Events
Community Rally on Windrush Square
Saturday 18 September, between 2 pm and 6 pmSeveral community campaigns are coming together to remind you that another Brixton is possible. Expect speeches from Fight the Tower Campaign, Save Cressingham, Brixton Rec Users Group, Save Nour/ Save Brixton, London Renters Union, Green New Deal London, Planning Aid for London and more – with some music and poetry too.
Black Thrive Lambeth Partnership
The Partnership is inviting Black individuals, organisations and allies that are striving for an equal society to join the Community Assembly on Saturday 18 September. Book separately for morning (10-30 to 1 pm) and afternoon (2 pm to 4 pm) sessions – #TogetherWeThrive
81 Acts of Exuberant Defiance
On These Streets is a free interactive audio experience by Non Zero One, accessible until 30 September. It takes the form of a self-guided walk using a web-app, created in response to the 1981 Uprising, including verbatim testimony, new writing and music. The walk route starts from Brixton Tube Station, takes in 6 waypoints and is available between 10 am and 10 pm daily. To book, see https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/whats-on/
When Brixton Went on Fire: A photo exhibition at the Carnegie Library Community Hub, Herne Hill Road, continues until Wednesday 29 September. Organised by Learning Through the Arts, open Tuesday- Friday 11 am to 6 pm, Mondays from 2 pm, Saturdays 9 am to 4-30 pm, but closed for lunch 1 pm to 2 pm each day.
Lambeth Heritage Festival continues
Events at Brixton Windmill
We were caught out by some late changes to dates, but fortunately there is an extra Open Weekend at the Windmill on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September. Tours are still free but must be booked in advance, via www.brixtonwindmill.org In addition, a guided walk round the Brixton Hill area starts from the mill at 1 pm on Sunday 26th – again, book via the website.
There is also a talk at 7 pm on Wednesday 29September, tracing the past 10 years of activity since the major restoration of the mill in 2011. Available in person at the Education Centre next to the mill, or via Zoom, but for either option, please book via the website.
A Walk Round Stockwell Green
A guided walk around Stockwell Green on Sunday19 September – meet at 2-30 pm outside the Costcutter store, at corner of Landor Road and Lingham Street, SW9 9JF. No booking required.
Ecosystem Coldharbour – Community Truths Meeting
This coalition of community projects covers the north-east side of Brixton, from Angell Town Estate through Moorlands Estate. Their next open meeting is a chance to share problems and make contacts to help organise solutions – 6 pm to 9 pm on Wednesday 29 September at Moorland Estate Community Centre, 50a Corry Drive SW9 8QT (off Somerleyton Road). Please note the change of date and venue from previous notices. Reserve a place by e-mailing connect@ecosystemcoldharbour.org
Great Big Green Week
This runs from 18-26 September, with various events tied in with Climate Change and Green spaces. It kicks off in Myatt’s Fields Park on Saturday, 18th. Loughborough Farm have a workshop on Creating New Plants from Cuttings – on Saturday 25 September from 10-30 am to 1 pm – please book in advance via loughboroughfarm@gmail.com South London Botanical Institute (in Norwood Road, towards Tulse Hill Station) also has a couple of events that week.
Also worth looking at the Lambeth Larder website, particularly for food-growing projects and ideas – see http://lambethlarder.communitymaps.org.uk/
Black Culture Market at The Department Store
The Market returns to the basement of the Department Store, on Ferndale Road, on both Saturday & Sunday, 2 & 3 October, open from 11 am to 5 pm each day. To book a stall, see the website, https://www.blackculturemarket.co.uk Admission is free but please register in advance via Eventbrite – see website for link.
Autumn Show at 198 Gallery
Breaking the Mould is the theme of the next exhibition at the 198 Gallery on Railton Road. Continuing the gallery’s long-standing commitment to showcasing the work of ethnic minority artists, it will feature 12 emerging artists from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The show will run from 14 October to 28 November, normal opening hours Monday- Friday, 11 am to 5 pm, free admission. More information at www.198.org.uk
Current Council Consultations
Review of Low Traffic NeighbourhoodsWe have heard little from members about how well – or not – the LTNs are working around our area, but it’s critical to identify what works and what does not. Lambeth is inviting comments, so decisions can be taken in the New Year about whether to make these temporary schemes permanent. Around Brixton, the Railton LTN is open for comments until 10 October, to www.lambeth.gov.uk/railton-ltn-say Although there was prior local consultation on the design of this LTN, the present layout introduced extra features such as cutting off the northern arm of Shakespeare Road from all vehicle traffic from the Railton Road side.Consultations should follow on the Ferndale and Tulse Hill LTNs, but we have not been able to get clear dates yet – we suggest contacting lowtrafficneighbourhoods@lambeth.gov.uk
Safeguarding Space for Local Business
Lambeth proposes to make 3 “Article 4 Directions” to protect existing business premises from casual change to residential use. The Government has removed most planning protection, with the risk that most shops and workspaces will be changed into flats, which generate higher rents for landlords. Between them, the 3 proposed orders would cover Brixton Town Centre, the other established business areas (KIBAs) around the borough, and the north end of the borough which is part of London’s Central Business District. Closing date for comments is 27 September.
Parks and Open Spaces Consultation
Don’t panic – this one is largely to keep track of how residents think the Council is doing with running its Parks and other open spaces, rather than any new proposals. Might be worth commenting on those extended closures of our scarce greenspaces for commercial events though?Closing date for this one is 29 October.For access to Council consultations generally, see the Lambeth website and follow the Consultations links – https://beta.lambeth.gov.uk/consultations/
Funding, Training and Support
Grant deadlines approaching
A quick reminder of some of the schemes about to close – most have previously been circulated by Integrate – if you missed those notices, contact eoin.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk
LEAP Co-Create Fund, supporting pre-school children and their families, see www.leaplambeth.org.uk/cocreate closes at 12 noon on Monday 20 September.
