Stay up to date with brixtonblog.com
Your only FR E E com newsmpuanpit y er
BRIXTON BUGLE No 40 | February 2016 | FREE
brixtonblog.com | @brixtonblog
WINDRUSH SQUARE – USE IT OR LOSE IT Supporters of Windrush Square have reacted to growing concern about the state of the square by urging the community to use it or lose it. The square has been beset with problems since its creation six years ago this month with funding from Transport for London (TfL). Prostitution, theft, joy riders, litter, broken flagstones, lighting that is too expensive to repair and public urination are all problems that concern supporters of the square and nearby residents, some of whom – at the end of their tether – have contacted the police in the hope of getting action. As Lambeth council tackles huge cuts to its budgets, residents, local groups and the Friends of Windrush Square met council leader Lib Peck to discover what the council plans to do about these problems. A spokesperson for Lambeth council said last month: “We are aware of residents’ concerns about antisocial behaviour in Windrush Square and, together with the Brixton Society, the Friends of Windrush Square, police and other partners, are working to resolve the problems.” But, says Annick Alet (pictured, left) of Friends of Windrush Square, there is also plenty to be proud of – community events hosted in the square have included fun palaces, bulb planting, art fairs, and community days. It is one of the few open public spaces in Lambeth where people now naturally congregate, as with the Bowie homage a few weeks ago. Marilyn Rogers (pictured, right), of Friends of Tate Library Brixton, says that a library day on 6 February (10–4pm) is a good example of how the square can be used. Friends of Tate Library, with the support of the London Community Foundation and Lambeth council, are running workshops in gardening, creativity and healthy lifestyles as well as a celebration of David Bowie with music and film in the evening that spill out onto the square. Friends of Windrush Square, an offshoot of the Brixton Society, is determined to be positive. Annick Alet said: “We are calling on the community to engage with the square and come up with ideas for events and celebrations and to help organise them. Come and be a Brixtonian!” ■■ Anyone interested should contact info@windrushsquare.org.
INSIDE…
BMX HERO HONOURED
People’s award for long-term work 24
AIDING MIGRANTS
Charity celebrates 30-year record
7
Ms CUPCAKE’S A WINNER … and so is Pop Brixton’s Kricket
2
BOWIE’S LASTING GIFT TO BRIXTON Calls for a permanent memorial to David Bowie in Brixton where he was born have come from all over the world – highlighting the special place that they both hold in many hearts. Bowie’s link with Brixton did not end when he moved to the (then) more upmarket Bromley in Kent. He agreed personally to appear on the Brixton Pound £10 note. “In allowing his image to be used on the notes, Bowie has provided a lasting gift to the community,” the Pound said, “both in terms of the activities of the B£ and its mission to create a local and sustainable high street, but also through the Brixton Fund from which we give grants to local organisations of community benefit.” STORY: Page 9
BROCKWELL PARK LIFE Local author’s new book for kids
16
2 NEWS
brixtonblog.com
Council to get tough with tippers, spitters, litterers and pissers
BRIXTON BUGLE brixtonblog.com
by Anna McKie
Proudly edited in Brixton
Both website and newspaper are published by a not-for-profit community organisation run by a committed team of people from Brixton » 020 3730 1312 » @brixtonblog » @brixton_bugle » brixtonblog.com ADVERTISING Jenny Shramenko 07811 878394 jenny@brixtonblog.com Circulation 10,000 copies Readership: circa 15,000 EDITOR Linda Quinn linda@brixtonblog.com MANAGING EDITOR Lindsay Faller lindsay@brixtonblog.com NEWS EDITOR Anna McKie newsdesk@brixtonblog.com ARTS & FEATURES Barney Evison, Ruth Waters arts@brixtonblog.com FOOD Miss South food@brixtonblog.com SPORT Sandra Brobbey sport@brixtonblog.com David Gibson ISSUE 40 Writers: Gargie Ahmad Isabella Cipirska Petra Gent Nikki Griffiths Mamusu Kallon Susan Sheehan Sub-editor: Jamila Omar Production: Alan Slingsby Crossword: Josie Gardiner A massive thank you to everybody involved in making this issue, and the Blog & Bugle project, a success If you would like to be a Bugle stockist please email distribution@brixtonblog.com
February 2016
Electric Avenue’s £1m facelift is under way Improvements for Electric Avenue costing more than £1 million have begun. Street layout and water and electricity supplies will be improved, with £869k from the Mayor of London’s High Street fund and £390k from Lambeth council. New street traders’ “gazebo” stalls will be provided for Electric Avenue, which will also get improved street lighting. Improved rubbish collection is promised as well as public WiFi and a secure cashless payment system for all licensed Brixton street traders. Some traders who had initially welcomed the plan now have worries about its impact on their business. They include the impact pedestrianisation will have on getting vans in to set up and the suitability and size of the gazebos. Stuart Horwood, CEO of the market traders’ federation (above), told the Bugle that pedestrianisation remains a bone of contention. Cllr Jack Hopkins,
Lambeth cabinet member for jobs and growth, is to lead a series of meetings to look at the issue. Residents had identified noise when the market is being set up as a problem. Horwood said: “The gazebos were intended to be a solution as they are quick to set up, safer and quieter and should help address residents’ concerns. But I understand they are not wanted by all the traders.” A meeting is due with the project manager for the regeneration of Brixton Market, to try to resolve the gazebo issue. Cllr Hopkins said: “The current works represent a much-needed £1m boost to the Electric Avenue street market. Many traders told us trade was down and shoppers have said they want a less congested and more attractive place to shop. We know there will be disruption but we’ve worked with traders to find alternative pitches nearby and think the long-term prize of a thriving iconic street market is worth it.”
Lambeth council is to get tough on envirocrime – including spitting, dog fouling, litter and flytipping, the No. 1 concern on the doorsteps, according to Cllr Jennifer Brathwaite, cabinet member for environment. From next month, enforcement officers in uniform from NSL Ltd will fine offenders up to £80 on the spot for offences like public urination. The get-tough scheme is planned to pay for itself through the fines levied. The council issued nearly 3,000 penalty notices last year. More than half were for littering, while 500 related to illegal waste dumping. There were 142 for unlicensed street trading, nine for urination, five for spitting and 11 as a result of the ban on legal highs. Lambeth became the first London borough to ban legal highs. Since the move in August last year police have confiscated thousands of legal highs,
particularly nitrous oxide – or laughing gas – canisters. The borough also has the first working system allowing police to use the council’s CCTV system remotely. According to the council, this has aided the arrest and prosecution of people involved in a drive-by shooting and a series of sexual assaults. It also has introduced a borough-wide Business Crime Reduction Partnership – a membership scheme that includes access to a web-based information-sharing platform and a business radio network so traders can alert each other to issues of concern. But the Lambeth Green Party pointed out that the council has not issued a single fixed penalty notice since plans were announced to clamp down on engine idling by motorists in May last year. Green Party Councillor Scott Ainslie said: “This is just the latest example of a lukewarm Lambeth council scheme that fails to make any substantial difference to air quality in Lambeth, following ongoing inaction over cleaning up its own vehicle fleet.”
Awards for Ms Cupcake and Kricket Two Brixton businesses are celebrating after winning Dot London awards. Kricket, the Indian restaurant in Pop Brixton, won Best Place to Eat and Brixton’s Ms Cupcake (above), London’s first entirely vegan bakery, won the Best Independent Groceries Retailer. The awards were created by Dot London to celebrate London’s small businesses. The nominees were narrowed down by a panel
of judges that included successful London’s businesses including LEON, Brompton Bikes and Made.com. The winners of the 12 categories were then decided via public vote through www.awards.london. Each winner will receive £1,000, mentoring on how to improve their online business presence from sponsors including 123-Reg, GoDaddy, Heart Internet and UK2, and a free Dot London domain name for a year.
