The Brent Magazine issue 111 February 2011

ISSUE NO.111

FREE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN BRENT

FEBRUARY 2011

Win a year’s supply of biscuits

Contents Features

11 12 14 19 21 25 28

Road safety in schools Meet the Junior Road Safety Officers at Oliver Goldsmith Primary

19

Homeless shelters in churches The Route 18 winter shelter opens its doors

Community champions Nominate your neighbourhood hero

Eco-friendly business in Harlesden The McVities factory is getting greener

Sporting chance Take part in the sports coaching programme

Recipe for success New food academy at Crest Girls’ school

The big count Get involved in sorting the census

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Regulars Update Brent people

25

We’re celebrating the great work being done by so many people in the borough in this month’s magazine.

Turn to page 11 to read about the youngsters at Oliver Goldsmith school who are taking road safety into their own hands and issuing parents who ignore the rules of the road with parking tickets.

Equally important is the voluntary work being done by Brent’s unsung heroes (page 14).

Make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to nominate someone who goes the extra mile to help others less fortunate than themselves.

Finally, find out how the McVities factory in Harlesden has been working with the council’s Climate Change Steering Group to become a greener business (page 19).

Rachel Gardner Editor, The Brent Magazine

All in a day’s work

BDU 6382 01.11

4 9 23 27 29 30

Welcome to the Brent Magazine

Secret history Competitions Time out

Issue No. 111 February 2011 The Brent Magazine contacts Distribution queries and editorial 020 8937 1098 tbm@brent.gov.uk Advertising 020 8937 1097 advertising@brent.gov.uk Published by the London Borough of Brent, Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley Middlesex.

The London Borough of Brent does not accept responsibility for any goods or services offered by advertisers. Publication of an advertisement does not imply recommendation by the council of goods or services advertised.

Printed on 100% recycled paper. Please use your local paper bank when disposing of this and other paper.

One Stop Service 020 8937 1200 www.brent.gov.uk The Brent Magazine is available in large print and on audio tape.

Please ring 020 8937 1106 Cover image : Junior Road Safety Officers at Oliver Goldsmith school (page 11) Photograph by TONY RUSSELL

UPdate

Increase in council fees and charges The council has reluctantly agreed to increase fees and charges for some services in the borough in order to limit the impact on vital, front-line services of the necessary £37 million budget reductions in 2011/12. In most cases, the increases bring charges in Brent into line with other boroughs.

The increases will be on average between ten and 20 per cent, with the exception of street fees (covering

licences for scaffolding, skips and builders materials) and the charges for allotments, both of which will increase by substantially more because both have previously been provided at comparatively low rates.

The revised charges for allotments are still very good value – £1.50 per week for a medium sized plot and £3 per week for a large plot. There will also be 50 per cent concessions for unemployed

Lifeline given for Stonebridge boxing club After months of uncertainty, Stonebridge Boxing Club has been given a lifeline by their local Tesco store.

Tesco Extra Wembley (formerly known as Tesco Brent Park) have stepped in to donate £8,000 which has gone towards all the equipment for a brand new computer room for the club, including desktop PCs and monitors, a projector,

people, pensioners in receipt of pensions credits and disabled people.

Some of the services affected include health, safety and licensing, pest control, allotments, cemeteries and the registrars and nationality service. There will also be increased fees for on-street parking and in council owned car parks, which are aimed at reducing levels of carbon dioxide emissions and congestion in the borough.

EXPLAINED For a full breakdown of the new fees visit www.brent.gov.uk/cuts

Work starts on the new Islamia Primary School

software and even new chairs.

The new facility will enable the club to run the Amateur Boxing Association’s GCSEequivalent boxing qualification, as well as providing valuable computer access for local residents and club members.

For more information visit www.stonebridgeboxing.org

Artist's Impression of the Central area of Islamia Primary School

Club founder Sharon Bennett, Richard Gorman (Tesco) and Councillor Zaffar Van Kalwala with the children

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Following the agreed planning permission to re-build Islamia Primary School, building work will start in February 2011 to construct a new two-storey school building on the current site in Salusbury Road.

The children will continue to be taught in the existing school building, and the separate off- site annexe at nearby Winkworth Hall, and will move into the new accommodation when it is completed in 2012.

The new building will be

available to local community groups to hire for adult education, health and fitness classes and quiet meetings.

The decision was made after planners and councillors carefully considered concerns raised by the local community.

The new building was designed by Marks Barfield, the same architects who designed the London Eye. For more information, visit www.brent.gov.uk /islamiaprimaryrebuild

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Creative writing competition Have you got what it takes to be the next Stieg Larsson or Henning Mankell? If so there’s a place on a Birkbeck College creative writing course and £100 cash prize up for grabs when you take part in the Brent Libraries short story competition.

Swedish crime fiction author Camilla Ceder has written the opening line to a story. All you have to do is complete the story in no more than 2,000 words.

Entry forms are now available from any Brent library, and the closing date for entries will be 23 February 2011.

For more information on creative writing visit www.writershub.co.uk or come to a free workshop at Willesden Green Library Centre on Tuesday 15 February, 6-7.30pm.

Calling all book lovers Brent’s first ever "virtual" book club launches in February – where the discussion all happens online.

With a virtual book club, there are no set meeting times, so you determine your reading pace. All you have to do is check brentbookblog.word press.com to see what book we are reading; then borrow the book from any Brent Library. You can add your comments about the book and take part in discussions as you finish chapters or finish the book.

Brent young people win £6000 For the fourth year running, local young people led by Brent Youth Volunteers and Brent Youth Parliament won a prize for the borough in the London Parade on New Year's Day. This year's entry, which celebrated Brent's cultural diversity and youth engagement, took on 31 other London boroughs to win second place and £6,000 prize money for the Mayor of Brent's charities.

Young people from Alperton Community, Claremont High, Copland, Kingsbury High, Lyon Park Primary, Princess Frederica

Tributes paid to late councillor

It is with great sadness that Brent Council confirms the death of Cllr Arthur Steel, Conservative member of the Kenton Ward since 1974.

He died on 1 January 2011 after a long battle with cancer.

Cllr Steel was a senior and long-serving member of the authority and also served as Mayor of Brent in 1993/1994.

He was a fluent Italian and French speaker, shared a love of football with his wife and was also an avid chess player. As Cllr Steel was a serving councillor, a byelection will take place in the Kenton Ward on 17 February 2011.

Primary and Queen's Park Community schools, The Crest Girls' Academy and Convent of Jesus and Mary Language College, all took part in the parade. Mayor of Brent, Councillor Harbhajan Singh, said: "Well done to all the young people from Brent who helped us do so well in this parade. I am delighted that they have won so much money for these good causes."

Photo by Lucy Williams Photography

Teenage kicks at the Tricycle Join seven local writers and one comedian for an evening of readings and comedy on an adolescent theme at the Tricycle Theatre on 6 February.

Featuring Hanif Kureishi, Nikita Lalwani, Ben Markovitz, Zadie Smith, Daljit Nagra, China Mieville, Tobias Hill and, with special guest, Doc Brown the evening is

bound to be a witty look at the experiences and pains of growing up.

Teenage Kicks has been organised by Zadie Smith to help raise awareness and funds for Brent Centre for Young People (BCYP).

Tickets cost £12 (£10 for concessions). To book call 020 7328 1000.

Outside the Brent Centre for Young People in Kilburn

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UPdate

Have your say on Alperton

Artist's Impression of the Central area of Alperton

improve existing business and employment opportunities.

We want to see Alperton transformed into a place where people choose to live, work and invest and we want you to be involved.

Consultation is open until 5pm on 25 February 2011.

For more information visit www.brent.gov.uk /alpertonregeneration

Residents and businesses are invited to have their say on the future of Alperton. Brent Council has identified a neglected part of land adjoining the canal in Alperton as an area suitable for regeneration.

As well as providing 1,600 new homes, we believe that there is an opportunity to substantially renew and

Children promote peace During peace week 2010,Welsh Harp Safer Neighbourhoods Team organised a competition for the schools on their ward to design posters and write poems for peace week.

Wykeham Primary School and St Margaret Clitherow Primary School took part in the competition, which was judged by Brent Mayor Harbhajan Singh and Brent Police Safer Neighbourhoods Chief Inspector Taff Thomas.

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The winning children (aged between 9-11 years) were given a tour around Wembley Police station and presented with their winning certificates by Brent Borough Commander Matthew Gardner.

Police Commander Matthew Gardner, PCSO Tippawan Kavangh, Lakeira Byrd, Reshay Francis, Suhaib Abukar, Kushal Bhojani , Reniko Francis, Ellis Belazka

FEBRUARY 2011

2011 adult social care survey In February Brent Council will survey residents who receive adult social care services after being assessed by the council.

The survey, which has been developed by the Department of Health, is being carried out by all councils who provide adult social services. Its purpose is to assess the quality of services we provide and how we should improve our support to elderly and vulnerable people.

The people who use the service will be asked to complete a postal survey form by the end of February.

Replies will be treated in the strictest confidence, and will only been seen by the Department of Health.

If you are a service user and you receive a survey form, please complete it and return in the pre-paid envelope by 28 February 2011. If you have any questions contact Paul Chennell on 020 8937 4143 or email paul.chennell@brent.gov.uk.

