SoWN News 22 May 2025
- csaunders935
- May 22
- 7 min read
Updated: 12 minutes ago
Welcome to your South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours newsletter.
This newsletter contains:
SoWN Forum, Thursday 26 June, 6pm at the Coin Street neighbourhood centre
South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us Residents Group
Updates
10 Leake Street student accommodation
Backstage at The Old Vic
Events
LGBTQ+ History Walk of Vauxhall, Saturday 31 May
Incredible Edible Lambeth Events, various dates
Bankside Open Spaces Festival, Saturday 7 June
Lambeth County Show, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June
Late-Victorian Child Prostitution & the Brothels of Waterloo, Tuesday 17 June
Waterloo Festival Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 July
Family friendly free events in Old Paradise Gardens - Saturday afternoons in May and June
Vacancies
Kings College London Senior Community Engagement Officer
Waterloo Action Centre Hall Hire Manager
Spotlight on... Paul Cons, chair of the Emma Cons Gardens Trust and co-owner of Konditor Cakes
SoWN Forum - Thursday 26 June, 6pm at the Coin Street neighbourhood centre
The next SoWN Forum will be held at the Coin Street neighbourhood centre on Thursday 26 June at 6pm. If you can make it to Coin Street for 5pm, Cait Saunders will take you on a walking tour of the Coin Street estate. Meet at the neighbourhood centre help desk at 5pm, 108 Stanford Street.
The agenda for this Forum includes:
The London and Lambeth Growth Plans - how will they affect South Bank and Waterloo?
SoWN's Neighbourhood Plan 2019 - 2032 - we're half way through - how are we doing and what should we focus on next?
If there's anything you would like to see on the Forum agenda, please let us know.
As always, there will be a drinks reception after the meeting.
The dates for the Forums in 2025 are Thursday 9 October and Thursday 11 December.
The Sustains Us Residents Group has formed to help shape a fairer, greener neighbourhood
A big thank you to everyone who joined the first meeting earlier this month! This was the first gathering of the newly revived Sustains Us Residents Group (formerly the SoWN Environment Group) — bringing together local residents to work towards making the South Bank and Waterloo a fairer, greener place to live.
Together, the group started to shape its first project — a community event this September as part of the Mayor’s Community Weekend. The event will bring together organisations driving sustainability in South Bank and Waterloo, offering residents a chance to connect, get involved, and celebrate local initiatives.
At the meeting, the group explored key sustainability issues in the neighbourhood — including clean air, greener transport, cutting waste, and smarter energy use — identifying both challenges and opportunities for local action.
If you’re interested in joining the group and helping plan the upcoming community event, come along to the next meeting on Monday 9 June from 5.30–7pm at St John’s Church.
To find out more, visit sbwsustainsus.org or contact:
Giles Goddard, SoWN Chair – giles@stjohnswaterloo.org
Charlotte Glazier, SoWN Programme Coordinator – charlotte@sowneighbours.org
Updates
10 Leake Street - purpose built student accommodation
HB Reavis is bringing forward plans to redevelop 10 Leake Street to purpose built student accommodation.
You can find more information including how to have your say here.
Backstage at The Old Vic
The Old Vic are pleased to share updates about how the build is progressing.
The building contractor Rise are currently over 70
weeks into their construction programme. Progress
this month includes:
- Door installation across all floors.
- Acoustic panelling installation for soundproofing.
- The first floor balcony installation.
- The start of the joinery installation.
The Script Library on the first floor will hold play scripts donated in partnership with Faber, and will be free to access for students, creatives and the general public.
The Webber Street site hoardings will soon be brightened by artwork from Charlotte Sharman Primary School pupils. The children have creatively illustrated their ideas for what the finished Backstage building could look like, ensuring it is a joyful and welcoming space.
In early April, Old Vic staff and trustees gathered to celebrate the knock-through of the wall connecting the third floor of the new Backstage building to the existing theatre.
As the construction of the Backstage building nears completion, the next phase of the project is focusing on the internal finishes and fit-out. The selected colours mirror those used throughout the theatre’s back of house spaces with the addition of warm grey and terracotta to evoke a calm and welcoming space. The internal finishes also pick up on key tones and colours within the Brise Soleil façade.
To meet their sustainability objectives and goals, they are working closely with Smile Plastics to use Kaleido (a countertop material made from recycled cosmetic bottles) in the ground floor Cafe-Workspace where the main bar, welcome desk, mobile bar and tables will feature this recycled product.
