Local Events Coming Soon
Easter Holiday Activities for Children
Between 3rd and 14th April, a range of free activities are taking place for children aged 4 to 16 at several sites around Brixton. Priority is being given to children normally receiving free school meals. For venues and details, refer to https://lambeth.gov.uk/lambeth-spring-food-fun
A Mile in My Shoes
This exhibit will be on Windrush Square from Thursday 13 April for 2 weeks, organised by the Empathy Museum. This appearance is part of the ongoing series of “81 Acts of Exuberant Defiance” which commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Brixton Uprising of April 1981. More details at www.empathymuseum.com
A-Maze-ing Brixton launch – Saturday 22 April
A joint project between Brixton BID and Father Nature, the Lavender Maze in Max Roach Park will be launched with a family-friendly planting session on Saturday morning between 9 am and 12 noon. In future, the site will be maintained by volunteer gardeners on the same basis as the Brixton Orchard, and also host eco-nature sessions for local school groups.
What is Brixton Saying? – Tuesday 25 April
The Advocacy Academy invite you to their Open House event to discuss the results of their recent Listening Campaign, conducted by their young people. 7 pm at 5-7 Vining Street, SW9 8QA. Free but please book via Eventbrite.
Beer and Bread Festival by the Windmill – Monday 1st May
Mark the traditional Bank Holiday in Windmill Gardens, with stalls including craft bakers and artisan brewers, plus live music, open from 1 pm to 5 pm.
Organised by Friends of Windmill Gardens, admission free.
Creative Courses at Art4Space – starting in May
Two more special courses are coming up, each to run for 10 weekly sessions, free for eligible individuals but places are limited – enquiries to jewels@art4space.co.uk
Creative Community Champions Tuesdays 10 am to 12-30 from 2nd May, creating hand-built ceramics.
Creative Remedies, Wednesdays 10 am to 12-30 from 3rd May, textile design and overlay to create bespoke hangings.
Black Culture Market, 3 & 4 June
This showcase for Black-owned businesses and craftspeople returns to Downstairs at the Department Store for another weekend – 11 am to 5 pm with a different mix of traders each day, at 248 Ferndale Road SW9 8FR. Admission free but please register in advance via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/black-culture-market-summer-,arket-tickets-570736868337?aff+erelexpmlt
If you want to trade at this or similar events, please refer NOW to https://www.blackculturemarket.co.uk
Town Centre Developments
Hondo Towers
Most of you will know by now that GLA planners had recommended to the Mayor that he refuse permission for the planning application by Hondo to build a 20-storey tower dominating the market. This was only discovered following pressure from the Fight The Tower campaign. Normally a developer would withdraw a proposal if there were major objections, in the hope of coming back later with a new design. Instead, Hondo were allowed merely to postpone the hearing when they offered to “adjust” their plans. However, the defects in the plans are so fundamental that only a complete rethink and new application could possibly deal with the objections. In the meantime, the ongoing uncertainty is damaging to the Town Centre.
Brixton Rec Quarter development
Consultation on the plans for International House and the Pop Brixton site was originally scheduled to start in May last year, but only got underway last month with an “Appreciative Enquiry” event. Naturally this attracted criticism that consultation was happening long after the key decisions had been made, while information was lacking on transitional arrangements for existing users of both sites.
Nevertheless, a separate consultation exercise will run over 10 sessions from 20 April to 22 June, for a hand-picked panel of residents to consider how the developments could benefit Brixton’s Town Centre.
Work finally started last month on adapting vacant space below the Rec into workshop space for small enterprises and for training projects. Within the Rec itself, Lambeth took over management from GLL/ Better on 1st April, to operate it under the “Active Lambeth” banner. Work has been underway to create a children’s “soft play” area at the lower level where the bowling green used to be.
International House
Although London Square intends to keep International House in office use, it is likely to be out of use for up to 2 years while the building systems are upgraded. This puts at risk the network of organisations, both commercial and charitable, that has built up during its “meanwhile” use under 3Space. Despite the delayed start to the development programme, Lambeth is unwilling to extend the present use beyond September.
For years, business space around Brixton has been replaced by housing uses, so it’s hard for International House tenants to find other premises locally.
