In February 2011, The Second Half of Your Life, a groundbreaking book that inspires women to rethink what it means to grow older was published by Penguin/Random House. Using the hormonal changes that occur around menopause as a springboard to transition from a woman's reproductive years to her self-productive years, it launched Jill into a journey to create The Second Half Foundation. All sales from this book go to fund The Second Half Foundation.

The Second Half Foundation (Reg. 1141988) was created in May 2011 with the mission of tackling loneliness and isolation for any person over the age of 50 years old. We wish to serve anyone affected by isolation from any background. We want to ensure that our growing population will have a place to develop more meaningful connections and continue to learn and grow.

In October 2012, The Second Half Centre opened its doors to the community in the NHS St Charles for Health and Wellbeing in North Kensington, London. The Second Half Centre has over 4000 members, 500 attendees each week and provides 90 hours of classes and workshops weekly and is run by Open Age.

On October 2nd 2016, The Second Half Centre, Diocese of London, Diocese of Middlesex, Open Age, Barclays Digital Eagles, City Harvest and Pret a Manger have piloted a new programme in London that goes to the heart of tackling the devastating effects of isolation in our older population. The Church of England are taking a lead role helping to create new church communities where churches become hubs of the community on days not of worship and promote active ageing.

Second Half Clubs launched in two local Churches in Westminster in November 2016: St Stephens on Rochester Row, SW1P 1LE and St Paul's on 5 Rossmore Road, NW1 6NJ where people can come together as a group to enjoy group activities and give purpose to enrich their lives of their community. Rediscovering the pleasures of old hobbies and finding new ones, excercising, feeling involved through volunteering, mentoring and teaching, making new friends, learning how to use iPads, staying connected to family friends and their community as well as learning new skills will be the mission of Second Half Clubs. Two more have launched in Janaury 2019: St Andrews Church on Greyhound Road and St Mary's The Bolton in Kensington. Our fifth church All Saints Fulham will be launching after Easter 2019.

Attendance Figures for The Second Half Centre 2024 – 2025

The Second Half Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1141988

This report from The Second Half Centre (April 2024–March 2025) shows strong engagement:

Total Attendances:* 8,812
Unique Members:* 895
Total Hours:* 11,192

Demographics:
Gender:* Predominantly female (750 out of 895), with only 122 males.
Age: Most members are aged 70–79, followed by 60–69 and 80–89.
Ethnicity: Majority are White, followed by Mixed background, Asian, and Afro-Caribbean members.

Class Activity:
Physical Activity dominates with 5,768 attendances.
Arts & Culture*: 2,307
Adult Learning: 611
Outreach: 126

The Second Half Centre in NHS St Charles in North Kensington, London is clearly a vital resource for older people, particularly for physical health. There’s room to grow and improve male engagement and expand outreach efforts.

A Banner Year: The 2024 Second Half Art Exhibition

The Second Half Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1141988

So proud and thankful to all our supporters and artists who made The 2024 Second Half Exhibition a banner year. I am so in awe of everything The Second Half Centre has achieved under the management of our Director, Iain Cassidy, Tina Lavenu and Andrea Carrington.

Thank you Diane Herlinger for being there since the beginning.

2024 A Banner Year: The Second Half Centre

The Second Half Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1141988

When we opened our doors to The Second Half Centre at the NHS St Charles Hospital in North Kensington in October 2012 - I dared to dream it would become a hub of the community of our older population. This is what our reach is today.

Still further to go but it is about the journey - and in this case the destination too.

Please do come and see what we do.

The 2024 Second Half Art Exhibition Celebrating Living Older Masters - Thank You

The Second Half Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1141988

Dear Friends and Supporters of The Second Half Foundation , The Second Half Centre and The Second Half Art Exhibition

The 2024 Exhibition has now come to a close. Our artists were amazing and the turnout was excellent. And thanks to your support, it was our best year ever by far. I wish I could sit back but we cant.

We still have further money to raise to make up for the shortfalls in council funding, facing adult social care services. As we are all living longer, costs will continue to go up and communities are becoming more and more dependent on the private sector to meet the needs that government can’t. The Second Half Centre is a place where older people feel involved in a dedicated space, make new friends, bridge the digital divide, learn new skills rediscover old hobbies and find new ones, exercise and so much more. Now more than ever, we must work together to ensure that the Second Half Centre stays a hub of this community.

If you weren’t able to come to the opening party or the breakfast the following morning, I would so appreciate your support now. Any donation would be so welcomed. I know how incredible our community is. We do need to raise an additional 25,000 pounds. Every donation is important. I am including our new JustGiving page created yesterday, a quick and easy way to donate.

Here’s our JustGiving link:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/jill-shaw-ruddock-1711025737338

If you would prefer to make a bank transfer the Donation form is attached. Please pass this along to your friends who you invited but couldn’t come who may want to support.

Thank you again for supporting.

Love

Jill

P.S A few photos from the opening and the breakfast.

Founder and Chairman Lady Jill Shaw Ruddock CBE speaking of the importance of the Second Half Centre, successful ageing and tackling social at the Second Half Centre.

Opening Night.

Andrew Nairne OBE , Director of Kettles Yard Cambridge, officially opening the 2024 SH Art Exhibition.

Natalie Melton, Director of The Crafts Council speaking about Why Craft Matters.

It’s a wrap!!

The Final Catalogue for The Second Half Foundation Art Exhibition 2024

The Second Half Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1141988

The Opening Night Party of the 2024 Second Half Exhibition

The Second Half Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1141988

In October 2012, Jill Shaw Ruddock opened the doors to the Second Half Centre offering older adults a chance to engage in a range of interesting and fun activities, classes and discussions at the NHS hospital of St Charles Hospital in North Kensington. The mission of the Second Half Centre is to provide older adults the important opportunity to socialise, as isolation is one of the most critical issues for older adults - particularly those living on their own. The Centre has gone from strength to strength and now has over 6,000 members and offers 90 hours of activities each week. (The average age of members is 78!)

To support the valuable work of the Second Half Centre, we annually host the Second Half Art Exhibition, which celebrates the creative and brilliant artwork of Living Older Masters. This year's exhibition will open on Thursday, 21^st March from 6.30pm at The Second Half Centre at St Charles, Exmoor Street, London W10 6DZ. On the following morning, Friday, 22^nd March at 10.00am, Natalie Melton, Executive Director of the Crafts Council, will be speaking on 'Craft and Why It Matters?'. You are cordially invited to both events.

Autumn 2023 Activity Schedule for The Second Half Centre

The Second Half Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1141988

The Second Half Centre Continues to go from Strength to Strength

The Second Half Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1141988

The Second Half Centre continues to go from strength to strength. These are our most recent attendance statistics 1st April - 15th November 2022.

March 21st 2024 Second Half Art Exhibition SAVE THE DATE!

The Second Half Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1141988

The Second Half Foundation will be hosting our 12^th Annual Second Half Art Exhibition: Celebrating Living Older Masters on Thursday March 21^st 2024.

Please SAVE THE DATE!