26 September Meeting
You are invited to the next General Meeting of the Forum on Thursday 26 September, 7 pm at the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 1EP (entrance faces Windrush Square).
The main agenda items will be:
- Brockwell Park update, notably progress on restoring Brockwell Hall as a meeting place, expected to be in use from next Spring.
- North Brixton Big Local Partnership: a presentation on this local fund for community projects.
Making Plans for Brixton
We are continuing to explore developing a Neighbourhood Plan for Brixton, to reflect local preferences and needs. The challenge is that the Town Centre sits at the junction of 4 Council wards, but we must take in a wide enough area to address issues like anti-social behaviour and the night-time economy. We are keen to hear from grass-roots groups and residents in the next month or so, before we finally decide on the area to propose. We hope this will be sorted in time for the Forum meeting on Thursday 28 November (venue as above). Enquiries or suggestions in the meantime to Alan Piper, Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com
Brixton Bus Changes
Transport for London is consulting on changes to bus routes 45, 59 and 118 that run through Brixton. Southbound bus 59 would turn off Brixton Hill to finish at Atkins Road instead of at Brixton Bus Garage (Telford Avenue). Bus 45 would be extended southwards to replace route 118 via Streatham Vale to finish at Morden, but northward it would only run to Camberwell Green, instead of the Elephant & Castle. Bus 118 would no longer run.
This proposal is open for comments until Sunday 13 October at: haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk or you can find more details and an on-line survey form at https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/45-59-118-proposals
Lambeth Heritage Festival
Lots going on this month – for the whole programme, see bit.ly/FestProg2024
Note that some events need prior booking.
In addition, several local sites are opening on either 14/15 or 21/22 September weekends as part of London Open House: for details see: https://programme.openhouse.org.uk
However, please note that the reading room at the BlackCultural Archiveswill be closed until Thursday 3rd October during stocktaking.
Coming Events
Regular activities are starting up again all around Brixton – here’s a selection including some just beyond our core area, but still in easy reach…
Coming up at Brixton House Theatre
There’s more going on than we knew – too much to list everything, so please check out the full package at https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/whats-on/
Housemates Festival 24 September to 12 October – back for its third year with a mix of dance, theatre and comedy.
In the theatre, How I learned to swim is running until 14 September (age 12+).
Later comes Tones – a Hip-Hop Opera from 4 to 9 November (age 15+).
There will also be one-off shows and dance festivals, together with community events. Also look out for free family activities on 29-30 October to coincide with half-term.
Do you like singing? Join Brixton House Community Choir where you can learn to sing different musical styles, with opportunities to perform through the year. Sessions run on Mondays 7 pm to 9 pm between 7 October and 16 December.
Events at Brixton Windmill
Harvest Festival takes place on Sunday 29 September, from 1 pm to 5 pm, including milling demonstrations, live music, morris dancing, and a series of family-friendly workshops. Food stalls and beer from the Brixton Brewery.
Regular activities at the Windmill Centre include Tai Chi (for over 50s), gardening workshops with Urban Canopy, Pilates, Yoga, and a wellbeing club for people over 55. For all events, please see the website for details and booking, www.brixtonwindmill.org
Drumming for Wellbeing
Shamha Vibration have restarted their Friday evening drumming sessions at the Stockwell Park Community Trust Centre, 21 Aytoun Place SW9 0TE. Sessions are free with the drums provided. and run from 5 to 7 pm until December. More details at www.shamhavibration.org
Activities at St. Vincent’s, Brixton
Their Autumn schedule is filling up, with a few new activities to be added.
You are You sessions start again in the week from 16 September, but with only 6 Hip-Hop classes this term. Sign up for arts and cooking, drama or hip-hop at https://forms.office.com/e/iYVgsdSw8n
They are collaborating with Roots for Change to deliver some ESOL classes on Friday mornings from 4th October – please sign up via https://forms.gle/ZjMS8aufLGGCuXBh8
Plans are being finalised for regular Sewing Bee classes, though there is likely to be a fee of £5 per session – check the website for latest news, https://www.svp.org.uk/st-vincents-brixton
All activities based at St. Vincent’s Brixton Community Centre, Talma Road SW2 1AS. Enquiries to Leanne Twidale, e-mail to LeanneT@svp.org.uk or text to 07 960 445 930.
Longfield Hall
On the opposite side of Brixton, Longfield Hall also has activities restarting this month. For full details see their website, https://longfieldhall.org.uk
That includes Sunday drama classes for young people between 6 and 16.
Age 6-8 runs 10 am to 11-30 am.
Age 9-11 runs 12 to 1-30 pm,
Age 12-16 runs 2-30 to 4 pm
To book a place, call 07 988 629 697 or e-mail youthmanager@longfieldhall.org.uk
Exhibition at the Van Gogh House
The latest exhibition at Hackford Road SW9 is Cycles which will run from 18 September until 15 December, open 5 days a week and overlapping with the Van Gogh exhibition at the National Gallery. Group tours available for up to 10 people. For more details see their website www.vangoghhouse.co.uk
Black Culture Market
Their Autumn event is once again Downstairs at the Department Store, 248 Ferndale Road SW9 on Saturday and Sunday 5 & 6 October, open 11 am to 5 pm each day. Support Black-owned businesses and makers in Brixton. Admission free but please book in advance via the website, www.blackculturemarket.co.uk
If you want to trade at these events, please e-mail to hello@blackculturemarket.co.uk
Get Creative at Art4Space
So much in their latest programme that we can only highlight a few activities. Once again there will be a Creative Enterprise series on Tuesday mornings, for people interested in setting up their own craft-based business. For young people (16-30) the Creative Pathways Art Course will run on Wednesday afternoons from 25 September.
