July 2026

A disability awareness festival will take place on Christ Church Green on 22 July, featuring a wide range of accessible entertainment.

“The stage will be packed with crowd‑pleasers, including Joseph Doran as Ed Sheeran, a powerhouse Tina Turner tribute and the electrifying David Boakes as Michael Jackson,” said a spokesperson for One Place East, lead organiser of the annual Disability Festival in the Park. Visitors can also explore arts, crafts, sports and a comedy tent at the free festival (12 noon to 7pm).

Visit wnstd.com/dfitp

Wanstead is home to one of London’s most welcoming running communities, says Jacob Stevens, chair of the East London Runners, which all started during a marathon-running boom in the early 1980s

East London Runners was formed in 1982 – following the success of the inaugural 1981 London Marathon – when an informal group of fewer than 20 novices began meeting for training runs at decorated athlete Roger Mills’ sports shop on Wanstead High Street. By 1985, the group had grown to 120 runners competing in the London, New York, Berlin and Amsterdam marathons, and the Hyde Park Fun Run and Great North Run, among others. Members soon elected to register as an affiliated club, choosing their signature red kit (beating yellow by a single vote!).

Today, East London Runners prides itself on being a welcoming community that opens its doors to runners of all levels, whether on the road, track or trail. No matter the pace or running goals, joggers and runners can find an activity to suit them, along with support and camaraderie from the club’s 250 members, whose ages range from 20 to 80-plus.

Casual and competitive runners alike come together to enjoy the sociable, weekly club run, meeting at Eton Manor Rugby Club on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. Runners join a group at a pace and distance based on their ability, exploring local streets through the winter and making use of a wide array of green spaces in the lighter months, from Wanstead Flats and the bluebells of Chalet Wood in Wanstead Park through to various parts of Epping Forest, which is also a popular destination for Sunday group runs.

Monday night’s track run at Ashton Playing Fields in Woodford is another popular session led by the club’s qualified coaches. Many of these leaders originally joined as regular runners or beginners whom the club proudly supported along their journeys.

The club’s members hail from all corners of Redbridge and neighbouring boroughs, and include athletes capable of winning long-distance trail running events, as well as extraordinary fundraisers and campaigners championing good causes. A strong contingent of members are also highly dedicated parkrunners, regularly running or volunteering on Saturday mornings at an array of local parks, including the ever-popular Wanstead Flats parkrun.

A highlight of the club’s calendar is its summer charity 5km race at Valentines Park, hosted as part of the East London Five Interclub Series (known locally as ELVIS!). In June, 280 runners from 17 different clubs took part. It proved to be a race of two halves: changeable weather meant runners started in calm, dry conditions, only to finish under cold, lashing rain while splashing through deep puddles before the finish line. All profits from the race and cake stall go to the Magpie Project, a local charity supporting women and young children.

New members are welcome and can try out the club’s Monday and Wednesday sessions for free. For more information, visit eastlondonrunners.org.uk

Having been a local councillor since 2010, Wanstead resident Paul Canal has learned a thing or two about the qualities that make Wanstead a special place

After 16 years as a local councillor, one of the questions I am most often asked is: “What have you learned?” People sometimes expect the answer to involve politics or government. In truth, the most valuable lessons came not from council meetings, but from thousands of conversations on doorsteps, in shops, at community events and simply walking around Wanstead.

The first lesson is that people’s concerns are remarkably similar. Regardless of age, ethnicity, background or political views, most people want broadly the same things: a safe place to live, good schools, access to healthcare and the confidence that their family and neighbours are secure. While headlines often focus on what divides us, my experience has been that we have far more in common than we sometimes realise.

The second lesson is that communities are built from the ground up. Strong communities depend on ordinary people getting involved. Over the years, I have met volunteers who run clubs, support charities, help at churches, coach sports teams and look after vulnerable neighbours. Most do so quietly, seeking no recognition, yet they are the people who hold communities together. Nowhere was this more evident than during the pandemic. As many of us became isolated from family and friends, local residents stepped forward to help others. I have seen that same spirit through projects I have been privileged to support, such as the Haven House Children’s Hospice Christmas Cake Appeal.

The third lesson is that good neighbours matter more than we think. Modern life is busy and increasingly online, but there is still enormous value in knowing the people who live around us. A strong neighbourhood is not just a collection of houses; it is a network of relationships, strengthened by initiatives such as the Wanstead Community Hub and dedicated local volunteers.

Perhaps the most important lesson is that small acts of kindness matter. During my years as a councillor, I saw countless examples of kindness that never appeared in reports or statistics yet often had a greater impact on people’s lives than any decision made at the Town Hall. Looking back, it is these acts of neighbourliness and community spirit that I will remember most. They are the qualities that make Wanstead such a special place.

