March 2022

Events coming up

Brixton Rec Public Meeting

A public meeting organised by BRUG at 6 pm on Tuesday 15 March in the Brixton Rec, Level 6 meeting room.  Lambeth Council is bringing management of the Recreation Centre back in-house from April next year.  Find out what Lambeth Councillors and officers have in mind, and tell them what you would like to see!  Enquiries to brixtonbrug@gmail.com

People and Planet Before Profit

Rally on Windrush Square Thursday 17 March from 5-30 pm.  Despite declaring a Climate Emergency, Lambeth Council continues to champion unsustainable high-density high-rise development and demolishing Council estates to make way for more private housing.  Organised by Extinction Rebellion Lambeth with other groups including Cressingham Gardens TRA, Save Central Hill Estate and Refurbish Don’t Demolish.  More details at https://linktr.ee/xrlambeth or support the petition at https://www.change.org/p/refurbish-don-t-demolish-social-housing/u/30293471   

Health Advice for Young People

A drop-in clinic for young people on Monday 14 March, between 4 pm and 6-30 at the Education Centre alongside Brixton Windmill, in Windmill Gardens SW2.  A chance to talk about emotions or mental health, the struggle to stay physically healthy, or obtain contraception advice. Supported by Herne Hill Group Practice and NHS Well Centre.

Brixton Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood

If you missed the round of consultation that closed on 4 February, you now have another chance.  Lambeth Street Design officers have a Walk and Talk event between 12 noon and 2 pm on Friday 18 March.  To join in, contact Nicola Doal on (020) 7926 2975 or ndoal@lambeth.gov.uk  They are also willing to set up on-line meetings or walkabouts for local groups. Streets between Acre Lane and Windmill Gardens have long-standing restrictions which seem to work well, but the ambition seems to be to add more measures further south, between Kings Avenue and New Park Road

Council Consultations Closing Soon

Also see the Consultations pages on the Lambeth Council website for links.

Affordable Workspace

supplementary planning document – the revised draft is only open for comments until Sunday 13 March – respond to localplan@lambeth.gov.uk

Ferndale Low Traffic Neighbourhood 

is open for comments only until Sunday 20 March.  Use the Commonplace website at https://fdstreets.commonplace.is/ or e-mail to lowtrafficneighbourhoods@lambeth.gov.uk

Clean Air in Lambeth

Comment on Lambeth’s Air Quality Action Plan, deadline Sunday 27 March. See https://cleanairlambeth.commonplace.is/

Pharmacies in Lambeth

Lambeth is undertaking a needs assessment to identify gaps in provision – residents are invited to complete a short online survey, closing date Friday 1 April

Child Friendly Lambeth

Windrush Square, Saturday 19 MarchLambeth Council has organised a launch event for its Child Friendly Lambeth Campaign on Saturday 19 March from 12 noon to 5 pm. Various organisations working with children or young people will have presence, together with relevant Council departments and several performances or demonstrations.  Lambeth aims to become a child-friendly accredited community through UNICEF over the next 3 to 5 years.  More information on the Council website at www.lambeth.gov.uk/childfriendly or e-mail enquiries to childfriendly@lambeth.gov.uk

Windmill Tours

Now open for booking Tours of the Windmill open for bookings 30 days before each open weekend.  The next few openings will be on these weekends

-12 & 13 March

– 9 & 10 April

– 16 & 17 April (plus Easter Family Day on Sunday 17th)

– 7 & 8 May

Free Tai Chi Sessions by Brixton Windmill. Thanks to a grant from IKEA Places Called Home fund, four free sessions are being offered to local residents on Wednesdays between 11 am and 12 noon, from Wednesday 16 March.  These are taster sessions organised by the Friends of Windmill Gardens, using a qualified Tai Chi teacher supported by volunteers.  Following each class, there will be half an hour to meet other participants and get help in finding other support services to suit. At the end of the series, you can progress to the current series of paid sessions (£3 per class) if interested. There will be a further block of free sessions from late April if you cannot make the first dates.  All booking enquiries to jean@brixtonwindmill.org

More details on the website at www.brixtonwindmill.org

Indoor Market at The Remakery

The Remakery have launched an Indoor Market Table Top Sale as a regular fixture on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. – that means the next sessions are on 20 March & 3 April.  Sell your pre-loved items or just come and have a look at what Remakery members have been making.  To book your table, go to https://www.remakery.org/indoor-market/  Remember, the Remakery is at the corner of Lilford Road and Paulet Road, SE5.

Brixton Performs Festival

22-26 March Brixton BID is supporting a number of performance events around Brixton during this week.  So far, we have heard that the Brixton Chamber Orchestra will be performing alongside Brixton Windmill on Saturday 26 March, between 1 pm and 2 pm – free of charge.