February 2016
brixtonblog.com
NEWS 3
IVANO DARRO
BRIEFLY … McDonald’s refurb
McDonald’s on Brixton Road will shut for refurbishment from 7 February until 3 March. Franchisee Terry Eagle says the changes will add self-order kiosks, free-to-use tablets and “a striking new layout” to the branch. As well as investing in the Brixton Road restaurant, Eagle has donated high visibility jackets to security staff at bars and clubs in the area to make sure they are easily visible to members of the public if their assistance is needed.
Music: challenge for Boris
Loughborough Farm secures future with funds from mayor and Lambeth A grant of more than £1.6 million from the Mayor’s London Regeneration Fund and a further £1.6 million in match funding from Lambeth council has secured the long-term future of Loughborough Farm which has been developed informally by volunteers since 2013. Anthea Masey, chair of the Loughborough Junction Action Group (LJAC) said: “We are thrilled. Loughborough Farm is no longer a temporary thing and we have managed to establish its value to the community. The unique selling point of the bid was that it managed to mix industry with food growing. “It will continue to develop and share farming skills and bring health and well-being benefits to local residents and employees alike.” Lambeth council is providing the land at a peppercorn rent for 20 years and expects the project to create 1,000 square metres of
Artists sought for creative residency Sunshine International Arts (SiA) is offering local artists a three to five day creative residency in its community arts space (right) at Loughborough Junction’s CAFE (Carnival Arts for Everyone) centre. Centre manager Thisbe Casellini said: “This is an opportunity for artists to experiment, explore and develop new ideas and projects in our main arch space which is about 56 square metres. “Since 2001 SiA has forged and maintained relationships with a wide range of carnival, visual, literary, and performing artists working in all disciplines and styles. “We are dedicated to developing talent and celebrating and reflecting diversity. SiA’s mission is to empower young and emerging artists across all disciplines at critical stages in their creative ideas and projects.” ■■ For more details contact admin@sunshinearts.co.uk
employment space. The money includes funding to create a new building from containers on a boroughowned site. It will include studio space, makerspace, co-working offices and shared workshops/food production, and horticultural research. The project will also run an ‘arch recycling’ competition, to design and build self-contained structures which offer security, insulation and are waterproof to be inserted into arches. Space, which runs the nearby Platform offering space for local start-ups in 12 railway arches, will help set up and support the project for the first five years. After this, it is expected that the local community will manage it. Business support and training will be provided by local organisations, the Green Man Skills Zone and Tree Shepherd. The community will also be invited to help
build furniture, growing beds and terraces for the farm to continue and flourish. Cllr Jack Hopkins, Lambeth council cabinet member for jobs and growth said: “This is fantastic news for Loughborough Junction – an area that’s been neglected for too long but now is undoubtedly on the up. “It is projects and partners like these that are making Lambeth the leading borough in London for small business, enterprise and growth.” Project partners include Loughborough Estate Management Board, Loughborough Estate Tenants and Residents Association, Loughborough Junction Action Group, Network Rail, the Loughborough Farm, Meanwhile Space, the Green Man Skills Zone, Tree Shepherd, South London Makerspace, and Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group. This list is likely to grow as more community groups come on board.
Campaigners fighting to save the Half Moon in Herne Hill as an important music venue have challenged London mayor Boris Johnson to make good on his stated support for the campaign. New leaseholder Fuller’s brewery of west London appears not see a future for music there. Peter Blair of the Save the Half Moon Campaign said: “To say that we are disappointed with their initial actions upon taking over the leasehold of the pub would be an understatement.” Responding directly to the campaign’s change.org petition, Boris Johnson had urged the pub’s new management “to continue a regular programme of new and cutting edge grassroots music acts.”
Music: fundraiser launch
I Have a Song, the track recorded in Brixton to raise funds to pay for a memorial to African and Caribbean soldiers who fought and died for Britain in two world wars, will be launched at the House of Lords on 6 February. Supporters of the memorial, which is stored in the Black Cultural Archives, plan to have it installed in Windrush Square on VE Day (Sunday 8 May) this year.
Council: cuts
Council leader Lib Peck told its full meeting on 27 January that Lambeth is the 29th most deprived area of Britain but faces the 13th biggest cuts. The council is grappling with a £40 million shortfall in the next financial year as a result of central government cuts.“Nobody wants to make cuts to our library services or jobs,” said Peck. “We have to look to the wider challenge”, which means bringing in as much investment as possible. That includes tough negotiations with developers to guarantee 40 per cent affordable housing.
Council: helpline
Cllr Jane Pickard announced a new eating disorders helpline for Lambeth teenagers. Their parents will also be able to seek help and advice.
4 NEWS
brixtonblog.com
Council leader urges support for protest against Housing Bill has warned that one in four private renters in Britain faces the loss of their home and called on government to protect tenants from unfair evictions. A survey it commissioned found that 27% of current and past private tenants had been evicted by a landlord who wanted to sell, refurbish or change the use of the property, or were forced to move because of a rent increase. More than half (51%) of all respondents to the survey and 39% of private renters responding were not aware that a private landlord can evict tenants without giving a reason. Sixty three per cent of respondents agreed that private tenants who abided by the terms of their tenancy agreement should have an automatic right to remain in their home. Three quarters (75%) thought private landlords should be prevented from raising their tenant’s rent by more than inflation. Generation Rent called on the government to change eviction law to protect tenants. ■■ The “Kill the Housing Bill” march on 31 January starts from the Imperial War Museum (SE1 6HZ) at noon to head for Downing Street at 2pm.
Rec users angry as consultation ends Members of the Brixton Rec Users’ Group (BRUG) are continuing their campaign for all users of the Brixton Rec to email their local councillor to complain about the sudden cancellation of meetings between the group and Lambeth council. BRUG chair David Duncan wrote to council leader Lib Peck about the cancellation. She told him that meetings of the Brixton Rec Improvement Group (BRIG) would be held if there were matters of “strategic importance” to discuss. Duncan said BRUG members had had two days’ notice of a meeting that would have discussed £6 million of spending at the Rec and asked how this was not “strategic”. Meetings of the improvement group were cancelled by Lambeth council cabinet member Jane Edbrooke, who is already under fire over plans for the borough’s libraries. BRUG accused her of arrogance and high-handedness. The move came in the middle of consultations on upgrades to the Rec.
The council’s approach to consultations has been under severe examination since a judicial review ruled it had acted unlawfully in its approach to the Cressingham Gardens estate and campaigners against its plans for the borough’s libraries say their views have been ignored. Duncan told Lib Peck he was “astonished and dismayed” to receive a letter from Cllr Edbrooke saying the improvement group had “reached the end of its useful life” two days before a scheduled meeting. BRIG was set up so Lambeth council officers and councillors could hear the concerns of Rec users, who, through the users’ group, would be consulted on major changes. Cllr Edbrooke said that the council had commissioned surveys and reinforced its commitment to retaining the Rec, not least through the £6million that has been earmarked to carry out work required to keep it “open, safe and operational”.
