“Doing something like this – showing up and surprising people so they can interact with their bank in a different way to just logging in and checking their money – is a way to do more for our customers,” said Emily Lewis, head of growth for the UK and Ireland at Revolut. “It’s a bit of guerilla marketing.”
Earlier this month, the Canary Wharf-based bank staged a takeover in front of its global headquarters in Reuters Plaza, parking a Formula One racing car in a glass-sided shipping container outside for Wharfers to admire.
Photos were snapped and give-aways were queued for, but the stunt had a wider purpose.
In addition to celebrating the bank’s status as title partner to the Audi Revolut F1 Team, the pop-up showcased the unveiling of a market-leading boosted interest rate of 5% AER (variable) on its Instant Access Savings Account.
The introductory offer is available for new customers on deposits of up to £25,000 who sign up before August 4, 2026.
The rate runs until December 4 this year.
Emily Lewis, head of growth for the UK and Ireland at Revolut – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
accelerating the savings
“Bringing the Audi show car out is a nice way for them to get involved,” said Emily.
“Canary Wharf was the first stop on our UK tour with dates all around the country through to June 30.
“We know that following sports like F1 can be expensive and our instant access account is designed to make saving much easier.
“The 5% rate is the most competitive on the market and we don’t lock your money away.
“With our account, interest is paid daily and people can withdraw their money with no penalties – it doesn’t impact the rate.
“For example, I was the budget master for a friend’s hen do – I wanted to keep the money people were paying towards it separate from my own savings to avoid any confusion.
“I opened a separate account with Revolut, which is very quick, and transferred the funds in.
“From there we earned daily interest on those funds and were able to spend them together on the hen do.”
Crowds gather at Revolut’s pop-up – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
growing Revolut’s operation
Founded at Level39 in Canary Wharf in 2015 by Nikolay Storonsky and Vlad Yatsenko, the company has gone from small startup to having its name atop the YY London tower in a decade.
“When you’re a digital bank, having the concrete legitimacy of a building is a good thing,” said Emily, who worked for THG before joining Revolut four years ago.
“Having that visibility helps.
“Working with distinguished partners such as F1 and Audi means we can further raise awareness of what we’re doing.
“In the UK, we want to be the primary bank for everyone.
“In each of our products we’re on a par with our competitors, but our aim is that there’s also an element that’s better – like reward points on your debit card spending or the speed with which you can access your money.
“It’s about educating people about what we offer so that they can make an informed decision about who they bank with.
“We’ve expanded at an amazing rate, but even with this growth we must make sure that we’re still being true to what a trusted bank should do.
“I believe introductory rates like this are helpful because they make the market more competitive.
“We see institutions battling to present the best offers, which is good for consumers.
“We’re constantly working on how Revolut can be super lucrative for existing customers and how we can reward people who have been loyal to us.”
Revolut is based at YY London in Canary Wharf – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
key details: Revolut’s savings offer
To get a Revolut Instant Access Savings Account, customers must open a Personal Current Account with the bank.
The 5% AER variable bonus rate for up to £25,000 in savings is only available to new clients who sign up before August 4, 2026.
After December 4, the savings rate reverts to the base rate of the customer’s plan (currently between 2.9% and 4%).
Taking a dip costs £10 a go, but Sea Lanes has a great deal more to offer than just splashing about.
Wharfers seeking a place to relax by the waters will find a new complex of pergolas, tin roofs, glazed weatherproof igloos and extensive seating all served by a bar and on-site kitchen.
Earlier this week, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf hosted a preview event in partnership with Canary Wharf Group complete with a friendly relay race and a chance to get a sneak peek at the facilities before the public dive in.
Sea Lanes managing director, Ross Gilbert addresses the preview event – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
for swimmers who want to try open water
“Sea Lanes began with a very simple idea – to create a stepping stone that would encourage more people to get into open water swimming and to make that accessible for everybody,” said Ross Gilbert, managing director at Sea Lanes.
“That vision was realised when we opened our pool in Brighton. Since then we’ve opened Hilsea a month ago and now Canary Wharf.
“We have six lanes and finely crafted saunas – this will be a facility that helps people to explore the wider Eden Dock.”
In addition to the floating pool, Sea Lanes also intends to offer dock swimming, paddleboarding, freediving and open water events from its base close to Newfoundland tower.
The facilities include a six-lane floating pool fed by Eden Dock – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
part of Canary Wharf’s evolution
Canary Wharf Group CEO, Shobi Khan, said the estate had been focused on the water for six years starting with the opening of the boardwalk at Harbour Quay Gardens and four years of open water swimming at Eden Dock.
He said: “Everyone who has worked on this project deserves a big round of applause.
“Two years ago some folks from Sea Lanes were present when we opened Eden Dock during a virtual monsoon – that was the start of this evolution.
