Tag Archives: Volunteering

Arts,, Community, Events, Fund Raising, News, Training

AUGUST 2025

Forum Update 


Next Forum meeting?
Due to various commitments in September, we are planning the next General Meeting of the Forum for October.  Date and location will be confirmed in our September bulletin, but if you want to include something on the agenda, it would be a good idea to tell us sooner rather than later.  Please contact the Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com

Making Plans for Brixton Pop Brixton/ International House
We had a preview of the development programme at the Forum general meeting on 3rd July, and the next stage of consultations starts on 11th September.  This time, we may even see some building plans, though it seems the intention remains to adapt International House while replacing Pop Brixton with a new apartment block.  Both should continue in use until March 2027.
Enquiries to consultation@49bsr6cc.com or by phone to (020) 8469 3079.

Towards a Neighbourhood Plan
We now have a timescale from Lambeth’s Planning Policy Team.  The proposed area will be published for comments in the first week of September, and people have 6 weeks to respond (by mid-October).  The Council will decide by Christmas on final boundaries and whether we are an acceptable team to make a neighbourhood plan.
That means consultation events and plan-making will only get going in the New Year.  But if you have a bright idea, or a quibble over the boundary, feel free to tell us now, while it’s fresh in your mind.

In the meantime, we have been exploring sources of professional help, so that work can get underway as soon as we get the go-ahead. We are also still looking out for more locations around the Brixton area to host consultation events.

Local Events coming up

Angell Town Networking event
On Saturday 4th September, from 6 to 8 pm, Angell Town RMO is hosting an event at Overton Road for residents, commercial tenants, local VCS organisations and faith groups to connect, learn more about each other and share opportunities.
RSVP/enquiries to 07 860 395 933, NWhittaker@lambeth.gov.uk  

Lambeth Heritage Festival
A full programme of events takes place around the borough through the whole month of September.  You may find a printed programme at any Lambeth library, or find the whole programme online at bit.ly/LambethHeritage2025

Solidarity Summer Market
The Advocacy Academy is holding a Solidarity Summer Market on Saturday 30 August, 10 am to 4 pm at the Liberation Centre in Beehive Place, SW9.  An opportunity to buy eco-friendly, justice and healing-related goodies while supporting the Advocacy Academy’s programme and mutual aid groups in Palestine. 
If you want to run a stall at this event, contact Isaiah@theadvocacyacademy.com

Exhibition at 198 Gallery
Witnesses is the latest exhibition at 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning, running until 11 September.  It showcases work by London-based women artists Amida Deen and Ihsan Saad Ihson Tahir. Further details on the website at www.198.org.uk

Mindful Moments at St. Vincent’s
A new weekly activity is being introduced from 12 September at St. Vincent’s Brixton Centre in Talma Road SW2.  Thanks to funding from L&Q Housing Association, a 13-week series of free Tai Chi sessions will run on Friday mornings between 10 and 11 am.  Enquiries to LeanneT@svp.org.uk or see the website for the full list of activities restarting next month: www.svp.org.uk

Green spaces, Green issues

Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses
For details of upcoming events and courses at the Community Greenhouses, see the website https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/events
One to note in the meantime, Mambista will perform on Sunday 17 August, 6-30 pm, with Brixton jazz legend Michael “Bammi” Rose.

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 Saturday 13 September, 12 to 3 pm at the junction of Atlantic Road, Marcus Garvey Way and Railton Road, SE24.

Black Growth CIC
Recently, they have mainly been active in Croydon but they have 2 Brixton events lined up for September:
Saturday 13 September – Black Farmer’s Market, Brixton Station Road.
Sunday 21 September – BFM Wellness Edition, around the bandstand in Myatt’s Fields Park.
More details at https://bit.ly/3X2qx2W

Other News

Brixton Police Station reprieved
Desperate to save money, the Metropolitan Police has abandoned its policy of having a public-facing police station in every borough, with 18 sites to lose their front desk.
However, Brixton is one of 20 which are being retained.  Other survivors south of the river include Walworth, Croydon and Bromley.

