Next Forum meeting
The next full Forum meeting will be the Annual General Meeting, when we present our annual report and accounts for the past year, review priorities for the year ahead, and elect a committee to steer the Forum through the next year.
This will be on Thursday 6 June from 7 pm at the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 1EP (entrance faces Windrush Square).
If your group wishes to present its work or highlight a forthcoming activity or service, at this or a future meeting, please contact the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com
Local News
Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour
Following the public meeting with Police and Council representatives on 27 March, Action on ASB continues to press for a plan which is SMART – more Specific, with Measurable targets, Achievable, Resourced and with set Timescales. Their recent survey received 450 responses, now being analysed.
The Council have been slow to get to grips with the impact of the 24-hour economy on life for Town Centre residents.
A website is up and running, to report progress and advising how to report issues – the Police have been clear that more complaints help them attract more resources. A small police team has been reinstated to focus on the Town Centre. The Brixton BID has also been giving crime prevention advice to its members.
See www.ACTIONonASB.org or enquiries to aoasb@outlook.com
Brockwell Park Events
A series of major events in Brockwell Park starts on Friday 24 May with Project 6, closely followed by the Wide Awake Festival on Saturday 25th, Cross The Tracks on Sunday 26th and City Splash on Bank Holiday Monday 27th May. Brockwell Bounce on Wednesday 29th is advertised as a free family event, before another major music event, Mighty Hoopla, on Saturday and Sunday, 1st/2nd June.
The following weekend, 8/9 June, sees the site being used for the Lambeth Country Show.
Please be aware that large parts of the park will be fenced off for setting up and dismantling staging and marquees from 13 May until 16 June. On event days, many streets north of the park, and Brockwell Park Gardens, will be closed or resident access only. Enquiries to the Brockwell Live community liaison team on 020 3886 2184 (residents) or 020 3886 2185 (local businesses) or community@brockwell.live.com or to
Lambeth Events, events@lambeth.gov.uk
Daylight Robbery: Council’s threat to Tesco and Halfords
Consultation closed on 3rd May on the latest version of Lambeth’s Site Allocations plan, which promotes high-density rebuilding of 3 sites in Brixton. This is to be achieved by stealing the daylight from residents who live near these sites. It will weaken Brixton’s appeal for shoppers by removing Halfords and Curry’s, while it’s not certain that Tesco would survive rebuilding – their current lease expires in 2028. Councillors have not yet realised that building taller means that costs increase, which allows developers to claim they cannot afford to provide affordable housing, while those who buy the new flats will face higher service charges.
The struggle is far from over, and officially the next step is for a Planning Inspector to review the proposals.
That hearing is likely to be held in the Autumn, though it’s open for the Council to withdraw or modify their plans before then.
If you have specific concerns, we urge you to share them with other local groups, and with us, or with the Brixton Society at planning@brixtonsociety.org.uk
For the Tesco site specifically, also see the website https://www.bit.ly/brixtontesco
Brixton Road Works
From 12th May to 7th November, road repairs will be underway along Brixton Road. Work is being carried out at night, between 9 pm and 6 am, so look out for closures and diversions where side roads join. Work will be done in stages on different sections of the main road, organised by Transport for London.
Green spaces, Green issues
Spaces of Hope
The next session in the series of community conversations will be on Friday 7 June at 3Space (International House). This time the topic is “Space Invaders – the right to Housing and sustainable community spaces.”
Booking enquiries to the Brixton Project at hello@thebrixtonproject.com
Friends of Windrush Square
Plans are being considered for a Windrush Day commemoration on Saturday 22 June. Following the success of the Big Caribbean Lunch last summer, arrangements are being made for another inter-generational event on Sunday 23 June. If you would like to be involved in either event, please contact the Friends group at
friendsofwindrushsquare@gmail.com
Brockwell Park Car Boot Sales
The Friends of Brockwell Park have resumed monthly car boot sales in the Lido car park, off Dulwich Road, the next being on Sunday 16 June. Open free to buyers 9 am to 1 pm, sellers set up from 7 am, charge £12 per car, £15 per van. Enquiries to membership@brockwellpark.co.uk
For details of upcoming events and courses at the Community Greenhouses, see the website https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/events
Events in Myatt’s Fields Park
Sunday 9 June: Conduct me! (Pico Players)
Saturday 15 June: Pride Picnic.
Saturday 22 June: Windrush Celebration.
Sunday 23 June: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Saturday 29 June: Fiesta del Sol (Andean Festival).
For information about the park and these events, see www.myattsfieldspark.info
London Land Justice Fair, 21 July
Myatt’s Fields Park will also be hosting this Sunday afternoon event, with opportunities for grassroots groups to run stalls or workshops. Enquiries to peopleslandpolicy@gmail.com or see website www.peopleslandpolicy.org
Events at Brixton Windmill
Guided tours of the windmill are now taking place on at least one weekend a month.
There are also a number of regular weekly activities in the education centre alongside.
For all events in Windmill Gardens, please see the website for details and booking, www.brixtonwindmill.org
On Your Bike
Brixton BID continues to sponsor monthly sessions by Dr Bike mechanics for cycle safety checks and essential maintenance. The next will be on Wednesday 29 May, 12 to 3 pm outside British Heart Foundation, Acre Lane (across the road from Tesco).
