SoWN News 24 July 2025
- csaunders935
- Jul 24
- 9 min read
Updated: Aug 8
Welcome to your South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours newsletter.
This month’s newsletter is is full of inspiring stories from around the neighbourhood, plus a fantastic line-up of summer events and fun ways for you to get involved.
This newsletter contains:
Recap from the June SoWN Forum
Reimagining Emma Cons Gardens
South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us update
Sustains Us Residents Group July meeting
Air quality monitoring for Clean Air Day
Help water local street trees this summer
Share your thoughts on South Bank this summer
Volunteering with The Kids Network
Become an Archbishop’s Park Community Trust trustee
Updates
Lambeth Walk Group Practice and Waterloo Health Centre
Backstage at The Old Vic
Events
Mayor's Community Weekend - South Bank and Waterloo day on Saturday13 September
Emma Cons Gardens 12 - 8pm
Wonderful Waterloo and South Bank Fun Day 2 - 5pm
Community Supper at Coin Street from 5pm
Myatt's Field Park events
Lower Marsh Lates
Incredible Edible Lambeth
Waterloo Community Counselling social groups and activities for displaced peoples
Spotlight on... Harrie Notton, Head of Marketing at WeAreWaterloo
Recap from the June SoWN Forum
The last SoWN Forum was help at the Coin Street neighbourhood centre on Thursday 26 June. Ahead of the meeting, members joined Cait Saunders for a walking tour of Coin Street to hear about Coin Street's journey. The group were also able to share local information of their own.
At the Forum, Lambeth Director of Economy, Culture and Skills presented the London Growth Plan. You can find the presentation here.
SoWN Chair Giles Goddard presented a summary of the Neighbourhood Plan at the halfway point. You can find the presentation here.
Representatives from HB Reavis presented plans for student accommodation at at 10 Leake Street, you can find the presentation here.
Alex Wells, Premises and Policy Officer at Community Southwark, presented information about Community Southwark's Premises Matching Project. You can find the presentation here.
Finally, Niamh Lynch, Volunteer Operations Leader at The Kids Network talked through volunteer opportunities. You can find details here and more information below.
If there's anything you would like to see on the Forum agenda, please let us know.
The dates for the Forums in 2025 are Thursday 9 October and Thursday 11 December.
Reimagining Emma Cons Gardens
This September, the Emma Cons Gardens Trust is bringing Emma Cons Gardens to life with a series of free events across three Thursdays, (4, 11 and 18 September ) plus a special Friday and Saturday weekender on 12 and 13 September and you’re invited!
Reimagining Emma Cons Gardens is a vibrant, community-led event series designed to bring new life to a much-loved public space ahead of its long-term redevelopment. The series will see the launch of the final plans for the redesign of Emma Cons Gardens developed in partnership with Lambeth Council as well as the unveiling of the selected artist and design for an exciting public art piece celebrating the life of Emma Cons.
From live music and dancing to craft, food, wellbeing sessions, the programme invites everyone to explore the area differently in preparation for what comes next. Look out for a full-on Mexican Independence Day celebration with dancers, music, markets and even wrestlers!
Another event to highlight is THE EMMA CONS -versation sponsored by SoWN it will run from 12pm - 8pm on 4 September. This television-style talk show with members of the public will have the theme 'Reinventing Our Neighbourhood'. Topics will range from how do you have a more nourishing lunchtime in Waterloo and Southbank, the potential of Waterloo and Southbank at night and what do we want our neighbourhood to look and feel like in the future.
Small spaces, like Emma Cons Gardens, are vital for community wellbeing, cohesion, and everyday connection. Their success depends on how well they reflect and respond to the values, needs, and culture of the communities they serve.
When shaped by the people who use them, these spaces become more than just places to pass through, they become places to belong. That’s the vision we’re working towards with Reimagining Emma Cons.
Come down, get involved, and help us shape what this space could be together.
For further information visit the website.
Reimagining Emma Cons Gardens is proudly supported by WeAreWaterloo BID, the Emma Cons Gardens Trust, SoWN (South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours), BOURNE and LAMBETH COUNCIL alongside a range of incredible local partners.