London Fund for Racialised Communities (Round 2) from the BME Health Forum and Comic Relief, closes at 12 noon on Monday 4 October.
Women in Innovation Awards 2021/22, for women business founders or social entrepreneurs, deadline 11 am on Wednesday 20 October.
Writing effective Grant Proposals Tuesday 28 September, 10 am to 4 pm, on-line via Zoom. A course to provide you with the basics of preparing effective grant applications. Delivered by CLEN cic and funded by the Walcot Foundation and Battersea Power Station Foundation. Apply via Eoin Heffernan at Integrate, e-mail as above.
Finding Volunteers
It’s easy to overlook some channels for finding volunteers to help your group or project, so here’s a reminder about Team London Volunteering. Advertising volunteer roles with them is free, and you may attract people from beyond your immediate area, or with key skills you need. It’s hosted by City Hall, so find their webpages at https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/volunteering/search/
Training from Brixton BID: If you are a social enterprise or small business within the Brixton Business Improvement District, take advantage of these upcoming courses:
- Tuesday 5 October – Equality and Diversity
- Tuesday 9 November – First Aid (level 3)
- Tuesday 7 December – Team Working. All enquiries to Chantel at chantel.facey@brixtonbid.co.uk
Promoting Equality and Diversity
In Lambeth and Southwark, people from Black communities have historically faced worse health outcomes than other groups. The Transformational Leadership Programme will support up to 20 local organisations to develop Black potential leaders and reduce racial inequality. The programme is supported by the Guys & St. Thomas Foundation, but deadline for applications is Thursday 30 September. Contact Eoin Heffernan at Integrate Agency, as above.
Courses & classes at Art4Space
Art4Space have launched a number of new courses and activities at their Creative Learning Hub, 31 Jeffreys Road, SW4 6QU.
Creative Enterprise for Textiles or Ceramics, meeting on Friday mornings 10 am to 12-30 pm, from 24 September to 3rd December (except 29 October) with an opportunity to sell the products made at a local Christmas Market. Open to all residents with a SW2, SW4 or SW9 postcode, but places are limited – enquiries to jewels@art4space.co.uk
Creative Remedies is a Women’s Sewing Collective, meeting on Wednesday mornings, 10 am to 12-30 pm, from 22 September to 1st December (except 27 October) – enquiries to info@art4space.co.uk
After School Art Club runs on Thursdays, 3-45 to 5 pm, minimum age 8, fee £5 each – see http://www.art4space.co.uk
Mosaic Classes are continuing in person on Tuesday evenings, 6-30 to 9 pm. Enquiries to jewels@art4space.co.uk
Creative Writing Course
Get that novel started! The Carnegie Library Community Hub is hosting another creative writing course on Thursdays from 21 October. This will run for 6 sessions, from 7 pm to 9 pm, for up to 12 participants. Cost is £129 (£109 for OAPs). Courses are led by Dominic Canty – for details and booking, see https://creative-writer.co.uk/courses
Health and Social Care
Coronavirus Update
With infections rising again, make sure you have not missed out on getting vaccinated! For the latest details of local vaccination clinics, see www.selondonccg.nhs.uk/popupclinics This also includes clinics beyond the borough boundary, to give you more choice. The Lambeth Health and Wellbeing bus is still popping up at various locations to fill gaps in coverage – and for other health functions too. To keep track of it, see www.lambethtogether.net/wellbeing-bus
Black River Counselling
This is a free online service supporting people of Black African and Afro-Caribbean heritage, to meet their mental health and wellbeing needs at this difficult time. If you are a low income key worker, a young person (over 18), an elder, or someone who just needs to talk, please get in touch at 0808 196 3007. Hosted by Lambeth & Southwark Mind – see https://www.lambethandsouthwarkmind.org.uk/our-services/
In Other News
Running Lambeth’s Leisure Centres
Lambeth is to extend its contract with Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) for another year, but is likely to bring all leisure facilities back under Council management from April 2023. Brixton Recreation Centre is the most high-profile site, but the Ferndale and Flaxman sites are also in our orbit, and GLL also manage the major Clapham, Streatham and West Norwood sites. GLL have held the current contract since 2007. Direct management by Lambeth opens up the potential for a more responsive service to residents needs, rather than what suits the contractor.
Extending the Santander Cycle Hire Scheme
Windrush Square is currently the southernmost outpost of the Mayor’s Cycle Hire scheme, but there is now a petition to extend it as far as Herne Hill.If you want to support it, see https://you.38defrees.org.uk/petitions/extend-the-santander-cycle-hire-scheme-to-herne-hill
Are you using your Forum?
What’s on your agenda? Last month we asked for topics to include in our next meeting, but it seems as if most people took the opportunity to get away, so we only received some holiday pictures from the Isle of Wight and Crete! Despite Government blethering, Coronavirus infection rates have been rising, so the next Forum meeting will still be on Zoom. We are keen to have presentations or reports about what you are doing or planning, or to discuss any local issues, but we do need to hear what you want included in a meeting anytime soon – contact the Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com
Share your news! We are keen to share news and requests from our member groups in these bulletins. Short items are easier, bearing in mind that many people are trying to read this on their mobile phones. Distribution is normally monthly, so please send any news for the October issue before the end of September, to the Secretary as above. Is our mailing list correct?
Finally, our usual reminder for you to tell us – at admin@brixtonneighbourhoodforum.org
– If you would like to add a colleague or neighbour to our e-mail distribution list.
– If you would prefer these bulletins to be sent to a different e-mail address so you can receive them more quickly or reliably.
– If you no longer wish to receive them because you are no longer interested, or have moved away.