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Hello and a very happy New Year to all our Southwark residents.
January is the time of year when some of us make the decision to change things in order to get healthier and happier – whether that is to stop smoking, exercise more, cut down on unhealthy food or simply spend more time with family and friends.
Whatever you would like to change – and for however long it lasts – Southwark Council and our partners across the borough will be there to support you.
Certainly, now is the time to make good on that promise to get moving at your local council leisure centre. We’ve recently invested £2million into our leisure centres and towards the end of 2024, six of our leisure centres had a makeover with upgraded gyms, new equipment and improved spaces.
We’ve also invested in our parks and open spaces, so even if you prefer to exercise outside we have some fantastic spaces where you can walk or run, or even use our outdoor gym equipment in the fresh air.
Our public health team also offers a wide range of services, many of them free, to support people who want to have a healthier lifestyle. We can help you lose weight, stop smoking or just keep an eye on your general health with our health checks.
You can see the full range of public health services and advice on our health and well being pages.
Cllr Kieron Williams
Leader of Southwark Council
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 Our new BOX12 fitness
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The Castle Leisure Centre, Southwark Park Sports and Athletics Centre, Camberwell Leisure Centre, Surrey Docks Fitness and Watersports Centre, Peckham Pulse, and Dulwich Leisure Centre have all been transformed as part of our £2million leisure centre upgrade.
As part of the improvements, gyms now feature:
- State-of-the-art equipment with virtual workout capabilities
- Dedicated workout zones for cardio, weights, and functional fitness
- More functional fitness space for lifting, stretching, and conditioning
The makeovers also include our exciting new BOX 12 fitness experiences at Camberwell, Dulwich, Peckham and The Castle. This cutting-edge training not only sets our gyms apart but is also getting attention from residents of all ages.
To make things even easier, you can join our leisure centres today and get the rest of the month for free by using code MOVEJAN at checkout or in-centre. The earlier you join, the more you save.
We are also very excited about the opening of the Canada Water Leisure Centre in a few months. This new, state-of-the-art facility will include our largest swimming pool, modern exercise studios and sports courts.
For more information and to book a session, please visit our Move Southwark website or to get our experts’ top tips on starting your new year’s fitness resolutions, and staying motivated, visit Join the Movement.
And don’t forget, Southwark residents can make the most of our free swim and gym offer during specified hours from Friday to Sunday.
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Support for your New Year resolutions |
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 Kids' swimming lessons
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Learn to swim in a safe, supportive community with lots of fun and splash along the way! Enrol your child today onto our Southwark Splash Swim School programme and they’ll learn vital water safety as well as swimming.
If you’re a Southwark resident aged 16 or over and a non-swimmer, you can get free swimming lessons. Learn a new life skill for 2025.
And...
It’s one of the best decisions you can make for your mental and physical health, and for your finances.
If you're 18 or over and live in Southwark or are registered at a Southwark GP, you can get free support to quit.
Healthcare services in south-east London are critically short of blood. As a result the NHS urgently needs blood donors in London, in particular O positive and O negative.
Our Wellbeing and life skills spring term 2025 programme is now open. Courses are available to improve your wellbeing, bring out your creative talents or enhance your personal and professional development.
Our courses are now mainly onsite at the Thomas Calton Centre, Alpha Street, SE15 4NX, with a small proportion of courses available online.
Alternatively, you can visit the Thomas Calton Centre from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
You can rent top quality cleaning products from Library of Things at Canada Water. This includes carpet cleaners, wet and dry vacuums, pressure washers and steamers.
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Warm spaces are free, warm and welcoming spaces in Southwark. Some also offer cost of living advice, free hot drinks and food.
There is lots of support available if you’re struggling at the moment. Whether you’re worried about finances, getting food onto the table, or need a warm space to spend time in to save money on heating – we are here to help.
The Severe Weather Emergency Plan (SWEP) has already been activated in London this year as temperatures drop. SWEP supports people who are sleeping rough and helps gets them somewhere warm and safe to stay during dangerous weather conditions.
If you are concerned about a person sleeping rough please let us know where we can find them by completing the form on our website.
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Over 9,000 residents told us they want more trees and green space, more accessible pavements, less traffic, better lighting, and pedestrian crossings. Our new Streets for People plan, agreed this week, sets out how we will transform streets and communities.
Here in Southwark, 46 per cent of female residents feel unsafe after dark.
We’d like to hear the experiences of women and girls to understand how you feel about living, working and travelling in our borough.
Please take a few minutes to fill in our Women’s and Girls’ Safety Survey and help us work towards a Safer Southwark.
We have lots of useful information to help you make the right choice - remember to apply by 15 January, 2025.
We’ll collect and recycle your real Christmas tree for free! Remove all decorations and the pot or stand and recycle it by:
- putting your tree with your garden waste containers on collection day
- requesting a free collection if you do not have a garden waste collection
- taking it to our Reuse and Recycling Centre on Devon Street (SE15)
- leaving it outside your block at the kerbside if you live in a flat (not in with your communal bins)
Planning your wedding just got easier with the launch of Perfect Day Southwark, a new website highlighting venues ranging from elegant civic buildings to hidden gems within local parks. From historic halls to modern spaces, this comprehensive website is designed to help couples find their dream venue right here in Southwark.
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