“This is a unique environment and will hopefully become the envy of London.
“These really are amazing facilities that Sea Lanes has created in partnership with Canary Wharf Group.”
There are on-site saunas for swimmers to warm up in – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
inspiring for London
Also attending the preview was deputy mayor of London for environment and energy, Mete Coban.
He said: “What I think this project here today does is to inspire the whole city.
“We need to reimagine how we can use spaces to make London healthier – a place people can thrive in. I don’t know how to swim.
“I was one of those people who didn’t have access to affordable swimming lessons when I was growing up.
“This and access to nature are still big racial and social justice issues today.
“One of the things we will be doing in the capital is selecting specific sites where we’ll take inspiration from this vision and create more access to safe swimming, because we know that 700,000 Londoners currently do not know how to swim.
“It isn’t just about having the infrastructure, however, it’s about the work that happens with the community so they feel a sense of ownership.
“This is a flagship project and I want to thank Canary Wharf Group and Sea Lanes because it takes real courage to be able to imagine these spaces – what it was then and what it is now.”
Sea Lanes Canary Wharf includes extensive hospitality facilities with a bar and fresh food offering – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
The labels on the bottles of wine Vagabond makes itself come decorated with ink sketches of a fox.
As to why, Christobell Giles said the species was a good fit for the brand – curious, adventurous and able to thrive in unexpected places.
“It’s also an animal that’s come from the countryside into the city and flourished, which is similar to what we’re doing with our new urban winery in Canada Water – taking grapes grown in the UK and turning them into wonderful wines in London,” she said.
The facility is the brand’s second winemaking site in the capital, but it’s on a bigger scale than the Battersea Power Station operation and, along with a forthcoming return to Canary Wharf, feels part of a newly energised expansion.
Originally conceived as a wine shop in 2010, the business evolved into a series of bar and tasting venues with self-serve machines enabling guests to sample an extensive range of bottles in small measures or by the glass.
The pandemic wasn’t kind to the operation, however, and the company collapsed into administration in 2024, battling debts built up over Covid and rising costs.
It appointed Christobell – who’d joined Vagabond in 2023 as operations director – to the role of managing director to oversee the chain’s growth.
Vagabond managing directo, Christobell Giles – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
bitten by the hospitality bug
“I have to pinch myself sometimes,” she said. “I studied law at Birmingham University, specialising in French law.
“I did a year in Bordeaux – I didn’t even like wine before I went, but the students there said they would get me into it and it was amazing.
“You could jump on a train for €5 and take the free tram around the vineyards – a day out in one of the best wine regions in the world.
“That’s where it started for me.”
Bitten by the hospitality bug, she joined Mitchells And Butlers and spent 20 years in the sector working with brands such as Megan’s and Wagamama.
“I loved operations – being out and about and seeing people,” she said.
“It was a constant change of scenery and always new problems to deal with.
“At its heart, Vagabond has always been about connecting people to wine.
“Just as offering food was a natural evolution of what it was doing to start with, the next step was asking whether we should be bringing the production closer to our customers so they can see how what they are drinking is made.
“London has been a wine trading centre for centuries, so allowing people to touch the process, to see it in the city, felt natural.
“Vagabond started making wine in 2017 but, in the last couple of years, we found we were running out of what we were bottling and selling.
“That’s why we started looking for a new site.
Vagabond winemaker, José Quintana – image by Saltwick Media
“José Quintana, our winemaker, and I had this vision of a beautiful, bright, airy space with big windows – somewhere with a warehouse feel that was still at the heart of a community.
“We imagined people coming down from their flats and buying bottles of wine to take away, or maybe coming to enjoy a rosé made in London on the benches outside.
“This was before we even started looking – we were making the space up in our heads.
“We were working with British Land at Broadgate in Liverpool Street and were invited to take a look at Canada Water.
“When we saw the space in the Dock Shed building, it was everything.
“It had high ceilings, we could put a mezzanine in where people could sit and see the wine being made.
“There was space for a big wine tasting table and plenty of room for all the equipment – it was exactly what we wanted.”
Launched in December, the 6,000sq ft venue is hitting its stride, realising the potential of its 100-tonne cellar, extensive winemaking facilities and its drinking and dining spaces.
It offers more than 100 wines by the glass as well as a menu of nibbles, sharing plates and platters of cheese, charcuterie or both.
The winery itself offers tours, tastings and masterclasses (some of which also feature cheese) and is available to hire for parties, celebrations and even weddings.
The urban winery boasts a wide range of equipment and facilities – image by Saltwick Media
extending production
“Expanding our operation here feels like the right step,” said Christobell.
“We’re going to be doing some really cool stuff over the next 12 months.
“This September will be the first harvest we’ll process here since we moved in.
“We’re also experimenting with how we make wine, because we want to be at the forefront of urban vinification.
