The World Cup can be a time of celebration for households across the country, but for many women and children it represents a time of fear as domestic abuse is predicted to rise during the tournament.

‘Research shows that incidents of domestic violence rise around major football tournaments, increasing by 38% when England lose and by 26% when they win’, Women’s Aid, 2026.

Women’s Aid have launched a new campaign titled ‘The Other Kick Off’, which represents the estimated time that domestic abuse is predicted to rise after an England game when abusive partners return home after watching a match.

This campaign follows longstanding research that shows domestic abuse rises around major football tournaments and can increase when England lose a match. This is due to heightened emotions and alcohol consumption that can increase abuse when it already exists.

No matter the game outcome, domestic abuse can never be tolerated.

If you need help with domestic abuse, here are a list of support services that can help:

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247 (run by Refuge)
• The Men’s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors – 0808 801 0327 (run by Respect)
• The Mix, free information and support for under 25s in the UK – 0808 808 4994
• National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428 (run by Galop)
• Samaritans (24/7 service) – 116 123
• Rights of Women advice lines, there are a range of services available

If you would like further information on domestic abuse and Wandle, please click here.

We want to improve how we communicate with our residents and make sure our services are accessible and fair. To help us achieve this, we’re running surveys to gather feedback on your experience to help us provide a better service.

We’ve partnered with Acuity Research & Practice, who’ll be interviewing residents on our behalf. This time we’re approaching residents in Southwark and Merton, but we hope to roll the survey out more widely in future.

The survey will run during June and July and takes 10 to 12 minutes to complete. You’ll be asked questions about yourself and your household. You can opt out of answering the survey or specific questions if you want to.

If you’re selected, you’ll be emailed a link to complete the survey online. You may also receive a link by text message. Acuity may follow up by post or phone if you don’t complete the survey online or would prefer to provide feedback another way.

If you receive a call Acuity, the number displayed will be 0208 0890160. Acuity only makes calls between the hours of 9am and 8pm Monday to Friday and between the hours of 10am and 6pm on Saturday.

Acuity are also the company carrying out our Tenant Satisfaction Measure surveys, so you may recognise their number from this.

The surveys are strictly confidential, and you can remain anonymous on request.

Thank you for sharing your voice and helping us do better.

Take part in our residents’ photography competition for a chance to win a £50 Amazon Voucher!

We’re excited to launch our new residents’ photography competition, with this year’s theme ‘Housing in London’.

We will choose two lucky winners, with each also having their photo displayed in one of our resident meeting rooms at our Blackfriars office. The photos will also be featured in our next issue of Wandle News later this summer.

You can only enter once, and please only send ONE photo, your name and address to communications@wandle.com by Monday 18 May 2026. The lucky winners will be contacted shortly after this date and will be announced online via our Instagram and Twitter accounts. Good luck!

We are supporting Register My Appliance week.

Register My Appliance week is a consumer and public safety campaign to help encourage people to register their household appliances. The campaign is run by the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA).

Registering your household appliances helps manufacturers know where the products are in case a repair is needed or if it is recalled. In small cases manufacturers may identify a problem with one of their products.

You could also save money by registering your appliances as it entitles you to an extended guarantee or warranty period. 

You can find out more information here:

Website: www.registermyappliance.org.uk

Instagram: @amdea_uk   

Twitter: @amdea_uk   

Facebook: amdea.uk

TikTok: amdea_uk   

Christmas festivities have begun, and you may have already or be thinking about decorating your home.

However, when Christmas decorations are not displayed correctly, they can become a fire or safety hazard.

Christmas decoration safety

• Never overload electrical sockets and always switch off your Christmas lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
• Never place candles near your Christmas tree, garlands or decorations.
• Keep candles out of reach from children and pets and never leave candles unattended.
• Do not light cigarettes or leave ashtrays near decorations.
• Do not attach decorations to lights or heaters, as they can get hot and start a fire.
• If you have an open fire, take care when decorating the fireplace and have nothing hanging over the edge.
• Check your Christmas lights have the British Safety Standard sign either on the battery pack or on the plug.

