What’s on

Free: walks, talks, comedy in London Bridge

Come along to the Medi-Culture Festival in London Bridge from 21 to 25 March. The line up includes Victorian surgery demos at the world’s oldest surviving operating theatre, medical stand-up and poetry from John Hegley.

>> Get tickets for the celebration of health and wellbeing in SE1

Free: get household items fixed and learn new skills

You can get household items repaired, get your bike fixed or serviced, watch food waste cooking demonstrations and more at our Southwark Climate Day event in Elephant and Castle on Saturday 11 March. The High Commissioner for Fiji is one of our inspiring speakers too and you can debate big issues with experts.

>> Reserve your place at the 11 March Southwark Climate Day event

Take a walk in Sydenham Hill Wood

Did you know there are woods in Southwark featuring the ruins of a monastery, wood sculptures, and an old railway path that winds its way through the trees? Sydenham Hill Wood, in SE26, has all this and more.

>> Read more about Sydenham Hill Wood

Mingle with eccentric Victorian characters in an immersive show

Enter the world’s first Victorian testing and experimenting works on London’s Bankside (SE1) for a surreal performance: ‘Facts not Opinions’: Stretched to the limit. From 30 March to 1 April. Tickets are £5 for Southwark residents.

>> Book now for an immersive and surreal performance in SE1

Find a bargain at Peckham Salvage Yard

Hunt for vintage and antique gems at Peckham Salvage yard on Copeland Road on Sunday 12 March (£1 entry), near Peckham’s array of shops, cafés and bars.

>> Find unique antique items in Peckham on 12 March 

Your health updates

Get help to lose weight: free virtual Weight Watchers support

If you’re 18 or over you may be eligible for 12 weeks’ free weight loss support. This includes virtual coaching and discounted gym membership. You’ll need to be a resident or be registered with a Southwark GP. Places are limited, apply today!

>> Find out about free Weight Watchers support

Cancer: know how to protect yourself

Reduce your risk of some cancers by moving more, eating well, being a healthy weight, cutting back on alcohol and quitting smoking. Cancer screening can help detect cancer early and can sometimes prevent cancer developing.

>> Find out more about reducing your risk, and cancer screening

Last chance to get your free flu vaccine

The flu vaccine is offered every year through the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu. Flu vaccines are available until 31 March.

Help protect your child’s health, now and for future

The best way to help protect your child against severe illness from polio, flu, measles, mumps, rubella and other childhood diseases is to get them up to date with their routine vaccinations.

Cold weather: look out for those who might need a hand

Not everyone can cope in the cold. Look out for friends, family or neighbours who might need a hand.

>> Find out how to stay well in winter

Get your NHS Health Check booked if you’re 40 to 74

The free check can help spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia. You should get invited by your GP every five years. If not, you can contact your GP surgery to book one.

>> Find out more about NHS Health Checks if you’re 40+

More updates

Easter holiday clubs for 4 to 16s: book now

If your child gets benefits-related free school meals they can join one of many summer of Food and Fun holiday clubs in Southwark. The clubs run fun activities and healthy and free food will be available.

>> Find out how to sign up for a free holiday club from 3 to 6 April

Use a warm space in Southwark

As the cost of living and heating our homes increases, we’ve opened over 40 warm spaces across the borough. In these spaces you can keep warm, have a cup of tea or take part in an activity. Some spaces also offer food and cost of living advice too.

>> Find your local warm space

Join a free event and find out about our work to tackle racial injustice

We are hosting a week of events, from 20 March, as part of our Southwark Stands Together work (that aims to tackle the injustice and racism experienced by Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities). We have events focused on the arts, health inequalities, businesses and more in our offices near London Bridge.

>> Register for a free Southwark Stands Together event

You now need photo ID to vote at a polling station

From May 2023 you will need to show photo ID to vote in a polling station. Elections are not scheduled in Southwark until May 2024 but they could be called at any time. If you don’t have photo ID you can apply for a free voter ID document.

