The Better Late than Never
A pause for breath…
After a brief pause for seasonal festivities, we are picking up the threads again. This bulletin is being prepared just before our committee meets again on the 8th, so we are still sorting out our meeting dates (and places) for the next few months.
In the meantime, we are repeating a few items from last month while there is still time for you to follow them up.
Brixton Neighbourhood Plan
As explained last month, we are refining our application to take on board the comments received, as well as feedback from Lambeth planners. We were encouraged to see that the vote on the nearby Kennington/ Oval/ Vauxhall neighbourhood plan went off successfully on 11th December – the nearest part of their area is west of Brixton Road and north of South Island Place and Dorset Road.
To keep things moving, we welcome your suggestions of meeting places in different corners of Brixton, while we still have funds for room hire. Also please get in touch if you have a bright idea, an offer of help or a local issue to raise.
Enquiries to Alan Piper, apiperbrix@aol.com
Forums face cuts
Back in November, the Council’s Cabinet agreed to a package of cuts to everything which the Council is not legally obliged to provide. Many local contracts were paused to reduce cashflow. Neighbourhood Forums like ourselves were among the casualties, so we are now seeking other funding to continue our work until at least March 2027. We are collaborating with the other forums where possible.
Green spaces, Green issues
Privatising Brockwell Park?
Lambeth seems to have given us the worst option for summer events in the Park. Once again there’s a planning application for a series of commercial events in May/June, which will take a big chunk of the park out of public use for 5 weeks. In the past few years the fencing, lighting, marquees etc have been shared with the Lambeth Country Show but Lambeth has already decided the million pounds to put on the Show is no longer affordable.
Brockwell Hall is gradually hosting more events, following completion of the restoration in the Autumn. There have been comments that hire fees are on the high side for community events, but there are some free sessions for residents over 50, provided by the Black Prince Trust, starting 12 January:
Tai Chi, Mondays 10 am to 10-45;
Chair Exercise (Band Together) Tuesdays,
2 pm to 2-45;
Chair Yoga, Wednesdays 1-15 pm to 2 pm;
Mat Yoga, Wednesdays 2-15 pm to 3 pm.
To book, visit www.blackprincetrust.org.uk or enquiries to Bev de Valmency, 07 301 032 161 or wellbeing@blackprincetrust.org.uk
There’s also a Community Wellbeing Day on Saturday 24 January, open 11 am to 3 pm.
There are also paid Hatha Yoga classes (no age limits) on Fridays between 8 am and 9 am at £15 per session, provided by Yogabliss in the Bristowe Room. For more details please see https://yogabliss.org.uk/classes/
Community Greenhouses
There are already several practical workshop events lined up for the weeks ahead:
Sunday 15 February: Flash Fiction, creative writing to produce a perfectly-formed story in less than a thousand words, 10-30 to 1 pm.
Sunday 22 February: Willow-weaving basket making workshop, 10 am to 4 pm.
Sunday 1st March: Mindfulness in Nature, 12-30 to 3-30 pm.
For details, costs and bookings for all these events, see the website, https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/events
Max Roach Park wins friends
We welcome the recent formation of a Friends group for Max Roach Park. A committee has been formed with a wide membership from local estates and streets, and support from LCC who manage the playgroup and playground within the park. A recent upgrade of the playground has provided an initial boost but there is still plenty to do.
Lambeth Climate Partnership
Over the past year, a variety of organisations and businesses have been meeting to share good practice in energy efficiency and climate-friendly initiatives. Members have heard about community greening projects, active travel programmes and innovative retrofit work.
More is in mind for the year ahead, starting off with a meet-up focussed on Transport innovations – to confirm details, e-mail to lcp@lambeth.gov.uk
Brixton Windmill Events
Regular sessions include the following:
Tai Chi for beginners (age 50+, free) Wednesdays at 10-30 am.
Community Club for age 60+, Thursdays 10 am to 2 pm, including chair exercise at 10-30.
Wild Balance Yoga Class, Fridays 9 am to 10 am, book slots via hello@wild-balance.co.ukPilates for beginners (drop-in, £5 per session) Fridays 12 to 1 pm.
Joy of Sound, seated Tai Chi with music, Fridays 2-30 to 3-30 pm.
Tai Chi in Windmill Gardens (pay what you can), Saturdays 11-30 am.
There are also occasional workshop-type events – the next is a Bread-making Class on Saturday 28 February, 10-30 to 1-30 pm.
Please book in advance via the Friends website, www.brixtonwindmill.org
Health and Social Care
Winter Wellbeing
It’s that time again when we recycle advice shared with us in earlier years by Brixton Therapy Centre and Lambeth Public Health Team.
Sleep well but resist the urge to hibernate! Rather aim for 7 to 8 hours per night, going to bed and rising at consistent times. A warm bedroom helps.
Tackling stress helps with that first point, particularly if you are running a business or organisation. Massage can relax the muscles but also de-stress the mind. Taking time out for Yoga or meditation can also help.
Connect with the people around you, be social. Take notice of your surroundings and keep learning, even if you don’t have major responsibilities. If you have time to spare, there are many local organisations looking for volunteer help.
Exercise in any form is helpful – it could be as simple as taking a walk regularly, with a target of 150 minutes a week. Similarly, you could cycle, dance, garden or play football, but the key is that you enjoy it and it becomes a regular part of your life.
