Coming Events and Activities
A Snapshot of Brixton – 23 May to 6 July
A free exhibition at Lambeth Town Hall to mark the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush, open 9 am to 8 pm, Monday-Friday. Based on the work of Harry Jacobs, who ran a photography business in Landor Road until retiring in 1999, it shows typical portrait photos of his mainly Afro-Caribbean customers. Additional material from Lambeth Archives shows other aspects of their life in Brixton in the 1950s and 60s.
Wildflower Planting – Saturday 12 May
Following a successful planting day last month, the Lost Effra Project are inviting you to help finish the task on the Cowley Estate this Saturday. Come to Cliffsend House on the Cowley Road/ Normandy Road corner any time from 11 am to 3 pm, to help lay some wildflower turf, seed a wildflower lawn and plant the last few plants into our rain gardens – all tools provided. Enquiries to Rachel on 07 971 315 245 or rdowse@wildlondon.org.uk
Lambeth Carers Hub events
The Carers Hub have linked up with Morley College for their next activity. intended to boost wellbeing and help you focus. Japanese Calligraphy is the topic, with some Origami thrown in. It’s a 7-week course on Friday afternoons, 1 pm to 3 pm, starting this Friday 11th May, including a half-term break and finishing on 29 June. Sessions are at Morley College, 61 Westminster Bridge Road, and their usual fee scales apply. To book a place please phone 020 7501 8970 or e-mail: connect@carershub.org.uk
Next week, 14-20 May, is
Dying Matters Week, which may sound depressing but planning ahead for care options, funerals and wills is important and can ease the tasks of those left behind. Several information sessions are being held around the borough, but the nearest is at 336 Brixton Road on Wednesday 16 May between 10-30 am and 1 pm (open for registration from 10 am, free refreshments). Call Healthwatch on 020 7095 5764 or book via Eventbriteat https://end-of-life-care-info-session.eventbrite.co.uk
Inspiring Women in Business
14 -18 May WinTrade Week
A reminder about this series of events at various London venues, culminating in the WinTrade Awards at the Park Plaza Hotel. Organised by Yvonne Thompson of 7 Traits Leadership Learning, c/o 16 Trinity Gardens SW9 – enquiries to 020 3086 9311 or e-mail win@wintradelondon.com
Tackling the Windrush Scandal
The commemoration of the first arrivals from the Caribbean 70 years ago has helped embarrass the Government into a climb-down over its “hostile environment” policy, but people who arrived before 1973 still need to act to protect their position. The Black Cultural Archives are hosting a series of Legal Clinics on these dates: Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm on 12 May, 19 May, 26 May, or Wednesdays at 5 pm to 8 pm on 16 May or 23 May, all at BCA, 1 Windrush Square SW2.
Longfield Voices now underway
This free singing group has launched with a focus on songs around the themes of “home” and “belonging”. Sessions are at Longfield Hall (corner of Knatchbull and Burton Roads) on Thursdays between 10 am and 11-30 am, refreshments included. Enquiries to Catherine on 020 7978 9153 or catherinehamilton@longfieldhall.org.uk
Rapport Festival
15 -17 June – volunteers needed
We mentioned the Film Festival element a couple of months back, but we now hear that a wider range of arts and entertainment activities are being planned. Volunteers are being sought to help with administration, marketing, photography, videography, leaflet distribution, ushers and marshalls. The Festival will take place in various locations around Brixton over 15-17 June. More info at www.rapportfestival.com
Myatt’s Fields Park Summer Fair – Saturday 16 June
Once again there will be music on the bandstand, a children’s fairground, a dog show, cake competition, dance performances and community stalls. Open from 1 pm to 5pm, stalls cost between £10 and £50 – enquiries to enquiries@myattsfieldspark.info
Opportunities for Funding and Support
Stronger Together Programme
Training and support delivered by Community Southwark for community organisations working in Lambeth – some upcoming training sessions are:
Finance Made Easy on Wednesday 23 May, 10 am to 4-30 pm;
Fund-raising and beyond: diversify and grow your income on Thursday 7 June, 10 am to 4-30 pm;
Be more enterprising: earn and prosper through social enterprise on Tuesday 10 July.
Venues for the last 2 dates not yet confirmed, but all bookings should be made via their website
,http://communitysouthwark.org/training
Grants, helpers, premises…
For Projects working in or around Brockwell Park
Sections of Brockwell Park will be fenced off from 19 May onwards, in readiness for the Field Day/ Mighty Hoopla events which run through Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd June. Full public access will only be restored from 10 June.
