News from Groundwork East London Messages

Community Forum

Wed, 03 Sep 2003 13:49:50 GMT

It's that time again. The next SE Community Forum is to be held at Gwk Camden & Islington on Friday 26th September. (10am -4pm) The workshop for the Afternoon will be on "Contracts and Partnership working". This workshop will discuss the current contracts being used by different trusts for sessional workers i.e. artists, workshops, community gardeners, setting up community garden clubs etc. The workshop will be used as an information/ best practice exchange, therefore please could you bring along an example of the type of contract you use. Please could you inform me of who will be attending the forum and I will then forward on more detailed agenda for the day. Thank you for your cooperation, Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require more information. Steve Dixon Terry Oliver Islington Community Team Manager Camden Team Manager Ph 020 7239 1287 Ph 020 7239 1384

Community Consultation in Havering

Fri, 22 Aug 2003 14:42:13 GMT

Groundwork on behalf of Havering Council are putting together an urban design strategy to help secure additional sources of finance for improvements to the Upminster, Collier Row and Elm Park town centre areas

There is already £423,000 from Transport for London (TfL) for improvements to Upminster Town Centre over the next 3 years and this is forming the focus of the ongoing Upminster consultation work.

Street based interviews with a mix of users of the town centre have been completed as part of an initial phase of consultation in each town centre. The interviews were based on a simple questionnaire that detailed the previously voiced concerns of local people. Local issues of concern were derived from research that reviewed previous consultation documents, minutes of community and resident group meetings and conversations with key individuals. The objective was to take an initial snapshot of concerns that have been raised numerous times in numerous forums, and begin to formulate evidence of which are actually priorities for users of the town centre.

The series of workshops that have subsequently been held aimed to enable representatives from the community to work through key priorities for the town centres in small bite sized chunks and in a logical manner. Participants were able to prioritise projects, set realistic and focused objectives and highlight potential constraints to the project team. The workshop content compliments the street based consultation work that was undertaken. Feedback forms for Upminster, Collier Row and Elm Park (used in the street consultation work) have been and can still be used by interested parties that have not yet done so to express their views to the Groundwork team on the consultation topics being discussed.

Continuing its programme of community consultation in Havering town centres, Groundwork East London is producing three exhibitions in Upminster, Elm Park and Collier Row on how the centres can be improved. The exhibitions will be displayed for a week in May in each of the respective town centre libraries.

The library exhibition dates are as follows: Upminster Library - 8 May to 13 May, Collier Row Library - 15 May to 20 May Elm Park Library - 28 May to 2 June.

Click here to see our publicity for consultation event in Upminster.

Upminster Poster

Tue, 13 May 2003 10:57:57 GMT

Upminster Poster

Tue, 13 May 2003 10:56:07 GMT

Community Consultation in Havering

Tue, 13 May 2003 10:54:28 GMT

There is already £423,000 from Transport for London (TfL) for improvements to Upminster Town Centre over the next 3 years and this is forming the focus of the ongoing Upminster consultation work.

The library exhibition dates are as follows: Upminster Library - 8 May to 13 May, Collier Row Library - 15 May to 20 May Elm Park Library - 28 May to 2 June.

Click here to see our publicity for consultation event in Upminster.

It's graduation day

Thu, 27 Mar 2003 12:44:43 GMT

Thursday 4th April (10am- 1pm) marks the end of Groundwork East London's pilot New Deal Lone Parent Teaching Assistant programme and allows the first graduates to enjoy a well-earned celebration. Groundwork East London has been recognised as a centre of excellence and an east London assessment-centre funded by the New Deal Lone Parent scheme, Groundwork's SRB6 programme changing places changing London lives and Renaisi with their ESF-funded Hackney Works programme.

Boundary Markers return to Walthamstow Marshes

Mon, 17 Mar 2003 01:27:04 GMT

On the 23 March 2003 there will be a Grand reinstatement of Lammas Land Boundary-Markers. The replica markers will be installed on Walthamstow Marsh for the first time in over 50 years. Everyone should meet at 12:25 outside Lee Valley Ice Centre, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton E10. For more information click here

Lammas Lands Boundary Markers Project event

Mon, 17 Mar 2003 01:18:40 GMT

Lammas Lands Boundary Markers Project

Grand reinstatement 23 March 2003

12:25 outside Lee Valley Ice Centre Lea Bridge Road, Leyton E10

In bygone days, until 1935, commoners' cattle grazed on Walthamstow Marsh from old Lammas day, 12 August until Old Lady Day 6 April. Hay was grown between spring and lammas day and the local gentry had the right to take and sell the hay from carefully defined strips of land known as Lammas strips. In the middle-ages this hay was very valuable often sold in London as well as locally. The Lammas strips were demarcated by boundary markers sometimes bearing the crest or initials of the owner to show who owned the crop.

Until recently two such boundary-markers remained on the marshes near Coppermill Lane, and one on the outer marsh by the former aqueduct. Then the markers disappeared. Later they turned up again - one at the Lea Valley Park's South Ranger base in Leyton and half of the other at the Pump House Museum.

The New Lammas Lands Defence Committee was recently granted a grant of £1700 to have two cast-iron replicas made of these two last original Lammas Strip boundary markers, in order to place the replicas in their original positions. This project coordinated with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority's Ranger Service and the Community Outreach Team of the London Waterways Partnership(based at the Lea Rivers Trust), who obtained the grant for this project.

On the afternoon of Sunday 23 March the NLLDC intend to install the replicas (made by the beehive Foundry in Hackney) with the permission of English Nature, the national body responsible for conservation on Walthamstow Marshes. We warmly invite all residents of Walthamstow and neighbouring parishes to join us for his historic ceremony - the first boundary markers to be placed on the Marshes for over fifty years.

wear appropriate clothing, wellies or stout footwear. LLDC will supply digging equipment and bubbly!

more info 0790 415 9398

last tree-planting event of the season

Fri, 14 Mar 2003 01:02:39 GMT

Saturday 15th March 2003 10:30 am - 3:30 pm

This will be the very last tree-planting for this season so Hackney Marsh User Group and Groundwork Hackney hope you will come down to Hackney Marshes and put a few more young trees in the ground, refreshments & tools provided.

The location is Kingfisher Woodland near East Marsh. This is near the green bridge on the road which runs around the marshes from the Homerton Road carpark to the other on the Daubeney Green side.

This has been a busy season of planting which will see over thirty-five thousand trees planted so we hope you can join us in planting three and half thousand native trees on the marshes with the Hackney Marsh User Group

regeneration Minister visits Hackney

Thu, 13 Mar 2003 17:20:00 GMT

Tony McNulty MP, Minister for Regeneration visted Hackney today 12 March 2003 to see for himself work on the ground and the potential for new projects that will improve the places in which people live, play and work.

On a walkabout in central Hackney and the Lower Clapton Road in beautiful weather the Minister met with the odd local resident and saw for himself both the problems and the successes in Hackney and the potential for greater change being created by local people.

On a tour of the area Tony McNulty visited:

St John's Churchyard where Groundwork Hackney has developed an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the conservation of the site.

Hackney Central where Groundwork has worked long and hard to bring this building back into use and

Clapton Pond where the Clapton Pond Neighbourhood Action Group are developing projects and ideas. At Clapton Pond Tony McNulty met with Chris Miele and Rachel Short from CPNAG view the original press-release here

chis and tony yakking

Thu, 13 Mar 2003 17:14:47 GMT

chris and tony at the pond

Thu, 13 Mar 2003 17:13:50 GMT

Minister learns about revitalised Clapton

Wed, 12 Mar 2003 18:01:45 GMT

Minister for Regeneration Tony McNulty MP will be seeing for himself how local environmental regeneration charity Groundwork Hackney is improving the quality of life in the Borough, when he takes a tour of Clapton on Thursday 13 March.

The minister will meet Chris Miele and Rachel Short of the Clapton Neighbourhood Action Group to find out how local environmental projects are helping to improve community-safety and tackle anti-social behaviour.