Christmas cooking safety

Christmas usually means extra time cooking in the kitchen when hosting gatherings with friends or family, therefore it’s especially important to take further precautions this season, to keep you and your home safe.

• Many Christmas dishes require a longer period in the oven, therefore avoid leaving the oven on unattended and don’t leave your oven on when you leave the house.
• Avoid cooking under the influence of alcohol.

Christmas home safety

• When wrapping gifts, make sure you are not near any open flames or lit cigarettes.
• Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace, as it burns very quickly and could cause a chimney fire.
• Make sure guests visiting your home know the emergency exits.
• Test your smoke alarms.
• Always blow out candles.
• Check in on older and vulnerable relatives and neighbours, to ensure their homes are safe.

And remember, never try to tackle a fire yourself. Get out, stay out and call 999.

Joe Brennan Training (JBT) have an opportunity to join their team as a Plumber Apprentice (Level 2) which has been exclusively offered to Wandle residents first.

Summary of the role:

• Plumber Apprentice (Level 2)
• The candidate will be working alongside skilled trades people on a large new build site in the London Borough of Merton. 
• Working Week: 40 hours
• Hourly Wage: £12.25

Please see below for the full job description. If you would like to apply for the role, please send in your application to CSR@higginspartnerships.co.uk, by Friday 5 December 2025.

Damp and mould can grow at anytime of the year, but due to the cold weather, it can be more common during the winter months.

Damp is excess moisture in a building or home, which is mainly caused by leaks or condensation. This can lead to wet patches on walls and cause paint or wallpaper to peel off.

Mould is a type of fungus that can grow on damp surfaces. It can appear a green or black colour, have a fuzzy texture and sometimes it can have a musty smell.

Damp can cause mould or mildew on walls, windows, furniture and textiles such as clothing, carpets or curtains. Both damp and mould can negatively affect a person’s health and cause respiratory issues.

As your landlord, our aim is to eradicate (as far as possible) damp and mould from your home. However, by working together, we can help to prevent damp and mould in your home.

Working out what is causing the problem

The reasons for damp and possibly mould growth arising, are leaks, structural damage, inadequate ventilation/heating and condensation. It is important for us to work out which of these is the main cause so we can adopt the most effective course of action.

What will we do if you report damp and mould?

The first thing we will do is to ask you to try some preventative measures for a 6-week period. The reason we do this is that around 1 in 5 cases of damp and mould can be solved with this approach and it is helpful to eliminate it as a cause. If, at the end of this period you still have a problem, contact us again and we will arrange for someone to come round to your home to investigate.

How to reduce condensation

Condensation appears when moist air touches a colder surface. This can be a window, external wall or even a mirror. It also happens when the air cannot move which is why you can find it behind furniture or
inside wardrobes.

There are 4 key things we can do to reduce condensation in our homes:

• Produce less moisture – tips include putting lids on pans when cooking, drying clothes outside if you can and venting your tumble dryer to the outside.
• Let the damp air out – use extractor fans if you have them, keep kitchen or bathroom doors shut and open the window so steam goes outside. Trickle vents and a gap between furniture and walls, keeps air moving and fresh. To keep air moving, keep a gap between furniture and walls.
• Heat our homes a little more – while you don’t want to be wasting money on heating, having heating on low in rooms you don’t use very much will help prevent them becoming damp.
• Insulate and draught proof them as much as we can – draught proofing will help keep your home warmer. When the whole house is warm, condensation is less likely to form.

First steps in dealing with mould

Wipe down areas with a fungicidal wash (not bleach or washing up liquid). Look for one with a Health & Safety Executive approval number. Spray onto the cloth, not the affected area. You can also paint areas with anti-fungicidal paint. Please let us know if you are struggling to afford this.

Below we have shared our damp and mould leaflet for your reference.

If you have an issue with mould or damp, call us on 0300 2000 120 or email customerservices@wandle.com.

