open now for details of upcoming events and sources of support…
Jubilee Events
Street Parties around Brixton
Here’s a summary of those we have heard about:
Thursday 2 June: Kay Road, SW9.
Friday 3 June: Argyll Close SW9, Medwin Street SW4, Tasman Road SW9.
Saturday 4 June: Beechdale Road SW2, Lambert Road SW2, Spencer Road (for Poets Corner) SE24, Tintern Street SW4.
Sunday 5 June: Craignair Road SW2, Ducie Street SW4, Helix Road SW2,
Saturday 11 June: Dalyell Road SW9.
Sunday 3 July: Barnwell Road SW2, Elm Park SW2.
Sunday 17 July: Mervan Road SW2.
Picnic in Myatt’s Fields Park
Sunday 5 June between 1 pm and 3 pm: Celebrate the Jubilee with a picnic in the park. Enter the fancy dress competition or produce a prize-winning Jubilee cake. Live music from Lambeth Wind Orchestra. Workshop for children under 4 to make their own crowns and bunting – book via community@myattsfieldspark.info
Next Forum Meeting – Tuesday 5 July
From 7 pm in the Ground Floor event space at International House, corner of Popes Road and Canterbury Crescent, SW9 7QD.
This bulletin is a little earlier than usual, to highlight Jubilee events, so we are still settling the agenda – expect final details at the end of this month. Naturally, we will report on our activities over the past couple of years, including how we spent our money, and elect a committee to steer the Forum through the year ahead.If you want a spot on the agenda to highlight your organisation’s work, or to raise a local issue, please contact the Secretary NOW at apiperbrix@aol.com
Other Events coming up
Black Culture Market, 4 & 5 June
Open between 11 am and 5 pm each day in the Downstairs space at the Department Store, 240-250 Ferndale Road SW9. The organisers promise a different mix of traders each day, covering African and Caribbean-inspired entrepreneurs, traders and crafts-people. Free admission but please book tickets via Eventbrite, https://eventbrite.co.uk/e/black-culture-market-tickets-288460913357
Race Equality Commission comes to Brixton
On Thursday 9 June, the Race Equality Commission will be holding two sessions in Brixton, at St. Vincent’s Centre (formerly Brixton Community Base) in Talma Road SW2 1AS. There is a choice of a breakfast session, between 8 am and 9-30, or an evening session, between 6 pm and 7-30. Commission members are keen to hear about residents’ lived experience on a variety of topics that affect their daily lives. For more background information, see www.li.com/research/rec To book a place at either session, or for more details, contact Daisy Vanderputt at daisy.vanderputt@li.com
Hondo Towers – the Mayor Decides.
Finally a date has been set for the Mayor to hear final arguments and decide on the Hondo proposals for the high rise “office” tower in Popes Road, next to the Brixton Village arcade. This will be on Friday 10 June at the relocated City Hall (formerly The Crystal) in Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE, starting at 10 am. If you objected directly, you should by now have received details for attending, or the hearing can be followed on-line. Various objector groups have been co-ordinating recently to present an integrated case at the hearing.
Events at Brixton Tate Library
A few upcoming events at the Library caught my eye. They are part of the Lambeth Readers and Writers Festival, so please book for talks via www.lambeth.gov.uk/readersandwriters
Neighbourhood Voices is on Wednesday 15 June at 6-30 pm. Several local writers have created a tapestry of Brixton life between the 1970s and 1985.
Twenty Eight Pounds Ten Shillings is on Thursday 16 June at 7 pm, a Windrush story told by author Tony Fairweather, the money being the fare charged for the passage from the West Indies in 1948 (say £600 in today’s money).
Windrush Playback Stories follows on Tuesday 21 June at 6 pm, the launch of an intergenerational story-telling project led by Tony Cealy. Tony is looking for a mix of elders and younger performers for an interactive theatre performance project, so it will be followed by 6 rehearsal sessions through July and August. Book for this via www.492kornaklub.com
Pride Picnic on Saturday 18 June
An informal early evening event in Myatt’s Fields Park, between 4 pm and 7 pm, as part of Pride Month for the local LGBTQ+ community. Enquiries to enquiries@myattsfieldspark.info
Music at Brockwell Greenhouses
Mambista are returning to Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses for a performance led by blues legend Errol Linton and DJ Gerry Lyseight, on Sunday 19 June.Award-winning contemporary folk duo Fellow Pynins will perform on Sunday 10 July. For more details and tickets, see https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/event/
Lambeth Country Show, 16 & 17 July
The Country Show returns to Brockwell Park after a break due to Covid. If your group or enterprise is running a stall, or performing, or supporting another exhibit, do tell us about it! Opening times will be 12 noon to 8 pm each day.
