21 and counting

processed-efb23f82-cdad-4044-9337-523ed0d2bca7_jmbDXq0n

processed-e81fd957-84a3-4c45-af54-d7418ff326af_cbdz01ex

processed-d8002378-d0eb-4115-beb7-0efc5629ccfc_MVfS1s7T

processed-d22fc31a-9e9f-4825-ac8c-cb1685a4d03b_UIn7YVWO

processed-c5090f30-0400-4126-9b07-238137ed1a6b_azTKvza8

processed-c8e7eb8c-e9a2-45c8-8e42-9137912e0f21_nx4jawtr

processed-7924b9b9-4a1b-40bb-8eec-011758955552_TOhSAHS4

processed-468c155f-cd12-43a6-b0fe-c43a17bce6a1_4eUq8bam

processed-42fbddec-1313-4c63-9ea7-b9c1640f6476_qdwghRLz

processed-3cb66182-6292-446d-9af8-ad93a59fcc23_ston5gXy

21 and Counting – A celebration of Community Action & Heritage on the Pepys Estate

2000 Community Action Centre (2CAC) is 21! Located on Pepys Estate, Deptford it serves a diverse community of 5000 residents, (c.85% African-Caribbean), through a range of services including youth services, a social supermarket, legal advice/more.

The ‘21 and Counting’ project, shaped by locals, will engage c.1500 residents in celebrating the 21-year heritage of Community Action at 2CAC within the context of the Estate’s rich maritime/docklands history and diverse heritage of current residents. A priority will be involving; young and BAME people. The launch and closing event will be screened online for those unable to personally attend e.g., housebound.

Our projects three distinct phases, and range of complementary activities includes:

1: Project-Launch of ‘21 and Counting’ on 30 April 2022.

Hold Community Launch Event with food and music to bring people together, recognise key achievements and:
Introduce 2CAC’s ‘21 and Counting’ Heritage Wall to the community. An interactive timeline for 2CAC and community-members to share/write key dates/visual memories/photos of the 21 years of local activism between 2000-2021. Three diverse community activist/ volunteers will share heritage stories using instrument/song/poetry/rap
Promote the upcoming historical and heritage activities over the next 6 months and encourage residents to participate
Recruit volunteers (include 25% YP) to help make the project activities happen, promoting the opportunity to develop skills and experience.

2: Historical and Heritage Activities:

Four walking tours of Pepys Estate, starting at 2CAC. Widening community participation, led by local historian, supported by volunteers, tours will focus on the estate’s fascinating heritage sites, including the once ground-breaking tower blocks where many residents live; what stood there before including the Great Surrey Canal that once ran through the estate for many years
User-groups/visitors of the centre encouraged to populate the “21 and Counting” Heritage Wall recording key dates, memories etc
Heritage Research: A local BAME historian will work with 10 young people. Over 3 meetings, research the life/legacy of important abolitionist and former slave Olaudah Equiano, who lived in Deptford in the late C18th and other relevant historical figures using Liverpool Museum-of-Slavery resources. 3:

3: Focus on Legacy:

Closing ’21andCounting’ just after our 21st fiscal year end in June 2022, the project will hold a Celebratory Community Event, with food and music where:

Volunteers will receive certificates of achievement, reflect on their learning and informally share their next steps.
A permanent local display of the “21andCounting” Heritage Wall populated by 2CAC beneficiaries/residents of Pepys Estate is unveiled
Video and photo versions of the project/Heritage Wall/tours shared with; community libraries across Lewisham to widen access with permanent reference copy shared with Lewisham Historical-Archives and uploaded to 2CAC’s website
A permanent water fountain installed in Linear Park to mark the now infilled Surrey Canal, connecting this history for local people and visitors.
Blue/Maroon Heritage Plaque erected onto 2CAC building, marking 21 years of community action, unveiled, Summer 2022 in conjunction with Lewisham’s Borough of Culture celebrations