If you have any potential archival material including photographs, objects, videos, audio, textual or other data that documents the story of BCAAs history – or if you are aware of anyone that might be interested in sharing personal memories and recollections, please contact the Archive team at BCCA_Archive@outlook.com
The Archive is continually growing to reveal fresh and rich content that will build into a unique resource that will be available to all BCCA members. The Archive will also be used to support ongoing funding bids towards the upkeep, improvement and sustainability of our historic building as a local community oasis, meeting and eating place and intergenerational wellbeing resource.
A BCCA Archive Exhibition and associated Community Events at BCCA Community Cafe Gallery, are proposed during spring 2023. (dates to be confirmed) Any suggestions for content, events, workshops or items of memorabilia toward this event are welcome.
If you are interested in hosting an event at our Community Café for Daytime Activities including breakfasts, lunches, public and private one-off events and parties, workshops, launches, photo shoots, promotional events or other activities, the Café is available for booking at very reasonable and accessible rates.
Evening Café use is bookable for traditional evening service as a friendly, cosy local vegetarian/vegan eatery open from 6pm to 11pm every evening (with access to the kitchen for evening prep as from 1pm). The Café Cooks list remains open to anyone who would like to cook and host an evening event. The Café is available for Vegetarian and Vegan cuisine only. BCCA member and local community led activities have priority and can benefit from generous concessions.
Cooks wishing to support inclusive access to nutritional wellbeing in the community by offering subsidised prices to BCCAs membership will be prioritised and able to gain subsidised rates after taster sessions have been successfully delivered and local diners have endorsed proposed service. Cooks intending to host private cooking events and cooking events that are for profit will need to present individual Public Liability insurance.
As the days grow longer and snowdrops emerge to light the way toward the coming spring, seedlings of new seasons yet to bloom germinate below, as echoes of blossom to come – a very merry Valentines to everyone. As winter’s chill is set aside, so hearts refreshed by light of sun and moon revived arise to glow.
The rolling programme of individual and group exhibitions in the Café Gallery on the ground floor is stretching through 2023 and beyond. The Artists’ List remains open for new requests for exhibition. If you are interested in exhibiting contact bccacommunitycafe.adm@gmail.com
Unfortunately Kevin Jacobs planned February 2023 exhibition of Paintings & Drawings from his studio at Intoart has been postponed until a future date due to unforeseen circumstance. The local community look forward to Kevin’s Exhibition with great anticipation, popular interest and support. You can find examples of Kevin’s brilliant works at: https://intoart.org.uk/artist/kevin-jacobs/. For further information contact Intoart at: 07951165567 or www.intoart.co.uk
Geir Engine’s Exhibition of local community activities will now continue until the end of February 2023. Contact: geir.engene@gmail.com
BCCA aims to re-start Benefit events as soon as possible.
Traditionally occurring on the last Friday of the month throughout the year. Benefit event hosting is open to anyone who has a viable charitable cause that they would like to promote and support.
Previous Benefit events have been held for local charitable causes, clubs, one off and ongoing projects, individual appeals, registered charities, BCCA in-house fundraising, community events, international humanitarian aid and outreach.
Dates are allocated on approval by the Trustees who will offer support and facilitation to successful applicants.
If you are interested in hosting a Benefit Night please email for terms and conditions to BCCA Centre Admin at bcca@btinternet.com
Returning soon in the top room on the last Friday of every month with the BCCA House Band, featuring local talent with invited guests and floor spots for musicians and singers. All Welcome! Bar by donation.
If you are interested in participating as a player, as audience, or as a volunteer … Please contact Marcus at: bcca@btinternet.com
2023 – FRIDAYS 2pm to 4pm
Come and join us to explore natural rhythm in a playful mode sessions are open to players of all ages, ability and rhythmicity bring a drum if you have one and an item of food/drink (non alcoholic) to share if you can most importantly bring yourself friends, family and associates to enjoy co-creating and sharing seriously playful syncopations.
In the splendidly refurbished Bonnington Café, 17 local creatives and friends of Bonnington Square and Vauxhall Grove opened our first Christmas Market. With the support of BACCA, the event was on the weekend of 8,9 & 10 December. It was a vibrant and Christmassy showcase of Arts and Crafts.
UpMarket Market was very much a community event and in the spirit of ‘buy local’. Pulled together by Grove resident, Lucy Bodenham, a jewellery maker in her spare time in a garden shed in Peckham.
Our stall holders made contacts and sold handmade products. A diverse selection of independents included, The Chocolate Detective, Elniovoe’s elegant African fabric bags, Jodie Boyd’s natural lotions and potions from Neals Yards Remedies, fine jewellery from Tales of the Earth, and even knitwear from one of our doyennes of the Square, Sandra Roe.
We also showcased individual artists, such as Beth Higgins cards based on drawings of the Magic Garden and surrounds of Bonnington Square, and Gianinna Delphino’s individually handmade sketchbooks.
The event enjoyed good footfall of visitors from Lambeth and further afield. Feedback was positive with many enjoying the Christmas atmosphere of mince pies provided generously by Maria Bartok, and mulled hot drinks provided by Jo Culf.
Oliver of Cat Cut Cards, showcasing a form of pop-up cards, said: “It was my first market ever, so to have a space where I was welcomed and able to explore hosting a stall was amazing.”
We look forward to hosting the Christmas market again in 2023. There is also an enthusiastic groundswell for a Summer Market during 2023 at the Café Gallery and to include tea and cakes. Please register your interest by mail to lucy.boden@gmail.com.
May the coming Year of the Rabbit bring you plenty of fresh vegetables! Peace, joy, good health and creative energy with renewed strength and resilience to meet life’s challenges and to share the treasures of life’s living.
On behalf of BCCAs growing Membership, the Trustees, in-house team and extended support network look forward to sharing a vibrant and productive local community focussed New Year with arms and hearts outstretched to all-comers.
Our program of personal and social wellbeing activities continues to grow in answer to the declared and sometimes unknown needs, preferences and aspirations of local people. If you have ideas, suggestions, aspirations or established activities that you would like to introduce as a one-off, occasional or regular programmed event on the BCCA calendar, please let us know. We are appointed to serve, and committed to encourage and facilitate projects that aim to enhance the good health and wellbeing of our community. We strongly encourage and support intergenerational projects and initiatives that involve the participation of any vulnerable members of our community.
Current Regular Centre Activities
Activities have different charges including concessions (please enquire). BCCA Members are given priority when booking.
Please remember to state what group/session you are donating for when you donate
Monday C.A. (Cocaine Anonymous) 7pm to 8pm Attendance by donation Death Cafe 10.30am to 12.00am on alternate Mondays by donation www.gofundme.com/f/24xar-community
Saturday C.A. (Cocaine Anonymous) 10.30am to 12pm Attendance by donation
If you are interested in starting-up, discussing or exploring ideas toward any kind of new activities using BCCAs available spaces, contact Maria, Centre Admin at bcca@btinternet.com for further information. BCCA is committed to encouraging and facilitating local community initiatives, access and involvement in personal and shared activities that promote inclusive intergenerational connections, creative community, good health and general wellbeing.
Regular groups, meetings, rehearsals, workshops, classes, concerts, exhibitions and one-off events that are BCCA sponsored must be not-for-profit and are intended to encourage, benefit and strengthen the local community and build personal and social resilience and wellbeing. We ask attendees to make an affordable donation of their choice for attending and to support BCAA’s ongoing work at: www.gofundme.com/f/24xar-community