Nominate your favourite Brent Lottery-funded project

If you know a Brent Lotteryfunded project that has had a positive impact on your local area, made a real difference to your life or if you are personally involved with a project that is transforming your community, then why

not nominate them for an award.

The entrants that make it to the finals of The National Lottery Awards 2011 will receive national recognition at a star-studded event broadcast on BBC One later this year. They will also have a chance to win a ÂŁ2,000 cash prize.

Visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk or call 0207 960 6828. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 18 February 2011.

Energy meter scams in Brent Brent has been revealed as being in the top ten hotspot list for a scam in which criminals offer cut-price energy to those with prepayment meters in a new report by Energy UK. A new campaign, Top-up Safe, is warning customers to only buy their electricity meter top-ups from official PayPoint and Payzone retailers or the Post Office to avoid being scammed.

Otherwise, the customer will end up paying twice: once to the criminal and then again to their electricity supplier

who can detect the fraud.

The scam is of particular concern because to obtain the fake top-ups people must let the criminals into their homes to access their electricity meters.

Reports of threatening behaviour from the perpetrators of the fraud have been received by some energy companies who are urging people to steer clear of those involved. Police have also made arrests in connection with this activity.

For more information visit www.top-upsafe.com

UPdate

Be a Wembley Stadium Super Fan If you have a passion for sport and music and are willing to share your experience with the rest of the world online, enter this competition.

Wembley Stadium is offering one lucky Londoner the chance to get unprecedented behindthe-scenes access to the world famous stadium for the whole of 2011.

The groundbreaking Super Fan competition is offering a

Photos by JB London @ Flickr

Your community online Do you need to find a local community or voluntary group? The online Brent Community Directory provides a free online listing for any organisation that offers community services to Brent.

If you are a community or voluntary group located in Brent, or are a small enterprise providing a service to the Brent community then you can register.

Visitors to the directory pages can easily search for groups via name, location or keyword. Popular listings are also available for common search groups such as community centres, football clubs or halls for hire.

Visit www.brent.gov.uk /communitydirectory

pair of tickets to every Wembley event over the next 12 months and with incredible internationals, thrilling finals and epic music events in 2011, the prize is set to be the hottest ticket in town.

To enter the competition, entrants have to sign up on the Wembley Stadium Facebook page and then in 140 characters describe why they are the best person to win this amazing prize.

This year Wembley Stadium expects to play host to more than 1.75 million visitors to events, but there will only be one Super Fan and it could be someone from Brent.

To enter, visit www.facebook .com/wembleystadium and, describe why you should become the Wembley Super Fan. The competition closes at midnight on Sunday 13 February 2011.

Parkour takes over South Kilburn Parkour, also known as free-running, is the new craze taking over the nation and its coming to South Kilburn.

Parkour is the physical discipline used to negotiate obstacles in the most efficient way possible using only the body. Skills such as jumping, climbing, vaulting, rolling and winging are used.

As part of the ongoing regeneration of South Kilburn, art projects like this will be delivered by Brent Council and the South Kilburn Neighbourhood

Electric cars in Brent

Trust over the coming months to improve local skills and spaces for the community. One of these – Evolve 0.1 – will encourage young people from the area to explore their surroundings by teaching them parkour and film making skills.

The sessions, led by leading professionals in the industry will be held on 5, 12 and 19 February.

Young people aged 11-16 from South Kilburn interested in learning the art of parkour and film making can register at www.evolve01.com

Your say on future transport Brent residents can have their say on the future of transport in the borough between now and the end of March.

The Local Implementation Plan (LIP) confirms the council’s support for London Mayor Boris Johnson’s key projects such as installing electric vehicle charging points so that people who want to drive a vehicle powered by electricity have a place to charge them close to Brent’s town centres.

It also says how the council will help more

people to cycle safely in the borough, join car clubs and use buses, the underground and over ground rail.

Most of the funding to pay for these plans will come from Transport for London.

Officers will attend the council’s Area Consultative Forums early in 2011 to listen to people’s views on transport.

To have your say visit www.brent.gov.uk /transportplan or contact Adrian Pigott on 020 8937 5168 by 14 February.

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If you love food, don’t waste it.

Please make full use of your green organics bin. It’s not just for garden waste.

You can put all food waste in it.

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FEBRUARY 2011

• fruit, vegetable, grains and pulses • teabags and coffee grounds

For more information please visit www.brent.gov.uk/waste or www.westlondonwaste.gov.uk for tips on reducing food waste and saving some money at the same time.

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• cooked and raw

• dairy, fish and meat

Using your food waste collection service protects the environment by reducing landfill. Why throw it in the bin when it can be turned into fertiliser for farms?

020 8937 5050

Any type of food can go in:

• you can even put your plate scrapings in there too.

www.brent.gov.uk/waste

BRENTpeople

Picturing Kingsbury’s past

One hundred years of people, places, transport, sport and more come to life through the pages of a new book, Kingsbury Through Time, by Brent history expert Geoffrey Hewlett.

How did you get all the information you needed?

What connection do you have to Kingsbury?

What do you hope people get out of the book?

I came to the area at the age of two and have lived in Kingsbury for 30 years, so I have a lot of fond memories of the place. Over the years, especially while I was chairman of the Wembley History Society, I met so many people who would give me old photos of local places. Finally I thought it was about time I put all my knowledge and material into a book.

I hope people get a sense of Kingsbury’s identity through the book and what have been the key factors in pushing development in one direction rather than another. At the time of World War One, Kingsbury was an important munitions producer. If Hendon wanted airplane parts it would get them made at Kingsbury Green. The surrounding fields were converted into air fields and later became industrial land. So the area never went back to being involved in agriculture. I wanted to give a sense of why a place grows the way it does.

What made you write Kingsbury Through Time?

It’s all very well me keeping all the information I have about the area, but it’s something I needed to share. When people die they take their memories with them, so it’s important that records are kept of the past, so their memories can live on.

I interviewed some of Kingsbury’s oldest residents for the book. This was quite time consuming, but it was like turning on a machine with a key; once I got them talking there was no stopping them.

Altogether I spoke to 25 local people to help me create the book. I used more than 170 photos and illustrations, which chart the area’s development. Some of these images have rarely been seen before.

For more information about Kingsbury Through Time visit www.amberleybooks.com

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FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES

Independent Chair of the Audit Committee

Ref: 13092

Brent Council is facing unprecedented financial challenges, having to balance ever decreasing resources with increasing demand for services.

You will be expected to attend up to six evening meetings or training sessions a year and be available to liaise with council officers on an ad-hoc basis.

To handle these challenges over the next four years, we will be delivering services in a more efficient fashion, supported by improved internal processes.

You cannot be an independent member if you are, or have been in the last five years, a councillor, an employee of the council or closely associated with anyone who has been a councillor or employee of the council.

Our Audit Committee has a key role to play in ensuring that our governance, financial procedures and risk management processes are sound.

We are looking to appoint an Independent Chair for the Audit Committee to work with and support our elected members.

You will need to have held a senior position within the public or private sector and have relevant audit or governance skills.

The appointment attracts an allowance of £415 and travel expenses will be reimbursed.

For more information please contact Simon Lane, Head of Audit and Investigations on 020 8937 1260 or email simon.lane@brent.gov.uk Closing date: 28 February 2011

To apply go to our careers website at www.brent.gov.uk/jobs

PARK LANE CHILDREN’S HOME We are currently looking for staff to work with children from the age of 13-17

Aim and objectives of the home • To provide a positive residential resource and experience • To provide high quality of care • Post requires staff to sleep in three times per week • Relevant qualifications required

Advertise on Brent buses

DIPSW, BTEC, GNVQ,NVQ3/4 Health and Social Care Manager must have two years experience Please contact Selena John for further information 020 8903 8891 Or email your CV to park52lane@hotmail.co.uk

LOCAL BUILDERS established 25 years • loft conversions • extensions • roofing • bathrooms • refurbishments • plumbing boilers • power flushing • electrical rewires • locksmith • and much more Call for a free quote Dom McGowan 07931 550 242 • 020 8438 8827 Email d17dom@yahoo.co.uk Website www.domyloft.co.uk

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There are over 90 vehicles available in Brent for advertising.

This is a great opportunity to promote your products or services and receive unparalleled local coverage and frequency.

Rates start at only £120 per bus for a six week campaign (minimum of ten buses to be ordered). Call 020 8937 1097 or email advertising@brent.gov.uk

Road safety is child’s play A determined group of children from Oliver Goldsmith Primary School have taken road safety into their own hands.

Photos TONY RUSSELL. Words COLETTE BROWN.

Oliver Goldsmith’s team of Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSO) go on patrol before school starts, ready to catch parents who are putting pupil's safety at risk by ignoring the rules of the road.

Those committing an offence – such as parking on the zigzag lines at the school gates – are issued with a ‘parking ticket’ by the eagle-eyed youngsters.

The aim of the scheme, run by Transport for London and Brent Council, is to improve safety for pupils and adults travelling to and from school.

Riyana Mistry, aged 10, said: “Being a JRSO is a serious but fun job. We get to interact with others and we can be more

involved in and around the school. I enjoy issuing tickets, but if parents didn't park where they are not supposed to, then we would not have to issue them!”

Henry Pearce, aged 10, said “I think this is a great scheme and I have fun as well as keeping people safe. People are scared of us and I love it! We hold competitions for the other children to design the tickets and they also love to get involved.”

