned alleyways in Southampton into recreational and creative spaces for children’s learning and leisure, and social spaces for adults to interact and address isolations. Over the past 8 months, he and his hard-working team of volunteers have collected tonnes of waste and filled up 4 massive trucks and in doing so, have transformed an overgrown alleyway filled with waste into a much safer and cleaner space for all ages to enjoy.

In this edition, we talked about his many projects within the local community and how you can get involved to help and support those in need.

Check it out below.