Check these offers and activities are still running, or the days/datings/timings haven’t changed, before setting off
Affordable food
Join a Food on Our Doorstep food club
Join a food club to get affordable and healthy meals all year round.
Family Action are working to ensure no child or young person is left hungry in Greenwich borough. To support those who need it most, Food On Our Doorstep are food clubs are available for an annual membership of £1. This will allow you to get £15 worth of food for your family at just £3.50 each week. There is no need to sign up before the day, you can become a member on the day. There are three locations where you can access Food On Our Doorstep.
You can visit your local food club at:
Valley Central Community Hub, The Valley, Floyd Road, London, SE7 8BL on Fridays 1pm to 3pm;
Eltham Green Community Church, 542 Westhorne Ave, London SE9 6DH on Fridays 10am to 12noon;
Jubilee Centre, Lytton Strachey Path, London SE28 8DU on Fridays 11am to 1pm.
To find out more or to register as a member, please email Londonfoodclubs@family-action.org.uk
You can also visit the website: family-action.org.uk
Check the Royal Borough of Greenwich website in case details have changed.
Free cookery courses
Free cookery clubs and courses
Greenwich Cooperative Development Agency (GDCA) work with the Royal Borough of Greenwich to run five-week cooking sessions that are free and in-person. The sessions help you to eat well for less, meet people andlearn new skills.
Cookery tutors will show you how to prepare delicious, healthy meals. And you’ll receive a free cookery book at the end of the course.
Courses are currently held at
Abbey Wood Community Centre, 4 Knee Hill, SE2 0YS;
Clockhouse Community Centre, Defiance Walk, Woolwich Dockyard, SE18 5QL;
Hawksmoor Youth Hub, Bentham Road, Thamesmead, SE28 8AS;
Middle Park Community Centre, 150 Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, SE9 5SD;
St. Peter’s Church Hall, Weigall Road with Eltham Road, SE12 8HQ;
St. Richards Church Centre,26 Swallowfield Road, Charlton, SE7 7NR;
Trinity Methodist Church,265 Burrage Road, Plumstead, SE18 7JW;
Woolwich Common Community Centre,17 Leslie Smith Square, Woolwich, SE18 4DW.
For more information or to book a place, email: cookeryclubs@gcda.org.uk or phone: 0800 470 4831. Further information on the Royal Borough of Greenwich website.
Free unwanted furniture disposal
Emmaus furniture collection
The Greenwich and Plumstead branches of Emmaus, a charity working to end homelessness, will take away unwanted furniture for free, although it must meet certain conditions. For example, the item/s must be within five miles of their Plumstead base, in good, reusable condition, and for soft furnishings like sofas, ensure they have the required fire safety label.
Earl Rise, Off Brewery Road, Plumstead, SE18 7NF; 020 8854 3426; emmaus.org.uk
Magazines, audiobooks and ebooks online
Magazines, audiobooks and ebooks
Thousands of libraries offer free and cheap magazines, ebooks and audiobooks online. You will need a library card, but this can usually be obtained online in a couple of minutes.
Contact libbyapp.com or ulibrary
Meals for free
Good Food in Greenwich Community Kitchen
The Good Food in Greenwich Community Kitchen is a monthly community meal organised by volunteer Community Food Champions, with support from Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA) and the council. No booking is required so bring your family and friends to the next community meal. All venues have wheelchair/disabled access. Venues have included Clockhouse Community Centre, Defiance Walk, Woolwich Dockyard, SE18 5QL; Hawksmoor Youth Hub, Bentham Rd, Thamesmead, SE28 8AS; Woolwich Common Community Centre, 17 Leslie Smith Square, Woolwich Common, SE18 4DW and St Richards Church Centre, 26 Swallowfield Road, Charlton, SE7 7NR. Check the next community meal on the Royal Borough of Greenwich website.
Guru Nanak Seva weekly free hot meals
Local Sikhs provide support to the whole community through free hot meals in Woolwich on a weekly basis. Every Sunday, outside Woolwich Arsenal DLR, opposite Costa, 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Check details are current on the Royal Borough of Greenwich website.
