In the final weeks of SET Woolwich, All Purpose Filla is proud to present a very special episode documenting the life and legacy of one of the building’s most quietly impactful projects: the Community Canteen.
For over four and a half years, SET Woolwich operated as an arts and community centre in South East London, housing artist studios, workshops, and public programming. Among its many initiatives was the Thursday Canteen. Launched in 2021 as a grassroots foodbank, it quickly evolved into a vital weekly space for free, hot meals and open conversation.
Run by a rotating group of volunteers, artists, and local residents, the canteen became a reliable point of connection for people across Woolwich: a place to land, rest, talk, and take part. Built on principles of mutual aid and food redistribution, it was less a formal programme than a sustained, collective practice of care.
This episode features the voices of those who kept the Canteen alive. The people who cooked, gardened, played music, swept the floors, welcomed guests, or simply showed up. Through their stories, we take a glimpse into how temporary cultural spaces can generate real community value – and what’s at stake when they disappear.
Whether or not you knew SET Woolwich, this is a portrait of how something small-scale and weekly can become essential. Now, as SET Woolwich prepares to close its doors, we offer this episode as a kind of sonic time capsule: a way to honour what was built here, and a gesture of thanks to the many people who made it possible.
This is for you.
Listen now
You can listen to this episode on Spotify, Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
This episode is part of All Purpose Filla — our ongoing series of conversations, reflections and shared voices from within and around SET.
Explore all past episodes on your favourite podcast platform.
References from the episode:
- WSUP Woolwich – Local support service.
- KeyRing – South East London community support
- Mencap – Support for people with learning disabilities
- Good Food in Greenwich – Community food organisation
- FoodCycle – National food redistribution and meal service
- The Field, New Cross – Radical community centre (now closed)