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Fair pay for a hard day’s work

Everyone deserves fair pay for a hard day’s work. That’s why we’ve always supported the Living Wage in Southwark.

This Living Wage Week we celebrate all 452 Living Wage Employers in our borough – 200 more than just three years ago - putting more pay in workers’ pockets every day.

Thanks to these employers, over 7,100 of the workers in those organisations have benefitted from pay rises, helping them deal with the challenges we all face with the costs of living in London.

Many different organisations are taking part - our newest Living Wage employers range from Aylesbury Wine Bar to the NHS South East London Integrated Care Board.

By seeing employers of all kinds paying the London Living Wage, we can ensure that everyone putting in a shift in Southwark is seeing the fruits of their labour.

We encourage anyone running a business to become accredited for the London Living Wage. As well as helping staff with the cost of living, employers report benefits including staff retention and better productivity.

You can apply to become a new London Living Wage employer and Southwark businesses with 250 employees or less can apply for a grant to cover accreditation fees.

Thanks again to all who pay the London Living Wage in Southwark – you make a real difference.

Cllr Sarah King

Leader of Southwark Council

Health news

>> Men's health event 24 November, Walworth Town Hall

Come along from 11am to 2pm and get advice on AAA checks, mental health, bowel, testicular and prostate cancer. Everyone's welcome. You can also get a free mini health checks and grab a hot drink.

>> Black men aged 45+: why getting a PSA blood test is important

Black men have a 1 in 4 chance of getting prostate cancer, and 1 in 12 will die from it. In Southwark, you’re encouraged to discuss having a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test with your GP if you have a prostate and:
• you’re Black and are aged 45 and over
• you have a family history of prostate cancer

>> New sexual health service for under 25s in Southwark

The Tessa Jowell Health Centre (SE22) is now running a free, confidential sexual health clinic every Tuesday (3pm to 6.30pm). You can get STI testing, contraception, and friendly sexual health advice.

>> Blood vessel screening at age 64+

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening checks for swelling in the aorta. Anyone assigned male at birth and in their 65th year will get an NHS letter inviting them for screening. Your risk is higher if you:
• smoke
• have high blood pressure
• have a family history of AAA

Cleaner, greener Southwark

>> Borrow a thermal imaging camera to tackle draughts and save energy

You can rent top quality DIY tools from any of our three Library of Things sites. This includes thermal imaging cameras, which can help you identify and tackle draughts in your home which can save you energy and money. You can also rent sanders, drills, staple guns and carpet cleaners. Reserve online and pick up at one of our sites (Canada Water, East Dulwich, Elephant and Castle).

>> Get free expert advice on energy-saving home improvements

You can get free advice from the Energy Advice Centre, including how to save energy and make green upgrades to your home. Advice is available online or in-person.

>> Sign up to be the first to find out about our next green investment 

Southwark Green Investment is your chance to earn money, and speed up green projects in the borough (like this one on the Kirby Estate). We’re getting ready for our next investment opportunity in December – so if you missed out last time, sign up now to get notified via email.

>> Book a bulky waste collection

We’re supporting Keep Britain Tidy’s campaign to check who you pay to take your rubbish away. If you’re arranging for large items to be collected, remember to ask for a waste carrier registration number, which you can check on the Environment Agency’s public register. Using an unlicensed operator can mean you’re inadvertently supporting a criminal operation, and might end up with you receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice if your items are then fly-tipped.

Remember that you can book bulky waste collection on our website, and that you can report any fly-tipping you see in Southwark for our team to investigate and clear up.

>> Drop unwanted items and swap for things you need - Saturday 22 November

Join us for a one-day Mobile Recycling Centre event at Rockingham Estate, Falmouth Rd, SE1 6QP from 10am to 1pm on Saturday 22 November. You will be able to swap your unwanted items and swap for other items such as toys, books, electricals and household items.

>> Find a community garden near you

We were delighted to be included in the Royal Horticultural Society’s recent ‘Space to Grow’ report into community gardening. The report shows the positive impacts community gardening has on health, community, wellbeing, biodiversity and access to food. We have a dedicated Community Gardening team here at Southwark, and we’re lucky to have many amazing  projects and organisations here in the borough offering opportunities to volunteer and get qualifications, and paid work.

If you want to set up a community gardening or food growing project where you live, you can get in touch with our Community gardening team.

Get involved, dates for your diary and more

>> Become a youth parliament member and be the voice of young people

Stand as a candidate for the Southwark Youth Parliament if you’re aged 14 to 19 (up to 25 years with special needs), live or study in Southwark and want to make a real difference to your neighbourhood. You’ll be able to influence decisions that affect young people and make sure your generation’s voice is heard. Apply by 14 December.

>> Share your thoughts on plans for your town centre

Our town centre action plans are shaped by local voices. If you have ideas on services you'd like to see in your town centre, or any issues you think should be prioritised, please share your views with us.

>> Do you have a spare room and a caring nature?

Shared Lives carers open their homes to support adults with additional needs, offering companionship, stability, and care in a family setting. If you are a caring person with space in your home, this paid role could offer you fulfilment whilst making a difference. You can support someone alongside your current job. Find out more by joining an online webinar on Wednesday 19 November from 12pm to 1pm.

>> Hospital discharge support for unpaid carers in Southwark

If you are an unpaid carer helping someone through hospital discharge at Kings College or Guys & St Thomas' hospitals, support is available for you. This service is delivered by Carers' Hub Lambeth and is available to Southwark and Lambeth residents.

>> Find out about a career in health and care

Are you interested in a rewarding career in health or care? Join our free 5-day Health & Care Career Taster at Southwark College (24th - 28th Nov 2025) and take the first step towards building your future in this growing sector.

Content of the week

Have you ever wished you could spend your days surrounded by books? Jody is one of our Library Officers, and we spent some time with her at the Una Marson Library to hear more about her role.

We’re lucky enough to have 12 fantastic libraries in Southwark, and the Una Marson is our newest. It has a busy programme of events, with something for everyone: from baby and toddler sessions to coding and robotics for kids, with book clubs, craft clubs and adult learning classes for adults. Drop in and say hi to Jody!