Free live music
Age Exchange Friday Classical Music Concerts
Last Friday of month noon-1pm (except July, Aug, Dec)
Lunchtime concert by students of Trinity Laban. Donations welcomed.
Bakehouse Theatre, Age Exchange, Blackheath, SE3 9LA; 020 8318 9105; age-exchange.org.uk; free
Charlton House Tuesday Concert Programme
Tuesdays, 1-2pm
Concerts typically include classical music ensembles, brass bands and piano recitals.
Old Library, Charlton House and Gardens, Charlton Road, Charlton SE7 8RE; 020 8856 3951; greenwichheritage.org/events; free, suggested donation £3
Classical music concerts
On weekdays some of the City’s most beautiful churches put on free lunchtime classical music recitals. Some music colleges, including the Royal Academy of Music (ram.ac.uk/events) and the Royal College of Music (rcm.ac.uk/events) also organise regular free classical concerts and other events.
Greenwich Park Bandstand Concerts
Sundays from mid June until late August, 3pm
The June-August summer season of concerts in Greenwich Park feature a series of jazz, concert and brass bands.
Greenwich Park, Greenwich SE10; free
Live music at The Pelton Arms
Dates vary
The Pelton Arms in Greenwich is one of the best venues in south east London to see live music in an intimate setting. Past chart-topping bands have included Squeeze and The Christians, and established and popular local bands that have played there recently have included The Celtic Hearts, The Hi-Fi Sneakers and Danny and the Moonlighters. Nine Below Zero’s Dennis Greaves oversees an open mic blues jam the last Sunday of the month.
Pelton Arms, 23-25 Pelton Road, Greenwich, SE10 9PQ; peltonarms.com; 020 0572; free or ticketed
Free school meals
Check whether your child is entitled to free school meals at gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals or speak to the school reception.
Free life skills programme for people with learning diabilities
Greenwich Mencap has a free programme that runs each week from 9am to 2.30pm. The duration of each course is six weeks, but shorter courses are available. Monday: literacy, numeracy and budgeting skills; Tuesday: personal care; Wednesday: housekeeping; Thursday: travel training; Friday: cooking.
Life Skills Centre, Riverwood Project, Unit 7 Woolwich Common Enterprise Centre, Peace Street, Woolwich SE18 4HX; 020 8305 2245; greenwichmencap.co.uk
Sports activities
Loads of sports and wellness activities
The BetterUK website and app details many activities including swimming, badminton, dance, football, fitness classes, kayaking and much more held at Greenwich Leisure Centres (The Greenwich Centre, The Eltham Centre, Thamesmere Leisure Centre and Waterfront Leisure Centre) and many more locations. Many activities are at low prices.
Toys
Toys and books to borrow and much more
Charlton Toy Library provides families with a place to come and meet other parents, play with their children or get advice from the experienced members of staff. The Library serves hundreds of families in and around the borough.
Toys can be borrowed, with age ranges from 0 up to 7. There is a wide range of story-sacks, special needs toys, baby toys, games and puzzles, dressing up and many more.
There is also an extensive range of children books and also adult books to borrow covering all aspects of childcare, health, meal planning, disabilities and many more topics.
There is also an Outreach Service to disadvantaged families across the borough. This service provides support and advice to parents & carers, and supplies toys, books, games and child safety equipment completely free of charge to families who cannot afford them.
There is also a lovely play area for children and their carers to come play and socialise. On Tuesday and Friday mornings the Library has a very popular singing session. On Thursday mornings there is a sensory play and singing session. All sessions are free of charge for Charlton Toy Library members.
The toy library can also be booked for children’s parties. The Library generally advises that its space is suitable for the under-threes. As there is an enormous amount of play & dressing up equipment, parties can be themed.
Charlton Toy Library, Langhorne House, 9 Springfield Grove, Charlton SE7 7TL; info@charltontoylibrary.org.uk; charltontoylibrary.org.uk
