Making Plans for Brixton
Before Christmas, we were awaiting the go-ahead to start devising a Neighbourhood Plan that would reflect the needs and aspirations of the community rather than the ambitions of developers. However, Lambeth Council planners pointed out several topics where we need to improve our arrangements, so we are currently contacting various groups to resolve concerns.
For example, we have been talking with the Loughborough Junction Action Group about extending the boundary to include the local centre around the railway station, as well as supporting a bid for lifts up to platform level.
If you think something else should be included in our plans, make sure you tell us soon – contact Alan Piper (Forum Secretary) at apiperbrix@aol.com
Our next open meeting – Council elections hustings, Monday 27 April
It may seem a long way off, but we wanted to fit this in shortly before the Lambeth Council elections on Thursday 7th May. Our next General Meeting will be a Hustings for candidates from all parties contesting seats in our area. It will be held on Monday 27 April from 7 pm at the St. Matthew’s Estate Tenants Hall, near the North end of St. Matthew’s Road, SW2.
The Neighbourhood Forum covers 3 complete Council wards – North Brixton, Acre Lane and Windrush – plus parts of Rush Common and Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction.
More Events coming up
When time and space permit, we include events and activities beyond our core area if they are easy enough to reach.
Film Screening & Workshop
Thursday 19 February at the Liberation Centre, Beehive Place SW9: A joint Film screening and workshop by the Advocacy Academy and the Stuart Hall Foundation.
Book via Eventbrite.
LGBTQ+ Zine Fair
Saturday 21 February, 12 pm to 4-30 pm in Brixton Library, come and see a range of ‘zines on LGBTQ+ themes.
Literacy Festival
Saturday 28 February, 11 am to 3 pm:
St. Vincent’s Hall, Talma Road, SW2 1AS. A special event for children and young people as part of the National Year of Reading, with stalls from Doorstep Library and the National Literacy Trust. Each child and young person will be able to meet a chidren’s author, join in craft-making, a drama workshop or drumming, and head home with a free book. Free but please reserve spaces in advance by e-mail to LeanneT@svp.org.uk
Spring Black Culture Market
Weekend 28 February & 1st March, 11 am to 5 pm with a different mix of traders each day, in the basement of The Department Store, 248 Ferndale Road SW9 8FR. Free but please book in advance at www.blackculturemarket.co.uk
Green spaces, Green issues
What’s on in Brockwell Hall
A reminder about some free sessions for residents over 50, provided by the Black Prince Trust:
Tai Chi, Mondays 10 am to 10-45;
Chair Exercise (Band Together) Tuesdays,
2 pm to 2-45;
Chair Yoga, Wednesdays 1-15 pm to 2 pm;
Mat Yoga, Wednesdays 2-15 pm to 3 pm.
To book, visit www.blackprincetrust.org.uk or enquiries to Bev de Valmency, 07 301 032 161 or wellbeing@blackprincetrust.org.uk
There are also paid Hatha Yoga classes (no age limits) on Fridays between 8 am and 9 am at £15 per session, provided by Yogabliss in the Bristowe Room. For more details please see https://yogabliss.org.uk/classes/
Events at Brockwell Park
Community Greenhouses
Sunday 15 February: Flash Fiction, creative writing to produce a perfectly-formed story in less than a thousand words, 10-30 to 1 pm.
Sunday 22 February: Willow-weaving basket making workshop, 10 am to 4 pm.
Sunday 1st March: Mindfulness in Nature, 12-30 to 3-30 pm.
For details, costs and bookings for all these events, see the website, https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/events
Events at Brixton Windmill
Regular sessions include the following:
Tai Chi for beginners (age 50+, free) Wednesdays at 10-30 am.
Community Club for age 60+, Thursdays 10 am to 2 pm, including chair exercise at 10-30.
Wild Balance Yoga Class, Fridays 9 am to 10 am, book slots via hello@wild-balance.co.uk Pilates for beginners (drop-in, £5 per session) Fridays 12 to 1 pm.
Joy of Sound, seated Tai Chi with music,
Fridays 2-30 to 3-30 pm.
