Who is Natalie Bell, and why is a building at Tate Modern named after her? Londoner

Natalie Bell has lived in Waterloo for over 25 years and has dedicated her life to working for the community in the area. She has two kids, two cats and a very lively grandchild. But why is her name on one of Tate's buildings?
1000 LONDONERS
This film is part of 1000 Londoners, a ten-year digital project which aims to create a digital portrait of a city through 1000 of the people who identify themselves with it. The profile contains a 3 minute film that gives an insight into the life of the Londoner, as well as their personal photos of London and some answers to crucial questions about their views on London life. Over the course of the project we aim to reveal as many facets of the capital as possible, seeing city life from 1000 points of view.
www.1000londoners.com
/ 1000londoners
Facebook 1000londoners
Twitter @1000_Londoners
Instagram @1000_londoners
1000 Londoners is produced by South London based film production company and social enterprise, Chocolate Films. The filmmakers from Chocolate Films will be both producing the films and providing opportunities to young people and community groups to make their own short documentaries, which will contribute to the 1000 films. Visit www.chocolatefilms.com
The day I found out that my name was
going to be on the building was when I
had a phone call from staff at the Tate
and the Cuban artist is calledTania Bruguera.
They came to my workplace
and kind of asked my permission, which was quite
shocking and it took me 45 minutes to
get my head around it and actually agree.
When Tania Bruguera first met me, she said
"I'm really relieved that you're a woman, that you're not
white and that you're quite poor"
(laughs)
Which I thought well, that's great to be celebrated for all
those things.
- Hello
- You alright?
- Hello Natalie
I think my name is on the building because
local people saw me as a good neighbour.
I do a lot of community work with many different
age ranges and different groups of people.
Some people have called me an activist in the past
but I just really am passionate about
improving people's lives in this
particular neighbourhood.
I'm a mother to two grown-up children now.
I'm a grandma to a very lively two-year-old.
I kind of co-parent with her because my daughter
was 19 when she had her and we decided
that, I'd be a really big part
of her life and give her a lot of support.
But I wouldn't have it any other way.
She's an amazing little person and I really enjoy
(laughs)
every minute I have with her.
It's a blessing.
I've gone to the Tate for meetings and I'll be on one floor
having a meeting and then one of my children
might be on another floor doing an arts project.
And it's great because they both went there as toddlers,
to run around and play.
It's ended up being an extension of
our home in a funny kind of way,
which is great and I take my granddaughter there
regularly and she runs around causing mayhem.
Oh look, tiny bubbles.
This is your favourite toy isn't it?
I kind of want to help other people because
I've been helped.
I know how it feels.
I kind of find that my my work and my family,
and my free time all blends into
just doing stuff and I hope that everything that I do
is positive.
So this is like a typical week and
it is completely chaotic, my brain on paper.
I feel honoured and really proud that my
name is on the building at the Tate.
I think it represents a different set of values,
a set of values that's more
about being a positive human being
rather than being rich or wealthy.
That kind of celebrates that anybody can do
normal things and be recognised for it.
I hope it inspires just normal people
that great things can happen and
that you can be noticed for what you do.
I kind of think that things are quite
circular that if someone helps you,
you should help other people and then if
everybody just helped each other a little bit more,
the World would be a better place.
It's a really naive simple philosophy, it's just something
that has always stuck with me.
Click the videos to watch more Londoners
and don't forget to subscribe!

[@suewallis100]

A wonderful philosophy Natalie🙏🤗