Next meeting – 13 January

The next General Meeting of the Forum will be on Monday 13 January from 6-30 pm at the Advocacy Academy, 2 Beehive Place SW9 7QR (off Brixton Station Road, entrance shared with Photofusion).
The main topic will be to follow up our decision last month to pursue a Neighbourhood Plan.  We will also hear about Lambeth Council’s latest thinking about what will replace the Pop Brixton site.

Help get us over the line
We have plenty of organisations on our mailing list, but to qualify to make a Neighbourhood Plan, we need to show we have enough individual members, whether living or working in the area we want the Plan to cover. If you have not renewed membership in the past year, or already handed in a membership form, please fill in a simple form to confirm your home or workplace address, and return it to the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com or through the letterbox at 82 Mayall Road, SE24 0PJ.  Forms available digitally as a Word file – or as paper copies – from the above.

More Events coming up

Brockwell Park Greenhouses

Sunday 19 January: Fermentation Workshop, 12-30 to 2-30 pm in the Barn, fee £35 to £45.
Repeat sessions on 9 February, 16 March.

Sunday 26 January: Creative Writing – Our Garden in the City, led by Tracey Hammett, 10 am to 12-30, fee £25 to £35.
Repeat sessions on 23 February, 23 March.

For more details and all bookings, see
https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.com/events

Brixton House Theatre Events

Brixton House Community Choir is welcoming new members for 2025 – but the final date to register is Monday 17 February.
Learn to sing in different musical styles including soul, jazz, gospel, folk, pop and reggae.  Sessions on Mondays 7pm to 9pm from 20 January to 31 March.

Tones – a Hip Hop Opera returns for another run, 4 to 15 February, ages 15+.

Providers is a new play about family, love, money and what we do when we don’t have enough of them.  Q & A session after each performance, 25 to 29 March, ages 12+.

For full events list and bookings, see www.brixtonhouse.co.uk

Brixton life in photographs

The Endz Game – You’ve been framed is the current exhibition in the Olive Morris Room at Lambeth Archives on Brixton Hill.  It shows photographs taken since 2013 by iCha of JetBlakInk, publisher of the Waiting2XHair zine and a Brixton resident for almost 50 years.
It can be seen during normal opening hours until 23 January.

Wellbeing at Windmill Gardens

Sessions are starting up again in the Education Centre next to Brixton Windmill. Enquiries to info@brixtonwindmill.org

Tai Chi: Beginners age 50+, fee £4 per session, Wednesdays 10-30 am from 8^th January.
Outdoor sessions in Windmill Gardens, no age restrictions, pay what you can, Saturdays at 11-30 am from 11 January.

Pilates on Fridays at 12-30 pm from 10 January.

Community Club for people aged 55+, Thursdays 10 am to 2 pm.

Yoga (with Wild Balance) Fridays 9 to 11 am, from 17 January, enquiries/bookings to hello@wildbalance.co.uk

Health and Social Care

Lambeth Health Survey
Lambeth Healthwatch wants to know which aspects of health and social care matter to you and your family.  Healthwatch will make sure your feedback is shared with NHS leaders and used to improve services.
Their Lambeth Pulse survey is open until the end of January – find it at bit.ly/HWLperspective

Change NHS Webinars
As part of a national listening exercise, SE London’s Integrated Care System offer a choice of 2 webinar dates to canvas views on moving more care from hospitals to community services, making better use of technology and more emphasis on prevention rather than just treatment.  Sessions will be on:
Monday 20 January, 12 – 2 pm, or
Wednesday 5 February, 6 – 8 pm.
Enquiries to engagement@nhssoutheastlondon-external.008.com or register via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/change-nhs-webinar-help-build-a-health-service-fit-for-the-future-tickets-110450697308

Mental Health First Aid Courses
Ecosystem Coldharbour is hosting a Youth Mental Health First Aid Course on 27 & 28 January, 9-30 am to 4-30 pm each day at the Marcus Lipton Centre, Minet Road, SW9 7UH.
Learn how to support young people’s mental health effectively.  Please book via connect@ecosystemcoldharbour.org

Brixton BID is holding a shorter Adult Mental Health First Aid Course (Level 2) on 20 February, 10 am to 4 pm, venue tbc.  Free to BID members and their staff – book by e-mail to admin@brixtonbid.co.uk

Other News

Lambeth Civic Awards
Missed out on an MBE again this year? At least the Civic Awards are still to come – and there are categories to recognise the whole team as well as individual efforts. Take it as an opportunity to raise the profile of your organisation – nominations must be in before 26 January – see www.lambeth.gov.uk/awards
Presentations are expected in April.

Myatt’s Fields Park
Work is due to start this month on adapting the old depot buildings near Cormont Road to better support the work of the Myatt’s Fields Park Project.  Completion is not expected until this time next year.
Some facilities are suspended during the winter months, but the café is usually open every day between 9 am and 4 pm.

Fabric Floor at International House
The Fabric Floor is a fashion and textiles workspace managed by Assemble within International House, on its 8^th floor.
Space is available to rent on a monthly basis until March 2027, ranging from £265 for an open-plan desk with hanging space, to a private studio up to 5.5 x 9m at £1785 pcm. This includes all premises bills and shared access to a workshop with industrial machines, kitchen and classroom.
More details at https://assemblestudio.co.uk/workspace/fabric-floor or contact (020) 7237 0000 or fabricfloor@assemblestudio.co.uk

In case you missed them…
It can be hectic in the run-up to Christmas, and then many people took a long break, so we are repeating a few items from last month.