>> Check if you have the right ID and apply for a voter ID document if you need to

Building works reach the roof level at new development in Bermondsey

Our new development will provide 24 new homes, three retail spaces, garden areas and a roof garden in a five-storey building in SE1.

>> Read more about our new development in Bermondsey

£50k available for projects in Elephant and Castle

Community groups working with people in Elephant and Castle can now apply for grants from a £50k fund. The fund is aimed at projects that promote health and wellbeing, help young people, provide training, or that help with the cost of living and sustainability.

>> Apply to the Inspiring Elephant Community Fund by 21 March

Get your university tuition fees paid

If you’re aged under 25, and meet other criteria, you can apply to our Southwark Scholarship scheme. The scholarship award covers the full cost of tuition fees for your undergraduate university course.

>> Apply for the Southwark Scholarship scheme by 7 May

Cost of living help

1. Come to a cost-of-living advice session in SE1

You can get advice from Citizens Advice Southwark, us and Jobcentre Plus on energy bills, welfare support, benefit payments, rent and Council Tax arrears, and more. Drop in anytime between 10am and 1pm on 30 March: Hankey Hall (Tabard Community Hall), 3 Hankey Place, SE1 4LR.

2. Don’t forget: redeem your £66/£67 vouchers if you have a pre-payment meter

If you have a pre-payment meter for energy bills, you should be getting help through the government’s support scheme. Most people get six vouchers (​via text, email or post) worth £66 or £67 each. Don’t forget to redeem them at your usual top-up point, the vouchers expire after 90 days.

>> Help with your energy bills if you have a prepayment meter

3. Get your energy bills discount (if you don’t get it automatically)

If you haven’t got the £400 discount on your energy bills automatically, for example if you live in a park home or houseboat, you can now apply to get it. If you’re eligible we will arrange a one-off payment (which might take at least six weeks). You don’t have to pay it back.

>> Apply for energy bills support if you don’t get it automatically

You could be eligible for the scheme if you’re aged:

• 18 or over and are pregnant, or have children under four years old and you get certain benefits

• Under 18, pregnant and don’t get benefits.

>> Apply for the healthy food and milk scheme for your child

>> Help if you can’t afford food

More cost of living help

>> See all our cost of living support and advice

Council tenants: view your rent account online

If you’re a council tenant and you sign up for a MySouthwark account you can check your rent balance, view the charges that make up your rent and pay online. You can also switch to paperless rent statements and help us reduce our carbon footprint.

>> Sign up for a MySouthwark account now

Half-term fun for children!

The tiger who came to the library (13 to 17 February)

A big stripy friend will visit libraries over half term. We’ll be reading The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr and making our own fancy cups and saucers. No need to book, but entry on a first-come, first-served basis (suitable for ages two to six).

>> Check when the tiger is visiting your local library

Free family fun with fabrics at Tate Modern

UNIQLO Tate Play is Tate Modern’s new free programme of art, activities and play for families of all ages. During half-term (from 11 to 19 February) you can join in knitting and weaving to create a big cylinder-shaped textile artwork.

>> Head to Tate Modern (SE1) to have fun with fabric and threads

Nature detectives in East Dulwich

A free two-day course (13 and 14 February) for children and their adult parent or carer. Investigate tracks in the garden, make your own track cast. and set up a camera, footprint and moth trap. Free, but £3 deposit. The same adult must attend both days.

>> Sign up for the nature detective course on 13 and 14 February

Kids go free: See The Wizard of Oz in Rotherhithe

Four children can go free with a paying adult (£20 plus booking fee) to see performances of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in February at the Hithe Theatre in Rotherhithe, SE16. It’s a family show, suitable for all ages.

>> Book tickets to see The Wizard of Oz

See more children’s events in our events diary

What’s on

Houseplants and ceramics market in Peckham

Choose from a huge range of unique planters and vases and match them with a top-notch selection of houseplants to create your perfect plant and pot coupling. 11am to 5pm, 19 February (£1 entry).

