The Brent Magazine issue 113 April 2011

ISSUE NO.113 • FREE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN BRENT • PUBLISHED BY BRENT COUNCIL • APRIL 2011

Your ze i s w ne TBM

Blue Badge sting Cheats busted

Learning centre opens Providing primary places

We’re counting on you to take part in the 2011 Census Help us plan housing, education and healthcare for the next ten years.

Complete your census form on Sunday 27 March 2011.

You should have received your form by now – make sure you fill yours in, even if you are a short term visitor.

Census collectors will be knocking on doors to offer help – they will carry ID and will not want to come in to your house.

Remember, personal information is not shared with anyone – it is completely secure and not published for 100 years.

For more information about the 2011 Census and to find out where you can get help filling out your form go to www.census.gov.uk or telephone 0300 0201 101.

Contents 13

Features Council sting to target illegal parkers

Counting places Brent agrees toughest ever budget Council looks to save around £42 million

Emissions based permits Find out what it means for you

Communication is child’s play Council launches national Year of Communication

Should she stay or should she go?

Youchoose interactive online drama

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Brent children need you Foster and change a child’s life forever

Regulars

4 9 21 27 29 30

Welcome to the April issue of The Brent Magazine

Creating more places for primary children

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Rachel Gardner Editor, The Brent Magazine

Update

March competition winners: Tricycle competition: Paul Gerrard Lyne Stadium tour winners: Sanjay Singhal, Pauline Granger, Kalina Nicinska, Annette Brady.

Brent people All in a day’s work Secret history

You may have noticed something different about this month’s magazine – we’ve changed to a new size. Not only does the smaller design fit better in your handbag, it’s also saving us money.

Making savings is a priority for the council. We need to save around £42 million in the next 12 months.

Turn to page 14 to find out how we intend to do this.

Parking permit charges are changing soon. Find out if you will be affected on page 19.

We hope you enjoy the newlook magazine; let us know what you think.

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Blue Badge abusers busted

Competitions Time out

Issue No. 113 April 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: Ashley gardens learning centre (see page 13).

Photograph by Nadia Attura.

UPdate

Street league Mat Butler, Middlesex FA’s Get Into Football Officer for Brent, has organised Street League Sessions to involve more 16-19 year olds in football.

The sessions are being delivered in partnership with Brent Councils Sports Development Team starting Wednesday 23 March at Vale Farm Leisure Centre, from 68pm. The sessions will be lead by coaches from The Rachel Yankey Football Academy and participants will have the opportunity to participate in skills, fitness and small sided games.

The 16-19 year olds will be able to attend their first session free of charge, before being asked to pay just £1 for a two hour session on the leisure centres astroturf pitch.

The second project is being run alongside LNER Youth FC and is aimed at getting dads back into Football.

The sessions for dads who may not have played for several years, start on Saturday 26 March at LNER FC Sports Club, Sudbury from 10.30am-12pm.

The sessions will be delivered by one of the Middlesex FA Community Sports Coaches and the dads will have the opportunity to participate in skills, fitness and games.

Each session will take place in an informal social environment and will be a more enjoyable way of keeping fit than going to the gym.

Although aimed at dads over 30s, the course welcomes any male over the age of 18.

A small fee of £2 per player is charged per session.

For further information on either of these projects contact Mat Butler, the Get Into Football Officer for Brent, at mathew.butler@middlesexfa.com

Students look to the future at careers day Students and parents were invited to a special careers day in March to help them make informed choices about their future.

The ‘Routes to the Futures’ event for Years 8 and 9 pupils was launched last year after Brent Youth Parliament (BYP) wrote to the council requesting more opportunities to help young people with their career options.

In response, the council together with Brent Connexions and Brent and Harrow Education Business Service

(BHEBS) set up the event at Wembley Plaza Hotel, where students and their parents could meet a range of employers and chat to them informally to find out about careers and the relevant qualifications needed.

Kyron Greenwood, from Copland Community College and BYP, went along to find out what youngsters thought of the event.

Alice MacKensie, 13, said: “I enjoyed the apprenticeships and what jobs I could get through them. Overall the day was brilliant.”

June King, 13, said: “It was nice to hear there is still hope of getting a job during the cuts.”

Gardening event for over 50s Elders Voice is holding a gardening event on Saturday 9 April to encourage people over the age of 50 to participate in gardening and to give tips and advice.

There will be workshops on soil structure, lawnmowers, compost and organic matter, plant feed and minimising work in the garden.

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The event will be held at The Grange, Neasden Lane, NW10 1QB. Elders Voice currently runs gardening clubs at venues around the borough and would like to find more participants, as well as retired volunteers to help run the groups and assist in maintaining frail older people’s gardens.

For more information call 020 8206 7513.

Rugby stars open new playground Stars of two of the UK's top rugby teams and a former England coach passed some of their skills on to youngsters at a Brent school to mark the opening of its new playground.

Dick Best, former England and British Lions Coach and currently Honorary President of the Middlesex region of the Wooden Spoon charity opened the playground at Vernon House with Adam Powell, of Saracens, and Tom Rees, of Wasps.

The project doubled the available play area, providing facilities for pupils with special needs.

UPdate

Council and Careys dip in to save Welsh Harp Education Centre Children from Claremont Primary School joined the Leader of Brent Council Cllr Ann John OBE, and representatives from Careys – a local construction company based in the borough for the past 40 years – on Friday 11 March to celebrate the news that the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre will remain open.The centre is a haven to local wildlife and offers

Children’s services performing Children’s services in Brent are continuing to perform well according to Ofsted, with a large majority of services being good or outstanding. In its annual assessment for 2010, Ofsted gave the council’s Children and Families Department a ‘good’ grade three (out of four) across the board in five key areas. These were encouraging healthy lifestyles, keeping children safe, making a positive contribution to the community, supporting educational achievement and achieving economic wellbeing.

The report fond that significant improvements had been made in helping pupils from low-income families achieve more at school and that this was faster than anywhere in the country. The gaps for Black Caribbean and Somali pupils have also closed.

A Team of Housing Heroes Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) has been successfully shortlisted for this year’s Housing Heroes Awards 2011.

The Housing Heroes Awards is an annual scheme which recognises the 'unsung heroes' of the housing world, and rewards them for their contribution in making housing such a vibrant and caring sector.

BHP has been nominated for the work of the Major Works team on a sustainable energy programme on the Brentfield Estate off the North Circular Road in Brent. Homes were fitted with solar panels and host

thousands of Brent primary and secondary school children environmental education classes in science and geography.