We cannot all change the world, but we can all make a difference to someone’s day. A helping hand, a friendly word or a small act of kindness can have a greater impact than we realise. If Wanstead continues to be the community I have come to know and love, it will be because people continue to look out for one another. That, more than anything else, is what 16 years of listening has taught me.

Paul Canal was a Conservative councillor for Bridge ward from 2010 to 2026.

A group has been established for people who work from home in Wanstead and the surrounding areas.

“The group is called Remotely and will benefit anyone who would welcome a bit more connection during the working week. Expect coffee meets, lunchtime walks and after-work drinks. The focus will be on friendship and helping people connect,” said group founder Haz Anwar, who works for an AI company based in San Francisco.

Meetups will take place in Wanstead and South Woodford.

Visit wnstd.com/remote

Despite mixed experiences by some, there have been positive developments at Whipps Cross Hospital over the past few months, says Leyton and Wanstead MP Calvin Bailey MBE

The long-standing need for redevelopment at Whipps Cross remains, but we are beginning to see real progress, not only in improvements to service provision, but also in growing recognition of the vital work the hospital does for our community.

I have been working closely with the hospital to highlight progress where change is happening. I was pleased to be invited to open the newly upgraded Emergency Department, where changes to ambulance handover and a layout redesign to better manage patient flow are already making a real difference. Around 75% of patients are now seen within four hours, and corridor care has been significantly reduced from a high of over 30 patients two years ago to single figures or none today. This comes hot on the heels of their new paediatric clinical decision unit to support faster and safer care for children, and the addition of clinical space to expand capacity during busier periods.

These are all important steps forward in improving our local healthcare provision, and I continue to be impressed by the dedication and ambition of Whipps staff, who come from, and care for, people of every background.

A key part of my role is bringing decision-makers into our community, and I was delighted to welcome Skills Minister Jacqui Smith to Whipps Cross. During her visit, she met staff and students involved in DFN Project SEARCH, a supported internship programme designed to offer transformative employment opportunities to young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). This reflects one of my core priorities: ensuring young people, particularly those who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), have clear pathways into secure, long-term employment. For students with additional needs, the barriers to employment are often doubly restrictive, which is why the hospital’s engagement on this is so important.

Funded by the Department for Education, the programme equips young people with the skills, confidence and experience they need to succeed, through three 10-week placements across the hospital. Whipps leadership in this area shows how our local NHS can play a vital role, not just in healthcare, but in creating opportunities for our young people.

Although I can see welcome change happening at Whipps, from my inbox, I know constituents continue to have mixed experiences, particularly in maternity and women’s health services. I know these concerns must be taken seriously and addressed as part of the hospital’s ongoing improvement. I will continue working closely with Whipps’ staff, the Department for Health and ministerial colleagues to push for the investments and opportunities our community needs and deserves.

To contact Calvin Bailey MP, email calvin.bailey.mp@parliament.uk

The Parish of Wanstead has launched Inspire Wanstead, a campaign to restore Christ Church and increase community use, although Revd James Gilder insists some parts of the building remain untouched

June was an exciting month for Christ Church, as the Parish launched its Inspire Wanstead campaign to restore the church building and make it more user-friendly for you, the local community. 

After much campaigning and work behind the scenes, we are delighted to say we were successful in achieving a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to develop our project. The NLHF is the largest grant-making body for heritage buildings in the UK and has chosen to provide initial funding for us to engage architects and project managers to take this project forward to the point where it is ‘ready to go’. In late 2027, the NLHF will make the final decision as to whether to fund the whole project, the cost of which is a staggering £3.6m (for which we must raise at least 10% ourselves).

Unfortunately, the Victorians didn’t do a great job of building Christ Church’s tower; its supports and buttresses aren’t big enough to hold its weight and they are gradually slipping away from the building. So, we need to make sure that this, and various other elements of the building’s exterior, are made secure to withstand the next century.

Christ Church is presently a somewhat dark and cold building, so the first thing we need to do inside is to install some better heating and lighting. We would also like to level the sinking floor and install proper toilets and a kitchen at the back of the church. Much like our friends at Wanstead United Reformed Church did some years ago, we would like to make the space in Christ Church usable by community groups during times when we are not holding services, so we need flexible but beautiful furniture to allow us to do that. However, much will also not be changing. The chancel and its wonderful oak choir stalls and pulpit, and the beautiful and unique English altar, are all gems – remove them over my dead body! As our esteemed architect (who is also architect for three English cathedrals) said at the project launch in early June, change is always a part of historic buildings; it’s about preserving the good and improving the rest. And we’ll be working closely with English Heritage, obtaining all the necessary permissions to ensure everything is done with the utmost care for the historic fabric of the church.