>> Head to Peckham for a houseplant and ceramics market

Free bike checks in London Bridge on 21 February

If you cycle into London Bridge and your bike could do with a safety check, drop by Colechurch House from 8.30am to 12.30pm. Experienced bike mechanics will check everything from wheels, brakes, gears, tyre pressure, lights, and more.

>> Free bike safety check in London Bridge on 21 February

Free talk at Camberwell Library: Out loud – a history of LGBTQ+ people and public libraries

In this free talk, on 16 February at 6.30pm at Camberwell Library, librarian Isadore will talk about the history of public libraries as both havens for, and censors of, LGBTQ+ material. Audience members can also share their own experiences if they wish. 

>> Go to a free talk about the history of LGBTQ+ people and libraries

See The Walworth Farce in a new theatre in Elephant and Castle (tickets from £16)

A brand new 300-seat theatre, Southwark Playhouse Elephant, has opened in Elephant and Castle. It launches with a production of The Walworth Farce, starring Dan Renton Skinner, best known for his TV comedy character Angelos Epithemiou.  

>> Get tickets for The Walworth Farce (17 February to 18 March)

Learn something new: try an adult learning course

We have adult education courses starting in early March in pottery, sewing, soft furnishing, life drawing, creative writing, and more. Fees apply, but concessions are available.

>> Sign up for an adult learning course

Quick survey: what do you want Southwark to be like in 2030?

Southwark 2030 is your chance to help shape the future of our borough. We want to bring people together, from all parts of our community, to talk about and help decide the place we all want Southwark to be by 2030. There are lots of ways to join in!

>> Please fill in the Southwark 2030 survey (it takes about 10 minutes)

>> Volunteer for a focus group (participants get a £20 voucher)

>> Find out more about Southwark 2030

Cost of living help

1. Come to a cost-of-living advice session in SE16

You can get advice from Citizens’ Advice, the council and JobCentre Plus on energy bills, welfare support, benefit payments, rent and council tax arrears, and more. Drop in anytime between 10am and 1pm on 23 February, at Cherry Gardens TRA Hall, 210 Jamaica Road, SE16 4RT. 

2. Check what benefits you’re entitled to

Answer a few quick questions about your personal circumstances and check you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to.

>> Check you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to

If you’re housebound or have a vulnerable person in your home, we can check you are getting all the welfare benefits you can and help you make a claim.

3. Help if you can’t afford food or can’t access food

Information on food banks and low-cost food pantries, crisis help, help for pregnant women and young children, and more is on our website.

>> Help if you can’t afford food

4. More cost of living help

>> See all our cost of living support and advice

Your health updates

COVID-19 boosters: last chance to get protected

If you’re eligible for a winter booster then you’ve got until 12 February to get your booster. You’re eligible if you’re aged 50 or over, in an at-risk group or pregnant. If you’ve not yet had a 1st or 2nd vaccine, you can still get vaccinated at any time.

>> Book your COVID-19 vaccine

Get medicines or health care advice free from your local pharmacy

You can get professional health care advice, treatments, and medicines for common illnesses from some local pharmacies, without the need for an appointment. If you don’t pay for your prescriptions, any medicine recommended to you will be free.

>> Find out more about free advice from your local pharmacy

More updates

Reserve your free place: Southwark Climate Day

Our Southwark Climate Day event is on 11 March at London Southbank University. Speakers include the High commissioner for Fiji – a nation that’s very vulnerable to the effects of climate change. There will also be practical workshops to help us tackle the climate emergency together.

>> Reserve your free place: Southwark Climate Day event

£50k available for projects in Elephant and Castle

Community groups working with people in Elephant and Castle can now apply for grants from a £50k fund aimed at projects that promote health and wellbeing, help young people, provide training, or that help with the cost of living and sustainability. 

