Welcome to your South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours newsletter.
This newsletter contains:
Agenda for the South Bank and Waterloo Forum - Thursday 27 June
Top events for General Election followers (Hustings tonight!), climate action, and arts, heritage and community lovers
News: grants update and Community Parklet Scheme funding
South Bank and Waterloo Forum agenda, Thursday 27 June, 7pm
Join fellow neighbours at Sustainable Ventures, County Hall, on Thursday 27 June from 7 to 8.30pm to discuss how we can create a fairer, greener South Bank and Waterloo by 2030.
This is an important meeting - it'll be an update all that's happened since we launched the NetZero project in May 2023 and an outline of the plans which are coming up - and ways in which you can help achieve the ambitious goals.
You'll also have a chance to tour the Sustainable Ventures space and enjoy some refreshments.
Agenda
Welcome to Sustainable Ventures - Andrew Wordsworth
Overview of work underway to make South Bank and Waterloo fairer and greener - Giles Goddard
Projects and engagement - Jackson Bylett, Net Zero Programme Lead
Hear about local plans for greening the neighbourhood with new trees and sustainable drainage systems. Learn about other projects, including our efforts to design and build a decentralised energy network to provide fossil fuel-free heating to local buildings. Find out how you can get involved and contribute to a fairer, greener South Bank and Waterloo by 2030.
Coin Street Community Builders and Bioregional - One Living framework and sustainability
Next steps and getting involved - group discussion
Planning and development updates, to include 72 Upper Ground / London Studios, Jubilee Gardens extension, and The Old Vic
Community announcements
There's no need to register, you can just come along. The following Forums will be held on Thursday 3 October and Thursday 12 December.
Everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there.
Top events for...
General Election followers
Oasis Centre are hosting a hustings for your chance to ask questions to our Vauxhall constituency General Election Candidates
Date: Monday 17 June - tonight!
Time: doors (and bar) open at 5.30pm, hustings start at 6.30pm
Location: 1 Kennington Rd, London SE1 7QP
For more information and to register, visit the website.
London Climate Action Week, 22 - 29 June
There are a range of events happening in the city for London Climate Action Week. A full programme can be found here. Whether you're a regular climate campaigner or starting to think more about climate change, there's an event for you.
Southwark Climate Day
Swap pre-loved clothes for new-to-you items, get household items repaired, get your bike fixed or serviced and much, much more. FREE
Date: Saturday 22 June
Time: 10am to 2pm
Location: LSBU Hub, London Road, Elephant and Castle, SE1
For more information and to register, visit the website.
Restore Nature Now march
A march to encourage UK politicians to show strong domestic and global nature and climate leadership.
Date: Saturday 22 June
Time: 12 noon
Location: Park Lane, London, W1K
For more information and to pledge to join march, visit the website.
Arts, heritage and community lovers
The annual Waterloo Festival brings people together to celebrate diversity, culture and the arts across a 5-day event.
Theme: Gardens, Rivers and Marshes
Date: 11 to 15 July
Time: various
Location: St John's Waterloo
For more information, visit the website.
News
Update on the Health and Wellbeing grants - and a call out for Sewing Machines!
Several of the projects funded by the Waterloo Health and Wellbeing Grants programme are now up and running, and take-up has been very encouraging. They range from weekly soccer coaching for young children at the Colombo Centre, to Chair Pilates for a somewhat older age group at Chandler Hall in China Walk.
At Waterloo Action Centre the Sewing Group, which is benefiting from a skilled tutor funded by our grant, is proving so popular that they are seeking donations of 2-3 unwanted sewing machines to meet demand. If you have a sewing machine you no longer need, please contact Jenny Stiles at jennystileswac@gmail.com. Any machine will be much appreciated, as long as it works.
Meanwhile if you use the Millennium Green please give thanks to the volunteer gardening group who each week work hard to ensure the Green looks its best - weeding, painting the seating, removing graffiti, tending the pond and planting a new pest-resistant Elm tree, generously donated by Elms for London.
Other projects now under way include Capoeira and other Latin American dance sessions for young people, held at Oasis Academy. And on 18 June Oasis is holding the first of its Feel Good Fabulous Parent Drop-in sessions at Living Space (see poster) for parents needing a bit of quiet time and support in the most important job most of us ever do - raising children! If you miss this session contact Sonya Waller (Sonya.waller@oasiswaterloo.org) for details of future events.
Finally, news of the London Eye Community Chest programme. For various reasons outside our control it has been necessary to postpone the launch of this grants programme until after the summer. In the autumn, however, we will be inviting applications for grants of up to £10,000 to projects that help build community and strengthen community resilience in the Waterloo and South Bank area, with projects being implemented during 2025. Watch this space.
Community Parklet Scheme funding - applications open until 30 June
Have you ever wondered what a car parking space-sized park is called? It's called a parklet!
They are a space for community growing, a place to get to know your neighbours, an opportunity to take ownership over your street, or just a spot to rest on your journey. Parklets can be customised by each community to best suit your needs, with successful applicants getting to choose from a catalogue of modular items to fill their parklet.
Businesses can now apply to build a parklet in the kerbside outside your premises.
Lambeth’s Community Parklet Scheme, supported by the Big Shift Community Fund, will fund 25 parklets (one in each borough ward) created and maintained by residents and community groups in partnership with the council. Applications for Community Parklets phase 3 are open until 30 June.
If you have any questions, contact bigshift@lambeth.gov.uk