The children work hard to keep the roads safer, alongside Dave Cooper, a parent governor and Ms Linda Gillespie, deputy head teacher of the school. They have also built up a good relationship with the Police Safer Neighbourhood team, who are invited

to the school to work with the JRSOs. JRSOs meet fortnightly and deliver road safety messages at school assemblies. Pupils also design posters and carry out traffic and parking surveys.

Debbie Fowler, Brent Council's Team Leader for Accident Prevention, said: “The scheme brings major benefits to the schools taking part as it allows pupils to take ownership of road safety. JRSOs can also help decide what road safety education they receive rather than being told what they need by adults.”

Schools interested in signing up to the Junior Road Safety Scheme in Brent should contact Alison Bennett on 020 8937 5569.

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Shelter from the storm Now in its third year, the Route 18 Winter Shelter offers homeless people in Brent the chance to eat, bed down and socialise during the year’s coldest months. Run by local charity Cricklewood Homeless Concern (CHC), the shelters are based in churches and are staffed by volunteers. Their open doors provide access to vital help and support.

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Sleeping on the streets during winter is incredibly hard. Homeless people in Brent have, since 2008, had the opportunity to get through the harsh temperatures and severe weather by bedding down in local churches.

What was at first a loosely organised set of faith groups (and CHC) became the Route 18 Winter Shelter when a volunteer noticed how the churches involved were all located on the route of the number 18 bus from Sudbury to Euston.

It is now a fully fledged institution, with volunteers engaged in everything from cooking dinner for homeless people to staying awake all night to help out.This level of enthusiasm and commitment is the lifeblood of the project, says Danny Maher, head of Cricklewood Homeless Concern.

“We’ve been doing it for three years, and now when we visit a church they’re raring to go; there are more churches who want to come on board,” explains Danny. “At this year’s winter shelter people are spending their nights, whole nights, helping out.

“People are getting to the churches at 4pm and preparing dinner.They’re checking the website every day to see how the customers are doing, they’re reporting back each morning about who turned up, who didn’t.They’re involved in real action.”

While the shelter provides local homeless people with the most basic type of support, it’s also a vital link between the individuals and CHC, who can provider longer-term help through counselling, addiction treatment and employment training.

The charity also emphasises the importance of overcoming the misunderstanding of homelessness in the community; something Danny is keen for the shelter to promote.

“The shelter is a key element of educating the community. Most importantly it’s about responsibility; our homeless people are from Brent.

The difference between you and them is that they’re homeless and you’re not.

They’re still Brent residents. So why treat them differently?”

For more information on the Route 18 Winter Shelter, visit www.route18.org.uk

Useful contacts Cricklewood Homeless Concern 60 Ashford Road, London NW2 6TU 020 8208 1608 www.chc.org.uk Alone in London Homelessness advice for 16-26 year olds 020 7278 4224 www.aloneinlondon.org

Above: Volunteers at St Andrew’s Church, Sudbury.

Left and above right: Homeless Brent residents using the shelter at St Andrew’s Church

Brent LINk Advice for 13-18 year olds 020 8965 0309 www.yourbrentlink.org

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Model citizens Brent Community Champions Awards honour people who give outstanding service to others. Previous winners speak about what it meant to them and the work they did to receive an accolade.

The nominations for the Brent Community Champions Award 2011 opened on 1 January. The scheme, which awards people from all walks of life, gives you, the borough’s residents, the chance to put a local hero or heroine in the spotlight.

It could be someone who is involved in a community group or volunteers for an organisation. Or it may be a neighbour who constantly puts others before themselves.

Last year’s winners included a qualified boxer, the founder of a residents’ association, a volunteer at a club for people with learning disabilities and a Fairtrade campaigner.

What they all share is an exceptional dedication to helping others less fortunate than themselves.

Alfred Totesaut used to teach music in Brent schools before working with young people from Harlesden on a steel band.

He said: “I’ve won several awards but this one is special for me, it means a lot.

I’ve never done anything for people because of getting paid, it’s always been because I’ve wanted to. It’s very satisfying to know that you’re doing something worthwhile.”

Ramesh Devani was inspired to set up Brent’s Heart of Gold Support Group in 2005 after having a heart attack. The retired events coordinator now offers exercise sessions, advice and information to others who have suffered a heart attack or have heart related problems.

He said: “I’m very proud to have the award. I’m still giving my time to the community and families who need help.”

The 2011 awards will be presented by the incoming Mayor of Brent at the council’s annual meeting on 11 May.

The Brent Community Champions nominations close on 15 February. To nominate someone or for a form visit www.brent.gov.uk/communityawards Alternatively, call 020 8937 3673 or email voluntarysector@brent.gov.uk

Photo posed by models: www.paphotos.com

What they all share is an exceptional dedication to helping others less fortunate than themselves.

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JANUARY 2011

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GreenPages Green ages FEBRUARY 2011

WWW.BRENT.GOV.UK/WASTE

A new era for waste management in Brent New household waste collection service later this year.

020 8937 5050

www.brent.gov.uk/waste

What you told us about waste in Brent Thank you to the many residents who took part in the recent consultation regarding proposals for a new household waste collection service in Brent.

The consultation revealed overwhelming support for recycling more materials in future and the proposals for the new service were formally adopted on 13 December 2010. The details of the results of the consultation are on the next page.

The majority of responses to the consultation support the new way of collecting waste and the need to recycle more, but not everyone agreed with the all of proposals contained in the strategy. Many of you voiced concerns about issues important to you and your neighbourhoods and we appreciate that you took time to share your views. We have read every response and your concerns will be considered as we prepare to introduce the new service later this year. The household waste collection strategy is available at www.brent.gov.uk/waste.

020 8937 5050

www.brent.gov.uk/waste

Brent Council’s waste and recycling plans at a glance…

Under the new system Brent Council will continue to visit every house every week to collect food waste and organic waste, along with one of two remaining containers. All flats will receive a recycling service for the first time.

Please see below: • The green box will be replaced by a new wheeled bin.

Cardboard, cartons and plastic packaging will be collected for recycling in addition to the materials already collected in the green box. The new container will be emptied every other week. Items for recycling will be mixed together making it easier and quicker for you to recycle.

This is sometimes referred to as ‘co-mingled’ recycling.

• If you live in a house and already have a green bin for your organic waste such as garden waste, cardboard and food waste, this will remain and will continue to be collected weekly. The only difference will be that cardboard will go in the new mixed recycling bin as described above.

• If you live in a house but don’t have a green bin you will receive a new small container for food waste only. This will also be collected weekly.

Bio-sacks will be available for all residents for garden waste collection.

This will help us all reduce how much we send to landfill.

Results in detail 14.71%

23.3% 25.24%

Strongly disagree

Strongly disagree

6.86% The new and bigger recycling bin and the new food waste collection scheme will help me reduce the amount of waste 10.78% that I send to landfill Neither Disagree

43.14%

24.51%

In order to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill, only the waste that fits in the grey bin should be taken

12.62% Disagree

Strongly agree

34.95% 9.70% 10.3% 37.08%

7.21% 6.79%

Strongly disagree

Strongly Strongly agree agree

24.27%

14.56%

Agree

Neither

Agree

3.06%

11.22%

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Disagree Disagree The The Council Council should should explore explore opportunities opportunities to to reward reward residents residents who who recycle recycle regularly regularly and and without without contamination: contamination

19.42% 20.6% Neither Neither

18.37% Neither

The new recycling service will reduce the time and effort required to recycle as one bin will accept all the materials that I can recycle

38.78% Strongly agree

28.57%

30.9% 29.13%

Agree

Agree Agree

0% Disagree

51.02% 10.3% 10.2% 37.08%

7.21% 10.2

Strongly Strongly disagree disagree

Strongly Strongly agree agree

Disagree Neither

20.6% Neither

The Council should The introduction of explore opportunities new materials for to reward residents recycling will allow who recycle regularly me to send less and without waste to landfill contamination:

28.57% 30.9% Agree Agree

020 8937 5050

Strongly agree

32.63% 4.21% 10.53% Strongly Strongly Disagree

disagree

agree

27.37% Neither

The introduction of the new food waste collection scheme for suitable blocks of flats will improve my local area

25.26% Agree

www.brent.gov.uk/waste

In the meantime… carry on recycling

All flats to get recycling service

It is important that you continue to use the collection service you currently have. Absolutely nothing will change until the autumn. However, we really do need to increase the amount of household waste that we recycle and compost in Brent right now. You can help by recycling all appropriate materials.

We will be launching a new communications campaign to accompany the new service. Getting the right messages to the right people is crucial. In order to do so we would like to invite you to a series of focus meetings so we can test branding, design and messages.

Green box The following materials can be put into your green box

Organics bin The following materials can be put into your green organics bin

01.11 BDU 6377

Please note that biodegradable sacks and liners are not accepted in the Green Organics Bin.

GreenPages 020 8937 5050

Get involved and get famous!

Currently only half of flats in Brent have a recycling service. This is not good enough so part of the strategy says that all properties will receive a recycling service. At the moment residents living in flats who do receive a service have to sort their recycling into different communal bins. This will be replaced with a fully mixed recycling scheme.

Residents in flats will be able to recycle plastic packaging and cartons as well as the current materials.

Collection frequency will stay the same.

If you live in a block of flats and have recycling facilities, please continue to use them and put the right materials in the right bins. There are labels on the bins to show you what to place in each.

