About Us
Deptford First has been helping people in the Lewisham North (Lewisham Deptford until 2024, and originally Deptford) constituency for over 40 years.
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From the start, our focus has been on people who are unable to access the financial support they need through other channels.
Our Beginnings
Originally called Deptford Into the 80s, Deptford First was formed as a charitable trust in 1979 by then-MP Rt Hon John Silkin, Canon David Diamond (former Rector of Deptford) and Roger Norman (former editor of the South East London Mercury).
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Unusually for a charity, its area of benefit is tied to the parliamentary constituency, meaning that it always moves in line with boundary changes.
John Silkin was chair until his death in April 1987, when Dame Joan Ruddock succeeded him as both MP for Lewisham Deptford and chair of Deptford First. On Dame Joan's retirement in 2015, new MP Vicky Foxcroft took over.
​​The trust has always sought to relieve need, hardship and poverty amongst residents of the constituency by supporting local initiatives and assisting individuals who have fallen through the gaps in what the state and other organisations can provide.
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We also seek to bring together the people and organisations who support our community via networking and information sharing.
Dame Joan Ruddock and Father Owen Beament
Title page of declaration of trust for Deptford Into The 80s
Vicky Foxcroft MP, Chair of Deptford First since 2015
Consultant Emily Simpson presenting her report at a networking event in 2018
Since 2015
When Vicky took over as chair in 2015, there had been talk of winding the charity down. It had helped many local people, but some of the trustees had moved on or were retiring. ​However, Vicky could see it was well-established and thought it had the potential to do more, especially given its unusual link to the constituency boundary.
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Over the next couple of years, she recruited a new team of trustees who brought with them a wealth of knowledge about the local area, as well as experience of fundraising and running charities and community organisations.
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By 2018, years of austerity and cuts to local government funding were taking their toll and the trustees wanted to investigate how best to ensure our funds were reaching the people who needed them most.
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In conjunction with Deptford Challenge Trust, we commissioned local third sector consultant Emily Simpson to write the Deptford Emergency Relief Fund Report. ​Off the back of this, the trustees began working in partnership with local organisations to distribute funds and focus on people with no recourse to public funds. After a successful pilot with Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network in late 2018/early 2019, we rolled it out to Bench Outreach, 999 Club and Deptford Reach.
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Covid & Beyond
When the pandemic hit in 2020, we were forced to pause our activities for a period. But, determined not to leave people in need, the trustees began work again in 2021, this time focusing on people who were set to lose the temporary £20 uplift to Universal Credit.
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This led to us working with Besson Street Trust, Community Advice Works and our current main partner, Lewisham + Bromley Credit Union. Vicky even found an opportunity to raise our work at Prime Minister’s Questions (although Boris Johnson has yet to donate!).
Our aim now is to reach anyone who is affected by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
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Throughout Vicky’s time as chair, we have also held annual networking events (with a few years off during covid). They have always been popular with local organisations, charities, businesses and other members of the community and have sparked many successful working relationships. Read about the latest one here.
Vicky promoting Deptford First at Prime Minister's Questions in 2021
Some of our trustees at a networking event in June 2025
Map of the Lewisham North constituency (courtesy of Ordnance Survey)
About Lewisham North
The parliamentary constituency of Lewisham North covers the northern part of the borough, from the Thames down to the centre of Lewisham. It is made up of eight council wards: Blackheath, Brockley, Deptford, Evelyn, Ladywell, Lewisham Central, New Cross and Telegraph Hill.
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Although some might dismiss it as a typical inner city area, Lewisham North is so much more than that. There are many fantastic people living and working in the constituency, which is home to bustling markets and lovely green spaces. The area is steeped in local history and has one of the most vibrant artistic communities in London. Like any area it is not without its problems, but we are very proud of our diverse and welcoming community.