Church Street Newsletter - August 2026

Church Street Masquerade Brings Colour, Creativity And Community Together

From 10 to 15 August, Church Street came alive with colour, music and creativity as residents took part in the annual Church Street Masquerade, delivered by Dendê Collective as part of Westminster’s Inside Out Festival.

Over five days, local residents joined free creative workshops at Penfold Age Well Centre, designing and making giant masks and costumes, learning performance skills and helping to prepare for a community walkabout. Participants came together to share ideas, learn new skills and celebrate the diverse cultures that make Church Street unique.

The week culminated in a vibrant masquerade performance through the neighbourhood, showcasing the creativity and enthusiasm of residents. The event transformed Church Street into a lively celebration of community spirit, with colourful costumes, striking masks and joyful performances enjoyed by participants and spectators.

A big thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the Church Street Masquerade such a memorable event.

Name The Digger Competition Winners Announced

After receiving lots of imaginative entries from local children, we’re delighted to announce that the winning name for the Site A digger is Earthcrusher!

Congratulations to Jannat, aged 11, whose creative entry was chosen as the winning name. Jannat will receive a prize and the opportunity to visit the construction site to see one of the diggers carrying its new name.

Congratulations also to our runners-up:

Isac with Sir Digsalot
Luis with Sir Scoopalot

A special mention goes to our age group winners:

Ibrahim with Rodney (age 5 to 7 category)
Laith with Diggity Dawg (age 8 to 12 category)

A big thank you to all the children who took part and submitted entries. We were impressed by the creativity and imagination shown in the names we received.

The competition has been a great way to involve local young people in the Church Street construction on Site A. We look forward to seeing Earthcrusher in action on site soon.

Site A Construction Update - Tower Crane Delivery

The delivery and installation of the first tower crane at Site A which was due to be installed in mid-September has been rescheduled and is now expected to take place in November.

While this means the crane will arrive later than originally planned, work on site continues and the project team is working closely with contractors to minimise any impact on overall progress.

We will continue to provide regular updates as the project progresses and will share more information in future newsletters.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sean Kelly, Project Director, at:
[email protected] or call 07586 103325 or why not come to our next drop in where you can speak to Amy from Mount Anvil on Thursday 24 September, 3pm to 5pm at the Regeneration Space, 56 Church Street, NW8 8ET.

Name New Street On Site A And Planting Workshop

The digger naming competition showed just how creative our local young people can be, and now residents have another opportunity to help shape the future of Church Street.

On 23 September, residents are invited to join the New Street Naming and Planting workshop, where you’ll have the opportunity to help choose names for the new street and landscaped areas being created as part of the Site A development.

Led by the project’s Landscape Architect, the workshop will explore potential planting themes for the new public spaces and gather community ideas and feedback to help shape the planting design. Residents will also have the opportunity to suggest names that reflect Church Street’s history, culture and community, helping to create a lasting identity for this new part of the neighbourhood. The workshop will take place at the Church Street Triangle Pop-Up, 62 Church Street, NW8 8ET, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

Whether you’ve lived in Church Street for many years or are new to the area, we’d love to hear your ideas.

To reserve your place or find out more, please go to Site A New Street,call 020 7641 2968 or come and see us at the Regeneration Space, 56 Church Street, London NW8 8ET.

Penfold Age Well Centre Continues To Support Older Residents

The Penfold Age Well Centre (formerly the Penfold Community Hub) plays an important role in supporting the health, wellbeing and independence of older residents in Church Street and across Westminster.

In April 2026, Westminster City Council awarded the centre a new five-year contract, recognising the valuable support it provides and enabling it to continue expanding its services for local residents.

Resident feedback is at the heart of the centre’s work, helping to shape activities and services so they reflect the needs and interests of the community.

A key focus of the health and wellbeing programme is reducing isolation, improving mobility, supporting falls prevention and providing tailored activities for people living with dementia. By bringing people together in a welcoming and inclusive environment, the Penfold Age Well Centre helps older residents live healthier, more independent and connected lives.

For more information about activities and support available, contact the Centre directly.

Penfold Age Well Centre
60 Penfold Street, NW8 8PJ
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Call: 07872 811106
email: [email protected]

Free Independent Tenant & Homeowner Advice For Church Street Residents

Visit us at our drop-in sessions from 3pm to 6pm, Thursday 10 and 24 September at Derry House Hall, Penfold Street, London NW8 8HJ

If you have any questions about the regeneration or require any advice or support please get in touch.