Met Engage
Meanwhile, the Met is developing alternative means of engaging with the public and local businesses.  Met Engage is intended to keep people informed of local policing activities, offer crime prevention advice and issue invitations to local engagement events, such as meetings of Safer Neighbourhood Teams. Users can highlight issues of concern to them and provide feedback on the services provided.  The new service can be accessed via www.metengage.co.uk

Art4Space craft courses
A whole new series of courses and craft sessions starts up next month, at the A4S Creative Learning Hub, 31 Jeffreys Road, SW4 6QU. See their website for full details, at www.art4space.co.uk

Health and Social Care

Meet with National NHS leaders
A conversation between National NHS leaders and representatives of local voluntary and community organisations is being arranged for Thursday 30 October, 10-30 am to 3-30 pm with lunch included.
Places are limited, so please register your interest with Bren McInerney (community volunteer) via 07 940 045 770 or e-mail to: brenmcinerney@hotmail.com

Support for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
The long-standing “hostile environment” set up by the previous government has recently spilled over into demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers.  Voluntary groups may wish to help those at risk, but advice has only recently been pulled together by London Plus and the London Communities Emergencies Partnership (LCEP).  A list of resources and contacts is being built up – see their website at https://londonplus.org/concerns-about-anti-migrant-hostility/

Community Connectors
Project Smith starts another free training course for volunteer community connectors later this month.  Dates for the 4-day course are 26 August, 15/16 September and 1st October.  Gain an accredited qualification in behaviour change from the Royal Society of Public Health.  Lambeth-based but venues to be confirmed – for more details and to sign up, e-mail to emma@rbeassociates.com

Be Well at Brixton Library
A Project Smith/ Community Connectors grant is also enabling the Friends of Brixton Library to run health workshops over the weekend 3rd /4th October – more details from foftlbrixton@gmail.com

Long Covid Superheroes
Alchemise Theatre’s Long Covid Superheroes project is a year-long creative project specially designed for young people (age 8-14) living with Long Covid. 
Led by artists with lived experience and run in partnership with Long Covid Kids, this exciting programme is fully funded by Arts Council England and completely free to join.  Sessions start in September on Mondays at Longfield Hall (times to be confirmed).  For details and expression of interest form, please see https://longfieldhall.org.uk/2025/05/30/long-covid-superheroes/
If you know a family who might benefit, please share this information.

Funding, Training & Support
Grant deadlines approaching
We have heard from various sources about several upcoming grants, but for most you will have to follow them up via a Google search:

Women & Girls Community Fund: offers grants of up to £5,000 to support women’s health needs, including education and promotion work, but the deadline for EoIs is Sunday 17 August, to publichealth@lambeth.gov.uk

Metropolitan Public Gardens Association makes small grants (up to £1500) to groups that improve publicly accessible open space.
Deadline 18 August.

Brockwell Live Community Fund: open for community organisations connected with or local to Brockwell Park.  Sponsored by the various commercial events leading up to the Lambeth Country show, deadline is Thursday 22 August.  Enquiries to community@brockwell-live.com

Grassroots Community Innovation Fund from the Lambeth Southwark & Lewisham Sexual Wellbeing Service is offering grants up to £2500 to support activities to raise awareness, reduce stigma or social isolation and promote ways to wellbeing.  Deadline is 12 September, enquiries to izzy.williams@turning-point.co.uk

Paul Mellon Centre recently opened its Autumn funding round with a deadline of 30 September.  Its grants and scholarships can support research, lectures, exhibitions and publications concerned with British art and architectural history. 
More details on their website at https://paulmelloncentre.grantplatform.com

National Lottery Awards for All has an Environment strand to support community-led projects for improving green spaces, cutting waste or carbon emissions, or helping people to access nature.  Grants of up to £20,000, but don’t apply if you have a current Awards for All grant.  Deadline is 17 December.

Heritage Revival Fund: offers 3 levels of funding, for project viability (up to £15k), project development (up to £100k) and capital works (up to £350k).  Open until 31 March ‘26, funded by Architectural Heritage Fund, DCMS and Historic England.