“We already have a beautiful concrete egg, which gets lots of attention, and José has his mind set on bringing in all sorts of other vessels – clay, or a barrel with a glass lid so people can see the wine fermenting – to help us show how English grapes are turned into wine and to find out how they respond to different methods.
“Our general rule for sourcing grapes is that they are grown within two hours of London and we’ve worked with vineyards in Oxfordshire, Kent, Sussex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
“The nice thing about not having our own is that we can source different areas of the country and decide what wines we want to make – we’re not limited to one particular soil type.
“Hopefully we’ll be making lots of award-winning wines here for many years to come.
“We sell all of our wines through our bars and our website, so producing in London works on a business level for us, but we think it’s so important to be able to present the grape-to-glass journey for people in the place that they live.
“My favourite is our Solena (£35 per bottle online) – it’s a really interesting orange wine that’s made from Ortega grapes using a system where you blend newer wine with older vintages to get the taste you want.”
Vagabond’s bars offer an extensive range of wines by the glass via self-serve machines – image by Saltwick Media
expanding the brand
Vagabond closed its Cabot Square bar in 2024, but the brand is set to return to Canary Wharf with a new branch in Water Street later this year.
The new opening will be located in the unit recently vacated by Mildred’s and will feature two floors of wine machines and plenty of outdoor seating.
Wharfers will be able to purchase and enjoy wines made just one Tube stop away when the venue is fully up and running.
Immerse LDN is set to welcome its latest exhibition, House Of Dreamers, in June 2026.
Created by designers Elena and Giulia Sella, the attraction invites visitors to explore a series of 16 immersive installations, spread across 27,000sq ft of space.
The exhibition comes to London with an AI-based update, after being seen by more than 2million people in four European cities.
Guests of all ages are promised “an emotional journey into the world of dreams” via a blend of design, colour and technology.
New for London, visitors are invited to interact with “AI-powered moments” throughout the exhibition using House Of Dreamers’ DreamBand wearable devices, designed to personalise each experience in real time, meaning no two trips to the attraction are alike.
Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the exhibition – image supplied by House Of Dreamers
from Europe to London
“London represents a strategic milestone for House Of Dreamers and a key step in its international expansion,” said Andrea Cecchi, CEO of Postology, the exhibition’s producer.
“After Milan, Rome, Madrid and Paris, we chose London because it is one of the world’s leading creative capitals, where innovation, entertainment and international business converge and shape the future of immersive experiences.
“To bring this vision to life, we chose Immerse LDN at Excel London – the capital’s newest immersive entertainment district and the UK’s largest destination dedicated to such entertainment.
“Its international positioning made it the ideal partner to host House Of Dreamers on a global stage.”
The attraction features AI technology designed to personalise visitors’ experiences – image supplied by House Of Dreamers
building on a legacy
Immerse LDN is the UK’s largest immersive entertainment district and occupies space along Excel London’s extensive waterfront overlooking the Royal Docks.
Extending to some 160,000sq ft, it features multiple venue spaces that have welcomed more than 1.7million visitors since launch.
Previous attractions have included Jurassic World: The Exhibition, The Friends Experience: The One In London, Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition and The Formula 1 Exhibition.
“We’re thrilled to welcome another internationally acclaimed experience to Immerse LDN and to be collaborating with the visionary team at House of Dreamers,” said Damian Norman, director at Immerse LDN.
“In its short time since opening, Immerse LDN has brought more than 10 innovative immersive experiences to the capital, all showcasing London’s credentials as a global hub for immersive entertainment and activations.”
The exhibition will be in east London from June until September – image supplied by House Of Dreamers
key details: House Of Dreamers
House Of Dreamers is set to open at Immerse LDN on June 26, 2026.
Ticket prices for the exhibition start at £15.90 and dates through to the end of September are available.
The attraction will be open daily from 10am on weekdays and from 9am at weekends.
Released under the name Waterside, the apartments are already proving popular with buyers with 11 reserving properties over the launch weekend.
One, two and three-bedroom homes are currently available through the scheme, with prices starting at £82,125 for a 25% share in a one-bed.
Buyers can expect balconies and larger properties that are both dual aspect and feature views over either the London skyline or Southmere Lake.
Kitchens come with integrated Bosch appliances and white units, while bathrooms are clad in grey porcelain with black hardware and white sanitaryware.
Peabody says shared ownership properties can be secured with a deposit of as little as £8,312 with projected monthly outgoings of £1,175.
The properties feature private balconies – image supplied by Peabody New Homes
a tranquil focus
“We are excited to have launched our new Shared Ownership collection at Southmere, designed to make aspirational waterside living more accessible to prospective homebuyers,” said Raquel Soares, assistant director of sales strategy, intelligence and compliance at Peabody New Homes.
