The event was due to take place in Arnott Close, outside the Moorings Sociable Club. But many of the activities were moved indoors due to persistent rain.
The downpour failed to dampen the spirits of residents who took part in Bollywood dancing, boxing, massage and sports day activities. With food and drinks available from Camouflage Cafe, an ice cream van outside and the Felix Project distributing fruit and vegetables, there were plenty of refreshments to keep energy levels up.
The festival was part of a new programme of community activities launched at the Moorings Sociable Club to bring local people together.
The extra activities and events are backed by £60,000 of funding from the Mayor of London and the National Lottery Community Fund, as part of their Loved & Wanted initiative. The funding was awarded when the popular community hub was named as one of 30 Loved & Wanted spaces in London earlier this year.
Parent Voice, a group of 10 local mums involved in expanding the number of activities on offer at the venue, played a key role in organising the street festival.
Ozge Ali, Family Hub Co-ordinator at Better East Children’s Centres, who helped plan the street festival, said: “It was a fantastic day of community, collaboration, fun and connection. Together, we created memories, strengthened our community and celebrated what we can achieve when we work as a team.
“It was a wonderful example of community cohesion, bringing people together regardless of religion, ethnicity, age, background, or circumstance. On a cloudy day, we were the sunshine.”
There were also opportunities for attendees to tell members of the new Moorings Sociable Club Community Action Network (MSC-CAN) what activities and events they would like to see at the venue.
Working alongside the MSC-CAN, local residents, community organisations and partners, Peabody is using the new funding to develop an even broader programme of activities, planned by and for the local community.
Uzma Ali, Community Development Projects Officer at Peabody, said: “Our latest Loved & Wanted event was a fantastic occasion full of laughter and community spirit. It was wonderful to see residents take such a hands-on role in running the event. We're excited to see that continue as we grow our programme of activities at the Moorings Sociable Club.”
To get involved in future events at the Moorings Sociable Club, email uzma.ali@peabody.org.uk.