Free Tickets for Summer Events in Brockwell Park

There are limited numbers of free tickets available to local residents, to be allocated by ballot.  The deadline for applications is 6 pm on Sunday 27 March.  The links to the various events are as follows:

Wide Awake Friday 27 & Saturday 28 May (ages 17+) https://wideawakelondon.co.uk/community/

City Splash Sunday 29 May (all ages) https://www.city-splash.com/ community

Jubilation Thursday 2nd June (all ages) https://jubilationfestival.com/community/

Mighty Hoopla Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th June (LGBTQ-friendly events, age 18+) https://mightyhoopla.com/ local-residents/

Cross the Tracks Sunday 5th June (all ages) https://www.xthetracks.com/ community

general information supplied via Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses.


On Rush Common

Saturday 2 April Around the official opening of the refurbished playground on Rush Common, St. Matthew’s Estate TRA have organised a little event on the common between the Brixton Orchard and Brixton Water Lane.  Lambeth Parks, Brixton Windmill, Father Nature and Doctor Bike will each have a presence, in addition to a Tree Trail, planting workshop, play trail and dominoes workshop.  Enquiries to ms.maureen.simpson@gmail.com

Railway Track Maintenance

Network Rail is carrying out repairs to the tracks between Brixton and Herne Hill Stations, to grind down the rail surface for smoother running.  The next session will be overnight between midnight Thursday 24 March and 5 am on Friday 25 March.  Enquiries to the 24-hour helpline on 0345 711 4141. 

Easter Breeze 2022

4-14 April CEF Lyncx are holding another activities camp in Windmill Gardens, over 9 days to coincide with the Easter school holidays, for ages 7 to 16.  To register your kids, go to http://cefi.org.uk/our-sharp-offer or enquiries to Christian on 07 706 179 851 or e-mail to community7@cefi.org.uk

New Courses at Art4Space

Creative Community Champions is a free course aimed at Lambeth residents who are out of work, or on low incomes. Over 10 weeks, participants will create a collective textile project as well as learning about community art.  Fridays 10 am to 12 noon, from 6 May to finish on 15 July (no session on 3 June), at Art4Space Creative Learning Hub, 31 Jeffreys Road SW4 6QU.  Limited spaces, enquiries to jewels@art4space.co.uk 

Creative Remedies is another free course for Lambeth residents out of work or on low incomes, this time with a LGBTQ+ focus.  Again over 10 weeks, participants will undertake personal projects in mixed media, including mosaic, ceramics and textiles.  Wednesdays 10 am to 12-30 pm, starting on 4 May to finish on 13 July (no session on 1st June).  Location and contact as above.

 Art4Space are also seeking a Business Development Manager – closing date for applications is Friday 18 March, enquiries to jewels@art4space.co.uk


Impact Brixton Thrive Programme

Following the launch on 10 March, the series continues with monthly master-classes, mentoring opportunities and complimentary membership of Impact Brixton for 6 months.  Upcoming master-classes/ workshops are normally on Thursdays at 6-30 pm and  include Futureproofing Finances on 28 April and Building Diverse and Inclusive Businesses on 26 May.  Enquiries to team@impactbrixton.com

Health & Social Care News 

Mental Capacity – Planning for the Future

The Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Board have arranged a session for carers, volunteers and community organisations to explain how to support individuals who become unable to make decisions for themselves due to failing mental capacity.  The session takes place online on Wednesday 16 March at 10 am.  Booking enquiries to eoin.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk

Lambeth Healthwatch

Lambeth Healthwatch will be holding its Annual General Meeting on-line on Wednesday 16 March at 6 pm.  Healthwatch exists to support patients in their dealings with the various health organisations, hospitals and doctors’ surgeries.  This is an opportunity to catch up with their work locally and see who is involved as staff and volunteers.  Enquiries to lambeth@healthwatchcrm.co.uk

Lambeth Together – Public Forum and Partnership Board – 23 March

Lambeth-based groups and residents are welcome to attend the Public Forum to ask the Board about how health and care are planned, and share ideas about improving health and reducing inequalities in provision.  You can also stay to watch the Board meeting afterwards.  More information on the Lambeth Together website, at https://lambethtogether,net/about-us/get-involved

Managing Health Online – 31 March

Clear Community Web are running free sessions to help people use apps and other on-line techniques to connect to their GP and other health services, and find reputable health advice online.  The next session is on Thursday 31 March ffrom 2 pm to 4 pm at Myatt’s Fields Centre, Eythorne Road, SW9 7RH.  To book or get more details, please phone 07 523 646 277 or e-mail to info@clearcommunityweb.co.uk

Support for people with dementia and their carers

Age UK Lambeth recently shared with us details of these sessions run by Age Exchange with support from Lambeth CCG.
Mondays 1-30 to 3 pm at Stockwell Park Community Centre, 21 Aytoun Place SW9 0TE.  Activities include art, music and reminiscence. Cost £6 per session (no charge for carers).  To join, contact Lydia on (020) 8318 9105 or hello@age-exchange.org.uk
Thursdays 1-30 to 3 pm at Lavender Hope CIC, Deronda Hall, Deronda Estate, 6 Jarrett Close, Tulse Hill SW2 3DG.  Activities, cost and contact details as above.