“With Southmere Lake providing a tranquil focus for the area, our Waterside collection at Southmere places buyers at the heart of this growing neighbourhood.
“Close to exciting new amenities, exceptional transport links and extensive greenery, Southmere delivers the benefits of buying in one of the capital’s most dynamic regeneration areas.
“We encourage potential buyers to register their interest as soon as possible to be among the first to find out more.”
Abbey Wood is still near the beginning of a massive regeneration project that will see the area completely transformed.
A show home interior at Waterside in Peabody’s Southmere scheme – image supplied by Peabody New Homes
connections to Southmere
The arrival of the Elizabeth Line places it within 12 minutes of Canary Wharf. The area also benefits from rail services and a DLR extension to North Thamesmead has been proposed, to further boost connectivity.
Right now, however, new local amenities have already come on stream.
Part of the Southmere scheme, Cygnet Square hosts monthly markets and events while residents are also able to access The Nest Library And Community Space.
The Lakeside Centre, also on the lake, hosts artists studios operated by charity Bow Arts and the Thamesmead Social Cafe.
The area has a striking amount of green space to explore, extending to some 240 acres with Thamesmead home to a further four lakes and at least 7km of canals as well as a river path along the Thames.
key details: Southmere
Pricing for homes in the shared ownership collection at Southmere start at £83,125 for a 25% stake in a one-bedroom apartment, based on a full market value of £332,500
West India Quay company offers cooking and cruising on its BBQ Boats, relaxed exploration on its Hot Tub Boats and contrast therapy aboard its Sauna Boats
As the weather warms up, Skuna is gearing up for barbecue season with its BBQ Boats at West India Quay in Canary Wharf – image supplied by Skuna
Summer party season is rapidly approaching as the weather warms and Wharfers turn their thoughts to socialising in the sunshine.
Whether organising a full-blown corporate event or something smaller, the key to success is often opting for a memorable venue – a place that offers an experience like no other.
Operating from West India Quay, Skuna does exactly that.
First there are its BBQ Boats, offering gentle cruising on the waters of the dock for up to 10 diners.
These come complete with a central grill where guests can cook their own ingredients or indulge in a range of packages.
Then there are the Hot Tub Boats, craft filled with heated fresh water that can be sailed widely in the canals and basins that make up the West India Dock complex.
Finally, there are three Sauna Boats offering communal or private contrast therapy with spaces heated by wood-fired stoves and cold plunges on the roof of the main vessel.
All are available for hire in a multitude of ways, with Skuna even offering parties the opportunity to combine experiences across its extensive fleet.
Each vessel can take up to 10 passengers with a maximum of 100 across the BBQ Boat fleet – image supplied by Skuna
cooking together
“It’s National Barbecue Week at the end of May and in celebration, we’re launching a whole array of new food packages for our BBQ Boats,” said Stuart “Tommo” Thomson, Skuna’s founder.
“These include the British Barbecue with hot dogs, beefburgers and a variety of sides such as potato salad and slaw all prepared in-house.
“Then there’s the Mediterranean package with incredible wraps, lamb, garnishes, dips, grilled aubergine and a halloumi hot dog.
“We’ll also be introducing our Surf And Turf, with tuna steaks, king prawns, chicken and sirloin steaks.
“We have 10 boats so we can have 100 people on the water at any one time.
“Across the whole business, we can accommodate about 160 guests for a multi-boat event including hot tubs and saunas.
“Barbecue is a great way to cook together and also a wonderful way to collaborate making it perfect for corporate events.”
Skuna’s Hot Tub Boats have become a familiar sight in Canary Wharf’s waterways – image supplied by Skuna
an immersive experience
Skuna is now in its eighth year hiring vessels in the waters around Canary Wharf having started with its hot tub boats – a familiar sight in the area.
Tommo said: “They’re still my favourite experience – they really put a smile on people’s faces.
“This will be our fifth season with the BBQ Boats and they’re growing and growing in popularity.
“We love large group bookings and we’ve had companies hire the whole fleet for summer parties in the past – it’s the ideal summer activity where people can combine, socialising, sailing, dining and drinking in one.
“Sauna Boat is our latest offering. Designed in Scandinavia, they have large glass walls so people can enjoy the heat while looking out over the dock. It’s really relaxing.
“We have one large one and two smaller ones that can accommodate up to six people each.”
The business also offers contrast therapies aboard its Sauna Boats – image supplied by Skuna
for individual or group hire
All of Skuna’s boats can be hired individually or booked in blocks to accommodate larger parties, events or celebrations including birthdays, anniversaries and even weddings.
“During the colder months, the business converts its BBQ Boats into Igloo Boats and serves fondues.
“We’re currently looking at expanding our existing fleet and we’re always on the lookout for new water-based experiences we can bring to our customers,” said Tommo.
