Tooting Newsie weekly newsletter!
Christmas markets, new openings, local causes, and lots more happening in Tooting...
Over 30 local artists and artisans are taking part in Sprout Community Arts’s Christmas Market in Furzedown, which is open every day until 23rd December! Theres a wonderful range of unique gifts, including festive novelties and decorations, beautiful jewellery, local themed products, prints and cards! There's something to please everyone (and you’ll be supporting local small businesses and artists).
Open every day until 23rd December, 9am-6pm (7pm on Saturdays) at 74 Moyser Road, plus some late nights – visit sproutarts.com for more info.
Local residents are invited to a series of collaborative engagement events about the Tooting Triangle site on Tooting Commons.
The events, which aim to explore what Tooting Triangle means to its users, take place from Sunday 8 December to Sunday 15 December 2024, and will be run on a drop-in basis.
All events will take place at the former Triangle One O’Clock Centre, Tooting Bec Common, (off Emmanuel Road, next to Balham Boxing Club) Cavendish Road SW12 0PP
The events have been organised by Tooting freelance facilitator Hilary Jennings and artist Lucy Neal, who say, "At the heart of the engagement will be open questions about what keeps people well and the role that the Triangle plays in people’s lives.
"We will work in a way that is open, engaging, welcoming and creative. The process of engagement will enable people’s responses to build and 'speak' to each other, with activities designed to create an exhibition over the time."
More info via Wandsworth Council.
The Totterdown Street Christmas Market kicks off tomorrow, 10am-4pm!
Expect stalls selling food, drink, gifts, arts & crafts and lots more on the following dates:
• 6th–8th December: 10am–4pm
• 13th–15th December: 10am–4pm
• 16th–22nd December: 10am–5:30pm (week-long market).
Santa will make appearances throughout the market season, so don’t miss out on the festive magic!
Follow @totterdownstreetmarket (Instagram) for live updates.
If you’re a trader who’d like a spot at any of the Christmas markets, please email: totterdownstreetmarket@gmail.com
Christmas Day parkrun on Clapham Common! As there's no Tooting Common parkrun on Christmas Day this year, Clapham parkrun would like to invite any festive runners to their Christmas Day event, starting at 9am at Broomwood Road, SW4 9AU!
And they're also on the lookout for volunteers on the day!
To find out more, or to volunteer, please visit their website.
The Furzedown Christmas Tree Lights Switch-on, sponsored by Furzedown Community Network, takes place this Friday 6th December, 3.30pm-5.30pm, on the corner of Thrale Road and Mitcham Lane!
There'll be lots of free activities for children including a Santa's Grotto and arts & crafts, plus hot chocolate and mince pies!!
Local school choirs and The Great Gustos will be singing carols, and the Mayor of Wandsworth will switch the tree lights on at 4pm.
All welcome!
Howden Insurance Tooting has officially opened its North Pole Mail Service so children can send a letter to Santa this Christmas – and even get a personalised response!
Tooting families can visit the branch on Mitcham Road to collect a specially designed postcard to write to Santa, share their Christmas present wishes, and post it in Howden’s North Pole mailbox.
Howden is also running a competition to trim back the cost of Christmas, worth £5,000! Across Howden’s branch network, the team are offering £250 pre-loaded Mastercards to 20 lucky winners, equivalent to the difference in Christmas costs from five years ago.
What’s more, the branch team continues their book exchange campaign by giving away free copies of children’s books, and are also taking part in a series of festive events such as a festive wreath-making workshop with local charity Learn to love to read, and the Christmas Fair at St Nicholas Church this Thursday 5th December (where there'll be a chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite and a Christmas hamper chock full of locally sourced goodies!).
They’re also supporting Tooting Community Kitchen by providing a food bank donation station in-branch, and Cash for Kids by collecting unwrapped gifts for children living in poverty.
To get involved in any of these events or to enter their competition, pop in to Howden Tooting at 149-155 Mitcham Road, Tooting SW17 9PG. More info via their website.