Children and Youth Activities
The range of activities is continuing to grow at the St. Vincent’s Centre in Talma Road, SW2 1AS.
Rhyme and Story Time is a new session for under-5s on Fridays, 10 am to 10-45 am, from 10^th January onwards.
Other sessions resuming after the Christmas break will be:
Drama: Wednesdays 4-30 to 6 pm from 8^th January, for ages 11-16.
Hip-Hop Dance: Saturdays 10 am to 11 am, from 11^th January, for ages 8-16.
Arts and Cooking: Saturdays 12 to 2 pm from 11^th January, for ages 8-13.
To register for any of these sessions, please e-mail to LeanneT@svp.org.uk

Step-up Courses at 198
Free entry-level courses are being offered by 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning for Lambeth residents aged 19+ and unemployed or low-waged.

Film & Video every Tuesday from 28 January to 1^st April, 11-30 to 5 pm at 198 Railton Road, SE24 0JT.

Art & Design every Wednesday from 29 January to 2^nd April, 11-30 to 5 pm at 198 Railton Road, SE24 0JT.
To register your interest, please complete the on-line form at https://forms.office.com/zejAKpjdnJ

They are also promoting a 6-week Photography course in conjunction with Photofusion, on Mondays and Tuesdays 10 am to 2-40 pm from 27 January at Unit 2, 2 Beehive Place.  Enquiries to Steff@photofusion.org

Classes in Printing Techniques
Hausprint have several courses lined up for the New Year in techniques such as etching, monoprint, drypoint and aquatint.
Hausprint Studio is at Vincent’s Yard, 23 Alphabet Mews (off Hillyard Street) SW9 0FN. Enquiries to michelle@hausprint.studio

Community Arts at Art4Space
A wide choice of crafts sessions and courses for the New Year are being offered at their studios at 31 Jeffreys Road, SW4 6QU.  Some of them are free to eligible age groups. 
For more details, see their new-style website at www.art4space.co.uk

Funding, Training & Support

Grant Deadlines
The usual reminder about approaching deadlines for various grant schemes. These were first circulated by Integrate, so contact eoin.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk
if you missed them.

The Salters Charitable Foundation offers grants up to £10,000 for charities or CIOs for work with disadvantaged communities.  Deadline is 20 January.

Lambeth Mental Health Inequalities Fund is offering grants up to £20,000 to support work with Black, Latin American or Portuguese-speaking residents of Lambeth.  Closing date is 24 January.

Lambeth Wellbeing Fund offers grants between £1000 and £5000 to support projects that tackle social isolation and help people manage their health conditions. Deadline Friday 31 January.

Charles Hayward Foundation invites bids for its Social and Criminal Justice programme – deadline Friday 31 January.

The Foyle Foundation is closing its grants programme, so your last chance to apply for its small grants scheme, offering up to £10,000 for grassroots charities supporting the young, vulnerable, elderly or disadvantaged. Deadline 31 January.
Baobab Community Fund offers grants of up to £150,000 over 5 years to help Black-led or Global Majority groups tackle racial injustice. (This was also circulated via Ubele).  Deadline Monday 3^rd February.

The Hedley Foundation offers grants up to £5000 to registered charities, deadline Wednesday 26 February.

The Rayner Foundation offers grants up to £90,000 over 3 years towards work on mental health and well-being for young people and refugees, or potentially older people and their carers.  Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

The Masonic Charitable Foundation offers grants up to £15,000 to registered charities with an annual income of at least £25,000, to support work with children or carers. Again, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Support for Enterprise

Future Makers Innovate Programme:
A reminder that the Remakery is starting a free 8-week incubator programme to help you turn a business idea into reality.
It comes with a year of free workshop space, ongoing one-to-one support, access to their network of green initiative supporters and the chance to pitch for £500 to £1000 of seed funding.
The programme starts on 7^th January and workshops run until 25 February, held at The Remakery at the corner of Lilford and Paulet Roads, SE5.  Enquiries to alice@remakery.org or see www.remakery.org/future-makers

Innovation Funding Service:
Creative micro-businesses or SMEs with ideas for tools or products for the creative supply chain should explore this.  UK-registered businesses can apply for a share of a £2 million fund to develop new products for UK creative industries. Search collaborative R&D: Creative Catalyst at https://auth.apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk

Support for Walking & Cycling
Transport for London and the London Marathon Foundation run a grant scheme for community groups as part of the Walking and Cycling Grants Programme.  The aim is to encourage more active modes of travel, with priority to those who are underrepresented. Average grants are £2400 to £3000.
More details via www.tfl.gov.uk

Support for Arts and History
Once again the Paul Mellon Centre is offering a variety of grants towards publications, research, exhibitions and events on the history of art or architecture.  Closing date is 31 January – to apply, see
http://grants.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk

Keep in Touch
We want our bulletins to reach all community organisations, social enterprises and activists in the wider Brixton area.  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
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 well over 550 on our current list, normally issued via MailChimp.  If need be, we can supply it as a Word file or even paper copies.
We aim to circulate around the 10^th of each month, but that can slip because we work on a very part-time basis. Play safe and send items to the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com by the 3^rd of the month.
See more about the Forum on our website at www.brixtonneighbourhoodforum.org

The turning of the year

There are a few more seasonal events to come, and already we are looking ahead to events early in the New Year.  Meanwhile, we wish Forum members and friends all the best for Christmas and the New Year.