“For me, the more that happens on the water, the more interesting Canary Wharf becomes as a place to visit, have fun and entertain.”
There are cold plunge facilities on the sauna’s roof – image supplied by Skuna
One of the key elements of Wharf Wellness is bringing people together to share experiences, knowledge and skills.
Dr Pippa Wood is a Canary Wharf-based personal trainer at Third Space and a practising psychologist – one of a number of experts set to take part in a panel discussion as part of the festival at 6pm on June 23, 2026 at Sea Lanes Canary Wharf.
Entitled Wellness Or Performance? Are We Driving Ourselves Into Exhaustion? the public event will consider changing attitudes to exercise and activity.
The other panellists will be Poppy Delbridge, founder of Rapid Tapping, Ross Gilbert, managing director of Sea Lanes, Zanna Van Dijk a content creator and author of Strong and host Adrienne Adhami of the Power Hour Podcast.
“Earlier on in my career, people would come to me with more aesthetic-focused goals – they wanted to get leaner and build more muscle,” said Pippa.
“Now, what I’m seeing with the majority of my PT clients is that they want to train for longevity, general health and wellbeing.
“They might be looking to address lower back pain, knee pain or low energy levels.
“They’re mindful of what may occur in the future, so they’re looking at exercise from a preventative standpoint – it’s a welcome change.”
Pippa grew up in Leeds and dabbled in dancing but “wasn’t very sporty”.
She started going to the gym as a teenager and found she really enjoyed it, experimenting with different classes and feeling good.
She’d also train with her rugby-playing dad every Saturday.
Third Space’s two clubs in Canary Wharf offer a wide range of facilities and classes at all levels of intensity – image by Third Space
discovering the gym
She said: “He was born in Australia and has always been active, so I followed that model and eventually got there.
“Exercise became a really big part of my life – it was energising and left me feeling ready to study.”
After qualifying as a trainer, studying psychology in London and completing her PhD in resilience and mental wellbeing in Leeds, she relocated to Australia.
Taking in Sydney and the Gold Coast “over five or six years” she engaged in further clinical training as a psychologist and worked in private practice before moving back to the UK.
In London she’s reinvigorated her role as a trainer alongside her work in mental health, separately but with each discipline informing the other.
“As a psychologist, I often see people in a clinical setting for treatment of anxiety and depression,” she said.
“When people incorporate more movement in their lives, the therapeutic benefits are very evident, especially when they set themselves relevant and achievable goals.
“From a physiological perspective, even 15 minutes of activity can do so much for the brain.
“It pumps more oxygenated blood, delivering dopamine, serotonin and endorphins to make us feel great.
“My background in psychology and my PhD have been super helpful in my career, whether it’s treating clients or on the gym floor.
“What I found in the research is that training harder isn’t always better, from a mental health perspective.
“Training smarter and being in tune with your body is key.
“We found more significant improvements in mental health with low to moderate exercise.
“Setting yourself goals and running a marathon and achieving that can be beneficial too, but a hard regime and a structured approach isn’t always beneficial for the way you feel.”
For Wharf Wellness, Third Space is teaming up with Friday Night Lates to offer special evening classes on June 24 – image supplied by Canary Wharf Group
pursuing fitness through enjoyment
“The whole ethos of Third Space is it’s about training for life,” added Pippa.
“That includes the social aspect as well as enjoying the exercise.
“It’s good to do things because we want to, not because we feel we have to.
“That really is super important.
“That’s one of the reasons I wanted to work at Third Space.
“My partner had brought me over to Canary Wharf and I just fell in love with the place.
“At the two clubs, people will experience very warm and welcoming spaces that offer a wide variety of classes to meet an incredible range of needs.
“The advice I give people is to keep an open mind and try different things to see what you like.
“Enjoying yourself is vital and it will help give you the confidence to navigate the equipment on gym floor.
“The feel is supportive – we’re all part of the same community working towards the same goal.”
key details: Wharf Wellness
Wellness Or Performance? Are We Driving Ourselves Into Exhaustion? is set to take place on June 23, 2026, at 6pm at Sea Lanes Canary Wharf.
Being unable to decode complicated written texts can affect all areas of a person’s life.
The charity says people with poor literacy are twice as likely to be unemployed and, for those in work, earn 60% less on average than those able to read well.
Then there are many wider social impacts – the challenges faced by children when their parents struggle with literacy, the shame and stigma the adults feel when masking a lack of ability and the extreme social exclusion of simply not having access to the same information as everybody else.
Worse still, marginalised communities are among the worst affected including ethnic minorities, ex-offenders and those living in poverty.
To help break those cycles, the trust recruits volunteers to act as reading coaches for adults.
Working with learning providers, they take part in free one-to-one sessions for people on courses to help them improve their skills, gain confidence and boost their employability and general wellbeing.
