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Meet-ups

When meeting up take sensible precautions. Meet in a public place and let others know where you are going.

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Original poster

playgroups in SE5/SE17

36 replies

matmum · 20/01/2004 23:23

does anyone know of any paly groups that exist in the SE5/17 area of London that would be suitable for a six month old baby and her mother. We are borth in need of meeting new frienly faces and some imput and stimulation. I've looked around and it seems can only find them in the Dulwich area.

Any one know of anything more local to us.

All suggestions gratefully received.

OP posts:

fairydust · 21/01/2004 20:15

Have u asked your local health visiotr our has all info on playgroups etc.

jodee · 21/01/2004 21:01

I don't know your area, but most Mum & Tot groups where I live were in church halls; you could try looking on some of their noticeboards outside to see if they have them or look in Yellow Pages and give a couple of churches a bell? HTH

aloha · 21/01/2004 22:07

Where do you live? I'm in Camberwell SE5. The library in Camberwell Church St has M&T sessions. There is baby massage in Brockwell park and I strongly, strongly suggest you contact your NCT and join a tea group to meet really local mums with babies the same age as yours. This will expand your social network like crazy. There is baby yoga at the Peckham Pulse which is a bit out there but run by an amazing woman who invites you back to her house for tea and cakes and is incredible. There is also baby music at Brockwell park and other places. And baby swimming at Peckham Pulse.

aloha · 21/01/2004 22:07

Ant there is a Friday morning very friendly M&T group at the Church Hall at the top of Lordship Lane in E Dulwich if that is any use.

Original poster

matmum · 26/01/2004 19:28

Many thanks for all suggestions. I have asked my health visitor but she frankly seemed as clueless as me - suspect i am not high priority. Will have a look at church halls and have contacted nct.
Ahola - i'm just down the Walworth Road, so about 5 minutes from Camberwell. the suggestion of the library is great and i'll check out peckham pulse - when i phoned they said they had nothing on!!!! It sounds like you've managed to access quite a lot of stuff, so i guess its around but just necessary to travel a bit

OP posts:

Original poster

matmum · 27/01/2004 22:22

Aloha - sorry about previous spelling of name. fear the dreaded post birth brain shrinkage is still about me!!! I have a friend who regulalry shaves several months off her son's age to account for her loss of thinking power!!!

OP posts:

bun · 01/02/2004 19:01

There's a playgroup called Little Fishes on Camberwell Grove, but there might be a waiting list. It's run by the church and has a semi-religious angle, I think. SImilar one in Blenheim Grove in Peckham but that's probably too far. You're probably within the SureStart area - if so, you can access loads of stuff., including a playgroup in Addington Square and Art Classes for kids in Chumleigh Gardens. Surestart has an office on Camberwell Church St - same side as library but a bit beyomd it. It's not open all the time - definitely Thursdays though. You could drop in and check whether or not you're within the boundaries.

aloha · 01/02/2004 19:23

On Wednesday there is a good playgroup at the Salvation Army headquarters (I think) a lot of my friends took their babies there (I work Wed) so I will check this out. There is a LOT round here. Also Tiny Gym on Thursday and Friday mornings at the Camberwell Leisure Centre next to the library. It's at 10 am and is great if your baby can crawl. Lots of padded surfaces. Very friendly crowd of mums and dads who go there. You can make friends very easily.
Re Peckham Pulse, ask specifically about baby swimming lessons - they are provided by a company that work from the Pulse but aren't employed by them and you have to phone the private company. I got the number from the reception there so phone back and try again. Also the Yoga is mother and baby Kundalini yoga. I found the class a bit hopeless due to rather demanding baby but the community feeling and the tea and cakes afterwards is wonderful! I will try and post tomorrow with more ideas.

aloha · 01/02/2004 19:24

The NCT tea group is such a fantastic thing to do. I owe my whole mums network to it and it's a lifesaver. I'm not far from you so if you want to contact me you can email via contact a talker.

tanzie · 03/02/2004 23:11

A little bit out of your way, but there's a Mother and Baby Group that meets in the Durning Library on Kennington Lane and also a (horribly cliquey) One O'Clock Club near the Imperial War Museum. Can't remember exactly where, brain gone dead!