She said that more improvements and refurbishments – outlined in a consultant’s report – were beyond the financial scope of the council. She told BRIG: “We will actively investigate alternative streams of funding to secure the long term future of this iconic and much-loved building. “That is where our energies should be focussed, and until such time as there is something to discuss or report, there is minimal value in retaining regular BRIG meetings.” At the last meeting of BRIG in October, members of the users’ group pressed Cllr Edbrooke, without success, to explain any links between Rec funding and a £1 million sum that the council’s leisure operator, GLL, is contributing to plans to convert three of Lambeth’s libraries into gyms (see opposite). The users believe that the sum would come from surpluses from payments by user of GLL leisure centres in Lambeth – the largest of which is the Rec. © LOUIS LEESON
Lambeth council leader Lib Peck has called for support for a demonstration tomorrow (30 January) against the government’s Housing Bill. The demo is being organised by local activists who say it will lead to a “catastrophic” loss of affordable private and social housing to rent across London. The campaigners say that … If you are a council or housing association tenant: ●● Your rent will rise massively if you and others in your household together earn more than £40,000. ●● Secure tenancies will be phased out and replaced by ones lasting no more than five years. ●● You cannot stay in your home if your parents die. If you have bought your own home or rent on a council or housing association estate: ●● Your estate can be designated a “brownfield site” by the government, then demolished and turned over to private developers. If you are waiting for a council home: ●● There will be far fewer available in London as the “right to buy” – which will apply to housing association as well as council properties – transfers social housing to the private market. ●● Councils will be forced to sell any “high value” properties that become vacant – in London that means most of them. ●● Councils will no longer be able to insist that private developers include social rented housing in their plans. Instead, they will build “starter homes” costing £450,000 for private sale. If you are a Londoner without a very high income: ●● The cost of renting and buying will rise even faster as the supply of really affordable social housing is cut. Eviction from private accommodation is already the most common cause of homelessness in Lambeth and the campaigning group Generation Rent
February 2016
Councillors clash
At the full meeting of Lambeth council on 27 January, Cllr Matthew Bennett, the cabinet member for housing, said the leader of the council Conservative group, Tim Briggs, runs a company, legalmentor.co.uk, that advertises itself on its website as “Tenant Eviction Specialists” with a “superfast online service”. Challenged to say how many tenants had been evicted using this service, Cllr Briggs said the figure was about ten. He stressed that the company also helps and advises tenants. Its website says it is an “Eviction Prevention Specialist” and will represent tenants in court for a fixed fee of £250.
Cressingham Gardens consultation starts again Lambeth council has restarted its consultation with Cressingham Gardens residents over the future of the estate, following a High Court ruling that found the council had acted unlawfully when it decided to remove refurbishment options from its development plans for the estate. The council began the process of consulting residents over the future of the estate in 2012, and five options – ranging from full refurbishment to full redevelopment – were put forward for consideration.
Three refurbishment options were subsequently withdrawn last March, after it was decided that they were unaffordable. In July, the council’s cabinet voted to redevelop the entire estate, demolishing the existing 306 houses and building a minimum of 464 new homes to replace them. However the judge conducting a judicial review sought by a resident of the estate found there was lack of proof that the refurbishment was unaffordable as was claimed. And there
had been a failure to properly assess affordability of the options as agreed with residents. Lambeth has now begun consultation on all five options, in accordance with the ruling of the court. Residents will be asked for their views on all original alternative proposals at a series of events. Two workshops, which did not complete their work programme – on viability and green retrofitting – will be reconvened. The cabinet is due to make a decision on the future of the estate in March.
February 2016
NEWS 5
brixtonblog.com
Councillors stand by libraries plan but alternative still alive DOCTORS
Brixton doctors strike over contract changes Drivers honked and passers-by – including a consultant in his way to work – stopped to talk as junior doctors in Brixton went public last month with their campaign against new contracts the government is trying to impose on them. Outside Lambeth Hospital, Dr Tom Dewhurst (second right), a psychiatrist and the British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctor rep for the hospital, explained that the doctors’ one-day strike was not primarily about money, but about patient safety and the future of the NHS. “Tired doctors make mistakes,” he said, backed by colleagues picketing the hospital. The BMA says the government’s proposed changes would spread existing staffing levels across a seven-day working week and remove safeguards against over-work and exhaustion. Brixton resident Laura Connell-Jones said there was already a recruitment crisis that would be made worse by the proposed changes. The doctors, including Leah Jones and Mary Thornton who work at the Lambeth Drug and Alcohol Service in Brixton, also leafleted and spoke to interested passers-by outside the Tube station. A second strike due last month was put off as new talks between the junior doctors and government began.
Lambeth councillors have again backed their plan to turn three of the borough’s ten libraries into gyms. But at a full meeting of the council this week, Jane Edbrooke, the council cabinet member responsible, said it would “explore every avenue” for the library service. Answering a question, she said that an alternative plan for the borough’s libraries, prepared with council funding by its head of libraries Susanna Barnes, to keep all ten libraries open and run by a “staff-community mutual” company would be assessed by the outside expert who had looked at a similar and successful approach in York. She said: “I will reiterate that we support the plan we recommend. But we will of course explore the alternative.” She said the council wanted to provide the best service it could for residents “and we will explore every avenue to continue to do that despite devastating cuts.” Labour councillors at the meeting voted down a resolution from Green councillor Scott Ainslie to welcome the alternative proposals which said they would be popular with the community and avoid the likely risk of legal challenges to the council’s preferred plans. Unison, the union representing
library staff, has said that community groups have begun preparations for occupying libraries threatened with closure or conversion to gyms. Unison members have already voted in favour of strike action against the
We are a voluntary group of parents and carers of children and aged 0-25 with additional needs and disabilities in Lambeth.
council’s plans. Warning Labour councillors that opposition to their plans for libraries was growing, union branch secretary Jon Rogers appealed to them to listen to members of their own party. Ward Labour parties in Herne Hill and Thurlow Park have been joined by the Dulwich and West Norwood constituency Labour party in supporting a plan for a staff-community mutual plan. The union expressed “great regret” that the council was not changing course, even though it had in its hands the basis for keeping open its ten libraries. The council’s plans would see up to 25 per cent of library staff lose their jobs.
Upcoming events All events will be at ‘We are 336’, 336 Brixton Road sW9 7AA
Our aim is to provide opportunities for parents and carers to influence the decisions that affect their families, and to contribute to developing services that meet their families’ needs.
Please book using the links
If you are a parent or carer of a child or young person with additional needs and disabilities and want better services for them.....
29th FebruAry
JOIN uS
info@lambethparentforum.com
07903 248077
Address contact a Family Lambeth, ‘We are 336’, 336 Brixton Road, SW9 7AA
www.lambethparentforum.com
11th FebruAry
contact a Family Workshop: Behaviours that challenge, and networking event. Book online at http://bit.ly/cAF-challenge meet the forum plus guest LA speaker cathy twist, Director of education Book online at http://bit.ly/LpF-twist
3rd MArch
contact a Family Workshop: coping with stress, and networking event Book online at http://bit.ly/cAF-stress
16th MArch
meet the Forum plus guest LA speaker Ian Smith, Director of Children’s Services Book online at http://bit.ly/LpF-smith
What’s happening at the B£ Shop? Have you visited us yet at 3 Atlantic Road? We’re open Monday – Friday 10am–7pm, Saturdays 10am–6pm, and Sundays 11am–5pm. We’re currently hosting two regular classes in the shop: a mosaic workshop with Kes Young every Wednesday 6–8pm, and a free art group for kids aged 5–10 every Saturday 10am–12pm. We also have a free shop where you can take items others have donated (for example:
Brixton Bonus Brixton Bonus is a monthly prize draw with two winners: you, and Brixton. It only costs £1 to enter, and every month someone wins B£1,000! All revenue goes to our local micro-grants scheme, the Brixton Fund, which funds local groups and projects. Not bad eh? To enter, go to brixtonpound.org/brixton-bonus If you’re a B£ member already, you can play – by text. Simply text ‘pay bonus [amount between 1-10]’ to the B£ number (07754832867). Next draw: 26th February – get your tickets now!
