The community hub has been recognised as a place where diverse groups of people can connect, learn and feel at home. It has won a £60,000 grant from the Mayor of London and The National Lottery Community Fund to continue that good work.
The extra funding will be used to add more activities to a free programme shaped by residents and run by Peabody.
This will include supporting the work of the newly formed Moorings Sociable Club Community Action Network (MSC CAN). The group has been created to generate ideas for new community-led events and activities at the venue.
They will meet regularly, gather feedback from their neighbours and provide insights on developing an activity programme that best meets the needs of the community.
“Our goal is simple,” said resident Deborah Frimpong, from MSC CAN. “We want the community centre to feel like it belongs to everyone. That means more voices at the table and more opportunities for residents to shape what happens here.”
Several new, free activities and pilot projects will also be funded by the Loved and Wanted grant. These include a new informal space for residents to connect with each other. This will be delivered by Camerados, a social movement that organises public living rooms in communities around the world.
Another initiative will see the introduction of Talkaoke, a pop-up residents’ talk show hosted by social enterprise The People Speak, where people can share their views on local issues.
Peabody, who made the successful bid for Loved and Wanted status, and MSC CAN are also planning regular interfaith coffee mornings and other shared table events to bring diverse groups of residents together. The grant will support more weekend and evening activities at the venue too.
Dan Wells, Peabody’s Community Investment Lead in Thamesmead, said: “The Moorings Sociable Club is already a vital community hub for residents from The Moorings and across Thamesmead.
“Becoming a Loved and Wanted community space means we can offer more support to local people as they grow an activities programme. It’s all part of our work to encourage more residents to feel at home here.”
The Moorings Sociable Club reopened in March 2022 following an extensive refurbishment carried out in partnership with the local community. This was funded by Peabody and the Mayor of London.
The space, which had previously been closed for more than 15 years, has become a warm and welcoming hub, hosting everything from boxing classes to crafting clubs.
Residents who want to get involved in shaping the activities programme can apply to join the Moorings Sociable Club Community Action Network. Panel members get training to support their work. They are also paid the London Living Wage for time spent developing the activities programme. Email uzma.ali@peabody.org.uk for more information.