Here are some pictures of the visit

claptonpondpic

Wed, 12 Mar 2003 17:43:19 GMT

clapton pond neighbourhood action group newsletter

Minister learns lessons from a revitalised Clapton

Wed, 12 Mar 2003 17:03:11 GMT

press release & photocall

12 March 2003

Minister learns lessons from a revitalised Clapton

UPDATE Here are some pictures of the visit

The minister will meet Chris Miele and Rachel Short of the Clapton Neighbourhood Action Group to find out how local environmental projects are helping to improve community-safety.

CPNAG is an example of a successful small-scale neighbourhood-renewal project, which Groundwork Hackney has supported by securing funds for practical improvements through Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF). Improvements are scheduled to take place next year and will take the form of lighting, planting and hard landscaping.

Tony McNulty MP

Groundwork Hackney's Executive Director Tim Bissett says, 'Giving people the confidence, skills and resources to get involved in changing their surroundings is what Groundwork is all about. Our work in Clapton shows that helping people to improve their environment can have a really positive effect by encouraging more people to work together, increasing trust and respect and reducing fear of crime.'

Tony McNulty recently joined Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to announce a series of new national initiatives to improve the local environment across England. The Government's 'action programme on sustainable communities' set out a range of measures to help people create new green spaces and improve areas of run-down housing by helping residents get involved in making decisions about their neighbourhood.

Tony McNulty said

"It's very important that people living in urban areas have access to good quality green spaces. They make all the difference to people's quality of life.

"We value the work Groundwork is doing on projects such as this all over the country and are working closely with them to create sustainable communities where people choose to live and work."

"At the heart of all that Groundwork does is a commitment to work with local people to reclaim vital green spaces for the benefit of everyone".

The announcements included an increase in the level of direct Government support for Groundwork and the announcement of a new 'community enablers scheme' to help local groups improve parks and play-areas.

Whilst in Hackney the minister will meet with Groundwork's chairman and national directors and hear about plans to extend the work of Groundwork Hackney into other areas of east London, such as the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham and Havering.

ENDS

notes to Editors

contact

Tony McNulty MP will meet members of the Clapton Neighbourhood Action Group at 12.45 pm at Clapton Pond, Lower Clapton Road E5 at junction of Newick Road. NRF Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. For further information contact Matthew Carrington 0208 985 1755

about Clapton Neighbourhood Action Group

The group exists to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Clapton Pond and its surrounding area. The group also works to encourage understanding and the involvement of local people in environmental matters, planning, transportation, geography and local history

website: http://claptonpond.ground-level.org/

about Groundwork Hackney

Groundwork Hackney exists to bring about sustainable improvements to the local environment and to contribute to economic and social regeneration. We do this by undertaking environmental projects in partnership with relevant groups and agencies.

Groundwork Hackney is at the Partnership Building, 6 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, London E5 0PD. You can telephone us on 020 8985 1755 or fax on 020 8986 4834 and email to the postmaster@ground-level.org

website: http://www.ground-level.org

for more news about Groundwork Hackney's activities visit our newsite at http://newsround.ground-level.org/

about Groundwork

Groundwork is a federation of Trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, each working with their partners in deprived areas to improve the quality of the local environment, the lives of local people and the success of local businesses. Groundwork was established on Merseyside in 1981 and last year celebrated 21 years of local action. Last year Groundwork worked with 3,000 schools and over 1 million children have benefited from its education programmes.

website: http://www.groundwork.org.uk/

mcnultymugshot

Wed, 12 Mar 2003 16:58:30 GMT

Tony McNulty MP - a photograph

Sutton House Society Presents "Reflections on the Lea"

Thu, 06 Mar 2003 15:41:35 GMT

A talk by Laurie Elks (founder of the Lee Valley Association) A personal view on the origins and development of the Regional Park of the Lee Valley

At Sutton House on Thursday March 13th 2003 at 7.30 pm - All welcome - Free admittance

reflections on the Lea

Thu, 06 Mar 2003 15:32:24 GMT

Sutton House Society

Presents

Reflections on the Lea, a talk by Laurie Elks (founder of the Lee Valley Association)

A personal view on the origins and development of the Regional Park of the Lee Valley

At Sutton House on Thursday March 13th 2003 at 7.30 pm

All welcome - Free admittance (collection in aid of the Rev. Bill Hurdman Memorial Fund for Sutton House)

Sutton House Society 2-4 Homerton High Street London E9 6JQ Enquiries about ‘Reflections on the Lea’ to Mike Gray 020 8525 9672

In 1944, Professor Abercrombie in his famous Greater London Plan devised the Green Belt to: swathe London in countryside and the Lee Valley as a "Green Lung" a vast open space linking the slums of the East End with the open countryside truly "a Park Fit for Heroes".

20 years later, the Civic Trust published a pioneering blueprint for the Lee Valley. Its concept was to create a vast playground where working people - liberated by automation from the toil of long hours - could enjoy a range of amusements and organised sports.

The Civic Trust blueprint influenced the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority - which was established in 1967 - to a "bricks and mortar" approach to the development of the valley which was anathema to Professor Abercrombie's original concept.

Laurie Elks discusses how these concepts of leisure influenced the history of the Park; and the efforts of voluntary groups such as the Lee Valley Association to bring about a fundamental rethink about the uses and abuses of the Lee Valley

Sutton House Society 2-4 Homerton High Street London E9 6JQ Enquiries about ‘Reflections on the Lea’ to Mike Gray 020 8525 9672

Upminster consulted

Wed, 05 Mar 2003 16:12:52 GMT

The community and landscape team of Groundwork Hackney are working together on a community consultation to find out how local people think money from a Transport for London (TfL) grant to improve Upminster town centre should be best spent.

Local community groups and residents have been invited to an active-workshop event to help decide how the monet should be spent. People have been invited to attend either one of two sessions, either an early afternoon session starting at 2pm to finish before school ends and an early-evening event to start at 6pm. The sessions will be held on 11th March 2003 at St Joseph's Social Centre, 117 St Mary's Lane and last approximately 90 minutes.

People have been asked to contact Matthew Bush at Groundwork by email havering@ground-level.org or tel: 020 8985 1755 to register their attendance and get further details.

If Matthew is unavailable, please connect them to a member of the landscape team or take a message including name, phone number and an indication of which session they would like to attend. We will call them back and confirm details.

Refreshments will be provided & children are welcome.

Tree planting on Hackney Marshes

Wed, 05 Mar 2003 16:20:29 GMT

8 March 10:30am tree-work or walk to identify trees and spring plants. Meet Marshgate Bridge, Homerton Road E9
tel:Anne 020 8985 1256 or email: a.woollett@btinternet.com

Hackney Walks

Wed, 05 Mar 2003 11:22:29 GMT

6 & 8 March Heart of Hackney walk and 8 March Clapton walk. 2-hours historical/architectural walks through old and new Hackney led by local guides.
Meet 11am Hackney Town Hall steps Tel: 07710 414 240

London pools campaign

Sat, 01 Mar 2003 16:51:53 GMT

The London Pools Campaign has been set up by 8 pool campaigns across London (Haggerston, York Hall, London Fields Lido, Poplar Baths, Brockwell Lido, Hampton Pool Richmond, Marshall Street Baths Soho and Swiss Cottage Pool). They have met with Sport England, the GLA and the Amateur Swimming Association to look at how pools can be funded in a better way - since the problems are similar across London in both rich and poor boroughs.

The launch of the London campaign is next Wednesday 5th March at the York Hall campaign's demo outside Tower Hamlets Town Hall. They have some good press-coverage - see below. If you would like to come and demonstrate for Haggerston Pool, please see details below. They will be going with banners from the Haggerston campaign - you can just turn up or if you need a lift get in contact and they'll will try to arrange it (7690 6662).

CLAPTON POND SPRING CLEAN

Sat, 22 Feb 2003 01:49:28 GMT

Sunday 23rd February from 12 noon to 3pm. After the successful Pond Clean in July 2002, Clapton Pond Neighbourhood Action Group is organising a community spring-clean of Clapton Pond.