Next meeting – 13 January

The next General Meeting of the Forum will be on Monday 13 January from 6-30 pm at the Advocacy Academy, 2 Beehive Place SW9 7QR (off Brixton Station Road, entrance shared with Photofusion).

The main topic will be to follow up our decision last month to pursue a Neighbourhood Plan.  We will also hear about Lambeth Council’s latest thinking about what will replace the Pop Brixton site.

In the meantime, we need your help to update our list of individual members, whether living or working in the area we want the Plan to cover. If you have not renewed membership in the past year, or already handed in a membership form, please fill in a simple form to confirm your home or workplace address, and return it to the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com or through the letterbox at 82 Mayall Road, SE24 0PJ.  Forms available digitally as a Word file – or as paper copies – from the above.

More Events coming up

Brixton House Theatre Events Alice in Wonderland – performances of their award-winning show continue until 4^th January.  The original story gets a modern Brixton interpretation but the fantasy remains! For booking details and other events, see https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/whats-on/

Brixton Chamber Orchestra Tour This 25-piece orchestra is embarking on a Christmas tour of Lambeth estates, including:

Friday 13 December, 7 pm at Stockwell Park Estate, Aytoun Place SW9;

Saturday 14 December, 3-30 pm on Moorlands Estate*;

Then at 7 pm on Fenwick Estate*, Landor Road SW9;

Sunday 15 December, 7 pm at St. Matthew’s Estate*;

Friday 20 December, 3-30 pm at Marcus Lipton Centre, Minet Road SW9 (for the young people’s Christmas party);

Saturday 21 December, 7 pm at Longfield Hall (for Myatt’s Fields Estates);

Sunday 22 December, 3-30 pm on Tulse Hill Estate, SW2.

(* These gigs are residents only due to limited space – see www.brixchamber.com ).

Solidarity Winter Market Sunday 15 December 10 am to 5 pm at the Liberation Centre, Advocacy Academy, 2 Beehive Place SW9.  Shop for eco, justice and healing-related goodies: including products from Medifola, Lambeth Mutual Aid, Southwark Copwatch and Black Feminist Bookshop.  Join creative and political workshops to craft your own goodies. Follow on Instagram @advocacyacademy

Brockwell Park Greenhouses Family Festive Event on both Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 December, 11 am to 2 pm only. Including food and drink in the kitchen, crafts in the greenhouses, Santa’s grotto in the orchard, a festive garden trail and a mini-panto in the barn (please book in advance).  There are also more craft sessions in the pipeline for January and February. For more details and all bookings, see https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.com/events

Kwanzaa Rising Saturday 21 December in Myatt’s Fields Park – around the bandstand, 4 pm to 6 pm, featuring Southside Harmonics and Longfield Hall Choir – details via enquiries@myattsfieldspark.info

Shows at Longfield Hall Saturday 21 December, shows at 12 pm and 2 pm (running time 1 hour), The Goose and Mrs Frost, a show for children about the changes of the seasons. £10 tickets for £6 if you book before 15 December and quote the code GIANT at the checkout. For bookings and enquiries, see the website, https://longfieldhall.org.uk

Health and Social Care

Winter Cheer for Older People Once again, Age UK Lambeth are organising their MyHoHoHo project to ensure that any older resident on their own on Christmas Day can receive a Christmas dinner via a neighbour or volunteer cooking and delivering an extra portion.  To sign up, or to offer help, e-mail to volunteer@ageuklambeth.org

Advice services including with energy bills, simple home repairs, and access to social activities, can now be found at their new office at 10 Acre Lane, SW2 5SG, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10 am and 3 pm, or phone 0333 360 3700.

They also have a MyCommunity drop-in on Thursday mornings, 9-30 to 11-30 am at the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road SW2 1EP for basic advice-giving and sign-posting to other services.

Mental Health First Aid Courses Ecosystem Coldharbour is hosting a Youth Mental Health First Aid Course on 27 & 28 January, 9-30 am to 4-30 pm each day at the Marcus Lipton Centre, Minet Road, SW9 7UH.

Learn how to support young people’s mental health effectively.  Please book via connect@ecosystemcoldharbour.org

Brixton BID is holding an Adult Mental Health First Aid Course (Level 2) on 20 February, 10 am to 4 pm, venue tbc.  Free to BID members and their staff – book by e-mail to admin@brixtonbid.co.uk

Art4Space are holding another Adult course in Mental Health First Aid on 13 & 14 March, at their studios in Jeffreys Road, SW4. However, in this case there is a fee of £325 per place. Courses are run by It’s a Playground, but for booking details see www.art4space.co.uk 

Other News

Brixton life in photographs The Endz Game – You’ve been framed is the latest exhibition in the Olive Morris Room at Lambeth Archives on Brixton Hill.  It shows photographs taken since 2013 by iCha of JetBlakInk, publisher of the Waiting2XHair zine and a Brixton resident for almost 50 years.

