Local Investment

British Land is a long term investor in the Canada Water area, and we are committed to working with the community to ensure that the masterplan delivers a range of long-term benefits for those who live, work and visit here, both now and in the future. We have been thinking about the Canada Water Masterplan’s legacy along four themes, and below are some examples of our projects in each area. You can also visit our FAQs page and find out more on our local investment within the community.
Edible Rotherhithe
Education

Edible Rotherhithe

British Land supported Edible Rotherhithe’s architecture and design school which ran over Autumn 2018 on the Silverlock Estate.The programme welcomed a group of nine local young people aged 16-24 to a week of hands-on learning and training where they created a mobile classroom for the Edible Rotherhithe gardening club. The free summer school was a pilot launched to give young people living, studying or accessing community services in the local area the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and experience in the built environment. Participants benefited from practical experience of designing and building by working to a brief and exhibiting their work at the end of the programme.

Visit the project website for more information.

Wider Education Initiatives
Education

Wider Education Initiatives

Alongside these initiatives we also work with several schools locally by giving talks, supporting careers fairs or volunteering as governors. We’re a sponsor of Pathways to Property, a national programme which aims to encourage young people from diverse backgrounds into careers in the property industry, and includes a summer school at the University of Reading and work placements. We’ve also volunteered with Bacon’s College students as part of our last two community days, aiming to give them an insight into the property sector, and to hear their ideas about the Canada Water area.

Big Local Works: Benefits Guidance Clinics
Employment

Big Local Works: Benefits Guidance Clinics

We’re supporting local charity Big Local Works to run a 1:1 benefits and welfare support service for SE16 residents who are in need of support and advice. The primary focus of the clinics is to help clients receive the right financial support, but advisors also offer support to identify alternative options where appropriate, such as employment and training opportunities, as part of the Canada Water Masterplan and further afield.

Based in Thrive in Surrey Quays Leisure Park, the weekly clinics run every Wednesday from 10am-4pm. Email [email protected] to book an appointment, or visit Big Local Works’ website here.

London Bubble: Young Theatre Makers
Employment

London Bubble: Young Theatre Makers

We support London Bubble’s Young Theatre Makers project, which works with young people to use drama and theatre techniques to support mental health and wellbeing, building resilience, self-esteem and self-awareness.

Shaping Southwark’s Future
Employment

Shaping Southwark’s Future

Together with United St Saviour’s Charity, Southwark Construction Skills Centre and Construction Youth Trust, we launched the Shaping Southwark’s Future programme, an education and employment partnership which aims to tackle construction employment issues and make young people aware of the opportunities within the construction sector.

Career Ready
Employment

Career Ready

We support the Southwark Career Ready programme. This works with three local schools – Bacon’s College, St Michael’s and City of London Academy – linking their students to employers and to help them reach their potential. We’ve been on the Local Advisory Board of the cluster since the start, and five British Land colleagues are currently mentoring Year 12 students through the programme.