For more information about the day please contact Lisa on 020 8985 5439 or Rachel on 020 8525 1978.

Daubeney Green "activity day" 22 february 2003 at 11:00am

Tue, 18 Feb 2003 17:26:57 GMT

GETTING BUSY ON DAUBENEY GREEN

On Saturday 22nd February between 11am - 3pm an 'activity-day' will be held on Daubeney Green (the park between Kingsmead Way and Daubeney Road) Local residents are invited to 'muck-in' to clear shrubs so that trees can be planted and will be rewarded with a free lunch.

Hackney marsh User Group secure Awards for All

Tue, 11 Feb 2003 11:56:07 GMT

HMUG have received funding from Awards For All, Lottery funding for working with children on two projects. The first is to monitor wildlife on Hackney Marshes and produce materials for display in schools and community venues. The second project will involve children researching the history of Hackney Marshes. Other HMUG activities are funded by Hackney Wick SRB with support from Groundwork Hackney and staff at Hackney Marshes.

Tree Planting on Daubeney Green

Tue, 11 Feb 2003 17:29:37 GMT

Saturday February 22nd 2003 there will be a tree-planting event on Daubeney Green. For more information contact Anne 0208 985 1256

Tree planting on Hackney Marshes

Tue, 11 Feb 2003 17:34:04 GMT

Sunday February 23rd 2003, starting at 11am Hackney marsh User Group working with Groundwork Hackney will be tree planting on Hackney Marshes. For more information contact Anne 020 8985 1256 or Rupert 020 8985 1755

gwuklogo

Wed, 05 Feb 2003 16:30:22 GMT

Sustainable Communities gets Government backing

Wed, 05 Feb 2003 16:07:26 GMT

GROUNDWORK ENDORSES GOVERNMENT VISION FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Groundwork is highlighted as a strategic partner in helping the Government deliver sustainable communities. Over the next three years it will receive a grant from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of £40 million, an increase of 40%. The funding will be used to increase Groundwork’s capacity to deliver a wide range of projects in disadvantaged communities aimed at giving people the skills, confidence and resources to improve their own prospects and the quality of life in their community.[05 FEBRUARY 2003 Groundwork UK news and events]

