SoWN News 26 March 2025
- csaunders935
- Mar 26
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 30
Welcome to your South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours newsletter.
This newsletter contains:
Thanks to everyone who joined the Wonderful Waterloo celebration last week
Updates
South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us
Backstage at The Old Vic
Have your say
Lambeth's Community Engagement Platform
Waterloo & South Bank survey
Volunteering
WeAreWaterloo's Rooted Gardening Club 2025
Easter and Eid Activities
Family Eid celebration in Stockwell - Monday 7 April
Easter School Holiday activities
What One Thing Lent/Ramadan appeal
Events
New Mural in Waterloo - creative workshop Wednesday 2 April
St George's Day Garden Party - Wednesday 23 April
Transforming Hercules Road event - Thursday 15 May
Apply for a VE Street Party - deadline Sunday 30 March
Free walking tours for refugees in Waterloo and South Bank
Courses
Introduction to stress management - free
Fire safety awareness for people with hard of hearing - free
Wonderful Waterloo!
Thanks to everyone who made it to St John's church last Thursday for our 5th anniversary celebration and showcase of some wonderful community projects.
A special thanks to the community leaders who came to share details of their projects, and also to the marvellous local businesses that sponsored the event including Park Plaza, Marriott, Coin Street, Balance, ERSO - Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra, Konditor and Troia Southbank.
A heartfelt thank you to you too, all the members of SoWN, for being part of this network. We look forward to lots many more years of stitching together our inspiring community.
We'd love to hear your feedback on the event, please complete the short survey below.
Updates
South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us: Free energy-saving advice at the LSBU Energy Advice Centre
The LSBU Energy Advice Centre, supported by Southwark Council, provides free, practical guidance to help residents manage energy costs and improve home efficiency. Weekly drop-in sessions at the Clarence Centre offer tailored advice, with additional support available by email or online.
Whether it’s tips on reducing bills or information on grants for home improvements, this service is designed to make energy-saving solutions more accessible to the community.
For more information on the Energy Advice Centre, or to book a free in-person or online consultation, visit the LSBU Energy Advice Centre webpage, and take a look at the student-led promotional video.
Read the full case study about the Energy Advice Centre on the Sustains Us website here.
Backstage at The Old Vic
The Old Vic are delighted to update you on the progress of their project, Backstage - the new six-storey building for creativity, education and community. As they get closer to the opening of Backstage, they are excited to share updates and stories with you about how the build is progressing.
Laura Stevenson, The Old Vic Executive Director says "We are almost two-thirds of the way through the construction programme of the backstage building. We cannot wait to open our doors later this year and welcome you to a new building that will expand The Old Vic by almost a quarter and, crucially, allow us to increase our education and community activities.
"This new building will give vital space to developing artists, writers and performers, be a welcoming hub
for the local communities of Lambeth and Southwark and give thousands of children and young people the opportunity to come to the theatre, often for the first time. Thank you for your continued support."
Building contractor Rise are currently 60 weeks into their construction programme. Progress
this month includes:
The new passenger and goods lift has been installed, which, when operational, will make the
building fully accessible to all visitors, running from the basement to the top floor.
Work on the front façade framework installation has begun, which will eventually feature 220
reclaimed theatre barndoor lights as a Brise Soleil. This striking feature on the front of the building will enhance sustainability by reducing heat and temperature within the naturally ventilated building.
The knock through works have started, which connects the existing theatre to the new Backstage building.
You can find more information here.
Have your say
Lambeth Council have a dedicated community engagement platform for you to have your say about the thinks that matter to you. Visit the platform here to find the latest consultations, surveys and engagement events.
Right now, Lambeth have teamed up with 5th Studio to develop a wayfinding strategy around Waterloo Station. Visit the website here to have your say.
Volunteering
WeAreWaterloo, Rooted Gardening Club
Join WeAreWaterloo for ROOTED, a monthly lunchtime gardening club, running from May to October 2025!
Whether you’re a local worker, resident, or just passing through, everyone is welcome to help green the neighbourhood.
When: First Wednesday of every month, May to October, 1 - 2pm
Where: Locations alternate between Emma Cons Gardens & Hercules Road
Visit the website for more information.
Easter and Eid Activities
Eid Celebration
Join a family event celebrating diversity and heritage at St Stephen's Children's Centre on Monday 7 April, 11am to 2pm, St Stephen’s Children’s Centre, Meadow Place, SW8 1XY.
Lambeth's Holiday Activities and Food
Visit Lambeth's website to find out about the activities and food services on offer for children and young people over the Easter holiday, 7 to 18 April.
#WhatOneThing? A Lent/Ramadan Appeal for Lambeth Foodbanks
This Lent/Ramadan, what one thing could you go without so that others can go with?
Oasis Hub Waterloo is putting out a challenge to the whole community this March-April: what one thing could you go without so that others can go with?
They are inviting people to pick one thing to give up throughout Lent or Ramadan, either on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, and to donate the money saved to the Lambeth Foodbanks so that it can benefit those who really need it. Find out more here.
Events
New Mural in Waterloo
The London School of Muralism and Artmongers
are creating a new piece involving local people
in the creative process under the arch opposite the
main station.
Join the creative workshop at St John's Waterloo to get involved in the project.
Date: Wednesday 2 April
Time: 6 - 9pm
Location: St John's Waterloo
Join WeAreWaterloo for a St George's Day garden party!
Date: Wednesday 23 April
Time: 12 - 2pm
Location: St. George's Garden, Blackfriars Rd, SE1 8HW
Free!
Register here.
WeAreWaterloo also invites you to celebrate recent greening efforts to transform Hercules Road.
Date: Thursday 15 May
Time: 12 - 2pm
Location: Hercules Road, SE1
Register here.
Free walking tours for refugees in Waterloo and South Bank
Waterloo Community Counselling (WCC) have arranged 6 more walking tours for refugees living, working or studying in Waterloo and South Bank
When: Wednesday 7th May, 10:30am to 2pm
Where: Meet at the WCC office, Barley Mow Clinic, Greet House, Frazier Street, London SE1 7BD
What’s on offer: 2.5 hour outing with professional tour guide, lunch & travel included
Sign up today:
Email: info@waterloocc.co.uk
Call: 02079283462
Lambeth Council supporting VE Day street parties
Lambeth Council is encouraging residents to hold street parties to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan Day this year.
Find out more here.
VE Day will be marked on Thursday 8 May this year and Victory over Japan Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, will be marked on Friday 15 August.
The deadline for VE day celebration road closures is Saturday 30 March and 22 June for VJ day street parties.
Courses
Fire Safety Awareness for people who are hard of hearing
If you're hard of hearing, head to West Norwood Fire Station, 210 Knights Hill, SE27 0QA on Thursday 3rd April from 12pm for advice on how to stay safe in the home and about the different hard of hearing smoke alarms available.
Introduction to Stress Management
High Trees Community Development Trust are offering a free two-day course on Stress Management on 9 and 16 April, 10am to 1pm. Visit the website for more information.