With Brent Council needing to save around £42million during 2011/12, the centre was under threat. Its future is now secure after local firm Careys agreed to jointly fund it with the council, and work together to develop its potential.

Gee whizz. Brent best-selling author brightens first World Book Night Local best-selling author Maggie Gee was one of the star attractions at the first World Book Night event at Willesden Green Library.

Gee who has written eleven acclaimed novels, including My Cleaner and The White Family and has been shortlisted for the Orange Prize, gave a talk about her work at the event to celebrate books and reading.

Michael de Souza and Genevieve Webster

Other attractions on the night, that was attended by over 300 reading enthusiasts of all ages, included a screening of the Rastamouse cartoon, introduced by authors Michael de Souza and Genevieve Webster and a samba dancing session.

World Book Day, as its name suggests, is a global celebration of books and reading that's marked by over 100 countries worldwide.

To find out more, visit www.worldbookday.com

of other efficiency measures which has improved life for residents of the estate. They have cheaper energy bills as a result and warmer homes.

As an added bonus for BHP, Francis Kabia (Neighbourhood Warden) who won a Housing Hero Award last year, has been asked by the organisers to be a judge on the panel. Francis said: “I am delighted to have been asked to be a judge at the Housing Heroes Awards. It is a real honour and I look forward to meeting this year’s heroes who are doing a brilliant job serving their communities”.

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UPdate

Pupils turn cards into fruit Pupils from The Swaminarayan Prep School are celebrating being the best in Brent at recycling festive cards. The winning school in Brentfield Road, which collected 52.35 kilogrammes of cards, was presented with an apple tree and gardening goodies as reward for their efforts.

Twelve schools across Brent

took part in the recycling initiative which was organised

by Brent Council. A total of 313.9kg of cards were recycled. The apple tree and tools were donated by Homebase Willesden.

To find out more about recycling call Brent Council on 020 8937 5050 or visit www.brent.gov.uk/recycling

Council will pick up £2,000 fee for royal parties in the borough Brent Council has joined many other local authorities by agreeing to shoulder the cost of issuing traffic orders for street parties to celebrate the Royal Wedding in April.

Brent normally charges £2,000 to close a street if utility companies or other commercial organisations make such request, but on this special occasion the council will waive the fee.

Tim Jackson, Brent Council’s Head of Transportation, said: “Street parties can be a great way to bring communities together but must be properly organised. Closing off a street without the proper permission is illegal and residents could face legal action if

Sporting legend set to bowl ‘em over at cricket master class Alvin Kallicharran

Brent kids aged nine to 15 got a rare chance to learn all about the finer points of cricket at a special cricketing master class given by former West Indies Team batsman, Alvin Kallicharran at Kingsbury Library Plus.

Children (and their adults)

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got some top class cricketing tips from Alvin and fellow coach David Chase, from the South Hampstead Cricket Club.

For more information on cricket programmes in the borough visit www.brent.gov.uk/cricket

there’s an accident or if someone is injured. Now that the charge has been waived, I hope residents will go through the proper channels and make sure everyone remembers the big day for the right reasons.”

To apply to hold a street party on any Brent street on the day of the Royal Wedding contact Paul Richards, Transportation Manager, on 020 8937 5145 or paul.richards@brent.gov.uk by 5pm on Monday 4 April.

There may be a charge for additional specialist road signs, cones or barriers if this is necessary for public safety.

Art traineeships in South Kilburn The South Kilburn Arts Programme is looking for up to 12 local people aged 18-25 interested in learning a creative skill such as fine art, fashion and joinery.

Each trainee will work alongside a mentor in the South Kilburn Art Studios from May to September 2011, two afternoons a week. At the end of the course the trainee’s work will be displayed in an exhibition attended by key industry professionals.

An open day will be held in April. For confimation of the date and more information visit www.southkilburnstudios.org, email moira@architecture foundation.org.uk or call 0207 084 6767 As part of the ongoing regeneration of South Kilburn, art projects like this are being delivered by Brent Council and the South Kilburn Neighbourhood Trust to improve local skills and spaces for the community.

UPdate

50 plus health and wellbeing programme Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre is running a six week health and wellbeing programme for people aged 50 upwards or those who are limited to mobility.

The programme is designed to get older people active. It concentrates on body balance, strengthening muscles, breathing exercises and includes a visit from a health speaker advising on healthy eating. To book on the programme call Leanne Rodriguez on 020 8937 3711.

The deadline to register is Monday 18 April 2011. A all participants will be required to complete a pre activity questionnaire and may need a doctor’s note to confirm they are able to take part in the programme. The programme will begin on Thursday 28 April 2011. If you live in Brent and are limited to mobility and require door to door transport you can contact Brent Community Transport. They provide accessible transport services to individuals. Call Roshni Gami on 020 3114 7022.

Taking the lead: Have your say The council is consulting with residents on proposals to tighten up the rules concerning dogs in Brent's parks and open spaces.

The parks service and the animal welfare team have worked together to draw up the plans – taking the issues, views and opinions of dog owners in the borough into consideration – to promote responsible dog ownership and improve the borough's parks and opens spaces for all.

The proposals include ensuring that bowling greens, tennis courts and children's play areas will still be kept dog free and limiting the number of dogs that one person can walk in a Brent park to six.

Also up for discussion is a proposal to keep dogs on leads in the borough's

smallest ‘pocket parks' which would include Brondesbury Villas, Kimberley Road and Villiers Road and the bedding areas of Roundwood, Barham and Gladstone parks and in the borough's cricket tables and wickets.

The council's dog walking consultation will commence on Monday 28 March and finish Friday 29 April. To have your say visit www.brent .gov.uk/consultation

Win £25,000 by paying council tax with Direct Debit Residents of Brent who pay their council tax by Direct Debit will be entered into a free prize draw to win £25,000. If you don't currently pay council tax by Direct Debit, just register to do so by 14 July 2011 and you'll also be entered into the competition.

If you are a Brent resident who already pays your council tax bill by Direct Debit, you will be automatically entered into the prize draw. The winner of this year's draw will be announced on 19 July 2011.

For more information on the competition, visit www.ddeasywinner.co.uk

Nominations open for Best Bar None The annual search for Brent’s best managed pubs, clubs and bars returns this spring with the launch of Best Bar None 2011.