It can be seen during normal opening hours over the next month. NB: In addition to the seasonal bank holidays, the Archives will be closed on Saturdays 21 & 28 December.

Children and Youth Activities The range of activities is continuing to grow at the St. Vincent’s Centre in Talma Road, SW2 1AS.

Rhyme and Story Time is a new session for under-5s on Fridays, 10 am to 10-45 am, from 10^th January onwards.

Other sessions resuming after the Christmas break will be:

Drama: Wednesdays 4-30 to 6 pm from 8^th January, for ages 11-16.

Hip-Hop Dance: Saturdays 10 am to 11 am, from 11^th January, for ages 8-16.

Arts and Cooking: Saturdays 12 to 2 pm from 11^th January, for ages 8-13.

To register for any of these sessions, please e-mail to LeanneT@svp.org.uk

Classes in Printing Techniques Hausprint have several courses lined up for the New Year in techniques such as etching, monoprint, drypoint and aquatint. Hausprint Studio is at Vincent’s Yard, 23 Alphabet Mews (off Hillyard Street) SW9 0FN. Enquiries to michelle@hausprint.studio

Community Arts at Art4Space A wide choice of crafts sessions and courses for the New Year are being offered at their studios at 31 Jeffreys Road, SW4 6QU.  Some of them are free to eligible age groups. 

For more details, see their new-style website at www.art4space.co.uk

Funding, Training & Support

Grant Deadlines The usual reminder about approaching deadlines for various grant schemes. These were first circulated by Integrate, so contact eoin.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk

if you missed them.

Future Workspace Fund from Lambeth Council, mainly loan funding to support provision of workspace for small or specialist enterprises.  Deadline Monday 16 December.

Your Station, Your Community Improvement Fund 2025/26: open grants up to £10,000, or more for selected types of projects.  Deadline 18 December.

UnLtd funding for social enterprise: There are two streams: up to £18,000 to help social enterprises grow, or up to £8,000 to help new enterprises get going. Deadline 31 December.

Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (from South Western Railways) offers up to £65,000 for community projects that can be completed within a year from 1^st April 2025. Deadline 31 December.

Lambeth Wellbeing Fund offers grants between £1000 and £5000 to support projects that tackle social isolation and help people manage their health conditions. Deadline Friday 31 January.

Baobab Community Fund offers grants of up to £150,000 over 5 years to help Black-led or Global Majority groups tackle racial injustice. (This was also circulated via Ubele).  Deadline Monday 3^rd February.

The Rayner Foundation offers grants up to £90,000 over 3 years towards work on mental health and well-being for young people and refugees, or potentially older people and their carers.  Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

We also heard about this from Locality but you will have to follow up via a Google search:

Thomas Wall Trust, grants up to £5,000 for established charities helping disadvantaged adults into employment. Closes 6 January.

Support for Arts and History Once again the Paul Mellon Centre is offering a variety of grants towards publications, research, exhibitions and events on the history of art or architecture.  Closing date is 31 January – to apply, see http://grants.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk

Volunteers Needed! Local community groups are always in need of volunteers, particularly if you have special skills to offer.  Many would like to add more people to their trustees or management committee.  If you have specific needs, you are welcome to publish them here.

We hear that Friends of Windmill Gardens are keen to recruit a Treasurer.  More details can be found on their website at https://www.brixtonwindmill.org/get-involved/opportunities/

Step-up Courses at 198 Free entry-level courses are being offered by 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning for Lambeth residents aged 19+ and unemployed or low-waged.

Film & Video every Tuesday from 28 January to 1^st April, 11-30 to 5 pm at 198 Railton Road, SE24 0JT.

Art & Design every Wednesday from 29 January to 2^nd April, 11-30 to 5 pm at 198 Railton Road, SE24 0JT.

To register your interest, please complete the on-line form at https://forms.office.com/zejAKpjdnJ

They are also promoting a 6-week Photography course in conjunction with Photofusion, on Mondays and Tuesdays 10 am to 2-40 pm from 27 January at Unit 2, 2 Beehive Place.  Enquiries to Steff@photofusion.org

Support for Enterprise For Women Business-owners: If you can spare some time during the 12 days of Christmas to think about your business goals for the year ahead, the WinTrade Global Women in Business Network has a series of free talks lined up for you at https://talks.wintradeglobal.com/12-Days-2024

Free Workshops and Mentoring: The Impact Brixton Hub (at 17a Electric Lane SW9 8LA) is offering free workshops and mentoring for sole traders and social enterprises in the creative industries – but spaces are limited and you must sign up by 20 December!

