A Rotherhithe charity is holding a grand opening for its new community centre this week.
The Restorative Justice for All (RJ4ALL) centre will hold a weekly food bank, workshops, coaching and counselling classes and fitness sessions for locals.
Local MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark Neil Coyle will come to the opening of the centre on Plough Way on Saturday.
Mr Coyle said: “I am delighted that RJ4All are opening a community centre in my constituency and I look forward to seeing the various projects and services this hub will provide to support our local community.”
The ceremony will also include free food and drink, free dance classes, a raffle, an art installation for children and work by an award-winning London artist, Angel Correa.
Theo Gavrielides, founder and director of RJ4ALL, said: “Since COVID-19 struck, the art of community cohesion has been greatly damaged all around the world. This centre represents a stride in the right direction towards a more united and strengthened neighbourhood [in] South East London.”
Nick Johnson, a charity board member added , said: “The opening of the Community Centre marks the beginning of a new chapter for RJ4All and its assistance with the local neighbourhood and beyond.”
The counselling work is being done by staff from the University of East London.
Psychotherapist Max Eames and psychologist Andrea Giraldez-Hayes from the University of East London, said: “We are proud to be partnering with RJ4All, given its mission to enhance community cohesion and champion human rights.
“We believe that such rights include the right to affordable psychological support. We are looking forward to offering counselling, coaching, positive psychology and workshops from the community centre.”
Anyone can come to the free event but you have to book. Tickets can be booked here: https://rj4allbookings.org/?mep_events=rj4all-rotherhithe-community-centre-grand-opening
Address: 30 Plough Way, SE16 2LJ
12:00 PM – Neil Coyle’s appearance
12:30 PM – Free dance classes
14:30 PM – Raffle is drawn