Just to let you know, Pembury Community Centre will have amended opening days over the holiday period.
The centre will be closed on
Thursday 25 December 2025 until Thursday 1 January 2026
The centre will be open as usual from Friday 2 January 2026
What’s on
There’s always something happening at Pembury Community Centre. You can view a full timetable online or by visiting the centre at 1 Atkins Square.
Pembury Community Centre Timetable
Growing Together
Despite the chilly weather, the Pembury Community Garden on Hindrey Road, continues to be a place to come together.
The group, supported by Seeds for Growth, recently held a soup and stencilling session on Thursday 6 November. Residents planted broad beans, dwarf peas and garlic while enjoying homemade soup and some delicious green tomato chutney made by a resident using food grown in the garden
Alongside this winter planting, the garden will soon also be home to a raised bed using fallen leaves, logs and cuttings from around the estate (known as a Hugelkuktur).
The garden is open to everyone on the estate, and no experience is needed. Join us every other Tuesday from 5.30pm to 7.30pm and every other Saturday from 2pm to 4pm.
Wreath making Saturday 13 December, 2pm to 4pm Meet at Pembury Community Centre
Drop by and enjoy some festive wreath making, take part in a scavenger hunt and even help plant some fruit bushes. Spiced apple juice and mince pies will be provided as well.
To stay in the loop, message the Seeds for Growth team on 07585 005760 to join the WhatsApp group.
Seeds for Growth will leave the site in March 2026, handing over to a resident-led group. If you have ideas about the gardening project or how the space can be used, we’d love to hear from you.
Celebrating ten years of togetherness
On Thursday 16 October, Pembury Community Centre in Hackney was filled with residents, partners and friends celebrating 10 years of Pembury Children’s Community and the centre’s opening
The centre was buzzing with activity by midafternoon with activity as the Community Celebration event began Around 265 residents came along, with families, children and neighbours filling the space with warmth and excitement. One resident commented that the high turnout “really shows how much having a centre like this works and how important it is” .
There were taster sessions for all ages. Including hula hooping with Hula4Fun, belly dancing, and creative workshops. Residents got stuck into T-shirt design, henna art and face painting, all run by people living and working nearby.
Thanks to everyone who came down to celebrate our community! Read more about the 10 year celebrations on our website.
At the end of November Pembury Community Centre hosted 35 sixth form students from Mossbourne Community Academy in Hackney and Ark Burlington Danes Academy in Hammersmith, as part of our partnership with Youth Careers Collective.
Young people are the future of our community, so it’s vital they have a say in shaping spaces they use. After meeting the teams who keep Pembury running, the students toured the estate; including the newly painted mural, community garden and the centre itself. Learning how local voices have shaped these spaces.
Then came the challenge: how would they improve the Youth Zone with a £500 microgrant? Ideas ranged from woodworking workshops and markets to karaoke nights.
Next up, 12 students will be matched with mentors from Peabody and partners, starting this month and leading to a week-long placement in February
Black History Month Enterprise Day
In late October, Peabody’s Hackney Community Investment and Community Properties teams partnered with African Community School to host their Black History Month Community Enterprise Expo at Pembury Community Centre.
The event filled the entire first floor with local businesses, free dance taster sessions, and delicious food. Peabody supported by providing the space free of charge, promoting the event, and sending volunteers to help with set-up, registrations, and photography. Special guests included the Mayor of Hackney, Caroline Woodley, and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, who spoke about the importance of these events and even joined the Zumba and Dancehall sessions
Attendees also heard inspiring stories from entrepreneurs, including Rosa, who received a Peabody microgrant to publish a children’s book about her heritage and continues to grow her beauty business Read more about Rosa in the Pembury People Spotlight also in this newsletter
Pembury People: Meet Rosa
Pembury is home to many motivated and inspirational people. We spoke with one resident, Rosa, who is leading the way as a small business owner with her children’s books, haircare line and newly opened salon.
From bedtime stories to beauty business
Rosa and her young son have been part of the Pembury community since 2020. Rosa’s journey into business started with a simple question from her son while telling him a bedtime story one night: “Why don’t your stories have a book like the others?”
That question sparked an idea. Rosa grew up hearing fairytales and folklore from GuineaBissau, and she wanted to share those stories with her son and other children. She taught herself how to write and publish, connected with people around the world, and even explored printing options abroad.
By the time her son turned three, her first book was ready and was a big hit at his nursery!
Today, Rosa has written The Chatter Mouse and Cuka and The Big Book, fun and educational stories inspired by African culture.
Rosa has been supported in her journey through the help of a £500 microgrant from Peabody, which has been used to give out books at a number of recent events at Pembury Community Centre, with plans to read her books with families and prompt parents to talk about their own childhood stories with their kids.
But Rosa hasn’t stopped at books. During lockdown, when salons were closed, she and her sister started experimenting with natural haircare products.
That grew into Nilu Cosmetics, a line of haircare designed to strengthen and thicken hair.
After completing specialist courses and getting licensed, Rosa now sells her products at Ridley Road Market and community events. Her focus? Affordable products that help people feel confident about their natural hair
And if that wasn’t enough, Rosa recently opened a salon in Stoke Newington! She’s excited to grow her services and keep helping people feel their best
Her advice for anyone thinking about starting a business? “Find something you love, take feedback, and set small goals. It takes time and money, but confidence comes with experience. ”
Want to support a local business? Visit Rosa at Ridley Road Market or book an appointment at her new salon by contacting: nilucoametics@gmail.com or caixamagicainfantil@gmail.com
Whether you're planning a party, running a regular class, or hosting a community event, Pembury Community Centre offers a range of welcoming spaces for hire.
We’re open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, but also take bookings in the evenings and on weekends.
The best way to reach us is through our bookings inbox at peabodycommunity.bookings@peabody.org.uk. You can also call us on 0203 828 3500, though we’ll always follow up via email to confirm details.
Contact us
Phone 0300 123 3456
Website peabody org uk/contact-us
Post 45 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7JB Facebook and Instagram @peabodyLDN
