The next General Meeting of the Forum will be on Thursday 28 November from 7 pmat the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 1EP (entrance faces Windrush Square).
The main topic will be our Neighbourhood Plan. We need to finalise the boundaries, to include the Town Centre and nearby sites at risk of unsuitable development. If we can also pick up ideas or priorities to include in the Plan, that would be great, but there will be more time for that once we can get the go-ahead from Lambeth Council.
To take this forward we need to update our list of individual members, whether living or working in the area we want the Plan to cover. You can sign up on the night, or contact the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com
Brixton by Night – Survey
You just have 2 weeks to respond to a survey of residents’ views. Brixton’s Night-time economy has been a regular source of complaints at our meetings for several years. The Council has been keen to encourage entertainment uses to make up for dwindling retail trade, but has failed to understand the problems it brings for residents in and around the town Centre. Tell them what you think at:
https://haveyoursay.lambeth.gov.uk/en-GB/folders/night-time-strategy
More Events coming up
Brixton Windmill Winter Market
The Winter Market returns to Windmill Gardens on Sunday 8th December, 12 noon to 3-30 pm. Stalls with locally made crafts and gifts, plus live music, hot food, mulled wine and beer. Once again, the ground floor of the windmill will be transformed into Santa’s Grotto. There’s also festive wreath-making workshops at 12-30 and 2 pm – please book via www.brixtonwindmill.org
Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses
Two live music events coming up at Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses:
Sunday 24 November at 2 pm, the Iyatra Quartet return, with selections from their new album, Wild Green.
Sunday 1st December at 5 pm, Alice Boyd launches her second EP, Cloud Walking.
Christmas wreath-making workshops will take place on 4 dates: Saturday 30 November, Sunday 1st, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December.
For details and bookings, see https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.com/events
Brixton House Theatre Events
Alice in Wonderland – their award-winning show returns for the Christmas season, from 21 November until 4th 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/
Crafts Fair & Vintage Pop-up Sale
Saturday 30 November, 1 pm to 6 pm at St. Vincent’s, Talma Road SW2 1AS. Start your Christmas shopping and enjoy a cake or two! Children’s art and craft activities on site too.
Enquiries to janedr@svp.org.uk
Loughborough Farm Winter Market
Saturday 7th December, from 12 noon to 5 pm around the Platform Café at the south end of Loughborough Road. More details at https://www.loughboroughfarm.org
Organised by Loughborough Farm and LJAG.
Black Culture Market at Christmas
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December,
11 am to 5 pm each day, once again downstairs at the Department Store, 248 Ferndale Road, SW9 8FR. Free entry but please book in advance via www.blackculturemarket.co.uk
Shows at Longfield Hall
Friday 22 November at 5-30 pm, tickets £6:
The Giant who slept for ten thousand years: a puppet show for children aged 3+, running time 35 minutes.
Saturday 30 November, 8 pm to 10-30, cash donation at the door, Figgy Pudding – an evening of music from the Lo Fi Workshop.
Saturday 7th December, 7 pm to 9 pm with interval: Mind the Gap, an evening of improvised solo performances including music and dance. Tickets £10 or £15.
For bookings and enquiries, see the website, https://longfieldhall.org.uk
Kwanzaa Rising
Saturday 21 December in Myatt’s Fields Park – a new festive event, more details next month or contact enquiries@myattsfieldspark.info
Green issues
Next Dr Bike Visit
The next session to help cyclists with repairs and maintenance will take place between 12 noon and 3 pm on Wednesday 27 November on Atlantic Road, outside Brixton Wholefoods. Help is free, provided by Cycle Confident with the support of Brixton BID.
Brockwell Park Planting
Saturday 7th December: 11 am to 1-30 pm will be the next planting session in the Biodiversity Area (enter from Brixton Water Lane gate and up the slope towards the BMX track). So far, 1300 new plants have been added by a total of 26 volunteers. If you can come and lend a hand (tools and gloves provided) contact volunteer@brockwellpark.co.uk
Natural Plant Dyes
Two upcoming events on this theme at the South London Botanical Institute, 323 Norwood Road, SE24 (near the Tulse Hill Hotel). Enquiries to info@slbi.org.uk
Thursday 21 November at 7 pm, a talk on natural plant dyes, their global history and present practice.
Saturday 30 November, 10 am to 1 pm, a hands-on workshop to learn the history and practice of dyeing with madder roots.
Health and Social Care
Join a review of 111 phone service
South-East London Integrated Care Board is inviting people to join a review of its 111 service, due for renewal in March 2026. In particular, they are seeking two public/ patient representatives to take part in the review and selection process, with a (paid) commitment of 2 hours a month.
Deadline for applications is 22 November, and for more details contact SEL111@seldonics.nhs.uk
Mental Health First Aid Course
Art4Space is hosting another Adult course in Mental Health First Aid on 5th & 6thDecember, at their studios in Jeffreys Road, SW4. Courses are run by It’s a Playground, but for booking details see www.art4space.co.uk
Family Hubs Workshop
Lambeth is holding a series of workshops to shape the borough’s offer to children, young people and their families. The Brixton session is on Monday 18 November at the Karibu Centre in Gresham Road, from 2 pm to 3-30. Please register at familyhub@lambeth.gov.uk
Weight management and Wellbeing Programme for Latin American Communities free programme delivered for Spanish speaking Lambeth residents Ferndale Community Centre, SW9 8BP starting in November.