Brixton Bonus: Winners’ Stories Brixtonite since 1975 Linda Quinn, who you may know as the editor of the Brixton Blog and Bugle, was the big winner of our special Christmas Eve draw. In an amazingly generous and unprecedented move, she decided to donate the entirety of her B£1,000 prize to the Brixton Fund – talk about a BriXmas miracle! “When I first found out that I won, I thought I’d buy the Blog and Bugle office some new equipment, but then I decided not to. I knew about the Brixton Fund, and
I decided I wanted my B£1,000 to help some small local community group – that will be a good use for it!” See previous Bonus winners in our Winners Gallery: brixtonpound.org/ winners, and if you fancy joining their ranks – get some Bonus tickets before the next draw on 29th January – who knows, it could be you next time!
a good few cookery books, Lord of the Rings DVDs, a decent backpack, or a handy umbrella!) We’re always looking for more collaborations and ideas on how to use the space – tell us what you would like to see happen here! And do come along to our shop party – the first of a series we’ll run every month – on 30th January, from 8pm, free and open to all. There will be music, drinks, custard tarts – the kind of stuff you don’t see on the high street every day!
David Bowie – a heartfelt thank you Together with crowds that keep on gathering at the mural on the side of Morleys, Brixton Pound is celebrating and remembering David Bowie, the man who a few years ago personally agreed to appear on one of our notes and donated his image to be used for the benefit of the Brixton community. As you can read in this edition of the Bugle, we have called for a memorial for him – a piece of public art in a prominent Brixton location. Here’s an excerpt of a fond farewell to Bowie from the B£ note designer, Charlie Waterhouse: Sure, there were other places he called home – New York, Berlin, Bromley, Beckenham – but Brixton was where the magic began. And as thousands of people have made
their way to party and to pay respects, Brixton has become the most pertinent of pilgrimages. Brixton stands as perfect metaphor for Bowie and his unique importance. Like the place of his birth, Bowie’s an enigmatic flame attracting all manner of moths. Rooted like Brixton in the grand traditions of music hall and theatre; emblematic of the seismic post-war societal shifts. At once
transporting and utterly down-toearth. Bowie was – is – proof positive that there’s always another way to live. A semi-secular saint preaching curiosity, creativity, tolerance and taking-it-to-the-limit. ■■ Read more of Charlie’s tribute on our blog: brixtonpound.org/blog , and more about the proposed Bowie memorial in this issue of the Bugle.
Brixton Fund: featured community group Each month we showcase a local group doing the kind of work that the Brixton Fund was set up to support. The Healthy Living Club, set up by Simona Floria, is a dementia centered community currently operating at the Lingham Court care home in Stockwell. It is open to those in Lambeth with dementia and the residents of Lingham Court. Attendees can meet there to spend time with each other and enjoy the variety of activities that HLC help to make available. Simona told us about the challenges faced by HLC, such as generating
funds to provide a lunch for attendees: “It is really important to be in a place where everyone is equal. If it is your home and you live here, and someone charges you for lunch on the day, it makes you feel as if it isn’t your home. So
what do you do? We want to set up a scheme to recruit restaurants willing to donate some money each month towards paying for lunch at HLC. That is what the Brixton Fund is helping to support.” In November 2015 the
Healthy Living Club received £750 from the Brixton Fund, the Brixton Pound’s local micro-grants scheme. The Brixton Fund is funded by Brixton Bonus ticket sales (our monthly community lottery), sale of B£ merchandise in the Brixton Pound Shop, and a 1.5% business transaction fee on pay-by-text B£ payments. So – whenever you play to win B£1000, grab yourself a snazzy B£ T-shirt or simply do your weekly shop in B£s, you’re helping fund local groups like the Healthy Living Club. Find out more about the Healthy Living Club and Simona’s story on our blog: brixtonpound.org/blog
3 Atlantic Rd | brixtonpound.org | @brixtonpound | info@brixtonpound.org
February 2016
brixtonblog.com
FOCUS 7
For 30 years a Brixton-based charity has been helping migrants from Latin America to settle into life in London, helping with language, employment and welfare, and championing their rights. Isabella Cipirska reports Children from IRMO’s Family Project performing at Lambeth Town Hall
Free, flexible and vital From the noise coming from the classroom, you would never guess that many students have already worked a ten-hour day, or even longer. It’s 6.30 on a bitterly cold Tuesday evening and at the IRMO (Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organisation) building in Brixton’s Angell Town, the second English language class of term is already well under way. Students in the elementary class are revising telling the time and dates, whilst the smaller intermediate group next door are practising introductions. Segundo, from Ecuador, has just started the intermediate course, having completed the elementary course last year. “Before coming to IRMO I didn’t understand anything,” he says. “Now I understand better.” English classes are just one of the many services offered by IRMO. It offers a range of welfare advice and employment support and campaigns for migrant rights. For the mostly Latin American beneficiaries, English classes are crucial to overcoming the language barrier that is the biggest challenge in their day-to-day lives. Unlike many other courses, English classes at IRMO are free and flexible, so that they can be fitted around demanding work schedules. “It’s very important for us,” Segundo stresses. “It’s very necessary.” He says the classes have helped him greatly in setting up a new life in England, giving him confidence in negotiating for work and
Members of IRMO’s youth project
accommodation. “I know new friends,” he says. “Now, it’s good.” Segundo moved to England two years ago with his daughter. He had lived in Spain for 14 years, working as an artist, but when the economic crisis hit he came to London to seek better opportunities. At weekends he sells paintings at markets. During the week he works as a cleaner to support his family. Segundo’s story is typical of many of the students, says IRMO director Lucia Vinzon. Vinzon, originally from Argentina, came to the UK via Spain and has been involved with IRMO since her first week in London. Like Segundo, the majority of IRMO’s beneficiaries work in the cleaning sector, despite the fact that over 70 per cent of them are educated beyond secondary level. Lack of English, experience or recognisable qualifications mean that many remain trapped in employment far below their abilities, which also leaves them with little time or funds to improve their situation. IRMO helps by providing employment services and training as well as the English language classes. Last November saw the launch of Step Up, a project to enable people to attain work in their area of expertise, or in areas like construction or health. For those who remain in cleaning, life can be tough. The sector is largely unregulated, with many workers employed on a casual or temporary basis having no entitlement to annual leave or sick pay. Exploitation is common, with 11 per cent being paid less than the minimum wage and many reporting discrimination. Rafael, from Bolivia, was initially employed as a restaurant’s chef assistant. He cooked well and found the job easy, but due to his lack of English struggled when service was busy. He is now the kitchen cleaner and earns just £6.20 an hour. With a family to support, this means working long hours, up to 15 a day, so there is “no time for family, only my job. No time to study English.” Despite the problems he faces, Rafael says being in London is worth it because of the opportunities that it will provide his daughter. He boasts, with barely containable pride, how after only two years, his five-year-old can speak, read and write
Lucia Vinzon receives the award for Community Organisation Of The Year 2015 from Jeremy Corbyn and Bianca Jagger in English, as well as do maths. “This country has good opportunities for people, for studying,” he says. IRMO offers an advice service for those experiencing problems at work in partnership with Unite the Union. Last year, the charity helped to resolve over 150 specific cases, such as the non-payment of wages, and helped raise awareness of workplace rights. Last year, IRMO celebrated its 30th anniversary after being founded in 1985 by Chilean refugees escaping a military coup. The occasion was celebrated by a huge community fiesta in December. There was a lot to celebrate – in 2015, IRMO was awarded the Community Organisation of the Year Award at a ceremony with Jeremy Corbyn and Bianca Jagger.
