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)

Thank you to everyone who entered our annual gardening competition Greenfingers.

We loved seeing your botanical creations and your creative use of space and are pleased to share with you our winners for 2025!

Best Back Garden – Fiona Kenna

Our Best Back Garden award was presented to our resident Fiona Kenna by Our Head of Customer Service, Lillian Lanek and our Customer Empowerment Lead, Jeremy Kimberley, pictured below.

Fiona has beautifully transformed her outdoor space into a relaxing retreat, using her thoughtful use of design and creating a calming seating area.

Best Community Garden – Soul Food Garden and Gladstone Court

This year’s Best Community Garden category was proudly awarded to two well-deserving winners. Both winners demonstrated how collaboration within the local community can encourage connection, a sense of belonging and positivity within their local areas.

Congratulations to Soul Food Garden and Gladstone Court.

Our Executive Director of Customer and Operational Services Francis Burrows, along with our Customer Empowerment Lead, Jeremy Kimberley are pictured with our winners below.

Best Balcony – Sophie and Robyn Huggins

Our Best Balcony award was presented to Sophie and Robyn Huggins for their nature-filled outdoor space, proving even the smallest of gardens can be transformed into a peaceful escape.

This year Halloween takes place on Friday 31 October and it is likely the celebrations will continue into the weekend. We have put together some handy tips to keep you and your family safe over the Halloween weekend.

Fire safety

• Use battery-operated candles in your pumpkins.
• Use battery-operated torches and glowsticks.
• When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric and make sure they are labelled as flame-resistant.
• Teach children to stay away from pumpkins in case they have a live flame inside.
• If you are decorating your home, please make sure all decorations are away from open flames, ovens, microwaves and radiators.
• Make sure to keep all exits clear of decorations in your home.
• Make sure all smoke alarms are working.

Stay street smart

• Always accompany young children.
• If your older children are trick-or-treating without adult supervision, plan a route with them and agree a time they will get back home.
• Remind children the risk of distracted walking and remind them to not assume cars will always stop at crossings.
• Stay on well-lit streets in well-known areas and always use the pavement.
• Caution children to never enter a house or car to receive their Halloween treat.
• Remind children of all ages what to do in case of an emergency and how to call 999.

Halloween disturbances and home safety

• Remember that some people will not want to be disturbed. If there is a pumpkin outside a house, it’s usually a good sign they are happy to receive trick-or-treaters.
• When out trick-or-treating, be mindful of your noise and do not ring someone’s doorbell or knock more than once.
• If you want to receive trick-or-treaters, always use a door chain or look out of a spy hole/window before opening the door.
• Only open the door if you feel it’s safe to do so. If you don’t feel safe, it’s fine to not open the door.
• Some people leave a bowl of sweets outside their home, so they don’t have to keep answering the door.
• If you’re worried about Halloween night, invite a friend, family member or relative to sit with you.

It’s ok to not take part in Halloween

If you don’t want to receive trick-or-treaters and are concerned about staying safe, always have your doors and windows locked. We have created a poster you can print at home or at your local library to attach to your front door, so you won’t be disturbed.

Awaab’s Law has officially come into legal effect today (Monday 27 October 2025). 

Introduced in response to the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 which was caused by prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s social housing flat, the law aims to ensure that no tenant is left living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions due to inaction or delay. 

You can expect us to be more proactive at the first sign or hint of damp and mould and log the issue with our contact centre. In the case of an emergency, we will carry out initial repairs within 24 hours. If the case is significant, a surveyor will visit within 10 working days, and within 28 days for routine cases. 

After the survey, you’ll receive a written report within three working days that will explain what happens next.  

In both significant and routine cases, our damp and mould team will be in touch three months later to check that the problem has not returned. 

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

Happy Diwali! Today as the start of Diwali, the vibrant ‘Festival of Lights’, which marks the Hindu New Year and is celebrated annually with joy and togetherness.

As many people prepare to celebrate, we’ve put together some helpful safety tips to ensure you and your loved ones enjoy the festivities safely.

