Health and leisure
Earn rewards with our six-week Move challenge!
Get rewarded for visiting our leisure centres, tennis courts, outdoor gyms and for travelling sustainably. Download the BetterPoints app now.
Free five-minute health check at a local library or leisure centre
You can check your height, weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, heart rate and more at free health check kiosks. Find them at Dulwich, Brandon, Camberwell, and Canada Water libraries, and at also at The Castle Leisure Centre, SE1 and Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre.
Want to feel inspired to move more in 2024?
Hear why our Southwark Leisure members love moving in your local leisure centre.
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 expert coaching, and discounted gym membership. You'll need to have a certain body mass index (BMI), and be a resident or be registered with a Southwark GP to apply. Places are limited, so apply today!
Top tips for getting started at the gym
If you're new to the gym or need some motivation check out our top tips to get started.
Get money off dancing classes this month
The Central School of Ballet in SE1 is offering discounted dance classes including ballet, contemporary, contemporary African and Jazz for Southwark residents. Classes are on weekday evenings and weekends and are for all ages and abilities.
Get cancer prevention advice, Saturday 3 February in Peckham Square, SE15
Find out about cancer screening and try our myth busting game. Plus get a free blood pressure and heathy weight check, advice on vaccines, diabetes, smoking, alcohol, mental health and a free hot drink and snack.
Free stop smoking seminar with Allen Carr’s Easyway
50 million people worldwide have stopped smoking through this six-hour seminar. If you want to stop smoking or vaping and are 18+, live or work in Southwark, or registered to a Southwark GP, book today (places are limited).
Help to stay warm this winter
Drop into a library or children's centre to keep warm
As the cost of heating our homes increases, we're offering a number of warm spaces across the borough this winter. Drop into a local library or if you're a parent or carer of a pre-school child you can register with your local Children and Family Centre to attend baby and toddler sessions.
Get more from your heating for less
By following a few of our simple tips, you can reduce the cost of keeping your home warm. These tips also help to reduce your carbon footprint.
Borrow tools to fix draughts in your home
Head to The Library of Things at Canada Water to borrow tools which you can use to keep your home warm and dry this winter. This includes things that can help you identify draughts, as well as tools to help you fix them.
News
74 new council homes completed in Peckham
Last month we welcomed residents to our new council homes in Peckham. The development is made up of 74 council homes, eight of which are specialised wheelchair adapted properties, and 35 shared ownership homes.
Thousands more free school meals for children at secondary school
We recently celebrated a decade of free healthy school meals for all primary children in Southwark. This school year, we extended them to more families on low incomes who have children in secondary school and are doing the same next school year thanks to funding from the Mayor of London.
South Dock Marina gets set for health and safety upgrade
South Dock Marina is to get a £6 million upgrade to deliver crucial health and safety improvements. The work will start in late 2024, pending planning permission.
We've opened a new library on the Aylesbury Estate, SE17
We've proudly opened the doors to Una Marson Library, named after the treasured Southwark heroine hailed for her contributions to the literary world and as the first Black woman programme maker at the BBC.
Cost of living help
Check what benefits you're entitled to
Answer a few quick questions about your personal circumstances and check you're getting all the benefits and other financial support you're eligible for.
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.
Are you struggling with debt?
If you're worried about debts, rent payments, mortgage arrears or paying your utility bills there are services that can offer help and advice for your financial concerns.
Pensioners can get help to cope with rising costs
Pension Credit is extra money for older people who get a State Retirement Pension. If you apply and you're eligible, some of the support you could get includes cost of living payments, £150 Warm Home Discount and free dental treatment and sight tests.
Get over £1,000 in total to buy healthy food and milk for your child
You could be eligible for the Healthy Start 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
Getting Healthy Start won't affect your benefits.
Could you foster a child in 2024?
We're urgently looking for foster carers for children of all ages. Our foster carers get a generous allowance and excellent training. We’re looking for foster carers from all our communities, but you need to have a spare room.
If you're thinking about fostering, please get in touch so we can talk to you.
More updates
Consultation: new pensioners' centre on Camberwell Road
We're creating a new pensioners' centre with activity rooms for exercise, arts and crafts, films and talks, consultation and advisory rooms, a kitchen and garden space and much more. And we want your views and ideas too.
Volunteer to join our team of digital champions
Support local people to improve their digital skills and access services. You don’t need to be a digital expert, but should have a good understanding of digital devices like phones and computers, and be keen to help others. You will get free training.
Get a reusable nappy trial pack
Did you know reusable nappies can lower your household waste by nearly half? We are offering a free reusable nappy trial pack to all residents with children aged three and younger. Want to make the switch?
Survey: women's and girls' safety in Southwark
We want to learn about women’s experiences in the borough and understand how safe women feel living, working, going to school and travelling in Southwark. Please complete the confidential survey to help improve women's safety in Southwark.
Last chance to get a COVID-19 or flu vaccine
If you're eligible for a flu or COVID-19 vaccine you can still get vaccinated until 31 January. Several local pharmacies and Francis House at Guy's Hospital are offering vaccines (you might need to book for some locations).
Take part in our school admissions consultation 2025 to 2026
The school admissions consultation includes proposed reductions in the admission numbers at Grange Primary School and Bessemer Grange Primary School for September 2025 intake onwards.
Health and wellbeing advice at a local roadshows
Look out for our health and wellbeing van visiting events near you. You'll be able to get a range of advice at all the free events including:
- preventing and managing diabetes
- local cancer screening
- blood pressure and weight checks
- what your local leisure centre can offer you
Get ready for elections next year
GLA elections are taking place in May 2024, and there is a potential general election too. New rules brought in by the UK Government mean that now is the time to make sure you are registered to vote, and check you have the right voter ID or apply for a postal or proxy vote if you aren’t able to vote in person.
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