Downham Centenary Grants
Downham Centenary Tea Party
Sunday 16 February 2025, 2.30pm-5pm, New Studio Club, Old Bromley Rd, BR1 4JY
A special event for residents and groups to celebrate the centenary of Downham at the New Studio Club. Enjoy an afternoon of tea, cakes, and information. There will be a curated display of Downham's history with pictures from the London Metropolitan Archive, Lewisham Council Archive, and Downham Originals.
Young people from Lewisham Music will capture recordings of conversations between local people. This social event aims to bring a different dimension to what residents remember and say about the history of Downham.
The event is in partnership with Sevenfields PCN, Downham Nutrition Partnership, Downham Men’s Group, Lewisham Council, and various Downham partners.
Community Environment and Landscapes
January to March 2025, various locations
Launcelot Primary School and Nursery will reinvigorate local green spaces and restore Downham to Garden City Spaces. School staff, teachers, and children will work with the local community to clean up the estate through litter picking. In partnership with The Art Academy, they will also create street art in Downham. Tutors from The Art Academy will volunteer time to work with classes to create artwork for public display. Businesses will volunteer time to discuss sustainable art.
For more details on how to get involved, contact Yashi Pilgrim, Assistant Headteacher, at admin@launcelot.lewish.sch.uk.
Downham 100 - A Youth Lens on the Past, Present and Future
February to March 2025, Elevate 100 (Ground floor, Downham Leisure Centre)
A photography project aimed at commemorating Downham's Centenary. Young people aged 16-30 will capture images that symbolize their community and hopes for the future. After a series of workshops, images will be displayed at the newly launched youth-led venue ‘Elevate 100’ in Downham Leisure Centre. The project will link up with the network of groups and organizations contributing to a year of celebrations, creating a visually compelling exhibition and zine.
Skill-building workshops will include:
- smartphone photography and editing
- creative zine workshop
- co-creating a public exhibition and developing a printed zine
These workshops will introduce young participants to the fundamentals of photography, co-producing an exhibition and zine that celebrates Downham’s history and future aspirations.
The exhibition will launch on Thursday 27 March. For more information visit the project page: Downham 100: A Youth Lens on the Past, Present and Future.
Downham’s Ball
Saturday 15 March, 6pm-9pm, St Barnabas Church Hall, Downham Way, BR1 5NZ
Downham Celebrates will host a ball for local residents to experience Downham in the 1940s to 1960s, when Downham estate had a ballroom (now the Co-op on Downham Way).
The night will start with a dance lesson where local dance schools/groups will teach classic ballroom dances. After the lessons, there will be a break for refreshments before the freestyle dance commences. There will be a history corner with a visual display and an area for people to talk and share memories, such as a local resident who grew up on the estate and met her husband in the original ballroom.
More information and ticket details to follow.