Quick Reminders

Brixton Town Centre plans – 50 years on – Thursday 12 September

Two related events hosted by Photofusion are now fully booked but there is still space at this event to find out about the ambitious Town Centre plans which cast a long shadow over Brixton 50 years ago.  7 pm at the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 1EP, a talk by Nick Weedon (who happens to be the Forum’s Treasurer) hosted by the Brixton Society.

Part of the Lambeth Heritage Festival, which continues through the rest of September – for other events see bit.ly/HeritageFestival2019

Commemorating Local Heroes – Wednesday 18 September

For a third year, a celebration of individuals connected to Brixton, some achievers you may already know, and others who have quietly contributed to their community.

6-30 pm at Brixton Tate Library, Brixton Oval, SW2 1JQ, organised by Friends of Tate Library Brixton, as part of Lambeth Heritage Festival.

Next Forum meeting – Thursday 24 October

Finally in this section, just in case you are too busy to scroll down to the end of the bulletin, let’s remind you now that the next Forum general meeting will be on Thursday 24 October, 6-45 for 7 pm at the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 1EP (just across the road from the Black Cultural Archives).

If you want something included in the agenda, please contact the Forum Secretary, Alan Piper, at apiperbrix@aol.com

You may want to raise a local issue, or you may want to share with us what your group is doing – but if we know in advance, it’s easier to allow enough time during the meeting. 

These Consultations are closing this month!

Livable Neighbourhoods – more walking and cycling, less motor traffic?

Lambeth Council is currently consulting on ideas for safer and healthier routes for walking and cycling, and for reducing motor traffic.  This now covers an extensive area around Brixton Town Centre, much expanded from the original Atlantic Road/ Coldharbour Lane focus.  The effective closing date for comments is 30 September, so that the team can spend the next few months digesting your inputs and drafting a plan.

When we last looked, there was still no link from the Consultations page on the main Lambeth Council website, so to input your comments, please go direct to https://brixtonlnmap.commonplace.is/

Cycle Hangar installations (phase 4)

In advance of the Livable Neighbourhoods project, Lambeth is rolling out another batch of cycle stores on local streets. The latest phase includes clusters sited:

– between Acre Lane and Ferndale Road (10 in total);

– between Acre Lane and Brixton Hill (north of Blenheim Gardens/ Windmill Gardens, 14 in total);

– another cluster of 6, between Brixton Prison and New Park Road;

– between Effra Road and Atlantic/ Railton Roads (16).

Another 10 are proposed between Brixton Hill and Tulse Hill (so within the territory claimed by Tulse Hill Neighbourhood Forum).

Also another 6 between Landor Road and Clapham Road, which I think falls within Stockwell Neighbourhood Forum.

So far, over 220 hangars have been installed on Lambeth streets.

Closing date for any comments is next Sunday 15 September – see the Consultation page on the Council website and follow the links.

Rush Common Improvements

A reminder that Lambeth Parks Department has invited ideas for improving the parkland walk alongside Brixton Hill, between Brixton Water Lane and the Brixton Orchard.

Closing date for comments is 30 September – see the Consultation page on the Council website and follow the links.

News, Events and Activities around Brixton

Settled Status for European Union Citizens – advice sessions

Lambeth Council have reminded us that they have organised advice sessions for EU citizens seeking “settled status”. The next two locally are: 

Thursday 12 September, 5-30 to 7-30 pm at Longfield Hall, 50 Knatchbull Road, SE5 9QY and

Saturday 12 October, 2 pm to 4 pm at Stockwell Community Centre, 1 Studley Road, SW4 6RA (behind Stockwell Underground Station).

For more information on how to apply, see also www.gov.uk/eusettledstatus 

Junior Open Mic – Micro Music Festival – Sunday 15 September

A free music festival in Brockwell Park, alongside Brockwell Hall, from 1 pm to 5 pm.  That’s 4 hours of live music in 32 acts with performers aged from 5 to 17, from all over London.

Nearly all of the performers have attended a local Junior Open Mic event in Brixton or Herne Hill, and the final performers will be the Honey Hahs (3 young sisters from Peckham) and Sam Wilkinson from Lewisham, this year’s winner of ITV’s The Voice Kids.

Tickets are free but please book via eventbrite to help with final planning – www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jom-micro-music-festival-ii-tickets-60523894598

Other enquiries to Andy Gray, andyg.coms@gmail.com

Road works resume on Brixton Road

Another phase of work has started up, to continue renewing the gas mains along Brixton Road.  SGN aim to maintain 2-way working over the next 4 months, as they move south from Normandy Road towards Loughborough Road, but the junction of Mostyn Road will be closed as excavations pass that section.