Being able to decode the written word is an essential life skill – image by Megan Lee / Pexels
giving something back
“My father left school at 13, so his education was interrupted,” said Declan Cashin, who volunteers as a reading coach through the Adult Literacy Trust at New City College’s Poplar campus.
“He could read, but it probably held him back.
“I’ve made a career out of reading and writing, I know the joy they can bring and how important these skills are, but I also understand how vulnerable someone can feel if they’re having trouble with them.
“I’ve been involved in voluntary work before, but that was usually over the phone or through text messaging.
“I missed interacting with people and being a reading coach is something you have to do in person, so it seemed the perfect thing to try.”
Born in Ireland, Declan knew he wanted to become a journalist at a young age but initially studied English at university after a teacher talked him out of it.
Nevertheless, after graduating he trained to be a reporter and spent years working in the media, moving to London more than a decade and a half ago.
Today he lives in Hackney and works in communications in Stratford having succumbed to the lure of a “steady desk job”.
Having discovered the Adult Literacy Trust online, he applied to become a volunteer, enrolled on its training programme and began one-to-one sessions earlier this year.
from interview to training
“The trust had an initial chat with me and then invited me for an interview to get a sense of my style and temperament – to ensure I had the right approach and level of empathy for the role,” said Declan.
“Part of that process was about remembering what it was like to learn a skill, recalling being bad at something and then learning to keep that in your head because it’s probably how the person you’re matched with will be feeling about reading.”
Volunteers, who must be 18 or older, complete training sessions across four modules that include topics such as the purpose of the coaching role, who the learners are, the skills and knowledge needed and safeguarding.
They are then matched with a reader and meet with them weekly during term time, typically for an hour.
“During training we were taken into classes at New City College to meet people who were using the trust’s service and to see how they were responding to it,” said Declan.
“One of the things I noticed was how much more seriously everyone seemed to be taking their education in comparison to a school classroom.
“These people are really dedicated.
“Older students often have many responsibilities – multiple jobs, kids and studying – and on top of that they’re taking time to improve their literacy.
“It’s incredible to see people making that effort to succeed.
“I learnt that people often come to the Adult Literacy Trust when they are aiming to get a particular job or responsibility within their career and that further education is a route to that.”
Declan said that, while those using the trust’s services were struggling with literacy, that didn’t mean they couldn’t read at all.
meeting for the first time
“I was matched with a learner from the charity’s waiting list and we met for our first session just to get to know one another,” said Declan.
“He was born overseas and came to the UK as a teenager, so his schooling was interrupted.
“His reading was actually already very good, but he wanted to gain confidence. He was also very clear that he wanted to maximise what he was getting from his course at the college.
“We sit in the library and read.
“At first we used the Metro newspaper because there are passages of different lengths and lots of different levels of complexity – everything from features to advertorials and sports stories.
“It was a good way to get a sense of his ability and what he was interested in, and then I could start to tailor the material.
“A couple of weeks later he brought his own book from home, and we’ve been reading some of that for the last few weeks.
“He knows what his issues are and what he needs to work on.
“He’ll run into certain words he needs to spend longer on.
“He can read very well, but it’s making sure the comprehension is there too.
“One of the things I’ve learnt from volunteers and the trust is that it’s crucial to make sure the learners are understanding what they are reading.
“It’s something that’s easy to take for granted if you don’t have that issue yourself.
“People want to improve their skills for many different reasons.
“It might be to read for themselves for pleasure, reading to their kids, understanding official documents or reading material related to their studies.
“We’re not there as teachers – we always refer learners back to their course leader to answer any questions on their studies – we’re there to help them develop the tools to engage with text, to break it down and to understand it.
“You certainly don’t have to be an expert on what they are studying.
“In the end, all you need to be is patient and constructive with your feedback to encourage them.
“English is a strange, irregular language – it’s not always easy to understand. With my guy, we go at his pace.
“We’ve been reading his book for the last few weeks.
“There might be certain words we need to spend longer on but that’s absolutely fine.
“Sometimes it’s about helping him understand that something isn’t actually very well written in the first place and why that might be.
“Getting through a few paragraphs is better than none.
“His book is quite academic and complicated, but seeing him dive into it and his confidence growing has been really wonderful.”
getting something back
Declan said volunteering with the charity had been a pleasant surprise since he began as a coach.
“It’s very rewarding,” he said.
“I get to come to New City College, which is so buzzy – filled with people who are getting on with things.
“It’s allowed me to meet people I perhaps wouldn’t have otherwise encountered and taking an hour out of my day to help someone is a real privilege.
“You also learn about yourself – how good you are at giving feedback and putting people at ease.
“It’s also about getting involved with something local that connects you to the people in the area you live and work in.
“I’ve got so much out of it, I come out of our weekly session feeling really pumped up.
