We’ll Meet Again
A slightly shorter bulletin this time, but we hope to announce at least an on-line Forum meeting shortly. If you have a burning issue to raise, or a presentation you want to share with Forum members, please contact us urgently – see final section of this bulletin.
Coming Events
Black Communities Health & Wellbeing Day
Saturday (16 October) in and around St. Mark’s Church, Kennington, at the north end of Brixton Road. Open from 10 am to 3 pm. More details at https://beta.lambeth.gov.uk/bhwb
Apple Day at Wyck Gardens
Saturday 24 October in Wyck Forest Garden, between Barrington and Millbrook Roads and Loughborough Road, open between 12 noon and 5 pm.
Events at Brixton Windmill
Windmill Tours: An extra weekend of tours is offered on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 November, open between 1 pm and 4 pm. For full tours, book via the website, and check for any late changes www.brixtonwindmill.org
Half Term Boot Camp: Once again, the Windmill Education Centre is hosting a 5-day programme of activities run by CEF-Lyncx, from Monday 25 October to Friday 29th, between 10 am and 4 pm daily. Limited places for 7-16 age range, details at www.cefi.org.uk or enquiries to community7@cefi.org.uk
Christmas Fair: Plans are being made for this event in Windmill Gardens, on Sunday 12 December, between 12 noon and 3-30 pm, with a variety of stalls from local groups and makers, as well as Father Christmas in the mill.Funding,
Training and Support
Grant deadlines approaching
Integrate recently circulated details of several funding schemes, but deadlines are approaching for:
National Emergencies Trust: closes Friday 22 October.
British Science Week Grants: closes Monday 8 November.
If you missed the original e-mail circulars or newsletters, contact eoin.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk
Help with your Information Technology?
We have been reminded about two sources of help:
On Thursday mornings at the Platform Cafe in Wyck Gardens (corner of Loughborough Road and Rathgar Road SW9) – drop in any time between 10-30 am and 12 noon. Caspar from Clear Community Web will be on hand to help with your questions or setting-up new kit. To confirm, phone 07 523 646 277 or e-mail to info@clearcommunityweb.co.uk
Millennium Community Solutions have their Call Mo free helpline, so if you are having problems with your PC, phone or tablet, they can help you solve them. They specialise in Assistive Technology. Call 07 539 016 464 between 11 am and 4 pm, Tuesday to Thursday only, or e-mail to gail@millenniumcommunitysolutions.com
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion On-line training for community organisations is being offered by Integrate on Monday 8 November from 10 am to 11-30, presented by Elizabeth Takyi. Please book through eoin.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk
Closing down a service is the topic for another free on-line seminar, on Wednesday 15 December. The Covid crisis has upset the business plans of many community organisations, so they may be facing up to closing or scaling back their services, or ending a programme earlier than planned. This session looks at how to minimise the impact and explore alternative provision. Booking as above.
Trustees Week – If you are a Trustee, or management committee member, of a charity or community organisation, look out for on-line training and resources on offer between 1st and 5th November. Numerous events, most of them free, are being listed on the website: https://trusteesweek.org/events/category/events/
Social Enterprise or Small Business? The Business Show returns to Excel London on 24 & 25 November. There are usually a wide range of short seminars you can drop into, but there are also a number of masterclasses focused on business growth and start-ups, which you are advised to book in advance. See www.greatbritishbusinessshow.co.uk
We also pick up details of more specialist trade shows, exhibitions and seminars, so if you have a particular interest, get in touch and we will pass on details to you – contact apiperbrix@aol.com
In Other News
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods
Consultation on the Railton and Oval/Stockwell LTNs has just closed. Another round of consultations, on the Ferndale, Tulse Hill and Streatham Hill LTNs is expected to start shortly. Enquiries or comments to lowtrafficneighbourhoods@lambeth.gov.uk but you are welcome to share your views with us too.
A new look at Atlantic Road
100 years ago, the Police insisted that market stalls should be removed from Atlantic Road, to enable the buses to pass through. Roll forward to 2017, and new layouts were being thrashed out between Lambeth Council, the Forum and Brixton BID. Those got bogged down by Transport for London’s ambitions for reducing traffic over a wider area. Then Covid came along, with attendant emergency measures.
In July last year, the Brixton BID floated its own proposals for extensive pedestrianisation within the Town Centre, under the “Brixton Playground” banner. However, their idyllic vision of street-side cafe tables and planters ignored the practical issues of delivering goods to the shops and cafes in the arcades and adjacent streets.
During the recent “Space in Between” week of events organised by Make It In Brixton, the BID re-opened the debate about how to adapt Atlantic Road to competing modern needs. This time, there seemed to be more realisation of the practicalities of deliveries, and the recent surge in Deliveroo-style pick-ups from restaurants. Expect more about this soon.
Nature and Art on the Street
Taking advantage of one of the “parklets” introduced on Railton Road, Art4Space and Father Nature combined to run a series of family-friendly practical activities outside the Hamilton Supermarket. Sessions were run after-school on Friday afternoons, and on Saturday mornings, between 10 September and 2nd October.
For other activities being run by Art4Space, see their website, www.art4space.co.uk
Involving Young People
We Rise were recently commissioned by Lambeth Council to evaluate their Digital Inclusion Fund. Digital exclusion is a reality for many young people so We Rise team members brought lived experience to the the project, as well as learning the skills to be fantastic researchers. Both the young people and the Lambeth team (Chloe Bernard-Grahame, Emily Wester and Juliet Amoa) gained a great deal from working in this way.
For more details see https://lnkd.in/gDjJyWGh
Young people bring real added value to research, and can deliver quality results. If you or anyone you know commissions research, please consider engaging a team of diverse young people. Enquiries to abigail@werise.org.uk or follow @werise to find out how they are driving diversity.
Health & Social Care
Coronavirus Update
Despite Government and the Hospitality Industry being keen to return to normal, Coronavirus cases remain stubbornly high. Please continue to wear a mask on public transport, while shopping and in other enclosed spaces.
For latest details of vaccination clinics, both regular sessions and special events, the best source is www.selondonccg.nhs.uk/popupclinics
Mental Health First Aid Training
A 2-day course is being provided for members and staff of Lambeth organisations on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 October, between 9-30 and 4-30 pm each day. For further information, contact ermias.alemu@slam.nhs.uk or kathleen.bertrand-grell@slam.nhs.uk
Support for People with Dementia
Age UK Lambeth have reminded us about their Maqnolia Club, a drop-in group for people with dementia and their carers. The Brixton Hill group meets at St. Saviour’s Community Centre, 24 Blenheim Gardens, SW2 5BZ, on Fridays between 2 pm and 4 pm. Enquiries to Kim on 07 832 328 335.
Keep in touchShare your news!
We are keen to share news and requests from our member groups in these bulletins. Distribution is normally monthly, so to appear in the November issue, please send in your news before the end of October, to the Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com
Also send to this address if you want something featured in the agenda for our next Forum meeting.
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