Building on the success of the festival held in 2013 and 2014 with your help we will deliver an even better event for the summer of 2016!

In 2013 despite the rain, hundreds of people were entertained by a wide range of live music, spoken word, and poetry performances. The event attracted many families and local press coverage heralded the day as hugely successful.
Blessed with sunny weather the community enjoyed an even bigger and better free day out! Encompassing six stages with over 50 local performers we delivered a diverse range of music from disco to reggae, punk rock and soul.

We collaborate with a number of community organisations and local businesses, but need your help with this year’s event. A number of groups are providing the basic infrastructure, but we are seeking financial support to help cover costs - any donation given, no matter how small is greatly appreciated!

What we'll deliver:

• Celebrate diversity and the identity of the area
• Host a free community festival
• Promote organisations and businesses in the New Cross and Deptford area through collaboration
• Provide power to all stages
• Provide the necessary fencing around each stage to provide a safe space for artists
• Give work experience to volunteers of all ages
• Provide a platfrom for a variety of local performers and artists
• Provide areas for local food and craft stalls
• Provide hired sanitation facilities

Why it's a great idea:

With your help we can ensure that Party in the Park 2016 builds upon the success of the events held in previous years. With the help of local organisations the festival demonstrates what can happen when a community collaborates.

Providing a free day out for all, the event is a great opportunity to showcase local artists and performers. We provide a platform for a number of different community groups - demonstrating the valuable work that they undertake.

Unfortunately, in the past Fordham Park once had a bad reputation as an area unsafe for family use. The council subsequently invested a considerable amount of money in the refurbishment of the Park. We believe that Party in the Park continues the positive promotion of this area as a valuable community asset.

The event will bring economic benefit to the areas businesses whilst elevating the identity and cohesion of the local community.
The festival will also enable a number of volunteers to gain valuable work experience.

Steps to get it done:

• Celebrate the skills of people in the local community by inviting individuals to get involved in the planning stages
• Continue with regular meetings in which the core team discuss and ensure the festival preparation is on schedule
• Continue with sub-committee meetings regularly to undertake and execute particular roles within the organisation
• Funding via a number of benefit gigs & sponsorship from local business and community groups
• Build upon the success of Party in the Park in previous years
• Design and manufacture merchandise to promote the festival
• Liaise with the Police to ensure event safety
• Obtain sponsorship and support from local businesses
• Obtain the necessary planning permission from the council

Two successful years showed that there is a great deal of interest and support for this free community festival. This year we hope to turn it into a well established event to celebrate the local community, music and diversity in a green space in Lewisham. In order to build upon the successes of 2013 and 2014 we need extra funding to ensure the costs of running a festival are covered thereby creating a safe environment for everyone involved; from the organisers to the artists to the people that come on the day to enjoy it. This includes, enough toilets for both sexes, fencing for all stages, stewarding to ensure the safety of everyone and power to create the sound of Party in the Park.

It is really important that we are able to provide everyone involved with the best experience to ensure ongoing relationships with the local council, partners and the community in general.