Now in their fifth year, the awards promote responsible management of alcohol-licensed premises and are supported by Brent Council, Brent Police and Brent NHS. Venues that sign up to the scheme will be visited by licensing officers from the council and the police both in and out of trading hours to assess how well they meet current licensing and trading laws. Those meeting the Best Bar None criteria will be accredited to the scheme and

allowed to display signs to that effect on their premises.

Last year’s overall winner was the Green Man Pub Hotel on Dagmar Avenue, in Wembley, who will be seeking to become the first venue to win this accolade twice in a row.

The overall winner of Best Bar None 2011 will benefit from holding the title during the 2012 Olympics, where Brent will host football at Wembley Stadium, and badminton and rhythmic gymnastics at Wembley Arena.

For more information about the Best Bar None awards 2011 visit www.brentbest barnone.co.uk

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Spring Bank Holidays Collection Calendar Whether you’re planning a street party, an Easter egg hunt or just celebrating in style with your friends and family, please remember to recycle as much as you can over the Spring Bank Holiday Period.

There will be no changes to your landfill waste or recycling collections over the Spring Bank Holiday period, so put your Grey Landfill Bins and Green Boxes out on your normal day of collection.

Revised collection days over the Spring Bank Holiday period Normal collection April Friday 22 (Good Friday) Monday 25 (Easter Monday)

The only changes to your waste and recycling collection over the Spring Bank Holidays will be to the collection of organic waste in the green organics bin for those residents who have them.

Revised collection

Tuesday 26

Saturday 23 Tuesday 26 Wednesday 27

Wednesday 27

Thursday 28

Thursday 28

Saturday 30

Friday 29 (Royal wedding)

Sunday 1

May

When the celebrations are over, use your green box or recycling banks for all of your recyclable materials and use your green organics bin for all your cardboard, garden and food waste.

Monday 2 (May Day)

Tuesday 3

Tuesday 3

Wednesday 4

Wednesday 4 Thursday 5 Friday 6

020 8937 5050

Thursday 5 Friday 6 Saturday 7

www.brent.gov.uk/waste

BRENTpeople

Fashioning young creators

Youngsters can bring their fashion creations to life at designer Amanda Riley’s Fashion Factory at her home in Kensal Green. Photographs NADIA ATTURA.

What is the Fashion Factory?

What do you enjoy about teaching children?

The Fashion Factory is classes for eight to 14-year-olds. I started it just over a year ago, teaching children how to make clothes, gifts and accessories. We use recycled clothes and organic cottons where possible. I want to show youngsters how to make the latest trends themselves instead of buying cheap, mass-produced clothing on the high street.

I’ve always loved a challenge and I think it’s really important for children to be inspired. It makes me feel good to help them create something they can be really proud of and can actually go out and wear. It can be quite an experiment at times – I often think ‘how do I communicate this to an eight-year-old?’. I want to pass on my skills to the younger generations and show them how to use their hands again.

How important is recycling in what you do?

Around 40 per cent of what my classes create comes from recycled items. I pick up lots of my materials from charity shops and we then transform them into dresses, skirts, handbags and gifts. I’ve spent a lot of time designing embroideries in India, there people are brilliant at using every little scrap of what they have; nothing gets thrown away.

At the moment I’m collecting old t-shirts for the children to make into their own ball gowns. We will be putting on a big fashion show again this summer to showcase what the children have made.

When did you discover your flare for fashion and designing?

I made my first dress when I was eight years old, and I was hooked from then. At the age of 14 I had my own little business going, making clothes for friends and family. By then I’d already decided I wanted to be a fashion designer. I did a BA in Fashion and Textiles and went on to teach at The London College of Fashion as well as working for fashion houses in Milan and Hong Kong.

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Blue Badge abusers busted Drivers parking illegally with Blue Badges and hogging disabled spaces they are not entitled to use have been cautioned and fined in a crackdown by the council.

Words Anna Macarthur The sting took place in Wembley town centre following high levels of Blue Badge use in London Road and Ealing Road,Wembley by drivers suspected of not being entitled to park in disabled bays.

Of the 18 badges seized, three are thought to be lost, stolen or counterfeit. Most were the relatives of a genuine badge holder who had borrowed the permit to make parking easier and free. But their selfish actions meant they were blocking spaces and making it difficult for legitimate disabled drivers to park.

“The badge holder must be present in the car or. If they are not in the car then you are not entitled to use the disabled badge.”

Anyone caught using a badge that did not belong to them had the permit confiscated, were issued with a parking ticket and told to attend the town hall for a formal interview under caution.

Simon said: “The badge holder must be present in the car. If they are not in the car then you are not entitled to use the disabled badge. Most people are aware of the rules but continue to abuse the system.”

Confiscated badges will be returned to their registered owner with a formal warning but could be taken away permanently if the abuse continues.

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

The Blue Badge scheme The Blue Badge scheme provides parking concessions to disabled people whose mobility is permanently and substantially impaired.

The badge is solely for the use of the disabled person and allows the holder to have free parking as well as access to special parking bays. Holders do not pay the Congestion Charge.

Simon Lane, Head of Brent Council’s Audit and Investigation team, which organized the sting, said: “Intelligence showed that these roads were clogged with cars displaying disabled badges – a higher number than we would expect.

“We organised the operation to crack down on misuse.”

Council investigation officers – with the support of parking enforcement and Brent Police - stopped anyone using a Blue Badge to check if they were the official holder.They were able to check the photo on the badge, or details they had about the rightful holder, with the individual using it.

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Taking learning into the community

BACES

Brent Adult and Community Education Service

BACES courses for 2010/11 This is your last chance to access many of the 2010/11 courses that BACES has to offer in a wide range of subjects at such a competitive price. So if there is something you have been meaning to try, now is the time.

Below is a list of some of the courses. Book before 28 April 2011 to take advantage of this year’s prices.

Art, crafts, media and practical skills • Contemporary jewellery techniques – learn basic professional skills • Glass jewellery – create your own unique designs • Redesigning vintage clothing – customize new and exciting garments • Floristry and flower arranging • Digital video – Documentary – discover the complete digital production process • Podcasting on a budget – plan and produce a podcast • NOCN Award Entry 3 in Online IT Basics (specialised for Art and Design students) • Bicycle maintenance • Gardening for summer – basic gardening skills

Courses start from 11 April 2011

Health, public services and care • • • •

Emergency first aid at work First aid at work Paediatric first aid training Food safety in catering

Languages Business and ICT • Book-keeping and accounts C&G Level 1 – introduction to basic practices • NOCN Award Entry 3 in Online IT Basics – Courses to develop your computing skills.

