Our publishing schedule has slipped this month due to other commitments, including seeking new funding. We hope to be back on track next month, and that you will find some useful information here in the meantime.
Understanding Planning Tuesday 2nd June
A briefing workshop by members of the Brixton Society to help you respond to planning applications, both large and small. We will try to give you some pointers on how to object, or even support, local proposals. Also, how to shape the policies which steer planning decisions.
NB – This event will now be held at the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 1 EP
(entrance facing Windrush Square, opposite the Black Cultural Archives).
Please tell us if you are coming so we can make space for you – apiperbrix@aol.com
Council Election Results
Our big effort last month was hosting a Hustings meeting for candidates from the core wards that cover our area. We had a great turnout of at least 120 people, addressed by 7 candidates and ably chaired by Lara Samuels, our Vice-Chair. There’s an entertaining write-up on the Brixton Buzz website.
After the voting on 7 May, it turned out to be a close-run result with split outcomes from some wards. The Brixton Neighbourhood Forum covers 3 complete Council wards – North Brixton, Brixton Acre Lane and Brixton Windrush – and these will now be represented by 8 Green and 3 Labour councillors. Across the wider Brixton area, which overlaps with a few other Forums, the total including the above came out as 16 Green, 8 Labour and 1 Liberal-Democrat. That also takes in parts of Brixton Rush Common, Clapham East, Clapham Park, Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction, Myatt’s Fields, St. Martin’s and Stockwell East wards. The new administration is far from settled, and a Green councillor has already stood down due to ill-health, so there will be a by-election in Clapham Park soon.
Creative Zone still at Risk
Last month, we flagged up that Brixton’s status as a Creative Zone was at risk due to the impending displacement of small enterprises from 3 major sites. International House hosts a cluster of creatives, designers, freelancers and entrepreneurs, as well as charities and community organisations like ourselves.
Users of International House are continuing to fight their corner, with a fortnightly series of lunch-time get-togethers to share ideas and network. The next session is on Tuesday 2nd June between 12 and 2 pm on ground floor.
Enquiries to samiadumbuya@gmail.com
Council officers are also holding monthly sessions to discuss relocation options for individual tenants, though the danger is that Brixton will lose its critical mass of groups and present networks will weaken. Next sessions are on Tuesdays 26 May and 30 June, 11-30 to 1-30 pm in the ground floor meeting room.
Green spaces, Green issues
Access to the central part of Brockwell Park is already restricted for staging and fences to be set up for Brockwell Live events, which will run from Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May. Access will remain restricted until at least Friday 5th June to enable the breakdown and clearing-up to take place. You should still be able to access Brockwell Hall, the community greenhouses, Brockwell Lido and the BMX track, though you may have a longer walk. There will be widespread road closures and access restrictions on 23/25 and 30/31 May.
Community Events in the Park
Friends of Brockwell Park have resumed their monthly car boot sales in the Lido car park on Saturday mornings. The next dates are 14 June and 12 July.
There is also an ongoing programme of activities centred on Brockwell Hall, organised by Catherine Walsh in conjunction with the Black Prince Trust – enquiries to cwalsh@lambeth.gov.uk
Events at Brockwell Park
Community Greenhouses
For details, costs and bookings for upcoming events, see the website, https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/events
Community Clean-up Vol.2
As a follow-up to the first event on 1st March, several community groups have set up another co-ordinated litter-picking event on Sunday 7th June, from 12-30 to 2-30 pm. There’s a choice of several meeting points, including Windrush Square (outside the Ritzy Cinema), Marcus Lipton Community Centre in Minet Road, the Platform Café in Wyck Gardens and in Myatt’s Fields Park. Check with your local residents’ group or Friends group in case they are already involved, or contact surjit@mlcommunity.co.uk
Events at Brixton Windmill
Regular openings of the mill take place on at least one weekend a month until October – next up are 13/14 June and 11/12 July.
Please book if you want the full tour.
For all their events and activities, see the website, www.brixtonwindmill.org
Missing the Country Show?
This year’s show was cancelled to save money, but recent shows were linked to Brockwell Live events, really too early to suit the popular Flower Show which had been a feature for 50 years.
But you have not missed out on the Vegetable Sculptures and other competitions, because the Lambeth Horticultural Society are holding them at the Hillside Gardens Summer Fete on Saturday 27 June, open 12 noon to 5 pm.
Hillside Gardens is on Hillside Road, which runs between Christchurch Road and Amesbury Avenue. The entrance is opposite Wavertree Road, SW2.
In Myatt’s Fields Park
Still on a gardening theme, a quick reminder that Incredible Edible Lambeth are holding a Plant Swap in the Quiet Garden in the Park on Sunday 24 May, between 12 noon and 1 pm. A perfect opportunity to diversify your garden and pass on surplus baby plants and seeds.
Further on, look out for a Tree Walk on 6 June, a Pride Picnic on 14 June, a Windrush Celebration on 21 June and an Andean Festival on 27 June. Enquiries about park events to enquiries@myattsfieldspark.info
Just-Us x Nature Vibezzz
The Advocacy Academy, supported by the South London Botanical Institute, present an early evening session for young people on Wednesday 1st July, 4 pm to 7-30 pm.
