Toddlers
Our stay-and-play groups are inclusive and open to all. We operate on a free, turn-up-and-play system with voluntary donations upon entry. We provide soft play and sensory toys to keep your little ones entertained. Childminders are welcome!
Tuesday at our sister church, St Mark’s Downham, Baudwin Road, SE6 1RN from 9am to 1pm
Thursday at St Luke’s, 10am to 11:30am
Messy Church
Messy Church runs at our sister church, St Mark’s Downham, Baudwin Road, SE6 1RN on Wednesday evenings once a month (please check with our children’s workers for specific dates). This is a free event for families to come together and engage in messy, biblical-themed activities, followed by a short discussion and a hot meal.
XLP
We are proud community partners with XLP, joining them on their youth club double-decker bus every Thursday evening at 4 PM during term time. You can find them at the park/green space on Shroffold Road.
Sunday Service
Children and young people can participate in activities and discussions related to the sermon. We sit together at the front of the church so everyone can see and hear. Children are encouraged to move around the church freely and safely, with access to our dedicated family sofa zone for additional activities. We have an array of multi sensory resources designed to suit all ages.
New** Family Cafe
Youth Cafe was so good we extended our opening to invite your whole family. Come and see how you can spend your Thursday evenings at St Marks, Baudwin Road, SE6 1RN; we have games consoles, group games, crafts, outside spaces, food and refreshments. The space is accessible, warm and free for all.
Parenting for Wellbeing
Feel less alone. Feel more equipped. Parenting is hard. You were never meant to do it alone. Between the sleepless nights, the big feelings and the endless to-do list and worries about the cost of living, parents in Lewisham carry more than a nappy bag. They carry worry and exhaustion, and questions they don’t feel able to ask anywhere else.
Parenting for Wellbeing is a friendly space to put it all down for a while. It’s run by The Parent Village, a parent-led charity, working with St Mark’s and St Luke’s Churches, Downham.
What you’ll get
- Friendship. Meet local parents who really get it.
- Practical tools. Everyday parenting techniques that work in real life.
- Calmer days. Ways to manage stress and look after yourself, too.
- Understanding. Make sense of your child’s behaviour and feelings, not just react to them.
- Stronger family bonds in the years that matter most.
- A helping hand. If you’re worried about your child’s development, we can point you towards SEND, mental health and wider family support.
How it works
- Workshops on the topics that matter most to you
- Short courses. Our 4-week group covers self-care, understanding feelings and behaviour,
family routines and parenting styles. - Informal meet-ups where you can simply come, have a cuppa and chat
Groups run alongside our Little Lanterns stay and play, so your little ones play nearby with our team while you take some time for you. Light refreshments are provided.
“A space to look at the sore bits of parenting.”
Is it for me?
If you’re a parent or carer of a baby, toddler or child up to 5, yes. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Nobody does.
Join us
Cost: Free and donations are welcome
Register here https://forms.gle/YdhxNt7SU1B52hZA8
Questions: Email hello@theparentvillage.org.uk
www.theparentvillage.org.uk