The Carmelita Community Centre in Vauxhall Gardens Estate has been at the heart of our community since 2006. Following the tragic murder of Carmelita Tulloch, Lambeth Council provided the centre to the local community, to be managed by the tenants and residents of Vauxhall Gardens and Black Prince Road Estates. We are the largest Estate in Lambeth which is owned and managed by the council. The Carmelita Centre has been the focal point of a meaningful and effective collaboration between the council and residents, providing a range of community development; health promotion and general interest activities and a presence for Council Officers and Elected Councillors which we will describe at length in updates to this petition.

In September 2023, the Lambeth Council closed the centre because they couldn’t afford to meet fire safety requirements. Since then, The Tenants and Residents Association have been working with the council to find an alternative venue.

We've now been informed that the council’s best offer is that we wait until a housing development is complete. This will leave us with no community resource for 4 more years. Bearing in mind that we have already gone without for 2 years. That’s the length of time it takes a child to complete their primary school education.

For years the Carmelita Community Centre has been our place to gather, learn, and support one another. The centre offered low cost hires to estate residents to celebrate important life events like birthdays, wedding parties, funerals and nine nights. We provided holiday playschemes, support meetings, crafts and health and fitness groups and events that bonded our diverse neighbourhood. These activities are now not provided on this Estate

It is crucial that Lambeth Council re-provides our centre. Our community depends on the Carmelita Centre to thrive. We urge Lambeth Council to honour their commitment to Vauxhall Gardens Estate by re-providing us with the promised temporary alternative provision. 

Sign this petition to encourage Lambeth Council to keep its promise and restore our community's heart by re-providing the Carmelita Community Centre.