Forum Update
While the Forum itself is waiting for the go-ahead on a few projects for the year ahead, we are now at the time of year when many events are taking place across the Brixton area, and we have mentioned as many as we could in this issue.
Next Forum meeting
The next full Forum meeting will be the Annual General Meeting, when we present our annual report and accounts for the past year, review priorities for the year ahead, and elect a committee to steer the Forum through the next year.
This will be on Thursday 3 July from 7 pm at the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 1EP (entrance faces Windrush Square).
If your group wishes to present its work or highlight a forthcoming activity or service, at this or a future meeting, please contact the Forum Secretary at apiperbrix@aol.com
Local News
Brockwell Park Events
Despite rising concern at cumulative damage to Brockwell Park, a season of live events starts on Friday 23 May with the Wide Awake Festival, then Field Day on Saturday 24th, Cross The Tracks on Sunday 25th and City Splash on Bank Holiday Monday 26th May. Brockwell Bounce on Wednesday 28th is advertised as a free festival for children, before another major music event, Mighty Hoopla, on Saturday and Sunday, 31 May & 1st June.
The following weekend, 7/8 June, sees the site being used for the Lambeth Country Show.
Please be aware that large parts of the park will be fenced off for setting up and dismantling staging and marquees from 12 May until 15 June. On event days, many streets north and south of the park will be closed or resident access only – more details at www.brockwell-live.com/traffic Enquiries to the Brockwell Live community liaison team on community@brockwell.live.com or to
Lambeth Events, events@lambeth.gov.uk
Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour
Action on ASB attracted 60 people to its meeting at Pop Brixton in March. The consensus was that street drug activity is the main driver of crime and anti-social behaviour in Brixton, so this will be the main focus for the campaign going forward.
Under-reporting was also identified as a reason for public agencies not allocating more resources to the area, so the campaign aims to make this easier. They have already prepared a quick-reference guide as a pdf file, which we are happy to share with you.
The Council has been slow to get to grips with the impact of the 24-hour economy on life for Town Centre residents, but is due to publish its Night-time Strategy in June.
See www.ACTIONonASB.org or enquiries to aoasb@outlook.com
Brixton Blog & Bugle Art Show
A final reminder that entries close on Monday 12 May for the ever-popular Brixton Blog & Bugle Summer Art Show. The show is open to any artist – professional or self-taught – who is at least 16 years old and is based in or around Brixton.
Selected art works will be displayed in Brixton Tate Library between 30 June and 24 July.
For more details, see www.brixtonblog.com/2025/03/brixton-blog-bugle-art-show-2025/
Guided Walks series
This year’s programme of walks around Lambeth is more extensive than ever, and Brixton is well-served by walks provided by the Brixton Society, Friends of Windmill Gardens and Lambeth Tour Guides. Some are still free, though donations are welcome. You can pick up a printed list at the library or the windmill, or download a pdf version from:
Car-free Days on Atlantic Road
The Brixton BID has teamed up with Lambeth Council’s Healthy Neighbourhoods Team to host a series of car-free days on Atlantic Road, from June to December. These will be on the second Saturday of each month, when the road will be closed to vehicles between 8 am and 8 pm. Deliveries can still be made to shops before 10 am and after 8-30 pm.
This is a lead-in to a wider study of “public realm” across Brixton Town Centre, to be developed over the June/ December period. More news next month.
Brixton Hill Road Works
Transport for London is proposing a package of “improvements” on the A23, mostly through Streatham but also along the southern end of Brixton Hill, between Upper Tulse Hill and the South Circular Road. However, we noticed at a late stage that this part includes features which seem to reduce safety for cyclists and pedestrians!
Green spaces, Green issues
Friends of Windrush Square
Following the success of the Big Caribbean Lunch last year, arrangements are being made for another inter-generational event on Sunday 22 June in Windrush Square. There will also be pitches for market stalls and workshop activities within St. Matthew’s Peace Garden. If you would like to be involved, please contact the Friends group at
friendsofwindrushsquare@gmail.com
Events at Brixton Windmill
Guided tours of the windmill are now taking place on at least one weekend a month, the next being on 10/11 May and 14/15 June.
The Dot Collective return to present two open-air shows on Saturday 31 May at 11 am and 2 pm. There are also a number of regular weekly activities in the education centre alongside the mill.
For all events in Windmill Gardens, please see www.brixtonwindmill.org
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 28 May, 12 to 3 pm outside the Brixton House Theatre, on Coldharbour Lane.
Brockwell Park Car Boot Sales
The Friends of Brockwell Park are resuming monthly car boot sales in the Lido car park, off Dulwich Road, from Sunday 11 May and then on Sunday 15 June. Open free to buyers 9 am to 1 pm, sellers set up from 7 am, charge £12 per car, £15 per van. Proceeds help fund planting and wildlife projects in the park. Enquiries to membership@brockwellpark.co.uk
Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses
Sunday 11 May is a Spring Celebration, 1 pm to 4 pm to raise funds for educational work -please book in advance.
Saturday 17 May will be a Fermentation Workshop, 2 to 4 pm.
