The City, Retuned

Quote of the Week - “Your life gets better by change, not chance.” - Jim Rohn

Good Afternoon, London. This week, London feels like it’s being rewoven literally thread by thread. From Wandsworth’s civic champions reshaping what community recognition means, to Newham residents turning libraries into storytelling labs, our social fabric is alive with renewal. Head to Soho and taste the flavour of history on the plate. While Peckham’s jazz scene hums with new rhythm as Ronnie’s heads south to retune its legacy. You can lovingly donate a coat to keep a neighbour warm. Or, catch a film that defines belonging. Peruse this edition of The London Palette as it gives you a front row seat to witness how our capital is beautifully, in tune with itself.

Snatched highlights from this edition:

1. Newham’s Festival of Stories

2. Ronnie’s Retunes South London

3. When Wandsworth Rewrote the Rules

4. Live Music - Ashley Henry, Natalie Duncan & lots more!

Let’s dive in.

—Bybreen Samuels

COUNCIL CANVAS

100 Nominations Forced a Council to Rewrite the Rules

Wandsworth's Civic Awards have always honoured local heroes, but something shifted in 2025. The council received over 100 compelling nominations that judges couldn't fit them into the original six categories. So they added five more, introduced pin badges for runners-up, and staged an awards ceremony at the Civic Suite on November 12. Yesterday felt less like a bureaucratic tick box exercise and more like the borough throwing itself a party. James Cowdrey talked a person off the tracks at Wandsworth Town railway station using his lived experience of suicide. Janneke Diemel's Critical Support charity collected four tonnes of food weekly to help 10,000 people. They’re not these isolated acts of kindness. They were proof that Wandsworth's social fabric runs deeper than any council strategy document could capture.

All the winners reveal patterns about how community resilience actually works. Lee Marshall co-founded Stonewall in the 1980s and now chairs the Diversity Project Charity, connecting LGBTQ+ activism from decades ago to today's economic mobility work. Holly Cooke transformed the Lonely Girls Club from five people in a Battersea book club to thousands of women beating isolation through monthly meet-ups. Sarah Rackham's five decades of involvement spans Katherine Low Settlement, Battersea Befriending Network, and Wandsworth Care Alliance. The connecting thread between them is the most impactful residents don't just volunteer, they build infrastructure that outlasts them. They create platforms where others can lead, mentor, connect, and thrive.

The 2025 Awards are distinctive because they tie into Wandsworth being the London Borough of Culture. A new Cultural Champion category was added to recognise residents using arts to strengthen community wellbeing. Nominees like Ruth Essel's Pointe Black ballet school which runs classes for ages 18 months to 63 years plus scholarships for struggling dancers, demonstrate how culture becomes social infrastructure when deployed intentionally. The council didn't just bolt culture onto existing categories, they elevated it as a civic duty equal to environmental action or bravery. Consequently, signaling that in 2025, creative expression and community cohesion aren't separate tracks but intertwined strategies.

These shifts show that structural implications matter. When councils expand award categories because demand exceeds capacity, they're acknowledging that formal recognition systems can't keep pace with grassroots energy. Wandsworth's pin badge system for runners-up is telling because it creates tiered recognition so more people feel seen without diluting flagship honours. The Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor promoted nominations via social channels, democratising who gets to define heroism beyond council officers. Mayor Jeremy Ambache framed the awards as "the highest accolade our council can bestow," but the real power lies in residents nominating each other.

Peer-to-peer validation, not top-down awards, is what makes someone like 17-year-old Lamees Bazuti, visible to policymakers. He advocates for the Wandsworth Youth Bus and designed new youth spaces in Roehampton despite his health challenges. As councils nationwide wrestle with declining civic engagement, Wandsworth's oversubscribed awards suggest one major truth. People will show up when the recognition system reflects the community work they're already doing, not the work councils wish they'd do.

CITY PALETTE

Cinema That Challenges How London Sees Movement

During late November into early December, the London Migration Film Festival, celebrates its 10th anniversary. Films will be shown across 11 venues from the Institute of Contemporary Art to Genesis Cinema. This independent Festival centres stories of people on the move, who refuse the villain or victorious narratives. They’re experiences are told through 27 events spanning fiction, documentaries, Q&As, and workshops. Films explore climate emergencies, trans communities fleeing dictatorships, second-generation identity, and Palestinian refugee experiences. All framed as complex human stories revealing beauty and resilience.

