Our communities team is thrilled to have been able to support some of these activities, thanks to contributions from our Thamesmead Community Fund – the last round of which awarded more than £60,000 to arts and community-focussed initiatives in 2023.
Continue reading to find out about some of the Christmas celebrations and initiatives we were fortunate enough to support.
Community food distribution
We received food from The Felix Project – a charitable organisation that saves surplus food from different suppliers and gives it to charities. We then redistributed the food to low income families in Thamesmead, along with six community groups who shared the food with people in need from their networks. In total we donated 200 people’s worth of food, over two days.
TARU Arts, workshops and lantern parade
TARU Arts hosted a series of drumming and lantern-making workshops at the Nest Library and Community Building. The arts and education non-profit organisation then finished off its celebrations with a lively lantern parade around Cygnet Square.
Seniors in Touch Christmas party
Seniors in Touch offers a range of social, cultural, learning and recreational programs for seniors over the age of 50. This year it partnered with Age UK to host a Christmas party at Lakeview Court, which is a sheltered accommodation for older residents.
Around 50 people attended, taking part lots of fun activities such as carol singing, bingo and a raffle.
Listening Ears Christmas party
Listening Ears is another organisation that hosts activities for over 50s, with sessions taking place every Monday at the Nest from 12pm – 3pm. Its members came together for Christmas party on 20 December. The Mayor of Greenwich was in attendance, and we were able to contribute shopping vouchers that went towards the cost of food for the event.
You can find out more about the work our communities team is doing in Thamesmead here.