New services from Lambeth Libraries

Time was when libraries just loaned out books, but two new services are being introduced by Lambeth Libraries:

Firstly, a free film streaming service started last week. Kanopy is a film streaming platform offering mainly independent films, shorts, documentaries and world cinema – in short, items you are less likely to find via Netflix or Amazon.  You will need to register and download the App, then just add your library card to use the service. Enquiries about this and other library services to TODell@email.lambeth.gov.uk

From this week, Brixton Library is offering the loan of smart clothing for interviews.  Yes, if you are unemployed or on low income, you can borrow clothing for up to 4 days to attend an interview.  You will need to show proof of an appointment, such as a letter or e-mail.  For more details, contact Abibat at aolulode@lambeth.gov.uk

Black Culture Pop-up Market – 28 & 29 September

A reminder about this showcase event for entrepreneurs from the African and Caribbean diaspora, running in the Impact Hub at the back of Pop Brixton from 11 am to 5 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.  Expect food, clothing, stationery, books, jewellery, cosmetics and hair care products.  Enquiries to team@impactbrixton.com 

Art4Space sessions in Brixton Village arcade

We have mentioned Art4Space before, but maybe their Stockwell studio location seemed a bit remote? For the next few months they will also have a presence in Brixton Town Centre!

Starting this week, they will be based in Unit 12 in Brixton Village, on Tuesdays between 10 am and 4 pm for drop-in sessions, followed by Tuesday evening classes in mosaic and tile work. Thursday sessions continue in the main studio in Jeffreys Road, Stockwell. All enquiries to jewels@art4space.co.uk or pop in on a Tuesday and have a word. 

Calling Actors and Creatives!

Brixton has been a base for performers and musicians for well over a century.  Maddy Anholt is launching the Academy of Dramatic Change to run low-cost masterclasses and networking nights for actors and creatives, with most of its sessions to be held in Brixton.  The aim is to help creatives get onto the next career rung.  Coming up will be a panel of top casting directors as well as a 4-week intensive evening course in scriptwriting in a Brixton railway arch.

Maddy Anholt is a comedian, actress and broadcaster, who has just finished filming Jerk, a sitcom for BBC Three.  She has also appeared on BBC One, ITV, Channel 5, BBC Radio 4, in Sunny D and in shows at Underbelly, Latitude Festival and the Soho Theatre.  Local sessions will be held at Arch 504 in Ridgway Road SW9, close to the Platform cafe alongside Wyck Gardens, off Loughborough Road. Enquiries to maddyanholt@gmail.com or tel. 07 514 983 730 or see www.maddyanholt.com 

News from Longfield Hall

This community hall on the north-east side of Brixton continues to nurture new generations of performers. Their regular weekly sessions have resumed after the summer break, with McAlpine Dance Studio back in action from Saturday 14th.  A showcase event featuring many of their regular users and artists is taking place on Saturday 27 September at 7-30 pm. Tickets for a Longfield Celebration are £5 (£3 concessions).  Enquiries to enquiry@longfieldhall.org.uk 

Love Knitting? It’s not just performing arts on their programme – Sue Addo is running a 10-week course for knitters, ideally with some experience, collaborating on creative projects that benefit the community. The course starts on Thursday 19 September, and costs £25 (£15 concessions). 

Book via the website: www.longfieldhall.org.uk/events or contact Catherine: catherinehamilton@longfieldhall.org.uk and pay on the first session.

Could you be spending less on gas or electricity?

Repowering London is a Lambeth-based independent charity that gives free energy advice and promotes renewable energy projects for schools and community buildings. Repowering can help you:

– find a cheaper tariff or payment method;

– access grants and benefits like the Warm Home Discount;

– sign up to the Priority Services Register;

– apply for a Smart Meter;

– generally save energy in the home.

We hope to have a presentation from them at our October Forum meeting. In the meantime, you can contact them at 020 3674 7519 or support@repowering.org.uk

Funding, Training and Support

Disability Support at 336 – Wednesday 18 September

Do you have a personal or professional interest in disability or other related issues? Then come and find out what is going on at London’s largest disability hub.

336 Brixton Road is opening its doors from 10 am to 3 pm on 18 September.  To book your free tickets, please visit www.weare336opendoor.eventbrite.com or phone 020 7274 2299.

An evening of Flash Consulting – Thursday 26 September

At a recent Town Hall event, we encountered Link UP London, who provide a channel for professionals to offer their services to local voluntary organisations. They are offering an evening of “Flash Consulting” – a bit like Speed Dating – which sounds like a great opportunity to get expert advice on making your work more effective. Ideally come with a 2-minute pitch about your organisation, and a 5-minute (max.) description of a challenge or problem you are facing.  The event runs from 5-30 to 7-30 pm at Tripod in the basement of the Town Hall. Enquiries to Tom Stannard at Age UK Lambeth, tom@ageuklambeth.org or we can forward the link to you if asked (there is a short Googledocs form to complete). 