The Migration Collective prioritises platforming migrant filmmakers who've lived these experiences. This year features State of Statelessness, the first Tibetan language anthology directed by Tibetan filmmakers across India, America, and Vietnam. Where We Used to Swim examines three Filipino domestic workers reuniting in Italy. While Arjun Talwar's documentary explores whether one stops being a stranger in a chosen home.

London Migration Film Festival introduces award strands for films under 30 minutes. It coincides with Our Shared Futures: Climate and Migration Community Film Festival taking place during November 21 to 30., featuring Until the Last Drop on Palestinian-Israeli water inequality. Both Festivals position cinema as participatory. Genesis hosts post-screening workshops while partner festivals distribute films free for community screenings with discussion guides.

Since 2016, this Festival has grown from a niche event into an essential cultural fixture, partnering with Birkbeck, SOAS, and King's College London. Migrants represent 14.4% of the UK population yet rarely see themselves beyond reductive frameworks. By showcasing diverse global migratory routes, the Festival reveals people move for love, labour, survival, and reinvention, not monolithic crises. Cultural work is essential to reshape how societies understand belonging and who calls London home. Tickets start at £6, plus there’s a free access policy, no questions asked.

Book tickets here - https://www.migrationcollective.com

Beyond the Neon to Tasting the Real Soho

You can walk along Carnaby Street, grab lunch near Leicester Square, and pop into a cocktail bar before a show. But do you actually know Soho? Probably not. Behind the neon lights and the tourist traps lies a culinary labyrinth that most Londoners barely scratch the surface of. However, Hungry for Soho is the key that unlocks it. This three-hour guided food tour, led by local experts Tom, David, or George. They will take you beyond generic recommendations into the neighbourhood's most authentic corners. Places where British pub culture collides with traditional dim sum parlours, historic Italian delis, and award-winning Indian restaurants.

Starting outside Palace Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, you're greeted with a welcome cocktail or mocktail before the real journey begins. Seven carefully curated tasting stops that tell Soho's story through food rather than guidebook clichés. You'll taste homemade dim sum paired with freshly brewed tea at hidden spots requiring you to knock on unmarked doors. You can sample cured meats and aged cheeses at old Italian delis, enjoy a classic sip and meaty treat at Soho's most renowned pub. And, you can finish off with what they claim are the West End's finest freshly baked cookies. The guides help to widen your palate and while doing so they weave narratives about Soho's bohemian past, and its role as London's immigrant gateway.

What distinguishes this from generic food tours flooding London is its insider access and value proposition. Priced around £69 to £79 per person with groups capped at 16 travelers, you're not herded through tourist traps but guided to establishments where locals actually eat. You’ll see places with small plaques, unassuming doorways, and recipes passed down through the generations. Reviewers consistently praise the intimacy and authenticity. One has described it as "the best highlight of our two week trip to Europe." While another noted the guide made "Soho feel approachable" rather than overwhelming. The tour accommodates dietary restrictions but it’s not recommended for severe gluten allergies or vegans due to the traditional nature of stops.

For those of you who think you’ve exhausted Soho, this tour repositions the neighbourhood as a living cultural archive rather than an entertainment zone. You'll discover that Soho's Chinatown offers London's most authentic dim sum because it houses the UK's largest Chinese population. The Italian deli serving your prosciutto has been family-run since before Soho was gentrified. And, the pub pouring your pint has witnessed decades of artistic movements born in these very streets. Book early especially during peak seasons because this isn't the kind of experience you stumble into. It's the kind that transforms how you see a neighbourhood you thought you already knew.

Book tickets here - https://hungryfortours.com/hungry-for-soho.html

UNDISCOVERED GEMS

Newham Stories Redefine a Borough's Creative Pulse

While most of you obsess over Southbank's literary events, Newham stages one of the capital's most inventive storytelling festivals from November 13 to 23. The Newham Festival of Stories ties into the borough's 60th anniversary with over 50 free activities across 10 libraries. From Caribbean folklore sessions to The Sound Hive, an interactive sound installation co-created by primary school children, this isn't your typical literature fare. It's hyper-local, deeply inclusive, and designed by residents.