“Everyone – the learners and the volunteers – are in this for the right reasons and it’s really inspiring.”
they say
The Adult Literacy Trust gathers regular feedback from service users. Here are some of their comments on the sessions it provides:
“It helps me to catch more, you know, so, with my teacher, I can ask him more questions. So, he is explaining more about what I’m interested in and I can talk with him about whatever I wish. It’s helping me a lot to improve my English.”
“Learning to read has opened so many doors for me. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but my volunteer, Janine, stuck with me through it all. She never stopped encouraging me.”
“Because of her, I found the courage to apply for a job I never thought was possible – and I landed it. This programme has helped me read, but it’s much more than that – it’s been a turning point in my life.”
“Before, when they say we should read in class, well, I tried to put myself back. But now when it gets to my turn to read, I’m happy to, even if I make one mistake.”
“It helps you with your mental health and wellbeing because you are reading with someone that will listen to you. It’s really helpful to become, for a moment, separate from all the hustle and bustle around you.”
Source: Adult Literacy Trust
key details: Adult Literacy Trust
The Adult Literacy Trust is currently accepting applications from prospective volunteers for training sessions in September.
Those wishing to find out more can email the charity’s volunteer and training coordinator via laura@alt.org.uk for more details or visit the organisation’s website here.
Buyers considering a move to Greenwich Peninsula have, in many senses, got everything laid out before them.
The area is home to the The O2 – the world’s most successful indoor arena, as measured by ticket sales – and it’s exactly these kinds of local facilities that make it an increasingly attractive place to put down roots.
Homes are currently on sale at Prime Point – a development by housing association L&Q located on West Parkside between Mary Magdalene All Through School and Central Park.
The scheme includes two bronze towers with the largest topping out at 29 storeys as well as lower rise brick-clad buildings.
Inside properties range from studios to three-bedroom apartments with prices starting at £399,950.
Buyers can expect floor-to-ceiling glazing, private outdoor space for all apartments and fully fitted kitchens with integrated Siemens and Bosch appliances.
The development also boasts a private roof terrace with views over the surrounding area, a lounge and a concierge service.
Located on Greenwich Peninsula, the homes are surrounded by an ever-growing complement of amenities – image supplied by L&Q
Prime Point has been ‘well received’
“We’re delighted to be delivering more new homes in Greenwich Peninsula – an exciting, fast-growing destination neighbourhood,” said Claire Brenlund, L&Q sales and marketing director.
“Sales at Prime Point have been well received and we expect continued strong demand here.
“Residents will have everything they need right on their doorstep, with many enjoying spectacular views of the City and beyond – making this the perfect place for a mix of local people, city workers and professionals to call home.”
There are multiple ways to secure an apartment at Prime Point, with L&Q offering those who reserve a property before May 31, 2026, a contribution of up to £29,750 towards stamp duty and £10,000 towards buying costs.
The housing association also offers a Rate Reducer scheme aimed at bringing down monthly mortgage costs.
Perhaps the greatest incentive to consider an apartment at Prime Point, however, is the location itself.
Well connected, the development is about eight minutes’ walk from North Greenwich Tube station, offering rapid connections to Canary Wharf, Stratford and the City via the Jubilee line.
The Peninsula is also well served by Uber Boat By Thames Clippers’ river bus services and the IFS Cable Car which takes passengers over the river to Royal Docks.
As the regeneration of the area continues, residents will benefit not only from the entertainment, shopping and drinking and dining venues in The O2, but a succession of other venues.
Design District delivers on street food and workspace alongside recent arrival The Dial, a microbrewery that’s seen Meantime return to making beer in the borough.
Other notable local attractions include luxury hotel complex Intercontinental The O2, cultural hub the Firepit Gallery and sailing venue the Greenwich Yacht Club.
The development also benefits from plentiful open space with multiple pathways, parks and locations to explore, all bounded by the Thames with views across to Royal Docks, Blackwall, the Isle Of Dogs and Canary Wharf to enjoy while out and about.
Buyers can expect fully fitted kitchens with integrated Siemens and Bosch appliances – image supplied by L&Q
key details: Prime Point
Homes at Prime Point on Greenwich Peninsula are on sale now through L&Q. Prices start at £399,950 for a studio apartment.
Regeneration was very much the word when the Canary Wharf project was starting out.
But 35 years after One Canada Square was officially opened, it’s renewal and evolution that are everywhere.
Quietly, across the estate, structures that have stood for most of the last three decades have been refurbished and improved.
Some have been less obvious – 25 Cabot Square and One Cabot Square don’t look all that different from the outside but have enjoyed internal improvements.
Similarly, Citi’s £1billion refit of 25 Canada Square is also largely an internal affair that won’t massively alter the skyline.
But that’s not the only approach.