All the workshops for IB Create will be held on Thursday 30 January at Impact Brixton. Selected participants will be offered one year of free “virtual office” and co-working facilities at Impact Brixton. Enquiries to team@impactbrixton.com

Future Makers Innovate Programme: The Remakery is running a free 8-week incubator programme to help you turn a business idea into reality. It comes with a year of free workshop space, ongoing one-to-one support, access to their network of green initiative supporters and the chance to pitch for £500 to £1000 of seed funding. The programme starts on 7^th January and workshops run until 25 February, held at The Remakery at the corner of Lilford and Paulet Roads, SE5.  Enquiries to alice@remakery.org or see www.remakery.org/future-makers

Coming Events

General Election Hustings

With the General Election being called at short notice for Thursday 4 July, parties are rushing to get their candidates nominated. Despite recent changes to boundaries, Brixton is still at the junction of 3 constituencies. South of Loughborough Road, the eastern half of Brixton falls within Dulwich & West Norwood.  The Norwood and Herne Hill Forums are trying to set up a hustings meeting for candidates in that constituency, and we will share details with you once confirmed.

Brockwell Park Events

The park is already looking the worse for wear after a series of major events since 24 May – City Splash on Bank Holiday Monday seems to have been well named, and Brockwell Bounce was cancelled due to the state of the ground.

Now comes the final weekend, 8/9 June, the Lambeth Country Show, marking its 50^th year.

Please be aware that much of the park will remain fenced off during dismantling of the staging and marquees, until 16 June. 

For details of upcoming events and courses at the Community Greenhouses, see website https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/events

During the Country Show, their shop will be trading from a stall near the Flower Show marquee.

Brockwell Park Car Boot Sales

The Friends of Brockwell Park have their next monthly car boot sale in the Lido car park, off Dulwich Road, on Sunday 16 June.  Open free to buyers 9 am to 1 pm, sellers can set up from 7 am, charge £12 per car, £15 per van.  Enquiries to membership@brockwellpark.co.uk

Windrush Weekend

On Windrush Day itself, Saturday 22 June, a series of events and performances will take place in and around Windrush Square, co-ordinated by the Brixton Project. 

Then on Sunday 23 June, the Friends of Windrush Square are again hosting the Big Caribbean Lunch, an inter-generational event for the Windrush Generation and their descendants.  If you would like to be involved please contact the Friends group at

friendsofwindrushsquare@gmail.com

Events in Myatt’s Fields Park

Sunday 9 June: Conduct me! (Pico Players)

Saturday 15 June: Pride Picnic.

Saturday 22 June: Windrush Celebration, including Black Farmers Market.

Sunday 23 June: The Dream Sequence by

Dot Collective.

Saturday 29 June: Fiesta del Sol

(Andean Festival).

For information about the park and these events, see www.myattsfieldspark.info 

London Land Justice Fair, 21 July

Myatt’s Fields Park will also be hosting this Sunday afternoon event, with opportunities for grassroots groups to run stalls or workshops.  Enquiries to peopleslandpolicy@gmail.com or see website www.peopleslandpolicy.org 

Events at Brixton Windmill

Guided tours of the windmill are offered on at least one weekend a month, the next being on 8 & 9 June.  Also coming up is a Family Games and Sports Day on Sunday 14 July.

A number of regular weekly activities take place in the education centre alongside.

For all events in Windmill Gardens, please see the website for details and booking, www.brixtonwindmill.org

Arts, Culture, Leisure

The Dream Sequence

Dot Collective return to Brixton with a new production inspired by a Midsummer Night’s Dream.  It’s an open air family show set on a paradise island, bringing together music and aerial circus.

Saturday 15 June by Brixton Windmill at 2 pm and 6 pm (book via www.brixtonwindmill.org ).

Sunday 23 June in the Quiet Garden, Myatt’s Fields Park, at 12 noon and 3 pm (book via https://longfieldhall.org.uk ).

Studio 73 is back in Brixton

Starting out in Brixton Village, Adrian Flower has recently opened new exhibition space nearby off Valentia Place, close to the Bureau of Silly Ideas. The Urban Flower Art Show continues, open Thursday 6^th to Sunday 9^th June, 11 am to 5 pm (7 pm Friday).

Marking 25 years of Art4Space

Art4Space was founded in June 1999 as a community arts organisation, soon receiving a £500 set-up grant from the Prince’s Trust.  They secured their present premises in Stockwell in 2004, and this Spring, they opened their new Make & Mend space. Art4Space continues to lead as a self-sustaining arts-based social enterprise. Lots of events, courses and projects to be found at www.art4space.co.uk or come and celebrate their 25th birthday on Saturday 6 July, 1 pm to 6 pm at 31 Jeffreys Road, SW4 6QU.

Performing Arts at St. Vincent’s

A range of activities for the 8-16 age range are now available at St. Vincent’s Centre in Talma Road, SW2 1AS.

For ages 11-16, a drama/multimedia group will start making their very own film, from 4-30 to 6 pm on Wednesdays. 

The Arts and Cooking group continues on Saturdays between 12 noon and 3 pm for the 8-13 age range.

Hip-Hop dance classes are now also running on Saturdays until 13 July, from 12 to 1 pm, for ages 8-13.

To register or to get more details, e-mail to LeanneT@svp.org.uk or call (020) 7274 1190 (weekdays).

Brixton Tate Library

The library should re-open on Thursday 6 June after major building works.  There are further improvements in the pipeline, but these should not require full closure of the building.

NB: Lambeth Libraries have pointed out that some libraries will be closed on Thursday 4 July for use as polling stations.