>> Apply to the Inspiring Elephant Community Fund by 21 March

Aged 16 to 25? Get job and training opportunities by email

We send a regular enewsletter with jobs, training, volunteering and other career opportunities for young people. The newsletter details opportunities at Southwark Council as well as across Southwark and London.

>> Get job and training alerts by email (for 16 to 25-year-olds)

Free: inclusive sport and physical activity event

The event is for D/deaf and or disabled and or neurodivergent people, and their families, to try out sports including yoga, cricket, football, seated volleyball, and more. For ages six and over. 19 February at London South Bank University, SE1 6LN.

>> Read more: inclusive sports event on 19 February

Host a street party for the King’s coronation

If you and your neighbours want to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation with neighbours you can apply to hold a community street party or event over the UK bank holiday weekend (6 to 8 May). Apply before 28 February.

>> Apply to host a street party for King Charles III’s coronation

Get a free leisure centre day pass

Get a free day pass to the gym, exercise classes and swimming pool at your local leisure centre in Southwark. (This offer is for new customers only.)

>> Get your free leisure centre day pass now

Landlords: earn money from your property

If you’re a local landlord of one or more properties and are looking to let, we want to work with you. Our schemes include benefits such as guaranteed rent and incentive payments and we don’t charge fees.

>> Landlords: read about our schemes to help you let your property

Have your say: adventure playground in Peckham Rye Park improvements

We’re asking families, young people and children what improvements they would like to see at the Adventure Playground in Peckham Rye Park. Share your views at the playground on 16 February from 2pm or online by 20 February.

>>  Peckham Rye Adventure Playground: have your say

Donate, share or enjoy food from your nearest community fridge

Community Fridges are places for neighbours and local food businesses to stop good, fresh food going to waste. Anyone can give. Anyone can take. We have five fridges running in different community spaces in Southwark, with more on the way.

>> Find your nearest community fridge

>> Get more tips like this in our Greensavers newsletter

We’re urgently looking for foster carers

We are looking for foster carers for children of all ages. Our foster carers get a generous allowance and excellent training and support. We’re looking for foster carers from all our communities but you need to have a spare room.

>> Tell us if you might be interested in fostering

What’s on

Enjoy a winter walk with our walking maps

Our walking maps take you on walks past film locations near London Bridge, hidden symbols in Nunhead cemetery, a Henry Moore sculpture in Kennington and more. Download and print a walking map at home, or print at a library.

>> Choose a local walk to discover

Visit North Cross Road market in East Dulwich

North Cross Road market (open on Fridays and Saturdays) has organic food, fresh coffee, homemade jewellery, vintage clothes and much more. ES Magazine voted it as one of South London’s top 50 destinations!

>> Go to North Cross Road market for food, vintage clothes and more

Kids go free: See Wizard of Oz in Rotherhithe

Four children can go free with a paying adult (£20 + booking fee) to see performances of the the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in February at the Hithe Theatre in Rotherhithe, SE16. It’s a family show, suitable for all ages.

>> Book tickets to see The Wizard of Oz

Join in the Big Garden Birdwatch (27 to 29 January)

Count birds from your balcony, garden or a park this weekend and help the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) monitor the numbers of wild birds in London. Your feedback will help the RSPB spot any species that may be in danger.

>> Sign up for the Big Garden Birdwatch

Free: photography exhibition at Southwark Cathedral

The outdoor exhibition in SE1 features over 60 images from London to Antarctica and includes landscapes showing land and sea, rural and urban, big scenes and intimate insights, colour and mono.

>> Head to Southwark Cathedral for a photography exhibition

Curve catwalk, dancehall, yoga, Brazilian dance fit and more: book now

Mountview drama school in SE15 offers classes Monday to Thursday, starting at 6pm. Prices start at £6.50 an hour if you’re a Southwark resident.

>> Sign up for adult evening classes for your mind, body and soul

Walk, jog or run a parkrun

Parkrun is free weekly timed 5k run. You can walk, job, run, volunteer or just watch, it’s up to you! There are parkruns in four parks in Southwark, every Saturday morning at 9am.

