We’re looking forward to a busy New Year
Well, here we are in 2025 – I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing break over Christmas and the New Year.
I’ll start with a quick reminder for anyone who still needs to dispose of their real Christmas trees – as long as it’s no larger than six feet tall and all the decorations as well as the pot or stand have been removed, we’ll collect it for you. Find all the details you need on our website.
I was delighted that several local heroes were recognised for their outstanding contributions to the Waltham Forest community and beyond. These are Stephen Barnabis, founder of anti-knife crime campaign and youth group Project Zero WF; driving instructor Sanjib Bhattacharjee; Chair of NHS North London Marie Gabriel; and Norman Philip Coe of local aid organisation Christian Kitchen.
In more good news for the New Year, Walthamstow residents will be pleased to hear that the Patchworks development on the former Homebase site on Forest Road has been resumed by Countryside Partnerships with work due to start again later this month. When complete, it will provide 583 new homes for local households across a range of tenures.
Due to money received through housing development partnerships like Patchworks - via the Community Infrastructure Levy - I am also pleased to announce a £250,000 refurbishment of the ever popular and much-loved playground at Lloyd Park. The playground will be closed for works from Monday 13 January until the end of March, with the other play and sports areas to remain open as usual.
Later this year, the new 950-seat Soho Theatre Walthamstow will open. The iconic art deco building has been refurnished and bought back to life as a comedy and theatre venue that will showcase the biggest names in performance alongside the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow.
I am genuinely excited about the new opportunities and challenges that 2025 will bring – there’s a lot for us to look forward to. Our Mission Waltham Forest commitments explain what we are doing to make Waltham Forest a great place for everyone to love, work, study, and succeed.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
Please note, if your postcode is IG8, your nearest events will appear under E4. If you live in E7 or E15, check out E11. You can also find online events on our website.
 Kicking off William Morris Gallery’s 75th Anniversary year, January is packed full of activities for Waltham Forest residents of all ages. This month’s events are all inspired by the William Morris & Art from the Islamic World exhibition, now on display at the Gallery and open until March 2025.
 Seven north London boroughs including Waltham Forest, together with North London Waste Authority (NLWA), are preparing a new Joint Waste Strategy based on the views of partners, residents, community groups and local businesses taken during a joint listening exercise in 2023.
Until Thursday 23 January, a public consultation is now open on the draft strategy - setting out a bold vision for waste management, including targets for reducing waste, increasing recycling rates, and climate-friendly means of waste disposal.
 Are you planning to get married in 2025 or beyond?
Our free Wedding Fair at the Town Hall is taking place on Sunday 26 January from 11.30 to 3.30pm - a perfect opportunity to meet suppliers, chat with registrars, and find out more about getting married at venues across Waltham Forest.
Last month our new registrars booking system went live and tomorrow, Friday January 10, services for weddings, civil partnerships as well as citizenship ceremonies will be available.
Did you know you can get married at Lea Bridge and Walthamstow Libraries?
Lea Bridge Library could be your dream venue for an intimate wedding. With a capacity of 20, our stunning Glass Room is light and airy, plus you can access the garden space outside. In the heart of the borough, the space at Walthamstow Library offers history, class and tradition, with up to 100 guests allowed.
 Cold weather looks set to continue over the next week, that's why our gritters have been out all over the borough prioritising the main roads, pavements, cycle routes and parks.
The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) has been activated in Waltham Forest which aims to get people sleeping rough off the streets. If you see someone sleeping rough in the borough, you can connect them with local support services via the Streetlink website or by calling 0300 500 0914. We also have our network of Community Living Rooms across the borough for those looking for a warm, friendly community space.
 Dash Dot Dance offers inclusive dance classes for disabled children and young people in Waltham Forest, part-funded by the Council. Held fortnightly on Monday evenings at the Queen's Road Family Hub, there are Junior Family Classes (ages seven to 11) and Senior Classes (12 to 21) available.
Dash Dot Dance is the only provider of the IRIS syllabus in East London. New classes begin 13 January at a cost of £2.50 per session, free concession spaces available.
Email Artistic Director Vicki at hello@dashdotdance.com to register.