For younger participants, a free after-school art club will run on Thursdays, 3-30 to 5 pm.
For adults, there’s a variety of free make and mend workshops on Thursday evenings (and odd Saturday afternoons) – details on their website, www.art4space,co.uk
Please book in advance due to limited space. All sessions at 31 Jeffreys Road, SW4 6QU.
Health and Social Care
Feeding into Local Health Services
Lambeth Together holds a Public Forum from time to time, typically quarterly. This provides an opportunity for local communities to meet decision-makers, ask questions and raise issues with the leaders of Lambeth’s health and care services. The open session is followed by the Board meeting between 2 pm and 5 pm, which the public can attend in person or on-line. For more details including upcoming board papers, see www.lambethtogether.net/get-involved
Healthwatch Lambeth is the organisation which can support patients and carers who have issues or complaints about local health services. They channel your feedback to NHS leaders and care providers to make changes happen. Enquiries to: info@healthwatchlambeth.org.uk
Mental Health First Aid
Art4Space are again hosting a few training sessions at their studios at 31 Jeffreys Road SW4 6QU. Sessions are led by It’s a Playground but please book via www.art4space.co.uk
3 & 4 October – Youth Mental Health;
15 November – half-day refresher;
5 & 6 December – Adult Mental Health.
Green spaces, Green issues
Bat Walk at Brixton Windmill
Wednesday 18 September at 7-25 pm.
A free walk in Windmill Gardens, led by Dr Iain Boulton – bat detectors provided but please book in advance at https://www.brixtonwindmill.org/events/free-bat-walk-with-dr-iain-boulton-3/
Events at Brockwell Park
Community Greenhouses
Just a taster – there’s more on their website at https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/events
Our Garden in the City – Sunday morning creative writing workshop with Tracey Hammett, Sunday 22 September, 10 am to 12 noon.
Introduction to Green Woodwork – from log to spoon, Friday 27 September, 12-30 to 4-30 pm.
Fermentation Workshop, Sunday 29 September, 12-30 pm in the Barn.
Myatt’s Fields Park
Ekabo! Is the Park’s own version of Harvest Festival, on Saturday 28 September from 2 pm to 6 pm. Includes a Carnival Parade delivered by the children and young people of Loughborough Community Centre at Max Roach Park, supported by Sunshine International Arts and a steel band. Plus stalls, games, a produce sale, live music and other activities in the park.
enquiries@myattsfieldspark.info
Car-free Day on Atlantic Road
The Brixton BID and Lambeth Council’s Big Shift team are organising a car-free day on Atlantic Road on Saturday 21 September.
This covers the section between Kellett Road and Coldharbour Lane only, where through traffic has already been reduced by the Railton Road Low Traffic Neighbourhood.
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 25 September, 12 to 3 pm outside Halfords on Effra Road, SW2.
Funding, Training & Support
Running a Charity?
If your organisation is a registered charity, or aspires to be, support is available for your board members, trustees or management committee members. Getting On Board runs a Trustee Learning Programme, mainly as free or subsidised on-line sessions. Find out more at https://www.gettingonboard.org
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
Scurrah Wainwright Charity – grants between £1,000 and £5,000, closing date 14 September.
Fat Beehive Foundation – grants up to £2500 to help smaller charities with websites and other digital services, closing date Friday 27 September.
Lambeth Community Fund – grants of up to £20,000 to address specific local needs, closing date 16 October.
Training Opportunities
Cyber Security Course: Integrate recently shared details of an 8-week course for Lambeth residents over 50, starting on Monday 23 September. This involves one 90- minute on-line session each week, plus 2 hours a week for study. Bookings close on Friday 20 September.
Brixton BID continues to offer free training courses, which social enterprises and small businesses within the BID area should be able to join. Next up are:
- Mental Health First Aid (level 2) Tuesday 24 September, 10 to 4 pm.
- Conflict Management (level 2), Thursday 31 October, 10 am to 4 pm.
- Emergency First Aid (level 3), Monday 11 November, 10 am to 4 pm.
These 3 sessions will all be at International House. Enquiries to admin@brixtonbid.co.uk
Free Property Advice for Businesses
The Brixton BID has also shared details of a scheme offered by the London Business Partnership, to provide free advice in a field where many smaller businesses fail. Leases, business rates, regulations, energy costs and finance will be covered in an 18-month programme, including free access to expert advisers.
To register your interest, please e-mail to info@londonbp.co.uk
Your Forum Bulletins
Get your name out there! 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 (550+) other Forum members. We aim to circulate around the 10th of each month, but please allow us a week to put it together, because we work on a very part-time basis.
So, send items to the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com by the 3rd of the month. Sorry, but due to a surge of entries this month, we have not been able to list as many events as we would wish.
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. 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.
- To unsubscribe, if you have moved away or are no longer interested.