newsround News

Community Forum

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

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.

Community Consultation in Havering

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

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

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

last tree-planting event of the season

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

Minister learns about revitalised Clapton

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

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

Tree planting on Hackney Marshes

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

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

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

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

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.

Tree planting on Hackney Marshes

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

Tree Planting on Daubeney Green

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

Hackney marsh User Group secure Awards for All

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.

Sustainable Communities gets Government backing

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]

TREES FOR THAMESMEAD 2003

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.

Hackney Cyclist's Burns Supper

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.

MC Scrooge - Woodberry Down Christmas show

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.