The Bridge at Waterloo
THE BRIDGE AT WATERLOO IS A REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1167768
About Us
The Bridge at Waterloo is a secular charity located at and founded by St John’s Waterloo. Through our historic building, staff, volunteers and in partnership with our neighbourhood and other organisations, we promote community engagement, the arts, and horticulture to encourage social justice, communal involvement, inclusivity, and environmental responsibility.
The Bridge at Waterloo was founded in 2015 to work with and support marginalised communities challenging inequality on their own terms, through learning, development, empowerment, social engagement and opportunity. It aims to also develop a bridge between our participants, the cultural opportunities offered by the proximity of the South Bank and our own creative programme.
Recently, a major restoration transformed our home into an accessible performance, event and community space. Since then, we have been rededicating our energies to ensuring this historic building is being operated for the benefit of our whole community.
Why we exist
Our local area is hugely diverse but a place of significant inequality. Lambeth is home to exclusive residential, hotel and office developments, as well as some of the country’s leading cultural institutions but it is also one of the 20% most deprived local authorities in England. Unemployment is higher than the London average, almost a quarter of children live in low-income families, and life expectancy is around five years lower in the most deprived areas than in wealthy areas a few streets away. Lambeth has one of the highest levels of need for homelessness prevention across England and our garden and local neighbourhood is a temporary refuge to many rough sleepers.
What we do:
Room for You
A space to read, job search, be creative or make new friends. Every Tuesday, from 9:30am onwards, our The Bridge At Waterloo Room at St John’s is open hosting a variety of activities or simply a place to relax, have a chat over a hot drink and make use of our free WiFi.
Over the course of the day, participants can join one of our clubs all supported by our Outreach and Engagement Officer, support workers and volunteers. These include English conversation classes, a chess club, yoga and mindfulness as well communal lunch
Creative Projects
Our new exhibition and event spaces, the main nave’s excellently improved acoustics and embedded accessibility are enabling us to expand our cultural programme through diverse programming, new partnerships and an increased focus on co-creation. Since reopening, we have hosted exhibitions by artists facing repression, others with experiences of homelessness as well local creatives alongside world-class musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Southbank Sinfonia.
A weekly art class and regular events by our culture club are encouraging increased access to concerts, theatre productions and exhibitions to those who never felt creative engaged before.
Churchyard Garden
A place of sanctuary for many, including those with support needs. Our award-winning historic churchyard garden in the heart of Waterloo is cared for by a team of volunteers. Anyone can join the regular team, learn new skills and engage with a strong community of garden friends.
Our dedicated team are honoured to have won Gold awards for their work and the garden has been named Chuchyard of the Year by London in Bloom.
Our impact
average number of weekly participants across TBAW activities
He really struggles with social anxiety, and so I wasn’t even sure that he would turn up. However, as soon as he came in the door he mentioned it, so it has made a huge difference to his outlook which is great.
average number of volunteering hours every week
I feel part of a community and it gives you confidence.
artists facing marginalisation or repression exhibited work every year
You have a real sense of community, and the privilege of being alongside a diverse group of other volunteers…
Our trustees
The Revd Canon Giles Goodard
Giles Goddard is the Vicar at St John’s Waterloo, and acting-CEO of The Bridge at Waterloo. Giles was responsible for creating InSpire, a community centre at St. Peter’s Church in Walworth which has been running very successfully for 15 years. He is a former director of a housing association and trustee of several charities.
David Clarson FRICS, FAPM
David Clarson FRICS, FAPM, is the treasurer for The Bridge at Waterloo. David is the founder of, and former senior partner at, Clarson Goff Management, a trustee of Oasis Academy South Bank, and Trinity Hospice.
Zoe Stephenson
Zoe Stephenson a member of the congregation of St John’s Waterloo.
Elaine Thomas
Elaine Thomas is a Churchwarden at St John’s Waterloo. She is a retired Primary School head teacher who maintains her connection with education as a school governor of the King Alfred Federation and a trustee of the Amicable Society. Elaine is also a volunteer steward at the Globe Theatre.
Jodie Nel
Jodie Nel is the Chair of The Bridge at Waterloo. She’s Director of Customer Advocacy in the technology industry, where she leads the strategic development of customer stories and brand programmes alongside some of the world’s most recognised organisations. Her expertise spans marketing strategy, brand development and communications. Jodie is an active member of the St John’s community, where her involvement in the life of the church first drew her to the work of The Bridge at Waterloo.
Dr Daisy Powell
Dr Daisy Powell is Associate Professor in the Psychology of the Written Language at the Institute of Education, University of Reading. Her work involves research, mainly in the area of children’s reading development, teaching and supervision of doctoral students.
Caroline Heslop
Caroline’s work as teacher, composer and curator is inspired by a belief in the capacity that creativity in the arts has to improve quality of life, outlook and self-esteem. In 2018 she founded NW Live Arts to bring musicians from different cultures closer to communities across London and led as Artistic Director for six years.
Our staff
Euchar Gravina / Artistic Director
Euchar, a composer and curator, has been dedicated to creative projects fostering social justice. His work spans exhibitions, festivals, concerts, community-led events and projects focused on marginalised heritage. Partnering with human rights organisations such as Index On Censorship and PEN International, he brings creativity intertwined with advocacy.