test

Wed, 29 Jan 2003 13:41:47 GMT

1. The Neighbourhood Action Plan: The NAP A Neighbourhood Action Plan (NAP) is a plan agreed by local people, for action addressing the issues raised by local people. The Fanshawe NAP is a way for the community in the Fanshawe area to set out its own priorities and provide a lead itself in taking action. This can be: · action that can be taken by local people themselves; · actions by local people working with local authorities and/or other agencies (eg staffed voluntary sector bodies); · actions led by authorities, but given priority by local people and involving them where possible. Actions as solutions to a local issue may not necessarily be proposed by residents, but may be suggested by a professional agency or authority in response to local residents’ concerns. However, the actions must be agreed by the community involved. This NAP is owned by local people in the Fanshawe neighbourhood and will be maintained on their behalf by a local group or network of interested local residents (the ‘NAP group’). At the time of writing, this is part of the new Fanshawe Residents Association. This document is not statistically representative, but provides a starting point for improvement and will change over time as action is taken, issues develop and as more people get involved Copies of the NAP will go to all departments in the Council and other authorities and agencies (eg Police, Primary Care Trust, Council of Voluntary Service etc). These bodies would normally be expected to refer to the NAP and talk to the NAP group before starting new initiatives in the area. Neighbourhood Renewal Neighbourhood Renewal is the government’s new method of funding improvement in areas of deprivation. Parts of Barking & Dagenham meet the government definitions of deprivation and the borough is receiving some of this funding. Neighbourhood Renewal targets issues such as health, education, housing, employment and amenity to bring them up to measurable standards that everyone can reasonably expect. Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (NRF) covers most aspects of life in these areas, and the council and other agencies (such as health bodies, police, housing organisations and independent charities) are required to work together and in partnership with local communities. Community Strategy The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy is outlined in a straightforward document available free of charge from the Council. This contributes to the overall Barking and Dagenham Community Strategy which is also available free of charge. The borough-wide community-based action planning which includes these strategies is agreed by a Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) which includes council members, other authorities (eg the Health Authority, the Police) and local voluntary sector (ie not-for-profit organisations with paid staff and represented by the Council for Voluntary Service and Ethnic Minority Partnership Agency). The LSP is called the Barking and Dagenham Partnership. The Neighbourhood Renewal Steering Group is a sub-group of the LSP, with a more community-based membership including local residents, chaired by a Council Member. This group recommends projects for Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (NRF). The Community Empowerment Network is a network of community organisations, open to any groups in the borough and feeds into the LSP via the Council for Voluntary Service. The Council has also established Community Forums – local area meetings, chaired by local Councillors (Members), serviced by Council staff and open to all residents in the Forum area (Fanshawe is split between the Parsloes, Becontree and Valence Community Forum and the Eastbrook, Heath and Alibon Community Forum). This is the primary place to find out what the Council is planning locally, to voice views and ask questions. It is also a key method for the Council to consult with local people. Community Housing Partnerships (CHP) are groups composed of Council members, Council tenant representatives and (a smaller number of) local professional people who look at administering Council housing in a way that involves residents more effectively. The NAP should provide a reference point for each of these bodies to inform the strategies that these bodies develop to improve the area. The NAP group should be an initial contact in consulting and involving people. 2. The Fanshawe Picture The place and people The old Fanshawe Ward (now Parsloes and Alibon) – a triangle bounded by Parsloes Park, Wood Lane and the Heathway and in the centre of Barking and Dagenham - has a population of just over 8,000 and is in the 10% most deprived wards in England. Its unemployment rate is above the national and regional average (though it is not the worst in the borough) and educational attainment is low. Health statistics are generally very poor, with low life expectancy, high rates of lung cancer and heart disease and there is a high rate of teenage pregnancy. In terms of the age spread of the residents of Fanshawe, there is a slightly younger population (ie fewer people over 60) than the average for the borough. Fanshawe is largely an area of 2 storey 1920s and 30s housing forming part of the Becontree Housing Estate, the largest housing estate in Europe – largely council-owned, though a significant number are now owner-occupied, with wide streets and narrow road space, interspersed with a number of small greens. Parsloes Park on the south side of the area is the largest in the borough with a number of football pitches - used by local schools, a skateboard area and a seating shelter. There is a community Hall, the Fanshawe Complex, which has had some defensive landscaping undertaken relatively recently, with a new extensive car-parking area. A Primary Care Trust clinic is adjacent to the complex. The St Georges Centre, providing training and a facility for people with disabilities, occupies a large site and is scheduled for sale and development. Fanshawe is well served with primary schools and The Sydney Russell School (secondary) with its associated sports and leisure centre runs alongside the area and Parsloes Park. There is a Doctor’s Surgery at Martin’s Corner, where there are a number of shops and the Heathway provides shopping, bars and the District Line tube station. Organisations and facilities Adult College of Barking & Dagenham Beth Bayliss Fanshawe Crescent RM9 5QA 0208 270 4722 St Georges Centre (LBBD) DIAL (Disability Services) and Youth Employment Training St Georges Road 020 8595 8181 Sydney Russell Comprehensive Parsloes Avenue RM9 5QT 020 8270 4333 to become a Community School in 2003Fanshawe Community Complex (LBBD) Barnmead Road RM9 5DX Fanshawe Community Association (hall management) Irene Townsend 020 8517 0014 Five Elms Primary School Wood Lane RM9 5TB 020 8270 4909Kingsley Hall (Community Events and Services, PHAB) Tony Lucas Parsloes Avenue RM9 5NB 020 8592 1708 Parsloes Primary School Spurling Road RM9 5RH 020 8270 4925Sydney Russell Leisure Centre Parsloes Avenue 020 82704380 UK Online Centre to open January 2003 Southwood Primary School Keppel Road RM9 5LT 020 8270 4915Fanshawe Health Centre BHB Community Health NHS Trust Halbutt Street RM9 020 8596 9504 St Joseph’s RC Primary School Connor Road RM9 5UL 020 8270 64745 Elms Medical Practice (GP) St Georges Road RM9 5DX 020 8517 1175 Kingsley Hall Day Nursery Sharon Staggs Hobart Road, RM9 5NH 020 8270 6544? GP Surgery Parsloes Avenue RM9 5 Lifeline Church Community Projects / EARS (Community & Youth Support) Rebecca Coles Lifeline House, Neville Road, RM8 3QS 020 8597 2900Age Concern Anne Ayers Fanshawe Community Centre Barnmead Road RM9 5DX 020 8592 7727 YWCA (services and support for young women) Blossom Burt The Vinneries 321-329 Heathway RM9 5AF 020 8593 3931Fanshawe Library Fanshawe Community Complex (LBBD) Barnmead Road RM9 5DX 020 8270 4244 Wood Lane Baptist Church Youth Club C/o 47 Wood Lane RM8 3MD Alan Thomas 020 8517 4169Citizens Advice Bureau Dagenham 339 Heathway 0208 592 1084 APEX Youth Ministries (Youth Club) Rev Stuart Keir Bethel Church Parsloes Avenue RM9 5PT 0208 593 2241Community Police Officers Craig Crammer, Keith Meredith Dagenham Police Station 561 Rainham Road South RM10 7TU 020 8984 1212 LBBD Housing Services: Parsloes/Becontree/ Valence Area Office 42 Parsloes Ave RM9 5NU 020 8227 5024 and Eastbrook/Heath/Alibon 2 Stour Road RM10 7JF 020 8227 2725LBBD Community Forums Parsloes Becontree & Valence: Secretariat Julie Willing 020 8227 2376 usually held at Sydney Russell Leisure Centre Eastbrook, Heath and Alibon: Secretariat Barry Ray 020 8227 2134 held in various local centres Issues in Fanshawe This is what people say in Fanshawe. The views and issues raised here, unless qualified, are those of participants in the consultation and therefore, in some instances, may reflect general feelings rather than corroborated fact. 1 People and attitudes Local residents of Fanshawe talk of good neighbours and friendliness in the neighbourhood. Shop staff at Martin’s Corner describe local people as ‘friendly customers’. However, some feel that there is also a view that the area is one to ‘move on from’, a stepping stone to something better and therefore that some people were unwilling to invest time or energy in ‘their’ community. There is a degree of local resentment by some towards people from other cultures. This may reflect dissatisfaction with a number of issues for which we cannot see an immediate solution and so transfer blame on new, unfamiliar people coming to the area. An example is the shortage of facilities for the very young, for which some parents feel there is competition with children from incoming families and believe that ‘local’ children should have priority. There are some fears that, while there are currently fairly few people from other cultures here, ill-feeling towards such newcomers might develop if the lack of facilities for young people and shortages in health and education services are not addressed. Some residents from other areas who are more used to change, see the mix as positive and helping to create more variety and interest. There is concern about the development of accommodation for homeless people in Barking and Dagenham at Ravensfield Close: some feel that homeless people will necessarily impact badly on the area, though the accommodation will be supervised round the clock. 2 Relations with LB Barking & Dagenham (Council) The Council has been something of a victim of its own desire to serve its community! Historically, LBBD has assumed responsibility when it might have been shared, creating the expectation that the Council ‘will do everything’ and resulting in little in the way of a tradition of community-led action in Fanshawe. This has also put pressure on council services and led to some services being spread thinly. People agree that the focus on involving local people more in resolving local issues, new projects and improving the area generally, is the way forward. However, communications channels between LBBD and local people need to improve. Community members complain of lack of feedback once they have responded to a Council invitation to participate in a project. This is also true of the Community Forums: people do not always know how, or if issues have been resolved. They describe themselves as being ‘left in limbo’ and feel that, the Council can often still makes decisions unilaterally and seems reluctant to give up some control to the community. 