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Culture update
As we celebrate nearly a year since the re-opening of the Grade II* listed former Granada Cinema, we are proud to mark this milestone with the installation of new commemorative plaques. Now part of the building’s listed heritage, they are in main foyer and acknowledge the many individuals and organisations who contributed the restoration. We have also installed a new exterior blue local heritage plaque, honouring the building’s unique history and its enduring significance to our community.
The investment in, and revival of, this iconic 1930s landmark forms part of the council’s legacy commitment as the Mayor’s first ever London Borough of Culture in 2019, placing culture at the heart of our communities. This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of local residents and community groups, including the McGuffin Film Society, Save Walthamstow Cinema and Waltham Forest Cinema Trust, who worked closely with Soho Theatre to help bring a shared vision to Waltham Forest Council. We also extend our thanks to Historic England, the Mayor’s Energy Efficiency Fund and the Greater London Authority’s Carbon Offset Fund. Together, these partnerships made the project possible.
Since opening, Soho Theatre Walthamstow has welcomed more than 100,000 audience members. Over 3,500 local children have taken part in workshops and creative engagement activities, over 100 local jobs created and more than 15,000 tickets have been purchased at £15 or less, an offer exclusive to Waltham Forest residents.
To mark this special occasion, I’m pleased to share that we have worked with Soho Theatre Walthamstow to make a further 15,000 tickets available for £15 (or less) to anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough. These will be available across this summer’s season of programming which includes a wide range of performances, comedy, cabaret, family shows, building tours and more – Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
Just in time for the Easter break, we’re also excited to launch Discover Waltham Forest – your new go-to guide for everything happening across the borough. This easy-to-use online hub brings together events, activities and family-friendly fun all in one place. Whether you’re planning ahead, searching for something local, or simply looking for inspiration, you can browse by date, location or type of activity.
If you have an event or activity you’d like to submit for listing on the site, click here. Taking part is free and it will help more people to discover and experience our vibrant borough.
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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 A purpose-built facility within Walthamstow’s Jazz Yard development is well on track for a state-of-the-art new medical centre following a landmark financial package agreement between Waltham Forest Council, NHS Property Services and North East London ICB (Integrated Care Board).
Persistent efforts on the part of Waltham Forest Council have successfully unlocked the latest phase in a process that will allow the internal works to the facility to commence. On completion the Firs Medical Centre and the former St James Medical Centre relocated in the single, new, building nearby.
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 Retail crime is a big concern for our local businesses, particularly shoplifting, mostly driven by a small number of prolific offenders targeting high demand locations. The Council works closely with the police to protect retailers, and we’ve seen a big increase in positive outcomes over the past few months, particularly in Leytonstone and Walthamstow. Fourteen prolific offenders have been charged and received custodial sentences – one alone had over 100 shoplifting offences.
Earlier this week we hosted our first Retail Crime Symposium with the police and retailers from across the borough to share information and discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead. By the end of the session, we had agreed some borough-wide Retail Crime commitments - from streamlining reporting mechanisms across stores to considering how we can improve security and better share intelligence.
We will keep working with the police to support our local businesses. To report a crime in progress or in an emergency, call 999. You can also report on the Met Police website or by calling 101.
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Easter activities: ACTIVATED |
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 There’s a fantastic range of activities happening across Waltham Forest this Easter for children, young people and families.
Waltham Forest Holiday Activity Programme (HAF) Easter activities run from Monday 30 March to Friday 10 April 2026, excluding bank holidays. Sessions include a daily meal and a fun mix of enrichment and sporting activities. School‑aged children who receive benefit related Free School Meals can book free activities on the HAF website.
Most Best Start in Life sessions for families with children under five, and Space4All youth sessions for ages 11 to 25, will continue running throughout the Easter period. You can find all activities listed on our events pages.
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Edinburgh Fringe Inside Track is back! |
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 This unmissable opportunity will give two residents from Waltham Forest a chance to immerse themselves in theatre, comedy and culture and learn what it takes to programme and produce live events at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
If successful you’ll get an all-expenses paid trip to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (10 to 15 August 2026), in partnership with Soho Theatre Walthamstow. With support and mentoring plus unlimited entry passes to see the full range of shows at Pleasance theatres.
Applications are now open and will close on Sunday 26 April at 5pm.
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 The Feel Good Too Centre, 1 Pavilion Walk, E10 5U, is hosting an Easter Multi Sports Programme of fun, safe and engaging sports sessions from Monday 30 March to Thursday 2 April from 10am to 2pm.
The sessions include fun games, learning new skills via drills and at the end of each day matches in whatever chosen sport. Lunch is also provided. In addition tournaments are held on the last day of Camp, whereby young people can win Medals and Trophies.
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Pension Committee moving forward with divestment from arms trade |
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 The Waltham Forest Pension Fund has confirmed it can divest from companies linked to the arms trade in a financially responsible way, a landmark moment which reaffirms its position as a leader in responsible investment. The move comes four years after its total divestment from fossil fuels in 2022, the first local government fund to make the commitment.