Funding, Training & Support 

Grant Deadlines Approaching

A reminder, based on information previously issued by Integrate – if you missed the original notices, contact eoim.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk
The Rose Foundation – grants between £5,000 and £10,000 towards building works, for repairs or improvements, but excluding site purchase, professional fees or equipment.  Deadline 31 March.

The Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund offers grants of up to £5,000 through its Small Grants Programme.  Applications may be made at any time but funds are allocated quarterly and the next meeting of their committee is in May, so don’t hang about!

Build a World of Play Challenge from the Lego Foundation will support up to 10 major projects around the country with sums from £730,000 to £22 million, to support early childhood development (age up to 6 years old).  Deadline Tuesday 7 April, with finalists to be announced in September.

Support Networks

In recent bulletins, we have flagged up the Directory of Social Change, Locality and the Charity Excellence Framework, in addition to Integrate.  If you are a social enterprise rather than a charity, the Brixton BID should be able to offer support through its training courses and bulk-purchase schemes. As we reported last month, sadly the Small Charities Coalition is no more, but here are a couple of others:

Neighbourly is a free-to-use platform currently used by nearly 20,000 good causes around the British Isles.  Through its partnerships with major retailers and manufacturers, you can tap into their giving programmes throughout the year.  This includes not only help in kind such as surplus food products, but also staff volunteering programmes and grants.  More details can be seen at https://hub.neighbourly.com 

The Charity Learning Consortium is worth considering if you have ongoing needs for staff training or if skills training is part of what you do.  They offer access to a huge library of e-learning courses and lectures, as well as to a community of learning professionals if you want to run something in-house. Enquiries to marketing@comms.charitylearning.org or see their website, www.charitylearning.org

Filling the Gaps

The Forum officers will shortly need to draft a budget for the new financial year from 1st April.  If you think there is something that we should be doing to support your efforts, we need to hear from you very soon.  Is there any training which is hard to find – or hard to pay for? Are there other things which the Forum should be doing?  Please feed back to the Secretary, Alan Piper, at apiperbrix@aol.com

History Corner 

Calling old residents of North Brixton. Did you live in or near Hackford Road or the Cowley Estate at any time between 1963 and 1980?  From April, Roma Tearne will be Writer-in-residence at the Van Gogh House, 87 Hackford Road SW9 0RE.  She recalls arriving in the area as a child refugee in 1963, and passing the house daily on her way to school.  She now wants to draw on the memories of other people who once lived nearby, as well as her own.  If you are interested in sharing your memories, please contact Mimi Lanfranchi at the Van Gogh House, at mimi@vangoghhouse.co.uk

Centenary of Stockwell War Memorial

The War Memorial Clock Tower outside Stockwell Tube Station was unveiled in 1922, and to mark the 100th anniversary, the Friends of Stockwell War Memorial are holding an exhibition at St. Michael’s Church in Stockwell Park Road, SW9 0DA.  This will run from Saturday 30 April to Saturday 7 May (closed Sunday), hours vary, 11 am to 4 pm Saturdays, weekdays 5 pm to 7 pm (except Tuesday 2 pm to 4 pm only).  Enquiries to naomi@stockwellwarmemorial.org

The Story of Brixton Windmill, 1816-2022

As part of the History Unlocked series of on-line talks arranged by Lambeth Archives, Jean Kerrigan will describe the history of Brixton’s windmill as a family business, and then the long campaign to restore and retain the mill as a community asset.  Thursday 17 March at 7 pm – to register and get the log-in details, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/272616291667

Guided Walks

From early April, a number of guided walks are being provided by local organisations under the umbrella of the Lambeth Local History Forum.  Printed versions of the programme should be available in Lambeth libraries by then, or you can refer to the website,  www.lambethlocalhistoryforum.org.uk

One legacy of Covid is that all walks need to be booked in advance, but some of them are still free.

Keep in Touch 

Share your news – and views!

Please make use of these bulletins to share your concerns, to announce events and services, or just report what your group or enterprise is doing.We aim to publish monthly, around the 10th of the month, so we really need to hear from you before 5th April for the next issue.  Continue to send your news to apiperbrix@aol.com

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