South Lewisham charity wins Community Heroes boost

A men’s health and wellbeing charity in South Lewisham has won a community award from Selco.

The Downham Men’s Group and Shed, based at Goldsmiths Community Centre in Downham, has secured £500 worth of building materials through our Community Heroes campaign.

The men’s group, part of the Blue Ribbon charity, will use the funds to refurbish and develop the courtyard at the centre, which is also used by local community groups.

Trevor Pybus, men’s group leader, said: “We are delighted to have won this support from Selco.

“The centre is located in a very deprived area and we want to leave a legacy project for the wider community of Downham.

“The courtyard was neglected, overgrown, and full of rubbish, which we have cleared. We now need to love to a new phase in the project and start the process of building a courtyard that local residents can use as a safe harbour.”

The Downham Men’s team will visit its local Selco in Catford, on Bromley Road, to make its purchases.

The charity is one of 12 organisations that we are awarding £500 worth of building materials to in our six-month Community Heroes campaign.

It will now go head-to-head with the 11 other Community Heroes winners in a public vote to win £5,000 in cash, or £1,000 as runner-up.

Carine Jessamine, Selco marketing director, said: “We’re really pleased to support The Downham Men’s Group and Shed with its project to develop a new courtyard for the local community.

“We know what a huge difference a donation such as this can make to organisations like theirs because money is tight for many, but the work they do continues.

“We’re looking forward to working with the team to help them get the materials they need to complete this much-needed facility.”

Other Community Heroes winners so far this year include Bury Veterans Hub, St John Ambulance Cymru and Watford Mencap.

The Community Heroes scheme is open to any charity or group at the heart of its local community. Entries can be made by explaining in no more than 100 words how they would use the building materials to benefit their cause.

For more details, visit our Selco Community Heroes page.