Maybe you have waste related messages you think are important and want other Brent residents to know. What ever your reason, please get in touch on the following details: Brent Council, Environment and Neighbourhood Services, StreetCare, Waste Policy Team, 1st Floor, Brent House, 349-357, High Road, Wembley, London, HA9 6BZ, Telephone 020 8937 5050 Email streetcare@brent.gov.uk We would also like to launch a campaign to find the new faces of Brent's waste publications.

So look out for competition details coming soon.

Brent Council’s quarterly residents’ recycling newsletter produced by Brent Council in association with Veolia.

For further information please visit ww.brent.gov.uk/recycling or call 020 8937 5050

www.brent.gov.uk/waste

McVities takes the biscuit for recycling The environment is everyone’s responsibility.

Brent Climate Change Steering Group includes public bodies businesses and like McVities committed to protecting it.

MARTIN GAVIN spoke to Tom Culyer, a Manager at McVities, Harlesden, about what his company is doing to help the environment.

Brent Climate Change Steering Group was launched in 2010 to put into practice the borough’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. It will do this by independently monitoring progress, looking for extra funding and sharing ideas.

McVities takes its name from Scottish biscuit maker, McVitie & Price Ltd., first established in 1830. It was during the early 1900s that the Harlesden factory opened and since then classics including the Digestive and Hob Nob have become international brands. The factory employs 750 people, many of whom live in Brent.

Sustainability is very important to the company and is a personal crusade for Chairman, David Fish. He wants to stop using landfill by the end of 2013. In 2008 the factory sent 363 tonnes to landfill, by 2010 this was down to 87 tonnes.

With 92 per cent recycling at the moment, McVities Harlesden is one of the greenest factories in the world. It also

works efficiently through modern ideas such as recycling cooking oil into bio fuel to power trucks for over 1,000,000 road miles a year, proving that green business is good business.

Tom Culyer, South East Regional HSE Manager with McVities, has worked at the factory for over 20 years: “All 750 staff here at Harlesden have environmental training because we realise that tough targets can’t be delivered unless everyone plays their part. After two years working towards environmental targets we are already finding it necessary to raise the bar.

“Water usage has decreased 42 per cent in three years, and last year we diverted 12 tonnes of wood to be recycled. In 2009/2010 we saved 15 per cent on our gas use by installing new state-of-the-art energy efficient oven burners and we’re always looking for new ways to protect the environment and work more efficiently.”

To see more go to www.brent.gov.uk/video

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A sign of the times Used by 15 other London boroughs and the Greater London Authority, the SignVideo Interpreter Service enables deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users to have their conversations with a member of staff interpreted via a videophone and live television link with a BSL interpreter at the SignVideo Contact Centre.

The improvements to the service will now mean that users will get quicker connection times to the SignVideo Contact Centre and a much clearer and flowing picture when viewing the live television link. A demonstration was held at Brent House in December for deaf residents. Two residents to try out the new system were Ben Lampert and Anne Pelletier.

“Definitely worth it,” said Ben. “It’s the

first time I have seen it but it is far better than using paper where there can be miscommunication. The image is very clear and it’s great that we can just come in.”

Anne added: “I am really happy as I come from France and it has been hard for me to get the help I need, but services are now more accessible with this.”

Patricia MacFarlane, Head of Brent’s One Stop Service said: “I am pleased that they like the improvements we have made. The original system was very popular but not always reliable. With these enhancements customers should feel more confident using the SignVideo system.”

Providing even greater access, the Sign Video service is now also available via the

“It is far better than using paper where there can be miscommunication.”

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Brent Council is relaunching its sign language interpreting service for deaf people after upgrading its equipment.

council’s website. Any computer fitted with a webcam and broadband connection can be used to connect to the Sign Video Contact Centre and a member of staff for a three-way conversation.

For further information, visit www.brent.gov.uk/contact The SignVideo Interpreter Service can be accessed at the Brent House One Stop Service between 9am and 5pm Monday to Wednesday, 9am – 1pm on Thursdays and 9am to 5pm on Fridays (except bank holidays). The Brent House One Stop Service is also open on Saturdays from 9am – 1pm, if you wish to use the service on a saturday please book in advance.

Be a good sport With London 2012 fast approaching, the council's getting into the sporting spirit by offering people the chance to train as sports coaches and officials, or learn to run their own sports club, through an officially recognised coaching programme.

Kicking off in January at sports centres around the borough, the programme offers a range of courses – from first aid and safeguarding children to positive behaviour management and fairness – as well as lessons in coaching sports, including gymnastics, boxing and street soccer.

As well as hands-on coaching, the programme provides opportunities to learn more about the financial side of sports, with a course that includes all aspects of funding a sports or physical activity organisation.

Brent sports development officer, Jeni Page, says: “Everyone knows how good sport and exercise is for peoples’ physical and mental health, but coaching or supporting a sports club can be just as rewarding and exciting.With the Olympics just around the corner,

there’s never been a better time to get involved in sports and I hope as many people as possible take the opportunity to enrol on one of the great courses and workshops on offer.”

It is the third year Brent has run the coaching programme.The council is committed to investing in local sports clubs and community groups by training and developing more sports coaches, officials and volunteers.

Brent’s coaching programme runs from January to March 2011. Course fees range from £10 to £100 and concessionary rates or additional contributions are available in some cases (subject to conditions).

Course start dates vary so anyone interested in taking part should contact Jeni Page on 020 8937 3707 or email sportsservice@brent.gov.uk to find out more and book a place.

There’s never been a better time to get involved in sports.

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ALL IN Aday’s

work

Mental health support in action The Rehabilitation and Supporting People Service works with individuals with a range of mental health issues, helping to connect them with local services and plan their own day to day activities. Richard Grant works one to one with these people, ensuring they get the most out of their lives and, ultimately, are able to live independently.

Part of a varied team – made up of clinicians, nurses and social workers among others – Richard aims to rehabilitate the people who use his service, using all of what the community has to offer. “We look at the full range of rehab,” he explains.

“This could be providing leisure activities or educational or vocational interests, examining their general health and diet even ensuring that the client can undertake the acts of daily living and self-care.”

Generally, people are referred to Richard and his team, but they also carry out their own assessments to see what an individual wants to gain from their support and whether the rehabilitation the service offers is

appropriate. This direct focus on the needs of the person – as opposed to those needs being set by someone else – is a new way of working that Richard has fully embraced.

“I’ve worked for Brent mental health service for about seven years now and when I first started we were looking at long-term institutionalised individuals reintegrating in to the community,” says Richard. “The new, more individual-centred approach allows people to take a greater control of their own wellbeing and I think it gives greater results.”

This can mean working with the local Metropolitan Police and the London Fire Brigade to explain about personal safety, enrolling people on

local employment courses or simply having an informal chat, out of the centre, over a cup of tea. “Often what comes out of those not-so-scheduled appointments is that an individual may divulge a lot more about themselves and their needs,” Richard explains.

The ultimate objective of Richard’s service is to see vulnerable people~ taking control of their own lives and able to achieve their own goals in their own way. “For me, the sense of achievement is in seeing the individual become more insightful in terms of their condition and being reflective about where they’ve been and where they are now. That’s a huge reward.”

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Crest Girls’ Academy has recipe for success Staff and students at Crest Girls' Academy hope to find the recipe for success at the school's new Food Academy.

Words JASON GRIMSLEY. Photography ISABELLE PLASSCHAERT.

There were flavours from around the world at an international day to mark the opening of Crest Girls' Academy’s £300,000 high-tech Food Academy recently.

In keeping with the food theme, special guest at the school was multi awardwinning entrepreneur Lopa Patel, MBE, founder of the leading south Asian lifestyle and shopping website Redhotcurry.com The Food Academy, which is sponsored by leading education promoter E-ACT, is a state-of-the-

art facility that will allow students at the school to study food and cooking at both Key Stage 3 and GCSE levels.

Its opening is the latest in a series of developments to improve the education and facilities offered by Crest Girls' and Boys' Academies.

The school’s Principal, Bev Bell, said: "We are very pleased to open the Food Academy, the girls have been asking for this for three years.

"Our specialisms are technology and languages so an international day to mark the opening of a new high-tech facility is a

great way of combining them.

“This is a very exciting time for everyone at both Crest Girls and Crest Boys. Academic standards here are on the up and we plan to add fantastic modern facilities to create our own unbeatable recipe for success!”

Lopa Patel said: "Crest Girls' Food Academy is a fantastic, modern facility for learning about cooking. It was great to meet such enthusiastic staff and pupils.

Who knows, perhaps some of the young people could go on to be the master chefs of the future.”

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SECREThistory

Out and about in North West London In March the North West London Lesbian and Gay Group, which now meets in Preston Road, will celebrate its fortieth anniversary, making it the longest-running group of its kind in London.

In 1971 homosexuality had only been legal for four years and there were virtually no venues where gay men and women could meet and just be themselves.

One of the few places was a branch of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) that met in Notting Hill. It was here that Doug Pollard met Suki Pitcher and the pair decided to start a local branch of the GLF. Their first meeting was held at Suki's parents' home and was attended by just four people.

But after placing an ad in the local paper the group quickly began to grow and it became clear that they needed a larger public place to get together in. The Goodwill to All, in Wealdstone became their first venue.