3 Parsloes Park and Open Spaces There are lots of small green spaces, but they are described as ‘boring’, though older people appreciate the regularly mown grass. There is little seating (a complaint from old and young) and ‘No Ball Games’ signs everywhere. There is very little genuine communal space. Existing space has a municipal feel with little stimulation and nothing to attract young people. The wide pavements and kerb greens are dominated by car parking which seriously blocks the paths of buggies and wheelchairs. Front gardens are a source of pride for many, but some are uncared for and a few are dumping grounds for rubbish, giving an inaccurate impression that local people don’t care about the area. Everyone appreciates the potential of Parsloes Park. Two years ago, an event held at Parsloe’s Park including stalls and groups with games and shows seemed to be a real success. Families are interested in seeing this sort of activity on a regular basis. Parents see it as a great resource and take their young children there as it is a free afternoon out, but it is also a major focus for complaint. It is dull and feels unsafe. The areas of interest appeal to a minority, are only on the south side of the park and too far for people from Fanshawe to routinely benefit from. Young and old complain of lack of seating. Young people complain of needles (from drugs use), darkness and gangs of young people from elsewhere keeping them away. There have been assaults in the Park in the evenings. There is graffiti around the changing rooms in the centre of the park, which can be seen from as far as the park perimeter. Cars and motorbikes are joy-ridden over the fields which offer no barriers to them, churning up the grass and are sometimes left burnt out. Talk of creating a car park for football teams visiting the park reinforces the dominance of cars (though there are reasonable public transport links). From the Fanshawe viewpoint, there is a sense that the park is ‘for’ the schools and sports teams as they are the main users of the football pitches. Jo Richardson School (east of the park) wants more pitches close to the school as the existing pitches are felt to be too far from the school to be practical. Some people are concerned that improvements might be made on the south side of the park and have little impact on the Fanshawe side. 4 Youth The dominant issue in Fanshawe is youth – in as much as being young is an ‘issue’!. There is a lot of criticism of young people from the area (and visiting the area) and a lot of sympathy too – often from the same people. Young people are consistently described as having nothing to do. Young people are viewed as a problem by older (and not so old) residents and themselves feel unwanted and misunderstood. Some older young people are undertaking ad hoc childcare on the streets (looking after younger brothers and sisters). This means that they are limited as to how far from home they can go and are particularly protective about where is ‘safe’. Older people often don’t recognise young people as neighbours and associate a gathering of youth as a threat to their personal safety. They assume that young people would just be playing in their gardens if they weren’t up to trouble or that those they see around are from far afield. On the other hand, young people on the streets want to meet up with their friends and kick a ball about or chat, which precludes their own gardens. Some are less keen on the church-based youth clubs (which often draw in a religious element to sessions) and are fearful of gangs of other young people from other areas. Young people’s fear of violence is quite common. Those living in the Fanshawe area tend to congregate around the residential street corners and get told off for kicking a ball on the greens and on the large green space at the St George’s Centre (where, however, the caretaker tends to tolerate them if they are otherwise well-behaved). They would like to have some indoor and outdoor space, play pool, record decks, basketball, informal football training and other activities - and would help run these. Young mothers point out that, though some of them are in the age group for which youth services might be run, eg summer schemes, these services don’t provide childcare, so effectively exclude them. There is a lack of activities for children between the ages of 5 – 8 years and a lack of provision for children with special needs. There is also a lack of support for working parents or parents with disabilities. Parents on low income have difficulties finding affordable child care or activities for their children and summer school costs are too high for single parents. 5 Community facilities Community Complex: While there are some activities for young people at the Community Complex, such as karate, it tends to predominately run activities for the elderly. This seems to have arisen historically. Some people complain of the expense and the need to book the large hall too far ahead (sometimes 11 weeks) - and on the whole, large halls are not suited to the types of casual activity young people normally expect. The smaller rooms are not very attractive. There is a high level of vandalism at the Complex. This is a big issue locally and generates resentment towards young people as the culprits. Glass windows have been replaced with perspex due to the regularity of breakage and young people frequently play on the flat roof. There is graffiti on the adjacent clinic. The space around the community hall used to be used by local young people as an area to play. Behind the hall was green space and disused allotments where children would also play. When the surrounding space was developed – into car parking, landscaping with railings and a small children’s play space (accessible only through the hall) - and the green and allotments to the rear was developed into flats for the elderly, a significant space was effectively taken from local young people and nothing provided in return. There is some sense in which they feel it was theirs, so antagonism is two-way. Kingsley Hall provides a range of facilities including a good sports hall. While some parent and nursery sessions are run, provision is largely activities for the elderly and disabled and means it does not generally attract young people. Sydney Russell: Sports facilities here are too expensive for young people and a little too far for some in terms of regular playing space. There is a degree of reticence by the LBBD Community Sports Team to run activities with young people around Parsloes Park as they feel they would be encroaching on the Sydney Russell Sports Centre activities next to the park. 6 Transport, traffic and streets Fanshawe has a serious problem with cars parking on pavements blocking pedestrian access (especially for people with mobility disabilities and children in buggies). Earlier allocation of parking space on pavements by LBB&D has set a precedent. Poor parking is a repeated complaint. Cars speed around some of the residential streets and down Parsloes Avenue, despite the speed humps. Cars and other vehicles dominate street space and space around community facilities is now given over to parking rather than play or meeting so that informal play space for children and other young is being eroded. Car ownership in Fanshawe is relatively low and while many households may have a vehicle, it is often not available to most household members for most of the day. Paradoxically, there are still demands for more car parking space. Parents are particularly unhappy about letting children out of the house for fear of traffic. Parking restrictions are not enforced Bus services are inadequate. Martin’s Corner Martins Corner is an important focus for the area, but it is felt to be unattractive and somewhat hostile, inhabited by intimidating young people – many from other areas, though this has improved since Morley’s (fast food outlet with fruit machines) has closed as the fruit machines there were an attraction for some young men. The alleyways (providing access to houses and garages) are used by young people and huge amounts of fly-tipped rubbish are dumped in the alley from Porters Avenue to Hewitt Road, where it is often set fire to. The alley off Hobarts Road is fairly clear of litter, but is sometimes used as a toilet and is identified as a drug-dealing area. Access around the junction of five roads is diffiicult for people in wheelchairs or with buggies. The extensive fencing and number of raised kerbs present barriers and force people over a long distance to reach their destination. Speeding traffic is complained about. The junction of Hobarts Road and Wood Lane is often blocked with cars in the evenings as people stop to collect take-aways. Although there are a number of fast food outlets, there is little in the way of affordable cafés for meeting and relaxing. There are mixed views on the shops which are very popular with some, but thought to be limited by others. However, takeaway outlets are unpopular, and felt to be unhealthy and major sources of litter. There are no public toilets for a long way and there is no seating, both especially needed by the elderly. 7 Health and Education On the whole, health is not an issue uppermost in local people’s minds unless they have a specific problem. However, discussions with the Primary Care Trust reveal that it should be - health statistics are particularly poor here. Poor health awareness is the issue. The exception to this is concern around food. There are many issues concerning the prevalence of junk food and a strong interest in healthy eating initiatives, from all ages. Most people are happy with their Doctor but issues arose when they had a problem outside surgery hours. Then, people were asked to go to the Fanshawe Clinic (Halbutt Street), but if the local Doctor is not affiliated to the clinic, they may have to travel as far away as Leytonstone. There is a general satisfaction with primary/junior schools and commendation was given to education for children with special needs, but this changes with secondary schools. Parents felt that the commitment does not exist in secondary education. The Adult Education College in Fanshawe Crescent had early excellent results with their students. However, following years attracted students in need of basic literacy skills particularly in the 18-25 age range and there is a great need for improving literacy. There is an idea that asylum seekers necessarily lower educational standards. However, many are well educated and children can have high ability (especially in maths, science). Bringing these children into local schools, can raise levels of attainment and therefore can be attractive to schools low in league tables. 8 Other issues There are a number of activities or opportunities to meet up for people with disabilities, but rarely independently due to bad pavements, cars blocking access, feeling unsafe and unsuitable public transport. There are no local pubs. Fear of crime is disproportionate to the actuality, which is the typical experience across London and the UK. The perception is of a high rate of youth crime. This should be balanced with numbers who cited ‘the people’ as one of the things they liked about the area. However, voluntary sector services say that it’s not uncommon to hear of domestic violence. There are insufficient recycling points, nowhere to recycle plastic and bins are unsightly. The elderly and disabled find it hard to carry bottles and paper to the few banks that do exist. There are demands for a doorstep collection service. White goods, furniture and carpets are dumped in front gardens. Litter is frequently complained about. Dumped cars are an issue. 3. Action for Fanshawe Fanshawe Vision The following points came from a workshop held at Fanshawe. The workshop was not necessarily representative, but still largely reflected things local people seem to be saying. · Healthier and safer · Socially interactive attitudes · Cleaner · Giving pedestrians priority · Comfortable · A ‘battery-charging’ area · Respect to others · Pride in our area · Ownership by young people · Making the most of our assets (with seating, street furniture, parks) Actions Actions described here are all responses to the issues raised by local people in section 2. Some actions may be led by local people and others may need to be led by other organisations, depending on responsibilities, but all should involve or be communicated with the Fanshawe community. Some actions are suggestions for other organisations such as the Council, in order to address the issues raised by the local community. Timescales: these are simply described as short term, medium term and longer term and can translated as, respectively: now (as resources are minimal or the action is in line with currently funded activity), in the next year or so (resources are likely to be available) and not for at least 2 years (resources must be sought). 