During 2015, more than 4,400 people benefited from IRMO projects and services. With the Latin American community one of the fastest-growing in London, demand for IRMO’s services – including IT classes, a homework club, a family project, women’s project, and more – are likely to increase. Last year, it worked with the Coalition of Latin American Organisations in the UK on a successful campaign to have Latin Americans recognised officially as an ethnic group in the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Islington and Hackney. The group will now be included on monitoring forms, helping to ensure that the needs of the community become visible to policy-makers. This year IRMO also aims to continue its voter registration campaign, helping people to understand the voting process and empower them to make their views heard. Yet in our current political climate, with media rhetoric around migrants, it can be hard to feel empowered. Some media “describe migrants as animals … as not human,” Vinzon comments. “They say that they take advantage of the system.” “It’s very hard to hear that,” she admits. “These are people we see here every day, people who are hardworking and contributing to society, that want to integrate.” ■■ To find out more about IRMO, see its website: http://irmo.org.uk. ■■ If you would like to volunteer, send an email to volunteer@irmo.org.uk.
VOLUNTEERING – IT’S LIKE A BIG FAMILY Many of the people working at IRMO do so voluntarily. There are only 11 employees, helped by around 80 volunteers. Among them is Nabil Saheb, originally from Algeria, who volunteers at IRMO once a week , teaching elementary English. “I consider myself an immigrant even though I have been in the UK for 25 years,” he says. “I would like to help and share my knowledge with immigrants who arrived in the UK recently.” It is also a chance for him to enhance his CV and teaching skills. “I gain confidence and experience by
interacting with students,” he says. Vinzon encourages anyone from Brixton or beyond to get in touch if they want to get involved. IRMO needs volunteers from all walks of life, from English teachers to accountants, translators to artists. It can be a great way to enhance skills and to improve, or even learn, Spanish. “It’s very rewarding work,” she says, “IRMO is a beautiful space to work and to be and to learn. It’s an open space where everyone feels welcome. It’s like a big family.”
Work on revamping Electric Avenue street market has now started
Work has now commenced on the £1million revamp of the much-loved Electric Avenue street market. The money, which comes from Mayor of London’s High Street Fund and Lambeth Council, will fund a complete redesign of the market layout, which has been developed with the Brixton Market Traders’ Federation. The work is expected to last for six months and the first phase will affect Electric Avenue between Atlantic Road and Electric Lane. Traders will relocate their stalls during the works and temporary pitches will be provided at the northern end of Electric Avenue and on Pope’s Road. So if you can’t find your favourite stall do look for them there.
The improvements include new paving, improved lighting, electricity and water points. Once complete, pitch sizes will be bigger and run along the centre of the street so that they can attract passing trade on both sides and make life easier for shop owners and pedestrians. Stuart Horwood, Chief Executive of the BrixtonMarket Traders Federation, said: “These are exciting times. I am thrilled that the market is receiving much needed investment. There will be some pain in the short term, but I know traders, shops and customers will benefit in the long term.” Construction work will take place between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday. You can contact Helen McConnell during working hours on 07917 518 529 or email Helen.mcconnell@fmconway.co.uk
Your New Town Hall Hoarding is now going up in front of Hambrook House and Town Hall Parade on Brixton Hill and Ivor House on Acre Lane in preparation for demolition work. Scaffolding will be erected and covered with safety sheeting to prevent dust and debris. For now people can continue to use the cycle route from Brixton Hill into Porden Road and access Buckner Road from Acre Lane.
Buckner Road will be completely closed for public access and Porden Road will become a two way cul-de-sac. This also means the cycle route through Porden Road onto Brixton Hill will close. To find out more details about the project and the hoardings go to www.futurebrixton.org/ yournewtownhall
As the work intensifies the hoarding will need to be extended. By April we expect
For more information about the scheme go to www.futurebrixton.org LBL Brixton Bugle Feb v2.indd 1
26/01/2016 16:54
February 2016
brixtonblog.com
OPINION 9
BRIXTON BUGLE
COMMENT When Lambeth council leader Lib Peck urges support for a demonstration organised by people who may not be her greatest political supporters, you can be sure it’s on an important issue. Saturday’s protest against the Housing Bill is just one of many indicators of the chronic and growing problem that housing has become. Even a quick glance at the Bill’s provisions reveals that public sector housing as it has existed since before the last war would disappear. It would leave anyone looking for somewhere to live at the mercy of the market or, alternatively, free of the shackles of the state – take your pick according to political preference. The evidence from Brixton does not bode well for Generation Rent. Two-bedroomed flats in Rushcroft Road off Windrush Square that a few years ago were squats are now marketed by Foxtons at £700,000. The pleasant Cressingham Gardens estate overlooking Brockwell Park is in the sights of a council desperate to increase its housing stock by knocking it down and starting again. The Bugle and its contributors have argued regularly that the only hope of tackling gentrification, homelessness and ever-mounting rents is political action. What is needed is a united front of those opposed to a housing system that takes millions from the poorest and puts them into the pockets of the richest. Let’s hope that there is a lot more of politicians, activists and others seeing eye-to-eye on the problems Brixton faces.
Brixton would benefit from a bit of Bowie … As Brixton becomes inextricably linked to David Bowie, Anna McKie looks at the reasons why and moves to create a permanent memorial Local residents and David Bowie fans have called for a permanent memorial in Brixton, as tributes continue to pile high in front of the mural of the late star. Since his death at 69 on 10 January, fans have been pouring into Brixton to remember the musician who was born here. Hundreds of flowers, candles and even food have been piled up in front of the mural of the Starman on the wall of Morley’s department store. Almost a month later, the tributes show no sign of stopping. Born at 40 Stansfield Road in 1947, Bowie lived in Brixton until the age of six. The son of a waitress and promotions officer for Barnados, he attended Stockwell Infants School until 1953, when his family moved to Bromley in Kent. Musical from a young age, he achieved his first number one with Space Oddity in 1969. His status as an international star was cemented with The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. His latest album, Blackstar, was released days before his death. Many have now joined calls from Brixton Pound – which features Bowie on the B£10 note – for a permanent tribute to Brixton’s musical legend. Charlie Waterhouse, of This Ain’t Rock’n’Roll, who designed the second edition Brixton Pound notes (including the Bowie tenner) called for “a monumental piece of public art in a prominent Brixton location”. Brixton Pound said they have “always been extremely proud that David Bowie personally agreed to appear on the B£10 note”.
“In allowing his image to be used on the notes, Bowie has provided a lasting gift to the community,” they said, “both in terms of the activities of the B£ and its mission to create a local and sustainable high street, but also through the Brixton Fund from which we give grants to local organisations of community benefit.” Lambeth council leader Lib Peck said any move to permanently honour Bowie would be undertaken after consultation with residents and his family. The first effort, however, will be to preserve the mural painted by artist Jimmy C in 2013. “We are in contact with Morleys Brixton, the department store, about how best to do this,” Peck said. “The
mural itself could be locally listed to ensure it remains as a lasting tribute.” The council could consider a plaque of Bowie and look at renaming a street in his honour, she added. Zac Monro, the architect working on the Somerleyton Road redevelopment where it has been mooted that the memorial could be located, said: “something permanent needn’t be traditional. It needn’t be statuesque, solid, just in one place … A place to stop and reflect for a few minutes at lunchtime or a temporary venue for happenings”. “There are a lot of new developments in the area that would benefit from a bit of Bowie,” he added.