The group soon reached out to the other prominent gay organisation at the time,

the Campaign for Homosexual Equality.

Adopting the name Harrow Gay Unity (HGU), they began to attract a large and regular following and would meet in the bar at Harrow Leisure Centre.

However, the group was forced to leave the centre and once again began meeting in friendly pubs. At the same time its name changed, first to Harrow and Brent Lesbian and Gay Group and, then to the North West London Lesbian and Gay Group. A written constitution was created, as well as an elected committee comprising a chair, secretary, treasurer, membership secretary and press and publicity officer.

In the early 1990s the group moved to council-owned premises in Preston Road, where it continues to meet every Monday evening. It organises talks and discussions,

quizzes and games, parties and food events, supplies literature, and can provide advice about where to get specialist help.

The North West London Lesbian and Gay Group seeks to combat isolation and discrimination within the local LGBT community. It currently has over 70 members, whose ages range from 20 to 70.

Its website typically receives over 200 hits a week, while its email inbox is sent around 500 emails a month. In 2006 it received a Lottery grant from Awards for All and in 2009 it successfully bid for a Grassroots Fund grant.

The North West London Lesbian and Gay Group currently meets every Monday, 8.30-11pm at Tenterden Clubhouse in Preston Road. For more information visit www.nwlgay.com FEBRUARY 2011

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Help us shape tomorrow Filling out such a large form can be quite daunting and for some residents completing the form may be difficult due to a disability or language difficulties, and they may need some help.

Some people will get the help they need from family or friends and voluntary groups or community leaders. There is also help available from the Office For National Statistics (ONS) who run the census, such as telephone lines, online help and language support. But where members of family or friends can’t help out, or people would like more direct support, we are looking for volunteers to help those in their community who are less able to complete the form.

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Brent Council will be running census form completion events around the borough from the end of March, and we are looking for volunteers to help at these events. As a volunteer you would not be employed by Brent Council or by the ONS but will act as a role model, encouraging everyone you know to complete their questionnaires.

Your local knowledge will help you to identify who may need help in completing their forms, and you can highlight the importance of the census and how it can help to improve the planning of local services such as schools, housing and hospitals for years to come. Alisdair Maclean, Brent’s officer leading on the census said “I cannot stress the importance

of having local volunteers who are prepared to help members of their community to complete their questionnaire, it is a crucial role that will help to ensure that your local area secures the resources that it needs for your community”.

The council can offer support, training and materials to volunteers. If you think that you can help by either arranging an event for your own community or if you want to help at a council run event get in touch by calling 020 8937 2270 or emailing census@brent.gov.uk For more information on the census please visit www.brent.gov.uk/census or www.census.gov.uk or call our census team.

Photo courtsey of PA photos/John Birdsall. Posed by models

With the 2011 Census fast approaching, Brent Council’s census team are working hard to ensure that the residents of Brent take part in this year’s big count on Sunday 27 March.

COMPETITIONS

Win your 90 minutes at Wembley Stadium An escorted tour of Wembley Stadium makes an exciting day out for the whole family. Stroll into the player's dressing room and walk through the tunnel towards the hallowed turf, then climb 107 steps, standing triumphantly in front of the royal box and see the FA Cup. For Brent residents, we have four pairs of tickets for the Wembley Stadium tour. For a chance to win, send in the correct answer to the following question:

Who are England’s next opponents at Wembley Stadium?

Send or email your answers to Wembley Stadium competition at the address below. For information on event times visit: www.wembleystadium.com/events

Wembley Stadium Event Calendar 27 February 3 April 16 April 17 April 14 May 28 May 30 May 4 June 1 - 6 July 8 - 9 July 7 August

Event starts

Carling Cup Final 4pm Johnstone's Paint Trophy 1.30pm FA Cup Semi Finals TBC FA Cup Semi Finals TBC FA Cup Final TBC Champions League Final TBC Championship Play Off TBC Euro 2012 Qualifier: England v Switzerland TBC Take That TBC Take That TBC FA Community Shield TBC

This events calendar is correct at the time of going to print and is subject to change and updates.

More events are expected to be booked for 2011 – these will be added to the calendar as and when confirmed. Please visit www.wembleystadium.com/events for the very latest information.

Competition Terms and Conditions • Only one entry per person allowed • Prizes/tours must be redeemed within 12 months of receiving confirmation • Children under 16 must be accompanied on the Stadium Tour by an adult and have consent of their parent/guardian • No cash alternatives for any prize will be offered • Employees of Wembley Stadium and their families are not eligible to enter. Prize winners must adhere to Wembley Stadium Tour’s terms and conditions, available at www.wembleystadium.com/tours • All prizes/tours are subject to availability and pre-booking is required.

Win a pair of festival passes for International Oscar® Season 2011 On screen at the Tricycle 18 – 24 February Don’t miss the chance to see our full selection of this year’s finest Foreign Language Oscar submissions ahead of the Academy Awards, including Director Xavier Beauvois’ hit French film Of Gods and Men. To win two passes to the festival send in the correct answer to the following question:

Who directed the film Of Gods and Men? Festival passes will entitle you to entry to all screenings.

www.tricycle.co.uk Box Office: 020 7328 1000

Win a year’s supply of biscuits The McVities factory in Harlesden is one of the greenest in the world. (see page 19) For a chance to win a year's supply of McVities Digestives answer the following question:

What is McVitie's current recycling rate?

Send your entries on a postcard with your name, address and daytime telephone number to: (Name of Competition), The Brent Magazine, Room 9, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley HA9 9HD or email competition@brent.gov.uk (add name of competition to subject line). The deadline for all competitions is Friday 11 February 2011.

Last month’s winners: Snooker tickets Farida Hussain, Hockey tickets Graham Hart.

Stadium Tour tickets Neil Dennehy, Bahija Haideri, Jay Patel, Deepak Vaghela.

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TIMEout

What’s going on…

The essential guide to music, drama, sport, workshops and much more. Find out what’s going on in Brent during February 2011. To get your event listed email tbm@brent.gov.uk or telephone 020 8937 1098.

CHILDREN KINGS HALL YOUTH CLUB Members' club for 10-15 year olds, supervised by trained youth workers and volunteers. Weds 79pm, Kings Hall Community Centre, 155 Harlesden Rd, Willesden Green, NW10 Limited places. Go to www.kingsyouthclub .org.uk to download membership form.

Any queries, email youthclub@tiscali.co.uk AIR CADETS Mon and Thurs 7pm 406 Squadron Willesden 020 8451 0406 ART CLASSES Mini Picassos for children aged 4-6 yrs and 7-11yrs; toddler Picassos 15 months-3 yrs, Gracelands Cafe, Kensal Green 07903 638 817 MAINLY MUSIC Weds 9.45-11am £2.50 music, dancing and instruments with social morning tea and playtime for parents, carers and children under five Wembley Christian Centre Carlton Ave East, Forty Avenue corner 07900 460 875 dave andmarc@gmail.com SEA TRAINING CORPS Thurs 7.15-9.15pm Sea Pirates 7-9 yrs; Thurs 7.15-9.15pm juniors; Mons and Fris 7.159.30pm Sea Cadets; Mons and Fris 7.159.30pm Marine Cadets; youth group for boys and girls, Cool Oak Lane, NW9 020 8205 4492 www.seacadet.org

DOWN SYNDROME TIGER CUBS Thurs 5-6pm football coaching run by QPR, Woodfield School Genwood Avenue, NW9 020 8740 2585 07815 670 806 DANIEL’S DEN Mons 1-3pm, Thurs 9.30am-11am, 11.30am1pm, Tues 10am-noon St MIchael and All Angels Church, Hillside, Stonebridge; Fris 9.3011am, 11.30am-1pm St Michael’s Church Hall, St Michael’s Ave, Tokyngton; Tues, 1-3pm, Gladstone Park Primary School, Dollis Hill www. danielsden.org.uk 11TH BRONDESBURY GUIDES Tues, 6pm for girls aged 10-14 in Willesden 07810 653 225 4TH BRONDESBURY BROWNIES AND GUIDES Thurs Brownies 6.308pm. Guides 7-8.30pm.