>> Find a parkrun near you

See more events in our events diary

Quick survey: what do you want Southwark to be like in 2030?

Southwark 2030 is your chance to help shape the future of our borough. We want to bring people together, from all parts of our community, to talk about and help decide the place we all want Southwark to be by 2030. There are lots of ways to join in!

>> Please fill in the Southwark 2030 survey (it takes about 10 minutes)

>> Volunteer for a focus group (participants get a £20 voucher)

>> Find out more about Southwark 2030

Cost of living help this winter

1. Warm spaces in Southwark over winter

As the cost of living and heating our homes increases, we’ve opened over 40 warm spaces across the borough. In these spaces you can keep warm, have a cup of tea or take part in an activity. Some spaces also offer food and cost of living advice too.

>> Drop into your local warm space

2. Help if you can’t afford food or can’t access food

Information on food banks and low-cost food pantries, crisis help, help for pregnant women and young children, and more is on our website.

>> Help if you can’t afford food

3. More cost of living help

>> See all our cost of living support and advice

Job vacancies at Southwark Council

We have a number of vacancies at the moment, including roles in our climate change, culture, technology and HR teams. Join us!

>> Apply for a job at Southwark Council

Aged 16 to 25? Get job and training opportunities by email

We send a regular enewsletter with jobs, training, volunteering and other career opportunities for young people. The newsletter details opportunities at Southwark Council as well as across Southwark and London.

>> Get jobs and training opportunities for young people by email

Get a free leisure centre day pass

Get a free day pass to the gym, exercise classes and swimming pool at your local leisure centre in Southwark. (This offer is for new customers only.)

>> Get your free leisure centre day pass now

Have your say: improvements to local travel and transport

We want transport to work for everyone in Southwark. We want to encourage the use of zero-pollution vehicles and give people better options so they can leave the car at home. As part of this you can give your views on our sustainable transport strategy.

>> Tell us how we can improve travel around the borough

Tips to store food smartly

Reduce waste and save money by storing your food smartly. Keeping your apples in the fridge could mean giving them an extra month! There is simple advice for nearly every type of food.

>> See how to store your food to make it last longer

>> Get more tips like this in our Greensavers newsletter

Landlords: earn money from your property

If you’re a local landlord of one or more properties and are looking to let, we want to work with you. Our schemes include benefits such as guaranteed rent and incentive payments and we don’t charge fees.

>> Landlords: read about our schemes to help you let your property

Local shops stock more products that are healthy after pilot

35 local shops recently joined a pilot, that we supported, to stock more healthy food products. The stores now sell 22% more products that are lower in salt, sugar and fat.

>> Read our news story about shops stocking more healthy food

Your health updates

Help end cervical cancer

All women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 should go for regular cervical screening. You’ll get a letter inviting you to make an appointment.

>> Find out how cervical cancer screening can prevent cancer

Children who are 12 to 13 years old will be invited to have a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination through their school. HPV can cause several types of cancer, including most cervical cancers.

>> Find out more: HPV vaccination for boys and girls aged 12 and 13

Cold weather: look out for those who might need a hand

Not everyone can cope in the cold. Look out for friends, family or neighbours who might need a hand.

>> Find out how to stay well in winter

Stay well this winter: get you flu and COVID-19 booster

Flu and COVID-19 can both cause serious illness. Getting vaccinated, if you’re eligible, is the best way to protect yourself and others.

>> Find out who can get free flu and COVID-19 boosters

Reduce your risk of falls: join a free strength and balance class

If you are worried about falling then sign up for a free one-hour exercise classes to improve strength, balance and confidence when walking.

>> Find your nearest NHS strength and balance classes

Been invited for an NHS lung health check? Book now

If you’re aged 55 to 74 and registered as current or former smoker with your GP you may be invited for a lung health check. The check can uncover problems early on, when they are more treatable. This pilot scheme closes at the end of January.

>> Last chance to book your lung health check