London City Airport Community Fund – bids close 25 October

Lambeth is under the flightpath of airliners on their way in to London City Airport, so it’s just as well that it’s among several boroughs covered by this grant scheme. Bidding rounds are quarterly, and for more details see their website: www.londoncityairport.com/corporate/responsible-growth/community-fund

Training for small charities – 12-14 November

Another batch of courses is being provided in Central London by the Foundation for Social Improvement, with 14 courses fitted into a 3-day timetable.

Although these short courses are charged for (£10 to £20 each), the prices are more affordable than some we have seen advertised by other providers – the key is to choose what will be most useful for what you want to do.  Book before the end of October to secure a place – more details on their website at www.thefsi.org

Introduction to Computers

If you are struggling to read this, or if you have colleagues or clients who would like to learn how to use a computer, Mosaic Clubhouse in Effra Road is hosting an Introduction to Computers course, starting 18 September.  Sessions will be every Wednesday, 11 am to 1 pm until 4th December.  This course is open to all Lambeth residents and free to those receiving benefits.  Students must be able to attend all sessions, at Mosaic Clubhouse, 63 Effra Road, SW2.  To sign up, call Sinead on 020 7924 9657 or e-mail s.obrien@mosaic-clubhouse.org

If you think you have mastered the basics, there are also monthly TechClub sessions, usually at Tripod in the Town Hall Basement, offering a presentation on a key topic, a tech clinic and networking.  Drinks and snacks are included in the pay-what-you-can ticket.  Next session is on Cyber Security for Individuals, Tuesday 24 September from 6-30 to 9 pm. 

Sessions are provided by AGT UK (based at Loughborough Junction) in association with Impact Brixton. More info at https://techclub3.eventbrite.co.uk or contact Shanise Lewis at 020 3745 4303 or shanise@agt.uk.net 

Are you providing services for older people?

Age UK Lambeth has started a Resilient Ageing project to encourage innovation and joint working with other local groups, to offer better support and services for older people within Lambeth. If you are attempting to help older people in your part of the community, maybe there are ways to link up or develop new ideas? Contact their project facilitator, Paul Springer at paul@ageuklambeth.org or phone him on 07 785 365 294.

Desk space at Longfield Hall

A couple of desk positions are becoming available in a shared four-person office at Longfield Hall, on the corner of Knatchbull Road and Burton Road, opposite Minet Library.  They can offer decent wi-fi and shared use of a printer.  They are looking for upwards of £100 a week for the space.  Other rooms can be booked for meetings as required, and there is some storage space.  All enquiries to Will Ollard, Chair of Trustees, 07 530 529 130 or willollard@longfieldhall.org.uk

Meeting Room hire at Carnegie Library

The Carnegie Community Trust is now able to offer rooms for hire, for either commercial or community events, within the old library building.  There is a choice of a large room (capacity up to 150), medium room (capacity 60 seated) or a small meeting room (capacity 25 seated).  Spaces can be booked by the hour, half-day or whole day.

For further information, terms and conditions, see their website, https://carnegiehernehill.org.uk/project-documents/  or e-mail to info@carnegiecommunitytrust.org.uk

Integrate Agency comes on stream

You should already be aware that the Integrate Agency was appointed by Lambeth to take over the support role for community groups that was previously provided by Community Southwark.  Regular bulletins have begun to circulate and training events are being offered, so maybe it’s OK for us to say less about grants and training opportunities in future Forum Bulletins?  If you are not already on their circulation list, contact them on contact@integrateagency.co.uk

And look out for an event on Volunteering on 15 October.

Team London and Thrive LDN Small Grants

A reminder that these schemes to support young people in volunterring re-opened for applications this month, but deadlines are only in October – see www,london.gov.uk/what-we-do/volunteering

New fund-raising guides

This month the Directory of Social Change is launching new editions of its various funding guides and directories of grant-givers – more details on their website, www.dsc.org.uk

There are also several handbooks covering different aspects of running a small charity or community organisation.

Keep in Touch

Spreading the Word

We welcome news from our member organisations to include in these bulletins – ideally in concise form so we can just drop it into place without spending too much time on rewrites!Items for the October issue should reach us by 5th October, though a week earlier would be helpful – to apiperbrix@aol.com

Mailing List updates

Remember to tell us about any changes, to ensure that you and your group are kept in the picture – report all changes to admin@brixtonneighbourhoodforum.org

– if you want to add a colleague or another local organisation to the mailing list;

– if you need to update your e-mail address, instead of messages going to an old inbox;

– if you have moved away or are no longer interested.