Fire safety

Diwali sees an increase of oil lamps and candles used around the home, therefore it’s important to keep fire safe.

• Light candles out of reach from children and pets. Also teach children to stay away from open flames.
• If you are decorating your home, make sure all decorations are away from open flames, ovens, microwaves and radiators.
• Ensure Diya lamps are placed securely and in suitable holders. Also ensure tealights are on heat-resistant surfaces.
• Keep open flames away from soft furnishings, such as curtains and throws.
• Never leave candles unattended.
• Make sure to keep all exits clear of decorations.
• Make sure all smoke alarms are working.

Cooking family feasts and tasty treats

• Ensure your cooker and hob are always kept clear when not in use.
• Don’t leave pans unattended.
• Don’t leave children unattended in the kitchen.
• Don’t fill a pan with more than one third of oil and if it starts to smoke, turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
• Never pour water over hot oil.

Firework safety

• Fireworks must be used outside and by a responsible adult.
• Only buy fireworks which carry the CE mark and keep them in a closed box.
• Use fireworks one at a time.
• Read and follow the instructions for each firework.
• Place the firework on a stable surface.
• Keep naked flames away from fireworks.
• Never return to a firework once it has been lit.
• Dispose of fireworks by soaking them in a bucket of water for several hours. Then place them in a plastic bag when cooled and place them in a black bin.
• Do not put fireworks in your pocket.
• Never throw fireworks.
• Keep pets inside.
• Ensure children are a safe distance away from the fireworks.
• If you are using sparklers, make sure to wear gloves and place them in a bucket of water when finished.

We hope you have a fantastic Diwali!

Wandle is to deliver affordable homes for social rent at the historic County Hall Kingston in southwest London. 

In partnership with London Square, the 5.2-acre site includes the Grade II listed former headquarters of Surrey County Council. The redevelopment will bring 292 high-quality new homes to the area, including 26 for social rent, alongside extensive landscaping, new green spaces, and commercial space. Restoration and construction work is already underway to sensitively refurbish the historic County Hall and deliver the new-build elements of the scheme.

Adam Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer, London Square said: “Wandle Housing has a significant presence across south London, and we are delighted to be working with them at County Hall Kingston. This historic site has stood empty for many years and it’s fantastic to take another step forward in the re-opening this important space for the local community.”

Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive of Wandle said: “I am delighted that Wandle will be providing   much needed social rent homes in Kingston. The redevelopment, led by London Square, provides us with an opportunity to extend our provision of social homes within the borough increasing our community presence that will benefit all our residents.”

Wandle has secured £55 million of funding from the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme (AHGS).

The fund will support the development of 94 homes across London for both Shared Ownership and Social Rent and will enable us to continue to invest in the continued safety and quality of our existing homes.

Launched in 2020, the AHGS bond issuance programme is backed by a guarantee from the UK Government and offers fixed-rate loans of up to 30 years to the social housing sector. From March 2024, registered providers were able to use the scheme to invest in property improvements in addition to funding new affordable homes.

Anne Waterhouse, Wandle Chief Executive, commented: “We are delighted to have successfully raised £55 million of funding from the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme as the scheme’s second London based borrower.  The collaborative partnership between Venn and our finance team enabled us to secure a deal that creates immediate financial capacity, which we can now deploy to help alleviate housing pressures in the Capital.

Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick MBE FRCGP (Hon), Chair of Wandle’s Board, commented: “I’d like to thank everyone involved in this transaction. This much needed funding will  enable us to continue to deliver new affordable high-quality homes across south London, while progressing our investment in our resident’s existing homes.

We are the second housing association under the Scheme and will fund critical investment in our existing homes, including relating to fire safety works.

This week is Fire Door Safety Week, and this year’s theme is ‘Fire Travels Fast’.

Fire Door Safety Week was launched in 2013 to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of fire door safety.

According to The British Woodworking Federation (BWF), due to the increase of lithium-ion battery operated items such as e-bikes and e-scooters being brought into homes and communal areas, the public’s concern has risen around fire safety in the home.

