Chris Best

Please visit our new web site - www.see3.uk

We had a fantastic indoor market at the Sydenham Centre on Saturday 7 June with good footfall for the tasty Caribbean food and homemade succulent cookies, brownies & cakes that were served in Ignition Brewery. Upstairs the hall was full of stalls upstairs selling a range of goodies from jewellery to plants in home made ceramic pots, from art and posters to throws and towels plus free activities for little ones.

An opportunity to buy unique and locally made Christmas gifts at the Sydenham Centre in the heart of the high street. As well as the craft market there will be entertainment, food and drinks in the Ignition Brewery tap room.

As Chair of SEE3 I am looking forward to our Halloween extravaganza - please visit our web site for more information - https://www.see3.uk

Our spooktacular Halloween is on 31 October! For Trick and Treaters we have the Halloween trail from 4 - 5pm then into The Sydenham Centre for the costume competition. We have medals and prizes for the best under 7s, best over 7s and best home made costume.

Don't miss the Haunted House at The Poodle Club from 4 - 7pm

SEE3 was delighted to welcome little ones to decorate their Easter bonnet in the Ignition Brewery space on the ground floor of the Sydenham Centre. We then started the much loved Easter Egg Trail in the high street led by our very own Easter bunnies. The traders supporting the event handed out mini Easter eggs and other goodies to those children wearing Easter bonnets. The event lasted from 12 noon until 3pm and we were so pleased with the traders dressing their shop windows for Spring.

As Chair of SEE3 I was pleased to organise a Tea Party to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III at the Sydenham Centre on Monday 8th May. It was an intergenerational event for our diverse community with the police cadets waiting on our guests. We were royally entertained by Eleanor Meynell from enSEmble26 who gave us a rendition of favourite songs as well as a singalong to well-known popular tunes. Thanks to our volunteers who included chief cook and bottle washer Heather Mallinder and Annabel McLaren, Secretary of SEE3 as well as everyone who joined us for a very enjoyable afternoon.

Please see some of the photos on Lewisham Council's Flickr account

I have been talking to Rachel Reeves, our Shadow Chancellor on getting people back into our town centres. We have been promoting Shop Safe Shop Local to support our fantastic businesses in Sydenham high street.

As Chair of SEE3 I aim to promote and support local businesses. Please visit our website -www.SEE3.co.uk

If you would like your business featured please email see3traders@gmail.com with information about your business. Although we officially support the high street we will be happy to highlight a local business even if it is virtual, as long as it is based in, and available to, any of the three areas mentioned above. One business will be highlighted per month, based on a first come, first served system.

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to 'shop local' and support small businesses in their communities.

The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.

On Small Business Saturday, customers across the U.K. go out and support all types of small businesses, online, in offices and in stores. Many small businesses take part in the day by hosting events and offering discounts.

The next Small Business Saturday takes place on 2nd December 2023.

Lewisham has one of the highest numbers of small and independent businesses in London. To support the run up to Christmas we offer free car parking in our Council car parks. We also encourage "Shop Safe, Shop Local"’ promoting small businesses in Lewisham and safeguarding local jobs.

SEE3 was established in 2013 as part of the Mary Portas Pilot to bring footfall and fun to our high streets. SEE3 supports three high streets; Forest Hill, Kirkdale and Sydenham. SEE3 activities include Easter Bonnet workshops and parade, Halloween trick-or-treat and costume competition and the lighting of the Christmas tree and surrounding events.

Most recently SEE3 hosted a Tea Party in honour of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The lively event took place on Saturday 4th June at the Sydenham Centre, where 50 guests were served tea and refreshments accompanied by musical entertainment from our own local Barbers Shop singers.

Any suggestions for events or if you'd like to volunteer are most welcome. Contact us via the website - www.SEE3.co.uk.

We produced our Christmas calendar from 2013 and after 7 years we have decided to move this online. The cost of printing and distribution door to door in Forest Hill and Sydenham wards has risen and we would like to use our web site to promote our comprehensive listing of traders in our local community. We have contacted traders to provide a listing for their events and offers in the festive season.

You can see a local listing on our web site www.SEE3.co.uk

The SEE3 Portas Pilot was launched in 2012 with funding from the Mayor of London and Lewisham Council. There have been two community hubs Jack and Jill to engage residents in their high streets, pilot markets in Forest Hill, Kirkdale and Sydenham and nine pop-up shops.
We have produced our annual local directory to promote independent shops in SE23 and SE26 postcode areas including Forest Hill, Kirkdale and Sydenham.

Moving online we promote the wealth of local, independent businesses we have in our community. Our very small team have worked tirelessly to ensure all our independent traders are included in this directory.

Where possible we have advised local traders to offer an online service to customers to avoid missing out on valuable trade.

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