Events
LGBTQ+ History Walk of Vauxhall
Walking in the footsteps of local LGBTQ+ heroes, artists, activists and clubbers. A brief introduction to our stories and histories.
Date: Saturday 31 May
Time: Midday
Location: Side door or the Royal Vauxhall Tavern
Free
More information here.
Incredible Edible Lambeth
Join free guided walks to find some of the hidden green gems in the borough.
Various dates, times and locations
Free
More information here.
Bankside Open Spaces Trust invite you to the Bankside Open Spaces Festival 2025.
Date: Saturday 7 June 2025
Time: 12 - 8pm
Location: Marlborough Sports Garden, Red Cross, Crossbones Graveyard and Redcross Way, SE1 1HA
Free
More information here.
Late-Victorian Child Prostitution & the Brothels of Waterloo with Dr Jane Jordan
When: Tuesday 17th June 2025
Time: Doors open 6.30pm, talk starts at 7pm
Location: The Forum St John’s Church Waterloo
£10.00
Lambeth County Show
Lambeth’s free family festival returns and promises to be bigger and better than ever!
Date: Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June 2025
Time: 1 - 9pm
Location: Brockwell Park
Free
More information here.
Waterloo Festival
The annual feast of arts and community in and around St John’s Waterloo, will return in just two months between Thursday 10th and Sunday 13th July.
More details will be announced soon here and on St John’s platforms so keep an eye out for the programme. In the meantime, save the dates!
Paths to Paradise
The Garden Museum and Sisterhood Supperclub Collective are hosting a series of family friendly free events in Old Paradise Gardens on Saturday afternoons in May and June.
Saturday 24 May, 2 - 4pm - Tending Grief Meditative Drawing led by Sara Haq
Saturday 31 May, 2 - 4pm - Natural Materials Art Collage led by Birunji Kawooya
Saturday 7 June, 2 - 4pm - Mending Circle led by Shez Chung-Blake
Saturday 14 June, 2 - 4pm - We are flowers’ Phone Selfie Photography led by Sarah Carrington
Saturday 21 June, 2 - 4pm - Herbal treats led by Shez Chung-Blake
The Sisterhood Supper Club is a volunteer-led female empowerment community group, who work towards creating safe spaces for women to heal, grow, create and give back.
Email info@gardenmuseum.org.uk or supperclubsisterhood@gmail.com for more information.
Vacancies
Kings College London Senior Community Engagement Officer (part time)
Kings College London is looking for a Senior Community Engagement Officer to join the team. It's a part time role based in our St Thomas' campus in London and you will be joining a great team.
Role: Senior Community Engagement Officer
Contract: 0.6FTE, offered as a fixed term contract for 1 year in the first instance
Salary: £38,482 - £43,249 per annum including London Weighting Allowance (will be pro-rated for part time 60% FTE).
Location: Hybrid (2 days St Thomas' campus, London)
Deadline: 1 June 2025
Waterloo Action Centre Hall Hire Manager (part time)
Waterloo Action Centre is looking for a manager to be responsible for taking hall hire booking ensuring that hirers are invoiced and pay on time, assist in the recruitment of evening and weekend caretakers; and to line manage for them, work with the Centre Coordinator to ensure that the building is well maintained and continues to meet the current health and safety standards.
Role: Hall Hire Manager
Contract: 17.5 hours per week - Monday to Friday 2pm- 5.30 pm (exact timing negotiable)
Salary: £12,000 (equivalent to £24k full time)
Location: Hybrid (2 days St Thomas' campus, London)
Deadline: 27 May 2025
Spotlight on... Paul Cons
What’s your role on South Bank and Waterloo?
I'm the chair of the Emma Cons Gardens Trust, We are working with Lambeth Council to rejuvenate Emma Cons Gardens and create a civic heart for Waterloo. We have secured planning permission and are in the final phase of technical design for the scheme. I am also the co-owner of Konditor Cakes with my husband, Gerhard Jenne, and a resident of Waterloo.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I was raised in Pinner, north London, and wanted to be Prime Minister!!
How do you like to spend your free time?
I play the piano , meditate ,and explore this great city of ours. Plus I have two teenage sons which keep me very busy!!
Where’s your favourite place around the South Bank and Waterloo?
Emma Cons Gardens - all human life is here - showing the glorious diversity of our community!
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Me and my son Declan have season tickets at Fulham FC - although in my heart I support Liverpool! However it’s great to see premier league football in London and my son plays in a Fulham disability football club.
Who do you nominate for a SoWN spotlight?
Anna Richardson - head teacher at Oasis Academy - an outstanding local school which my other son James attends.
