The Exchange, Erith

Who we are

The Exchange is a place where people make, and make things happen. It is a community-led organisation based in the Grade II listed Old Library in Erith. Its aim is to reactivate the Old Library as a new kind of community space that takes its heritage as a starting point, and with the overall aim of making Erith a better place to live through celebrating local heritages and cultures, creating opportunities for skills development and coming together, creating local empowerment - supporting local ideas and initiatives. As well as our community and workshop programmes, we want the Old Library to be used by private and corporate groups, marking key moments in people’s lives.

Our community-led events programme consists of a range of activities including mini-festivals, concerts and performances, community-curated food events, markets and exhibitions. We work with local residents – The Makers – on designing and delivering this programme.

Our workshop programme builds on the building’s heritage as community designed and built space. We offer skills development opportunities in a range of crafts including textiles, ceramics, woodwork, print and the creation of garden spaces, in exchange for the items that people make. These will be used in the building, or sold to generate money to sustain the community programme.

Our culture and values

Change starts here: We are proud of where we live, but we are not satisfied with the status quo. We think in the long-term and share an ambitious vision for bringing about a better future – for our communities and our world.

Community creates culture: We see human interaction as vital to progress, on a personal and societal level. Conversation and collaboration help us to better understand, recognise, and connect with those around us.

Everyone is a maker: We believe in the creative potential of every individual, and see real benefit in the process as well as the outcome – of sharing and developing new skills, learning and making.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

We are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity and to providing
a service and following practices which are free from unfair and unlawful discrimination.