Our Mission
The SE5 Forum works to improve Camberwell for the benefit of all members of our diverse community. We are a voluntary group of board members working closely with our supporters and the community. SE5 Forum was set up to be the eyes, ears and voice of the community, to see and understand what is happening within the area, to listen to concerns and raise them with the relevant organisations.
Partnership
The SE5 Forum works with a number of partners in the local community to gather views and deliver improvements. Find out more about our partners.
New Vision & strategy for Camberwell
The SE5 Forum consulted the views of Camberwell people to find out what people like about Camberwell and what they want to change. We worked on a new Vision for Camberwell to capture and share those views. The Vision set out the areas that people wanted to focus on for the next 3 years. This fed into our Strategy & Action Plan 2018-21 focusing on Business, Transport and Identity. Since 2021, we have been focusing on supporting local businesses, transport, identity, green spaces and free health & wellbeing community events.
Our Story in Years
After consulting Camberwell people we set up SE5 Forum and hosted the Camberwell ‘Jigsaw’ Event to gather information about “What’s Good, Bad, Missing in Camberwell”.
Set up the Camberwell Leisure Centre Working Party which led to the refurbishment of the Leisure Centre.
Held Beijing Olympics Handover Event on Camberwell Green which attracted 2000 visitors.
In response to concerns expressed by consultants at King’s College Hospital A&E we hosted a Knife Crime Symposium.
Joined Lambeth Forum Network which provides much needed core funding.
Led the campaign to save the South London Line.
Launched Camberwell Artists Network with an event showcasing local creative industries.
Launched Camberwell Business Network (CBN).
Vision for Camberwell published.
Supported the creation of Camberwell Green Farmers Market.
Creation of Camberwell Community Choir.
One year to Go Olympic Event on Camberwell Green.
Launched Friends of Camberwell Green.
Secured Cleaner, Greener Safer Funding for Lomond Grove Green Link from Camberwell Green to Burgess park.
Following the 2011 riots CBN was awarded £50K from Community Restoration Fund for work with businesses and the community.
Supported Early Years Groups in celebrating the Olympic Torch visit to Camberwell.
First Camberwell Palace of Variety.
Free Film Festival.
Camberwell Food and Drink Festival.
Scare Concert.
“Meet the Candidates” Event – Camberwell people met local election councillor hopefuls.
Successful submission to the High Street Challenge for Camberwell Business Improvement District (BID) feasibility study.
We concentrated on forwarding the Camberwell Business Improvement District.
Building links between Southwark and Lambeth friends of libraries and green spaces group.
Successful Bid to register the Nag’s Head PH as an Asset of Community Value.
We concentrated on forwarding the Camberwell Business Improvement District.
After public consultations, we drew up an ambitious Vision for Camberwell, concentrating on what people wanted to see over the next three years.
Further moves are made towards setting up a Camberwell business network.
Nominated Community Group of the Year in the Southwark Stars Awards by Community Southwark.
The transport group raised its campaign to support the re-opening of Camberwell train station.
SE5 Forum draws up a Strategy & Action Plan after consultation with the public focusing on Business, Transport and Identity.
The Transport Group continues its popular campaign to support re-opening Camberwell train station and reduce air pollution
Our Camberwell Identity Group successfully crowdfunds for Camberwell Banners and launched the Camberwell brand designs at the AGM in October.
The business group holds a range of successful business networking events.
Camberwell Banners went up, 2 Camberwell murals were unveiled and the Identity Group continues work on Camberwell’s new brand designs.
SE5 Forum supports the local community during the Covid crisis by sharing vital information and resources on website, newsletters and social media.
The Business and Identity groups with Camberwell Society and Camberwell Arts work on supporting local businesses during Covid and develop Love Local Campaign, new website Camberwell.life & Travel Guide to Camberwell.
The Transport Group holds a stakeholder event with Network Rail on the re-opening of Camberwell train station.
More Camberwell Banners went up, a Camberwell map and Travel Guide to Camberwell produced, plus new merchandise for business.
We hold a successful public meeting on Zoom on How to Create a Better Camberwell with 49 attendees.
