The Lounge
Thamesmead
Project
Social Value in Southmere, Thamemead
Team
Local youth residents (16-25), Peabody, Karakusevic Carson Architects, Turkington Martin, Price and Myers, Beyond Carbon, Al-Jawad-Pike.
Location
Thamesmead, Bexley - London
When
September – March 2026
A Youth-Led Creative Space in Thamesmead
The Lounge is a youth-focused creative and community pop-up space in South Thamesmead, created to support young people to connect, create and shape opportunities for themselves and their community.
Developed as part of the South Thamesmead Social Valueprogramme for Peabody, the programme was designed and delivered by Beyond the Box CIC in collaboration with local young people and partner organisations.
The Lounge provides a welcoming environment where young people can explore creativity, build confidence, develop new skills and access support, while actively contributing ideas and energy to the future of their neighbourhood.
Why The Lounge Exists
Young people in Thamesmead consistently shared the need for safe, welcoming spaces where they could spend time, meet others and express themselves creatively. Many also spoke about wanting greater access to opportunities that help build confidence, develop skills and open pathways into work, enterprise and the creative industries.
The Lounge was created as a response to these needs. Through workshops, creative sessions, mentoring and community-led activity, the programme supports young people to learn, collaborate and explore new possibilities while feeling a sense of ownership over the space.
Watch the Story of The Lounge
Hear from the people we collaborated with to bring this project and space to life.
Creativity, Skills and Community
The Lounge hosts a range of creative and skills-based activities designed to support young people’s development and wellbeing. Sessions include hands-on creative workshops in partnership with other youth service providers, opportunities to explore music, design and art, and practical learning experiences connected to entrepreneurship and the creative industries.
Alongside this, young people are supported to develop their voices through storytelling and creative expression, enabling them to share their experiences and perspectives. The programme also creates moments for community connection, bringing people together in a relaxed environment where ideas, creativity and culture can be shared.
These activities are delivered with the support of local organisations, artists and facilitators, helping to build a collaborative network that supports young people in Thamesmead.
Youth-Led and Community Driven
At the heart of The Lounge is the belief that young people should play an active role in shaping the spaces and opportunities around them. The programme has been guided by ongoing conversations with local young people, ensuring their ideas and perspectives influence how the space develops.
Young people have contributed to shaping the atmosphere of the space, informing programme ideas and participating in creative outputs that reflect their experiences. Through this process, The Lounge has become more than just a venue; it is a platform where creativity, collaboration and youth leadership can grow.
Social Value in Action
The Lounge forms part of a wider effort to ensure that development in South Thamesmead creates meaningful benefits for the local community. By investing in creative programming, youth engagement and partnerships with local organisations, the project has created opportunities for young people to access new experiences, develop skills and build confidence.
The programme has also supported collaboration between community organisations, practitioners and young people, helping test new approaches to delivering youth-focused spaces and activities in Thamesmead. The learning generated through this work will help inform future approaches to community-led social value initiatives in the area.