1 Working with the Council and other organisations LBBD should ensure that new means of delivering Neighbourhood Renewal or any other new strategies, don’t increase demands upon active community members, as they are overloaded with meetings already. Existing forums for discussion need to be used as far as possible and times and locations of meetings should meet community needs. ‘Capacity building’ can be seen as a two-way process rather than solely to enable local residents to participate in processes determined by authorities (such as planning, meeting structures). Authority capacity-building might include understanding and working with the pressures and processes that operate within the local community (such as family and other work pressures and information-sharing at street level). The NAP needs to be recognised at LBBD’s Community Forums as a key reference for local service delivery and developing new initiatives, and the NAP group as a vital body to work with on developing projects. As the primary place for bringing the council and community together, the Community Forums need to attract a wide range of local people who feel they have some ownership of the Forums. a. Establishing the NAP Group: Neighbourhood Action Planning needs to involve a core of local people – the NAP group - who will: · keep the Action Plan up to date – adding ideas, issues and responses to initiatives and useful contacts, and changing it as projects are undertaken and issues dealt with; · respond to approaches by other organisations (including LBBD) through reference to the NAP; · be a catalyst for projects coming out of the NAP; · and a wider base of local people (an informal NAP network) who are interested in particular issues or with particular skills and may get involved as local projects are developed. Requires: The NAP group will need to maintain a contact list, with some form of skills audit to support community activity in Fanshawe; publicity, open meetings and a focus on practical projects. Timescale: short term ( currently underway) b. Locally-based staff support for NAP: the NAP group needs some staff support providing: · local information on NAP activity; · network contact and coordination; · admin (freeing up community leaders’ time); · maintaining the NAP document; · a link to Community Forums. Requires: trained staff time of around 2 days per month (allocated on an ad hoc basis), based locally. There are opportunities for supported employment for someone from the Fanshawe area to shadow this post through the TE programme on a volunteer or even paid basis if the skills are not immediately available. Timescale: short term c. Training for the NAP Network: courses to develop skills in, for example, consensus-building, consultation, conflict resolution, publicity, working with young people, planning issues, running community events, fund-raising, to enable the local community to be more effective and broaden involvement. These may be organised a) when the need arises, or b) in a planned programme. A planed programme is more effective in allowing active community members to recognise and use skills in anticipation of problems. Requires: CVS, Volunteer Bureau and LBBD Community Development team liaison to find appropriate courses and funding where necessary. LBBD Housing and Health provide some training for Tenants and Residents Associations. Timescale: short term. d. Community Forum training: participative training for LBB&D staff, Councillors and resident representatives on productive running of Community Forums to: · maximise community participation; · provide practical ways of ensuring all voices are heard (and listened to) and conflict minimised; · ensure that there is feedback and follow-up on action (or inaction); · support the NAPs; · share information; · encourage joint working. Also, additional interest and attractions at Forums such as topical exhibitions, information of local interest, school activity, artwork could be included to encourage people along. Requires: Funds for trainers, LBBD coordination and interdepartmental staff participation. The NAP group might participate in developing additional activity to attract local people and may be able to shadow Councillors and staff. Timescale: short term, LBBD is planning some training alongside… e. Childcare and appropriate times for Community Forums: these are key requirements for real participation. Young mothers are a highly excluded, but influential group in the community. The two points go hand-in-hand as childcare will not be taken up if the meeting starts at small children’s bedtime! Requires: Provision of facilities and childminding staff; active encouragement particularly through parent and child groups at community facilities such as Kingsley Hall. Timescale: medium term f. Standard LBBD feedback procedures: standard practices need to be developed to ensure that local community members (individuals or groups) and other agencies are kept informed or consulted following discussions or other contact and followed up on a routine basis by staff. This would be good practise in local partnership building. Requires: strategy developed under the Community Strategy in partnership with the Neighbourhood Renewal Steering Group. Timescale: short term g. Front line staff involvement: frontline staff in authorities, particularly LBBD, to be made aware of the NAP and its relevance to day to day working. Some interdepartmental awareness-raising could be undertaken with frontline staff to encourage information-sharing and coordination, eg security staff talking to caretakers to assess situations with local youth. Frontline staff can be valued for their knowledge about the area in which they work due to their daily contact and may be community members themselves living here too. Requires: LBBD two-way internal communications strategy, which may include briefing sessions and contributions to the community newsletters. Timescale: short term 2 Including everyone in the Fanshawe community Local adults need to be able to become familiar with local young people and understand who is likely to cause trouble and who is just hanging out on home turf. Organised activities away from the area are a very limited and temporary solution only - they don’t address local issues. Young people need some open space for outdoor games and socialising in fine weather and some indoor space in poor weather. However, adult organised spaces targeted to young people only have limited appeal and low credibility and large halls are not conducive to the socialising that they like to engage in. Activities that recognise common needs and interests, but at the same time celebrate cultural differences, such as those based around food or arts can be organised to bring people together a. Youth ‘advocates’ : to try to overcome some of the issues around some people’s lack of familiarity with many local young people (often seeing them as a homogenous mass of ‘troublemakers’!), this proposes a small number of locally known adults providing an informal contact for young people in Fanshawe to make their views heard. They must be people who local young people trust and see frequently and who are familiar with local issues and personalities. This approach could provide: · a means of speaking up for young people on a routine basis (but not a substitute for youth-orientated projects); · a first point of contact to help establish a full picture of youth activity in the event of complaints against them; · an effective starting point for youth engagement for projects requiring youth involvement. Requires: processes for selection and for deselection to ensure accountability of the advocate, training, evaluation. Involvement of LBBD Youth Support and Development, Social services, Housing, Police. Timescale: medium term (funding may be available for this as an innovative pilot scheme). See appendix I for further notes on this proposal. b. Fanshawe youth forum: based on a regular fun event at the Community Complex (see Community facilities) where young people can learn to debate, discuss issues, air views clearly, listen and try to achieve consensus. This can mean: · Regular youth activity for some young people, building confidence and verbal skills; · recognised youth input to the Community Forum and the NAP; · potential link to borough-wide youth forum. Requires: An outreach programme and regular staffed sessions with additional local volunteers (including, potentially, NAP group members). Timescale: medium term c. Social ESOL practise: social sessions providing opportunities for practising English for speakers of other languages with local native English speakers alongside regular activities such as health and educational sessions and particularly young parents groups and including childcare. Requires: Brokering organisation (could be linked with food and fitness sessions) Timescale: medium term d. Garden clubs: a programme of hands-on training to support people in caring for their front gardens: developing gardening skills, making compost, food growing and tree-care. This could: · encourage intergenerational and cross-cultural cooperation; · help generate pride in the neighbourhood. · link up with local green space improvement projects and food sessions at the Community Complex, with potential for links to the Osborne Partnership, a gardening enterprise staffed with people with learning difficulties, based in Fanshawe. Requires: Funds for horticultural expertise, training and support; sites for common activity (could be linked to programmes in Parsloes Park or green space audit); local publicity to find local people with interest and/or expertise; community-based club running. Timescale: medium term. 3 Open spaces and streets Open spaces need to be brought into the 21st century to meet people’s needs. They should be looked at from a range of perspectives, especially those of children and wildlife. Development and maintenance should involve local people at all stages. a. Local green space audit: A community-led (youth and resident) identification (audit) of green or pedestrian space project which can safely be made available for small scale ball games, gardens or seating. This should lead to small-scale local projects which don’t require large funds and can be developed over time. The audit can be linked with Home Zones (see Transport, traffic and streets). It could involve a photographic project for young people and involvement with local schools. The benefits of this project are: · it is simple, small-scale and manageable at any time; · anyone who lives locally, especially young parents, elderly, children can be involved; · it requires no funding; · local people can take the lead in working together with council staff. Requires: publicity and walkabouts, including, contact with LBBD Housing and Health (as managers of most green space in residential streets) and Parks (for advice and support). An action plan for taking forward results is necessary to provide motivation. Timescale: at any time, but action planning for implementing recommendations of the audit suggests medium term. b. Parsloes Park community programme: a major community (particularly youth) involvement and consultation programme to look at the whole range of issues affecting the park, including safety, sports, play, seating, landscape, parking, access, biodiversity (encouraging wildlife), litter, dog mess, potential developments like composting and funding to create a development strategy for the park which ensures that community knowledge and views and sustainability underpin its improvement. This should provide: · a sustainable basis for creating a park that meets the needs of everyone locally; · youth activity for a limited period related to community benefit; · developing local ownership and motivating local participation; · opportunities for NAP group to increase members and develop skills. Requires: funds in the region of say £15k in the first instance, to engage people and look at issues in more detail, but more to develop a full programme and capital funds for improvements; LBBD Parks, Youth Service, Regeneration, Traffic planning coordination. Other bodies like Green Gateway may be able to provide resources and advice. Timescale: Normally expected to be medium to long-term, but a bid is being made by LBBD Regeneration for significant funds to develop the park and includes a substantial consultation and involvement element. c. Safer Routes to School / Work programmes: a programme of education and design for recognised routes for safer walking and cycling for children and adults. There are recognised schemes across the country that aim to: · reduced use of cars (the school run) and making streets safer; · personal identification with the locality, making children more familiar with their neighbourhood and neighbours more familiar with