Guests dance with dragons at event held by Lewisham social landlord Phoenix Community Housing

South Londoners rarely get the opportunity to dance with dragons – but at a community event hosted by a Lewisham social landlord, that’s exactly what happened.

Nearly 200 guests joined Phoenix Community Housing for an evening inspired by the Chinese New Year.

People enjoyed magic shows, showcased their inner dragon by creating dragon masks, made spring rolls in the Chartwells-run Lewisham Training Kitchen, and found out more about Phoenix’s new homes programme.

Young families were also invited to enjoy a roller rink disco outside Phoenix’s community hub on the Bromley Road,

Emma Lee, who attended with her children, said: “We come to Phoenix’s events because they’re fun, family-friendly and free – the three Fs.

“They’re really good for kids and are just somewhere we can go together to enjoy ourselves.”

The event – which in previous years has had themes including 70s roller disco, the winter Olympics, and carnivals – is one of the ways Phoenix consults with its residents and wider community to find out their views and encourage them to get involved in the running of the resident-led housing association.

David Westworth, director of customer services at Phoenix Community Housing, said: “Community Links is a brilliant way for us to meet residents, find out their views and come together as a community – and we have a blast doing it.

More information about Phoenix’s events can be found on its website here.