Forum Update
Here again is another selection of upcoming events and useful services around the Brixton area. While some activities take a break next month, we should be back in a month’s time with a fresh selection.
Join the Forum for Free!
It’s now official – there is no charge to join the Neighbourhood Forum, or to renew your past membership. All we ask is your name, postal address (ideally with postcode) and a current e-mail address.
Please send these details to admin@brixtonneighbourhoodforum.org
Of course, if you want to make a donation, that’s very welcome. But our main concern is to ensure that more local people, businesses and community organisations are involved.
Meetings Programme
We are planning our programme of Forum meetings and other events through to Summer next year. We expect the next open meeting to be in October, because we are already aware of a lot of other events scheduled for September.
My Place or Yours?
We are collecting details of any organisations within the wider Brixton area which hire out rooms or halls for meetings. Until now, we have focussed on a few central venues for our own events, but once our Neighbourhood Plan gets underway, we will need a wider range of meeting places in different corners of Brixton so we can pick up on local concerns.
If your group wishes to host one of our meetings, or if you want to come along and share what you do, please contact the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com
Community Showcase
For a long time, we have wanted to put on an event where local community groups can show what they do. We are seeking separate funding so this can be an indoor event, ideally at Brixton Tate Library, so we now expect this to take place early next year.
Local News and Events
Traffic-free Atlantic Road
The monthly series of car-free days on Atlantic Road returns on Saturday 12 July, between 12 and 6 pm. This time, the family-friendly street festival has a Latin-American theme. Funding has come through from the GLA to support themed performances and cultural events for these car-free days which will continue on the second Saturday of each month into December. The Brixton BID is contributing additional cleaning and security to ensure the area is safer and accessible.
Deliveries can still be made to shops before 10 am and after 8-30 pm. If you would like to be involved in future themed events, contact events@brixtonbid.co.uk
Print Courses at Hausprint
If you are thinking of joining the Etching Year course which starts in the Autumn, there is a free Taster Session on Saturday 12 July, 1 pm to 3 pm – please book in advance via the website, https://hausprint.studio
Also coming up are a Stone Lithography Day course on Saturday 26 July, followed by a specialist Carborundum course over 4 days in August. Hausprint is at Vincent’s Yard, 23 Alphabet Mews (off Hackford Road) SW9 0FN. Enquiries to michelle@hausprint.studio
Performances at Brixton House
Lil.Miss.Lady by Dominic Garfield with Music by Lady Lykez, performances until Sunday 20 July.
Part rave, part drama – Lil.Miss.Lady explores the history of Grime through the eyes of a trailblazing female MC.
From the early stages of Jungle, ravers will take an immersive journey through the sounds and visuals of UK bass music culture – UK Garage, Sub-Low, Funky House, Dubstep and Grime.
Age UK Fundraiser – Comedy Night
Comedian Eshaan Akbar is set to host an evening of comedy acts at Brixton House on Wednesday 23 July, at 7-30 pm, to raise funds for Age UK Lambeth
For more details and bookings, see www.brixtonhouse.co.uk
Community Arts at Art4Space
Once again, a wide choice of crafts sessions and courses are being offered at their studios at 31 Jeffreys Road, SW4 6QU. Some of them are free to eligible age groups!
See for yourself by visiting their Summer Craft Fair on Saturday 19 July, between 12 and 5pm, and also see their website at www.art4space.co.uk
Brixton Chamber Orchestra – Summer Estates Tour
No tickets are needed for these free concerts – just turn up. The whole 30-piece orchestra is visiting several local estates over two weekends, including:
Tulse Hill Estate, Friday 18 July, 7 pm.
Clapham Park Estate (at The Cube, Kings Avenue SW4 8EP), Saturday 19 July, at 3-30 pm.
Angell Town Estate, Saturday 19 July, 7 pm.
Stockwell Gardens West (Eastcote Street SW9 9BY), Sunday 20 July, 3-30 pm.
Loughborough Estate (Millbrook Road SW9), Saturday 26 July, 7 pm.
Stockwell Park Estate (21 Aytoun Road SW9) Sunday 27 July, 7 pm.
Holiday Activities and Food
Lambeth’s Summer Holidays and Food programme is open to children who attend a Lambeth School AND receive benefits-related free school meals. This will run from 28 July to 29 August. This year there is a central booking system, already open, more details at www.lambeth.gov.uk/haf
Longfield Hall
Play in a Week – this free drama programme enables kids to create a play within a week, with a choice of sessions to suit different age ranges. Monday 28 July to Friday 1st August, 10 am to 1 pm for 6-8 age group, 2 pm to 5 pm for 9-11 age group. Monday 4th to Friday 8th August, 10 am to 1 pm for 11-13s, 2 pm to 5 pm for age 14-16s.
Please book through the website, which has details of other ongoing activities at the Hall opposite Minet Library, https://longfieldhall.org.uk
NB – Some other activities take a break during August, so please check the website.
Black Culture Market
This popular event returns to Downstairs at the Department Store, 248 Ferndale Road SW9 on Saturday and Sunday 2 & 3 August, open 11 am to 5 pm each day. Support Black-owned businesses and makers in Brixton. Admission free but please book in advance via the website, www.blackculturemarket.co.uk
If you want to trade at these events, please e-mail to hello@blackculturemarket.co.uk
Green spaces, Green issues
Myatt’s Fields Park
Sunday 13 July – Family Fun Day, 12 to 5 pm around the bandstand and picnic area, with the XLP mobile youth centre bus, bouncy castle and ball pit for younger children, market and food stalls, plus art and crafts station and DJ.