The Festival’s unique selling point is the community co-created the infrastructure. Newham Libraries embedded resident voices at every level. A Community Voices Panel of 18 residents and Children's Board of 20 students aged 8-11 commission projects and shape priorities. The Sound Hive at Forest Gate Library exemplifies this. Ricebox Studio collaborated with three primary schools to create an interactive synth table exploring sustainability through making music and environmental storytelling. This is cultural democracy because residents make decisions typically reserved for institutional gatekeepers.

The programming reveals tensions between its neighbourhood identity and universal themes. Events span Queer Joys with novelist Elvin James Mensah, Kitchen Stories: Recipes of Belonging, performance poetry with Daljit Nagra, and Women on Screen. This strategic approach reflects Newham’s wide range of cultural languages spoken in the borough. So the programming demands inclusion of lived experience, not neat thematic boxes. The library events are free and this type of access removes the lack of participation that plagues Central London venues.

Since 2023, Culture Within Newham commissioned 74 community projects, engaged 46,500 people, and worked with 5,300 co-creators. To build upon this they were awarded another three years worth of funding from Creative People and Places. Alongside PictureEast Film Festival and Jamboree in the Park which were also shaped by residents, signals a cultural paradigm shift. Namely, communities co-create culture rather than consume it. As Zone 1 institutions face declining audiences, Newham proves London's cultural future might belong to its overlooked neighbourhoods.

Find out more here - https://www.newhamfestivalofstories.org

LONDON BUZZ

Two Grassroots Giants Take On Winter Coat Campaign

Pause your December shopping sprees because London's real giving season is already underway. It’s being powered by thousands of forgotten coats hanging in wardrobes across the capital. This November, two parallel campaigns WrapUp London and Calling London, are staging the city's largest grassroots mobilisation to keep vulnerable people warm through winter. WrapUp London, now in its 15th year, is aiming to collect and distribute up to 20,000 coats through over 85 drop-off points and five major Tube stations, Their campaign finishes on December 7. Meanwhile, Calling London who’s partnering with estate agency Chestertons for the 12th consecutive year, has been collecting since October 20 and they wrap up on November 21. By the end they hope to have collected 10,000 coats.

The scale of these campaigns reflects a deepening crisis. Since 2011, WrapUp London has redistributed 244,139 warm coats to over 90 frontline charities including homelessness shelters, women's refuges, and family centres. Last year alone they delivered 15,000 coats to organisations like Crisis at Christmas, Little Village, and Hestia. Calling London's partnership with Chestertons has grown exponentially from 200 coats in 2013 to 10,000 in 2024, distributed to over 30 charities supporting the homeless, refugees, elderly, and domestic abuse survivors. The demand isn't theoretical. Two-thirds of UK adults reported increased cost of living pressures in recent months. London currently faces higher homelessness rates than anywhere else in the country. As energy bills climb and more families face financial hardship, a donated coat is often the gateway for vulnerable people to access wider support services.

What makes these campaigns distinct is their collaboration with local agencies and businesses.. WrapUp London operates through a network of community partners, including twelve London Fire Brigade stations, Safestore centres, Fulham Broadway Shopping Centre, and major transport hubs like Kings Cross and Liverpool Street. Calling London leverages Chestertons' 40 London branches as convenient drop-off points, turning high street estate agencies into community donation hubs. Both rely entirely on volunteers to collect, transport, sort, and distribute 33,000 coats. The sorting process itself is rigorous: volunteers check pockets, assess conditions using the philosophy "would YOU wear this?", and categorise by gender, age, and size before distributing to partner charities. It's a model that transforms unused household items into life-changing resources without massive overhead or corporate machinery.

The future signals growing collaboration and scale. Chesterton’s employees, including CEO John Ennis, now volunteer during final campaign weekends to sort donations. WrapUp London has expanded beyond the capital, it now operates in nine UK cities and even launched in Berlin in partnership with the gunner cooke foundation. Both campaigns show how community driven initiatives can outpace traditional charity models when infrastructure meets urgency. For you, the call is simple. Dig out that forgotten puffer jacket, locate your nearest drop-off point, and give it a second life. With winter deepening and demand at record highs, those coats are waiting to become someone's survival kit.

