Six more months proposed for local youth work

Published Thursday 22 October 2026

Youth funding for Surrey Docks Farm and Ballers Academy, a proposed football grant, plus C10 diversions and half-term plans.

Top Updates

Six-month funding extension proposed for local youth work

Surrey Docks Farm and Ballers Academy could share £28,750 to keep youth activities funded from April to September 2027. Southwark’s 20 October proposal allocates £15,000 to the farm and £13,750 to Ballers’ Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks provision. At the farm, the fund pays for part-time youth workers; Ballers provides football and inclusive sports. Existing grants run to March 2027. The extension would maintain activities while the council redesigns its youth-funding programme following consultation with young people. Approval is still pending.

Canada Water FC recommended for £3,000 community grant

Canada Water FC is recommended for the full £3,000 it requested to support accessible football for young people and adults. The club is one of ten projects selected from 26 applications in Southwark’s Getting Involved Grants proposal, published on 16 October. The volunteer-run club offers boys’ and girls’ football and an adult disability team. The funding is intended for community activities benefiting people in council homes. The panel’s recommendation still needs a council decision, due no earlier than 22 October.

Dates For Your Diary

Friday 20 November · free

Make a lantern for Illuminate Bermondsey & Rotherhithe

The free Illuminate lantern parade will set off from The Blue Market Place in Bermondsey at 5pm on Friday 20 November, with assembly from 4pm, and finish at Southwark Park. Make your lantern beforehand at a free workshop: the Blue Market sessions run noon–3pm on Saturdays 7 and 14 November. Book a workshop through the programme.

Saturday 5 December · 11am–4pm · free entry

Surrey Docks Farm’s Christmas Fair

Put the farm’s Christmas Fair in your diary for Saturday 5 December, 11am–4pm, at South Wharf, Rotherhithe Street. Entry will be free, with carol singing, craft stalls, animal handling and mulled wine; Christmas trees and wreath-making kits will also be on sale. Activities and purchases help raise money for the farm.

What's On

Friday 23 October

Leonora at Canada Water Theatre, 7.30pm · ages 14+. Leonora explores surrealist artist Leonora Carrington’s youth and years in Spain through a solo theatre performance. Part of FesTeLõn, it will be performed in Spanish with English surtitles, followed by an interpreted Q&A. Ages 14+; see the theatre’s page for booking.

Saturday 24 October

Salad Days Christmas Market at Corner Corner, Also Sunday 25 October · 11am–4pm · free. The first Salad Days market at Corner Corner arrives this weekend, with jewellery, ceramics, art prints and other gifts from independent makers. It will run 11am–4pm on both Saturday and Sunday, with different traders each day. Entry is free, no ticket is needed, and the market and toilets have step-free access.

Sunday 25 October

Last Green Shoots family art session of the season, 10am–1pm · free · drop in. Make nature-inspired art at Green Shoots in Southwark Park Galleries’ Lake Gallery Garden, 1 Park Approach. Sunday marks the end of the advertised May–October run. Drop in for the free artist-led workshop with children aged up to 12; an adult must accompany them.

Monday 26 October

Make witches and mummies at Canada Water Library, 2.30–3.30pm · free · ages 5+. Children aged five and over can cut, fold, glue and decorate Halloween characters at Spooktacular Halloween Crafts. The free session will take place at Canada Water Library, 21 Surrey Quays Road.

Tuesday 27 October

Free half-term activities at the Lewington Centre, Through Thursday 29 October · 10am–2pm · free. Roots & Routes will bring crafts, storytelling, games, music and dance to the Lewington Community Centre, 9 Eugenia Road, from Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 October, 10am–2pm daily. Parents and carers take part alongside their children. The programme is designed for ages 0–8; check with the organiser about older children. Register through the page or call 07498 308655.

Roadworks and Transport

Long Lane closure affects the C10 until early November: The C10 from Canada Water is affected by urgent gas-main replacement in Long Lane, Bermondsey. SGN’s 19 October update confirms the road is closed between Great Dover Street and Tower Bridge Road, with access maintained for residents and businesses. The company expects to reopen it on Sunday 1 November, subject to the work going to plan. Check TfL’s C10 information before travelling.

Windrush changes for Crystal Palace and late southern journeys: On Sunday 25 October, no Windrush trains will run between Sydenham and Crystal Palace; TfL advises local buses between Anerley and Crystal Palace. On the nights of Monday 26 to Thursday 29 October, services between New Cross Gate and West Croydon or Crystal Palace will stop after 11.30pm. Replacement buses will run, with some earlier trains also altered.

Step-free journeys: use Bermondsey or Surrey Quays: A reminder for this weekend’s outings: Canada Water’s street-to-ticket-hall lift is out of use until spring 2027 during replacement work. For step-free access to the Jubilee line, TfL directs you to buses 47 or 188 from stop B1 to Bermondsey. For the Windrush line, take any bus from B2, or the 1 or 381 from stop C, to Surrey Quays.