them; · increase fitness (see Health and Education) as children and parents walk and cycle; · residents’ involvement with each other and authorities; raised awareness. This has potential to link with Homezone project. Requires: collaboration of parents, schools, police, LBB&D (Highways, Road Safety, Planning); revenue funding and possibly capital funds for pedestrian/cycle street improvements. SRB6 funding may be available. Timescale: short term to medium term d. Traffic moderation in residential areas: tackling speeding vehicles (or even cars doing 30mph, where conditions require far lower speeds for safety, needs a combination of enforcement and education. A programme to raise awareness, for example that traffic is the leading cause of death of children in the UK. (also see Home Zones). Requires: LBBD support for community action (Leisure and Environment al Services), police cooperation, potential involvement of parent groups in Fanshawe. Timescale: medium term e. Parking enforcement and clear parking policy: clearing cars from the pavements or allocating tidy street parking off road where necessary to stop blocking of footways is an access and equalities issue as it disproportionately affects people with disabilities and parents with small children. This needs to be done in tandem with local improvements as lack of enforcement until now implies tacit acceptance. Requires: LBBD action (Leisure & Environment al Services, Housing & Health), publicity, involvement of small businesses (looking at loading and customer parking) Timescale: short term f. Improved and promoted bus services: to ensure that promotion for public facilities focuses on public transport access rather than just cars, eg to the Sydney Russell leisure centre and the football fields. Requires: LBBD coordination; publicity Timescale: short term g. Home Zones: a new approach to returning residential streets to people. Cars are not excluded, but are slowed right down as they enter a ‘people space’ and pedestrians and cyclists have priority. This entails such physical changes as staggered street narrowing; road and pavements often at one level; more trees and shrubs; seating. Such a scheme may tie in with Safer Routes to School. Home zones could provide: · revival of children’s street play that older people were brought up with; · safer outdoor space for local young people; · pleasant socialising space for other residents; · allocated parking recesses to help address the parking problem; · opportunities for street trees, seating; · increased cycling; · safe space for street events. Requires: inter-departmental and interagency cooperation. Leisure & Environment (traffic management), Housing (, Regeneration, Youth Support and Development (youth involvement). Major consultation and involvement of young people and other residents in planning the zone including establishing a local working group. Capital funds of the order of £100k per street would be expected for reasonable quality schemes. (Transport Act 2000, 268 gives guidance). Timescale: normally expected to be long term, but funds are available for a pilot in the borough. See Homezones consultation programme h. Physical improvements to Martins Corner: landscaping to soften the feel of the space and provide passive, rather than aggressive, hangout space, make the corner more attractive and distinctive and looked well cared for. Requires: capital funds and consultation programme. Timescale: programme underway (led by NAP group with Groundwork). 4 Facilities and activities This is about local people taking some ownership of local facilities, enabling wider use by people who currently feel unable to use them and generating practical activities. a. Cyber café/Juice bar : an inexpensive café-bar including internet access, aimed at, young people. Additional space could provide opportunities for running periodic workshop sessions ranging from DJing, other arts, computer and basic skills to discussion sessions and quieter homework space or meeting space for young parents. Young people could be involved in the running of the café, including food sessions (cooking and growing skills). Mechanisms to stop undesirable behaviour need to be devised (examples exist elsewhere). There is potential for this to be based in a shop parade, say at Martin’s Corner or as movable modular unit. The cyber café would provide: · informal indoor space demanded by young people; · an opportunity for a community enterprise (to run the café commercially); · relaxed space for youth development activities that does not encroach on café space (and therefore reduce credibility). Requires: identifying venue, capital funds for equipment and revenue funding for staffing and rent; involvement of LBBD Youth Service and voluntary youth agencies; looking at local feasibility for community enterprise and training for business development. Timescale: long term. b. Changes to hall management: the system of management of the Community Complex needs to be revised to ensure increased access across the community. The Fanshawe Umbrella group administering the facility requires support in the form of clear guidelines for administration, some training, an action plan to develop its use and regular review. The plan could develop: · a sense of ownership by the local community; · ways of increasing youth activities; · ways of using outside space creatively (especially for young people); · a mechanism for accountability to the local community; · a supporting user group; · open day/public events at community halls to stimulate ideas for use and involvement. Requires: LBBD community development support (Community Matters provides guidance). Timescale: short term c. Youth-led events and activities at community complex: a supported programme of activities planned by young people, to ensure relevance and develop a sense of ownership and responsibility, preferably leading to public events to demonstrate achievement. Examples might include drama, music, art, dance, sports training, food (cooking/growing), gardening, using the Community Complex where appropriate, but seeking out other venues, eg for a regular dance club night (the defunct ex-chiropodist building in Porters Ave has been suggested). This can provide opportunities for youth work and sports coaching training. Requires: youth outreach work and specialist session leaders, volunteer support, agreement on appropriate sites and venues. Timescale: medium term. d. Childcare provision for activity sessions: a facility to back up sessions run for adults at the Community Complex, Kingsley Hall and Sydney Russell, to enable parents of younger children to participate. Guidance and booking system provided to organisations and groups running activities . This may provide an opportunity to support local people in training as qualified childcare professionals to meet the local need. Requires: funding and participating childcare agencies. Organisation to establish system and provide initial coordination with childcare providers such as the PSLA. Timescale: medium term. e. Small business advice: proactive support and encouragement for local small enterprises, including presentation (shop fronts), waste, appropriate new development. Requires: small business development support. Timescale: medium term f. Recycling: Fanshawe is well laid out to make kerbside collection practical. Community enterprise development base around other collection or processing such as white goods or computer equipment is possible. Requires: LBBD action for kerbside collection; funds and support for community-based projects – the EQUAL programme (in which LBBD is participating), New Opportunities Fund and Landfill Tax are likely to provide this for well planned projects; sites for storage and processing. Timescale: medium to long term. 5 Pride in ourselves Health and education promotion need to be tied to more creative, practical and fun activities to be made relevant to our lives. Lots of specific information is useful when we have, say, a particular health problem, but broad activities and interests like food can cover lots of issues and be practical and interesting. There is also a real need for celebration, music arts – ‘something to do’, generating pride in the area and fun! This can range from the more professional event attracting visitors from far and wide, generating commercial activity and kudos with the young, to community-run activities focusing on local skills and interests – this last could also be tied in with community involvement and consultation programmes. a. Local food co-op: fresh fruit and vegetables at wholesale prices sold from community facilities. There is a track record of success elsewhere of local food coops and appeals to the elderly and young people to administer. The programme can be linked to other food-based activities and composting. There are a range of benefits including: · a direct improvement to health as local people eat more vegetables and fruit; · increased health awareness, just through using the co-op, plus it provides an opportunity to provide targeted health information; · lower prices for fresh, high quality food; · it is sociable and fun. Requires: small start-up funds and community involvement and training programme, to develop enthusiastic and practical community action. Timescale: medium term b. Programmes of food sessions for young people: at community facilities or using youth café workshop spaces. Food (cooking, growing, tasting) is hugely popular with young people. This can · help young people, particularly new parents, learn to cook and how to eat healthily; · develop skills and confidence; · meet other local young people on a constructive basis; · learn about food from different cultures; · increase health awareness; · link with the Cyber café; · provide a fun activity. Requires: local volunteers, voluntary sector support, information and funds (potentiallly DoH, DfES DEFRA, Sustain, Food Commission, SRB). Timescale: medium term c. Literacy promotion through wider activities: promoting courses using activities such as sports, arts and ICT training to develop basic literacy skills for young adults in a creative, rather than ‘school-like’ atmosphere. Requires: collaboration with Barking College (Learning Village), Adult Education Centre, Online Centre (Sydney Russell school), LBBD Education; funding. Timescale: medium term d. Festivals on Parsloes Park: As the largest and most central park in the borough, close to Dagenham Heathway tube station with generally good accessibility, this is an ideal site for day festivals. Suggestions include: 1950s – to celebrate the birth of the new Dagenham. A festival of rock n’ roll, jive, jazz, blues and r n’ b, clothes, art, design, cars and bikes - Festival of Britain style. Stylish and fun to attractyoung people and visitors and nostalgic bringing back the youth of active older local people; World Music and Dance – from cultures around the world now represented in B&D – wider professional groups and local performance and workshops, with opportunities to involve schools and youth groups. Fanshawe Community Festival – smaller scale, locally generated arts, involving the schools, youth and creative groups from the community facilities. Used to publicise and encourage participation in local projects. Requires: funding; festival organiser; collaboration with LBBD Arts, Parks, Residents Association and identifying interest and skills for local volunteer organisational support. Timescale: medium term (current Fairshare bid for Parsloes Park includes festival). Local structure for the NAP The Fanshawe Residents Association, as a constituted body, will act as the NAP group, maintaining this document, providing a point of contact for other organisations wishing to start new initiatives or consult in Fanshawe and for residents and businesses in Fanshawe who wish to take action locally. Next steps: 1 A website is being created. This Action Plan will be available on the site as will information on new projects and initiatives in Fanshawe . 2 Initiate training for the NAP group and network (project 1c) , on: · Website management to maintain the Fanshawe Action website; · Publicity, running community events, running youth activities, getting the most out of meetings. 3 Look at how the group communicates with Community Forums, the Neighbourhood Renewal structure (LSP, NR Sub Group and CEP) and other LBBD bodies eg Community Housing Partnerships.