• ABC Award Entry 2 in Italian speaking and listening – intensive course Childcare courses 2011/12 Assessment and interview dates for childcare courses beginning from September 2011 will be available from 16 May 2011. To arrange an appointment contact the BACES Stonebridge Centre.

www.brent.gov.uk/adulteducation

Courses are affordable and students may qualify for a concession. Sixteen to 19-year-olds who are not in full time education have free access to accredited courses.

For further details about all of our courses, please contact a BACES Centre or call into any BACES Centre and pick up a course list brochure.

Visit us Stonebridge Centre 1 Morland Gardens, Stonebridge, London NW10 8DY Madison House 24-28 London Rd., Wembley, Middlesex HA9 7HD Carlton Centre Carlton Vale, London NW6 5RA

Phone us Stonebridge Centre 020 8937 3950 Madison House 020 8937 3636 Carlton Centre 020 8937 3990 Visit our website or pick up a brochure at a Brent library or Brent One Stop Service Centre.

Counting places The need for primary school places in Brent is soaring. The council is doing everything it can to provide more places.

Words JASON GRIMSLEY. Photo NADIA ATTURA

School expansions get approved

Brent is facing a very difficult situation because of the soaring demand for primary school places – official estimates are that the borough will need an extra 1,680 new primary places by September 2015.

The council has opened Ashley Gardens Early Learning Centre, in Wembley, as a temporary solution to help provide more badly-needed places for local primary school pupils.

Ashley Gardens was opened to cater for pupils who should have started reception classes this academic year but have not been able to find a place.

Until now, most of the 42 four-andfive-year-olds at the centre were receiving part-time education in a

church hall in Wembley.

Ashley Gardens is like a normal primary school but on a much smaller scale – a high-quality, modern building with eight staff members including fully qualified teachers, it has two classrooms, serves school dinners and has a play area. It can cater for 60 children and more pupils are joining all the time.

The plan is that pupils from Ashley Gardens will go onto new primary provision at Preston Manor High School due to open in September this year.The creation of two forms of primary provision and lowering the age limit to create an all through school was one of several projects recently approved by the council.

Proposals for three school expansions worth £15.2 million have been approved

by Brent Council’s Executive committee.

The proposals for expansion at Newfield and Brentfield Primary schools will help to ease Brent’s shortage of places for primary pupils. The committee also approved two forms of primary provision and the lowering of the age limit for Preston Manor High School.

The expansion of the three popular schools will create an extra 840 extra primary places in the borough

by September 2015, helping Brent fulfil its statutory duties to ensure sufficient school places and increase parental choice.

Planning permission has been given to extend Brentfield Primary School, Meadow Garth, NW10 and Newfield Primary School, in Longstone Avenue, NW10, but Preston Manor, in Carlton Avenue East, is still to have its application approved.

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GreenPages Green WWW.BRENT.GOV.UK/WASTE

APRIL 2009

How does your garden grow?

Home composting special

Brent Council – working for a cleaner, greener Brent

Turn over a new leaf for spring With the cold weather well and truly behind us, we can put winter to the back of our minds and start focusing on what spring has in store.

This is the time of year when we can start venturing back into our gardens.

It is also the time of year when we can really give the garden a good spring clean, gathering up the last of the fallen leaves, prune old branches and twigs and treating the lawn to its first haircut of the year.

It’s also a good time to prepare your compost heaps and bins.

And if you don’t have one, now is the time to start!

• Composting saves you money • compost improves soil, it opens up

You can compost

• Fresh uncooked fruit and vegetables and peelings • Grass cuttings • Hedge trimmings

clay, holds moisture and nutrients

• Soft prunings

and reduces the need to

• Twigs

water and fertilise

• Sawdust

• compost improved soil leads

• Toilet roll tubes

to healthier plants that are

• Kitchen towel

less prone to disease and

• Dried leaves

pest attack • it’s fun, easy and very satisfying, almost addictive.

• Small woody prunings • Egg shells • Tea bags • Coffee Grounds • Egg boxes.

020 8937 5050

www.brent.gov.uk/waste

Garden and kitchen waste accounts for 32 per cent of all household waste produced in Brent.

If you don’t have room to compost, we provide a service to collect this waste and turn it into compost.

Use your green organics bin to collect garden and kitchen waste. If you don’t have a green organics bin, you can order free bio-sacks for garden waste.

Order your first compost bin from Brent Council for just £5!*

Composting is a natural process that occurs when organic materials break down. Composting also avoids organic material from being disposed of in landfill. It is especially important that we divert organic material from landfill.

This is because when organic material breaks down in the absence of oxygen (as it does when it's buried in landfill) it produces a greenhouse gas called Methane which is 23 times more potent than CO2 at warming the atmosphere. Sending organic waste to landfill is a major contributor to climate change.

Please complete and return this form in a stamped addressed envelope with a cheque/postal order for £5 made payable to: London Borough of Brent StreetCare.

Please send the form to the address below: Home Composting Offer Brent Council Brent House 1st Floor West Wing 349-357 High Road Wembley Middlesex HA9 6BZ * Price includes delivery.

Offer open to Brent residents only. Limited to one composter

www.brent.gov.uk/recycling

cut here

per household.

Please choose the size and tick a box: 220 litre

To mark Compost Awareness Week 2011 in the first week in May we are offering Brent residents free compost!*

(Height 90 cm, Diameter 74cm)

330 litre (Height 100 cm, Diameter 80cm)

Order a second bin for: 220 litre £13 including delivery

* While stocks last

330 litre

• Look for your voucher for free compost and more information in the next edition of the Brent magazine • One voucher per household.

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

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

cut here

Email

Telephone

Postcode

Address

GreenPages www.brent.gov.uk/recycling

03.11 BDU 6421

• Please bring your own containers

Name

Please fill in your details here. Find out how to apply on the other side of this page.

£16 including delivery

How green is your car?

From 1 April 2011 charges for resident parking permits in Brent will change.

The charge for a Brent parking permit has been £50 for the past ten years.

The new arrangements, first proposed in August last year, will see residents with the cleanest cars retain a free resident parking permit. Owners with cars producing the highest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will pay more.

In a further attempt to cut car use, residents wishing to surrender their parking permits for a fixed period will be rewarded with a £200 voucher towards the cost of a bicycle, car club membership or oyster travel. The policy also introduces free parking for car clubs across the borough.

There are over 2,500 car club members in Brent who will now be permitted to park in any resident bay within a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) free of charge.

