Discover your inner child on Camberwell Green this Christmas!
Free Camberwell Community Christmas • Sat 7 December • 12-3pm.

This December our free Camberwell Community Christmas is truly young at heart! Everyone will be delighted as Camberwell Community Choir and Lyndhurst School Choir fills the air with carols to welcome Mr & Mrs Santa, who arrive at 12 on the Green in a Pedal Me cargo bike sleigh!

They’re joined by the talented young company of PAN! Peter’s Come Out to Play – Theatre Peckham’s festive show – bringing a youthful spirit to the event.

SE5 Forum for Camberwell has teamed up with Theatre Peckham, local charities and groups – and lots of volunteers – to put on another fantastic free festive event for all the community.

We hope you will come and play!

The FREE fun & activities on Camberwell Green include:

●    Mr & Mrs Santa grotto with free gifts for young children

●    Magical Gingerbread house – decorating gingerbread

●    Festive arts & crafts, creating seasonal collages, cards & gifts 

●   Live music & children’s games 

●   Baby activities & face painting 

●    Free warming soup from food charity Spring Community Hub

●    Community support stalls – free hygiene products & clothes bank, energy saving & cost-of-living advice 

●    Local charity stalls

On their way to the Camberwell Community Christmas, Mr and Mrs Santa and the young company from PAN!will make a stop on their Pedal Me sleigh by the Camberwell Arts Indoor Winter Market at Camberwell’s St Giles’ Church. Running from 10am-5pm, it’s a great place to buy festive gifts and support local makers and artists. 

And to round off the day, you can book to watch the  evening performance at 5pm,  of PAN! at Theatre Peckham.

Camberwell Community Christmas is organised by SE5 Forum, funded by Southwark Council’s Neighbourhoods Fund and in partnership with: Theatre Peckham, Pedal Me, Spring Community Hub, Amuru, Excel Beyond Barriers, Black Stock Media, Salvation Army, Camberwell Community Choir, Conveenie, Camberwell Society, Camberwell Arts, Southwark Pensioners Centre, Camberwell Leisure Centre, Lyndhurst School Choir, Camberwell Players

Camberwell Advent Calendar: festive treats and prizes every day in December!

Photo: The Nunhead Gardener
Watch out for our launch of the Camberwell Advent Calendar – from 1st to 24th December, the high street will come alive with daily unveilings of special activities and promotions. Residents and visitors can enjoy in-store discounts, treasure hunts with exciting prizes, discounted tickets for local events, charity raffles, freebies, festive treats, special dishes, and quizzes.

Follow the event to reveal the daily surprises and gifts at 8am every day on Instagram @camberwell.life or Camberwell.life. The calendar is funded by Southwark Council’s Thriving High Street Fund as part of the Camberwell Life Love Local campaign. Support local businesses and experience some Camberwell festive magic!

Camberwell Christmas Card – buy at our Saturday stall

Why not send a Camberwell Christmas Card this year? Drop down to our Saturday market stall between 10am and 3pm and you can pick up our very first Camberwell Christmas Card featuring a ‘vintage’ photo of Camberwell Green in the snow’ by SE5 Forum co-founder J Mark Dodds. All proceeds will go to supporting SE5 Forum’s activities. 

Festive Shows in Camberwell
Theatre Peckham: A Pan-tastic festive show – view the world with childlike wonder and rediscover the magic of play with Theatre Peckham’s modern retelling of Peter Pan brings to life the boy who never grew up. Running 6-23 December. Tickets at Theatre Peckham.

Blue Elephant Theatre: Join a Gala Performance of Mrs Claus’ List on Saturday 7 December at 8pm and support the Blue Elephant Theatre’s future. It’s a chance for grown-ups to enjoy their sell-out Christmas show & funds raised will help the theatre  to stay open. Book tickets here

Longfield Hall: check out the range of festive activities at Longfield Hall – from A Christmas Carol to singing carols, from dance and chamber orchestra to raves for little ones.

Thanks to everyone who attended our recent AGM in person and on Zoom. There was a fruitful discussion and lots to take forward on: community safety & policing; supporting older people and the new pensioners centre; helping small music venues and the high street, and community groups working collaboratively to support Camberwell. Also the issue of the empty, neglected Charles Edwards Brooke building near Myatt’s Fields.

Photo left to right: Florence Eshalomi MP for Vauxhall & Camberwell Green, Marie Staunton, SE5 Forum Secretary (chairing) and our community panel of Tyreece Asamoah, Southwark Black Parents’ Forum, Cathy Deplessis, Southwark Pensioners Centre, Stephen Bourne, Chair, Camberwell Green Safer Neighbourhood Panel, and Russell Occomore, Jazzlive at the Crypt.