Sunday 27 July – London Land Justice Fair, 12 to 6 pm around the bandstand. Engaging discussions and a chance to meet with various organisations focussed on shaping a fairer future for land use in London.
Friday 2nd August – Spoken Word event, open to poets, storytellers and wordsmiths. Timetable still being settled, so if you want to perform, please contact Nadzi directly at Nadze-ere-08@hotmail.com
Events at Brixton Windmill
Guided tours of the windmill are now taking place on at least one weekend a month, the next being on 13/14 July, between 1 pm and 5 pm.
The next month sees Art in the Park on Sunday 10 August, between 1 pm and 5 pm.
This is a family-friendly event with a range of free workshops for children and adults. No need to book – just come along.
There are also a number of regular weekly activities in the education centre alongside the mill. For all events in Windmill Gardens, please see www.brixtonwindmill.org
Black Growth CIC
They sought our support last year with setting up a regular Black Farmer’s Market in Brixton Station Road. Since then they have re-organised with new branding (to avoid confusion with the outfit in Market Row) and have 2 Brixton events lined up for September:
Saturday 13 September – Black Farmer’s Market, Brixton Station Road.
Sunday 21 September – BFM Wellness Edition, around the bandstand in Myatt’s Fields Park.
More details next month, and also see https://bit.ly/3X2qx2W
Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses
For details of upcoming events and courses at the Community Greenhouses, see the website https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/events
Health and Social Care
Learn about your local Hospice
Royal Trinity Hospice at Clapham is offering a free talk and tour on Wednesday 16 July between 6 and 8 pm, for potential volunteers and supporters, and for professionals in health or social care, to give a better understanding of what the Hospice does.
Please reserve a place in advance at www.royaltrinityhospice.london/events
Changing support for Patients
The Government recently announced that Healthwatch patient support services would be absorbed into the NHS and local authorities. advice sessions. It may be some time before legislation is in place and new arrangements are set up.
Healthwatch Lambeth have asked us to remind you that they are still operating in the meantime, and will share details as the new system emerges. So if you have a concern, question or experience to share about health or social care in Lambeth, please get in touch at (020) 7274 8522 or by e-mail to indo@healthwatchlambeth.org.uk
Friendly Digital Support for Disabled Residents
Millennium Community Solutions continue with their drop-in project at Southwyck Hall, behind the Barrier Block. Sessions continue until 21 August, on Thursdays between 1 and 3 pm.
Whether you are just starting out or only need extra support, come and get connected in a friendly and accessible space. They can introduce you to a range of digital devices and assistive technology. The project is supported by Lambeth Council and Disability Advice Service Lambeth (DASL).
Access: 50 yards down Moorland Road from Coldharbour Lane, turn right at glass wall.
Enquiries to Gail at 07 951 087 923.
Funding, Training & Support
Grant deadlines approaching
We have heard from various sources about several upcoming grants, but this time you will have to follow them up via a Google search:
Clothworkers Foundation Open Grants programme: re-opens for applications from 2nd July. Grants for capital projects including building works, equipment or vehicles.
Friends Provident Foundation is offering grants up to £120,000 over 2 years for organisations driving change towards a fairer sustainable economy. Deadline 5 August.
Metropolitan Public Gardens Association makes small grants (up to £1500) to groups that improve publicly accessible open space.
Deadline 18 August.
Heritage Revival Fund: offers 3 levels of funding, for project viability (up to £15k), project development (up to £100k) and capital works (up to £350k). Open until 31 March ‘26, funded by Architectural Heritage Fund, DCMS and Historic England.
Ubele Energy Resilience Fund: Grant funds are available to help Black or racial minority organisations combat rising energy costs and improve sustainability. Enquiries to Sheila.forster@ubele.org or see the webpage www.ubele.org/our-work/energy-resilience-fund
Business Training Opportunities
Social enterprises and small businesses within the Brixton BID area should be able to join their free training courses. Next up are:
- Fire Safety (level 2), Wednesday 16 July, 10 am to 4 pm.
- Emergency First Aid (level 3) Wednesday 6 August, 10 am to 4 pm.
- Personal Licence (level 2)
Tuesday 9 September, 10 am to 4 pm.
Enquiries to admin@brixtonbid.co.uk
Charity Learning Consortium
The Charity Learning Consortium offers a range of on-line training modules and learning management systems. They have a virtual Coffee Morning on Tuesday 15 July, 9-30 am to 10-15, to showcase what they offer and explain recent developments. This Zoom session is free. Enquiries to Sam Haighton (membership development) at (020) 3974 1511 or shaighton@charitylearning.org
On-line Marketing Training
Awesome Tech Training offer a range of Webinars to support small organisations. There’s a cluster of bite-sized sessions coming up on Tuesday 22 July to help you take control of your digital presence. Each webinar lasts an hour including time for questions, and costs £36 (or book all 3 and pay for just 2!).
10 am: Basics of SEO for small businesses.
12 pm: Using Google Business Profile to boost your local SEO.
3 pm: Introduction to Google Analytics.
Enquiries to rachel@awesometechtraining.com
Community Groups Support
After some hesitation, Lambeth Council is going ahead with inviting bids for a new contract to follow on from services currently provided by Integrate. The new contract will have 3 strands, capacity building, funding advice, and (previously lacking) advocacy on behalf of the voluntary and community sector. Closing date for bids is Monday 21 July. Enquiries to voluntarycommunitysector@lambeth.gov.uk
Your Forum Bulletins
If you are doing something around the Brixton area, you are welcome to use these bulletins to tell other Forum members. We aim to circulate about the 10th of each month – but things can go wrong! So, send items to the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com by the 3rd of the month.