Find out more here -  https://www.callinglondon.org.uk

https://www.handsonlondon.org.uk/wrap-uplondon

LONDON SOUNDSCAPE

Barbican - November 15

If you find yourself restless for something truly new, make space in your weekend for Jeremy Rose’s Disruption! at the Barbican’s FreeStage. Australia’s most forward thinking jazz heads, saxophonist Rose, flautist Erica Tucceri, drum icons Simon Barker and Chloe Kim, deliver explosive rhythms and improvisation. Collectively, they challenge the very foundations of jazz. You can expect dueling drums, boundary-pushing collaborations, and a fresh take on the vibrant Australian scene. The best part is all of this is for free. After seeing this show, you’ll leave energised and reminded why jazz is music’s ultimate passport to adventure.

Find out more here - https://www.barbican.org.uk

Crazy Coqs - November 22

Start your Saturday with something truly special as Martha D. Lewis brings her powerful voice and fearless artistry to Crazy Coqs at 2pm. Fusing jazz singer-songwriter with world and indie influences, Martha transforms every show into an intimate, soul-soothing experience. Drawing from six celebrated albums, Martha’s repertoire is rich with story and reinvention that’s packed with wit, wisdom, and plenty of passion. For those of you craving inventive songwriting, her presence will make this an afternoon one to remember.

Book tickets here - https://www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs

Hampstead Jazz Club - November 18

On November 18, treat yourself to an evening where new jazz voices truly shine. Sarah L King’s upcoming set at Hampstead Jazz Club is the city’s worst-kept secret. Sarah will preview songs from her anticipated album The Light Ahead, which is filled with groovy jazz built around her toned vocals. She’s supported by an award-winning band. pianist Jim Watson, bassist Laurence Cottle, and drummer Jamie Murray. Sarah’s soulful originals are praised by Jazz FM and produced by Claire Martin OBE, promise you a night of sophistication, emotion, and a fresh, resonant London jazz sound.

Book tickets here - https://hampsteadjazzclub.com

Koko - November 20

Imagine a night where jazz lifts you onto the dancefloor because Emma-Jean Thackray gives you a vibrant rush. Emma-Jean is known for her genre-bending, supernova sound. As a multi-instrumentalist force, she blurs the line between deep jazz and club culture. With grooves like her new single Black Hole featuring Reggie Watts, Emma-Jean’s set will be laced with joyful energy, lush horn arrangements, and elastic rhythms. If you crave a show that’s musically adventurous but feels like a night out with friends, don’t miss this uplifting, future-facing performance.

Book tickets here - https://www.koko.co.uk

Ninety One Living Room - November 21

If your Friday calls for a party with a twist, Brass Rascals is your best kept secret. These groove architects will be turning drum and bass, jungle, and grime into a live brass spectacle. Imagine Rebirth Brass Band caught in a London rave, led by MC Tarju Le’Sano. The lineup’s track record alongside Tom Misch and Loyle Carner creates deep musical chemistry, huge energy, and an irresistible dancefloor pull. For just £6, you can be the first to hear their new originals. Don’t let this joyful, genre-blending mayhem pass you by.

Book tickets here - https://91livingroom.com

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club - November 17

Ready for a musical jolt on a Monday? Ashley Henry’s return to Ronnie Scott’s is your backstage pass to the future of jazz. Showcasing his soulful, genre-blending album Who We Are, Ashley fuses hip-hop, jazz, and soul with unstoppable energy and magnetic vocals. His playing balances rich tradition and pure innovation, commanding the room with every note. This rare, intimate show lets you experience a true storyteller, pianist, and bandleader up close, just before he kicks off his UK tour. Don’t wait, secure a spot for this electric night.

Book tickets here - https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk

Soul Mama - November 17

If you long for a voice that wraps around a room like velvet but strikes straight to the heart, Natalie Duncan is ready to deliver a night of pure magic. From BBC breakthrough artist to acclaim from Mojo and Jazz FM, her soul-searching lyrics and exquisite piano playing shine brightly. Natalie is showcasing originals from her highly praised albums alongside surprises, all delivered with genuine artistry and raw emotion. This is the kind of intimate show that will inspire you, move you, and leave you raving about her honeyed, silky voice all winter long.