Sunday 18 May is the next in the series of music performances, this time by kora player Jali Bakary Konteh, at 6 pm.
For details of upcoming events and courses at the Community Greenhouses, see the website https://www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk/events
Myatt’s Fields Park
Sunday 18 May – Tree Walk in the park, meet at the Depot Gate at 1 pm, free as part of the Urban Tree Festival.
Saturday 31 May – Plant Swap in the Quiet Garden at 12 pm, organised by Incredible Edible Lambeth.
Help at Brixton Orchard
Warmer weather means there’s plenty to do at Brixton Orchard, on the corner of Brixton Hill and St. Matthew’s Road. Volunteer sessions take place between 1 pm and 3 pm, every Thursday.
Loughborough Park
Sunday 11 May is the next volunteer session to continue the task of clearing snowberry and other invasive plants. Meet at 3 pm by the container in the community garden. These sessions are currently weekly, 90 minutes max., all enquiries to friendsofloughboroughpark@gmail.com
Health and Social Care
Lambeth Together Public Forum
This Public Forum brings together NHS providers, Lambeth Council services and other agencies involved in health and social care locally.
Their next meeting will be held in person at Brixton Tate Library on Thursday 15 May from 1 pm to 2 pm, and meetings are open. This will be followed by the Board meeting, from 2 to 5 pm. The agenda this time includes their sexual health programme, and services for the homeless. All enquiries to lambethtogether@selondonics.nhs.uk
Violence Reduction Toolkit
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, Lambeth Council is hosting the launch of What’s the Matter?, a free violence reduction toolkit developed with young people in Lambeth. This will be on Tuesday 20 May, from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Town Hall.
Admission free but please book in advance at https://bit.ly/3FNrbvx
Friendly Digital Support for Disabled Residents
Millennium Community Solutions are working with Lambeth Council and Disability Advice Service Lambeth (DASL) to launch a drop-in project at Southwyck Hall, behind the Barrier Block. Sessions will be available over 12 weeks, between 5th June and 21 August, on Thursdays between 1 pm and 3 pm.
Whether you are just starting out or only need extra support, come and get connected in a friendly and accessible space. They aim to help with benefits queries or with digital assistive technology, and can offer use of laptops and specialist services.
Access: 50 yards down Moorland Road from Coldharbour Lane, turn right at glass wall.
Enquiries to Gail at 07951 087 923.
SEND Youth Group
St. Vincent’s Brixton Community Centre now offers a dedicated session for young people aged 11-18 with SEND conditions. This runs on Saturday mornings during school terms, from 10-30 to 11-30 am, to offer an hour of socialising, table-tennis, arts and crafts and creativity in a calm space.
Enquiries to LeanneT@svp.org.uk
The Centre is in Talma Road SW2 1AS.
Other Coming Events
Community Arts at Art4Space
A wide choice of crafts sessions and courses being offered at their studios at 31 Jeffreys Road, SW4 6QU. Some of them are free to eligible age groups.
For more details, see their website at www.art4space.co.uk
Black Culture Market returns
This popular event returns to Downstairs at the Department Store, 248 Ferndale Road SW9 on Saturday and Sunday 31 May & 1st June, 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
Volunteers Wanted!
Doorstep Library are looking for volunteers to join their team to bring the magic of books and the joy of reading to directly into the homes of families across Brixton and Tulse Hill.
You could be visiting the same families on a regular basis and hand-pick books to fuel children’s natural love of stories, fire their imaginations and encourage their appreciation of reading.
You could help to not only improve literacy and confidence in children, but also increase family wellbeing and bonding through the joy of sharing stories.
Visit their website to find out more and register your interest: https://doorsteplibrary.org.uk/volunteer/
NB: They also run projects in Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Camden.
Funding, Training & Support
Grant deadlines approaching
There has been a bit of a gap in notices of grant schemes from Integrate, but we heard about a few others via Locality. However, you will have to follow these up via a Google search:
Design for All: to fund professional help to get building projects off the ground, closing date 23 May.
National Lottery Climate Action Fund: targeted at partnerships of organisations, for projects between £500,000 and £1.5 million over 3 to 5 years, closing date 31 May.
Roots & Routes Fund: up to £20,000 for youth-led climate action projects, closes 2nd June.
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.
Support for Enterprise
Born or Made in Brixton offers mutual support for creative start-up enterprises. Next meeting is Wednesday 28 May at 8-30 am until 9-30 am at The Birds Nest on the top floor of International House, Canterbury Crescent SW9. Website: www.bornormade.com
Employability Skills for 14-24 age range – Wednesday 4 June
The Advocacy Academy are hosting a session with the EY Foundation on employment skills as part of their Just-Us series. 5-30 to 6-30 pm at the Liberation Centre, Beehive Place, SW9 7QR.
Book via Eventbrite or enquiries to
Business Training Opportunities
Social enterprises and small businesses within the Brixton BID area should be able to join their free training courses. Next up are:
- Conflict Management (level 2), Wednesday 28 May, 10 am to 4 pm.
- Fire Safety (level 2), Tuesday 24 June, 10 am to 4 pm.
Most sessions are held at International House. Enquiries to admin@brixtonbid.co.uk