South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us update
Sustains Us Residents Group July meeting
The Sustains Us Residents Group (SURG) gathered again in July to keep the momentum going on preparations for the Wonderful Waterloo and South Bank Fun Day, taking place on Friday 13 September at St John’s Church, Waterloo.
At the meeting, residents and community partners came together to shape ideas, finalise plans, and discuss how we’ll get the word out – a big thank you to everyone who joined and contributed!
We’re now looking for volunteers to help out on the day – whether it’s setting up, talking to visitors, or helping with food and beverage. If you're interested in getting involved, we’d love to hear from you.
The next SURG meeting will take place on Monday 11 August, 5:30–7:00pm at St John’s Church, Waterloo. New faces are always welcome, so come along if you’d like to get involved or just find out more.
To find out more, visit sbwsustainsus.org or contact: Charlotte Glazier, SoWN Programme Coordinator – charlotte@sowneighbours.org
Air quality monitoring for Clean Air Day
South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us is committed to creating a neighbourhood where clean air supports the wellbeing of everyone who lives, works, and visits the area. Nine air quality sensors are stationed around the neighbourhood, recording real-time air pollutants every hour.
To mark Clean Air Day on 19 June, the Sustains Us team explored what the network tells us about air quality in South Bank and Waterloo, and ways individuals can make a difference to help air quality in the neighbourhood – from choosing active travel and reducing car idling, to upgrading old gas boilers.
To find out more, you can read the full article here.
Help water local street trees this summer
With another stretch of hot, dry weather, our young street trees need a little extra help to stay healthy and keep providing much-needed shade and greenery.
Lambeth Council’s contractors regularly water the newly planted trees, but during long dry spells, local support makes a big difference. If you have a street tree near your home or workplace, consider giving it a drink – especially newly planted trees with green watering bags at the base.
How to help:
Use leftover water from washing up, baths, or paddling pools (it doesn’t need to be fresh).
Pour water slowly into the green bag or directly onto the soil around the trunk.
These trees are a vital part of cooling our neighbourhood and improving air quality – let’s help them thrive!
Read the full article here to find out more.
Share your thoughts on South Bank this summer
As part of South Bank BID's ongoing commitment to delivering first class data and insight, the BID is undertaking a new wave of Audience Research this Summer.
Through a digital survey, the BID is looking to understand how audiences, especially residents and workers, experience and use South Bank. The questions explore how you spend time in South Bank, and touch on areas such as how clean, welcoming, safe and green you find the area.
Your feedback is vital in ensuring that how the BID allocates its resources matches the needs and expectations of South Bank's diverse audiences.
Responses are completely anonymous, with no personal details shared. Those who fill out the survey can choose to be in with a chance of winning one of three £100 vouchers which can be used for a range of restaurants and cultural attractions in South Bank, or high street vouchers.
The Kids Network
Learn new skills. Find a purpose. Change a child's life. Volunteer in Lambeth
The Kids Network supports little Londoners at a big moment: in the lead up to the transition
from primary to secondary school.
They match young people with volunteer mentors from their local community for weekly sessions across a year.
As a mentor, you’ll be trained to lead fun, child-led activities — whether that’s playing games, exploring the city or simply having a chat. If you volunteer, you’d be making a real difference through building their confidence & resilience, shaping a brighter future — one session at a time!
"I’ve had the best time with my mentor because I haven’t been outside that much. And on
the weekends I don’t go out so I’ve had the best time of my life being able to go out"
Mentee at 12 months
Now’s the time to dream big, step up, and support Little Londoners in your community.
Ready to start your mentoring journey in Lambeth? Visit the website.
If you have any questions or would like more information, get in touch with Niamh: n.lynch@thekidsnetwork.org.uk
Become an Archbishop’s Park Community Trust trustee
Archbishop’s Park Community Trust (APCT) is seeking additional trustees to help oversee its activities.
APCT works to promote the conservation and improvement of Archbishop’s Park for the benefit of all users and neighbours. In particular it seeks to engage people who are at risk of social exclusion or who would enjoy and benefit from active engagement in healthy group activities to maintain and enhance the park.
It organises a weekly gardening club, raises funds for special projects, maintains an urban orchard and bee-hives (producing jams and honey), provides corporate volunteering events, and liaises with Lambeth and neighbouring landowners to encourage joint commitment to the park as a key environmental, social and economic asset for all concerned.