Ecosystem Coldharbour Community Coffee Morning
Join us at the Baytree Centre as we hold this important conversation on Mental Health among our young people. Tuesday 19th November, 10am to 12noon at The Baytree Centre, Brixton Road, SW9 6AE. It is also a great networking environment. Sign up here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-coffee-morning-tickets-415829857297
Black Women’s Health event
The Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN) and African Advocacy Foundation (AAF) are excited to invite you to our maiden joint event supporting Black African and Caribbean women’s sexual and reproductive health in Lambeth for Lambeth residents. This event is part of a project commissioned by Lambeth Council. 12.00 – 4pm Saturday, 23rd November 2024 at St Mark’s Church, Kennington (opposite Oval tube station) 337 Kennington Park Road, Lambeth, SE11 4PW Registration: Click here
There will be: Good healthy cultural African & Caribbean food, African & Caribbean music by amazing DJ, Free health checks and health screening, Meet and connect with your local health services, Free fun activities for all ages (face painting for children), Free raffle and prizes to be won, Connect with like-minded individuals, community leaders, and advocates dedicated to making a difference in Lambeth. Don’t miss it! We look forward to seeing you!
Homestart Lambeth’s Cut Fuel Costs workshop
Location: Max Roach Wiltshire Rd, London SW9 7NE
Home-Start Lambeth will be running an energy saving workshop 10.30-11.30am, Thursday 28th November, as a one off special for our Little Legends toddler group.
Families with children under 5 are welcome to attend. The workshop will cover: tips, advice and information on how to reduce families’ bills and save energy, ways to tackle mould and condensation,
discussion of the priority service register and how to access emergency fuel voucher free carbon monoxide alarms!
There will be activities for children taking place while the workshop is running.
No need to register in advance, just turn up on the day!
Other News
Around the High Street
Christmas Lights return! After 2 years without Christmas lights in our Town Centre, the Brixton BID has worked with local architects Squire & Partners and specialist company Blachere to fill the gap. At least 48 bespoke lights should go up shortly. Their designs are based on recycled plastic bottles.
It has now been confirmed that Marks & Spenser will re-open, just as a food hall, on Wednesday 20 November. Around the same time, they are opening a clothing-only store at Battersea Power Station.
We hear that the disused underground toilets on Windrush Square are once again being offered to let by Lambeth Council. They are suggesting bar, café, gallery or workspace uses as acceptable. A similar offer several years ago petered out because the Council lost interest after wasting several bidders’ time.
A planning application has finally been made to regularise use of the rooftop car park above Sports Direct in Popes Road for bars and food stalls. Licensing approval has already been granted.
Shakespeare and Lambeth
An exhibition in the Olive Morris Room at Lambeth Archives on Brixton Hill marks the return of 3 “Folio” editions of Shakespeare’s works from the British Library. It highlights performances in the 18th and 19th centuries at various sites mainly at the north end of the borough. It has been extended until Friday 6 December, during normal opening hours.
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
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.
Cory Community Fund, grants up to £7,500 for local community impact, deadline 29 November.
Ironmongers’ grants to charities fund: for registered charities working with disadvantaged children, up to £10,000, deadline 15 December.
Matthew Good Foundation: Grants for Good
Fund will share £15,000 between 5 projects every 3 months (for projects with annual turnover below £50,000). Next deadline is 15 December.
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.
London Marathon Group’s Active Spaces Fund offers grants up to £80,000 to improve sports facilities and encourage activities. Expressions of interest can be sent at any time.
Energy Resilience Fund to help charities and social enterprises install energy-saving measures or buy more environmentally friendly vehicles or equipment. Typically 40% grant and 60% loan – apply now.
Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, grants up to £2,500 to combat isolation among the elderly or disabled (ongoing).
We also heard about these from Locality but you will have to follow up via a Google search:
Help the Homeless, grants up to £5,000, closes15 December.
The Hedley Foundation, grants up to £5,000 for smaller charities supporting disadvantaged people and their carers. Closes 17 December.
Thomas Wall Trust, grants up to £5,000 for established charities helping disadvantaged adults into employment. Closes 6 January.
Support for Voluntary Groups
Lambeth Council has given up on tendering for an expanded programme of support for voluntary and community groups, due to funding pressures. Instead, Integrate will continue to provide support at existing levels until July next year.
We mentioned last time that free capacity-building support is still available from the Lambeth Community Hubs Network. Help is usually provided on a one-to-one basis, tailored to the needs of your group. Enquiries to info@lambethhubs.com
Directory of Social Change has renewed its offer of support for smaller charities at reduced rates. They have a series of bite-size on-line learning sessions taking place between 21 November and 4 December, for £35 each. There will also be some free resources for London-based small charities in the New Year. In the meantime, there is an archive of blogs and advice notes available. More details on their website at www.dsc.org.uk
Help with Laptops and Smart Phones
Clear Community Web continue to run advice sessions around the borough for setting up or trouble-shooting your laptop, tablet or mobile phone. For the current timetable, please see www.clearcommunityweb.co.uk/lambeth
They also offer an On-line Services drop-in on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, 11 am to 1 pm at Stockwell Park Community Trust, 21 Aytoun Place, SW9 0TE.
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.
- 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. Send items to the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com by the 3rd of the month.