Cllr Paul Perkins set to become the first ever Green Party Leader of Waltham Forest Council 📢
At last week’s local elections, the Green Party gained overall control of Waltham Forest Council for the first time.
The Greens have opted for a rotational leadership approach, with Cllr Perkins serving as Leader for the first 12 months before swapping roles with Cllr Eva Tabbasam, who will be Deputy Leader. This proposal is pending a vote at next Thursday’s council AGM.
The opposition parties have also decided their leadership:
• Labour: Cllr Kizzy Gardiner as Leader, Cllr Rosalind Doré as Deputy Leader
• Conservative: Cllr Emma Best as Leader, Cllr Afzal Akram as Deputy Leader
For a full breakdown of election results, head to our website.
Looking for things to do for the long Easter bank holiday weekend? We've got you covered.
Head to discoverwalthamforest.co.uk for your go-to guide of what's on in Waltham Forest.
Whether that's getting out into our many green spaces, doing a trail with the family like The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ Trail at Walthamstow Wetlands, catching up with friends or heading to a local festival like the Start Of Spring Festival at Signature Brew, Discover Waltham Forest is here to help you make the most of your neighborhood.
🔗 link in bio to see things to do near you
We're looking back on Make It Happen 2025, which funded a programme of creative health projects, improving residents' health and wellbeing across our borough.
The community selection panel selected 10 inspiring projects, from drumming for people experiencing grief, roller-skating for young Black men, creative workshops for patients rehabilitating from strokes at Whipps Cross Hospital, a youth-led digital broadcasting channel and a sensory trail along the River Ching developed with visually impaired young people, together hosting:
🎉 36 public events
🤗 353 participants of all ages
🤝 44 community and cultural organisations partnered with
❤️ 40 local businesses supported
🎓 36 paid employment and skills opportunities
Today marks the start of Creativity & Wellbeing Week, a celebration of creative health and envisioning a better future, and we want to say thank you to all of last years grant recipients who delivered uplifting creative programming for the benefit of their local communities.
#CriticalHope #WFMakeItHappen #CreativeHealth #Community
There's going to be a spike in support for nature next week in Waltham Forest! 🦔 ☀️ 🌳
Local charity The Conservation Volunteers is hosting a fantastic afternoon of hedgehog habitat management at Wadham Meadows, E17 this coming Tuesday 19 May (11am to 3pm). You can help this charismatic creature by taking part in a range of tasks, from creating hog-friendly holes in fencing and making log piles, to removing litter and installing water access.
It's free to attend and everyone is welcome!
Full details in the link in bio.
Have you heard about our ongoing Wildways project? It's all about working to protect the ecosystem around the iconic River Ching - and we have a series of exciting events and workshops to help local people get involved and learn about nature and conservation.
First up is an event at Bateman Road Allotments, Burnside Avenue, Chingford this Saturday (16 May, 1pm to 3pm), where you can learn about relationship between food growing, soil and how it intertwines with the nature and biodiversity we have on our doorstep.
Find out the full details in the link in bio.
Vestry House Museum is building a living archive with and for the local community around Caribbean influences on Carnival in our borough.
📣 They’re hosting an open call for photographs, flyers or other materials including your oral stories and memories to be included in a new display co-curated with GB Carnival, which will open to the public when the museum reopens later this year.
Do you remember the Young People's Caribbean Carnival or Leyton Carnival between the late 90s and mid 2010s? If so they want to hear from you.
📆 Drop in to a Collection Day this Saturday 16 May, from 2pm to 5pm at Walthamstow Library.
It's an opportunity to bring your photos, posters and memories to contribute - they will be scanned and the original returned to you.
🔗 link in bio to find out more
#Archives #WFCulture
📷 Courtesy @vestryhousemuseum
🪟 William Morris Gallery event for London Craft Week 2026 🪟
Myth-busting: Wooden sash windows needn’t go in the skip! - with The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)
On Saturday 16 May, drop in to the Gallery for advice and demonstrations from heritage conservation carpenter Ross Harris. He’ll show how old wooden sash windows, often made of high-quality timber, can be repaired, re-corded, re-glazed, preserved and in use for years to come. He’ll talk about the pros and cons of inserting replacement double-glazed panes and the options for secondary glazing and draft proofing as well as specialist adhesives and paints.
🕐 10am to 5pm
🎟️ FREE. Drop in advice and demonstrations.
📍 William Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park, Forest Road, E17 4PP
Part of the London Craft Week programme of events and activities.
❓ Did you know? William Morris founded The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) in 1877, in response to the work of Victorian architects whose enthusiasm for harmful restoration caused irreparable damage. Today the SPAB encourages excellence in new design to enrich and complement the built historic environment.
Image by Christopher Di Nozzi
This Foster Care Fortnight 2026 (11 to 24 May), join one of our information sessions to learn all about fostering.
Ask our fostering team and foster carers any questions and explore whether fostering could be the right fit for you - you’re more ready than you think!
🛍️ 12 May, 10am to 1pm - Information stall at Costco, Chingford Warehouse
🚶♂️ 14 May, 11am to 1pm - Foster Walk starting at Waltham Forest Town Hall - grab a pair of comfy shoes and join us
💻 21 May, 10am to 11am - Online info session. Sign up via the link in our bio.
#FCF26 #ThisIsFostering #FosterCareFortnight
A new neighbourhood pub has just opened next door to Soho Theatre Walthamstow – the Soho Theatre Pub!
Set to be a lively post-show pub where artists, audiences and locals can mix, serving drinks from Walthamstow-based brewery Signature Brew, alongside a range of other Waltham Forest suppliers, including Mother’s Ruin, Burnt Faith and East London Brewery – so you’ll be able to enjoy a drink from your local favourites.
Officially opening on Friday 15 May there’ll also be a pre-show dining option from award-winning chef James Cochran.
Stay tuned on the @sohotheatre channels for the menu and to find out when bookings open.
There's still time to get your applications in for Set Ready, a free training programme to kickstart your career in the film industry 🎥
The two-day course runs on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 May, and will be an opportunity to learn crucial skills for working on film and TV shoots. Once you've finished you’ll be confident putting yourself forward for entry-level paid roles in large-scale film/TV productions across London.
Like local resident Eva who finished her Set Ready training during in 2025 and has gone on to work on high end TV series for major streaming platforms and on two feature films. Building industry contacts and a sustainable career in film and TV.
⏰ Applications close on 13 May
📍 Open to Waltham Forest residents aged 18 and over
🔗 Link in bio to apply now
@setreadytraining
Head to our link in bio to find out what's on in your neighbourhood.
Whether you’re after outdoor adventures, live music, art exhibitions, family-friendly days out or local markets, Discover Waltham Forest.
#Chingford #HighamsPark #Walthamstow #Leytonstone #Leyton
It's just a few weeks to go until Leyton Jubilee Park will be hosting three live music events.
Have you got your discounted tickets yet - there are a limited number available, first-come first-served at an exclusive price of £35 for Waltham Forest residents.
🎵 Boa Nova Festival on Friday 22 May
🎵 Forward Motion in the Park on Saturday 23 May
🎵 Argy vs Artbat on Sunday 24 May
🔗 Register your interest via the link in our bio to secure yours and find out more
