The Valentines Phone box that's become a 24/7 Community hub 1 year on #undertherainbow #Deptford

Who would have thought to turn an unloved abandoned classic British phone box into a 24/7 community hub? #UnderTheRainbow on Deptford High Street is just that, and today since being given to #Deptford #lewisham #community by the We Care food bank team at Kath'S Place as a Kath Duncan outreach project on the aptly named Friendly Street it has made people smile, been the cover star on The Big Issue, been featured not just on ALL Uk TV channels, but also gaining fans globally from Sweden, Netherlands, USA, and Japan as well as being awarded the best use of a phone box in Britain.

Since its launch on Valentine's 2022, the phone box bought for just ￡1 has given advice and signposting through its up-to-date local help advice directory on the wall which once had a phone. in just 12 months in this tiny space, it has given away and swapped 1,234 books. 460 Sanitary Towels. 280 Condoms. 11 packets of incontinent pads. 56 eco nappy packs. 38 Boxes of Bric a Brac such as pots and pans and cutlery, mugs, and plates. 84 Winter Coats . 76 handbags and rucksack bags. 97 pairs of shoes. 53 jumpers. 111 T-Shirts. 116 coffees. 48 shelf loads of fruit and food. 52 lots of pet food. 35 boxes of children's toys. 11 Sleeping bags. 23 pairs of trainers. 17 Umbrellas.7 Children Scooters.70 wooly hats. 34 scarfs.5 clocks. 11 kettles. 16 Coffee makers. 7 slow cookers. 240 soft toys and helped find one missing Cat via the in-phone box noticeboard, helped two Syrian women refugees learn to cycle, and these figures do not include the staggering number of items donated into the phone box daily by the local community, sandwiches, books, clothes, unwanted gifts, and the odd ￡10 note.

When we took over the phone box everyone said a community hub left open 24/7 without security or staff would be trashed, the first few weeks I checked on our phone box daily, and one year on we clean and spray the entire phone box once a month, today its the people of Deptford passing by who pop in the drop off the odd gift, borrow a book or just tidy the shelves whilst the children love rooting through the kid's box with toys, books and the occasional packet of sweets, whilst not forgetting the advice and information on the walls helps Women contact support to flee domestic violence, those new to the area can find access locally to food, advice and support and even a loo, tenants with a rubbish landlord can get the number of a lawyer who will fight their corner for free.

It's amazing how powerful the Kindness of strangers is when you have a project that can be enjoyed and used by everyone living, working, or being homeless in Deptford and what you can do with just one square foot of space with thought and love. Happy Valentines Day. You can support this project by donating to We Care go fund appeals or buy a ￡1 Lewisham Community Lottery Ticket that helps fund our work and other grassroots Orgs this #costoflivingcrisis