Local heroes have a tremendous impact on their community. And SE1 has plenty of volunteers, resourceful individuals and groups of people willing to help others in their own time. During the pandemic, many local heroes in Southwark, Waterloo, Lambeth and Bermondsey went above and beyond the call of duty to help others.

So, who are these residents and organisations in SE1 who have positively impacted the local community? While there are many to choose from, we have picked out seven who live or work in South London, providing help and support to others in need.

Michelle Walker — Advocate for the Arts in Southwark

Michelle Walker was shortlisted for the Best Art Champion in 2022 for her work helping diverse communities have access to the arts and creative sector. Michelle heads Southwark’s Council’s Cultural and Events department. They liaise with the creative sector, supporting films, public art, events and location filming.

Michelle works tirelessly to reach out to communities in Southwark to open up new opportunities. In addition, the team Michelle heads supported events organisers during the pandemic, when many cultural organisations suffered due to lockdown restrictions. Part of the reason for being shortlisted was her efforts to connect with grassroots and community arts organisations.

As the nation emerges from the pandemic, the work of local heroes like Michelle will become even more vital. You can read her Twitter here

Fred — Long-time Resident of Elephant and Castle

Fred is one of the unsung heroes of SE1 and probably one of the longest-living residents of the neighbourhood. Fred is 92 and has lived within a square mile of Elephant and Castle for 90 years. One of the reasons Fred is celebrated as a local hero is his positive outlook on life. He’s also witnessed first-hand how SE1 has transformed into a thriving south London district.

Fred has always been on the lookout to help others despite having a hard life. In 1940, he helped bring soldiers back from Dunkirk. He also fought in the army in Italy and North Africa. Despite failing health, Fred enjoys regular visits organised by the South London Cares organisation. Anyone who meets Fred can’t help but be impressed by his love of life.

Brigade Bar & Kitchen

When a group of local heroes come together, the results can be impressive. That is what happened with the London Bridge restaurant. Even before the devastating impact of the pandemic, the team at the restaurant were helping homeless folks in South London.

During the COVID lockdown, the Brigade’s staff sent 500 meals a day to vulnerable people impacted by the pandemic. In addition, they set up a community helpline to offer advice and support. In doing so, they were helping an average of 80 people per week. But they did more. They also reached out to Michelin-star chefs and published a cookbook of recipes, with all funds going to support struggling hospitality workers. You can visit their website here

Michelle Thorpe — UK Homes 4 Heroes

Michelle Thorpe heads a charity dedicated to the plight of homeless ex-service personnel. The charity has a fleet of vans fitted out with a hot water boiler, microwave, and hand-washing facilities. The charity also has an outreach project to offer psychological support, clothing, and advice to homeless ex-service personnel.

Unity Music Arts Team

Another not-for-profit organisation helping communities in Bermondsey and Southwark is the Unity Music Arts Team (UMAT). This charity has been working tirelessly during the pandemic to promote talent and empower diversity. Due to the success of their strenuous efforts, the organisation won the 2020 Southwark Awards.

Even though they had to cancel many events due to the pandemic, they continued to volunteer their time to support food banks, the elderly and vulnerable people in South London. You can visit their site here

Anton Sobanski

Anton Sobanski was driving the No 40 bus across London Bridge when he was caught up in a terror attack. Not thinking about his own safety, Anton ensured all passengers on the bus were safe, and then he attended to one of the victims. Anton was just one of the unsung heroes who helped innocent people on that fateful night.

Nicholas Okwulu

Nicholas Okwulu runs the non-profit community organisation PemPeople (People Empowering People) that helps residents of Southwark make positive changes in their lives. Nicholas has done a tremendous job of empowering local people and voluntary organisations. The result is that many communities in South London are thriving. In addition, Nicholas also founded the Livesey Exchange, which aims to transform open spaces into functional areas for local residents in SE1.

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