Venue: the Advocacy Academy, Liberation Centre, Beehive Place, SW9 7QR.
Booking via Eventbrite or enquiries to hello@theadvocacyacademy.com
Lambeth Parks Forum
Lambeth’s Parks & Open Spaces Forum meets quarterly, bringing together the various Friends groups which are active in local parks.
Their next meeting is on Wednesday 10 June, 6 pm at Lambeth Town Hall. Enquiries to lambethparksforum@gmail.com
Health & Social Care
Mental Health Crisis Line
Since April, the SLAM mental health crisis line has been moved from its standalone number to the mainstream NHS 111 number. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, or concerned about a friend or relative, should call 111 for support and select the mental health option.
If you prefer to seek help online, free and anonymous support is still available with no need for a doctor’s referral or waiting list, via Kooth, which we have mentioned before – website www.kooth.com
Shaping Mental Health strategy
The Government is consulting on its MH strategy for England, closing date 10 July. Inputs are welcome not only from clinicians, but also from advocacy groups and those with lived experience of services.
For more details see https://lnkd.in/eR9kRz9d
Mental Health First Aid courses
Art4Space at Stockwell have been hosting these courses since 2018, with 225 people qualifying this way, in conjunction with It’s a Playground.
The next course on 18 & 19 June is for those working with young people, aged 8-18. There will be another course for those working with Adults on 15 & 16 October.
In both cases there are discounts for charities and schools based in Lambeth. Book via www.art4space.co.uk
Funding, Training & Support
The future of VCSE support in Lambeth
High Trees and the Brixton Project are hosting a series of conversations with voluntary and community groups about future forms of support for the non-profit sector.
Sessions still to come are on:
Tuesday 26 May, on-line, 10 – 11 am.
Friday 29 May, venue tbc, 12 – 1 pm.
Tuesday 2 June, on-line, 10 – 11 am.
Friday 5 June, venue tbc, 12 – 1 pm,
Enquiries/ bookings via https://www.lambethvcsfuture.org
Grants from Paul Mellon Centre
We have mentioned this source before, but recent changes may offer more scope for organisations hosting events to share research in the fields of British art history, visual culture and architecture. Applications for the Autumn funding round will open on 3rd August and close on Monday 14 September. See the website, https://www.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk/grants-and-fellowship or questions to grants@paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk
Courses at Morley College
Morley College have been in touch to remind us about their current range of short courses at their Waterloo Centre. These include Photography, Creative Writing, Drama, Fashion, Textiles, Millinery, and Music courses with access to state-of-the-art recording studios.
For more information, see https://morleycollege.ac.uk/short-courses/
More Events coming up
Invitation to a special screening of Fearless at the Brixton Ritzy on June 18th at 2pm – only £5
Fearless is a heartwarming and informative documentary that features six women aged between 78 and 90 from British colonies invited to help rebuild the ‘mother country’ after WWII. Representing Caribbean, Asian and Irish communities, their stories bring to life both personal journeys and key moments in modern British history.
It includes pivotal historical moments, including taking on traditional men’s work, the Notting Hill Uprising, the fight for racial equality and workers’ rights changes such as the Grunwick factory strike.
Presented by the Diversity & Inclusion sub-committee of Dulwich & District U3A. Book tickets for only £5 plus free tea and coffee at https://bit.ly/4u6nh4J
Shows at Longfield Hall
Saturday 30 May: the Mushroom Show at11 am and 1 pm, a family-friendly show suitable for ages 5+, revealing the secret life of mushrooms through puppetry and music.
Friday 19 June: the Tale of the Loneliest Whale continues the puppetryseason. Presented by Hoglets Theatre, suitable for ages 4+.
Thursday 16 July: Cymbeline: 7 pm to 9-30 pm. The Factory theatre company return with a promenade production of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline.
For bookings of these and other events, see the website https://longfieldhall.org.uk
Summer Term at St. Vincents
A reminder from the St. Vincent’s Centre in Talma Road SW2 that most regular activities take a half-term break next week, but then continue weekly as follows:
Tai Chi for adults of all ages, Fridays 10-11 am in upper hall, until 10 July.
Drama, for young people age 11-16, Wednesdays, 4-30 to 6 pm, upper hall, until 8 July.
Creativity, Arts and Crafts for young people with disabilities, Saturdays 10-11 am in the lower hall, until 27 June only.
Sewing Bee, for adults of all ages, Wednesdays 10-11 am in the lower hall, until 8 July.
Life Skills cooking sessions, for adult women, Wednesdays 3 – 5 pm in lower hall, until 8 July.
Enquiries to Leannet@svp.org.uk
Readers & Writers Zine Fair
Saturday 13 June, 12 to 4-30 pm in Brixton Tate Library, with at least 25 stalls over 2 floors featuring these small self-published magazines. Please book via Eventbrite or see www.lambeth.gov.uk/ReadersandWriters
Your Forum Bulletins
New Readers? If you signed in to one of our events, or you are a new Councillor, expect to receive these bulletins monthly, to tell you what we and our neighbours are up to, and to share useful links.
Active in Brixton? If you plan 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 we work on a very part-time basis, so please
send items by the 3rd of the month to the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com.
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