Summer fun has begun in Charlton as exciting new summer programme launches for kids and teens

The Charlton Summer Programme has gotten got off to an exciting start, with plenty of fun, free activities for local children on their summer holidays. 

Published: 11/08/2025

Children and teenagers from the area have been getting involved in the array of activities on offer at the Cherry Orchard and Springfield Estates, run by not-for-profit housing association Peabody and its partners. 

On the programme’s launch day on Monday 28 July, they tried their hand at making some delicious pizza and tasty biscuits, which were enjoyed by all during lunch. 

Many also got involved in a football game run by coaches from Charlton Athletic Community Trust, who will be running sessions daily throughout the programme.  

Youth workers from XLP, a charity which runs youth clubs and outreach work with young people across several London boroughs, were also on hand to celebrate the launch on Monday and to deliver a range of different games, competitions and activities. 

There was a minibus where kids could play videogames, and a space for them to get creative with drawing and colouring. 

Freddie, 13, who took part in the cooking said: “Decorating the pizzas was the best bit. It was really fun. I come every year so I would definitely recommend it.”  

Annette Dalrymple from the Community Development and Programmes team at Peabody said on the launch day of the programme: “Today’s a bit of a special day. It’s the first day, we’ve had cooking already, we’ve had football sessions and we’ve got XLP with us just for today doing some games and competitions. All our hard work from the last few months has come together today.  

“It’s something for the local kids and young people to do and I’m hoping everyone’s going to have a fun summer. Many of the kids are regulars, we’ve watched a lot of them grow up.”  
 
There were even people who had previously taken part in the summer programme as kids, who had gone on to become youth workers she added. 
 
Daniela Stoffova, a parent whose sons have been attending the programme since 2021, said: "This programme is an amazing opportunity to socialise for the kids, as well as to learn sports and other skills. I cannot see this community without this programme. It benefits not only kids but also parents who can rest easy knowing their children are supervised by amazing people.” 
 
The Summer Programme is open to six to 19-year-olds. Further sessions will be running throughout the holidays until 22 August at the Cherry Orchard and Springfield Estates in Charlton. 

Additional upcoming activities include tag rugby with coaches from Blackheath Rugby Club and tennis with coaches from Twistfizz, as well as more football.  

There will also be photography classes, arts and crafts workshops and more cooking sessions. There will also be a digital skills and graphic design summer programme at Langhorne House, where young people aged six to 12 can try their hand at producing designs, creating music using e-Jay and exploring basic coding.  

Most of the sessions don’t need booking and just require a registration form to be filled in at the start of the summer, after which kids are free to come and go to events. Photography classes need to be booked in advance.

Further information