CO2 is recognised by scientists as one of the causes of climate change. Gases

produced by cars in the United Kingdom are estimated to contribute approximately 20 per cent of the total UK CO2 emissions.

Sue Harper, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods at Brent Council, said: “It was time to introduce an arrangement that supports Brent’s commitment to combating climate change. I do not take decisions like this lightly and recognise that many people rely on their car, but this policy reinforces the council's commitment to the environment.”

In a raft of measures supporting the scheme, the car club programme is set to be expanded across the borough and electric vehicle charging points are being installed in May in Wembley and Harlesden.

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

• The proposed charges would be based on seven bands similar to those used by the DVLA for road tax.

• Drivers of low polluting vehicles in Band 1 (less than 110gCO2/km) or older cars with small engines (less than 1100cc) pay nothing.

• Vehicles in Band 2 (110130gCO2/km or 1001-1200cc) would continue to pay the current charge of £50 a year for their first vehicle permit.

• The cost of visitor scratch cards will not change.

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Toughest ever budget – but key services protected Brent Council has agreed its toughest budget ever, which will see it save around £42 million over the next 12 months.

The scale of savings required means all council departments face radical restructures to reduce costs and streamline services, while protecting vital front line services.

The council also expects to make a further 400 staff redundant – mostly in managerial or back office functions – to help balance the budget.

The Leader of Brent Council, Councillor Ann John, said: “We are streamlining our operations, looking at new ways to deliver services, becoming more customer focused and cutting costs.We have been doing this since well before the cuts were announced and we are ahead of the game.”

Protected services The council has been active in consulting on its proposals and, as a result, is protecting a number of services including: • 17 Sure Start centres • Wembley Youth Centre • St Raphael's Community and Children's Centre • School crossing patrols • Welsh Harp Education Centre Other community services Brent will continue to fund include: • The Citizens Advice Bureau • Brent Community Law Centre • The Private Tenants’ Rights' Group • services to survivors of domestic violence

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Council tax has been frozen at £1,058.94 for band D, which is the same as the previous 12 months.

EXPLAINED

Brent currently has the fourth lowest council tax out of the 20 outer London boroughs.

This year sees extra resources for Adult Social Care – which is an area under constant financial pressure – and for the cost of temporary accommodation resulting from cuts in housing benefit.

The recommended overall budget requirement for 2010/11 is £267.9m across all council services against which the council must raise £103m from council tax and the remainder from grants which are 11.3 per cent lower than last year.The capital programme is set to fund over £120m of new investments in schools, roads and housing.

Extra resources for Adult Social Care

Library photo posed by models John Birdsall/ Press Association Images

FIRST CLASS LEARNING

EXCELLENT IN MATHS & ENGLISH WEMBLEY – Patidar House & Preston Manor High School • Age 4 to 16 and Adult Education • Follows National Curriculum • One to One Basis Call our Centre Managers on 07877 138947 or 07931 793850 www.firstclasslearning.co.uk

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Book Now for FREE ENROLMENT & CLASS TRIAL INTRODUCTORY FEE £80 for 6 months.

ALL IN Aday’s

work

Elector protector Voting in elections and referendums has an impact on everyone’s lives and Electoral Services Manager Sean O’ Sullivan is at the heart of this process in Brent. Sean and his team organise the local polling stations and counting of ballots that take place in any election as well as maintaining the electoral register – a list of all people registered to vote in the borough.

“Elections happen almost every year, whether they be local, general, European or the Greater London Assembly (GLA) elections taking place next year,” explains Sean. “Whenever they do, it’s our job to organise the election process on a local level. We try to make it as simple as possible for residents, so that they come to the polling station, cast their vote and leave with a positive experience.”

The national focus on Sean’s team during election time can be daunting, especially during the crucial stage of counting the votes. “The biggest challenge of any count is obviously to ensure it does not go wrong,” says Sean. “If the number of votes cast and the number of votes registered for each candidate don’t match, the whole count is thrown into disarray.”

In addition to elections, Sean’s team is also organising the referendum taking place on 5 May 2011 about whether or not to change the way our votes are counted.

“On May 5, people in the UK will vote on whether or not they want to change the current voting system we have.”

Sean explains. “It is very important that people understand what the referendum is about and to help with this a booklet is going to be distributed to every household in the country explaining how people can vote and what they are voting for.” A copy of this booklet is also available from the Electoral Commission’s website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk The deadline for registering to vote in order to take part in the 5 May referendum is midnight on 14 April 2011. This is also the last day you can apply for a postal vote but only up to 5pm. For more information on voting and the referendum, go to www.brent.gov.uk/elections or www.aboutmyvote.org.uk

“On May 5, people in the UK will vote on whether or not they want to change the current voting system.”

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Parents, carers and children in Brent have been learning about the importance of communication. Words Elise Reuben. Photos NADIA ATTURA.

It’s kid’s talk Harmony Children’s Centre in Bridge Road was the venue for Brent Council’s launch of its National Year of Communication celebrations.

To mark the occasion, adults and children enjoyed various activities, including a Guinness Book of Records attempt to join thousands of others across the country singing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

The event was supported by the council’s Early Years Inclusion Support Team and Children’s Centres Speech and Language Therapy Team who are raising awareness of the importance of communication in children under five.

National figures show that over one million children have speech, language and communication needs and that up to 50 per cent start school with language skills below the expected level for their age. Currently around 400 children in

Brent receive direct Speech and Language Therapy. These are just the youngsters who have been diagnosed with problems; the true figure is thought to be much higher.

Hatty Besley is the council’s Senior Early Years Speech and Language Therapist and Inclusion Co-ordinator.

Her team works with over 90 nurseries helping children get the support they need to develop their communication skills.

She said: “For some children, their daily struggle to communicate means they are shut out from the rest of the world. Poor communication can impact on everything from educational achievement and behaviour to mental health and employability.”

Margaret Bromham took daughters Jayda and Jasmine along to the launch to get some tips on communication for her two-year-old. “She already speaks really

well but I want to help her develop even further,” she said. “I read to my children every night and they listen to audio books as well. They love singing nursery rhymes.

I also speak Swahili and am teaching them some words too.”

Anita Whittaker, the company manager of The Village Nurseries in Harlesden, went to the event to find out what extra work she and her team can do.

She said: “We are a multi-cultural nursery with lots of different languages spoken so it is essential that we find out if a child is delayed because they are listening to a different language at home or because they have an underlying problem. The earlier a problem is discovered the quicker we can start working to help them overcome the issue.”