Other Coming Events
Ecosystem Coldharbour celebrates!
Thursday 23 May will see a Celebration Ceremony at ML Community Enterprise (Marcus Lipton Youth Centre) Minet Road SW9. Presentations of Changemaker Community Awards will be accompanied by a market showcase for local goods and businesses, live music, entertainment and food. Times 5-30 to 8-30 pm, tickets are free but please book in advance via www.ecosystemcoldharbour.org
Southwyck House Community Events
Cre8ivearts are stepping up activities at the Southwyck House community centre. In addition to art workshops, a wider range of activities are on their way.
On Sunday 19 May, Giulia will be on hand to teach you how to make pasta from scratch.
From Saturday 1st June, Marie Arlette starts her French class for those who want to start or brush up. Enquiries to cre8tivearts@pm.me
Millennium Community Solutions still have computer coding sessions there on Mondays at 4 pm, but now operate at several sites around the borough – for full timetable, see www.southwyck.co.uk
Black Culture Market returns
This popular event returns to Downstairs at the Department Store, 248 Ferndale Road SW9 on Saturday and Sunday 1st & 2nd June, 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
Arts, Culture, Leisure
Works at Brixton Tate Library
The first floor is being redecorated, and should open again in the second week of May. To provide temporary study space, tables have been placed in the ground floor exhibition room. As soon as the first floor reopens, the painters will start work on the ground floor fiction area. The final phase of the works starts on 24 May, when the library will close for up to 2 weeks for installation of the new lift, including removing the old one and filling the hole where it was.
Art in De Alleyway – Carnival Dreams
Sunshine International Arts at Loughborough Junction are showcasing their carnival designs over another weekend:
17 & 18 May, 12 till 6 pm.
Free but please book via https://siabigweekends.co.uk
Grants for Arts research & publications
We have mentioned the Paul Mellon Centre in past years as a potential funder of arts history, research fellowships and publications. This is early warning that the next round opens on 5 August and closes on 30 September, and will also offer support for digitising collections and archives.
Health and Social Care
Healthy Living Platform update
A quick update on the Community Pantries run by Healthy Living Platform. Basically, these are community shops which offer members a weekly choice of healthy food at affordable prices. On each visit you pay £2.50 or £5, and the food offered is a mix of fresh fruit and veg along with other food cupboard donations. Enquiries to 07 701 365 551.
Locations:
Moorland Estate Community Centre (Southwyck Pantry) 50a Corry Drive SW9 8QT (off Somerleyton Road): Thursdays, 11 am to 3 pm.
Myatt’s Fields North Community Centre, Crawshay Road SW9 6FZ: Tuesdays, 10 am to 1 pm.
Jubilee Hall, Tulse Hill Estate, SW2 2LY, Tuesdays 12 noon to 2 pm.
For pregnant women, and families with children under 4, there is another session at:
The Liz Atkinson Centre, 9 Mostyn Road, SW9 6PH, Fridays 12 noon to 2 pm.
Boxing Fitness for people with or at risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Longfield Hall is hosting boxing/ boxercise fitness classes for adults with type 2 diabetes on Mondays 6 pm to 7 pm, over 24 weeks from 29 April. Free and open to adults of all ages – see https://longfieldhall.org.uk
Community Connectors Wanted!
Project Smith aims to recruit volunteers within the community who can help people find their way through the health system to reach the care that they need. The next round of four training days will be held within Lambeth over 6,12,13,20 June – for more details contact emma@rbeassociates.com
Funding, Training & Support
Grant deadlines approaching
Once again, a reminder of grant schemes already notified by Integrate – if you missed the original alerts, contact them at: eoin.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk
Making London More Liveable (City Bridge Foundation) – grants up to £200,000 to reduce social isolation, deadline Friday 31 May.
Yapp Charitable Trust: grants for charities with annual turnover below £40,000, closes 31 May
UnLtd Funding for Social Enterprises – start-up grants of £8,000 and scale-up grants of £18,000, closing date 30 June.
The Steel Charitable Trust – grants up to £25,000 for local community impact, deadline 11 July.
London Councils are consulting on their 2026-30 pan-London grants programme, but responses must be made by Tuesday 4 June.
Go London!
Go London are looking for social entrepreneurs aged 16-24 with a passion for building businesses that bring sports and physical activities to local communities. Successful applicants will receive grants of up to £15,000 each, plus dedicated support over a year-long programme, including mentorship. See more at www.golondon.org.uk
Training Opportunities
Social enterprises and small businesses within the Brixton BID area should be able to join their free training courses. Next up are:
- Mental Health First Aid (level 2), Wednesday 5th June, 10 am to 4 pm.
- Conflict Management, Monday 17 June, 10 am to 4 pm.
Most sessions are held at International House. Enquiries to admin@brixtonbid.co.uk
BeLambeth Awards
Apply or nominate now for the 2024 awards, closing date Friday 31 May. Start-up businesses, social enterprises and established charities are all eligible, with 10 categories for organisations or individuals. Each participating organisation can nominate in 3 categories, and entries are free. More details at www.belambethawards.co.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.
Keep in Touch
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