07981 174 634 FRENCH CLASSES Weds, Thurs after-school in Kensal Rise ages 5-11; 07753 693 720 GIRLS’ BRIGADE Weds 5.15-8.30pm for five-year-olds and upwards, Queensbury Methodist Church, Beverley Drive 07961 321 237 LONDON IRISH MUSIC SCHOOL Sats, traditional Irish music for under 14s; Oliver Goldsmith Primary, Kenton www.london irishmusicschool.co.uk 020 8205 7231 Irish music for under 14s See: Children

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MINI-SOCCER Suns Year 3 9.4510.45am Year 4-Year 6 10.45am-12noon Uxendon Manor School, Vista Way, Kenton, 6 weeks £30, call George Lappas 07957 229 518 MONKEY MUSIC Thurs children aged 3 months-3 years; St James’s Church Centre, Stanley Avenue, Alperton www.monkeymusic.co. uk 01895 674 587 MUM AND TODDLER Thurs 10am-12noon, Preston Mall Community Centre, Kenton £2 020 8204 1148 PARENT TODDLER GROUP Thurs 9-10.30am 50p Barham Primary Wembley 020 8902 3706 PIONEER EXPLORER SCOUTS Weds 8-10pm for 14-18 years, Stember Hall, Leighton Gardens, NW10 01582 703121 7TH BRONDESBURY BROWNIES Tues 6pm for girls aged 7-10 in Willesden 07810 653 225 SING AND SIGN CLASSES Mon-Fri, for babies 6-18 months. Willesden Green & Kensal Rise 07790 955 576 SOCCER TRAINING Fris 6-8pm, for children, first session free Capital City Academy NW10 mdipaola@cyworks.co.uk SPLASH FOOTBALL Sats 10am-12pm, ages 5-15. Claremont High School, Claremont Avenue, Kenton, £30 for 5 weeks 07863 165 737 GRANVILLE PLUS YOUTH ARTS CENTRE Free creative learning activities for young people aged 11-25yrs. Guitar, Taekwondo, Vocal training (20min private lessons) song writing, fashion as a business and more. 80 Granville Road, Kilburn, NW6 5RA 020 8937 3612 tina.ramdeen@ brent.gov.uk

3RD WEMBLEY SCOUTS Fris Cubs 7-8.30pm, Scouts 7pm-9pm Clivedon Hall Clifton Way, Alperton call Andrew Stevenson 020 8997 0951 020 8902 6902

COMMUNITY THIS ME, THIS IS HARLESDEN View art work and short film from a project carried out by Brent Museum exploring identity with young people from Brent.

Harlesden Library, just drop in.

WEMBLEY HISTORY SOCIETY 18 Feb 7.30pm, 150 Years of Wembley Cricket Club - a talk by John Haskell. St Andrew's Church Hall, Church Lane (opp. Tudor Gdns), Kingsbury NW9 8RZ philgrant69@aol.com NORTH WEST LONDON WOMEN’S INSTITUTE Meets first Thursday of the month upstairs at the North London Tavern on Kilburn High Road.

MOSAIC Weekly youth club for lesbian, gay and bi teenagers. mosaicyouth.org.uk 08000 433 411 NORTH WEST LONDON LESBIAN AND GAY GROUP Mons 8.30pm, Tenterden Sports Centre, Preston Road, Wembley 07941 707884 OVER 50S DISCUSSION GROUP Tues 11am-12.30pm The Gallery, Willesden Green Library 020 8452 8739 WEMBLEY NATIONAL TRUST 3rd Thurs of month, 8-10pm Sudbury Neighbourhood Centre 809 Harrow Road, Wembley 020 8904 5940 WILLESDEN GREEN WRITERS GROUP Thurs 8-10pm Willesden Green Library Centre www.willesdengreen writers.com

GONG MEDITATION 1 hour guided meditation through chakras using gongs, temple bells and Tibetan singing bowls. £5, 1st Weds of month.

14 Drayton Road, NW10 4EL. Also individual sessions in T’ai Chi. Sandira 07940 804 098.

DANCE CLUB CEROC Tues 8-11pm, entry £8 plus £2 lifetime membership and a free beginners guide DVD, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9. www.clubceroc.com 020 8933 4350.

ADULT STREET DANCE Tues, 7.30-8.30pm, £5.15 New Bridge Park Centre, Stonebridge 020 8937 3730 BALLROOM AND LATIN Mons 7.30-11pm Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane Wembley 020 8855 6868 BELLY DANCING Mons 7.30-8.30pm (beginners), 8.30-9.30pm (improvers) £48 for 6 weeks £8 drop-in Fitness First 492-498 High Rd, Wembley, www.hayaam .com 07855 362 849 Tues 8.30-10pm NY Pilates Studio, Lonsdale Rd NW6 020 7372 3490 Sats 2-3pm 105 Salusbury Road NW6, £7 per lesson or £50 for 8 sessions to be used within 3 months eliftarakci@yahoo.co.uk BOLLYWOOD AND SEMI-CLASSICAL INDIAN Suns 11.15am-12.15pm Fitness First 197 Alperton Road 07930 593 988 rupal@classic-creations .info SALSA Mons, 7.30-8.30pm Mambo City salsa £6 St Joseph’s Social Club, Empire Way, Wembley salsa@mambocity.co.uk Fris 7.30-8.30pm Willesden Sports Centre Thurs 8.15-9.30pm £4.50 07961 281 989 Mons 6.30-7.30pm Salsasize dance and exercise £4 Chalkhill Community Centre, 113 Chalkhill Road, Wembley 020 8385 1836 DA SALSA ROOM Salsa classes & club free styling night every Mons.

7.30-8.30pm Classes from £6. Heritage Inn Caribbean Rhum Bar & Restaurant, 301 Cricklewood Broadway, London, NW2 6PG. 07961 281989 info@dasalsaroom.com www.dasalsaroom.com

SELF EXPRESSIVE DANCE Tues 8-9.30pm, £7.50, Holy Innocents Church Hall, Bacon Lane 020 8205 6751 SEQUENCE AND TEA DANCING Mons 2-4pm sequence dance Thurs 2-4pm tea dance £1.50 all ages welcome King’s Hall Community Centre 155 Harlesden Road, Willesden 020 8459 3487 TEA DANCE Mons, Weds 1.30-4.30pm £4 Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane Wembley 020 8937 6206 Fris 2-4.30 pm Chalkhill Community Centre, 113 Chalkhill Road, Wembley 020 8385 1836 DANCE AT THE TRICYCLE Street Dance. Free classes for 5-18 year olds. Call Anna 020 7372 6611 or visit www.tricycle.co.uk WE'LL MEET AGAIN Free activity group for the over 60s, including Drama, Art, Dance and T'ai Chi. Call Anna 020 7372 6611 for more details.

BRENT PENSIONERS FORUM 2 Feb, 1st Wed of the month, Brent Town Hall, 020 8904 5865

DRAMA CHAMELEONS Mons and Thurs 8pm, amateur dramatics Neasden Methodist Church, NW10 07968 965 038 DRAMA WORKHOUSE Sat. For children 1-2pm 79 years; 2-3pm 10-12 years; 4-6pm 13-18 years; under 10s £25/term, Over 10s £40/term; Tues adult classes 8-10pm £9.50 Dudden Hill Centre, 19 Dudden Hill Lane, NW10 www.dramaworkhouse .org.uk 07958 653 725 MADHATTERS Box office 020 8452 5239 www.madhatters theatre.org.uk

ENVIRONMENT KINGSBURY WALKERS Weds 1.55pm, Meet Bush Farm, Slough Lane and Salmon Street junction.

020 8907 2836 BARN HILL CONSERVATION GROUP Programme of events at Fryent Country Park (Sun) and Roe Green Walled Garden (Tue, Thur, Sat) 020 8206 0492 www.bhcg.btck.co.uk

TIMEout EXHIBITIONS THE EXHIBITION IN PRINT Look at the world of prints, from primitive to modern.

15 Feb-18 Mar, The Gallery at Willesden Green. Daily 2-6pm Free Preview Thurs 17 Feb, 6-9pm LITTLE VOICE Photography from cooperative ‘la société de la petite voix’ 15 Feb-18 Mar, Daily 11am-7pm, Free. Preview: Thur 17 Feb, 6-9pm BRENT MUSEUM ‘Fabric of a Nation’ discover the beautiful printed textiles and garments of west Africa, Willesden Green Library Centre, Willesden High Road 020 8937 3600

LEARNING BACES A range of courses for adults from accounts to yoga! Visit www.brent .gov.uk/adulteducation for a full list of courses or call any of ourcentres: Carlton 020 8937 3990, Madison House 020 8937 3636 or Stonebridge 020 8937 3950.

MIDDLESEX ITEC GCSE tuition in maths, English, science for 14-19 years at Middlesex ITEC 020 8900 0505 WILLESDEN GREEN LIBRARY CENTRE Fabric of a Nation. African printed bags Sat 19 Feb, 2-4pm, design your own African pattern to print on a bag. Booking required. Adinkra Printing: Tues 22 Feb, 2-4pm.

Create your own Adinkra prints on fabric. Booking required. Stories of African cloth: Thurs 24 Feb, 2-4pm. Join us for this storytelling workshop & bring a piece of cloth that tells something about you. Booking required. All events take place at Brent Museum, Willesden Green Library Centre. To book a place call 020 8937 3600.

TAMIL READING GROUP Last Sat of month 2.304.30pm Tamil literature, language and culture with guest speakers; Willesden Green Library Centre NW10 020 8937 3400 yamuna.tharmendiran @brent.gov.uk WORKERS EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION Thurs 10am classes held in coffee lounge at St John’s Church Wembley, entrance via gate in Harrow Road 020 8904 5940

TEEN MANGA WORKSHOPS Award-winning cartoonist Steve Marchant will be leading workshops on Cartooning & Manga at the Brent Town Hall Library on Sat 19 & 26 Feb and Sat 5 & 12 of March. The workshops will run from 2-4pm.

020 8937 3500 or www.brent.gov.uk /libraries UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE Courses, talks and workshops 020 8933 7558 www.brentu3a.org.uk BOOKSTART BEAR The Bookstart Bear will visit various Brent libraries under 5s events over half-term. Sun 20-24 Feb. www.brent.gov.uk /libraries

MUSIC SINGING LESSONS Sat-Wed contemporary singing lessons and music theory, beginners to intermediate levels, Neasden Lane 07796 372 499 e_chinners@ yahoo.com VOCALITY WILLESDEN COMMUNITY CHOIR Mons 8-10pm first session free, gospel, African, pop and more, Willesden Green Library Centre, Space 2 95 High Road, NW10 www.vocality singing.co.uk

SPORTS & LEISURE HALF TERM ACTIVITIES Feb half term full day and drop-in activities.