Book tickets here - https://www.soulmama.co.uk

South Norwood Jazz Club - November 19

Are you craving a cosy night out where every tune feels like it’s played for you? Then, head to South Norwood Jazz Club, hosted by the ever-charismatic Kitty Whitelaw. This month, double bass virtuoso Chris Hyde-Harrison leads a superb trio, composed of sax phenomenon Duncan Eagles and local favourite Owen Snider. Together, they are weaving a classic set of swing with the deep-pocket grooves of modern jazz. At just £10, take up this irresistible invitation to discover rising stars and soak up South London’s most welcoming jazz secret.

Book tickets here - https://stanleyarts.org

The Jazz Cafe - November 22

Trade the ordinary for the extraordinary on November 22, when Grammy-nominated Somi brings her world-spanning sound to Camden. You'll be captivated by her soulful fusion of East African folk, modern jazz, and poetic storytelling. All crafted from a life lived between continents and cultures. With vocals that glide from intimate whispers to cinematic power, this isn't just another concert, Somi takes you on a journey through rhythm and roots. If you appreciate bold artistry and want an unforgettable night, this is the show that will leave you raving long after the last note fades.

Book tickets here - https://thejazzcafelondon.com

BUSINESS SCENE

Ronnie’s Retunes South London

When Ronnie Scott's commands £4 million in organic search-driven transactions, its Peckham expansion isn't just cultural, it's strategic business development. On Saturday, November 15, the Soho institution launches Ronnie's Lates at Peckham Levels. The aim is to channel its legendary Late Late Show energy into South London's grassroots scene as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. The debut features Creature and Madeleine, two rising stars blending jazz with broken beats and Nu-Jazz innovation. But the real story is pioneering a new business model at the intersection of prestige venues and local creative hubs.

The economics behind this reveal a fascinating income generation model. Ronnie Scott's boasts 8 million annual page views and 170,000 email subscribers. Collectively, they generate seven-figure ticket sales. Peckham Levels operates as a social enterprise and supports more than 450 jobs in a transformed multi-storey car park on a 20-year lease, from Southwark Council. This collaboration merges Ronnie's brand equity and digital infrastructure with Peckham's low overhead model. This is a shrewd response to the UK grassroots crisis where 43% operated at losses in 2023. With affordable ticket prices at £15, this is a strategy based volume that targets accessibility beyond Soho's premium positioning.

The EFG London Jazz Festival's sponsorship package strengthens the foundation. EFG Private Bank has backed the Festival since 2008 and recently extended their title partnership until 2028. The Festival attracts over 100,000 attendees and generates 926.5 million press impressions. The reach gives sponsors unparalleled access to artists and brand alignment. Ronnie's Peckham initiative taps into this credibility to prototype satellite programming in emerging neighbourhoods, creating a scalable template. Meaning that flagship power is used to activate underutilised spaces without having to make a massive capital investment. Ronnie’s latest development parallels, Upstairs at Ronnie's which opens in February 2026, the club's largest transformation since 2005.

Peckham Levels’ humble beginnings from a parking structure has expanded into an entrepreneurial incubator where ceramists, musicians, and social enterprises cross-subsidise each other in a sustainable way. Ronnie Scott's partnership validates co-creation over competition, signaling that cultural investment recognises where innovation lives. As grassroots venues fight survival through community shares, partnerships like this demonstrate how established brands catalyse local ecosystems. South London is writing the playbook for sustainable venue partnerships in 2025.

Find out more here - https://peckhamlevels.org 

https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk

LINGUISTIC TAPESTRY - WORDS OF THE WEEK 

English Word:
Cilium
Pronunciation: /ˈsɪl.i.əm/
Definition:  A short, hair-like membrane protrusion extending from the surface of many types of eukaryotic cells. Often found lining respiratory tissues, where they sweep away particles and mucus.
Cultural Note: The term captures the ancient observation that these microscopic structures resemble the delicate hairs fringing the eye. The etymology reveals how early naturalists understood nature through metaphor. The eye's protective lashes became the metaphorical language for cellular architecture.

Kenyan (Swahili) Word:
Harambee
Pronunciation: /hɑːrɑːmˈbe/
Definition:  A Kenyan philosophy and rallying cry meaning "all pull together" in Swahili. It represents the communal effort where individuals come together to collectively accomplish a shared goal.
Cultural Note: What began as spontaneous village gatherings to raise funds for local infrastructure evolved into a formalised movement symbolising Kenya's journey from colonial rule to self-determination.

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