Camberwell is now divided into 3 constituencies. Florence confirmed she will be working closely with Helen Hayes MP and Miatta Fahnbulleh to champion Camberwell. Find out who your Camberwell MP is here. Florence posted on X: “Lots of discussions about how we can all work together to address issues in and around Camberwell – really looking forward to more opportunities and collaborative working.”

SE5 Forum was also pleased the AGM voted to re-elect six board members: Sophy Tayler, Marie Staunton, Andy Murray, Gill Henderson, Barbara Pattinson and Berni Powley-Baker and four new board members: Petra Handoca, Karen Robertson, Daniel Aarons and Oliver Birrell. 

Thanks to United Reformed Church Camberwell for hosting us on 17 October.

Read the full Minutes here. You can also watch our video reel on our website at: se5forum.org.uk. And read our Annual Report.

You can also read our AGM Minutes and Annual Report here:
Annual Report
AGM 2024 Minutes

WATCH OUR AGM ANNUAL REPORT VIDEO REEL: CLICK HERE

Join the discussion with our Community Panel and put your questions to our new MP for Vauxhall & Camberwell Green.

Thursday 17 October, 6.45-8.30pm United Reformed Church, Love Walk, Camberwell, London SE5 8AE:

• Hear from Florence Eshalomi MP and our community panel of local charities, businesses and a community safety representative on how we can create a better Camberwell for all of our diverse community.

• Have your say on improvements to SE5

• Find out what SE5 Forum achieved last year – from free wellbeing events to supporting local businesses and Camberwell’s first food festival

Everyone Welcome!
To attend the AGM, please register on eventbrite.co.uk for in-person or Zoom.
Join in-person, please click here to register.
Join by Zoom, please click here to register.

You can also email: admin@se5forum.org.uk

WATCH OUR AGM ANNUAL REPORT VIDEO REEL: CLICK HERE

You can also download the AGM papers here:
Agenda
Annual Report
AGM Minutes 2023
Board Member Nominations
Poster

Would you like to Join SE5 Forum as a board member?
We’re looking for new board members to help us improve our local area and take forward new initiatives. If you’re interested, please download our flyer below and get in touch by Friday 11 October: admin@se5forum.org.uk.

Did you know you can now pick up free copies of the 2024 edition of Travel Guide to Camberwell, as well as our new Camberwell business maps: Eat Around the World Map and Health & Wellbeing Map? Come and pick up copies at our Saturday market stall. Or you can download them for free here on our Camberwell.life website (along with the Black History Walk and Community Cookbook).

The Eat Around the World Map was created alongside the first food festival on Camberwell Green in May, launched by the Camberwell Green market, Urban Farmer’s Market, and supported by SE5 Forum. Both maps were created by SE5 Forum as part of a Love Local campaign, supported by Southwark Council’s Thriving High Streets Fund. The maps will be presented on 1st October at King’s College Hospital, and will be made available for use to all staff and visitors, which will help drive trade to local businesses.

Last week, we were also delighted to donate free maps and guides to the 1500 new students at Camberwell College of Arts (UAL) and Kings College London (KCL) as part of their welcome week. 

Free marketing workshops for local businesses
As part of our ongoing Love Local campaign, we’re also offering local businesses two free marketing workshops on 14 October with top experts – businesses based in SE5 can choose to attend either or both free workshops on Social Media Marketing and Kerb Appeal. For any businesses interested, please find out more and register here. 

Camberwell Food Walk: back by popular demand!
Join us on Saturday 12 October for a new Camberwell Food Walk tour of some of the most exciting food destinations in Camberwell. Sample signature dishes, meet the unique, creative people behind some of the neighbourhood’s top places, and learn more about the cuisines that have made Camberwell their home. The June event sold out quickly – please complete this form or email camberwellfoodwalks@gmail.com to register your interest!

Our free wellbeing events in July were a great success, bringing Camberwell’s vibrant community together!

Thanks to all the participants and volunteers who devoted their time and energy to our two Feel Good Festivals in Camberwell Green on 6 July (above) and Ruskin Park on 13 July (above) and our Mulberry Community Picnic in Myatt’s Fields Park on 27 July (below).

Together With Mulberries: Sat 27th July – Myatt’s Fields Park: Watch our reel of the Mulberry community picnic day here

Some photos from Ruskin Park thanks to In The Right Light.

Thanks for the Mulberry Event to: Myatt’s Fields Park, Spring Community Hub, and Mulberry Outdoor Preschool and The Camberwell Society, with sponsorship from Lambeth Council’s Changing Lives fund, The Nunhead Gardener and TFC Supermarkets. 