Trampolining, digital dance 21-25 Feb, Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre and Charteris Sports Centre 020 8937 3730/3644 leanne.rodriguez@ brent.gov.uk KIDS BOXING CLASS Mon-Fri 4-5pm £3 Per session. Ages 4-11. Noncontact boxing. Real Fitness London Ltd 162 Anson Road, Gladstone Park, NW2. www.realfit ness.org.uk Book in advance realfitness@ hotmail.co.uk 020 82053155 or Wayne on 07717 005 264.

BRONDESBURY BOWLING CLUB Evenings and daytime including free tuition, Chatsworth Road 0208 438 0302 BROTHERS PEARSE CAMOGIE CLUB Ladies’ hurling club, all levels welcome, call Mary Cahill 07904 685 276

CENTURY BOWLS CLUB Indoor and outdoor bowls, free coaching available, social actitivities, Logan Road, Wembley 020 8904 3261 FUN AND FITNESS Tues 8-9pm ladies only all levels exercise class; £4 Kingsbury Baptists Church hall, Slough Lane, NW9 07944 523 260 LADIES KEEP FIT Weds 7.30-8.30pm Mandhata Centre, 20a Rosemead Avenue, Wembley 07930 593 988 rupal@classic-creations .info PILATES Mons 7-8pm, Sats 1011am Living Well Health Club, Wembley Plaza Hotel, Empire Way, £5 07903 937 909 Thurs 7.30pm beginner to intermediate, feel strengthened, lengthened and relaxed. The Lady House, Hay Lane Kingsbury, book in advance Di Hurley 07958 140 003 PRESTON PARK BOWLS CLUB New members welcome, free coaching and loan of bowls Preston Park Recreation Ground, Carlton Avenue East 020 8933 9358 020 8427 1590 QUEENS PARK HARRIERS Tues & Thurs 7-8pm, Willesden Sport Centre www.queenspark harriers.org.uk SHORINJI KEMPO MARTIAL ART Tues 8-9.30pm Church of Ascension, The Avenue, Wembley; Fris 7.30-9pm at St Erconwald’s Church Hall, 112 Carlton Avenue East, Wembley 07404 039 087 SUDBURY COURT BADMINTON CLUB Thurs 8-10pm, The Mall, Kingsbury 020 8904 6698 SUDBURY COURT RUNNING CLUB Tues and Thurs 7.20pm, (1st Tues of month for beginners) meet at Wembley and Sudbury Tennis and Squash Club, Sylvester Road, Wembley; social runs and group runs www.sudburycourt .org.uk 020 8904 8814 WU SHU KWAN Chinese kickboxing. Sats 3-5pm, Willesden Sports Centre, Donnington Road, NW10.

07835 244 398 www.wushukwan.com

TAEKWONDO Mons 7-9pm, Sat 1011am Holy Innocents Church Hall, Bacon Lane Kingsbury 07799 546 428 TAI CHI Tues, 6.30-8pm beginners, 8.30-9pm advanced, St Anne’s hall, 125 Salusbury Rd, NW6 07939 043 580 Weds, 1.30-2.30pm, £2 over 55s, beginners, gentle movements Fitness First, Kingsbury 07957 185 367 TAEKWONDO Tues 6-9pm, Thurs 67.30pm, Ealing Road Methodist Church 07832 447 763 Mons 6.30-8pm, Weds 6.308pm, Newman Catholic College NW10 07832 447 763 WEMBLEY BOWLS CLUB Weds 3pm onwards all levels welcome, tuition offered by experienced lawn bowls players King Edward VII Park, Park Lane Wembley 020 8907 8626 WEMBLEY AND SUDBURY TENNIS AND SQUASH CLUB Social and competitive play; active juniors, Sylvester Road, off Harrowdene Road.

020 8998 3677 020 8902 8098.

WEMBLEY CRICKET CLUB Men’s, boys’ and girls’ cricket teams, coaching for girls and boys Sats 10am-11am at Oakington Manor School, Wembley 020 8902 6096 020 8904 2644 WHIST CLUB Tues 7.30-10.15pm Kingsbury Horticultural Association, The Pavilion Old Kenton Lane Allotments, new members welcome call Bill 07957 965 692 WILLESDEN & DISTRICT TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE Founded in 1935, new clubs wanted for 2011 season 020 8965 2800

YOGA Mons-Suns Special Yoga Centre 2a Wrentham Ave, Kensal Rise, 020 8968 1900 www.specialyoga.org.uk Mons 6.30-7.30 pm, Thurs 7-8pm, Sun 1112noon, drop-in £10 Gladstone Community Centre, 162 Anson Road 07901 650 763 Mons 12pm, Sats 9-10am, £2,50 per lesson Dudden Hill Centre, Dudden Hill Lane, NW10 0208 459 1107 Tues 7.45pm sahaja yoga at Victoria Hall, Sheepcote Road, Harrow 020 8097 5985 Weds 10.30am-12.30pm Dudden Hill Community Centre, 19 Dudden Hill Lane, NW10 bhakti yoga free classes, call Karano 020 8450 9603 07913 897 406 Thurs 7.30pm-9pm experienced students, Victoria Hall, Sheepcote Road, Harrow 020 8861 5663 Tues 9.20-10.30am Laughter Yoga, Roundwood Park Cafe, NW10. Children free, www.lifebulb.org BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU Kids classes Tues, Weds and Thurs from 4pm.

Adult classes Tues and Thurs 7-8.30pm and Sun 3.30-5pm. Willesden Sports Centre, Donnington Road, NW10 07092 845 640 or www.bjjschool.co.uk PKA-KICKBOXING Sudbury. Mon 7.15 8:45pm, ages 12+ & adults, St Andrew’s Church Scouts Hut, 956 Harrow Road, Sudbury, HA0 2QA. Wembley. Kids classes, 5-11 Thur 6.307.30, 12+ & Adults classes Thurs 7.30-9.00 St Augustine's Church Hall, 154 Wembley Hill Road HA9 8EW 07865962620 sam@kickboxinglondon.co.uk www.pka-kick boxing.com.

Boxing for kids See: Sports & Leisure

FEBRUARY 2011

VENUES BRENT MUSEUM BRENT MUSEUM High Road, NW10 020 8937 3600 BRENT ARCHIVES Ist Floor, Willesden Green Library Centre, NW10 020 8937 3541 archives@brent.gov.uk PAUL DAISLEY HALL Forty Lane, Wembley, Middx HA9 Box Office 020 8937 6206/6203 STABLES GALLERY ARTS CENTRE Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill Lane, London NW2 020 8452 8655 Thursday – Sunday 11am-6pm TRICYCLE THEATRE CINEMA AND GALLERY 269 Kilburn High Road,London NW6 Theatre Box Office 020 7328 1000 Cinema Box Office 020 7328 1900 Disabled access to auditorium and cafe induction loop in auditorium Minicom 020 7625 5105 WEMBLEY ARENA Box Office 0870 060 0870 www.livenation.co.uk/wembley

LIBRARIES Barham Park Library Harrow Road, Sudbury, Middx 020 8937 3550 barhamparklibrary@brent.gov.uk Cricklewood Library 152 Olive Road NW2 020 8937 3540 cricklewoodlibrary@brent.gov.uk Ealing Road Library Ealing Road, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 3560 ealingroadlibrary@brent.gov.uk Harlesden Library Craven Park Road, Harlesden, London NW10 020 8937 3570 harlesdenlibrary@brent.gov.uk Kensal Rise Library Bathurst Gardens, NW10 020 8937 3660 kensalriselibrary@brent.gov.uk Kilburn Library Salusbury Road, London NW6 020 8937 3530 kilburnlibrary@brent.gov.uk Kingsbury Library Plus Kingsbury Road, Kingsbury, London NW9 020 8937 3520 kingsburylibrary@brent.gov.uk Neasden Library 277 Neasden Lane, London NW1 020 8937 3580 neasdenlibrary@brent.gov.uk Preston Road Library Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 3510 prestonlibrary@brent.gov.uk Tokyngton Library Monks Park, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 3590 tokyngtonlibrary@brent.gov.uk Town Hall Library Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 3500 townhalllibrary@brent.gov.uk Willesden Green Library High Road, Willesden, London NW10 020 8937 3400 willesdengreenlibrary@brent.gov.uk THE BRENT MAGAZINE

31

TIMEout

What’s going on…

The essential guide to music, drama, sport, workshops and much more. Find out what’s going on in Brent during February 2011. To get your event listed email tbm@brent.gov.uk or telephone 020 8937 1098.

CHILDREN KINGS HALL YOUTH CLUB Members' club for 10-15 year olds, supervised by trained youth workers and volunteers. Weds 79pm, Kings Hall Community Centre, 155 Harlesden Rd, Willesden Green, NW10 Limited places. Go to www.kingsyouthclub .org.uk to download membership form.

