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Opportunity Max
We understand that many residents in Waltham Forest - especially those living with disabilities - are anxious about potential upcoming changes to the benefits system, especially as costs related to food, energy and housing continue to outpace the income people are taking home.
Ever since the cost-of-living crisis first started to bite, we have worked to ensure protection for our most vulnerable residents - from our campaign to extend the Household Support Fund, to providing cooking classes for residents living in sheltered housing, to defending our proud record as a Borough of Sanctuary.
You may have also seen the options available to residents in need of Council Tax Support as well as our drive to enrol our estimated 3,300 eligible residents yet to sign up for Pension Credit.
Introducing Opportunity Max, our latest initiative designed to put more money in your pocket, by connecting you to the estimated hundreds of thousands of pounds of unclaimed financial support, as well as helping to break down the barriers to finding the right job for you.
We’ll give you the tools and knowledge to connect to a variety of government support schemes, charities, businesses and other funding sources, helping you achieve and maintain financial stability.
That's why our teams will also work to provide opportunities for upskilling and securing new jobs, based on your existing experience and expertise.
Weekly Community Drop-In sessions are already taking place at Family Hubs and libraries across the borough, where you can speak face-to-face with council staff about your eligibility for benefits, support, and skills training.
It is our job to do everything we can to connect every resident in our borough with the right opportunities. Everyone in Waltham Forest deserves the opportunity to live well and thrive, and we're working together every day to make that a reality.
Grace
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council
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What's happening where you are |
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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.
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 Priority booking for Waltham Forest residents is open now for Neon Nights, Soho Theatre Walthamstow's showcase spectacular featuring some of the most electrifying names on the comedy circuit. £15 tickets are also available exclusively for those who live, work or study in the borough.
American actor and Academy Award nominee John C. Reilly is bringing his vaudeville alter ego, Mister Romantic, to Waltham Forest with a second date just added today, be quick on the £15 tickets available as they will go fast! Also available on the 'Deranged. Hysterical. Confrontational. Unmissable' Kiki & Herb are TRYING.
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We're all going on a summer holiday... |
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 This Summer, Waltham Forest Holiday Activity and Food Programme will run free activities for school-aged children who are in receipt of benefit-related Free School Meals (FSM) from Monday 28 July to Friday 22 August 2025.
The programme offers a fun range of enrichment and sporting activities for children and young people, along with a free daily meal.
Booking is essential for all eligible children on all activities.
This Summer we'll be running a range of free family activities across the borough between 10am to 12.30 pm daily, Monday 28 July to Thursday 21 August 2025.
Children and their families can enjoy a wide range of free sessions offering the chance to try new activities, learn new skills, have fun and make friends.
Family sessions are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. No booking is required.
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 Waltham Forest Council is proud to support GB Carnival and the Waltham Forest Carnival Arts Network as they deliver this spectacular free event at Coronation Gardens, E10, on Sunday 13 July from 12pm to 7pm.
Made extra special this year, as it also marks the official opening of Coronation Square. It has a newly built fountain and is surrounded by 429 new homes with 367 more in progress and a range of retail outlets of local traders.
A wonderful new space for our residents and what a perfect place to start and end the Leyton Más parade – the essence of which, is community at its heart. Come and join us on the day, to celebrate our heritage, the musical performances, festivities and enjoy the carnival party vibes.
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 A new street market is coming to Francis Road, Leyton and will host a variety of produce and street food every Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
The council chose KERB to operate the market due to their success in delivering street food markets in London and abroad. They have also committed to supporting local Waltham Forest businesses through their free coaching programmes.
The market launches on Saturday 5 July at 10am. Come on down and explore the wide range of fresh fruit and veg, meats, cheeses and baked goods on offer.
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 Do you know an individual, community group or organisation in Waltham Forest who inspires you? Do they deserve to be recognised as the Pride of Waltham Forest?
The Pride of Waltham Forest Awards are back for 2025, and we want to hear about the people that make this borough a great place for everyone. There are nine categories to choose from, including Volunteer of the Year, Young Trailblazer, Greener Future and more!
Make sure to get your nomination in before it’s too late, the deadline is 5pm on Friday 11 July.
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 Our Community Walking and Cycling Fund groups have a whole range of activities coming up this summer – helping you to get active and meet others in the borough. We have walking groups from elop for the LGBT+ community, family cycle rides with local group JoyRiders, and sessions for Black women who’d like to cycle with other Black women and learn more about cycle maintenance – and more.
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 University of Portsmouth's Walthamstow campus is hosting a book launch this Friday, 27 June for Stumped, the autobiography of renowned Indian cricket star Syed Kirmani, co-authored by professor Debashish Sengupta. The event is free to attend and open to all, especially local cricket fans and sports enthusiasts.
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 Join Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service on Thursday 10 July, 10am to 2pm at Queens Road Learning Centre, 97 Queens Rd, London E17 8QR, for a Vocational Open Day. Explore a wide range of free and discounted, career-focused courses available throughout the 2025/26 academic year.
Whether you want to upskill, change career, or return to learning, this is a great opportunity to speak with lecturers and get one-to-one advice on the right course for you. Subjects include health and social care, hair and beauty, business, teaching support and more.
If you’re unemployed or on a low income, you could be eligible for free or discounted courses (up to 70 per cent), help with childcare costs, and support to find work after you study. There’s no need to book – just drop in on the day.