Changes at Lambeth Council
Although Lambeth remains dominated by Labour, some long-serving councillors have been replaced by new faces, and of course ward boundaries have changed too. Following the elections on 5th May, the new Council Cabinet was confirmed on 25 May, and there are important changes in how responsibilities have been divided up between them.
Clare Holland continues as Leader, but with two new Deputies.
Jacqui Dyer is Deputy Leader for Inclusive Economy and Equalities, so combining responsibilities for the Equalities brief with local employment matters.
Danny Adilypour is Deputy Leader for Sustainable Growth and New Homes, matters previously covered by Matthew Bennett.
Maria Kay is Cabinet Member for Better Homes and Reducing Homelessness. This includes existing housing estates still directly managed by the Council.
David Amos is Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living.
Donatus Anyanwu is Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Leisure and Sports. This brief includes recreation centres, libraries and events, but not parks generally. He continues his previous role of oversight of voluntary and community organisations.
Jim Dickson and Marcia Cameron share the Cabinet responsibility for Healthier Communities, including liaison with relevant parts of the NHS.
Ben Kind is now Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, including those in care or at risk, in addition to wider services for the age group.
Mahamed Hashi is Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, including liaison with the Police and the Mayor.
Rezina Chowdhury is Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air. That will include most aspects of parks, cemeteries and other open spaces, Lambeth’s Climate Action Plan, biodiversity and sustainable transport initiatives.
Funding, Training and Support
Grant Deadlines Approaching
Ecosystem Coldharbour is inviting applications to Round 3 of its Micro Grants Programme until 13 June. Grants of up to £2500 are available to grass-roots organisations, with the emphasis on capacity-building. Enquiries to grow@ecosystemcoldharbour.org or see website www.ecosystemcoldharbour.org
Great Big Green Week Community Fund: Grants of up to £10,000 to organise local events during the Week, with emphasis on local action to tackle Climate Change. Deadline for bids is Thursday 30 June. More details at https://greatbiggreenweek.com/funding
BBC We Move Fund invites bids from not-for-profit organisations working with Black children and young people (up to age 18), offering grants of up to £50,000 for up to 18 months from its Youth Social Action strand. Application deadline Monday 20 June. More details at https://www.childreninneed.co.uk/grants/the-work-we-do/our-focussed-funding/we-move/ or enquiries to wemovefund@bbc.co.uk
Black and Minoritised Communities Enterprise Development Programme offers grants and learning support for black-led charities and social enterprises, working with the Ubele Initiative. Applications close at 12 noon on Monday 13 June. More details at https://www.enterprisedevelopmentprogramme.org.uk/bmedp/
These grant schemes were previously announced by Integrate – if you missed the notices, contact eoin.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk
Lambeth Made Safer: Summer Violence Reduction Programme, deadline Monday 20 June. Lambeth are offering support for activities for vulnerable young people through the summer holidays, up to £30,000 per application.
Shared Endeavour Fund: grants of up to £45,000 available for projects countering extremism and hate crime within London, deadline 9 am on Monday 20 June.
Arnold Clark Community Fund offers grants of up to £1,000 to charities, community interest companies, CIOs and social enterprises. Deadline Thursday 30 June.
Training and Tech Support
Cybersecurity 101 – Monday 13 June, 10 am to 12 noon on Zoom, a practical workshop led by Shurel Reynolds for small and medium-sized organisations, featuring data protection, GDPR and cybersecurity tips. Organised by Integrate – contact as above.
Clear Community Web are continuing their drop-in sessions to help you with your Smartphone, Tablet or Laptop, now at Moorlands Community Centre, 50a Corry Drive (off Somerleyton Road) SW9 8QT on Thursday mornings, between 11 am and 1 pm. Enquiries to info@clearcommunityweb.co.uk or call 07 523 646 277.