Any queries, email youthclub@tiscali.co.uk AIR CADETS Mon and Thurs 7pm 406 Squadron Willesden 020 8451 0406 ART CLASSES Mini Picassos for children aged 4-6 yrs and 7-11yrs; toddler Picassos 15 months-3 yrs, Gracelands Cafe, Kensal Green 07903 638 817 MAINLY MUSIC Weds 9.45-11am £2.50 music, dancing and instruments with social morning tea and playtime for parents, carers and children under five Wembley Christian Centre Carlton Ave East, Forty Avenue corner 07900 460 875 dave andmarc@gmail.com SEA TRAINING CORPS Thurs 7.15-9.15pm Sea Pirates 7-9 yrs; Thurs 7.15-9.15pm juniors; Mons and Fris 7.159.30pm Sea Cadets; Mons and Fris 7.159.30pm Marine Cadets; youth group for boys and girls, Cool Oak Lane, NW9 020 8205 4492 www.seacadet.org

DOWN SYNDROME TIGER CUBS Thurs 5-6pm football coaching run by QPR, Woodfield School Genwood Avenue, NW9 020 8740 2585 07815 670 806 DANIEL’S DEN Mons 1-3pm, Thurs 9.30am-11am, 11.30am1pm, Tues 10am-noon St MIchael and All Angels Church, Hillside, Stonebridge; Fris 9.3011am, 11.30am-1pm St Michael’s Church Hall, St Michael’s Ave, Tokyngton; Tues, 1-3pm, Gladstone Park Primary School, Dollis Hill www. danielsden.org.uk 11TH BRONDESBURY GUIDES Tues, 6pm for girls aged 10-14 in Willesden 07810 653 225 4TH BRONDESBURY BROWNIES AND GUIDES Thurs Brownies 6.308pm. Guides 7-8.30pm.

07981 174 634 FRENCH CLASSES Weds, Thurs after-school in Kensal Rise ages 5-11; 07753 693 720 GIRLS’ BRIGADE Weds 5.15-8.30pm for five-year-olds and upwards, Queensbury Methodist Church, Beverley Drive 07961 321 237 LONDON IRISH MUSIC SCHOOL Sats, traditional Irish music for under 14s; Oliver Goldsmith Primary, Kenton www.london irishmusicschool.co.uk 020 8205 7231 Irish music for under 14s See: Children

THE BRENT MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2011

MINI-SOCCER Suns Year 3 9.4510.45am Year 4-Year 6 10.45am-12noon Uxendon Manor School, Vista Way, Kenton, 6 weeks £30, call George Lappas 07957 229 518 MONKEY MUSIC Thurs children aged 3 months-3 years; St James’s Church Centre, Stanley Avenue, Alperton www.monkeymusic.co. uk 01895 674 587 MUM AND TODDLER Thurs 10am-12noon, Preston Mall Community Centre, Kenton £2 020 8204 1148 PARENT TODDLER GROUP Thurs 9-10.30am 50p Barham Primary Wembley 020 8902 3706 PIONEER EXPLORER SCOUTS Weds 8-10pm for 14-18 years, Stember Hall, Leighton Gardens, NW10 01582 703121 7TH BRONDESBURY BROWNIES Tues 6pm for girls aged 7-10 in Willesden 07810 653 225 SING AND SIGN CLASSES Mon-Fri, for babies 6-18 months. Willesden Green & Kensal Rise 07790 955 576 SOCCER TRAINING Fris 6-8pm, for children, first session free Capital City Academy NW10 mdipaola@cyworks.co.uk SPLASH FOOTBALL Sats 10am-12pm, ages 5-15. Claremont High School, Claremont Avenue, Kenton, £30 for 5 weeks 07863 165 737 GRANVILLE PLUS YOUTH ARTS CENTRE Free creative learning activities for young people aged 11-25yrs. Guitar, Taekwondo, Vocal training (20min private lessons) song writing, fashion as a business and more. 80 Granville Road, Kilburn, NW6 5RA 020 8937 3612 tina.ramdeen@ brent.gov.uk

3RD WEMBLEY SCOUTS Fris Cubs 7-8.30pm, Scouts 7pm-9pm Clivedon Hall Clifton Way, Alperton call Andrew Stevenson 020 8997 0951 020 8902 6902

COMMUNITY THIS ME, THIS IS HARLESDEN View art work and short film from a project carried out by Brent Museum exploring identity with young people from Brent.

Harlesden Library, just drop in.

WEMBLEY HISTORY SOCIETY 18 Feb 7.30pm, 150 Years of Wembley Cricket Club - a talk by John Haskell. St Andrew's Church Hall, Church Lane (opp. Tudor Gdns), Kingsbury NW9 8RZ philgrant69@aol.com NORTH WEST LONDON WOMEN’S INSTITUTE Meets first Thursday of the month upstairs at the North London Tavern on Kilburn High Road.

MOSAIC Weekly youth club for lesbian, gay and bi teenagers. mosaicyouth.org.uk 08000 433 411 NORTH WEST LONDON LESBIAN AND GAY GROUP Mons 8.30pm, Tenterden Sports Centre, Preston Road, Wembley 07941 707884 OVER 50S DISCUSSION GROUP Tues 11am-12.30pm The Gallery, Willesden Green Library 020 8452 8739 WEMBLEY NATIONAL TRUST 3rd Thurs of month, 8-10pm Sudbury Neighbourhood Centre 809 Harrow Road, Wembley 020 8904 5940 WILLESDEN GREEN WRITERS GROUP Thurs 8-10pm Willesden Green Library Centre www.willesdengreen writers.com

GONG MEDITATION 1 hour guided meditation through chakras using gongs, temple bells and Tibetan singing bowls. £5, 1st Weds of month.

14 Drayton Road, NW10 4EL. Also individual sessions in T’ai Chi. Sandira 07940 804 098.

DANCE CLUB CEROC Tues 8-11pm, entry £8 plus £2 lifetime membership and a free beginners guide DVD, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9. www.clubceroc.com 020 8933 4350.

ADULT STREET DANCE Tues, 7.30-8.30pm, £5.15 New Bridge Park Centre, Stonebridge 020 8937 3730 BALLROOM AND LATIN Mons 7.30-11pm Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane Wembley 020 8855 6868 BELLY DANCING Mons 7.30-8.30pm (beginners), 8.30-9.30pm (improvers) £48 for 6 weeks £8 drop-in Fitness First 492-498 High Rd, Wembley, www.hayaam .com 07855 362 849 Tues 8.30-10pm NY Pilates Studio, Lonsdale Rd NW6 020 7372 3490 Sats 2-3pm 105 Salusbury Road NW6, £7 per lesson or £50 for 8 sessions to be used within 3 months eliftarakci@yahoo.co.uk BOLLYWOOD AND SEMI-CLASSICAL INDIAN Suns 11.15am-12.15pm Fitness First 197 Alperton Road 07930 593 988 rupal@classic-creations .info SALSA Mons, 7.30-8.30pm Mambo City salsa £6 St Joseph’s Social Club, Empire Way, Wembley salsa@mambocity.co.uk Fris 7.30-8.30pm Willesden Sports Centre Thurs 8.15-9.30pm £4.50 07961 281 989 Mons 6.30-7.30pm Salsasize dance and exercise £4 Chalkhill Community Centre, 113 Chalkhill Road, Wembley 020 8385 1836 DA SALSA ROOM Salsa classes & club free styling night every Mons.

7.30-8.30pm Classes from £6. Heritage Inn Caribbean Rhum Bar & Restaurant, 301 Cricklewood Broadway, London, NW2 6PG. 07961 281989 info@dasalsaroom.com www.dasalsaroom.com

SELF EXPRESSIVE DANCE Tues 8-9.30pm, £7.50, Holy Innocents Church Hall, Bacon Lane 020 8205 6751 SEQUENCE AND TEA DANCING Mons 2-4pm sequence dance Thurs 2-4pm tea dance £1.50 all ages welcome King’s Hall Community Centre 155 Harlesden Road, Willesden 020 8459 3487 TEA DANCE Mons, Weds 1.30-4.30pm £4 Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane Wembley 020 8937 6206 Fris 2-4.30 pm Chalkhill Community Centre, 113 Chalkhill Road, Wembley 020 8385 1836 DANCE AT THE TRICYCLE Street Dance. Free classes for 5-18 year olds. Call Anna 020 7372 6611 or visit www.tricycle.co.uk WE'LL MEET AGAIN Free activity group for the over 60s, including Drama, Art, Dance and T'ai Chi. Call Anna 020 7372 6611 for more details.

BRENT PENSIONERS FORUM 2 Feb, 1st Wed of the month, Brent Town Hall, 020 8904 5865

DRAMA CHAMELEONS Mons and Thurs 8pm, amateur dramatics Neasden Methodist Church, NW10 07968 965 038 DRAMA WORKHOUSE Sat. For children 1-2pm 79 years; 2-3pm 10-12 years; 4-6pm 13-18 years; under 10s £25/term, Over 10s £40/term; Tues adult classes 8-10pm £9.50 Dudden Hill Centre, 19 Dudden Hill Lane, NW10 www.dramaworkhouse .org.uk 07958 653 725 MADHATTERS Box office 020 8452 5239 www.madhatters theatre.org.uk

ENVIRONMENT KINGSBURY WALKERS Weds 1.55pm, Meet Bush Farm, Slough Lane and Salmon Street junction.

020 8907 2836 BARN HILL CONSERVATION GROUP Programme of events at Fryent Country Park (Sun) and Roe Green Walled Garden (Tue, Thur, Sat) 020 8206 0492 www.bhcg.btck.co.uk