David Bowie’s birthplace at 40 Stansfield Road
10 WORLD OF WORK
www.brixtonblog.com
February 2016
Project plans to rethink Brixton workspace As rents in Brixton soar and workplaces become luxury flats, Lambeth council has launched a project – Brixton Works – designed to boost the availability of cheap workspaces for start-ups. Three organisations have been commissioned to run a feasibility study: Architecture 00, which has invested in a range of workspaces and not-forprofits; Camden Collective, a charity with experience of creating affordable workspace; and Impact Hub Brixton, a local collaborative workspace, based in Pop Brixton. Between now and April they will work with local businesses, residents and other organisations to develop the project. Joost Beunderman of Impact Hub says space for start-ups and small businesses is
increasingly under pressure. “This means great talent and new ideas never have the chance to take off or are forced out of Brixton,” he says. “Ours is an ambitious project to respond to this problem and re-think the future provision of affordable workspace in Brixton.” The aim, says Beunderman, is “to benefit the people of Brixton, create opportunities to support new jobs and businesses, and make sure that the Brixton economy remains open, diverse and democratic. “Space matters because budding entrepreneurs need a place to start, to test a business idea or begin selling their products. But it is exactly this type of space that is getting squeezed out.” One area Brixton Works could focus on
is food. Shared kitchen space would enable food entrepreneurs to share resources. Jack Hopkins, Lambeth council cabinet member for jobs and growth, who initiated the project, said: “Brixton Works is designed to intervene in the market to shape the economy not for the highest profit but for greater social outcomes.” The council will provide £200,000 to support the development of Brixton Works. In the meantime the project will look for a temporary home. The consultation will kick off with an event this month involving local entrepreneurs, start-ups and businesses. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could create a Brixton Bond that would enable investment in local businesses that
have a direct community benefit,” says Beunderman. “People think of the economy and community as different,” he says. “But a good business with a real purpose makes things that are worthwhile and is rooted in its community.” The feasibility study is part of an open process and is looking for input from local people. The team is to host workshops so people can share ideas, insights and reflections. They will be at Impact Hub Brixton on Tuesday 16 February, 1–2pm and 6.30–7.30pm, and on Wednesday 18 February, 8–9am. There will be a longer co-creation session on Saturday 12 March, 1–5pm. Refreshments will be served. ■■ To find out more go to http://bit.ly/BW-initial.
Ambassadors set to promote ‘earn while you learn’ option by Mamusu Kallon Twenty eight young people will soon be being mentored by Apprentice 2014 runner-up Bianca Miller to spread the word about opportunities to “earn and learn” as an apprentice. They have been recruited as “apprenticeship ambassadors” by Lambeth College in partnership with Lambeth council. They come from 16 industry sectors including accountancy, publishing and marketing. The programme encourages young people to speak up for apprenticeships and to use their experiences to promote the
“earn and learn” option to peers, parents, teachers and employers. Dave Byford, Lambeth college’s director of business and commercial development, is keen to emphasise the diversity of apprenticeship opportunities. He says: “No longer are apprenticeships centred just around trades, now, with the advent of higher and degree apprenticeships, they represent a true alternative for career development no matter which industry.” The programme already has support from employers and other training providers including iProtech training, Kings College Hospital and the Canary Wharf
Learning Centre. Last week the ambassadors met their programme tutors (above) Bianca Miller, now an award winning entrepreneur, and personal development coach Shabazz Nelson. They will each teach a five-week course, focusing on confidence and motivational
and presentational skills. Ella Turner, an editorial apprentice with Telegraph Media Group and a programme ambassadors, said: “What I am learning on my apprenticeship is incredible and invaluable. I’ve done things that I thought I would never be able to do like video producing
using complicated software. I’ve been published. “I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship. You learn skills on the job without being babysat, and get paid. It’s been a once in a lifetime experience.” On Thursday 18 March Ella and the other ambassadors will attend a conference at Parliament’s Portcullis House in Westminster to coincide with Apprenticeship Week where they will promote the benefits of gaining skills, qualifications and employment through apprenticeships to students and businesses. From April to June the ambassadors will take part in a borough-wide road show, spreading their message in schools, FE colleges and adult education centres. At end of the programme in July young people will have the opportunity to seek employment through apprenticeships with local employers with the support of their ambassador.
Hatch wants to help plan your business Nine in ten new businesses fail within the first three years and only half make it past the first year, according to Dirk Bischof of Brixton-based One Planet Ventures. He has plans to make local businesses the exception to this rule with the Hatch Incubator programme which is open to all prospective entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30 who live in Lambeth. It will support 48 entrepreneurs and their businesses or social enterprises, providing workspace and back-office and mentoring programmes. Isolation, and lack of affordable space and local professional support are all factors, says Bischof. So far, 45 start-ups and over 30 entrepreneurs have used the Hatch enterprise training programme. “We are seeing first-class results with 90 per cent of businesses still around after six to 12 months post-Hatch,” says Bischof. “As a community enterprise incubator, we’re especially proud of all the
great local enterprises such as Brixton Soup Kitchen, SNACT or Neon Performing Arts, among many others, that we’ve supported.” What’s new for 2016 is the Hatch Launchpad, a free six-week evening course for people who want to develop and test their business ideas. It runs on Wednesdays from 6 to 9pm starting 10 February at Hatch Brixton. The Hatch Incubator, a free 12-week programme that has helped over 40 entrepreneurs scale their businesses starts again in March. Hatch provides access to experts in legal issues, finance, marketing and sales. Every participant is matched with a business mentor. It runs Fridays, 10am to 4.30pm from 11 March until 27 May at Impact Hub in Pop Brixton. ■■ Both programmes have limited places available and applications close on 8 February. To register your interest, go to http://hatch-incubator.org/apply.
School Ground Sounds at TedX Brixton last year
‘GET IN TOUCH AND SEE HOW THEY CAN HELP’ Tom Shropshire from School Ground Sounds (SGS) is a recent Hatch graduate. “During my teaching experience, it became clear that increased pressure on schools to perform in Maths and English often meant that music is left behind,” he says. “With a background in music production and experience working with artists, I felt well-placed to tackle this inequality.” Tom had never run a business and says: “the weekly workshops and one-to-one
business support Hatch provided helped to focus on the important things I needed to get up and running.” He worked hand in hand with an experienced mentor from Hatch, who had set up many successful businesses during his career and also runs a recording studio and record label. As a result of Hatch, SGS now has its own mentoring programme for young people who are matched with a professional musician.
Tom says: “A lot has happened in the last year and we have new school partnerships, access to professional recording studios and signed up our first corporate partner, Orbitsound.” The company donates £1 to SGS whenever it sells a speaker. “In 2015 we worked with 50 young musicians, 10 volunteer mentors and 15 schools. I would encourage anyone thinking of setting up a social venture to get in touch with Hatch to see how they can help.”
February 2016
INCREDIBLE EDIBLE 11
www.brixtonblog.com
Wassailing we did go … Brockwell Community Greenhouses organised their first ever wassailing event last month. Wassailing is an ancient ceremony – involving drinking mulled cider and blessing fruit trees, particularly apple trees – to ensure a healthy crop of fruit in the harvest later in the year. We started by singing some wassailing songs – Here We Go A-Wassailing to the tune of Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush, and a Brockwell version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Then the Wassail Queen – education officer Maira – led a procession (right) to the site’s old mulberry tree, with everyone making as much noise as possible on their percussion instruments or saucepan lids, to wake up the apple spirit. Then a ceremonial cup of cider was passed around the 50-plus people there before the tree was blessed, and pieces of toast hung in the tree as an offering! The final act was a party with mulled cider and lots of cake.
As 2016 gets under way, Susan Sheehan surveys the gardeners’ year
Time to think about the year ahead February is a quiet time of year for community gardeners, but it is a good time to start thinking about the year ahead and do some planning. We have five Incredible Edible Lambeth growing hubs in Lambeth: Brockwell Park Greenhouses; Myatts Fields Park; Rosendale Allotments; Streatham Common Community Garden; and the new Clapham Common community gardens. You can find links to them all on the incredibleediblelambeth.org website. Their own websites give lots of gardening ideas and details of training workshops. My expertise is around how community gardens can involve as many people as possible in the community — and this also requires careful planning. So what types of activities can you plan for your community gardens to invite people in? Here are a few ideas. I would be very interested in hearing about your ideas and events and sharing them with others.
