We are working on improving the functionality of logging complaints via MyWandle Portal and App, so the feature is currently unavailable.
However, you can still log your complaints via the Customer Service line on 0300 2000 120 or send an email to complaints@wandle.com.
At Wandle, we celebrate Black History Month every year, and this year’s theme is ‘Reclaiming Our Narratives,’ and marks a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of black history and culture.
Below are two real-life stories from Wandle colleagues.
Tok’s story
Tok’s is a Customer Service Advisor at Wandle and has been kind enough to share her experience of emigrating to the UK as a young woman.
“I came to the UK aged 18 after I had sat my GCSE exams in August 1982, and l was so excited to leave Nigeria for greener pastures.
“My parents both studied in the UK and returned to Nigeria in 1963 by ship which was cheaper for them.
“I wasn’t prepared for the cold at all, and I wore the wrong footwear from September to November until my GP warned me to buy boots instead of wearing open sandals with socks to college after I got chilblains on both feet.
“I had to book an urgent holiday to Nigeria after the first-term break from college to get warmth as l wasn’t coping well with the cold UK weather.
“I made friends at college, especially with my Philippine classmates. There were very few black students in my class in the 80s. There was a lack of information for foreign students and accessing the information I needed to make the UK my home was difficult.
“I hit difficulty when my money was stolen, and my visa didn’t allow me to work. I was lucky that my aunt worked for the Metropolitan Police and helped me retrieve the stolen £1000.
“However, it took a month for my money to be refunded, and I was at breaking point. I wrote to the Home Office explaining I needed to work to thrive in this country. They quickly sent me my National Insurance number and I got my first job at McDonald’s.”
Black History Month is important to Toks, because she believes, in “celebrating my culture and heritage, and acknowledging the good things other black people have achieved with their contribution to humanity and their sacrifices.”
Yinka’s story
Yinka Bolaji is Wandle’s Executive Director of Development and Property and has shared his fascinating story.
“I recently re-watched a Netflix documentary called White Nanny, Black Child. It tells the story of more than 70,000 West African children who were informally fostered by white British families from the 1950s to as late as 1995. These children’s parents came to seek better opportunities in Britain, hoping to build a brighter future.
“I was one of these children. I was born in 1965, and at that time, families like mine had two options: either pause their studies to care for their children or arrange informal fostering.
“My parents came to England in the 1960s to study and improve their prospects after Nigeria gained independence. My father, Nathaniel, trained as an Electrical Engineer, and my mother, Mary, trained as a Midwife.
“Both were teachers before arriving in the UK, and they left my three older siblings, the youngest only three years old, in Nigeria with relatives to care for them while they pursued their studies.
“When I was born, my mother was preparing to start her training in Sheffield, and through a work colleague, she found the Meads family. At just six weeks old, I was fostered and lived in Surbiton alongside their three older children until 1968, when I returned to Nigeria with my mother.
“Though I grew up in Nigeria, the Meads, who had lived in Tanzania in the 1950s, became my extended family. We stayed in touch over the years, exchanging letters and updating each other on our lives. They never missed a birthday, always sending gifts and postal orders. When I returned to the UK after graduating from university, we rekindled our relationship, and the Meads saw me build a life and family of my own here.
“In 2000, before my mother passed away, she visited the UK one last time. Her final words to Barbara Mead were, “Thank you, and if we don’t meet again, we will surely meet at Jesus’ feet.”
“I was honoured when the Mead family asked me to deliver Barbara’s eulogy at her funeral. During her final days, Barbara’s last words to me were “my baby,” and I am thankful that I had the chance to express my gratitude for the legacy she left behind.
“I am immensely grateful for the kindness shown to me by the Meads and perhaps because I returned to Nigeria at a young age, I did not struggle with identity and belonging issues that some children experienced. I also know others who were fostered for many years—some for over a decade—and have gone on to become successful, responsible adults in the UK.
“Reflecting on the recent ‘mindless’ riots that followed the tragic event in Southport during the summer of 2024, I can’t help but think of how some marginalised individuals have chosen to blame an entire migrant population for their struggles. Instead, I choose to remember the enduring connections we form across cultures. “
Our income support team recently supported a vulnerable resident who was at risk of being made homeless.
Elderly resident Mr RB* had been served a NOSP/legal action letter because he had missed rent payments of £1300.
