Our History

1995 - 1996

• Parts of Peckham become major sites for a seven year regeneration programme; the largest in the country, Southwark Council establishes Peckham Partnership unit and Board.

1996 - 1997

• PVSF set up by five local voluntary organisations to ensure groups in the area are able to have a voice and participate in regeneration. Southwark Community Planning and Education Centre (now Willowbrook Centre) hosts the project and employs a coordinator. Over 50 member organisations recruited through outreach. Elected Steering Group represents the diverse activity areas. Positive collaborations were established with the local tenant’s forum.
• Forum meetings provide the platform for groups to debate strategic issues and engage with statutory agencies
• Forum contributes to decision making in the Council and on the boards of PECKHAM PARTNERSHIP and PECKHAM PULSE.
• The forum gains the trust of local tenants and community groups through working transparently and in their collective interest.

1997-1998

• PVSF developed and piloted a capacity building programme. The programme addressed the full range of organisational development needs covering key areas of planning, fundraising and financial controls, governance, project management and user involvement.
• Three years National Lottery funding for two posts leads to increased membership involvement through a programme of meetings, collaborations and newsletters.

1999 -2001

• The Forum achieves independence through company and charity registration.
• Council funding supports PVSF’s popular capacity building programme working with small and emerging local groups.
• PVSF gains support from statutory agencies and invites all member groups to submit projects as part of a major collaborative HEALTHY LIVING NETWORK bid. After two years development, final bid submitted to the New Opportunities Fund in December 2000. Eleven community organisations involved with Copleston Centre agreed as lead agency.
• SOUTHWARK COUNCIL, PECKHAM PARTNERSHIP AND GREATER PECKHAM ALLIANCE incorporate PVSF recommendations for initiatives such as the mid-term review, Best Value policies, the development of a new regeneration bid and the Community Development Toolkit.
• Supporting demands by local tenants, residents and groups, PVSF lobbies statutory agencies to prioritise youth provision and community facilities in the area. Youth provision gains priority while community facilities remain a concern.

2002 - 2005

• PVSF participates on GREATER PECKHAM ALLIANCE (GPA) Board and ensures local groups are able to access SRB (regeneration) resources. Positive collaborations with PECKHAM PROGRAMME and the Council. PSVF staff receive award from PECKHAM PROGRAMME in recognition of contributions made to improving Peckham.
• PVSF bid to GPA for PECKHAM INTERACTIVE succeeds. 33 member groups receive IT equipment and are able to access technical support.
• PVSF takes over lead and receives awards of £1 million from New Opportunities Fund for the development of the PECKHAM HEALTHY LIVING NETWORK over 4.5 years.
• Local people access Peckham benefit from twelve new projects involving gardening, healthy eating, a food co-op, a community café, exercise, dance and art classes and counselling for children and vulnerable adults. Network meetings and community events promote healthy living.
• Services expand thanks to three years NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL funding for core costs and additional capacity building staff.
• PVSF continues to exceed targets for information, networking, IT support and capacity building services.

2006 onwards

• PVSF secures more Big Lottery Funding for two years. Employment of a communications and marketing support worker increases the capacity building team to three staff.
• PECKHAM PROGRAMME commissions PVSF to continue its capacity-building services to small groups and new and emerging community forums.