Last weekend we had the pleasure of attending Surrey Square Primary School’s Community Marketplace. The marketplace, which celebrated its one-year anniversary this month, is a brilliant monthly event where parents and pupils have the chance to pick up clothes, food parcels, receive an NHS health check, and enjoy activities, drinks, and a hot meal.

Starting small, now over 200 parents and children attend each month!

Usually donated from the clothing company Very, this month the clothes were donated by individuals in the local community. The food parcels, which include a supply of fresh fruit and vegetables for families to take home and use, are given by the Felix Project. The delicious lunch was provided by a chef from Walworth Living Room, a community space run by SFAA project Pembroke House.

Activities included sports and a gardening session, led by Christina from SFAA project Edible Rotherhithe!

As well as a chance to access free clothes and food, health checks, and useful signposting, the marketplace provides a friendly and relaxed space where parents, volunteers and staff can connect with one another. The community that it has fostered was most apparent at lunch time, as parents, volunteers and staff sat with one another, chatting, catching up and enjoying a great meal.

For SFAA, the visit was a great chance to learn about this wonderful community space, and an opportunity to tell marketgoers about the SFAA food map, show how it worked, and share relevant projects. If any SFAA projects are interested in signposting their services at the next Community Marketplace, which will take place in September, please reach out to sfaa@pecan.org.uk.