 Designed specifically for local businesses, this two-half-day training at the Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service will equip you with the knowledge and tools to reduce your carbon footprint, cut costs, and enhance your business’ reputation. This training is accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project.
Gain a recognised certification, practical strategies, and the chance to connect with like-minded businesses across two sessions taking place on Tuesday 4 March from 9am to 11.30pm and Tuesday 11 March from 5.30pm to 8pm at Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service, 97 Queens Road, E17 8QR.
 To celebrate this year's Tamil Heritage Month, we're partnering with seven members of the Federation of the Tamil Organisations in Waltham Forest to host three events, all taking place on Saturday 25 January.
From 10.30am to 1.30pm, Walthamstow's Bedford Road Car Park will host the Pongal Festival - a vibrant celebration of Tamil culture, featuring traditional rituals, music, and community fellowship. Also in E17, Frederick Bremer School's Tamil Antiquity Exhibition offers a fascinating journey into Tamil culture and history from 4pm to 6pm. From 5pm to 9pm at the same venue, a wide variety of cultural performances will showcase the traditional and artistic expressions of Tamil heritage.
 Stow Film Lounge is back for 2025! Join them this Friday 10 January for a screening of the The Outrun, starring Saoirse Ronan. Doors open at 7pm.
Rona, fresh out of rehab, returns to the wild Orkney Islands after more than a decade away. As she reconnects with the dramatic landscape where she grew up, memories of her childhood merge with the more recent challenging events that have set her on the path to recovery.
 Kickstart your year with an educational tour of our iconic Waltham Forest Town Hall building. Join qualified guide Joanna Moncrieff on Saturday 18 January, for a tour route which takes items from the History Room, the Council chamber, the basement rooms plus the grounds including the newly created Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden and Henry Moore sculpture.
 If you know a young person that loves cricket and would love to represent Waltham Forest, the Under-13s Girls, Under-13s Boys and Under-15s Girls teams are recruiting. Make sure you look at the London Youth Games cricket trials pre-registration form to sign them up for trials on January 10, 16 and 17.
Young people must either live or go to school in the borough to compete and will aim to represent us at the London Youth Games Cricket qualifiers and competition in March.
To find out more information, email or visit the link below.
Infrastructure Funding Statement
Each year, the Council is legally required to publish an Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS). The IFS is a document that sets out all the developer contributions received during the previous financial year, through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 legal agreements, and the investment we have made in infrastructure using these contributions.
Investment in infrastructure is a direct result of development happening in the borough.
Free mindfulness and dance classes
Mile Rainbow CIC are hosting free workshops in martial arts, mindfulness, and various dance styles - including Korean, Japanese, Chinese, hip hop, contemporary, urban, and Bollywood.
These fun, fitness-focused classes for both children (aged three plus) and adults run every Saturday until March from 10.30am to 11.30am at Walthamstow Library and from 1.30pm to 2.30pm at Leyton Sports Ground.
Primary school applications open
If your child was born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021, you can now apply for them to start reception in September 2025.
On-time applications close on 15 January 2025 at 11.59pm. All applications received after this date won’t be processed until after National Offer Day in April 2025.
Passport to Work
Looking for a job or wanting to boost your career? The Passport to Work programme from Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service can help. Build confidence, gain digital skills, access work experience and explore live job opportunities. Personalised support is provided every step of the way to help you succeed.
There are upcoming sessions on Monday 13 January and Monday 24 February. Call 020 8496 2974 to book your place today.
New Curators Project
The New Curators Project is a programme by UCL Special Collections to help open the cultural heritage sector to young adults aged between 18 and 24 who do not have a degree or previous experience in the sector
If you or a young person you know are interested in working in museums, galleries, libraries and archives, there are ten funded places available - at the equivalent of the London Living Wage - with workshops taking place from March to June this year. Applications close at 8pm on Saturday 15 February.
Current council vacancies and other local jobs
We regularly update the vacancies and local jobs listing on our Waltham Forest Jobs website. Explore available job opportunities and apply for roles that suit you.
You can find the latest Waltham Forest Council jobs online on our website, and check out our LinkedIn.
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