A special Christmas edition of the monthly Furzedown Farmers’ Market takes place THIS SATURDAY 7th December, with an extended opening time of 10am-3pm – to give you even more time to pick up some fresh produce, fantastic Christmas gifts, enjoy the superb food & drink on offer and enjoy live festive performances from local legends, Ford Performing Arts! It’s free entry and dogs are very welcome!
The increasingly popular Market is a brilliant fantastic place to enjoy a Saturday morning / lunchtime, with 30 stalls from top quality local businesses selling all sorts of produce, including meat, smoked trout. honey, homemade jams & cakes, along with crafts, gifts, books, plants, coffee & more!
There'll be plenty of hot food stalls to try out and kids face painting will also be available!
As well as this Saturday, the Market takes place on the first Saturday of every month, with the next one starting back in the New Year on Saturday 1st February.
Furzedown Farmers’ Market is located at Penwortham School, Penwortham Rd, London SW16 6RJ – just down the road from Tooting!
See @furzedown_farmers_market (Instagram) for more details!
Join the Una by Ringley Team at Springfield Parkside in Tooting for a chance to view their premium rental apartments, whilst enjoying free festive wine and gin tasters from local artisanal brands Unwined in Tooting and Graveney Gin!
The event takes place next Wednesday, 11th December, 4pm-7pm, at 1 Honeysuckle House, Springfield Parkside SW17 0FB
Guests will be treated to a selection of seasonal drinks curated by Graveney Gin, known for its award-winning organic craft gins, and Unwined in Tooting, celebrated for its unique and diverse wine offerings.
Spaces are limited, so attendees are encouraged to RSVP early. For more information or to secure your spot, book here.
Una is dedicated to creating high-quality living spaces that combine modern design, functionality, and comfort. If you are interested in viewing or renting 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments in Tooting, call 03301747777 or email springfieldparkside@una.co
For more information on their rental properties visit their website.
Police were called at approximately 06:15hrs on Wednesday, 4 December following reports of a man assaulted at an address in Fishponds Road in Tooting.
Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found a man aged in his late 70s with injuries including knife wounds. He was taken to hospital but injuries are not life threatening or changing.
A 45-year-old man was arrested at the scene and remains in custody.
Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
There's extra support for low-income pensioners in Wandsworth this winter, worth up to £300.
The Wandsworth Winter Support payment is worth £300 for those who are 80 or over, and £200 for those under 80. It is targeted at pensioners who are on Council Tax Reduction, and not currently in receipt of Pension Credit.
The council also offers other support, such as community spaces around the borough, where residents can access a warm space, a meal, and a friendly face to talk to.
They have also funded the distribution of warm homes packs, which is estimated to save the average household around £200 a year. For those struggling with the immediate pressure of paying bills or putting food on the table, support can be found through Citizens Advice, who receive funding from the Council and help us with community outreach, and through the council's crisis support payments.
Full info via Wandsworth Council.
The ground floor and basement of the former Gorringe Park pub at 29 London Road in Tooting is up for rent. We're awaiting details on the status of the floors above and will update this post as soon as possible.
Info via James Ashley Property Consultants.
Congratulations to local residents Rob Mitchell and Alex, best friends who just completed an incredible 84 km run to raise money for Movember! This run is also a world record attempt for the largest moustache completed on foot in one go! (swipe to see on map). Rob tells us more:
“There is a real suicide crisis in Surrey (where we’re from originally). In the latest data (2022), 83 lads died by suicide. 83 lads too many. The equivalent to seven a month. A total of six rugby teams - in a single year. Each kilometre we ran was a tip of the hat to those boys who didn’t make it through. The 84th kilometre will be for the lad whose life is saved by raising awareness and getting people talking.
“Our run took place last Friday, starting on the promenade in Battersea Park, which was also the finish line.”
If you would like to support Rob and Alex’s Movember fundraiser, please visit their fundraiser.