The Trustees oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that APCT has a clear strategy and that its work is in line with its charitable aims. And they support and challenge the organisation to grow and thrive.
If you would be interested in becoming a Trustee and helping APCT in its work, visit the website to apply by 5 August.
Updates
Lambeth Walk Group Practice and Waterloo Health Centre
The Director of Primary Care and Transformation in Lambeth has provided a brief update on premises for Lambeth Walk Group Practice and Waterloo Health Centre. Read the letter here.
Backstage at The Old Vic
The Old Vic is pleased to report that the building contractor, Rise, has completed over 90% of their construction programme.
We have launched a campaign to raise £100,000 by the end of July. They are currently at 55% of target.
There are many ways you or your local business
can take part in this campaign:
• Name a seat in our iconic 207-year-old
auditorium.
• Name a barn door that will adorn the new
front of the building.
• Enter the prize draw for just £15 per ticket for
your chance to win some fantastic prizes..
As part of the design of the Backstage building, they have built a Script Library that will be available for
anyone to use. They are asking for donations of any unwanted or pre-loved scripts that can be added to
the shelves of this free resource. Scripts can be donated directly by dropping them into The Old Vic Stage Door on Webber Street by Friday 12 September or email hana.tamaru@oldvictheatre.com for more
information.
To read the full update, read the Old Vic Backstage Newsletter.
Events
Mayor's Community Weekend 2025
There's an incredible day of activities planned around Waterloo and South Bank for Saturday 13 September - everyone welcome!
Reimagining Emma Cons 12 - 8pm (details above)
Wonderful Waterloo and South Bank Fun Day 2-5pm (details below)
Chat and Chomp at Coin Street from 5pm (details to follow).
Wonderful Waterloo and South Bank Fun Day
This free community gathering celebrates local action for a fairer, greener Waterloo and South Bank.
Date: Saturday 13 September 2025
Time: Drop in any time between 2pm and 5pm (there will be some scheduled activities throughout the afternoon)
Location: St John’s Waterloo
Who: Local residents of all ages and backgrounds
Free
Visit the event page for more information.
Myatt's Fields Park
Myatt's Fields Park Project would be delighted to welcome you to one of their events this year.
Visit the website for more information.
Lower Marsh Lates
Lower Marsh Lates is returning this summer with a free open-air cinema series in Waterloo.
31 July – Dirty Dancing
28 August – Grease
Visit the website for more information.
Incredible Edible Lambeth
Join free guided walks to find some of the hidden green gems in the borough.
Various dates, times and locations
Free
Visit the website for more information.
Social groups & activities for displaced peoples
Waterloo Community Counselling organises meetups where refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants seeking companionship can come together to explore, learn, and have fun.
Date, time and location: various
Time: Various
Free
Visit the website for more information.
Spotlight on... Harrie Notton
What’s your role in South Bank and Waterloo?
I am Head of Marketing at WeAreWaterloo Business Improvement District (BID), but my comms journey started as Coin Street's Communications Assistant back in 2015!
What’s your best childhood memory?
Visiting my Nan's flat in Waterloo every Christmas Eve - it was (and still is!) like Father's Christmas' grotto, full of multicoloured Christmas lights, decorations, and overflowing with sweets.
What does a perfect day look like for you?
I’m a big fan of thrifting, so I’d kick off the day browsing the charity shops on my local High Street in Essex. In the evening, I’d enjoy a homemade curry and wind down by reading a book with my son, Ozzy (Tabby McTat is his current fave).
Who would you choose if you could be friends with a fictional character?
Buddy the Elf from the film 'Elf'... just in case my love for Christmas doesn't come through strongly enough! I think he'd be a fiercely loyal and fun friend to have in my circle.
Who would be your three dream dinner party guests?
My Uncle Gene, who sadly passed away not too long ago, but was the funniest man I've ever known, Uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses and the photographer Tish Murtha.
Who do you nominate for a SoWN spotlight?
I'd like to nominate Jenny Stiles - Vice Chair of Waterloo Action Centre (WAC), a local powerhouse and dear friend.
