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Wandsworth’s London Borough of Culture 2025 Programme has launched!

Kicking off this April, our year-long celebration will bring people together to enjoy the rich mix of traditions, festivals, food, and arts that make our borough so special. This year is all about showing how culture can spark joy, making us feel happier, healthier and more connected to each other.

Sandra Munoz-Alvarez, chair of Kambala Resident Association, is one of the Wandsworth London Borough of Culture’s Champions, and she will make sure to share all the amazing events currently brewing for this amazing year through her Battersea Noticeboard Whatsapp group. The champions are local creatives who share the information, attend funding decision meetings for the various art funds, and are involved directly with the London Borough of Culture. In Kambala, we started the London Borough of Culture year by securing funding from the the Royal Academy of Dance and organising free Flamenco Classes in our community clubroom

Get ready for epic experiences: from a mass dance event to huge outdoor concerts, plus festivals of food, heritage and performing arts, all designed to lift spirits, spark creativity, and connect us all.

Culture is for everyone, and 2025 will open doors, offering young people creative opportunities, involving every school, and paving pathways to careers in the arts.

The Official Wandsworth London Borough of Culture video launch was premiered at the BAC Art Centre on the launch day, and another version was displayed later in the evening on the iconic Picadilly Circus screen.

This year is more than an event – it’s a catalyst for change, aiming to improve our wellbeing, strengthen our communities, and celebrate the joy culture brings to our lives.

Visit: welcometowandsworth.com 

Elena, our first Representative of the Residents Association, to the Council’s Consultative Committee Panel, has taken on the voluntary responsibility of looking after the condition of Fawcett Close (i.e. that path which is connected to Wye Street).

Thus for over a Year and a half, Elena has been constantly taking residents complaints about the over grown bushes and trees along the pavement, near the ‘Boris Johnson’s Bike Parking place’, to the Council, at various meetings and contacts with Councillors.

As a result the Estate Manager Patrick Byrne – sent workers from the “Surrey Environmental Group” to clear and tidy up the entrance, windows and pavement, from overgrown bushes, trees and foliage that were growing uncontrollably over the years.

Above you can see the difference this clearance has made. While residents are now relieved to walk on their pavements and enter their dwelling blocks in safety.

On the 7th of November Elena Kidane (a prominent member of our Kambala Estate Residents’ Association) was invited to Wandsworth Town Hall to receive a Prize, in a Gardening Competition for the “Private/Remote Garden Category”.

She won the 2nd Prize in this truly competitive competition.

Elena states – 

“My garden was looked after by my husband, before. After he passed away 3 years ago, I try to maintain what he has done. That’s all. 
It takes time, but in the summer it’s really nice to be in our garden.”

The invitation about her success in this Competition was sent by “Mr. Donovan R.” in an email and stated

“Dear Elena,
We are delighted to inform you that you have been selected as a winner in the recent gardening competition organised by Wandsworth Borough Council’s Housing and Regeneration Department. The judges were truly impressed by the creativity, beauty, and dedication you demonstrated in maintaining a vibrant and thriving private garden.”

Elena also added “I was the only person from Kambala Estate.  
However I hope, that even more people can participate in future.”

Last May, the KERA Committee received a request from a resident, to install a bike hangar on the Estate, along with a request to rent two spaces.

The 1^st KERA representative forwarded this request to the Resident Participation Officer – Vanessa Santos. A funding request was then raised, for a new Green Cycle Hangar. This was granted for installation at the entrance of Hicks Close, through approval from the Eastern Area Housing Panel, on July 8, 2024.

The new Green Bike Hangar was installed in August 2024 and is now fully operational.

If you would like to apply for

• a space or
• request an additional hangar in Kambala,

please contact KERA (Kambala Estate Resident Association) via email:-

[email protected]

for more information.

In August, Kambala Estate hosted the second Mega Skip Day outside the Community Clubroom in Fawcett Close. It was a huge success and we hope to host other mega skip days in the future. 

In the meantime should you need to dispose of large items, click the link below for the next mega skip days:

www.wandsworth.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling/mega-skip-days/