Tooting-based refugee charity CARAS (Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers) has launched an urgent appeal to empower sanctuary seekers in south London, and is aiming to raise £20,000 in seven days as part of the Big Give Christmas Appeal.
A CARAS spokesperson said, "we provide one-to-one and language-accessible support to over 600 people each year, ensuring that individuals within the asylum system are empowered to understand and realise their rights.
CARAS’ caseworkers operate with a person-centric approach, supporting people with whatever they need – from accessing key services like legal and mental health support, learning about pathways towards brighter futures through education, including school, college, university and vocational training, to supporting integration into community networks for volunteering, sports, and other recreational activities."
CARAS is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge until the 10th of December, where every donation towards their work will be matched, meaning each gift will have twice the impact.
CARAS is now urgently calling upon its community, supporters, and friends, to join them in supporting sanctuary seekers to reclaim their lives and to thrive. For more info and to donate, visit their donation page.
Sip To Support! For every drink you buy at Squeezed in Tooting, Squeezed will donate 50p to Learn to Love to Read, a Wandsworth children's literacy charity, during Big Give Week (Dec 3-10) – all donations will be matched by The Childhood Trust, turning each 50p into £1!
Simply purchase a smoothie, juice, tea, coffee or any other drink from Squeezed at 265 Balham High Rd, SW17 7BD, and Squeezed will double their usual donation of 25p to 50p until midday on Tuesday 10th December. Each donation will then be doubled to £1 by the Childhood Trust as part of the Big Give!
Any donations made directly to Learn to Love to Read’s Big Give campaign during Big Give Week will also be doubled. For more info and to donate, visit their Big Give Campaign page.
Local charity Share, who work to help disabled adults live more independently, have launched a fundraising appeal to support their befriending service – and they need your help!
With Christmas around the corner, the joy of shared moments and meaningful connections is something we all cherish, but for many people with disabilities, this simple pleasure is sometimes out of reach. In fact, a recent study found that nearly two thirds (61%) of disabled people were chronically lonely, and this was even higher (70%) for young disabled people.
That's where Share's befriending service comes in. They match their students with volunteer befrienders, providing opportunities for regular meet-ups. Whether it’s bonding over shared hobbies or enjoying a chat over a cup of tea, these moments bring comfort, confidence and friendship to their students’ lives.
With your support, Share can continue to fight loneliness and social isolation among disabled people and create more lasting, meaningful connections. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. More info and donations here.
Tooting Quality Fish, a new fishmongers selling fresh & frozen fish and seafood from all over the world has opened at 24 Tooting High Street.
Their opening hours are 9am-7pm, Monday to Saturday; 9am-6pm, Sunday.
Congratulations & good luck to Rafa, Lorenzo, Ricardo, Gaylan & the team!
Carlar, a Turkish street food pop-up, has opened on Garratt Lane, near the junction of Tooting High Street!
There, you'll find owner Moss serving chicken and lamb Turkish kebabs, burgers, chips & more, open 7 days a week, 2pm-7pm.
Congratulations & good luck, Moss!
Butt Karahi (who have branches in Southall and Hounslow), serving Pakistani food, is to open at 26a-26b Upper Tooting Road. We'll keep you posted...
50% OFF ALL FOOD AND DRINK at Scooperb in Tooting throughout December!
Scooperb Tooting serves delicious crêpes, sizzling brownies, waffles, eggless ice creams, milkshakes, sorbets, sundaes, and falooda – as well as savoury dishes – and you can now get a whopping 50% off their entire menu until 31st December 2024!
Open 12pm-10pm Sunday to Thursday, and 12pm-11pm Friday and Saturday, at 128 Tooting High St, SW17 0RR, just a 4 minute walk from Tooting Broadway. All dishes and drinks are vegetarian or vegan, and all food is halal.
Ts and Cs apply. This offer is valid 7 days a week until 31st December 2024 at Scooperb Tooting only. Minimum spend £15 per transaction. In store and takeaway only.
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