We are proud to announce that the Soho Theatre Walthamstow project has been recognised in the BPIC Awards. The accolade of Best Community Project has been awarded for the work completed in the community of Walthamstow, as part of the project procured through our Major Projects Framework 2 (MPF2).
Willmott Dixon Interiors is currently transforming the theatre from an empty and deteriorating building, into a new and exciting London venue. The building will benefit from better ventilation, cooling, and a weather tight exterior, with the live performance venue consisting of 1000 seats with restaurants, café, and bar areas. The works will deliver a true revitalisation of the space and a regeneration for Walthamstow's high street.
In addition to creating a vibrant building within the heart of Walthamstow, the collaboration with Waltham Forest Council has generated over £6.5m social return on investment within the local community. This includes working with several, different local schools, colleges, and businesses within the area.
Our MPF2 partner, Willmott Dixon Interiors partnered with local businesses to support people in to work as well as providing work experience, construction tours, CV writing sessions, and talks about potential career opportunities within the construction industry. Connecting over 1000 people locally, they have helped to support people into better careers and improve employment.
This is Willmott Dixon Interiors' third social value award they have achieved this year.
A large contribution to the social value work was the three community-based projects run by their management trainees, as part of their annual Trainee Challenge. This solely focused on improving local spaces, providing more green space, and encouraging people outdoors.
The first project was at Langthorne Park; a play centre and toy library for children and parents. This focused on improving their outdoor space and indoor area to facilitate community sessions.
The second project was at Project Zero; a community centre focused on reducing knife crime to zero in Walthamstow. They decorated indoor areas, which were later used when King Charles and Queen Camilla visited, and enhanced the biodiversity outdoors to encourage socialisation.
To continue the legacy, Willmott Dixon Interiors has been working with Project Zero by hosting sessions to promote young people into the industry and work on improving racial diversity in the industry.
The third project was at Lime Academy; a Special Education Needs (SEN) school, where an accessible school farm was created to encourage students to be outside and learn about agriculture.
To create greener spaces, they donated and planted trees within the local community, hosted discussions around the importance of sustainability and ran mini projects with pupils to design, pitch and work within a team to divide up responsibilities.
As a result of the work being delivered on the theatre, it was taken off of the Theatre’s at Risk Register this year. This was a major milestone in the building's history which we are proud to be a part of.
We are proud of the work achieved on this project so far and the value it is already delivering to the local community and pleased this has been recognised in receiving this award.
Click here for more information on the Major Projects Framework 2.