Children
An easy starting place is children. By engaging them you also engage their parents – and happy children means happy parents. Ideas include: STORYTELLING – visit your local library and dig out some books about bugs such as The Hungry Caterpillar. If you have an imaginative volunteer perhaps they could lead children to make up their own stories. BUG HUNT – give children a chance to get to know and love the bugs that make up the garden and contribute to its wellbeing.
In 2015 Incredible Edible Lambeth produced this beautiful calendar of training events and networking activities at our hub community gardens and we hope to do the same again this year. Would you like your events to be listed on this year’s calendar? Please email me at suesheehangcc@gmail.com with details. It is alarming how many young adults, who have not had much connection with the earth or any green space, are put off gardening because they cannot tolerate bugs. WORMS are GREAT! PAINTING AND CRAFTS – use waste materials such as yoghurt pots and loo rolls to design tropical plants for the garden. My local community garden has a wish tree that was designed and produced collaboratively.
Seasonal activities
Seasonal activities are a great way for gardeners and non-gardeners alike to relate to the environment. Seed swaps are often one of the first activities of the year. They are an opportunity for people to contribute seeds as well as receive. And they help people to
think about getting their own gardens started and maybe trying to grow something different that they wouldn’t necessarily have chosen before. I grew a cardoon, a vegetable I had never heard of, because a neighbour gave me a seed. Spring is the time to start planting those seeds and seedlings. It might also be time to run some workshops and sell or donate seedlings to grow on balconies or in small spaces.
Fairtrade fortnight
Fairtrade fortnight starts on 29 February – so time to think about where food comes from and how your spending on food can help support farmers overseas. Find out if you have any local suppliers of Fairtrade and invite
them to connect with your garden. Easter is a perfect opportunity for Easter egg hunts and the holiday provides a few extra days to get the gardening looking ready for spring. And of course it’s a chance to eat your Fairtrade chocolate. Also in spring make sure you have registered with Capital Growth [www.capitalgrowth.org] to record your harvest on their Harvestometer (below). Last year 160 gardens recorded £150,000-worth of produce. Summer brings long days and a chance to enjoy the sights, sounds and fruits of the garden. Eating food together is as important as growing it, and many gardens now have small barbecue spaces or campfire stoves that can be brought out. What about music in the garden?
Stop food waste
There should be an abundance of salads and fruit through the 11
Harvest-ometer
Record and view the progress of your harvest in 5 simple steps
Stage 1
Join Capital Growth and activate your Harvest-ometer in your personal members’ area
Stage 2
Weigh and record your harvest in the field
Apple
Measure
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Grams
Grams
Grams
Grams
apple
Blackberry
handful(s)
Cherry
cherry
Pear
pear(s)
Rhubarb
stalk
Phone number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Strawberry . . . . . . . . .handful(s) . Gooseberries
handful(s)
Space number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Red/Black/White . . . . . . . . . .
handful(s)
Currants
Vegetables Month: Measure
Artichoke
artichoke(s)
Asparagus
apear(s)
Beans (Broad) Beans (French)
handful(s) handful(s)
Beans (Runner)
handful(s)
Beetroot
handful(s)
Broccoli (sprouting) Brocolli (head)
spears head(s)
Brussel Sprouts
Sprouts
Cabbage
cabbage(s)
Carrot (baby/small)
Log in to members area, select a produce type and enter your quantities
Month: Crop name
Enter this information online by visiting www.capitalgrowth.org/members
Space name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plum . . . . . . . . .Plum(s) . Head grower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raspberries . . . . . . . . .handful(s) .
Crop name
Stage 3
Fruit
Harvest log
carrot(s)
Carrot (large)
carrot(s)
Cauliflower
Cauliflower(s)
Chilli Courgette
chillies cucumber(s) bulb(s)
Garlic
bulb(s) cereal bowl(s)
Leek
untrimmed leek(s)
Mange tout/peas
handful(s)
Marrow (medium)
marrow(s)
Onion
onion(s)
Onion (spring)
onion(s)
Pak Choi Parsnips
bulb(s) parsnips
Peppers
pepper (s)
Potato
potato(es)
Potato (new) Radish
potato(es) radish(es)
Squash/pumpkin
squash(es)
Swede
Swede (s)
Sweetcorn
Date:
Date:
Grams
Grams
Grams
Blueberries
handful(s)
Grapes
handful(s) Date: Grams
Salad & leaves Month: Crop name
Measure
Cavolo nero
cereal bowl(s)
Chard
cereal bowl(s)
Lettuce (headed)
cereal bowl(s) cereal bowl(s)
Spinach Basil
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Grams
Grams
Grams
Grams
cereal bowl(s)
Rocket Salad leaves (mixed)
cereal bowl(s) cereal bowl(s)
Chives
cereal bowl(s)
Coriander
cereal bowl(s)
courgette(s)
Cucumber Fennel Kale
Date:
Other Month: Crop name Egg Honey
Measure
cereal bowl(s) cereal bowl(s)
Chives Mint
Date:
Date:
Date:
Date:
Grams
Grams
Grams
Grams
egg(s) jar(s)
Coriander Basil
cereal bowl(s) cereal bowl(s)
Rosemary
cereal bowl(s)
Thyme
cereal bowl(s)
Parsley
cereal bowl(s)
Tarragon
cereal bowl(s)
cob(s)
Tomato
tomato(es)
Tomato (Cherry)
tomato(es)
Turnips
turnips
If there is a crop type that is not included, please enter the details at the bottom of the ‘Other’ section overleaf. We are constantly adding new crop types to our online list. Let us know is you would like us to make an addition. If you cannot log this information online please email the form to us at paola@sustainweb.org or post it to: Capital Growth, C/o Sustain, Development House, 56 - 64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT
Stage 4
View your harvest and compare with previous seasons. Export a record of all your harvest data!
Stage 5
Check progress on your personalised harvest-ometer graph
summer, but if there is still not quite enough food to harvest, think about raising issues around food that would otherwise be wasted and make connections with local shops and restaurants. Brixton People’s Kitchen [http://bit.ly/BPK-vol] and Foodcycle [http://bit.ly/FC-WN] at West Norwood’s Community Shop are experts in cooking with surplus food. The long school holidays mean that there are lots of young people enjoying the outdoors, but there is growing concern that those who are eligible for school meals do not have access to a nutritious hot meal during the holidays – so look out for funded programmes to fill this gap, or the potential to collaborate with other groups and volunteers in your area. Autumn is harvest time and it’s time to enjoy and celebrate the year. It’s not the end of the year yet though, and there is lots to do in the garden. Don’t forget to plant some winter veg and salads and sort out the compost bins so they can do their job well during the cold months. And over-winter produce by learning how to make jams and chutneys, and dry beans and fruits. Take the opportunity to visit other community gardens and steal their best ideas. A visit to Lambeth’s very special treasure, the working Brixton Windmill, is highly recommended. As we approach winter there is lots of material around the garden that can be turned into Christmas decorations, and the New Year is time for reviving the ancient tradition of wassailing.
We are a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening Brixton’s diverse business culture. We represent 656 levy-paying businesses in the local area and work to develop new and exciting opportunities for Brixton. 020 3417 7373 admin@brixtonbid.co.uk @BrixtonBID brixtonbid.co.uk
MAKING BRIXTON GREENER The BID has recently secured additional funding from the Greater London Authority to contribute towards a Green Infrastructure Audit for Brixton’s town centre. The purpose of the audit is to identify and realise opportunities to increase green cover. The BID team will use the findings of the report to apply for future rounds of match funding to deliver innovative planting projects in Brixton. Increasing green infrastructure such as trees, parks, gardens and living roofs not only makes areas more attractive to visit and work in, it can also have a positive environmental impact by creating wildlife habitat, increasing shade and reducing the risk of surface water flooding. Local businesses will be encouraged to contribute to the larger initiative by making their own small scale changes such as planters outside their premises. Are you a local business interested in contributing to discussions about Brixton’s environment? Our next sixweekly meeting is on Tuesday 23 February at 10:30am, at The Courtesan restaurant on Atlantic Road. It’s open to all business owners and we’d love to hear your opinions – see you there!