We have put together information and tips on how to spot if a fire door is not being used properly to prevent any risk to you or your home.

What do fire doors do?

Fire doors create a barrier from fire and toxic smoke and prevent them from travelling through a building, restricting damage to a small area. They also enable people to evacuate a building and provide safe access for the emergency services. A fire door only works if it is installed correctly.

Where are fire doors installed?

In a block of flats, fire doors should be on the stairwells and in corridors and the front door of each flat should also be a fire door. They are also used to protect areas where there is a risk of combustion, for example bin storage areas or mains electricity service cupboards. Sometimes fire doors are installed within individual homes, but this depends on design and layout. Fire doors will also have a blue sign stating they are a fire door. If the fire door is a front door or inside an individual home, it does not need a sign.

Inspection and maintenance

Like all landlords and building owners, we’re legally responsible for fire doors in the common areas of buildings. We inspect our doors regularly. However, if you notice anything wrong with a door, please bring it to our attention by contacting us.

Fire doors as front doors

It is crucial a front door works properly if a fire breaks out, therefore we inspect these regularly. Leaseholders may be responsible for making sure their front door has a suitable fire rating and that compatible components are fitted. This can be checked within the lease agreement.  

Keeping you and your neighbours safe

• Don’t leave a fire door wedged or propped open
• Keep access to fire doors clear and free from obstruction  
• Check your front door closes safely – hold it halfway open, and check the latch engages when you let it go
• If a fire door doesn’t close, report it to us immediately
• Never disconnect an automatic closer – the door is useless if it remains open, and it will allow the spread of smoke and fire
• Don’t remove kitchen or other internal fire doors
• If you’re fitting new carpets, make sure the door still closes smoothly – if it catches on the carpet, consider fitting rising hinges. Don’t trim the door!
• Don’t make new openings in fire doors for cat flaps or letter boxes without seeking advice.
• Do not charge e-bikes or e-scooters in hallways or communal areas. Also do not charge electric vehicles using a communal plug socket.

Reporting an issue

Please contact us if you find an issue or have further questions. You can also contact your local fire service for further information and visit the Fire Door Safety Week website.

For further fire safety information, click here.

At 3pm on Sunday 7 September there will be a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts service. Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast will receive the alert. They work on all 4G and 5G phone networks in the UK.

If you have a compatible mobile phone or tablet that is switched on, it may:

• make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent
• vibrate
• read out the alert

The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds. Phone users will have to acknowledge the alert before they can use other features on their devices.

This may be dangerous for anyone who has a hidden phone due to domestic abuse. If you have a hidden phone, make sure to switch it off on Sunday 7 September 2025. You can also opt-out of the alert in your phone settings (Gov.uk – Opting out of emergency alerts).

The weather has been warming up again, and with the next bank holiday just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get grilling on the BBQ.

We have put together some tips to keep you safe when using a BBQ:

• Never use a barbecue (including disposables) indoors or on your balcony. 
• Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area. 
• Don’t cook in communal areas. Have your barbecues in a private space, away from neighbours and well away from sheds, fences, trees or shrubs. 
• Have a fire extinguisher close to hand and know how to use it. You also need to know how to cut the gas supply, and it’s useful to know how to treat burns. 
• Never leave your barbecue unattended. 
• Smoke can get in hair, clothes, eyes and lungs, but also contains carbon monoxide and other dangerous substances. Try and keep your distance as much as possible. 
• Grilling gloves and utensils with a long handle will keep arms and hands safe from flames. 
• Wash your hands before preparing food, after touching raw meat and before eating. 
• Check food is cooked: ideally, burgers, chicken and sausages should be tested with a thermometer before eating and no pink meat should be visible.  
• After you have finished cooking, check the charcoal is cold or the gas has been turned off. Store your barbecue in a safe, dry place and not on your balcony. 
• Remember to clean up your barbecue after using to avoid any pests. 

See more advice on safer barbecues from London Fire Brigade. 

If you have an emergency while having a barbecue, please call 999.