Connect with your community in Camden

Feeling connected to the people around us can help us to feel happier, and even reduces our risk of health problems. There are lots of ways to meet new people and get involved in your local area. Here are some free and low-cost ideas: 

Community centres, local activities and events 

• Camden’s community centres offer a wide range of weekly activities. Find your nearest community centre.
• Discover community events in Camden
• Take part in activities in libraries 
• Find Adult Community Learning courses
• Visit a ‘warm welcome’ space
• Take part in physical activity or wellbeing activities
• Find activities in parks and green spaces
• Children’s Centres and Family Hubs offer activities including stay-and-play and baby bonding 
• If you live in or near Kentish Town, you can explore the River of Hope interactive map, which includes a range of places and projects with activities in the Kentish Town area 

Social groups 

These are some of the social groups available in Camden. Contact your nearest community centre to find out what they offer.  

• Camden Town Shed  
• Activities programme for carers at Camden Carers at the Greenwood Centre, Kentish Town  
• Men’s club at Castlehaven Community Centre, Camden Town
• Women’s group at Castlehaven Community Centre, Camden Town
• Helping hands coffee morning at Caversham Group Practice, Kentish Town 
• Camden Deaf Vanguard Social Group at the Greenwood Centre, Kentish Town    
• Monday Club at Henna Asian Women’s Group, South Hampstead 
• Carer’s Club at Henna Asian Women’s Group, South Hampstead
• Community Lunch Club by Highgate Newtown Community Partners, various venues, Highgate  
• Coffee morning at Kentish Town Community Centre  
• Community Café for anyone aged 18 or over at Likewise, Swiss Cottage 
• Open House at Primrose Hill Community Association 
• Community Kitchen at Somers Town Community Association  
• Support group for Asian women at West Hampstead Women’s Centre
• Support group for Irish women at West Hampstead Women’s Centre  
• Parents Group at The Winch, Swiss Cottage 
• Connecting Parents at The Winch, Swiss Cottage 

Activities and social groups for people aged under 25 

• Youth clubs and projects
• Camden Youth Council
• Young people can explore more ways to get involved in their community on the Camden Rise website

Activities and social groups for people aged 55 or over 

These are some of the activities available to people aged 55 or over. Contact your nearest community centre to find out what they offer.  

• Older people’s activities at Bengali Workers’ Association, Regent’s Park  
• Ageactivity 60 and over activity programme at Castlehaven, Camden Town 
• 55 and over activities at Covent Garden Dragon Hall Trust 
• 60 and over activities at Fitzrovia Community Centre  
• 55 and over activities at Holborn Community Association 
• Older women’s support service at Hopscotch Women’s Centre, Regent’s Park  
• Older people’s project at Kentish Town Community Centre  
• Older people’s project at King’s Cross Brunswick Neighbourhood Association  
• Community café and other activities for older adults at The Kosmos Centre, Kentish Town  
• Older people’s activity programme at Queen’s Crescent Community Association 
• 50 and over activities at Sidings Community Centre, West Hampstead 
• Golden Years 65 and over activity programme at St Pancras Community Association 
• 60 and over activities at Third Age Project, Regent’s Park  
• Sport and physical activity for older people in Camden  

Activities and social groups for LGBT+ people 

• Activities programme for LGBT+ people at forum+, St Pancras 
• Black Cap Community Hub for LGBT+ people and friends at Castlehaven Community Centre, Camden Town 
• Queerspace at Likewise, Swiss Cottage
• Transpace at Likewise, Swiss Cottage
• Activities and groups for LGBT+ young people up to age 25 at Mosaic Trust, Warren Street/Camden Town 

Activities and social groups for disabled people and/or people with chronic health conditions

• Activities for disabled people 
• Activities and community events for people living with or affected by HIV through the Camden and Islington HIV Network

Easy read information about activities

• Free activities
• Sports activities
• More things to do 

Volunteering and helping others  

• There are lots of opportunities to volunteer at local organisations in Camden. Find local organisations and available roles on the Volunteer Centre Camden website   
• Take part in your local parks and friends group
• Take part in your local Tenant and Resident Association (TRA)
• More ways to help others

Befriending 

Befriending schemes offer the opportunity to get to know someone new. 

• Age UK Camden: Dementia Befriending Service 
• Age UK Camden: Telephone befriending  
• Age UK Camden: Good Neighbours Scheme  
• Henna Asian Women’s Group befriending scheme, Kilburn 
• Holborn Community Association befriending scheme  
• Kilburn Good Neighbours scheme at Abbey Community Centre  
• London Irish Centre befriending service, Camden Square  

Support to meet new people

If you would like support to meet new people, a social prescriber can help you to find activities that are right for you. They can also help with other support and advice you might need, for example with your health and wellbeing. 

• Anyone aged 18 or over can refer themselves to the Care Navigation and Social Prescribing Service via the Community Links team at Voluntary Action Camden or Age UK Camden. This service is a partnership between Voluntary Action Camden, Age UK Camden and WISH Plus. 
• Anyone aged 18 or over can refer themselves to Reach Out Camden, which is a partnership between Mind in Camden, Likewise, The Advocacy Project and VoiceAbility.
• Young people in Camden can access social prescribing support through Fitzrovia Youth in Action (ages 11 to 18), Brandon Centre (ages 16 to 24) and The Hive (ages 16 to 24). Young people can be referred by schools, youth workers and health professionals. Young people can refer themselves to The Hive. 

Guides to planning community events

Explore how-to guides to planning community events to bring people together, including coffee mornings, clothes swaps, street parties and sports days.