30 South Colonnade, once home to Reuters, has been transformed into YY London with glass and metal preferred as a much more open facade to the dated white marble cladding.
This striking glow-up was enough to attract Revolut as anchor tenant with Deutsche Bank and Until as neighbours.
25 North Colonnade has also had a polish, a rebrand as Cargo and may soon be back on the market for £250million having been fully let by owner Blackstone.
Canary Wharf Group itself is currently consulting on plans for a radical overhaul of 8 Canada Square, currently occupied by HSBC and possibly in line for a new life as a mixed use scheme with chunks carved out of its upper levels.
Canary Wharf Group development manager Sarah Moss is part of the team working on One Eden – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
a new identity: One Eden
But perhaps the poster-child for the estate’s latest rebirth – a process that’s clearly playing a part in the rush of companies relocating to or within the Wharf – should be One Eden.
Located right opposite YY London, there are plans to take 33 Canada Square, originally part of Citi’s cluster, and give the structure its own identity at the head of Eden Dock.
The reason for this is that Canary Wharf Group’s approach to urban renewal schemes of this kind is significantly more complex than simply getting out the paint pots and laying some new carpet.
To find out more, Wharf Life sat down with development manager Sarah Moss, part of the team working on One Eden.
“With this kind of project, it’s about looking at an existing building with really brilliant bones and asking how we can transform it into a sustainable office space suitable for companies to use today and in the future,” she said.
“It’s my job, day-to-day, to deal with the architecture, that sustainability mission and to engage with occupiers so we can bring all these things together and make a really great product for our stakeholders.
“At present, Citi staff are using the building as they prepare to move into the tower next door when it’s refurbished so we’re gearing up to redevelop One Eden so a new occupier can move straight in.
“With schemes like this, it’s always a decision to be made – do you let the building as-is, do you do a light refurbishment or a major reinvention?
“We’ve looked at the market, at Canary Wharf and what we want this asset to be. It’s right in the middle of the estate and has such great potential to be a better class of building.
“Responding to occupier demand, we think we can deliver something really great for our customers.
“Our conclusion is that it’s a really well-structured building that can be made more sustainable.”
energy and regeneration
Originally from Australia, Sarah has spent the last eight years working in development in various roles for Lendlease, which brought her to the UK in 2022.
She joined Canary Wharf Group after a spell at British Land about seven months ago.
“Britain has these incredible regeneration projects and to be involved in them as part of my career was a real drive for me to come here,” she said.
“Canary Wharf was always somewhere we looked at when I was studying and working in Australia and I love the vibrancy of London.
“There’s always something to do and the drive to get things done.
“Everyone seems really engaged and excited to do things whether that’s working on projects like this or their social lives.
“I love the energy that the city brings.”
It’s not too much of a stretch to say that Canary Wharf Group’s plans for One Eden are squarely aimed at bringing fresh energy into the building.
Sarah said: “One of the really innovative features that we’re intending to bring to the tower is opening up an entrance on its lower level – so it’s right there when you emerge from the Jubilee line.
“It should really help the building come alive, creating new connections and allowing people to walk through.
“One of the things about the building is that it’s so well situated and we’re looking at including three retail spaces in the face of the building.
“That activation of the ground floor will be great – we know our occupiers value the friendliness it brings to a building and we want their staff and clients to feel that as well as making the spaces more permeable.”
retain and reuse
In addition to the changes on the lower levels, the plans include an extra floor with a pavilion structure and terrace, capping off the existing tower.
Sarah said: “We’re also looking at making the building a really functional space with end-of-trip facilities such as showers and bike storage for commuters coming in.
One of the most important things is that we’re modernising the structure in a sustainable way, re-using 97% of the substructure and superstructure.”
The plans would see One Eden become fully electric, with 62,000 tonnes of existing concrete retained in the structure and 47% less carbon produced in construction when compared with a new-build.
The project is targeting BREEAM Outstanding certification and will include 25,575sq ft of internal balconies and terraces laced with greenery as well as 19,644sq ft of outdoor terrace space.
Overall, One Eden comprises 545,000sq ft of workspace.
future-proofing the project
Making a space for workers of the future is also an opportunity to keep an eye on the future.
Undertaking this project has meant Canary Wharf Group delving into its paper archives to understand the existing structure so, as part of the renewal, much better records of the scheme will be created to aid similar refits in the decades to come.
Sarah said: “While the existing materials we have are excellent, we’ve been taking this opportunity to implement a really structured system of building information management.
“Everything is now 3D-modelled and tracked so we know we have really accurate information about what’s been built so that if people want to change part of the structure they will have those details instead of having to undertake fresh investigations.
“One of the questions we ask ourselves on projects like this is how we make these buildings last longer.
“What we hope is that, by collecting this information comprehensively, it will make it easier to redesign and refit in future.”