Join our free health & wellbeing events on Camberwell Green Sat 6 July and Ruskin Park Sat 13 July, 11am-3pm.

FREE health, wellbeing and creative activities: Body & mind • Creative arts & crafts • Food & live music. Full programme below:

Join in free fitness, yoga, kids’ active fun, mindful arts & crafts, and much more! Get NHS health checks & advice. Enjoy free food, local choirs and music. All free for all the community.

The Camberwell Feel Good Festival returns for Summer 2024 with two Saturday festival events, packed full of fun and engaging health and wellbeing activities, free food and music, and vital support services for all ages. After the fantastic success of last year’s Feel Good Festival, which attracted more than 1000 visitors, SE5 Forum invites everyone to this summer’s festival of wellness, community connection and joy. 

The festival brings together local charities and organisations, arts and health professionals, food banks and pantries, and volunteers, to support the health and wellbeing of the local community and create a free, uplifting event.

Event Highlights:

• Yoga, tai chi and physical exercise for all ages
• Mindful arts and crafts stalls 
• Children’s active fun and games 
• Free lunch and pantry from local food charities
• Children’s no-cook food workshop
• Live music and choirs
• Health support services stands
• Gardening & food growing workshops
• NHS physical and mental health advice and support

The Feel Good Festival is free and open to everyone in the community – an opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and connect with neighbours. 

Follow the Feel Good Festival on Facebook, X and Instagram @se5forum. For further info, email: admin@se5forum.org.uk

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FEEL GOOD FESTIVAL PROGRAMME:

RUSKIN PARK 13 JULY 11am – 3pm

Activities will take place by the Bandstand. Gardening sessions in the community gardens.

Fitness, yoga and tai chi:
11-11.30 Fitness to Music: Bizzy Izzy Fitness – get fit moving to music with this popular local session!

12-12.30 A Mindful Walk in the park with yoga and meditation practitioner Chris Owens from Zen Yoga/Zenways

12-1: Gentle Hatha Yoga for all – with Linda Small, a practitioner who specialises in yoga for elders and reducing back pain.

1-1.30 and 2-2.30 Tai Chi Wu’s Academy Brixton – Breathing and stretching exercises and an introduction to Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan, including exercises for balance, posture and looseness of limbs.

11-3 Active Lambeth – get fit and active with taster sessions from Lambeth Council’s leisure centres, and an exclusive offer of no joining fee for any new membership.

11-3 B-Uzuri – join in fitness sessions and find out about a personal training fitness programme for the black community

Music – beautiful voices and songs from local groups:
1.30-2.30 Camberwell Recorders Group
2-3 Cambria Choir 
2.30-3 Camberwell Community Choir

Free, healthy snacks:
11-3: Healthy Living Platform local food pantry will be serving up delicious and nutritious plant-based wraps.

Drumming Workshop:
11-3 Happy Drums: get happy drumming in these fun, inclusive sessions with the unstoppable super-drummer Tony!

Children’s Active Fun & Games: penalty shoot out, archery, Zorbs, and more active, outdoors fun for kids from Amuru charity. Learn to juggle with Nick from The Camberwell Society

Art for Wellbeing:
11-3: Mental Wealth London – a space for mindful painting for anyone in the community that would like to experience the therapeutic effects of art. 

11-3: African Heritage Storytelling & bookshop – from local creative community group Black Stock Media.

Community Gardening and Food Growing with Friends of Ruskin Park & Urban Canopy:
11-3: Community gardening and open garden food growing – drop in to chat and find out more about the Community and Willow Gardens. Plus tea-tasting – tisanes of mint, lemon verbena etc, from the garden, and sharing information about growing a diversity of food, including different and unusual vegetables, fruit and herbs.
12.30-1 Urban Canopy Join Urban Canopy and Ruskin Park’s volunteer gardening crew for a tour of the labyrinth garden. Hear about the work they’ve been carrying out to improve the garden, and its history from a private walled kitchen garden, to public bowling green, and eventually a beautiful flower garden.

Health checks and wellbeing advice: Lambeth Together’s Health and Wellbeing Bus – NHS health checks from blood pressure and cholesterol checks to accessing welfare. Age UK Lambeth – advice and support for elders.

We hope to welcome you there!

CAMBERWELL GREEN 6 JULY 11am – 3pm (past event)

Thanks to all the participants and visitors at our Feel good Festival on Sat 6th July on Camberwell Green for an uplifting, community event – despite the weather challenges!

Get fit & have fun for all ages:
Amuru – bouncy castle, penalty shoot out, archery, Zorb bubbles, Jenga and more active fun for kids.