We run a social media campaign around the problems of bus idling and clean air on the green.
The Camberwell identity branding is used in the new Denmark Hill second entrance.
Organised free feel good health & wellbeing festivals in partnership with the community.
The Camberwell Identity created a Wyndham Road mural designed by school students and Anish Kapoor studios
Hosted an Election Hustings for Lambeth & Southwark councillor candidates in SE5
With a High Street Recovery Fund grant, supported local businesses with their marketing with our Love Local and Camberwell Champions campaign
Ran popular guided tree walks in Ruskin Park with film screening
Lobbied Southwark Council on clearing street clutter, cleaning the town centre and graffiti.
Organised free feel good health & wellbeing festivals in partnership with the community.
The Camberwell Identity created a Wyndham Road mural designed by school students and Anish Kapoor studios
Hosted an Election Hustings for Lambeth & Southwark councillor candidates in SE5
With a High Street Recovery Fund grant, supported local businesses with their marketing with our Love Local and Camberwell Champions campaign
Ran popular guided tree walks in Ruskin Park with film screening
Lobbied Southwark Council on clearing street clutter, cleaning the town centre and graffiti.
Sophy Taylor
Chair
Sophy has lived and raised a family in Camberwell. Most recently her work in SE5 Forum has balanced longer, more strategic aims on transport (like re-opening the railway station) with more immediate activities like working with parks groups on litter picking and green issues. She is looking forward to more partnership working to increase the positive impact that SE5 Forum can achieve on behalf of the membership.
Gill Henderson
Vice Chair
Gill Henderson joined in Summer 2022 and organised the successful Feel Good Festival in Ruskin Park. Gill has expertise in fundraising and has successfully secured grants for our free health and wellbeing community events, such as the Camberwell Christmas Event in December 2023.
Andy Murray
Treasurer
Andy is an accountant and brings his considerable financial skills to the SE5 Forum board as treasurer.
Marie Staunton
Secretary
Marie is Secretary of SE5 Forum and also leads on Camberwell identity. She is a key member of the Camberwell Identity group, which is made up of SE5 Forum, Camberwell Arts and Camberwell Society, as well as other volunteer experts. Marie has extensive CEO, board and chairing skills in the voluntary and non-profit sector.
Marika Thorogood
Admin
Marika works for SE5 Forum as a self-employed admin and communications professional. She joined in 2018 and oversees SE5’s admin and communications, including website, enewsletter, social media and is also involved in a wide range of other activities such as publicity, fundraising and event management.
Christine Coleman
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Christine is a local resident with links to the Camberwell Society. Christine is involved in the Identity Group and takes a lead on organising the SE5 Forum market stall and merchandise.
Craig Francis
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Craig joined in October 2021. A born and bred Camberwellian, he has worked over 5 years on the Camberwell Free Film Festival, and supported the Camberwell Arts Festival, Camberwell Community Choir, and Theatre Peckham. As a creative facilitator, a black man, a roller skater, and mental health first aider, Craig also recently set up a CIC with the hope of filling the creative gaps in Camberwell. He would like to bring back a local roller rink and safe creative space back to the area.
John Frankland
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John has been involved in community safety since 1986 and has chaired the Herne Hill Safer Neighbourhood Panel since 2005. He is also a member of the Coldharbour Panel and the Lambeth SNP Chairs Group. John works with three Lambeth area forums and is a school governor. John is SE5 Forum Deputy Lambeth Rep.
Mastoor Khan
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Mastoor is actively involved in the Camberwell Identity group and establishing links with local faith groups.
Barbara Pattinson
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Barbara was formerly Chair of SE5 Forum from its inception until February 2021. Recognitions include a Southwark Civic Award, 2010 Volunteer Centre Southwark Active Citizen and Keib Thomas Community Activist of the Year. She is patron of Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers and a Kings College Hospital Foundation Trust Governor.
Simon J Taylor
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Simon J Taylor is the SE5 Forum Arts lead and is also involved in the business group.
You?
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We welcome new members. Get in touch if you’d like to be involved.