It's exciting to see the iconic theatre being restored to its former glory
I'm happy to say that work on the new Soho Theatre Walthamstow (formerly Granada EMD) in Hoe Street is progressing well.
The 970-seat entertainment venue and cultural hub is on course to be completed next year and Soho Theatre, who will operate the venue, will be announcing the opening programme early in 2023.
This won’t just be about famous entertainers coming to the borough, but also about giving local budding stars a venue to be inspired by, and perform in.
We will also be putting together a special programme of events and opportunities to reconnect with or discover the venue ahead of the opening extravaganza. You can get a sneak peek of the building work below, and find out more about what's planned for the venue on our website.
This past week I, like many of you, have been horrified to see the devastating scenes in Pakistan.
Over a third of the country is under water following the heaviest rainfall in a decade, with millions affected and more than a thousand people losing their lives.
My thoughts go out to many of you with friends and family who have been affected. Please do support the efforts to help this humanitarian catastrophe. If you have the means, you can donate here.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Top comics, pantos and more will soon be appearing at Soho Theatre Walthamstow
Friday 2 to Thursday 8 September 2022
Discover more free events on our website
The construction project on the iconic Grade II* listed former EMD/Granada cinema is at an exciting point. The much loved building in Hoe Street is being transformed into the 950-seat Soho Theatre Walthamstow, with walls being erected, new roofs installed, backstage rooms built, ceiling ornaments decorated and a maze of ladders and scaffolding throughout.
Whet your appetite for the 2023 reopening by watching this video of our recent tour of the site.
Our Environmental Health team has been out in Walthamstow High Street talking to residents about the borough's Healthier Catering Commitment (HCC) – a voluntary scheme to reduce saturated fat, salt and sugar in food sold in cafes, restaurants and takeaways.
With 38 per cent of London’s children overweight or obese, the programme helps businesses make small changes that result in a big difference to their customers' health.
Look out for the HCC logo in participating businesses throughout Waltham Forest.
Head to the Pastures Centre in Davies Lane, Leytonstone, for free cycle maintenance sessions in September, October and November.
Learn skills including how to look after your breaks or replace inner tubes, from Tuesday 6 September.
Dialled In festival is returning to the borough with an all-day, multi-venue showcase of 100 per cent South Asian art and culture. It features five stages, each with its own distinctive flavour, including a space for attendees to relax and have a break from the high-energy music sets, plus poetry performances, dance workshops, chess matches and more.
Dialled In takes place at Uplands Business Park, Walthamstow from midday, Saturday 10 September. Festival tickets cost from £39.27.
Leytonstone Festival returns this year from Saturday 3 to Sunday 11 September. You'll find fun and entertainment for all ages, with live music from popular local musicians, drama, and poetry. Come along to the Festival Opening Event on Saturday 3 September 12-4pm, St Johns Church High Road, Leytonstone.
A young resident in North Chingford
Is your child back to school soon? Make sure they are up to date with their Covid-19 vaccinations. The vaccine is an important step to protect your child against the virus in school and at home.
Visit our website for walk-in clinics for everyone aged 5 and over. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Visit the William Morris Gallery for a special curator-led tour of some of Morris's most famous designs, exploring how his innovative work shaped 20th century trends and continues to inspire today. There are free drop-in events on 20, 21 and 22 September, from 12 noon to 12.40pm. The tours are part of 2022's William Morris Design Line, a community-focused design route through the streets of Walthamstow, from Wood Street to Blackhorse Lane via the WMG in Forest Road.
And why not take in Althea McNish: Colour is Mine while you're visiting the gallery? The free exhibition finishes on 11 September so you'll need to be quick!
Cllr Alistair Strathern, Lead member for Children and Young People, poses with the winners of our art competition
Children’s Art Week tthis year and celebrated stories through art. We had lots of entries from Early Years settings and schools across the borough, with each child creating artwork based on one of their favourite books.
Our vision is to make Waltham Forest a National Borough of Storytelling. As part of the first phase of this, over 200 storytelling activities are taking place over the summer.
See the fantastic winning entries from our talented young people.
The seasons are changing – high time to refresh your wardrobe.
This weekend’s Fashion Market at Fellowship Square hosts 23 local fashion makers and vendors, selling clothing and accessories to keep you looking fresh and feeling cosy. A family-friendly disco will entertain kids, courtesy of local DJs We Can Be Heroes, and food stalls provide the necessary sustenance for your vintage deep dive. And your money’s going straight towards supporting Waltham Forest creators, so you can shop with local pride. It takes place this on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September, from 11am to 5pm.
Image: © Rendezvous Projects CIC
To celebrate the last weeks of the acclaimed Sweet Harmony: Radio, Rave and Waltham Forest, 1989-1994 exhibition at Vestry House Museum, Rendezvous Projects has teamed up with local record label Mais Um to host a record fair on Saturday 10 September from 10.30am to 4.30pm (free entry.) It features independent record labels, record dealers and record shops based in Waltham Forest for a celebration of the borough's contemporary underground music scene.
Spaces are filling up fast for this year's Open House festival tours of Waltham Forest Town Hall. Find out about the history of the Grade II listed building, originally designed by Philip Hepworth. Read more about the history of the building and check if there are still spaces available for the guided tours here.
And thanks to everyone who came along to last weekend's Culture Fest, celebrating culture and creativity in our borough and showing how the Town Hall and Fellowship Square are very much part of the community in Waltham Forest today.
Dancers young and old at Culture Fest
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Weekly Early Help community drop-In sessions
Our friendly team are here to listen, provide information about local services, help you access online services and more. Weekly sessions run from 9.45am to 11.15am at:
Leyton Children and Family Centre Hub (Tuesday).
Chingford Children and Family Centre Hub (Wednesday).
Walthamstow Children and Family Centre Hub (Thursday).
Leytonstone Children and Family Centre Hub (Friday).
Interested in joining as a volunteer? Apply now.
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Anti-fraud team recognised
Congratulations to our Counter Fraud Team, part of a shared Internal Audit and Anti-Fraud service with Enfield Council, who have been nominated as a finalist for the Outstanding Fraud Detection and Recovery gong at the 2022 Public Finance Awards. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 29 November. Good luck everyone!
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Private sector tenants advice sessions
The Private Sector Housing and Licensing Team are holding drop-in sessions every Friday morning between 9am and 12.30pm at Wood Street Library, Walthamstow.
The aim of the session is to provide tenants and residents with the opportunity to speak with a member of the team face-to-face about any issues they are experiencing associated with a private rented property including someone’s rights as a tenant and the responsibilities of landlords.
The team can still be contacted 9am to 5pm via our duty line 020 8496 4949 or email propertylicensing@walthamforest.gov.uk.
NHS jobs pathway for Waltham Forest residents
Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service is partnering with Barts Health to offer you an opportunity to start a career within the National Health Service (NHS).
After completing the course, you will be registered on the Barts Health talent pool allowing you to apply for ringfenced job opportunities. You will also be offered the chance to take part in a 6 week work placement at one of Barts' health centres.
The NHS Jobs Pathway is only available to residents living in Waltham Forest who are aged 19 or over, are unemployed or economically inactive, have digital skills and a good standard of English and Maths.
Current council vacancies and other local jobs
We regularly update the vacancies and local jobs listing on our Adult Learning website. Explore available job opportunities and apply for roles that suit you.
And you can find the latest Waltham Forest Council jobs online on our website or LinkedIn.
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