For this Community Spotlight, we are doing things a little differently! 

With Nikita’s time as Pembroke House’s Copywriter coming to an end and me, as the new Charity Management Trainee, taking over as her role as editor of the Pembroke House newsletter – we sat down together for a behind the scenes look at the newsletter. Nikita had the idea of creating a regular newsletter for Pembroke House to share local stories within Walworth. Her creation has come to be an indispensable part of our communication with our local community. 

Rather than discussing the technicalities of organising the newsletter, we took some time to discuss the philosophy behind the newsletter – primarily for it to be a tool for creating community power. However, we also discussed how in sharing real-life stories of Walworth, there can be a hesitancy to discuss difficult issues and problems within the community. Instead we tend to focus on creating a perfect picture of Walworth that is not always accurate. 

In this discussion we looked back at our respective journeys to Pembroke House and what has since motivated our work here. Of course, we could not pass up the chance to share some of our favourite Walworth and South London food gems. So, have your notepads at the ready for some amazing food recommendations!

How did we find ourselves at Pembroke House?

Nikita: I have called Walworth ‘home’ long before I became the Copywriter at Pembroke House, as I grew up in this area. Before working here, I worked in social justice policy and had spent time working in housing and urban policy in Ghana. However, I felt as though the approach that policy had to organising did not blend with the rest of the community’s approach. This was mainly because it differed from the local place-based approach that Pembroke House takes to organising. After completing a curatorial fellowship, which I found transformative, I was able to understand the nexus of political education and practice. I also wanted to be part of the transformation that was taking place at Pembroke House!    

Genevieve: I first found out about Pembroke House when applying for my current role in my final term at Pembroke College, Cambridge. During my first interview, Grisel – our old Director of Finance – was the first person to tell me about the regeneration of Elephant and Castle, connecting themes of space and migration that I discussed in my undergraduate social anthropology dissertation. Having grown up in Northampton, I had never heard about Elephant and Castle. As the interview continued, I was fascinated by the Walworth Living Room. The idea of a space, modelled on aspects of a house, acting as a home was powerful to me. After my first interview, I scoured the Pembroke House website and really loved the Community spotlight on the Chef Pilot Programme and I was just hooked. 

I asked Nikita about her intentions behind creating the Community spotlight. 

Nikita: I understood my role as Copywriter as acting as a decentralised voice, not a representative voice for Pembroke house. I wanted to steer away from exceptional stories and focus on everyday life in the neighbourhood. Therefore, centering small and minor interactions within the community. When I write, I think of my mother who lives nearby or my younger self who went to school in the local area.

Genevieve: The community spotlight was central to my journey to Pembroke House. When I first read about the Walworth Community Chef Pilot Programme, I was able to see how sharing knowledge empowered local chefs and food growers to work together!

How do we see the newsletter as a tool to create community power?

Nikita:  Building shared knowledge is a strategic priority at Pembroke House. I think that the newsletter is a tool to share knowledge within the community. For me, community power is built by allowing the community to feel as though they have the agency to individually and collectively transform their lives. There are often attempts to distinguish between ‘good’ or ‘bad’ forms of knowledge, but what is important is how we use this knowledge to meet the challenges that exist around us. The newsletter is similar to consciousness raising circles, popularised by Feminist movements, where groups seek to find the tools for necessary social action amongst themselves. 

Genevieve:  I completely agree. A strong community is built through visibility; the ability to not only see each other but understand each other. I realised how this community power is created during the connection activity at our this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). All attendees had the challenge of describing their ‘perfect day in Walworth’ and everyone went for it! There was a flurry of walks, shops, cafes, parks and so much more floating around the room and these suggestions were met with nods and hums of agreement. In that room, everyone’s opinions were valid and important. As the AGM was free and we prioritised accessibility, the physical or financial barriers that normally restrict communities from seeing each other were greatly reduced. It has been refreshing to realise after two months at Pembroke House that there is no, and never will be, a correct way to present and articulate knowledge.

What will you miss the most about Pembroke House?

Nikita: I know it is cheesy but the people. I have enjoyed coming to a place and being recognised by and invested into the community; with all the different relationships that exist within it. Eating together has been central to the work that we do at Pembroke House. It is a way that we get to know each other and meet other people in our neighbourhood. 

Although Nikita has given me countless food recommendations in Walworth and South London, I had to take this opportunity to ask her about her favorite place to eat in Walworth! 

Nikita cont: This is not an easy question! If I could narrow the many options down to one, I would say the £1.50 empanadas from a Colombian restaurant called Donde Fernando, located on East Street towards Old Kent Road and between two barbers and a Fish and Chip shop. 

(As I take Nikita’s food recommendations very seriously, since our interview I have tried these empanadas for myself and they are delicious!)

Nikita asked me about the best food I have had in South London since moving here.  

Genevieve: Again, this is a brutal question because the food in London is incredible! Way better than Northampton… But if I had to pick one meal, I would have to succumb to my Brixton bias and say the Oxtail with Rice and Peas from Good Tings Caribbean Grill in Tulse Hill. It is the best Oxtail I have ever had. However, I cannot forget the Beef Salteñas from Salteñas Martins on Old Kent Road (a Nikita recommendation). Also, the Curry Mutton from Ozzie’s Jerk Chicken on Walworth Road, I am so grateful for their £6 meal deal (a Mike Wilson recommendation). I truly love and appreciate that many shops, restaurants and cafes in Walworth are filled with remnants of home for many immigrant communities.  From shop signs in many different languages to the style of eating and drinking in restaurants. It makes me so happy that our community can have this. 

What is the legacy that you want to leave for the Pembroke House Newsletter?

Nikita: The newsletter is something that was very important to me. Whilst Pembroke House is very good as the ‘doing’ of embedded and consistent practice, we are less good at doing the telling. The newsletter is an avenue for people to share these stories, so that people can see themselves reflecting back as they read the newsletter. News is often shared on social media but I have always been anxious about social media. I believe that the newsletter does not feel as ephemeral as it invites readers to spend a bit of time absorbing the information. The legacy I want to leave for the newsletter is one where there are multiple narratives running within it; internally and externally to Pembroke House. 

Genevieve: Yes, I want to prioritise dialogue between the readers of the newsletter and Pembroke House, to reiterate that we, the staff and trustees, at Pembroke House, are part of the community too. 

If you are interested in keeping up to date with our monthly newsletters, sign up here. If you are also interested in finding out more about our newsletter or want to suggest something that can be shared in our newsletter, please get in touch with Genevieve