This was out of character because he had always claimed housing benefits. After further investigation, our income officer discovered that Mr RB’s housing benefit had stopped because he had travelled abroad for three months for a funeral.
Our Welfare Rights Advisor worked hard to ensure no legal action was taken against Mr RB, to allow us the time and space to resolve the issue. We helped Mr RB make a new housing benefit claim and a three-month backdated start.
Unfortunately, the housing benefit payment was slow, and Mr RB’s rent arrears increased to over £3,500. Understandably this impacted his mental well-being, and the team consistently sent evidence to the local authority. In the meantime, we encouraged Mr RB to pay what he could while his benefit was processed.
Mr RB’s housing benefit payment was finally processed, and he is happier in his home. He contacted us to say thank you for the advice and support during a stressful time. We will keep an eye on his tenancy to make sure he does not fall into arrears again.
At Wandle, we see our purpose as supporting people across south London, who need a home. We know it can be overwhelming if you fall into debt, and it can be easy to ignore them, but this only makes the problem grow.
If you cannot pay your rent, we will work with you to resolve the problem, and if for any reason we cannot help you, we will sign-post you to agencies who can.
Our customer contact centre is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. You can also email us at customerservices@wandle.com.
On Saturday 28 October, we attended the unveiling of a Battersea blue plaque at 28 Lavender Sweep in honour of Tom Taylor and Laura Barker.
Tom Taylor (1817 – 1880) was an English dramatist, critic, biographer, public servant, and editor of Punch magazine.
Laura Barker (1819-1905) was a renowned composer and musician, who lived at the property with her husband Tom Taylor from 1858 until he died in 1880.
Both Laura and Tom held regular Sunday musical soirees, and celebrities at the time such as Lewis Carroll and Charles Dickens would attend.
The Battersea Society consists of local and former residents, businesses, and even visitors who fell in love with a vibrant part of Southwest London. They are committed to honouring Battersea’s rich heritage and ensuring the community is at the heart of development across the historic borough.
The unveiling was attended by Wandle’s Chief Executive, Anne Waterhouse, and the Worshipful Mayor Sana Jafri, who both said a few words about the importance of acknowledging our local history and the importance of art and culture.
Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive of Wandle said, “It is an honour for a Wandle to be a part of this event. The boroughs we work in have a rich history, and it is fascinating to learn about Tom Taylor and Laura Barker. Thank you to The Battersea Society for their commitment to honouring the history of this historic borough.”
Emma Anthony from the Wandsworth Heritage Service read the poem Lavender Sweep by John Betjeman, and renowned actor Alun Armstrong enacted an excerpt from Still Waters Run Deep.
Relatives of Tom Taylor and Laura Barker attended, with Rupert Stutchbury actor and great, great-grandson of Tom Taylor reading an excerpt from In Memoriam to Abraham Lincoln
*Photography was taken and is owned by Chrysoulla Photography.
On Friday 20 September, we officially broke ground at 46-76 Summerstown in Merton, where we will deliver 93 much-needed affordable homes.
Supported by a social housing grant from the Greater London Authority (GLA), the development is part of a broader regeneration project in the area, which includes the new AFC Wimbledon football ground. Originally designed by Concept Architect CZWG Architects LLP, the design has been updated by Higgins Partnership, who are working closely with the GLA to bring the project to life.
Dominic Higgins, Chief Operating Officer at Higgins Partnerships, said: “We are excited to begin work on this development, which will provide much-needed affordable homes, enhance the community, and boost the local economy. Our commitment is to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes that meet the needs of the residents.”
The single eight-storey development will include 39 London Living Rent homes and 54 Shared Ownership homes, offering high-quality, energy-efficient housing options.
Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive of Wandle Housing Association, said, “I am delighted that Wandle will be providing much-needed homes to south London and will be part of the exciting regeneration of Summerstown. This is a flagship development for Wandle, and I look forward to welcoming our future residents.”
In addition, the hoarding was designed in partnership with local school children from Belleville Primary School and older Wandle residents who spent time together at monthly workshops organised by the charity InCommon. The workshops provided younger and older people an opportunity to build friendships with one another.
During their final meeting, they discussed what home means to them. We hope you enjoy the children’s drawings, showcased on the site hoardings which reflect the various feelings home can evoke.