Southwark Black Parents Forum and The Winners Fitness Gym bring fitness fun to the green, from punchball (with leader board!) to skipping and circuit training.

Zen Yoga/Zenways – Join mindful yoga sessions in the Zen Yoga marquee.

Babies & toddlers: face painting, nature theme crafts and play with sand and water for young kids with Salvation Army and baby play mats and toys with Parent Action, part of Citizens UK.  

Get healthy:
Spring Community Hub – Local food charity Spring Community Hub cooks up a free healthy West African lunch

SE5 Forum stall and no-cook children’s nutritious food workshop – make tasty snacks with the kids and find out more about SE5 Forum activities

Partnership Southwark’s Wellbeing Van – Get essential mental and physical health support and advice from the NHS, blood pressure and weight checks, advice on cancer screening and diabetes prevention, vaccinations and more, plus a chance to win gift card prizes.

Osteopathy on the Green – get free physical support and advice from this local business, with a raffle for massage and therapy vouchers

Get mental health advice and stop smoking support from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The Mental Health Carers’ & Unpaid Carers’ Group supports families and carers of those going through long term mental or physical illness. You can also visit the South East London MIND stall.

Arts and crafts for wellbeing:
Make dreamcatchers with local volunteer and occupational therapist Holly or sensory shakers with Bethlem Gallery. Join The Camberwell Society for some fun making balloon dogs.

Let kids explore their feelings with the unique My Emotions Activity book and drawing activity.

Join mindful embroidery workshops stitching shapes and pattern with mental health specialist and designer Hannah.

Relax to live music with local bands:
11.30: Scottish Session – Celtic live folk band
12.30: Vagabond music: Malick Kouyate – uplifting sounds from local musicians
2pm: Welcome Singers choir from Southwark Pensioners Centre with a community sing-a-long at 2.30!

We are happy to be partnering with the Camberwell Green Market as well as Black Stock Media, who will be following the festival with their lively Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright: African Heritage festival offering Zumba, drumming, music, food, heritage craft stalls, bouncy castle and fun for the kids until 6.30pm.

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Key partners in the Feel Good Festival are Spring Community Hub, Healthy Living Platform, Partnership Southwark, Lambeth Together’s Health & Wellbeing Bus, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Gallery, Black Stock Media, Amuru, Southwark Black Parents Forum, Friends of Ruskin Park. 

The Feel Good Festival festival is supported by:

Southwark Council’s Neighbourhoods Fund 

Changing Lives, Lambeth Council’s Social Value Fund

Thanks to Good Gym Southwark & Lambeth for their essential support setting up and taking down.

Thanks to Pete Lewis, Mr Pete Lewis Studio: mrpetelewis.com for his fab publicity designs.

Thanks to photographer Julia Hawkins and volunteer photographers on the day.

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Mulberry Community picnic: Sat 27th July, Myatt’s Fields Park
Our two festival events are followed by a Mulberry Community Picnic in Myatt’s Fields Park on 27 July to celebrate the summer mulberry trees in SE5. Bring a picnic and enjoy free music from Jazzlive at the Crypt, a special mulberry recipe from Spring Community Hub food charity and kids’ activities from Mulberry Outdoor Preschool.

Beth Angharad & musicians, Jazzlive at the Crypt

Mulberry Outdoor Preschool

Myatt’s Fields Park

Mulberry picnic sponsors: 

The Camberwell Society

The Nunhead Gardener

TFC Supermarkets

Experience the enthralling history of Camberwell’s legendary Clubland at our next Camberwell Talk on Monday, 1 July, 7pm. In our latest series of fascinating talks by talented locals, journalist and filmmaker Michael Holland screens his documentary Clubland and leads us into the fascinating Camberwell club, which drew in royalty, top footballers, British acting legends and even a sprinkle of Hollywood, set up by the Rev. Jimmy Butterworth.

BOOK TICKETS HERE

The event features an exclusive screening of Clubland, which explores the fascinating history of a local youth club that attracted royalty, top athletes, and famous actors such as Michael Caine. Meet Michael and enjoy a screening of this illuminating slice of SE5 history!

Clubland background: Founded in the 1920s by Rev. Jimmy Butterworth, Clubland was not just any youth club—it was a place where celebrities like Bob Hope and the Queen visited.From 1922 to 1976, Reverend Jimmy Butterworth transformed the lives of many young people in South London through his Methodist youth club, Clubland. Catering to boys and girls aged 10-18, Clubland became the UK’s leading youth club. It featured impressive amenities like a theatre, gymnasium, and library. These facilities reflected Butterworth’s commitment to providing the best for all members, regardless of background. His own tough beginnings inspired his dedication to helping disadvantaged youth, establishing Clubland as a beacon of hope and development in South London.