Other Local News

Schools Closure Threat

Following the closure of two old-established secondary schools (Archbishop Tenison’s and St. Martin-in-the-Fields), several primary schools are now at risk of closure or mergers. This is all due to declining numbers of school-age children in our part of Lambeth, with family -size homes increasingly shared by adult households in order to afford the rent. Smaller classes might be better, but sadly schools are funded by their number of pupils, so smaller schools could not cover their running costs. 

Lambeth Council is consulting on proposals affecting these schools:  Christchurch and St. John the Divine (North Brixton), Fenstanton and Holy Trinity (Tulse Hill), St. John’s Angell Town and St. Saviours (Herne Hill Road) and on the Clapham Park fringe, Glenbrook and King’s Avenue.

The closing date for comments is 16 June – see the consultation pages on the Lambeth website, www.lambeth.gov.uk or send views to pppconsultation@lambeth.gov.uk

Max Roach Playgrounds

If you missed the open morning on 1^st June, there’s still time to comment on ideas to upgrade the playgrounds at the Centre in Max Roach Park.  There’s a survey link at https://forms.gle/kHbxwDTqjLDKdDnA7 or see https://www.lccmaxroach.co.uk 

On Your Bike

Brixton BID continues to sponsor monthly sessions by Dr Bike mechanics for cycle safety checks and essential maintenance. The next will be on Wednesday 26 June, 12 to 3 pm outside Brixton Wholefoods on Atlantic Road.

Health and Social Care

Health Watch Lambeth

This is your health and social care champion: if you have issues with local services, contact them at info@healthwatchlambeth.org.uk 

Long-term Health Issues

Researchers at Kings College London are inviting people with long-term physical health conditions to join a trial for a peer-support platform.  It enables people to anonymously share knowledge and experience, to better support one another and manage their mental well-being.  Participants must be over 18 with access to the Internet.  If this may suit you or someone you know, contact commonground@kcl.ac.uk

Used Inhalers wanted

NHS South East London has launched a pilot scheme to recycle used inhalers.  They should not be discarded into household waste since they still contain greenhouse gases.

A recycling site was provided at Kings College Hospital back in February, and more sites are being added, including at local pharmacies.

Quids In!

A new money guidance service. This service operates across all of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.  It provides one-to-one money guidance to residents experiencing physical or mental health issues and financial hardship.  The virtual support hub is a phone-based service staffed by Quids In money coaches, who can provide a bespoke action plan and coaching sessions over 2-3 or 5-6 weeks.

Patients can sign up themselves, or healthcare professionals can refer patients, at www.cleanslateltd.co.uk/thriveldn or enquiries to virtualsupporthub@cleanslateltd.co.uk

Funding, Training & Support

New contract for supporting community organisations. Lambeth Council is inviting tenders for support services for local Voluntary & Community Sector organisations, to run over the next 2 years with scope for a year’s extension. This service is currently provided by Integrate, but the budget is being increased to £250,000 pa to provide better levels of support with funding and networking.  The deadline for bids is tight: 28 June and bidders must register with EU Supply.  Enquiries to Gerry Evans (VCS project development manager) on 020 7926 2659 or at gevans2@lambeth.gov.uk

Support for Small Businesses

Over the years, there have been a variety of publicly-funded support services for small and start-up businesses.  The latest version is Grow London Local, delivered by London & Partners and intended as a one-stop shop for small business advice.  It was launched by the Mayor last November, and offers a mix of on-line and in-person from a team of Business Support Managers.  For more details, see www.growlondonlocal.london

Grant deadlines approaching

Once again, a reminder of grant schemes already notified by Integrate – if you missed the original alerts, contact them at: eoin.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk

LandAid – Youth Homelessness Support Fund, grants of £10,000 to £50,000, deadline Friday 14 June.

Jerwood Foundation – Summer Funding Round, supporting arts for public benefit, apply by 14 June, decisions by 6 August.

Women’s Urgent Support Fund (Smallwood Trust and the Community Fund) – grants up to £60,000 over 36 months, deadline 21 June.

Veolia Environmental Trust – grants towards environmental and community projects, £10,000 to £75,000, deadline 27 June.

UnLtd Funding for Social Enterprises – start-up grants of £8,000 and scale-up grants of £18,000, closing date 30 June.

The Wolfson Foundation – capital grants of £15,000 to £100,000, deadline 1^st July.

The Steel Charitable Trust – grants up to £25,000 for local community impact, deadline 11 July.

Free Energy Assessments:

We have mentioned the VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme before, but the deadline for free energy assessments is 20 June.

Community Ownership Fund:

Locality have advised us that the General Election means applications to this fund are suspended.  Please check the COF prospectus on the Gov.uk website for future updates.

Training Opportunities

Social enterprises and small businesses within the Brixton BID area should be able to join their free training courses.  Next up is:

• Conflict Management, Monday 17 June, 10 am to 4 pm.

Most sessions are held at International House.  Enquiries to admin@brixtonbid.co.uk

Your Forum Bulletins

If you are doing something around the Brixton area, you are welcome to use these bulletins to tell other Forum members.  We aim to circulate about the 10^th of each month – but things can go wrong!  So, send items to the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com by the 3^rd of the month, but sooner helps!

Personal appearances welcome! If your group prefers to present its work or highlight a local campaign at a live meeting of the Forum, please contact the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com We aim to hold 4 general meetings a year.

