One week on from the Big Half, we're reflecting on an incredible day and the people who made it happen. Read our latest blog to meet some of the people behind Team Coin Street and find out what inspired them to sign up: https://coinstreet.org/latest/team-coin-street-takes-big-half-2026

Worn dance shoes might seem like an unusual way to pay rent, but to us they're a symbol of something special. They celebrate our partnership with Rambert, which has given thousands of local people the chance to experience the benefits of world-class dance. Read more: https://ow.ly/n3oE50ZLsPQ

Our Big Half runners raised an incredible £3,365! Well done and thank you to everyone who ran in support of our community programmes for local older adults. Thank you to everyone who has donated already. Want to support the team? Donate here: https://2026thebighalf.enthuse.com/coinstreet/profile

For three weeks, local young people enjoyed a packed programme of free activities at our Summer Camp, including sports, trips and healthy meals. A huge thank you to Lambeth and Southwark Councils' HAF programme and The Mayor's Fund for London's Kitchen Social Fund for making it possible.

Join us on Saturday 5 September for a day of arts, culture and dance. Enjoy the Gabriel’s Wharf Arts Festival, with live music, creativity and family activities, then head over to Rambert Dance Studios for Feel This Free, a free community celebration of dance.

How did a local community help transform part of the South Bank? Book a guided Coin Street neighbourhood tour and discover the story behind our homes, gardens, public spaces and community work. Find out more about guided tours here: https://ow.ly/Y85w50ZHCS2

It’s National Beach Day! Did you know Waterloo has its own beach? Ernie’s Beach is named after local resident and community activist John 'Ernie' Hearn MBE. As part of the Coin Street Action Group, Ernie helped protect this stretch of Thames foreshore for everyone to enjoy today.

Coin Street has appointed Rebecca Sycamore as new Chief Executive Officer. Rebecca joins us on 1 October and will succeed Iain Tuckett as we begin our next chapter of community-led development on London’s South Bank.

Help us show support for our Big half runners who are aiming to raise £1,800 for our community programmes and activities for older adults. To find out more about what they're fundraising for or donate, visit: https://2026thebighalf.enthuse.com/coinstreet/profile

Our autumn term Family and Children's Centre timetable is here! Whether you're looking for activities for your children, support as a parent or carer, or opportunities to connect with other families in the community, we'd love to welcome you. To download, visit https://ow.ly/QLhM50ZFwZO

Our community was invited to take part in the Imagining Animals Festival at the Tower of London, creating our own wrens and placing a personal wish inside each one. We were delighted to visit our birds as part of the display, alongside live puppetry and great performances!

A great evening celebrating another inspiring cohort of young people taking part in the Our Future Summer Programme with SE1 Academy. A brilliant opportunity for young people to develop valuable skills for their futures which we're proud to play a part in.

Two free days of music, art and community are coming to Gabriel’s Wharf! Enjoy live music and dance, arts and crafts activities, independent shopping, and food from around the world. For more information, visit https://coinstreet.org/arts-festival#

Here's your chance to take on one of the world's most iconic races while fundraising to help tackle isolation, strengthen community connections and ensure thousands of local people have somewhere they belong. Register your interest by 31 August https://coinstreet.org/run-london-marathon

We were delighted to welcome 41 students from Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Service for the seventh year running to learn about our community work. We were honoured to receive a Certificate of Appreciation recognising our partnership and impact on the students' learning.

On Sunday 6 September, 6 dedicated runners will take on the Big Half to raise £1,800 for older adults' activities in Waterloo and North Southwark. Help them reach their goal: https://2026thebighalf.enthuse.com/coinstreet/profile

The Age Well Here guide featured on Morley Radio. Carole Milner, lead organiser of the project, speaks about the Waterloo Elders Group and the the importance of strong local networks. Listen from 4:56 to 34:16: https://ow.ly/t4PH50ZxoPU Read the guide: https://ow.ly/A2zL50ZxoPT

Support Coin Street while enjoying a unique evening of music. Use code QLXX_Coin15 to get 15% off tickets to A Panorama of Hunan on 11 September, with 30% of every ticket donated to support our families, youth and community programmes: https://ow.ly/SXj450ZxGil

More than 80 children and parents joined us for #Playday2026 yesterday, getting stuck into crafts, storytelling, music, seed planting, fruit kebab making and some wonderfully creative cardboard building. Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a special day.

We're proud to share that our nursery has received a Healthy Early Years London Bronze Award, recognising the team's hard work in supporting the health and wellbeing of children, families and staff. Find out more about Coin Street nursery: https://coinstreet.org/nursery

Every community has stories worth preserving. In our latest article, Older Queer Voices: Why These Stories Matter More Than Ever, Keith Winestein explores how storytelling and listening across generations help build stronger, more connected communities: https://ow.ly/Y29Z50Zv5IT

Join our Family and Children's Centre in celebrating the power of play at our National Play Day event! This year's theme, 'Play - here, there everywhere', highlights the importance of inclusive spaces where children and young people can feel part of their communities.

We transformed the Colombo Centre gym into a theatre as Milwaz Productions from Trinidad and Tobago performed 'Malvolio's Masquerade'. It was a pleasure to welcome 79 community members of different ages and backgrounds, celebrating music, movement, and cultural exchange.

Our Family and Children's Centre Summer timetable is here! We've got a fantastic line up of activities for you to enjoy from the 21 July to 14 August, all free of charge. For more information and to book sessions, please contact: f.centreenquiries@coinstreet.org

We were delighted to attend the National Diversity Awards showcase, celebrating people and organisations championing equality across the UK. Congratulations to the finalists and thank you to everyone who voted for Coin Street, finalists in the organisational multi-strand category.

This week our interns joined Coffee Morning, leading a youth culture quiz and seeing first-hand the power of community connection. We had a change of scenery this week, swapping the Colombo Centre for a warm welcome at Bankside Hotel.

Wimbledon and the World Cup aren't the only sporting events bringing people together this summer. Thanks to CBRE GWS EMEA for bringing a Summer of Sport theme to our coffee morning through our Corporate Community Action Days programme. Get involved: https://coinstreet.org/about-us/get-involved

We welcomed Ukrainian civil servants, co-op development professionals and Canadian funders exploring community-led housing in the UK. A Coin Street South Bank tour showed how local people shaped their neighbourhood through co-operation and long-term stewardship.

What happens when young people aren't given the opportunities and support they need? Listen to our Head of Youth and Community Programmes, Natalie Bell, reflecting on youth work, community connection and why young people's voices matter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY4t_3umaAw

Southwark is home to one of the largest LGBTQI+ populations of any local authority in England, and it was wonderful to stand alongside local organisations and residents to show our support at Pride in Southwark.