Happy New Year! We hope you’ve had a lovely festive season and a chance to enjoy some well-earned downtime over the break, whether you’ve been celebrating or not.

The run-up to Christmas was wonderfully busy here, with a fabulous Cabaret event featuring talented performers from across the estate. It was a truly magical evening filled with singing, stories, music, magic, and plenty of humour 🙂 See the pictures above for a glimpse of the night.

We also hosted a much-loved Santa’s Grotto over four days, welcoming more than 70 children to meet ‘Santa’ in his secret library. It was a joy to see their faces light up as they met him and received their gift of books.

Today we’re taking down the decorations and starting to plan for the year ahead—while also trying to get the heating fixed! There’s lots to look forward to, so please do keep reading and keep an eye out for new activities and events coming soon.

Have you experienced a sound bath before? Whether you are a newcomer or a seasoned sound journeyer, find inner peace, release tension, and elevate your well-being with an immersive sound bath. Gabi’s popular sessions harness the pure, resonant tones of Alchemy Crystal Bowls to deliver deep relaxation and profound restoration.

Book tickets here.

Lifelong book lover or library newcomer?

Carve out time to read this winter and join the Adult Reading Challenge.

Pick up a welcome pack in any Lewisham Library from December to March. Each pack includes a bookmark featuring weekly reading prompts to inspire your next book choice. Your welcome pack also includes cards where you can record the books you've read and your thoughts about them. Share your reading journey on Instagram by tagging @lewishamlibraries, or visit The Reading Lounge at Deptford Library to pin your cards on our community notice board, connect with fellow readers, and enjoy some reading time in a relaxed environment.

Look out for themed book displays in our libraries, curated to match each prompt and help you get started on your reading challenge!

Fallen out of love with reading? Don't know where to start? Whatever you’re into, we can help you find a book that works for you.

For more information, click here.

This new group will be based on the NHS 5 Ways to Wellbeing. The group aims to help us to connect. Each meeting has refreshments, snacks and chat. We will 'check in' with one another in some mindful exercises and incorporate some breathing exercises, or similar. We may look at a topic in order to keep learning. Sometimes, that may be more like a workshop when we learn to make something together. We might discuss a book or have a guest speaker. We will also encourage our group to move more and may take short walks together in our local area or find out more about local exercise classes. Lastly, we want to give and volunteer or talk about the benefits of volunteering and opportunities in our area and other ways that you can give back to your local community. No need to book, just join us Wednesdays at 4pm.

The Zentangle method is a great way to unwind. Come along, immerse yourself in intriccate structured patterns. Different tangles every session. Just bring yourselves as everything is provided.

To book click here.

This new 5 week Yogabirth course starts Saturday 7th January and is a journey to support, calm and community. Each session blends soothing breathwork, mindful movement, and deeply restorative relaxation to support you physically and emotionally through pregnancy and prepare for birth and postpartum. The postures and movements we do are positions many people find themselves doing during labour. When we slow down and go inward, we move more intuitively and can listen to what our bodies and babies need.

This course also gives you the chance to get to know one another, share experiences, and begin building the supportive “village” every parent deserves.

To reserve your place email: [email protected] or click here for more information.

• Sat 28th Feb 2-4pm Sharing of Community Artwork Project

• Sat 28th Feb 4-6pm Thank you Event for ‘Friends of’ and donors