Tai Chi in Windmill Gardens (pay what you can), Saturdays 11-30 am.
There are also occasional workshop-type events – the next is a Bread-making Class on Saturday 28 February, 10-30 to 1-30 pm.
Please book for all events via the website, www.brixtonwindmill.org
Lambeth Climate Partnership
Biodiversity is the theme for their next event, on Tuesday 24 February, 5 pm at the Garden Museum (the former St. Mary’s Church next to Lambeth Palace), Lambeth Road SE1.
There will be several short presentations and a chance to network with others.
Enquiries/ bookings to lcp@lambeth.gov.uk, or for an overview, see www.lambethclimatepartnership.org
Windrush Square Safe Hub
Local councilor Scarlett O’Hara reports that Brixton is getting a new Safe Hub located in Windrush Square. Supported by the Brixton BID and the Council, it will be a larger facility than the temporary version recently tested. It is intended to provide a safe place for people to go late at night if they are feeling unsafe and need some help.
It will provide advice, hot drinks, medical help and support for anyone feeling vulnerable. This is part of Lambeth’s overdue Strategy for the Night-time Economy. Look out for it on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Funding, Training & Support
Grant deadlines approaching
Less opportunities listed this month, simply because we are too busy researching grant sources to keep our own organisation going beyond the end of March!
A reminder that Locality previously advised us of these offers (Google the funder for contact details):
Peter Harrison Foundation – Opportunities through Sport, up to £50,000, closes 1 April.
Ironmonger’s Company, for charities working with disadvantaged young people, grants up to £10,000, closing date 31 July.
Business Networking
Born or Made in Brixton holds fortnightly meetings for creatives, designers, freelancers and entrepreneurs, to provide mutual support and networking. Next dates in our diary are Wednesdays 18 February & 4 March, both from 8-30 to 9-30 am at 3Space (ground floor meeting room), International House, Canterbury Crescent, SW9 7QD.
More info at www.bornormade.com
Free Support
For Lambeth-based charities, community groups or other non-profit organisations, the Lambeth Community Hubs Network offers free practical support to strengthen your efforts. They offer tailored capacity-building, a program of training and workshops, peer learning and networking opportunities, plus a bank of useful tools, templates and guides.
Enquiries to info@lambethhubs.com or see the website: www.lambethhubs.com
Help getting on-line
Back to Basics: Clear Community Web now holds Digital Drop-in Sessions on the Stockwell Gardens Estate: a friendly and free space to get questions answered or problems solved for your laptop, tablet or smartphone.
Tuesdays 2 pm to 4 pm in the Old Laundry, Eastcote Street SW9 9BY.
High Trees Internet Café: If you are on the south side of Brixton, the Internet Café at the High Trees Hub may suit you better. It’s open to the public and free to use, with access to Wi-Fi and printing facilities, at 220 Upper Tulse Hill SW2 2NS (corner of Tulse Hill and Trinity Rise).
Opening times Monday & Friday 9-30 am to 12-30 pm, and Wednesdays 2 pm to 5 pm.
Enquiries to hello@high-trees.org or phone (020) 8671 3132 or visit www.high-trees.org
For disabled and older residents, there are also weekly sessions on Tuesdays run by Millennium Community Solutions at the Southwyck Coding & Arts Centre (behind the Barrier Block), Southwyck Estate, SW9 8UR. Contact Gail on 07 951 087 923.
Your Forum Bulletins
Get your name out there! If you are doing something around the Brixton area – an event, a new service, or making changes in what you already do – you are welcome to use these bulletins to tell other Forum members. That’s well over 700 on our current list. We aim to circulate around the 10th of each month, but please allow us a week to put it together, because we work on a very part-time basis.
So, send items to the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com by the 3rd of the month.
Keep in Touch
We want to be inclusive and ensure that these bulletins reach all community organisations, social enterprises and activists in the wider Brixton area. Please contact us at admin@brixtonneighbourhoodforum.org
– If you want to be added to our mailing list, or to add a colleague or neighbour.
– If you want these bulletins sent to a different e-mail address, so that you see them more quickly or reliably.
– To unsubscribe if you have moved away or are no longer interested.