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 Residents at George Mason Lodge Care Home were joined by children from Footsteps Nursery this week, who came to meet the adorable ducklings raised with care by the residents themselves.
Cllr Louise Mitchell, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, dropped by to see the fun in action: “It’s really lovely for the residents to be able to nurture and care for these little ducklings, and for the young children to meet them. It’s also an opportunity to meet older people, which they might not have a chance to have at home.”
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 This Pride Month we want to celebrate and encourage more members of our LGBTQ+ community who may be thinking about fostering to take the next step.
There are many misconceptions about fostering for our LGBTQ+ residents, but the reality is fostering is for all types of families.
To find out more, why not call one of our friendly fostering advisors on 020 8496 3437. Or join one of our fostering information sessions. The next one is online on Wednesday 2 July from 11am to 12 noon, register via Eventbrite, or attend our coffee drop-in at Wood Street Library, Lulin’s Café, Wood Street, E17 3HB on Tuesday 8 July, pop in any time between 10.30am and 2pm.
The Fostering Service and an experienced foster carer will also be at Waltham Forest Pride, 2pm to 8pm on Saturday 19 July in Lloyd Park, Walthamstow, E17 4PP.
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The very best of Vestry House |
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 Work has now started at Vestry House Museum to refurbish the historic Grade II listed building and improve access for the community. Cllr Rosalind Doré, Cabinet Member for Libraries, Culture and Sports and Leisure, and Cllr Ahsan Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, visited last week to see the progress.
Our ambition is for Vestry House Museum to be a welcoming destination where you can rest in the cafe and gardens, work in the newly created workspaces, and to discover more about the borough’s history in the refurbished museum space. Read more about the ongoing transformation on site.
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 Come along to North Chingford this Saturday 28 June and Sunday 29 June for a fascinating insight into the history of public transport in Waltham Forest, and enjoy a free trip around North Chingford aboard an original London Routemaster bus.
As part of the North Chingford Heritage Festival, tours will run from Chingford Station and The Hub Community Rooms, Station Approach, London E4 6AL, between 11am and 4pm on both days. The route includes stops at the Epping Forest Visitors Centre and the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge. No booking required.
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 During this period of hot and dry weather, we're reaching out to local people who might want to help us keep local trees healthy and watered. Simply pouring a watering can, washing up bowl or standard bucket of water carefully at the base of a new or mature tree once or twice a week will make a huge difference in helping our trees survive difficult weather conditions.
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 Following on from the council’s restoration of the former Granada Cinema building, you now have the opportunity to step inside Soho Theatre Walthamstow for a behind-the-scenes tour. The tour takes you through the history of the building, from its origins as a 1930s Spanish baroque cine-variety, to a swinging 60s music venue, a much-loved local cinema, and now a brand-new home for Soho Theatre, a local theatre with a national profile.
All thanks to the passionate local campaigners who fought for its future, Waltham Forest Council, and Soho Theatre, who all helped bring it back to life.
There are also £5 tickets available for Waltham Forest residents!
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 Leyton Fire Station is hosting an open day on Saturday 28 June from 11am to 3pm at 90B Church Road, Leyton E10 5HG.
Local firefighters will be there to offer safety advice, talk about their work, and show you around. There will alsobe a fire engine on display for everyone to have a good look at, and may be even get in!
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HOT WEATHER ALERT
A London-wide amber heat health alert is in effect from 12pm Friday 27 June to 6pm on Tuesday 1 July. Get the most out of the warm weather by following our steps to staying safe and cool:
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Check our website for advice on staying well in the heat. There are dozens of great tips on there, which you can use as a checklist to make sure you're doing what you can to stay cool.
- Know the signs of heat stroke. Call 111 for advice if you think someone is unwell, or 999 in an emergency.
- Think about which neighbours, friends or family might be especially vulnerable - people who live alone, the elderly, ill or very young people. Check on them as often as you can.
- Check out the list of cool spaces in the borough, where you can stay for free to keep cool.
- If you see someone sleeping rough, you can message Streetlink to let them know. They will alert local outreach services who will visit them and offer support.
Clearing the air
We recently celebrated Clean Air Day on 19 June by kicking off a summer of cycling and walking for local people. In this video, Cllr Clyde Loakes MBE, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Air Quality talks about our progress in improving air quality in the borough, and the many opportunities residents have to get walking and cycling in Waltham Forest this summer.
A summer to discover
Summer is in full swing in Waltham Forest, and there is plenty to enjoy across the borough. Discover Your Summer is a handy landing page where you will find some highlights, events, activities and what to do across the borough. From enjoying the great outdoors in one of our many parks, leisure and sporting facilities, to annual events such as Leyton Mas Carnival (13 July) and Waltham Forest Pride (19 July).
Safe time and check out this page to get a glimpse of what’s on near you.. There's something for everyone of all ages!
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Opportunities for residents |
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Coppermill Gardening
The Coppermill Gardens Community are looking for volunteers - could you spare a little time to help out around the Coppermill/St James Street area? The rain gardens on the streets cheer up streets, help with drainage to avoid flooding, and increase biodiversity. They are looked after by local volunteers, who are looking for additional help. You don't have to be green-fingered or have any tools, you just need to be willing to get stuck in, and it's up to you how much you'd like to contribute. Tasks include weeding, watering, planting and removing litter - and any help would be hugely appreciated. If you're interested, please email coppermillgardens@gmail.com for more information.
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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