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.  To join or update our mailing list, please contact admin@brixtonneighbourhoodforum.org

Local News

Another year for International House?
News just in this week that 3Space are negotiating with Lambeth for an extension of the current lease until the end of July 2024.
This would give more time for existing occupiers of International House to find alternative premises.
See below under Brixton Workspace for other options.

Repair Cafe launched
The Repair Cafe launched last Saturday at 336 Brixton Road (opposite Villa Road/ Peckford Place).  It’s a joint venture between Integrate and We Are 336, and will be open on the first Saturday of each month, between 10 am and 1 pm.  Their team of volunteer fixers will help you restore damaged household goods, electrical items, clothing/ fabrics and toys – almost anything you can carry from home.  Services are free, but visitors are encouraged to stay and see how it’s done and perhaps even pick up the skills to attempt your own repairs in future.
 
Summer Holiday Activities
Details are trickling in of activities being offered by some of our local organisations:

Groove School are offering a range of Summer Groove Workshops for both 8-12 and 13-19 age groups, including audio recording, DJ lessons, music production, sampling, podcasting and sound engineering.  Groove School are based on the 1st floor of International House, but you will find them running their own stage on both days of the Lambeth Country Show.  Enquiries to info@grooveschool.org

Grove Adventure Playground at Gordon Grove SE5 (off Minet Road) are continuing their Art Club sessions on 3 Tuesdays a month into July.  Next dates are 13 & 20 June, and 11, 18, 23 July, 3-45 to 6 pm.  Only 20 places available each time, so please enquire via hello@groveadventureplayground.com
 
Events coming up
Lambeth Country Show, 10 & 11 June
Brockwell Park, open 1 pm to 9 pm daily.  Some of our member groups will be involved in various ways, so you may bump into familiar faces.  Apart from the later opening hours, be aware that there are also some changes to the Show layout since last year.  However, the Flower Show, farm animals and Eco Village will still be on the eastern side, close to Norwood Road.

Windrush 75th Anniversary Events
Several events are taking place around Brixton to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the first contingent of settlers from the West Indies in June 1948, on the former troopship Empire Windrush.  For the full listing, see the special website www.lambethwindrush.com/windrush-voices/

A Lambeth Story: A guided walk led by Cllr. Sonia Winifred, departing from Windrush Square at 11 am (finishes 12-30) on Monday 19 June.  Free but please reserve a place via Eventbrite http://www.lfa.london/brixton

Black Cultural Archives: The BCA premises will be closed for maintenance between 5th and 21st June, but will re-open on Windrush Day, Thursday 22 June.  This marks the start of their next exhibition, Over a Barrel, the stories of those who travelled as children from the Caribbean, often to join parents who had gone ahead to secure jobs and homes.  This exhibition continues until 10 September.

Community Procession, Thursday 22 June: The Brixton Project are co-ordinating a carnival procession, which will set out from Brockwell Lido at 3 pm and proceed via Railton Road and Saltoun Road to finish on Windrush Square about 4-30 pm.  This will be followed by music and commemorative events.

Domino Mania on Windrush Square, Saturday 24 June: Brixton Immortals Domino Club invite all players to join them for a Domino Knockout Competition on the Square, between 12 noon and 6 pm – cash prizes.  Enquiries to brixtonimmortals@yahoo.com or phone Clif on 07 956 338 419.

London Festival of Architecture
This year, Brixton is one of the “Destination Districts” for the Festival, which runs right through June.  Temporary structures are taking shape on Atlantic Road and Windrush Square, and a variety of local events are already underway.  For the full listing see www.lfa.london/brixton

Alice’s Adventures in Aerial-land
A family-friendly acrobatic show and outdoor theatre production by the Dot Collective, at 2 local sites:

Myatt’s Fields Park (in the Quiet Garden) on Sunday 11 June or Sunday 30 July, shows at 2 pm and 6 pm each day.  Tickets £10 to £14, book via Longfield Hall website or https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/631421287067 

Windmill Gardens  off Brixton Hill on Saturday 17 June, shows at 2 pm and 6 pm.  Tickets £12, concessions £10, children under16, £8  book online via www.brixtonwindmill.org

Showcasing support for Older People
Age UK Lambethhave arranged a session at Brixton Tate Library on Friday 30 June from 1 pm to 4 pm, to show their present range of services for older people.

Urban Art Fair, 8 & 9 July
This popular showcase for amateur and professional artists returns to Josephine Avenue for both Saturday and Sunday, open 10 am to 6 pm.

Women of Colour Art Award Exhibition
198 Gallery in Railton Road is hosting this exhibition until 13 August, open Wednesday- Friday 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday & Sunday 12 to 5 pm.
Works from 7 women artists in a variety of media, curated by Languid Hands.

Funding, Training and Support

Funding Deadlines
Food Appliances and Equipment Fund: Lambeth Council is offering grants of up to £1500 to smaller voluntary organisations, particularly those working to relieve food poverty.  Deadline Sunday 18 June.

Health Inequalities Community Fund: The Neighbourhood Wellbeing Delivery Alliance is offering grants between £10,000 and £15,000 to support work with Lambeth residents in improcing their health and wellbeing.  Deadline is 12 noon on Monday 19 June.