For more information contact Hatty or her team on 020 8937 3288.

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Should she stay or go?

YouChoose is Brent’s interactive online youth drama; it’s the series where you decide what happens. Here’s a quick recap of episode one, where wannabe bad girl Shanice faces a choice between a career and her family – should she carry on studying or stay with her cousin Marlon and show everyone who’s the big girl round town?

Saw your cousin Shanice today, she’s not good…

Shanice at Connexions

I’m not surprised, I heard she’s running round with Marlon now…

Do you think I would fit in at a college? Anyway, I live with my cousin Marlon now.

At Bev’s house Outside Connexions I’m Marlon and I look after Shanice now…

At Marlon’s flat

I was at Connexions earlier…

They can’t help you, they can’t help people like us – anyway, I need you later.

So, you wanna step to me? You’re a joke…

Visit www.bmyvoice.org.uk/youchoose to view episode two and vote on what you want to happen. YouChoose is managed by Granville Plus Youth Arts Centre as part of the Brent Youth and Connexions Service and produced by arts organisation Hiphology.

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Ward Working in your neighbourhood Building a healthier community It’s good to maintain our health and well-being. That’s why projects funded by Ward Working include a cricketing course in Queensbury, football coaching for young people in Wembley Central and free boxing sessions for Stonebridge primary schools.

Building a greener community That’s why Ward Working supports local parks and environmental projects. Recent funding will contribute towards the transformation of the open space in Dollis Hill and the development of an exciting eco garden for Kenton residents.

Building our future It’s good to value the youth of today as they are the citizens of tomorrow.

That’s why Ward Working is helping to set up the Kings Hall Youth Club in Willesden Green and a homework club in Stonebridge.

We want to hear what your priorities for your ward are.

Help make your neighbourhood even better. Contact 020 8937 1976 or email ward.working@brent.gov.uk

SECREThistory

Caring for the community Although his name may not be widely-known today, John Passmore Edwards’ generous gifts were famous in England over a century ago. He funded many hospitals, including one in Willesden.

The son of a Cornish ale-house owner who made his fortune through the Echo newspaper, Passmore Edwards used his money to fund institutions which helped the welfare of working people; from schools and libraries to convalescent homes. He funded over 70 major buildings in total, including a hospital in Willesden.

Before the creation of the NHS, healthcare was mainly available only to those who could afford it, and free hospitals were funded by public subscription and donations.

In the early 1890s, local fundraising to establish a much-needed hospital in Willesden was largely unsuccessful, until Passmore Edwards responded to a public appeal by offering to meet the £2,000 costs. The hospital opened in 1893 and was soon extended, again through the generosity of Passmore Edwards. The original Willesden Hospital building now

houses the Roundwood Resource Centre, part of the Willesden Centre for Health and Care, a one-stop community health facility.

To mark the centenary of Passmore Edwards’ death, events are being held across the country to celebrate his legacy.

Brent Archives and Brent Museum are launching an exhibition looking at the history of Willesden Hospital, in the Community Gallery on the ground floor of Willesden Green Library Centre. Dean Evans, author of Funding the Ladder: The Passmore Edwards Legacy, will also be giving a talk at Willesden Green Library Centre, on Wednesday 18 May, 6.30pm.

For more information visit www.brent.gov.uk/museum, call 020 8937 3600, or email museum@brent.gov.uk. For details of other events taking place for the Passmore Edwards centennial, visit www.pe-c.info

Passmore Edwards used his money to fund institutions which helped the welfare of working people; from schools and libraries to convalescent homes.

Willesden Hospital

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Brent children need you

Giving a safe and caring home to a child who is unable to live with their own family can be hugely rewarding.

Currently there are over 64,000 children in care throughout the UK, including nearly 400 in Brent. Although many are in suitable placements, we need more foster carers.

Cecilia Gabriel, Team Manager of Brent Council’s Recruitment and Assessment team, said: “There is an urgent need for more foster carers in the borough who have homes which can meet children’s needs and

From Monday 16 to Sunday 29 May 2011 Foster Care Fortnight will take place.

This year’s theme is Fostering: a time to care.

So why not take the opportunity to find out how you could get involved and change a child’s life forever.

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keep them safe. By just being a parent or having worked with children, you may already have many of the skills required.”

Whether you’ve already considered fostering or it’s the first time you’ve thought about it, why not take that first step and find out more. Call 020 8937 4538, email fostering@brent.gov.uk or visit www.brent.gov.uk/fostering A fostering information evening is held on the first Thursday of the month at Willesden Green Library Centre, 6.30-8.30pm.

The rewards include:

Did you know?

• helping a child who may be at risk

• You do not need a formal education Experience of child care or parenting is the most important thing

• generous allowances • the opportunity to develop a new career • full support and training • a dedicated supervising social worker

You will need: • a spare bedroom for the child • to be 21 years of age or over • to have indefinite leave to remain in the UK • the ability to manage working around the commitments of caring for a child

• You do not need to be married You can be single, married or in a same sex relationship • You do not need a really big house Just a safe and stable home where a child can have space of their own • You do not need to live in Brent Within a reasonable distance of the borough is fine • Whether you work or not isn’t important What matters is that you can meet the needs of a child in your care

Win Wembley Stadium Tours An escorted tour of Wembley Stadium makes an exciting day out for the whole family. We have two pairs of tickets for the tour exclusively for Brent residents. For a chance to win, send the correct answer to the following question:

Which team is England playing against in the Euro 2012 qualifier?

Send your answer to Wembley Stadium Competition, Room 9, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley HA9 9HD or email your answer to competition@brent.gov.uk The events calendar is correct at the time of going to print and is subject to change, for the very latest information on events at the stadium visit www.wembleystadium.com/events.

Terms and Conditions • Only one entry per person allowed • Prizes/tours must be redeemed within 12 months • Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult • No cash alternatives • Employees of Wembley Stadium and their families are not eligible to enter. • Prize winners must adhere to terms and conditions; visit www.wembleystadium.com/tours • Subject to availability • pre-bookingrequired.

Wembley Stadium Events 3 April 17 April 7 May 8 May 14 May 28 May 30 May 4 June

Johnstone's Paint Trophy FA Cup Semi Finals FA Trophy Vase FA Cup Final Champions League Final Championship Play Off Euro 2012 Qualifier: England v Switzerland 30 June Take That and 1,2,4-6 & 8-9 July

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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 April 2011. To get your event listed email tbm@brent.gov.uk or telephone 020 8937 1098.