In addition to the above, we’ll be running a range of heritage activities and workshops for people to get involved in over the next few years. There’ll be lots going on and I’m excited at the opportunity to bring you further news as it happens. Thanks to those of you who’ve helped us thus far, and thanks too if you play the National Lottery! As a vicar, I shouldn’t endorse gambling, but even if you haven’t won the jackpot, you have at least helped preserve Wanstead’s heritage.

For more information on Christ Church and the Inspire Wanstead project, visit wansteadparish.org

Redbridge Town Hall will host the borough’s second annual Pride event on 11 July.

“We’ll be celebrating our lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer community, as well as our families, friends and allies. There will be activities and entertainment for all ages, information, market stalls and more,” said a spokesperson for Redbridge Rainbow Community. The free event (donations welcome) will run from 12.30pm to 6pm.

A short film documenting last year’s first-ever Redbridge Pride is available to view online.

Visit wnstd.com/pride26

Redbridge Council has received government funding to pilot the use of pavement channels for electric vehicle owners who do not have off-street parking.

The channels will allow charging cables to run beneath the pavement, avoiding trip hazards and enabling access to domestic electricity tariffs. The council will cover up to £1,200 of installation costs through the Electric Vehicle Pavement Channel Grant. Additional fees are payable by the applicant, including a £315 application and license fee and a £500 bond.

Visit wnstd.com/channel

Sunil Kapur reflects on Wanstead Climate Action’s recent screening of People’s Emergency Briefing at Wanstead Library and outlines the concerns and hopes the film raised

The event was very well attended by local residents, and we were delighted to be joined by Calvin Bailey MBE (MP for Leyton and Wanstead), Councillor Jo Blackman (Redbridge Council’s lead on the environment) and three other local councillors.

People’s Emergency Briefing is a film about the risks to British life from ongoing damage to nature and to our climate. The 50-minute film presents evidence from leading UK experts on climate science, food security, health and economic stability. It is about the direct impact of climate change on ordinary life; only last summer, there were wildfires on Wanstead Flats, which led to the call-out of 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines. In the film, naturalist and television presenter Chris Packham is joined by people from all walks of life, who discuss their concerns and hopes in footage which is both serious and uplifting.

After the screening, there was a facilitated discussion. Attendees discussed their responses to the film in small groups before sharing their thoughts with the wider room. Some felt sadness, despair or frustration. Others felt we have the ability to change things, through our spending power or by lobbying elected representatives. Calvin Bailey MP expressed his own concerns about climate change. With a family himself, he wants them to have the same opportunities, including a good environment. He referred to the throwaway culture and shared that he learned to darn as a child and has passed the same skill to his own children. He acknowledged that climate change is the number-one issue of our time. However, he added that we are in a cost-of-living crisis, so the transition needs to be delivered in a way that supports those worst off.

In January 2026, Redbridge councillors unanimously declared a nature emergency.  Councillor Jo Blackman found the film moving and reminiscent of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. She mentioned local achievements, including more EV charging points, cycle lanes and pollinator pathways. Jo thanked those in the room who had engaged in consultations to help make these changes happen. She did not dismiss the despair felt by some in the room, but reaffirmed her commitment to further drive down emissions in Redbridge.

Cedric Knight of Wanstead Climate Action spoke briefly. Noting that the talk was taking place in the library’s Churchill Room, he quoted: “I never ‘worry’ about action, but only about inaction.” The meeting closed with all attendees being encouraged to contact their MP. Every MP is being asked to call on the government to provide a clear, televised briefing to the nation about the risks of climate change.

For future screenings of People’s Emergency Briefing, visit wnstd.com/pebscreen

For more information on Wanstead Climate Action, visit wnstd.com/climate

Photographs and stories connected to The Shrubbery are being collected as part of an ongoing restoration and archiving project.

“We would love to see any images and hear any memories people are willing to share… We recently heard from the grandchild of a resident who lived here in the 1950s. They shared fond memories of childhood adventures, including playing on the roof of the building!” said Rohini Wahi, director of the iconic Grade II listed residential building on Grosvenor Road.

Visit theshrubberye11.co.uk

Wanstead Mental Health Clinic has joined forces with Fatima Whitbread MBE to support young people connected to children’s social care.

“I’m proud to be working alongside the team at Wanstead… Through innovative peer support groups and learning programmes, they are helping to break down barriers and improve access to vital mental health services,” said the former Olympian.

Fatima’s UK Campaign partners with organisations to promote better outcomes for care-experienced children.

Visit wnstd.com/wmhf

Residents are invited to help the Wanstead Community Gardeners tend to the High Street.

“Come and join our monthly working party at the Corner House on the first Sunday of each month. We meet at 10.30am and spend a couple of hours working in the Corner House garden and tidying up the tree pits on the High Street. It’s a great opportunity to meet other local gardeners, share tips and help to make our local public spaces look beautiful. No gardening experience is necessary,” said a spokesperson.

Visit wnstd.com/wcg