Joe Brennan Training (JBT) have an opportunity to join their team as a Carpentry and Joinery Apprentice (Level 2) which has been exclusively offered to Wandle residents first.

Summary of the role:

• Carpentry and Joinery Apprentice (Level 2)
• The candidate will be working alongside skilled trades people on a large new build site. The successful candidate needs to reside in the Borough of Merton.
• Working Week: 40 hours
• Hourly Wage: £12.25

Please see below for the full job description. If you would like to apply for the role, please send in your application to CSR@higginspartnerships.co.uk, by Sunday 30 November 2025.

It is important you know about gas safety, as a gas leak can be fatal. We have put together some tips and advice to keep you and your home safe.

Always ensure you have an annual gas safety check

As your landlord we have a legal duty to check your gas appliances and flues to ensure they are safe.

We carry out annual safety checks for all our homes and an annual service for any gas appliance we own. These checks usually last between 20-30 minutes and please ensure someone is in for the appointment. If you cannot make an appointment, please contact us so we can rearrange. If we cannot complete the gas safety checks due to obstruction or denied entry, will request court permission to force entry into your home.

Any Wandle or partnering employee who attends your property, will be wearing an ID card. If you would like to check their identity further, please call us on 0300 2000 120.

Obtain a gas safety certificate

A gas safety certificate provides you with the confirmation that the appliances in your home are safe to use. A gas safety certificate, also known as a gas safety record, is a document given to you by the gas engineer after they have carried out gas works, repairs or safety checks within your home. This is a legal requirement and should be updated every 12 months.

Book an annual boiler check

We recommend your boiler is serviced once a year to ensure it runs safely and efficiently, as well as ensuring your boiler warranty remains valid.

Get a carbon monoxide alarm fitted

To keep your home safe, get a carbon monoxide alarm fitted and place it roughly 15cm from the ceiling. Make sure you test the batteries regularly.

Only use gas appliances for their intended purpose

It is important to only use your gas appliance for its intended purpose as tampering could be fatal.

This will ensure that the appliances are used safely and avoid any unwanted emergencies. Gas appliances should have adequate ventilation: making sure no air vents are blocked allows gas appliances to burn properly, reducing the risk of fire or explosion. 

Know what to do in an emergency

If you think you can smell gas:

• put out any flames
• do not touch any electrical appliances
• open all windows and doors
• turn off the gas emergency valve control if you can
• leave the property

Then call the National Grid immediately on 0800 111 999.

Do not use your phone within the property. Make sure you follow all the advice given to you by the emergency adviser and wait outside for the engineer to arrive.

Today, Wednesday 5 November, is Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night and is an annual commemoration to mark the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605, where a group of conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to overthrow King James I. Bonfire Night is usually celebrated with bonfires and fireworks across the country, and celebrations are likely to continue into the weekend.

While Bonfire Night can be a fun night for everyone to enjoy, for many it can be distressing, and it is important to respect your elderly and vulnerable neighbours, as well as those with young children and pets.

Here are some tips to keep everyone safe during this time:

Bonfire and firework safety

• If you are hosting a fireworks party, please tell your neighbours, especially those who are elderly, have young children or have pets. Please also be mindful of neighbours who may have experienced conflict or served in the forces.
• Never have a bonfire or let off fireworks on your balcony or in communal areas.
• Don’t set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am.
• Please avoid using drink or drugs before or when using fireworks.
• Never return to a lit firework.
• Never throw fireworks and never have fireworks in your pocket.
• Children should never play or light fireworks.
• Sparklers should be lit at arm’s length and at one at a time. Children under five should not handle sparklers, and children over five should be always supervised by an adult. Wear gloves when handling sparklers and dispose of them in a bucket of water.
• Keep your pets indoors from tonight until the end of the weekend, close the curtains and play some gentle music or pop the television on to mask the sound. For more information on keeping your pets safe during fireworks night, please visit the RSPCA website.
• The safest way to enjoy fireworks is by going to an organised event. Check your local council’s website for displays near you.

For more information, visit Fireworks | London Fire Brigade (london-fire.gov.uk)