Start Them Young! The Southwyck Coding and Art Centre recently launched in the former community centre behind the “Barrier Block” on Coldharbour Lane. One element is a 5-week Lambeth Digital Heroes Club open to children aged 5 to 11, running on Wednesdays from 15 June from 4 pm to 6 pm. This is a joint venture of Millennium Community Services and the Institute of Imagination. More details at www.ioi.london/lambeth or call 07 585 009 726.
Further coding classes will run from 27 July, and Art classes are also planned – see also www.millenniumcommunitysolutions.com Free Arts and Crafts sessions for the over-16s will be run by Cre8ive Arts CIC – enquiries to 07 442 838 570 or e-mail to cre8ivearts@pm.me
Health and Social Care
South London Cares
This is a Brixton-based charity working across both Lambeth and Southwark, currently supporting two dozen regular social club sessions each month, mainly for over-65s. They also run a Love Your Neighbour programme, to match older people with a younger neighbour for regular company and conversation. The aim is to connect younger and older neighbours so that adults of all ages feel better-connected and less isolated. Referrals are welcome, but they are also keen to recruit younger volunteers. More information on their website at www.southlondoncares.org.uk or enquiries to 020 7118 0404 or e-mail to elle.dodds@southlondoncares.org.uk
Green News
Blooming Lambeth Awards – enter now!Closing date for nominations is 11 June. Do you have the best resident-led community garden? Do you know the most enthusiastic young gardener? For details of the 8 categories, see the Incredible Edible Lambeth website at https://www.incredibleediblelambeth.org
Charging Points for Electric Vehicles Lambeth has published proposals to add electric charging points in these local roads:Arlingford Road, Ashmere Grove, Athlone Road,Ballater Road, Barrington Road, Bonham Road, Branksome Road, Brockwell Park Gardens,Chaucer Road, Dumbarton Road,Elm Park, Fairmount Road, Flaxman Road,Kepler Road, Kildoran Road,Lambert Road, Lyham Road,Mauleverer Road, Moorland Road, Mowll Street,Stockwell Park Road, Sudbourne Road, Talma Road, Tasman Road, Trelawn Road, Trinity Gardens,Wiltshire Road, Wimbart Road.
Almost all are in Parking Control Zones, so a Resident Parking Permit (or in some cases, a Business Permit) will be required to use the charging bay. Objections or enquiries to TMOReps@lambeth.gov.uk
Doctor Bike in Brixton Brixton Business Improvement District has reminded us that the Doctor Bike cycle repair sessions continue on a monthly basis in Brixton Station Road. Sessions are on Wednesdays between 12 noon and 3 pm, and the next dates are 29 June, 27 July and 31 August.
Council Recycling Changes Lambeth Council has added a collection service for used batteries and for “small” electronics – that’s electrical items no larger than the average toaster. Larger appliances must still be taken to the Vale Street Recycling Centre in West Norwood, the Smugglers Way Recycling Centre in Battersea, or collection arranged through the Council’s bulky waste service. Further guidance is on the Council’s website at https://beta.lambeth.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling/smallelectricals-battery-waste/
Meanwhile, we have found that free distribution of recycling sacks has been abandoned for “street” properties, even though many round here are actually split into flats, so there’s less encouragement to separate out your other recyclable waste before taking it down to the wheely bins.
Keep in Touch
It’s all in the timing! We aim to publish monthly, but because it’s put together on a very part-time basis, there will always be a gap of a few days between sifting all the reports received and the final e-mail reaching your in-box via Mail-Chimp. Normally we need to hear from you before the 5th of the month, to publish around the 10th. Please continue to send your news to apiperbrix@aol.com for the time being.
Is this your best e-mail? We are keen to keep in touch with organisations, enterprises and community activists around Brixton, but please tell us:- If you want these bulletins sent to a different e-mail address, so you get them more quickly or reliably. – If you want to add a colleague or neighbour to our mailing list (no extra charge at present!).- If you have moved away, or are no longer interested. Please notify all mailing list updates to admin@brixtonneighbourhoodforum.org