Training Opportunities
Awesome Tech Training have come up with an even better offer than last month.  This time they have a free training day on Wednesday 21 August, with a series of webinars:
10-11 am, Getting started with WordPress;
12-1 pm, Everything you need to know before setting up a website;
3- 4 pm, Introduction to Digital Marketing.
All enquiries to rachel@awesometechtraining.com

Business Training Opportunities
Social enterprises and small businesses within the Brixton BID area should be able to join their free training courses.  We expect more dates soon, but next up is:

  • Personal Licence (level 2)

Tuesday 9 September, 10 am to 4 pm.
Enquiries to admin@brixtonbid.co.uk

Business Networking
Born or Made in Brixton hold their next meeting for freelancers, creative start-ups and micro-businesses on Wednesday morning 20 August between 9 am and 10 am at The Birds Nest, on the 11th floor of International House.
See also www.bornormade.com

News

February 2025

Next meeting – 27 February

The next General Meeting of the Forum will be on Thursday 27th February from 6.30 pm at the Advocacy Academy, 2 Beehive Place SW9 7QR (off Brixton Station Road, entrance shared with Photofusion, please ring the bell!).
The main topic will be a presentation from Just Space of their findings on the local area. We continue to discuss the Neighbourhood Plan.

Events 

Boots on the Ground an exhibition celebrating 20 years of grassroots football, 
20 years of the St Matthews Project (SMP) football outreach project. This new photo exhibition “Boots On The Ground” is open at Lambeth Archives. The collection is curated by Brixton-based artist Ellie Laycock and will include her acclaimed photographic portraits of St Matthews Under 10’s players. 
https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/libraries-0/lambeth-archives

February marks the start of LGBTQ+ History Month. This year’s theme ‘Activism & Social Change’. Throughout February, Lambeth Libraries will be hosting a fantastic series of events across the borough. You can find out more and get involved on the https://love.lambeth.gov.uk/

Is That A Boy’s Toy?Art Exhibition in Brixton Library
Showing from Tuesday 4 February
Brixton Library, SW2 1JQ
Exhibition available during Library opening hours
A group show celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month, featuring a vibrant and diverse line up of artists from Lambeth and beyond. The show strives to explore themes of gender, sexuality, and society’s expectations from the very moment we learn to hold our first toys and play. It challenges traditional notions of masculinity and femininity, delving into how toys have been used to enforce gender roles and expectations. Curated by Xavier White (b. 1993). Further information: @rockxaviergb

LGBTQ+ History Walk of Brixton
Sunday 16 February, 1pm
Meet: Steps of Brixton Library, SW2 1JQ
Revealing Brixton’s hidden LGBTQ+ places, walking in the footsteps of local LGBTQ+ heroes, artists, activists and clubbers. A brief introduction to our stories and histories. Led by qualified Lambeth Tour Guides: Adrian Gibson and Clare Truscott. This circular walk lasts approx. 90mins Free! but numbers are limited so booking essential.
Booking essential: Contact clare@lambethlinks.org.uk


Looking Ahead

Black Culture Market Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd March 2025
The Department Store,248 Ferndale Rd. Brixton SW9 8FR
www.blackculturemarket.co.uk

Rapport Festival
Mark your calendars for the Rapport Festival of Film happening 4th–6th April!
Join us for a celebration of storytelling, creativity, and cinematic brilliance. From thought provoking films to unforgettable experiences, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
To stay in the loop please sign up to our mailing list: https://mailchi.mp/ba57ee12c6a5/rapport-festival-mail-list

Health and Social Care

Energy Support from Age UK
Age UK are offering support and practical advice to people who are struggling with their energy bills or want to improve safety in their homes.

  • Energy Boost Service – support includes: – Contacting energy providers – Exploring cheaper providers – Offering practical advice about reducing cost.
  • Home Energy Checks – A trusted handyperson will visit an older person’s home to check its efficiency. The handyperson fits appropriate equipment to increase the energy and thermal efficiency in the home.
  • Safe At Home – Our reliable and trustworthy Handyperson can help with: – Home Safety Advice – Security Checks – Lock Fittings & Repairs.
  • https://www.ageuk.org.uk/london/about-us/local-age-uks-in-london/

Hustle for that Muscle Community Workout
Cynthia will lead the Stay Healthy Workout Class for all levels 18+ Mondays and Fridays 6.30pm ’til 8pm at St Johns Angel Town Church Hall 49-50 Wiltshire Road SW9, A free class supported by Better Lives Foundation.