To sweeten the pill, the organisers have committed to a community funding pot, which has just opened for grant applications. Maximum bid £5,000 – but lower is more likely to be successful. Closing date is noon on Sunday 3rd June, application forms to be sent to Kelly@fielddayfestivals.com . Successful applicants will be advised by 16 July, and should receive funds by 30 July. Most relevant groups should already have been alerted via Brockwell Park Community Partners, but if you still need a form, e-mail to apiperbrix@aol.com for a Word version.
Need a team of volunteers for a day?
A number of large City employers organise teams of their staff to help out at community projects for a day. Santander is inviting London-based projects to sign up for help from teams of 6 to 20 people for practical projects such as a Big Spring Clean for your premises. Costs of materials can also be reimbursed up to £250. Register with Santander Discovery Days on 0345 612 3570 or enquiries to Adrianna Lancuski atSantander@ccworks.co.uk
Hire a Studio in Stockwell
A reminder that Art4Space Community Arts Centre can offer space for a meeting, training day or studio work. Currently available for some Saturdays, Sundays, and some weekday slots, at Unit 1, 31 Jeffreys Road, SW4 6QU. Enquiries to Julie at jewels@art4space.co.uk or phone 07 816 386 270.
Are you a Small Business or Social Enterprise?
Support – and even funding – may still be available, even if your focus is earning a living rather than as a charitable project:
Federation of Small Businesses publishes a regular e-mail bulletin, First Voice, to keep members informed of changing legislation and emerging business issues. See www.fsb.org.uk
Other umbrella organisations that could be useful include Your Business Community,www.yourbusinesscommunity.co.uk
and London Entrepreneurs Network, www.londonentrepreneursnetwork.com
The Business Show will be at Excel in Docklands on 16 & 17 May, with lots of short talks and seminars on aspects of starting and running a business. For information and tickets see www.greatbritishbusinessshow.co.uk
Need Music while you work / eat/ relax?
The Music Licence allows you to legally play music for employees or customers in your business through the radio, TV, other digital devices and live performances.
It’s a new venture between the UK’s two music licensing organisations – PPL and PRS for Music, to make it easier for businesses and organisations to obtain a music licence. There’s now one point of contact, one licence and one invoice. Enquiries to 0800 0720 808 or see www.pplprs.co.uk
News from Local Groups
Several events came bunched together around the end of April, and it was not possible to have a representative at all of them, but please keep us in touch with what you are doing, and we will flag up highlights in this bulletin whenever we can.
Stockwell Park Estate Community Trust.
The Community Trust launched their re-modelled community centre on 26 April, the culmination of over 30 years of developing community activities and services on the estate. They now want to build partnerships with other organisations to support the local community and encourage social mobility. Centre facilities are also available to hire for family social events or community activities – see www.thetrust.org.uk for current programmes.
Enquiries to 020 7924 9899 or info@thetrust.org.uk
Groove School
Groove School offers DJ and Music Technology workshops for all ages and abilities. The organisation was set up in 2011 and has been based in Unit 31 at Pop Brixton since August 2017. Currently they are running 3 after-school groups a week and one at the weekend. They also run adult classes and mini-courses covering all aspects of music production and STEAM. They plan to host their own marquee again during this summer’s Lambeth Country Show.
Enquiries to info@grooveschool.co.uk
Brixton People’s Kitchen Café
Brixton People’s Kitchen now has a regular café service at the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road SW2, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10 am and 3-30 pm. They offer fresh healthy 2-course meals for £6 (£5 for pensioners), with nice seating, wifi and even a little garden. Profits go to funding free meals for vulnerable people and those on low incomes.
Better Fridays at Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses
Like to grow some vegetables, harvest and cook them? Come and try a spot of gentle gardening with Cathy and Cat at the Community Greenhouses on Friday mornings at 10-30 am, and enjoy a home-cooked lunch at 12-30 pm. Feel free to bring a friend or carer with you for support. Sessions continue weekly until 19 October. The greenhouse and community garden are sited between the Tennis Courts and the Walled Garden.
If interested contact Cathy on 07 834 343 664 or edu.assistant@brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk
Brixton Chamber Orchestra
News has filtered through that a Brixton Chamber Orchestra is getting underway. Rehearsals are at St. Michael’s Church, Stockwell Park Road. Upcoming projects are a Summer concert in Windrush Square, an Autumn concert with a choir, and something else around Christmas.
Improving St. Matthew’s Tenants’ Hall
Efforts are being made to turn an old store room into a usable office, at the hall in St. Matthew’s Road, so offers of decent furniture and office equipment would be welcome.