Longwood Park

What you've told us

We've reached out to the community in a variety of ways to gather community feedback and to help shape the priorities for the Community Investment Plan for the Longwood Park area.

A new Community Investment Plan has been developed through focus groups and resident consultations and is set to be released later this year. The plan will focus on meeting the needs of residents, empowering the community, and addressing those issues most important to you. It will include projects aimed at reducing social isolation, improving community safety, and increasing youth engagement.

The Byron Centre at Longwood Park reopened in August 2024 after a refurbishment. We look forward to collaborating with local partners to deliver projects and activities that will benefit the community.

Your priorities

The priorities identified in partnership with our customers and local stakeholders to shape the focus of our delivery are:

• Community Well-being: Strengthening food security programmes, enhancing mental health services, and improving access to social care initiatives to support residents' physical and mental health.
• Public Spaces and Amenities: Focus on building stronger community connections by upgrading and maintaining shared community spaces and researching new services such as Amazon lockers, storage space and a communal launderette.
• Youth and Family Support: Address community concerns about disengaged youth and perception of youth anti-social behaviour as well as family support by implementing tailored programmes to support young people and families through mentorship, recreational activities, and skill development.
• Combating Social Isolation: Develop initiatives that connect isolated groups such as older residents, families and new community members. These efforts will help to build strong networks.
• Community Safety and Security: Expanding crime prevention efforts, and supporting Neighbourhood Watch programmes, and enhancing security infrastructure.

Coffee Mornings

Our coffee morning is held every Wednesday at the Byron Centre, offering a warm, friendly space for residents to meet, chat, and build meaningful connections.

Each session features lively bingo games and heartfelt conversations, helping people get to know one another and form new friendships. For many, especially older residents, it provides a much-valued opportunity to combat loneliness, share stories, and strengthen community ties. Participants often bring homemade food to share, creating a welcoming atmosphere of mutual support and togetherness.

Recently, in collaboration with Creative Communities, we introduced Art for Wellbeing during the coffee mornings. Residents now have the chance to explore their creativity, learn new art skills, and enjoy peaceful, mindful moments that benefit their mental wellbeing.

Our coffee mornings are about nurturing a stronger, more connected community where everyone feels welcome and valued.

Community Pantry with extended session

The Community Pantry remains a popular and essential resource for residents, providing affordable access to surplus food through partnerships like FareShare. Open to all in the SL3 postcode area, it allows members to choose their own groceries at significantly reduced prices.

Over the past six months, the pantry has seen significant membership growth, highlighting its increasing importance in the community. To enhance accessibility, an extended session was introduced in November 2024, operating on the first Wednesday of each month from 4.30-6pm. This initiative ensures that working residents can also benefit from the service.

Listening to community feedback, the pantry has expanded its offerings beyond food, covering the essential items like toiletries and cleaning products. This addition ensures that members can access toiletries and personal care products, further supporting their well-being.

To deepen community engagement, the pantry recruited  residents as volunteers to help with its operations. Volunteers received training, including level-2 food hygiene certification and other workplace skills, equipping them with valuable experience. This initiative not only supports the pantry’s sustainability but also helps individuals develop skills for future employment, enhancing their job readiness.