We need to find ways of keeping creative businesses and charity projects within the Brixton area, and one suggestion made by the Brixton Society is to use the former Sudbourne School buildings in Hayter Road SW2 as another “meanwhile” space until International House is refurbished. This would help maintain existing networks and local employment, instead of dispersing most firms out of the borough.
Funding, Training and Support
Last call for our 2023/24 programme
The Forum needs to make its own funding bid to the Council shortly. Typically this will pay for meetings costs, part-time admin support and equipment, but there is scope to include some training or advice for the wider membership. If there is something that you think we should be providing or organising, we need to hear from you NOW.
If your ideas are beyond the scope of the usual Forum funding, we can of course make separate applications to other potential funders.
Jobs with Local Projects
We have seen a number of paid jobs advertised by local projects in recent months, but usually application deadlines have passed before we can share details in these bulletins. Here’s one that’s still open:
Centre Manager at St. Vincent’s Centre, Brixton: Based at Talma Road SW2, full-time post (37.5 hours a week) annual salary £35,000 to £40,000 depending on skills and experience. For more details, e-mail to hr@svp.org.uk and prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Kate Nightingale (Deputy CEO) for more information on 07 889 006 234 but before 12 April please. Deadline 20 April for application forms, with interviews to be held on 28 April.
Your Streets, Your Way competition – closes 28 April
Lambeth Council is inviting ideas for street design improvements at selected sites around the borough. Within the Brixton area, those include:
– 85 Angell Road, SW9;
– Loughborough Road/ Minet Road junction;
– Outside Brixton Domino Club/ Soup Kitchen, 297-299 Coldharbour Lane;
– Telegraph Passage, between Brixton Hill and New Park Road.
The top prize offered is £750 plus runners-up prizes, and the competition is managed by architects We Made That. For full details, see https://your-streets-your-way.squarespace.com
Flexible Support Fund briefing – Monday 17 April
This DWP fund is to support organisations who can help the unemployed towards jobs. Integrate has set up a Zoom briefing session with officials from the DWP and Lambeth, starting at 10 am. To book a place, contact Eoin Heffernan at eoin.heffernan@integrateagency.co.uk
Negotiating and Managing Your Lease – Wednesday 19 April
Integrate have set up another Zoom briefing, this time with the Ethical Property Foundation, to review the ins and outs of business leases and managing your relationship with your landlord. This session will start at 11 am and an information pack will be circulated afterwards. Book voa Eoin Heffernan, as above.
Changes in public support for Charities
The Directory of Social Change recently reported from the Community Life Survey, an annual survey of adults across England that follows trends in social action. The most recent figures are from the 2021-22 survey. While 55% of adults reported taking part in some form of volunteering in the past year, participation is at its lowest since data collection started in 2014. 14% reported that the Covid pandemic continued to inhibit their participation.
Charitable giving was more variable from year to year, but 66% reported giving money to charitable causes in the past 4 weeks. There was a significant increase in people giving to overseas aid and disaster relief, notably the war in Ukraine, where the Disasters Emergency Committee reported receiving over £400 million.
On the other hand, legacy giving has increased by 43% over the past decade, according to a 2022 survey just released by Remember a Charity. This may reflect greater efforts by some of the larger charities to encourage people to leave a gift in their will.
Adapt to the New Borough Plan
Finally, Lambeth Council’s Cabinet adopted the new version of the Borough Plan on 27 March. The aim of the plan is to integrate all the Council’s activities and services, and to set out priorities for the period up to 2030. This is worth study if you work closely with the Council or want to show that your projects support their priorities. The new version, Lambeth 2030 – Our Future, Our Lambeth, can be found on the Council’s website.
Keep in touch
Something to share with us?
If you are doing something around the Brixton area – an event, or a new service, even a re-launched service – you are welcome to use these bulletins to tell other Forum members. That’s over 500 on our current list!
Please send items for future bulletins to the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com and ideally before the 3rd of the month so we can publish by the 10th.
Also use this contact if you want to present your work at a Forum meeting, or raise a topic for discussion.
Remember, there is more about the Forum on our website at www.brixtonneighbourhoodforum.org
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We want these bulletins to reach all community organisations and activists in the wider Brixton area. Please contact us at admin@brixtonneighbourhoodforum,org if:
– You want to add a colleague or neighbour to the mailing list.
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