We're building something. Be part of what comes next.
PeopleOpportunitiesCommunityThat's the energy.
01 / Our storyRooted here. Looking forward.
OUR STORY. YOUR COMMUNITY.
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity should be too.
Link Up & Live CIC grew from a shared belief: young people deserve somewhere to belong, opportunities to explore their talents and people who believe in their potential.
Rooted in Thamesmead and reaching across Bexley and Greenwich, we’re bringing together creative skills, practical experience and a shared passion for our community to build a welcoming space for young people to learn, connect and grow.
Our vision is a regular youth programme where young people can learn practical skills, develop confidence and discover what excites them—with four seasonal community festivals creating opportunities to share their progress and bring people together.
Different voices. Shared possibilities.Illustrative programme imageryYOUR IDEAS BELONG HERE.
02 / The youth programmeIn development
FIND YOUR THING.
Practical skills. Creative freedom. A little confidence can go a long way.
Who can take part?
Our planned DJ, dance, sound engineering and podcast workshops are for children and young people in Thamesmead, Bexley and Greenwich. Beginners are welcome. Exact age groups and any individual support arrangements will be confirmed before booking opens.
Dates
To be confirmed
Venues
To be confirmed
Prices
To be confirmed
Age groups
To be confirmed
Register your interest
Take our short community survey to tell us what interests you. For a personal enquiry, use the contact section below to prepare and send an email, or email us directly. Expressing interest is not a confirmed booking.
Our planned DJ workshops will introduce mixing, music selection and the confidence to share your sound. A space to experiment, practise and develop your own style.
Workshop dates, age ranges, venue and joining details will be shared when the programme is ready to launch.
How it worksExplore. Grow. Share.
FIND YOUR THING. SEE WHERE IT TAKES YOU.
Tap a stage to discover how the journey connects.
01EXPLORE.+
Our planned workshops in DJ skills, sound engineering, dance and podcasting give young people the chance to try something new. You don’t need to arrive with experience—just curiosity and a willingness to have a go.
02GROW.+
Through regular sessions, practical projects and encouragement, we aim to help young people build confidence, teamwork and communication skills. As the programme develops, older participants will have opportunities to gain supported volunteering experience and grow into youth leadership roles.
03SHARE.+
Our four planned seasonal mini festivals will connect the workshops with the wider community, creating opportunities for young people to showcase their creativity, support events and celebrate what they’ve achieved alongside family, friends and neighbours.
03 / Room to growYour next step can start here.
TAKE PART. THEN TAKE THE LEAD.
We want young people to help shape the programme, with a pathway for older teens to grow into mentors and youth leaders.
01
Find your feet.
Try a workshop, build practical skills and discover what excites you.
Participant
02
Bring your ideas.
As the programme grows, help shape sessions and gain supported volunteering experience.
Volunteer & mentor
03
Lift others up.
Develop leadership skills and support the next group of young people coming through.
Youth leader
Our ambition includes paid youth leadership opportunities where sustainable funding allows.
04 / Community festivalsFour planned celebrations. One shared mission.
BIG IDEAS. BIGGER COMMUNITY.
From the workshop to the whole neighbourhood.
Our vision is four mini festivals each year, one in each season: a place for young people to showcase what they've learned, families to come together and local businesses to be part of the story.
Think youth performances, music, food and family activities — all connected to the year-round programme.
In planning. Dates, locations and event details to be announced.
The difference we want to makePeople. Opportunities. Community.
LOCAL TALENT. LASTING POSSIBILITIES.
We want the confidence young people build here to stay with them beyond a workshop or a performance. Our aim is to help them feel connected, recognise their strengths and see possibilities for their future.
01
BELONGING.
A welcoming space where young people can build friendships, express themselves and feel valued.
02
OPPORTUNITY.
Access to creative experiences, practical skills and encouragement to take their next step.
03
VOICE.
Opportunities for young people to share their ideas and help shape how the programme develops. Their interests and feedback will help guide what we build.
What guides usPeople. Opportunities. Community.
OUR VALUES.
These values guide how we listen, create and grow together—from our workshops and festivals to the relationships we build every day.
01
Oneness & Interconnection
We are connected—to each other, our communities and the world around us. We celebrate our differences, nurture a shared sense of belonging and care for our environment.
02
Youth Power & Leadership
Young people bring ideas, creativity and the power to make change. We create meaningful opportunities for them to speak up, make decisions and lead.
03
Empathy & Relationships
We listen with care, speak honestly and treat people with respect. We value each person’s experiences and build trusting relationships where they feel safe, heard and understood.
04
Equity & Justice
Everyone deserves the opportunity to take part and thrive. We challenge inequality, work to remove barriers and make space for people whose voices are too often overlooked to influence and lead.
05
Creativity & Cultural Identity
We celebrate the stories, cultures and identities that make us who we are. Through creative expression, we nurture connection, wellbeing, confidence and the freedom to shape our own futures.
06
Community Co-production
We build our programme together with young people, families and local communities. Their ideas, experiences and feedback help shape our workshops, festivals and future plans.
07
Integrity & Legacy
We act with honesty, take responsibility for our decisions and use resources thoughtfully. We aim to build lasting opportunities that benefit today’s community and generations to come.
08
Digital Innovation for Social Good
We use technology creatively and responsibly to make opportunities more accessible, strengthen learning and amplify community voices. Digital tools help us share stories, connect people and support positive change.
HOW WE WORK.
Our values come to life through the way we plan, deliver and learn together.
Listen first
We listen to young people, families and local communities, making their ideas and experiences central to our plans.
Build on strengths
We recognise the talent, knowledge and connections already in our community and help them grow.
Create meaningful roles
We offer opportunities to contribute, take responsibility and shape decisions—through creating, volunteering and leading.
Connect people with opportunity
We help people discover resources, supportive relationships and opportunities to learn and develop.
Gather evidence
We use feedback, participation and stories of change to understand who we reach and the difference our work makes.
Reflect and improve
We review what is working, listen to what needs to change and adapt our approach.
Share what we learn
We share learning with young people, families and partners so we can grow together and strengthen our community.
Meet the directorsPeople. Opportunities. Community.
MEET THE DIRECTORS.
Shane
Founder & Director
Marcia
Founder & Director
Ella
Director
Meet the teamPeople. Opportunities. Community.
MEET THE TEAM.
Cameron
Senior Youth Worker
Jemma
Senior Volunteer
Candice
Professional Advocate
Cherelle
Volunteer
05 / Get involvedA community is something we build together.
We're currently developing Link Up & Live, building partnerships and looking for suitable space and support. Confirmed workshop dates, age ranges and joining details will be shared before launch. Dates, venues and prices are to be confirmed. Take our community survey or contact us to express interest; this is not a confirmed booking.
Where will it be based?+
Our roots are in Thamesmead, and our vision extends across the wider Bexley and Greenwich areas, supporting young people and the communities around them. Delivery venues are still to be confirmed.
How do the festivals connect to the workshops?+
The youth programme is the core of the project. The four planned festivals will give young people a platform to showcase their skills, gain supervised practical experience and celebrate with the wider community.
Can my organisation work with you?+
Yes — we'd like to hear from schools, community organisations, creative practitioners, venues, local businesses and potential funders. We want to complement existing local work and build useful partnerships.
How are you preparing to support young people?+
Developing our safeguarding framework, policies, governance and volunteer support is part of our preparation for launch. Families will receive the relevant joining and participation information before sessions begin.
06 / Start a conversationSmall connections can start big things.