CHILDREN TRICYCLE THEATRE SATURDAY SHOWS 11.30am & 2pm, £6 (£5 in advance). Sat 9 April Dynamic New Animation presents The Frog Prince and Other Peculiar Stories, 5+ yrs, 50 mins.

Sat 16 April The Little Angel Theatre presents The Fabulous Flutterby’s 3+ yrs, 50 mins. Sat 23 April Blunderbus Theatre Company presents The Dragon’s Daughter, 3-7 yrs, 50 mins. Sat 30 April, The Puppet Lab presents The Lost Sock Princess, 37 yrs, 50 mins.

4TH NEASDEN BROWNIES Tues 6-7.30pm, 216, Dollis hill lane, London NW2 6HE. Sandra 07794 01 88 19.

KINGS HALL YOUTH CLUB 10-15 year olds, Weds 79pm, Kings Hall Community Centre, 155 Harlesden Rd, Willesden Green, NW10. www. kingsyouthclub.org.uk youthclub@tiscali.co.uk AIR CADETS Mon and Thurs 7pm 406 Squadron Willesden 020 8451 0406 ARTALIKE Sats 10am term-time; Sats 10am-noon ARTTEEN 714 £5, Kensal Rise 07946 755 847 DOWN SYNDROME TIGER CUBS Thurs 5-6pm football coaching run by QPR, Woodfield School Genwood Avenue, NW9 020 8740 2585 07815 670 806 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 PIONEER EXPLORER SCOUTS Weds 8-10pm for 14-18 years, Stember Hall, Leighton Gardens, NW10 01582 703121

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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 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 NOAH’S ARK Tues 10.30am-12.30pm, Thurs 1.30-3.30pm St John’s Church, Harrow Road, Wembley community playgroup £1 per family per session 07768 453 931 SEA TRAINING CORPS Uniformed youth group for boys and girls. Thurs 7.15-9.15pm. Sea Pirates 7-9 yrs, Junior Cadets 911yrs; Mons and Fris 7.15-9.30pm. Sea Cadets and Marine Cadets 11-19 yrs. Cool Oak Lane, NW9 7ND. 020 8200 6286 www.seacadet.org MUM AND TODDLER Thurs 10am-12noon, Preston Mall Community Centre, Kenton £2 020 8204 1148 SWILLESDEN DISTRICT SCOUTS Groups throughout Willesden for young people aged 6-18, adult volunteers needed 0208 459 3737 enquiries@willesden scouts.org.uk SPLASH FOOTBALL Sats 10am-12pm, ages 515. Claremont High School, Claremont Avenue, Kenton, £30 for 5 weeks 07863 165 737

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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 PARENT TODDLER GROUP Thurs 9-10.30am 50p Barham Primary Wembley 020 8902 3706

COMMUNITY BRENT PENSIONERS FORUM 6 April 10am-12pm. Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane.

020 8795 3151.

WEMBLEY NATIONAL TRUST 3rd Thurs of month, 810pm Sudbury Neighbourhood Centre 809 Harrow Road, Wembley 020 8904 5940 CHALKHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE Mons 10-11am women’s only keep fit. 7-8pm Zumba. £5. Tues 7.309pm Capoeria £4. 10.3012.30pm table tennis for older people. Weds 1011am Over 50s keep fit. £1.50. Thurs 1-3pm Willows Pensioner’s Group, 5-6.30pm Taekwondo Club. Fris 6.30-8pm Homework Club, 7.30-9.30pm WICC church. Sats 10am-2pm Somali Development Group. 10.30am-12pm al Bahdja women’s only community group.

Chalkhill community Centre, 113 Chalkhill Road, HA9 9FX. 020 8385 1836. centre.coordinator@ chalkhillcommunity centre.org WEMBLEY PARK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Sat 26 Mar 3.30-5pm.

Public viewing of spring flower show. Church of Ascension Hall, The Avenue, Wembley.

NORTH WEST LONDON WOMEN’S INSTITUTE Meets first Thursday of the month upstairs at the North London Tavern on Kilburn High Road.

BRENT AND HARROW NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE WIDOWED 12 April cards/games.

26 April AGM. Both 8pm 76 Marlborough Hill HA1 1TY. Rhona 0208 969 3198 MOSAIC MosaicYouth.org.uk weekly youth club for lesbian, gay and bi teenagers 08000 433 411 OVER 50S DISCUSSION GROUP Tues 11am-12.30pm The Gallery, Willesden Green Library 020 8452 8739 NORTH WEST LONDON LESBIAN AND GAY GROUP Mons 8.30pm, Tenterden Sports Centre, Preston Road, Wembley 07941 707 884 KINGSBURY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY The Pavillion, Old Kenton Lane Allotments, Kingsbury, London NW9.

Joyce 020 8205 3457.

Flower arranging every Wednesday 8-9.15pm 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, £8 plus £2 lifetime membership and a free beginner’s guide DVD, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley www.clubceroc.com 020 8933 4350.

BOLLYWOOD AND SEMICLASSICAL INDIAN Suns 11.15am-12.15pm Fitness First 197 Alperton Road 07930 593 988 rupal@classic-creations .info

ADULT BEGINNERS BALLET COURSE Until 8 Dec Weds 6.307.30pm level 1, 7.308.30pm level 2 The Corrib Rest, 76-80 Salusbury Rd, NW6 6PA 07956 260 108 www.balletforyou.co.uk 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 23pm 105 Salusbury Road NW6, £7 per lesson or £50 for 8 sessions to be used within 3 months eliftarakci@yahoo.co.uk 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 Monday. 7.30– 8.30pm Absolute Beginners & Beginners classes £6, 8.30- 9.30pm Bridge the Gap classes £6, 8.309:30pm Improvers & Intermediates classes £6, or two classes for £9.

9.45–11.30pm, club & free styling night with salsa con timba music to practise your moves 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 for more details 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.

DRAMA FRESH ARTS THEATRE SCHOOL Top quality, unique and affordable drama, dance and singing workshops for children aged 3-12 classes are held at Newman Catholic College, NW10 3RN and at Grimsdyke School, HA5 4QE. Please call us on 08542 699 529 or check our our website www.fresh-arts.co.uk for more information.

DOLLIS HILL PLAYERS She Stoops to Conquer 31 March, 1 & 2 April 8pm At Our Lady of Grace Junior School, Dollis Hill Lane.

Refreshments & Raffle.