The above were previously notified by Integrate (enquiries to eoin.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk if you missed the original notice).

Funding for Heritage Buildings: The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Architectural Heritage Fund are running a 3-year programme to save heritage structures across the UK, particularly in deprived communities.  Expressions of interest must be sent in by 9 am on Monday 26 June.  Shortlisted projects will be asked to submit full proposals by September.  See the AHF website for more details.

Our Friends at Locality have flagged up a few more grants currently on offer:

Sport England Small Grants Programme: up to £15,000, closing date 30 June.

Power to Change Community Fund: up to £10,000 for community businesses, plus capacity-building support, closing date 21 July.

Charles Hayward Foundation: grants up to £7,000 from their Small Grants Programme, which runs on a quarterly cycle.

Advice on Digital Devices
Clear Community Web are continuing their Digital Drop-in sessions at various sites around Lambeth, for support with laptops, tablets and mobile phones, including:
– West Norwood Library, SE27, Mondays 2 to 4 pm;
– WLM/ St. Luke’s, 25a Wincott Street SE11, Thursdays 2 to 4 pm.
– Upper Norwood Library, Westow Hill SE19, Fridays 10 am to 12 pm;
– The Weir Link, 33 Weir Road SW12, Fridays 11 am to 1 pm.

They also hold a Mobile Phone Boot Camp, once a month at the Myatt’s Fields Centre, 24 Crawshay Road SW9.  The next sessions will be 9 June, 14 July and 11 August – all these are Fridays, 2 to 4 pm.

Disability and Technology Advice (DATA) is a collaboration between Clear Community Web and Millennium Community Solutions to support disabled residents and their carers, so they can make best use of digital technologies.  Free drop-in sessions are run every Wednesday between 10 am and 1 pm at the Akerman Health Centre, 60 Patmos Road, SW9.
Enquiries to info@clearcommunityweb.co.uk or phone 07523 646 277.

Brixton Workspaces
Opening of LJ Works, Wednesday 14 June: A varied programme of events between 3 pm and 8 pm to mark the official opening of the new workspace, in 2 blocks adjacent to Loughborough Farm in Loughborough Road.  The site offers a range of studio offices, workshops, meeting rooms and co-working space.  Enquiries to ljworks@meanwhilespace.com
Meanwhile Space CIC also manage the business space in the basement of Lambeth Town Hall.

Impact Brixton occupies the 1st floor of Market Row, above Electric Lane.  The emphasis is on offering facilities for small and start-up businesses.  There are monthly briefings on relevant business topics – the next on Friday 23 June is on using AI for your e-commerce business – as well as social gatherings on the last Friday evening of the month.  You can also use Impact Brixton as your registered business address from 0.41 pence per day.  Enquiries to team@impactbrixton.com

Small Charity Week
This is an umbrella for a range of events to support and celebrate the grass-roots end of the Voluntary Sector, and will run from 19 to 23 June.  There will be opportunities to share good practice and publicise your activities, but especially look out for briefings and training events to help you do better.  See their website at https://smallcharityweek.com – and you can post events up to 18 June!

Other News

Weekly Waste Collection at risk
Lambeth Council is currently consulting on reducing its weekly collection of domestic waste (the black wheely bins) to only fortnightly.  Although it’s claimed this will encourage more recycling, it seems more likely that the green recycling bins will be contaminated with general waste when people’s black bins are full.  Council officers will be available to discuss during the Lambeth Country Show, in the Eco Village until 5 pm each day. Also at Brixton Tate Library on Monday 19 June, 1 pm to 8 pm.
The closing date for comments is Friday 30 June – see www.lambeth,gov.uk/waste-consultation or for more details of the range of waste/ recycling services, see www.lambeth.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling

The Platform Cafe
The current opening times for the little cafe in Wyck Gardens are Tuesday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, Saturdays 9 am to 4 pm.  There are also occasional cookery workshops and community events – enquiries to platformcafe.lj@gmail.com or phone 07 593 265 647.

Ecosystem Coldharbour Community Coffee Morning Tuesday 20th June at Remakery Brixton 10am – 12 This month we will be sharing information on organisations supporting parents & families, find out what they do and how they can help our community.  Plus find out more about Remakery Brixton and their work. www.ecosystemcoldharbour.org

Shamha Vibration Drumming for Wellbeing Lambeth Country Show Arts and Culture Zone 10th 11th June.  Fridays Stockwell Park Community Trust 5 – 7pm www.shamhavibration.org

Before you go…
Something to share with us?
If you are doing something around the Brixton area, why not use these bulletins to tell other Forum members about your activities or your next event?  We aim to publish around the 10th of each month, so it helps if you can send your news by the 5th for the next issue, to apiperbrix@aol.com.

Planning ahead
We are putting together proposals for Forum activities for the year ahead, so now is the time to tell us if you have any bright ideas or if there are extra events that you would like us to provide.

Is this your best e-mail?
We are keen to reach all local organisations and activists.  Please tell us at admin@brixtonneighbourhoodforum.org
– If you want to add a colleague or neighbour to our mailing list.
– If you want these bulletins sent to a different e-mail address so you receive them more promptly or reliably.
– If you have moved away or are no longer interested.