Blu · 04/02/2004 11:49

Matmum: There are lots of baby and toddler groups at St Faiths Church Hall at the bottom of Red Post Hill. It's between Dulwich and Camberwell, but on a bus route from Camberwell I think.

bun · 04/02/2004 13:44

Aloha - which NCT group did you join? I had a really hopeless time with the NCT when my first baby was born. I ended up trekking down to Dulwich which isn't really walking distance from me! It seemed to be totally inactive round SE5 and SE15.

aloha · 04/02/2004 14:06

I didn't join an antenatal group (I was always going to have a c-section so it seemed pointless) so I joined a local tea group. I am sure there will be one in SE5 - try again calling the Dulwich lot and explaining your situation. It's the tea group you want, you alternate hosting a morning or afternoon cuppa at each other's houses. They usually start when the babies are very tiny, but we had people drop out of ours and join until about a year ago (our children are all two-and-a-bit now). Have you tried any of the other suggestions?

Original poster

matmum · 05/02/2004 05:55

bun
how old is your baby? mine is seven months and i've just started to find various things, by following the suggestions here, and i've been in contact with nct. am happy to share what i've found out with you. there are now tea groups active in the se5 area.

checked out the one o'clock club at the imperial war museum - glad to hear your feedback about it tanzie. gosh - how cliquey!!!! and i went with a friend!

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tanzie · 05/02/2004 22:15

Matmum, oh G-d, is it still that bad?? I was there nearly 3 years ago and no-one spoke to me! Durning Library (if still going) probably better, but I always seemed to end up on a table with a bunch of au pairs speaking Serbo-Croat or something equally incomprehensible.

bun · 08/02/2004 16:38

my baby is 10 months old. Is that about the age of the babies in the SE5 teagroup?

aloha · 08/02/2004 18:09

There's a nice one O'Clock club on Peckham Rye park too.

Original poster

matmum · 08/02/2004 22:24

bun - the oldest babies in the group are currently eight months ish, so very near the age of your baby. would you like to join us?? let me know on line or e-mail me separately. i'll run it past group.

meanwhile i am checking out various things around aylesbury and brunswick sure start this week. will feed back what their like if others interested.

tanzie - just getting over my scars from the imperial war museum. hoping friendly place out there. but we shall see.

OP posts:

bun · 11/02/2004 10:29

That's very kind of you. I have an older child - nearly 3 - which makes is a bit harder just to mix with younger babies. But if you don't mind a bit of low-level commitment...

Original poster

matmum · 11/02/2004 22:50

i think how often you want to come is entirely up to you. i ran it past the group and they were very keen to invite you.

The plan for this coming monday is to go to the soft play at peckham pulse - on my current travels everyone recomends it. if you would like to you would be very welcome to come and could either meet us there. meet me somewhere first and travel with me, or come the following week. we will definitley meet in SE5 that week. Let me know.

Where abouts in Se5 are you?

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bun · 12/02/2004 10:09

This monday is out for me, as I have family staying with me. Also Thursday is a good day for me to meet as my elder child goe s to nursery. I'm off Southampton Way, nearish Burgess Park. Where are you?

Evita · 13/02/2004 12:35

matmum, I'm based in SE16, so close-ish to you. Depending on how far down Walworth Rd. you are you could cut through to Southwark Park where there's a lovely 1 o clock club in the park run by v. sweet women that's completely NOT cliquey. My dd is a bit older, 16 months now, but if you ever want to meet up around our mutual area, let me know? I get a bit stuck at home too.

bun, you're totally right about nct groups in terms of SE area. I've found the nearest meetings to me are in Greenwich which is a good 45 min. walk. I wish I could get to Camberwell more easily but there isn't a great bus route from me.

Original poster

matmum · 13/02/2004 20:30

i live the other side of the park - where the walworth road meets albany road so really very near.

In terms of meeting on a thursday i am always busy then and my impression is that other members of the group do other things as well - one of which is the cinema at clapham. however you could perhaps come the following monday just to meet everyone. we sometimes meet just off the walworth road in a church cafe which i'm sure could accomodate your older child.

evita - i'm not sure where southwark park is. Have a feeling it is some distance from my side of the park. but if it would be possible for you to make it why not let me know as well

OP posts:

Evita · 13/02/2004 22:02

I'm free Monday next week but unfortunately dd is v. sick at the moment so not sure I'll be able to make a meeting just yet. But I would LOVE to meet up with you another time if I'm not invading your group. Southwark park is really not that far from Walworth Rd., it's just off the end of Southwark Park Rd. I can cut through to Burgess park area in around 15 mins walking.

Evita · 13/02/2004 22:02

I didn't ask you how old your kids are? I guess it's kind of important, or maybe not? Dd is 16 months.

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