Michael Holland, a journalist and filmmaker, has captured the spirit of Clubland through interviews and rare footage. This is a unique chance to see a film that is shown only once a year, in the place it celebrates. After the screening, meet Michael Holland and learn more about how this documentary came to life. Don’t miss out on this captivating evening of film and local history in Camberwell.

FILMING CLUBLAND: MICHAEL HOLLAND

Monday 1 July, 7pm

The Crypt*, St Giles’ Church, Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8RB

Tickets £10/£7, including a free drink. Under-18s free.

BOOK TICKETS HERE or at SE5 Forum’s Saturday market stall on Camberwell Green. Some tickets will also be available at the door.

For a further cost of living discount, email: admin@se5forum.org.uk

*Apologies that this venue is not step-free.

CAMBERWELL FOOD FESTIVAL: thanks for coming! The sun came out and our food festival Eat Around the World on Camberwell Green was a great hit last Saturday, with all ages popping down to enjoy food, flavours, family fun and live music on the green. With more than 60 stalls and up to 6,000 attendees, our survey so far shows that people would definitely come again next year. Thanks to the many volunteers that helped organise. EVENT SURVEY We’d love to know what you thought about the event. If you haven’t already done so, please take a moment to fill in our short survey below – many thanks! Click to fill in our survey here Camberwell Business Map: Eat around the world in SE5 We’re developing a map of Camberwell businesses and are pleased to announce that you can now access our Eat Around the World map of our fantastic food in SE5. This map is in development thanks to funding from Southwark Council’s Thriving High Streets Fund and follows the successful Camberwell Food Festival on the green and our Camberwell Food Walk . We will adding loads more local businesses soon. To go to the map on our Camberwell Life website, click here: camberwell.life/discover/camberwell-map CAMBERWELL FOOD WALK For more cuisine exploration in SE5, why not join our first guided Camberwell Food Walk on Saturday 15th June. We will meet at 12.15 and visit 4-5 top local food destinations and go behind-the-scenes to sample favourite dishes and learn more about the global cuisines that have made Camberwell their home. We’ll show you really can eat around the world without ever leaving SE5.   TICKETS: £25 + BOOKING FEE BOOK FOOD WALK TICKETS HERE  Camberwell Talks: Monday 3rd June, 7pm Celebrating Camberwell Arts Festival at 30   Join us for a fascinating and uplifting talk with Camberwell Arts Festival chair Kelly O’Reilly to celebrate 30 glorious years of the festival. From dog shows to degree shows, underground to underwater art, the annual Camberwell Arts Festival has a long history of taking art out of the studio and onto the street. Kelly will be in conversation with founder Selina Hamilton, and other key crew behind the UK’s longest running visual arts festival.Monday 3 June, 7pm at The Grove House Tavern, 26 Camberwell Grove, SE5 8EE. Tickets: £10/7 concessions + a free drink. Under-18s free. Some tickets available on the door. For further cost of living discount, email: admin@se5forum.org.uk The 30th Camberwell Arts Festival runs from 8th-16th June with an eclectic mix of open studios, arts markets, exhibitions, workshops and commissions designed to inspire, entertain and engage audiences of all ages. BUY CAMBERWELL TALK TICKETS  Drawing mulberries: tree drawing workshop Thanks to those who joined our free tree drawing workshop last Sunday, focusing on the marvellous mulberry in Lucas Gardens, led by illustrator David More. Look out for more mulberry adventures coming soon from our Trees & Green Spaces group, a joint initiative by SE5 Forum and The Camberwell Society.   Local businesses at risk from council rent increase Five small essential independent businesses in Crossthwaite Avenue, SE5 – a post office, launderette, pharmacy, hairdresser and supermarket – are under threat of closing down as a result of Southwark Council’s threatened rent increase of 143%. This is despite attempts at negotiation and communication with the council.  A petition has now been set up to protect these small essential shops, which form a neighbourhood hub for the local area, including five large council estates. If you’d like to support them, click here to go to the petition.     Southwark Maternity Commission Share your experience of maternity care Southwark Council is running a Maternity Consultation to find about the standards of maternity care during pregnancy and the first few months after birth and make recommendations about how services can better meet resident’s needs. Please respond to this survey if: ·       you (or your family) have had a pregnancy in the last five years ·       or you’re a frontline professional who delivers maternity services Both surveys take 5 to 10 minutes to complete and close on 30 July 2024. They are available in 10 languages.  Complete the survey if you’re a resident or Complete the survey if you’re a professional in maternity care