Diet matters. It’s tempting to fall back on comfort eating, but variety should be the watchword. There’s lots of advice out there, but above all, hold the sugar and avoid “empty calories” from sweets, alcohol and fizzy drinks, and be wary of hidden sugars in processed foods. On the other hand, don’t skip breakfast, and be sure to drink plenty of fluids.
Winter Blues or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects 1 in 15 people due to reduced sunlight at this time of year. Getting out in the fresh air, letting plenty of light into your home and even a light box can help directly, but diet and exercise should be part of the package too.
Mental Health First Aid
Art4Space are hosting a course run by It’s a Playground on 29 & 30 January, at their Community Arts Centre at 31 Jeffreys Road, SW4 6QU. This will be the Youth version, but the Adult version will be run again on 19 & 20 March. The full fee is £325 but there is a £50 discount for Lambeth volunteer organisations.
Book via www.art4space.co.uk
Community Emergency Resilience Network
The Brixton Project has been working on behalf of the London Resilience Forum to develop community-led procedures across Lambeth’s neighbourhoods in times of crisis. It’s critical for communities to have strong leadership and collaboration during emergency scenarios, grounded in the knowledge and experience of local organisations.
The Community Resilience Ecosystem is being developed on the One Planet digital platform, enabling community groups to map emergency provision, share procedures and resources, and build systems to support all Lambeth residents in an emergency.
Please complete the Google form below, so the project can build an up-to-date and connected Network:
https://forms.gle/eA5ZyHvGJf3pri1p7
Enquiries to Mala Naicker, 07 932 918 026.
Funding, Training & Support
Grant deadlines approaching
For the time being, we will continue to share reminders about grant opportunities, but your first point of enquiry should be Integrate, whose contract to provide funding advice was recently renewed. Enquiries to contact@integrateagency.co.uk
The Paul Mellon Centre mostly offers research grants and scholarships to individuals in the fields of art, design and architecture. Their latest funding round closes at the end of January, but you should also allow time for references to be taken up. For more details see their website at www.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk
funding for buildings of historic interest, i.e.
for project viability (up to £15k), project development (up to £100k) and capital works (up to £350k). Open until 31 March, jointly funded by Architectural Heritage Fund, DCMS and Historic England.
Business Networking
Born or Made in Brixton holds fortnightly meetings for creatives, designers, freelancers and entrepreneurs, to provide mutual support and networking. Next one in our diary is on Wednesday 21 January, 8-30 to 9-30 am at 3Space (ground floor meeting room), International House, Canterbury Crescent, SW9 7QD. More info at www.bornormade.com
Training Opportunities
Free training courses for Lambeth-based charities and community groups are available through the Lambeth Hubs Network. Most in-person events will be held at High Trees, the former St. Martin’s Library at the cross-roads of Tulse Hill and Upper Tulse Hill, SW2 2NS. Other hub members will host events occasionally, including at 336 Brixton Road and Longfield Hall.
You are encouraged to register with the Hubs Network and complete a simple survey so they can provide the subjects in most demand. Enquiries to info@lambethhubs.com
Art, craft and printing courses
198 Contemporary Arts & Learning will be hosting two free 10-week courses as part of their Step Up programme:
Enquiries to education@198.org.uk or phone (020) 7978 8309.
Art and Design will run on Wednesdays, 11-30 am to 5 pm from 28 January.
Advanced Film and Video will run on Tuesdays, 11-30 am to 5 pm from 27 January.
Also under the Step Up umbrella, Photofusion are hosting a Photography course of 12 sessions over 6 weeks, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 am to 2-40 pm at their studios in Beehive Place. Enquiries to Steff at steff@photofusion.org
Hausprint Studio offers short courses and facilities for printing methods such as etching.
Coming soon is a course on experimental Aquatint (hard ground etching on zinc), over five Tuesday evenings from 27 January, led by Bob White.
All courses at Vincent’s Yard, 23 Alphabet Mews, SW9 0FN (at south end of Hackford Road). More details at www.hausprint.studio
Art4Space continue to offer a wide variety of courses and craft sessions at the A4S Creative Learning Hub, 31 Jeffreys Road, SW4 6QU. Further details on their website at www.art4space.co.uk
Several options are on offer but we wanted to highlight:
Creative Enterprise on Tuesday mornings from 13 January for 10 weeks;
Creative Remedies on Wednesday mornings from 14 January for 10 weeks, both courses free to eligible groups.
Keep in Touch
We want to be inclusive and ensure that these bulletins reach all community organisations, social enterprises and activists in the wider Brixton area. We also e-mail them to local councillors, and to forums in surrounding areas. But there’s no point in having a long mailing list of people who are no longer active around Brixton.
So please contact us at admin@brixtonneighbourhoodforum.org
– If you want to be added to our mailing list, or to add a colleague or neighbour.
– If you want these bulletins sent to a different e-mail address, so that you see them more quickly or reliably.
– If you have moved away or are no longer interested.
Your Forum Bulletins
Making changes? If you are doing something around the Brixton area – an event, a new service, or making changes in what you already do – you are welcome to use these bulletins to tell other Forum members. That’s 700+ on our current list. We aim to circulate around the 10th of each month, but please allow us a week to put it together, because we work on a very part-time basis. So send items to the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com by the 3rd of the month.