Tickets £5 Adult, £3.50 Child on the door or call 07957 861 351. Proceeds in aid of Charity(SVP). sales@dollis-hillplayers.co.uk

TIMEout KINGSBURY AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY Thurs 7-Sun 10 April The Music Man, 40th anniversary production. 7.30pm Thurs to Sat and 2.30pm Sat and Sun Kingsbury High School, Princes Ave, Kingsbury, NW9 9JR. £13.

Box office 0845 020 4240 www.kaosonline.org CHAMELEONS Mons and Thurs 8pm, amateur dramatics Neasden Methodist Church, NW10 07968 965 038 DRAMA WORKHOUSE Saturday Crew workshop for children 1-2pm 7-9 years; 2-3pm 10-12 years; 4-6pm 13-18 years; under 10s £25 a term, Over 10s £40 a 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

MIDDLESEX ITEC GCSE tuition in maths, English, science for 14-19 years at Middlesex ITEC 020 900 0505 READING GROUP Tues 10.30am-12.30pm free weekly shared reading group looking a short extracts from novels, journalism, short stories no homework or preparation needed, led by novelist and writer Shahrukh Husain and supported by Royal Literary Fund; Kilburn Library Salusbury Road, NW6 020 8451 1834 shah.hussein@ btinternet.com 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 UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE Courses, talks and workshops 020 8933 7558 www.brentu3a.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 (Sunday) and Roe Green Walled Garden (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) 020 8206 0492 www.bhcg.btck.co.uk

EXHIBITIONS THE GALLERY AT WILLESDEN GREEN 22 Mar-15 April Now let's do another one... Daily 2pm to 6pm. Free. Work from strict - time drop - in life classes. 22 Mar – 15 April Human Truths An exhibition of works on paper by East Central College Art Club (USA) Daily 11am to 9pm Free.

Willesden Green Centre, 95 High Road, London NW10 2SF. 0208 459 1421 info@brentartists resource.org.uk www.brentartists resource.org.uk

LEARNING WORKERS EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION Thurs 10am, coffee lounge at St John’s Church Wembley, entrance via gate in Harrow Road 020 8904 5940

MUSIC MUSIC AT ACE CAFE Wed 6 April 8-11pm Hot Rod Night with rockin' DJ Jimmy Guntrip - Free. Sat 9 April 9pm - 2am Eddie Cochran Tribute Night with LIGHTS OUT + DJ Flat Top Dave. Entry £10.

No Under 18s 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 07985 094 322 WILLESDEN GREEN CHOIR Mons 8-10pm. Songs from all over the world, no auditions, first session FREE. Willesden Green Library Centre, Space 2, NW10 2SF. www .vocalitysinging.co.uk

SPORTS & LEISURE BRONDESBURY BOWLING CLUB Evenings and daytime including free tuition, Chatsworth Road 0208 438 0302 SUDBURY COURT BADMINTON CLUB Thurs 8-10pm, The Mall, Kingsbury 020 8904 6698

ADULT BEGINNERS BALLET COURSES 3 May-23 July. Level 1: Weds 10.30-12.15 or 6.30-7.30pm; Level 2: Tues 6.30-7.30 or Fri 10.30-12.15; Improvers 1: Weds 7.30-8.45pm. ams: Kingsgate Community Centre; pms Salusbury Primary School. www .balletforyou.co.uk 07956 260108 KIDS BOXING (NONCONTACT) CLASSES Extra classes! Now on 3 days per week 4-5.30pm.

Please book your childs place. £3 per class.

KIDS BOXING CLASS Mon - Fri 4-5pm £3 Per session. Ages 4-11.

Non-contact boxing. Real Fitness London Ltd 162 Anson Road, Gladstone Park, NW2. www .realfitness.org.uk Book in advance realfit ness@hotmail.co.uk 020 82053155 or Wayne on 07717 005 264.

BROTHERS PEARSE CAMOGIE CLUB Ladies’ hurling club, all levels welcome, call Mary Cahill 07904 685 276 KINGBURY BOWLS CLUB. Very friendly. New members weclome, free coaching and loan of bowls. Eton Grove Open Space. 07505 337 501 or Barry 020 8204 3097 WILLESDEN AND BRENT CHESS CLUB Mons, 7pm, Scout House, Willesden High Rd, 07974 238 357 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 WHIST CLUB Tues 7.30-10.15pm Kingsbury Horticultural Association, The Pavilion Old Kenton Lane Allotments, call Bill 07957 965 692 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 ROUNDWOOD PARK BOWLS CLUB. Require new members for 2011.

020 8965 3800

LADIES KEEP FIT Weds 7.30-8.30pm Mandhata Centre, 20a Rosemead Avenue, Wembley 07930 593 988 rupal@classic-creations .info 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; www.sudburycourt .org.uk 020 8904 8814 TAEKWONDO Mons 7-9pm, Sat 1011am Holy Innocents Church Hall, Bacon Lane Kingsbury 07799 546 428 TAI CHI Tues 10-11.30am all levels 10-week course £40, concs £12.50 BACES. 3 Madison House 24-28 London Road Wembley 020 8795 3977. 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 WILLESDEN & DISTRICT TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE New clubs wanted for 2010-211 season 020 8965 2800 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 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 COLES GREEN TENNIS CLUB Social and competitive tennis at small friendly family club. Adult and junior concessions available. Coles Green Road. NW2 7ER tennisnwlondon @live.co.uk 075908 304 229 TAEKWONDO Tues 6-9pm, Thurs 67.30pm, Ealing Road Methodist Church 07832 447 763.

Mons 6.30-8pm, Weds 6.30-8pm, Cardinal Hinsley School NW10 07832 447 763.

WEMBLEY AND SUDBURY TENNIS AND SQUASH CLUB Social and competitive play; active juniors, Sylvester Road, off Harrowdene Road.

020 8998 3677 020 8902 8098 YOGA Mons-Suns beginners and advanced classes in hatha and dynamic flow yoga; pre and post natal and children’s classes; 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 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. www.lifebulb.org Thurs 7.15–8.30pm Evening Laughter Yoga, Nest Cafe, Willesden Green Station, NW2 4QT. £10/£8 www.lifebulb.org WOODCOCK PARK BOWLING Season starts Sat 30 April.

Open day Sun 8 May. Tuition & loan of bowls. Contact Ian 020 8907 2701.

Salsa dancing.

See: Dance

APRIL 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

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From 1 April 2011 charges for resident parking permits will change. www.brent.gov.uk/parkingpermits 020 8451 7610 or 020 8937 4972