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 More than 140 local households have had energy saving technology installed by the council’s retrofit partner Kanopiworks as part of the Warmer Homes Local Grant (WHLG). It helps eligible households save on bills, stay comfortable and cut their carbon emissions through measures such as loft and flat roof insulation, smart controls and solar panels. Find out more in this Facebook video!
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 Babies, toddlers and their parents are invited to sing, dance and play instruments together at Mini Musicians. Taught by Early Years Music Specialists from Waltham Forest Music Service the sessions build confidence and creativity through musical discovery.
Classes are held on Friday mornings starting Friday 17 April at the Community Hub in Walthamstow Village. Fees are £95 for 10 sessions, £50 for five sessions, and £12 for one session.
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 Want to know what happens to vehicles used for fly-tipping in Waltham Forest? In this video Cllr Clyde Loakes MBE, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Air Quality joins an enforcement team as it tows and crushes a truck abandoned on the streets of the borough following fly-tipping offences. Those successfully prosecuted for fly-tipping could see their vehicles towed and crushed. We also do the same to abandoned vehicles blighting local communities.
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Walthamstow's where it’s at! |
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 We’re excited to share several major milestones in our ongoing programme to improve public spaces across Walthamstow, part of the Walthamstow Culture for All programme.
Walthamstow High Street Phase 1 works are complete, and these improvements were shaped by market traders, businesses and residents. Over the road, Juniper Pocket Park at First Avenue/Hoe Street is complete. We’re also working with Network Rail and the Met Police, to tackle long‑standing issues around the Walthamstow Overground Selborne Road entrance with new hoardings installed and community‑led artwork arriving in April while we develop longer‑term regeneration proposals. Take a tour of the improvements.
This week, we were also pleased to welcome East of Eden’s newest addition to Walthamstow, a dedicated strength space opening on Central Parade this April. We caught up with East of Eden’s founder Abby to find out more.
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 A place where 95 per cent of local households are never more than 200 metres from somewhere to charge their electric vehicle. That’s our vision for the borough following the announcement of the next stage of an ambitious strategy for electric vehicle charging in Waltham Forest.
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Researching Muslim heritage sites in our borough |
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 Join AbdulMaalik Tailor and Waltham Forest Archives for a talk on Saturday 25 April at 2pm to find out how Muslim heritage sites in the borough were discovered, including the site of London’s first known public Eid prayers at the Royal Forest Hotel in Chingford in 1894, which received a local heritage blue plaque.
AbdulMaalik Tailor will be sharing how he undertook this research and developed it into a successful and popular heritage walk. Discover how to use Waltham Forest Archives and Local Studies Library services, which is free to use for everyone, this is suitable for anyone new to archives and local history research.
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Bestry House Museum, more like! |
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 We're excited to announce Vestry House Museum is set to reopen in Autumn/Winter 2026 following a major refurbishment, as a welcoming heritage destination and community garden, where visitors can find a place to rest, work and discover the rich stories of Waltham Forest and its people.
The museum will have new co-curated displays made with the local community, including partners GB Carnival and Red Light Busking, alongside historic and much-loved objects including the UK’s first petrol car.
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Non-compliant landlords fined thousands
Two rogue landlords in Walthamstow have received hefty fines after failing to licence properties they were renting out. Mr Sajid Mahmood and Mr William Sassel both pled guilty at Thames Magistrates Court on 17 March and received fines of £22,000 and £5,000 respectively, and were ordered to pay prosecution fees and victim surcharge.
The judge in both cases also found aggravating factors that impacted sentencing; in Mr Mahmood’s property a 2025 inspection found a non-operational fire alarm, putting residents at increased risk particularly because the property was above a restaurant where a previous fire had meant 13 residents from the flats above needed to be evacuated. Mr Mahmood had also previously received Civil Penalties relating to another property for breach of licence conditions. In Mr Sassel’s case, existing knowledge of the need to obtain the correct licence for the property, and the poor condition of the property were aggravating features.
Holy smoke – a consultation!
We are proposing to change the way we control and monitor smoke in the borough and there is still time for local people, businesses and stakeholders to have their say in a consultation, which runs until Sunday 29 March.
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Opportunities for residents |
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Yoga circus with the trees
This Sunday 29 March at St James Park & Low Hall Wood, join a free day of inclusive workshops in yoga, circus and nature connection. Each session includes a guided walk among the trees, led by educators and artists Layla Rosa, Ludovic Helin and Poppy Flint.
For families, adults and young people, you’ll learn and play with yoga and ground-based circus techniques with the trees. There are three session times:
- 10.15am to 12.15pm (open to all)
- 13.45pm to 3.45pm (open to all)
- 4.30pm to 6.30pm (priority for older participants and those aged 16 and above)
Last Chance for Dialled Industry
If you’re interested in a creative career, there’s an amazing one-day conference taking place this Saturday 28 March with a packed programme of talks, panels, workshops and collaborative sessions, offering a rare space for honest conversation about the realities of building a creative career.
Dialled Industry is a partnership between Dialled In and Waltham Forest Council.
Saturday 28 March at Big Creative Academy, Walthamstow. Tickets are free for all with an optional £5/£10 donation.
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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