Join us on Tuesday mornings for Rhyme Time in the children’s library.Expect to hear old classics alongside new favourites, and be prepared to have a bit of a dance as well. If you’re lucky you might even get to hear Sydenham’s finest kookaburra impression.Our Rhyme Time sessions are free to all and there is no need to book. Please note that Rhyme Time only runs during term time – if you’re unsure, please contact the library on 020 8778 1753 to check.
“I learnt about aspects of writing that I’d never considered before – as someone who has taken a lot of writing courses, I didn’t expect so much that was new. It was just what I needed.” – Liz BarnesFour creative writing courses, each with 6 weekly 2-hour classes. Sessions feature author excerpts, 20–25 minute writing exercises, discussion, and time to share work. Writers with or without current projects will benefit. Weekly homework set. Suitable for prose writers and poets alike.Authors include Kei Miller, Tim Winton, Margaret Atwood, Jeanette Winterson, Andrea Levy, Helen MacDonald, Jo Shapcott, Tim O’Brien, Tracey Emin, and more.Course 1: Creative Writing Essentials – fantasy, imagery, dialogue, theme & voice.Course 2: Character & Fiction – characterisation, backstory, structure, setting.Courses 3 & 4: Tailored Topics – chosen by the group, such as memoir, poetry, suspense, endings, and more.£135 per course. Some concessions available.https://beccaleathlean.co.uk/product/approaches-to-creative-writing-forest-hill-2/https://beccaleathlean.co.
Historian and Women Of London walking tours founder Becky Laxton-Bass explores the lives and contributions of some of the women living in the borough during the 19th & 20th centuries.
From pioneering social reformers and local politicians, to world-renowned authors and actors, discover and celebrate legacies built by the Women of Lewisham.
Refreshments provided.
Therapeutic yoga classes – accessible to all. Cathy offers the full range of yoga techniques- posture,pranayama ( breathing practices), mantra , mudra and yoga nidra.All equipment provided.6 classes for £80 FREE TRIAL CLASSOr £15 drop in ( if there are spaces )This includes access to zoom classes in addition to live classes.Thursday mornings9.30 – 11amTerm time onlyTo book your space please contact cathynewsam@googlemail.com
Come join us at Manor House Library on Wednesday’s at 11am for a morning of songs and rhymes for you and your baby to enjoy!Cost: Free, but donations are welcome if you are ableWhere: Children’s LibraryTime: 11amWhen: Wednesday, term time only.
About Rosana FioreRosana Fiore, Argentina-born and Italian-raised, is a London-based yoga teacher with a deep passion for conscious living. A long-term BKS Iyengar Yoga practitioner, she blends clear instruction, intelligent alignment, and warm humour, creating a welcoming space for all levels. Her classes help students connect, learn, and grow on the mat.
In-Person ClassesGrounded in Iyengar Yoga, Rosana’s sessions focus on strength, calm, and overall wellbeing. Using props and thoughtful sequencing, her classes are inclusive and adaptable for beginners to advanced practitioners. Expect a balanced practice combining alignment, strength, restorative poses, and breathwork, all within a supportive, encouraging environment that fosters growth and community.
Book your space here: Iyengar Yoga Classes (https://www.rosanafioreyoga.com/classes)
Get writing. Make friends. Bring the Baby. Mummy Writes baby-friendly workshops explore the basics of writing fiction, with plenty of time for writing. They are designed with parents in mind to provide a safe space to embrace the chaos of parenthood and all it involves, while parents take a moment to stretch their tired brains and explore something new.
Meet Nici West in the community room at Sydenham Library on Wednesdays, 1-2pm during term-time for baby-friendly writing workshops. The workshops can be booked individually or as half-term blocks.
Mummy Writes baby-friendly writing workshops aim to not only provide a creative and intellectual challenge for parents, but to help them process experiences, and find new self-confidence and identity through creative exploration.
Tickets are available via Happity. (https://www.happity.co.uk/schedules/mummy-writes-london-sydenham-library-baby-friendly-creative-writing-workshops-for-parents) A discounted trial session is available, and there is a free ticket reserved at each session for a parent experiencing financial hardship.
Therapeutic yoga classes – accessible to all. Cathy offers the full range of yoga techniques- posture,pranayama ( breathing practices), mantra , mudra and yoga nidra.All equipment provided.6 classes for £80 FREE TRIAL CLASSOr £15 drop in ( if there are spaces )This includes access to zoom classes in addition to live classes.Thursday mornings9.30 – 11amTerm time onlyTo book your space please contact cathynewsam@googlemail.com
Do you have questions or need advice about slings, baby carriers, or other baby gear? Drop in to Crofton Park Library for free advice from qualified babywearing consultant and mum of three, Martha San (The Baby Brain) (https://www.thebabybrain.org/).
Martha will be in the library from 11:00-12:30 on monthly Thursdays to answer questions and provide advice on topics such as sling safety, fit checks, buggy and car seat advice, and all things baby gear.
Martha is DBS-checked, fully insured, and is a trained babywearing consultant.
Free, no booking required – just drop-in. Due to demand, length of advice sessions may be limited.
As we get older our bodies change but we still want to be strong and flexible. This class features specially adapted Pilates exercises to improve balance and encourage co-ordination, mobility and strength while being safe for conditions which can affect the over 60s age group, such as osteoporosis, arthritis or joint replacements. This is a mixed ability class, so beginners, both men and women, are welcome as are clients with previous experience. While the class is challenging, there's always room to have a bit of fun!
The class is taught by Liz Murphy who has been working with this age group for a decade. Qualified with both the Pilates Foundation and Body Control, Liz has been teaching all levels of Pilates for more than 15 years and has a particular interest in Pilates for the over 60s. Her aim is to teach varied, challenging, confidence boosting classes where clients leave smiling and feeling good.
All equipment is provided. Feel free to bring your own if you prefer.
COST
£60 for a block of 6 classes which must be taken consecutively
£10 for the first trial class