TREES FOR THAMESMEAD 2003

Tue, 21 Jan 2003 16:16:29 GMT

Press Release 21 January 2003

Bringing People and Trees Closer Together

Green Gateway Urban Regeneration in the Thames Gateway London using trees and woods

January sees the beginning of a New Year and continued tree-planting events for "Trees for Thamesmead". This exciting planting programme will be give residents, businesses and schools the chance to be directly involved in having more trees, meadows and wildlife-habitats on their doorstep.

greengatewaysml

Tue, 21 Jan 2003 12:35:33 GMT

Green Gateway Logo

Hackney Cyclist's Burns Supper

Mon, 20 Jan 2003 12:16:29 GMT

Hackney LCC's annual Burns Night supper and dance gives members, supporters and other friends from all around London another opportunity to get together and let off a bit of steam, while boosting the group's campaign funds for the year ahead.

Saturday 25 January 2003 from 6.30pm to 12.00pm

Sir Thomas Abney Primary School Hall, Fairholt Road, London N16.

mcscrooge

Wed, 18 Dec 2002 14:43:35 GMT

MC Scrooge - Woodberry Down Christmas show

Wed, 18 Dec 2002 14:44:41 GMT

The young people of Woodberry Down would like to invite you to their Christmas production.

Over the past two years, Wagbeard Theatre Company has been working in Association with Groundwork Hackney Youth Inclusion Programme in order to encourage and develop the interest and skills of the young people in music, drama, poetry, creative writing and design.

MC Scrooge is an original take on the Dickens classic, developed and performed by the young people of Woodberry Down Estate.

New Green Gateway Partnership Manager

Wed, 04 Dec 2002 20:23:27 GMT

A partnership led by the National Urban Forestry Unit (NUFU) has appointed Charles Tustian as Partnership Manager for the Green Gateway Programme, an initiative to create a greener, more liveable Thames Gateway London using trees and woods. He will be based at Groundwork Hackney .

Putting the Environment at the Heart of Local Strategic Part

Wed, 04 Dec 2002 20:24:25 GMT

5th December 2002

The Environment Agency (NE Thames Region) is hosting a FREE conference on Thursday 5th December 2002 at the Museum in the Docklands (Canary Wharf). The event will focus on how we can work to ensure that the environment remains at the heart of Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and the Community Strategy process. Tim Bissett will be presenting "Groundwork's approach to LSP's - a pragmatic approach"

Groundwork has worked to encourage the adoption of a new approach to Liveability by everyone involved in urban-design and regeneration. For a copy of the presentation click here

Domestication of visual pleasure

Thu, 21 Nov 2002 10:35:42 GMT

Friday 22 November 2002, 2pm at TheSpace@inIVA, 6-8 Standard Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3BE

For those of you who missed the opening of MSDM: Outsourcing last week. As part of inIVA's Soft season of exhibitions and debates, Zeigam Azizov (artist/critic) will be in conversation with Paula Roush on the 'Domestication of Visual Pleasure' on Friday, 22 November at TheSpace@inIVA. This will be followed by a guided walk to the Geffrye Museum of English domestic interiors, (Refreshments will be provided.)

Please call 020 7729 9616 to book your place.

MAD exhibition: 13/11 - 6/12/02 http://www.iniva.org/soft/project_06.html

Haggerston Pool email bulletin

Sat, 09 Nov 2002 12:23:33 GMT

POOL MEETING

Next public meeting of the Haggerston Pool Users' Group is on Thursday 14th of November at 7pm at Fellows Court Community Centre. Everyone is welcome. We will be reporting back on the issues listed in their new newsletter and also looking at short-term ideas for the use of the building. We will also be asking for more volunteers for the Pool Trust who take forward the ideas from this meeting. Subscribe

Women in Architecture and Construction Training Day

Wed, 30 Oct 2002 15:18:20 GMT

Tuesday, 5th November 2002

The Building Exploratory in Hackney is hoping to re-address this balance with its 'Women in Architecture and Construction' Training Day. A team of professional female Architects and construction experts will work closely with girls aged 14-16 from local schools, to enthuse and educate about careers in the fields of architecture and construction. The girls will have the opportunity to learn how to read architectural drawings, sketch plans and work in teams to design and produce models of buildings to set design briefs.

For further information please contact Amanda Riddick on 020 7275 8555

Women in Architecture and Construction Training Day

Wed, 30 Oct 2002 15:14:40 GMT

Tuesday, 5th November 2002

As more and more people come to live in cities, there is an ever growing need for skilled people to become involved in the process of creating a sustainable urban environment. However, the UK faces a major problem in recruiting women to the fields of architecture, urban design, planning, engineering and construction, resulting in a huge short fall of women in the industry.

The Building Exploratory is an education and resource centre based around a unique permanent exhibition and the only place in the UK to explore all aspects of the built environment. Based in Hackney (London), the Exploratory provides a free and unique education service. Workshops are held daily for local schools, tenant and resident associations and community groups, providing visitors with the opportunity to explore issues such as building design, architecture, conservation, public spaces, housing, science and engineering, all through hands-on interactive exhibits. .

For further information please contact Amanda Riddick on 020 7275 8555

radiobadge

Wed, 23 Oct 2002 15:04:39 GMT

link to radio at userland software

News Aggregators

Wed, 23 Oct 2002 13:50:35 GMT

An increasing number of people are using News Aggregators to keep in touch with web-based news without having to repeatedly visit their favourite sites to see what has changed. At Ground-level sites you can subscibe by clicking the coffee cup at left or by using the orange xml button at the bottom. The best-known aggregators include Radio Userland and NetNewsWire, but there are many others, some of which are listed here.

validrss

Wed, 23 Oct 2002 11:21:00 GMT

Community Approaches to Sustainable Regeneration

Mon, 07 Oct 2002 01:21:28 GMT

At the LSx Event: Community Approaches to Sustainable Regeneration Groundwork speakers discussed Involving young people in neighbourhood renewal

The drive to involve local residents in the regeneration of their own neighbourhoods has been a stated aim of Government policy for a number of years. It is based on an understanding and acceptance that local people are best placed to articulate local needs but also that community involvement is vital to the long term sustainability of regeneration initiatives.

Elvis comes to Mare Street

Tue, 24 Sep 2002 16:25:54 GMT

National and international car-free day attracted Elvis to Mare Street in Hackney for music, mirth and activities to celebrate the day.

new jobs at Groundwork Hackney, August 2002

Fri, 09 Aug 2002 15:36:17 GMT

Groundwork Hackney is recruiting 4 new posts as it develops it's projects and programmes in Hackney. They include an Assistant Executive Director, a Programmes Manager, a Community Project Worker and a Landscape Architect. The closing date is the 11 September 2002 at 5:00pm (17:00).

St John at Hackney Restoration Management Plan

Fri, 02 Aug 2002 11:54:32 GMT

The restoration Management Plan for St John at Hackney Churchyard Gardens is now available. The plan has been developed with St John at Hackney Church - The Rector and PCC, local residents, the Hackney Society and the London Borough of Hackney. The response from attendees at the exhibition in February was extremely supportive of the proposal as a whole.

Invitation to tender

Fri, 02 Aug 2002 11:54:52 GMT

We are working with the London Borough of Hackney as part of an innovative multi-sector partnership in Dalston towncentre ( Hackney's principal town centre) to develop a new public square adjacent to the main shopping street.

The partnership is now seeking a landscape-design practice with experience of completing innovative urban spaces that are relevant to multi-cultural communities in areas of London experiencing regenerative change. They will be required to work with the team and see the project through to physical completion.

full project details posted here

Gillett Square 100 Spaces for London

Thu, 18 Jul 2002 13:48:19 GMT

A tarmaced car park on Gillett St in Hackney, is one of 10 public-spaces identified for upgrading as part of a pilot-scheme to be launched by the Greater London Authority on 11 July. Groundwork Hackney suggested the site for the scheme, called 100 Spaces for London, which aims to create or upgrade 100 public-spaces in the capital over the next five years.