Village Life is a non-profit community collective, rooted in solidarity, care and connection. We are intentionally intergenerational, creating inclusive spaces where children, families, adults and elders can thrive together, through cultural, wellbeing, educational and community programmes.
Our work is grounded in an ecology of care framework, promoting love, healing, resilience and social connection across Brixton and the wider Lambeth community. We believe strong communities are built through relationships, mutual support and collective responsibility.
Founded by Quailyn Gayadeen, an Indian and Chinese Trinidadian whose lived experience of being born and raised in a village in Trinidad, continues to shape the organisation’s vision and direction. Our approach is inspired by the national motto of Trinidad and Tobago: “Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve”.
We have been informally working with the Lambeth community for 25+ years, long before formally establishing Village Life in 2024. Quailyn’s longstanding commitment to community care has been recognised through features for International Women’s Day 2021, and as a finalist for the Lambeth Civic Awards Volunteer of the Year 2025. We specialise in what we describe as invisible leadership – shaping outcomes without seeking recognition.
Village Life is rooted in the belief, “it takes a village to raise a child”, emphasising the importance of communal support in nurturing children. Involving family, friends, teachers and neighbours, not just caregivers. We specialise in education and family support, with governance experience at Ebony Horse Club (9 years) and St Helen’s Primary School (4 years).
- WhatsApp News Channel with 650+ families – London for Free & London for Less: www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VagWTXWADTOKA1Eotv07
- 11+ Lessons for private & grammar schools entrance exams
- Games Club on the 2nd Thursday monthly, 4-6pm at the Akerman Health Centre
- Pop-Up Shops – community redistributions during holidays and half-terms at The Advocacy Academy
- Theatre Trips including Peacock, Young Vic, Bubble and Victoria Palace theatres
- London Socials including Hampstead Heath, Somerset House, Regents Park Music Festival, Kew Gardens
- Emergency Food Support with Healthy Living Platform & Share Community
- Technology Support with Community Tech Aid
- Accessible Disabled Cycling – most recently an Epilepsy Awareness Ride – Quailyn is an Epileptic Cyclist
Village Life are building further partnerships and working toward expanding our accessible activities, to reach more vulnerable residents, and create lasting positive impact across the Brixton communities. We aim to start Saturday School with local partners, creating a nurturing and supportive “Village” Supplementary School, fostering environments of ambition, confidence and curiosity, to address the disengagement children experience in mainstream schools, which leads to school exclusions.
