 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).
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.
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.
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.
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).
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 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.
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.
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.
 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!
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.
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.
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.
4. More cost of living help
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.
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.
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.
£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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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