As 2026 begins, MyLondon reflects on a year of journalism that brought tangible change to the lives of residents across the capital. Our reporting in 2025 led to police charges, saved cherished local spaces, and gave a voice to the vulnerable, proving the power of local news.
Victories for Community and Justice
Our 'Don't cut the heart out of London' campaign, launched in 2024, saw significant success throughout the past year. It aimed to protect community venues at risk of closure across the city.
In one major win, the historic Norbury Park Lawn Tennis Club, first established in 1889, was saved from potential closure. Following our campaign, the club raised the funds needed to secure its lease. A GoFundMe page generated £25,000, with former members worldwide contributing, and Surrey Tennis provided a crucial loan. Committee member Blaise Westmaas warned that without this community buyout, a new landlord could have 'quadrupled the rates and priced us out'.
Similarly, Jubilee Hall, a community gym in Covent Garden, was saved after leisure operator GLL (Better) stepped in to purchase it. The company has committed to a £250,000 upgrade while pledging to retain its community ethos, despite local concerns.
Our investigative work also led directly to court proceedings. A MyLondon investigation into a series of horrific cat deaths in South London resulted in former heavyweight boxer Alexander Warren being charged with five animal cruelty offences. He appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court in October 2025 and Inner London Crown Court in November, denying all charges.
Confronting London's Housing Crisis
A central focus for our reporters in 2025 was the Broken Homes investigation, a deep dive into the capital's severe housing crisis. This longform campaign, led by Local Democracy Editor Dave Comeau, exposed systemic failures affecting thousands.
A joint probe with the Local Democracy Reporting Service uncovered how chronic lift failures in housing blocks are 'turning high rises into prisons'. We highlighted cases like that of 104-year-old D-Day veteran Percy Chafer, who was trapped in his Pimlico flat, and disabled Army veteran Hilary Hepburn in Hounslow. Following our reporting, Mayor Sadiq Khan backed our call for legislation requiring landlords to fix lifts within a set timeframe.
The campaign also exposed a 'real-life game of Monopoly', where London councils compete against each other on the open market to buy housing for homeless families. This often forces residents to move hundreds of miles away, simply shifting the problem around the country. We are calling for a better system of cooperation between local authorities to end this damaging practice.
In a personal victory, deaf West London mother-of-three Stacey Watson was finally rehomed from a dangerous, mice-infested and mould-ridden flat in Ealing after we told her story. She had felt ignored for years, but pressure from our reporting led Ealing Council to move her family to a safe three-bedroom house.
Holding Power to Account
Our journalism in 2025 consistently challenged those in authority and exposed wrongdoing. We revealed how Hounslow Labour councillor Farhaan Rehman parked his £200,000 Lamborghini SUV in a disabled bay twice without a blue badge. Following our story, he apologised, resigned from a committee chairmanship, and agreed to donate £160 to the Mayor's charity.
We also provided crucial backing for a Stratford foodbank. Carpenters Cafe was being forced by Newham Council to move from a community hall into cramped containers. While we couldn't stop the move, our support helped them secure a return to their original hall to host their vital Christmas party.
In the courts, our reporting ensured justice was served after a violent homophobic attack. Despite a series of blunders—including missing evidence—attacker James Billings was eventually jailed for 18 weeks in July 2025 for assaulting Piotr Kwiecien near Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.
Furthermore, a joint investigation with the Daily Express challenged official denials about grooming gangs in London. After we presented evidence from four HMIC reports, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley reversed the force's stance, admitting to a 'steady flow' of live multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations.
Finally, our exposure of builder John Pembridge-Hore, accused of faking heart surgery to cheat customers, led to a new victim coming forward with bombshell evidence. This proved he had used the same hospital photos in excuses given 640 days apart.
None of this impactful journalism would be possible without our readers. As we move into 2026, MyLondon remains committed to this agenda-setting work, fighting for Londoners and holding power to account.