Volunteer Opportunities

Raw Material is seeking musical talent in three areas:
Guitar Volunteer: Beat-making Volunteer: DJ Volunteer:
For more information and to apply, email   lauren@rawmusicmedia.co.uk

Ahead of Brixton Windmill’s new open season starting Saturday 29 March, they are hosting volunteer training sessions in February and March, mainly for tour guides and stewards. The next session is on Saturday 22 February.
https://www.brixtonwindmill.org/

Funding, Training and Support

Kew Gardens Grow Wild Community Fund
The Grow Wild Community Programme supports groups and organisations to transform urban spaces for the benefit of people and wildlife by planting and championing UK native plants or fungi. Grow Wild is seeking 20 fantastic community groups from across the UK to join the programme in 2025. 
https://growwild.kew.org/apply-grant/community-programme

Clear Community Web info@clearcommunityweb.co.uk
Digital Drop-ins provide a friendly, informal space to get questions answered or problems solved for your laptop, tablet or smart phone. 
All sessions are free and open to all.
Every Monday 2pm- 4pm
West Norwood Library
1-5 Norwood High St, SE27 9JX  
Every Tuesday 2pm-4pm
Old Laundry, Stockwell
Eastcote St, London SW9 9BY 
Every Friday 10am-12pm
Upper Norwood Library Hub
39 Westow Hill, SE19 1TQ 

Updates and Fundraising support from Integrate
Lambeth’s commissioned voluntary sector infrastructure provided, Integrate CIC, provide updates on current funding opportunities and 1-2-1 fundraising advice. To receive these updates in your inbox, subscribe to Integrate’s mailing list here: The Integrate Agency CIC – We focus on your growth
You can book 1-2-1 fundraising support from Integrate here: 1-2-1 sessions available every Friday
Book your free fundraising advice slot here: 1:1 Income generation surgery Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

Capacity-building support for Voluntary & Community Sector organisations
Lambeth Community Hubs Network provide peer support to Voluntary and Community Sector organisations based in Lambeth.
For details of the kind of support available and how to access it, please see their website: Capacity Building Support – Lambeth Community Hubs Network

Lambeth VCS properties for rent
Council’s VCS Assets strategy is well underway, and we’ll soon be able to release more properties from the VCS portfolio. These will be offered at heavily discounted rents to VCS groups through an open tender process, in partnership with our VCS panel. We’re looking for reliable VCS groups offering great social value to our most challenged residents.
If you’re interested in getting information about upcoming Lambeth properties for rent – VCS or commercial – you must fill in this Vacant Property Expression of Interest Form first. This lets us know what kind of space you’re looking for. As new properties come up for lease, we’ll contact all relevant interested groups with more information and invitations to tender.
It doesn’t matter if these properties aren’t what you’re looking for at the moment, it’s a good idea to fill in the Vacant Property Expression of Interest Form anyway. You can update your details or needs anytime. We’ll stay in touch until you find a property or want your details removed.
Please contact vcstenants@lambeth.gov.uk with any questions, and share the Vacant Property Expression of Interest Form link with any other VCS groups you think might be looking for subsidised properties in Lambeth, now or in the future.

Safeguarding training offer
LSCP training programme announcing the January to June 2025 multiagency training programme is now live. For any enquiries please contact LSCPTraining@lambeth.gov.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 10th 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 3rd of the month.

Community, News

volunteering – food growing and community gardens

Advice from Lambeth Together / Printable PDF version

Coronavirus Advice April 2020
Food Growing and Gardening Activities

We know that outdoor activities such as food growing and/or gardening activities can help us feel good and be beneficial for health and wellbeing. This activity can be used as the one form of exercise for the day.

Now more than ever it is important to support people to feel safe and comfortable to grow food and to practice safe measures when doing so. This guidance for community gardens during Covid-19 has been sourced and compiled from trusted sources including Public Health England, Sustain and the NHS.