Kybor Carlsen, Head of Wandle’s Customer Excellence Panel said, “As a member of Wandle’s committee, I advocate for better-designed homes with fewer issues. For example, this new building will feature bathrooms with windows, which is key for preventing damp and mould through proper ventilation.
“Though I’m not a football fan, I know Wimbledon’s stadium next door offers great community activities. My partner, a club member, mentioned they run walking groups to boost mental wellbeing, walking football for those less able, and fun days for children with free or low-cost activities.”
Both Wandle and Higgins are committed to building better, stronger, safer, and more sustainable communities, that not only deliver high-quality homes for local residents but also leave a legacy of positive impact.
Research shows that 880,000 pensioners who are eligible for Pension Credit are not currently in receipt of the benefit, which is an average worth £3,900 per year.
If you are over State Pension age, you may be eligible to claim Pension Credit, even if you own your home or have savings. People who claim Pension Credit may also be able to get:
You could be eligible for Pension Credit if your weekly income is below £218.15 or, if you have a partner who lives with you, £332.95. qualifying income level may be higher in some circumstances.
“If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investment this will not affect your Pension Credit. If you have more than £10,000 every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week.
Pension Service helpline:
It can be helpful to have the following details to hand before you get started:
Starts at Home Day (30 Aug) is a chance to celebrate the positive impact of supported housing on our communities across the country, and to make sure everyone knows the key part supported housing plays in the UK.
Wandle resident Alison lives in Wandsworth with her husband and their two sons Jayson and Morgan. They moved into their home ten years ago, in what was originally the old Wandle office.
Both their sons have complex conditions, and their ground floor home is specially built to accommodate a wheelchair which makes their life a lot easier.
Alison said: “We love our home, and it has made a huge difference to our family, and it means the world to us.”
Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive of Wandle said: “I support Starts at Home Day because it serves as a reminder of how providing homes that are accessible and meet customers’ needs improves quality of life and well-being. “In the upcoming Spending Review, Wandle are asking the government to commit to ring-fenced funding for local authorities in England for housing-related support. This would allow them to deliver much needed housing for the people who need it the most.”
Peckham Festival is a free celebration of creative and cultural Peckham performed across galleries, former factories, warehouses, and beneath railway arches in this vibrant corner of South London.
Taking place at Copeland Park on the 13 – September, it promises to be a hyper-local festival with the single aim of celebrating creative and cultural Peckham. It exists to promote artists, makers, creators, and community groups.
Created in 2016, Peckham Festival has become a Community Interest Company and is proud to continue to be free to the public and 100% not for profit.
You can find out more on their website, and view photos of previous events.
We are updating our repairs policy to reflect the new Consumer Standards, and we want to hear your thoughts to help shape this service.
To do this, we are hosting a face to face session, the details are below:
Date: Monday 29 July 1pm-430pm (lunch will be available)
Location: Wandle office – 230 Blackfriars Road SE1 8NW.
There will be a £50 Amazon voucher available for all attendees as a thank you for your time and input.
If you would like to attend, please email customerempowerment@wandle.com.
Whether you stayed up through the night, or awoke to the news this morning, we all started today with change – a new government.
This is the first labour government in 14 years, and the change does not stop there. There will be a lot of new faces when the new Parliament sits on Tuesday.
In response to the general election results 2024, Kate Henderson, Chief Executive at the NHF, says:
“With one in five children living in overcrowding, and 4.2 million people in need of a social home, the scale of the challenge facing the new government cannot be underestimated. Today’s election result represents a clear mandate to meet this challenge by delivering the biggest boost to social housing in a generation. This is a message from voters that the status quo cannot continue and our short term, piecemeal approach to housing must change.
“Housing associations stand ready to work in partnership with the new government to drive growth and deliver the homes the country needs. After 14 years of cuts and policy uncertainty, we will require urgent action to shore up the sector’s finances, protect vital services, ramp up delivery of new homes and deliver for residents. We want to establish a collaborative relationship with our new government and work together to secure the future of social housing as part of a long term plan for housing.”
Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive of Wandle said , “We look forward to working with the newly elected MPs who represent our residents living in our boroughs.
“Social housing provides real value for our communities, and Wandle are ready to sit at the heart of any long-term plan to end the housing crisis and improve outcomes for Londoners.”