Guidance for access and travel to community gardens

  • Community gardens should be accessible only to members who live close by and not open to the public.
  • Anyone considered medically vulnerable/ subject to government shielding advice should not visit the community garden.
  • Rotas should be set up where there are a lot of members to limit to single households going into the community garden at any one time.
  • During Covid-19 outbreak growers should wherever possible travel to gardens by bike or foot. At no time should public transport be used.
  • Those who are deemed vulnerable and classified as in the “shielded” group should stay at home
  • Anyone displaying a fever or dry cough or has someone in their household with these symptoms should stay at home and comply with national guidance
  • www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-athome-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
  • Garden leaders should publicise visitor restrictions on any communications and on external signage. This should include reference to government guidance on social distancing.

Social distancing and sanitation

  • At all times, social distance (minimum 2m) must be maintained between growers.
  • Hand washing should be followed according to government guidance. Wash your hands when you arrive at the garden, wear gloves while working in the garden and ensure you only use your own gloves and take those home with you in a disposable bag
  • Have hand sanitiser available and use before opening and closing any gate locks.
  • Ensure any visitor to the site washes their hands with soap and water if available, or with hand sanitiser before they engage in growing activities even if they are going to wear gloves.
  • Growers should only use tools if wearing (own) gloves, otherwise no tools to be shared
  • Do not offer guest gloves to garden visitors or volunteers during this period.
  • If children are onsite, ensure that they stay within its confines and do not run around on communal paths and spaces.
  • All associated communal facilities should be closed. e.g. tea making facilities

Please check current information on websites and social media of local organisations with volunteer gardening and food growing projects, as conditions are constantly changing. Please let us know if you are a project that would like to be listed.

Lambeth Larder http://www.lambethlarder.org/food-growing.html

Incredible Edible Lambeth https://www.incredibleediblelambeth.org/

Brockwell Community Greenhouses https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/

Friends of Windmill Gardens https://www.brixtonwindmill.org/

Great North Wood https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/great-north-wood

Myatts Filed Park Project https://www.myattsfieldspark.info/

Community, News

volunteering – lambeth food hub

Lambeth has set up a food hub in Brixton to focus collection and distribution of rood to people in need. To volunteer, please follow this link

We have heard that potential volunteers are not hearing back from Lambeth soon after applying. Please be assured that Lambeth are working through hundreds of ID checks and will respond.

For those already volunteering, or thinking of doing so, please follow this advice from Lambeth Together / Printable PDF version

Guidance for access and travel

  • Anyone considered medically vulnerable/ subject to government shielding advice should not visit or volunteer in a food hub. Those who are deemed vulnerable and classified as in the “shielded” group should stay at home
  • During Covid-19 outbreak growers should wherever possible travel by bike or foot. At no time should public transport be used.
  • Anyone displaying a fever or dry cough or has someone in their household with these symptoms should stay at home and comply with national guidance
  • www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-athome-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
  • Food Hub leaders/managers should publicise restrictions on any communications and on external signage. This should include reference to government guidance on social distancing.

Social distancing and sanitation

  • It is very unlikely that you can catch coronavirus from food. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. It is not known to be transmitted by exposure to food or food packaging. See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-food-businesses/guidance-for-food-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19
  • Although it is very unlikely that coronavirus is transmitted through food, as a matter of good hygiene practice anyone handling food should wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This should be done as a matter of routine, before and after handling food, and especially after being in a public place, blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • Frequently clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, using your standard cleaning products
  • Take steps to avoid crowding and minimise opportunities for the virus to spread by maintaining a distance of 2 metres between individuals, wherever possible.
  • –  No goods or food should be physically handed over to the customer. There should instead be a set drop-off point agreed in advance.
  • If you decide the work should go ahead, you should advise staff to wash their hands frequently using soap and water for 20 seconds, and especially after blowing their nose, sneezing or coughing, on arrival at work, before and after eating, after using public transport, and when they arrive home. Where facilities to wash hands are not available, hand sanitiser should be used.
  • If you decide the work should continue, staff should work side by side or facing away from each other rather than face-to-face if possible.
  • You should increase the frequency of cleaning procedures, pausing production in the day if necessary for cleaning staff to wipe down workstations with disinfectant.
  • You should assign staff to the same shift teams to limit social interaction.
  • You should not allow staff to congregate in break times; you should consider arrangements such as staggered break times so that staff can continue to practice social distancing when taking breaks.
  • Consider adding additional pop-up handwashing stations or facilities, providing soap, water and/or hand sanitiser.