SHOP LOCAL THIS WINTER
JOINING THE BRIXTON BID
One of the best things about Brixton is the diversity of its businesses. You don’t have to travel far to purchase beautiful and unique gifts, great quality fruit and veg, groceries from around the world and stylish clothing and accessories. Plus, there’s always music playing and plenty of choice when stopping for a cup of coffee, a chicken soup or a bite to eat.
Brixton BID works on behalf of the local business community; its projects are funded by a levy paid by all businesses over a certain size.
Research shows that for every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business, 63p stays within the local economy. Why travel anywhere else but Brixton? The improvement work to the Street Markets on Electric Avenue started in February, and will include new granite paving, improved street lighting, signage and drainage. Traders will also benefit from improved access to power and water supply. The works are being delivered in two phases to allow the market to remain open throughout construction, and opening hours are as normal. We look forward to seeing the finished result.
The BID delivers free advertising and training, plus cheaper waste collections and free cardboard recycling to neutralise the cost of the BID levy. We now have a voluntary Brixton Business Club for smaller local businesses and traders who wish to become Brixton BID members, allowing them to receive the BID benefits of joint procurement and other savings. The aims of the BID are to create stronger business partnerships, to invest in marketing and events for local benefit, and to improve Brixton’s physical environment. The next Brixton BID Marketing & Partnerships meeting will be held on Tuesday 2 February at 11:30am at Pop Brixton.
Tell us what you love best about Brixton and give a shout out to your favourite businesses by tweeting @BrixtonBID.
YOUR BUSINESS HERE We already have several business adverts lined up for next month. The Brixton Bugle has an active readership of 10,000 local people per month. If you are a Brixton BID member business and would like to claim your FREE eighth of a page ad in 2016, please email susie.barlow@brixtonbid.co.uk
14 ARTS & CULTURE
‘It’s just you and the listener’s ear’ Brixton actor Adjoa Andoh has been narrating Toni Morrison’s Beloved to the nation, via Radio 4’s flagship 15 Minute Drama programme. Ruth Waters found out more “I like telling stories when it’s just you and the listener’s ear” Adjoa Andoh enthuses – “radio is a medium that I love to work in and honours the writing in a way that visual performances can’t.” Invited by director Sasha Yevtushenko to narrate the first radio adaptation of Toni Morrison’s seminal novel about slavery, trauma and mother-child bonds, Adjoa didn’t have to think twice. She knew the novel inside out and it remains one of her all-time favourite books. “I have a real affinity with the story … I think, like all great novels, it’s a universal tale which speaks to people who have suffered trauma and tried to come out the other side.” The process of putting together a radio play is a tricky one. After an initial read through, the actors record their
brixtonblog.com
Colour, location, status – all that remains of ‘the black woman at Brixton Causeway’ Arts and community contributor Gargie Ahmad discovered more about the history of black people in 18th century Lambeth at the Black Cultural Archives last month
lines separately and Adjoa read all her narration in two afternoons without a certain sense of the tone for each scene, or which sections would make the final edit. “I wanted the narration to have a sense of Toni Morrison’s wisdom, combined with the geography of the place. It’s an incredibly complex novel to get into ten bite-sized chunks, but writer Patricia Cumper has done a fantastic job.” Having given her all to her component part, Adjoa was still taken aback by the final edit: “It becomes a completely different thing when you listen to it altogether with the sounds and all the actors – I found myself listening to it like I hadn’t had any part in it!” One of the most moving aspects of the final adaptation is the choral music, arranged by fellow Brixtonite, Dominique Le Gendre, ensuring that the complex layers of spirituality are interwoven throughout. Proud to have brought such an important story to a national audience, Adjoa sees Beloved as “a story all about how our histories reverberate through us, through the generations. It’s undoubtedly one of the greatest novels of the 20th century – well, it did win the Pulitzer Prize!” ■■ Listen to all 15-minute episodes of Beloved on iPlayer [http://bit.ly/FMD-beloved] only available for a few more days.
February 2016
It is largely unknown that people of African origin have made Britain their home for centuries. Jon Newman from Lambeth Archives gave an engaging talk at the Black Cultural Archives (BCA) in January about black people living in Lambeth in the 18th century. Using parish registers and Poor Law records, Jon has pieced together the everyday histories of this small community. I caught up with him to learn more about the remarkable accounts revealed in the records. Jon’s talk was based on a Lambeth Archives book, Windrush Forbears: Black People in Lambeth 1700-1900. As Brixton has long been at the heart of the black community in London, the local team sought to delve deeper, and challenge the perceived notion that the black history of Britain only began with Caribbean migrants arriving on the Empire Windrush in 1948. As the BCA’s current Black Georgians exhibition also shows, Black and Asian communities in Lambeth have a much longer history. Black people in this era faced deep discrimination. Most people in the registers were slaves or indentured servants. Baptism was rare, and usually a process of control by white masters. The “Otherness” of German, Huguenot or Irish migrants to Lambeth was rarely recorded, but the ethnicity and status of
black people definitely were. Several people were given variations on the surname “Blackmore”, a combination of black and a reference to “Moor”, people from North Africa. In 1784, William and Richard Lambeth appear listed as servants. Jon points out that this follows a practice of re-naming slaves after their masters or places of residence. Obadiah January seemingly gained his surname only upon having his death recorded in January 1781 at Stockwell Chapel. Baptised as an adult in 1749, Robert Freeman’s name must have been deeply symbolic of his status as freed slave. Black women’s experiences in this era reflect the intersectional nature of discrimination. Between 1719-1726, four black
Slave, author, trader, political activist and author – among other things – Olaudah Equiano. One of the few black people in Britain from the 18th century whose story is recorded.
people were simultaneously on poor relief; one of them was simply “the black woman at Brixton Causeway”. Neither this woman’s name, nor that of her “bastard child” is recorded, only her colour, location, and status. Places like the Female Orphan Asylum, of Westminster Bridge Road, specified that “no black nor mulatto” girl would be accepted to the institution. Such exclusion of particular groups is proof of their meaningful presence. Most sources indicate these people faced precarious lives, but some independent black people were also around. Students at the African Academy, which was set up in 1800 on Clapham Common as a missionary training centre for freed slaves from Sierra Leone, were often sons of important chiefs, kings, traders, and plantation owners. For example, alumnus Henry Granville Naimbana, who ruled the Koya Kingdom in Sierra Leone from 1775 to 1793, was the only person significant enough in the Lambeth registers to be illustrated. Local records only capture a fraction of black people living at the time. Through this fascinating glimpse of a small but significant community, we can learn about their untold stories and resilience, and start to build our understanding of the long-rooted, diverse heritage of black people in Britain today. ■■ Windrush Forbears: Black People in Lambeth 1700-1900 is available to purchase from the Lambeth Archives or the BCA. Black Georgians: the Shock of the Familiar runs until 9 April 2016 at the BCA.
February 2016
brixtonblog.com
ARTS & CULTURE 15 PETRA GENT
RAJVI VAYA
Rami Radi
Brixton label will shine a light on hidden talent Petra Gent finds out more about a new Brixton record label and its first release
established performers such as Childhood, Benny Tipene, Killa Kela and One Man Destruction Show from Fat White Family. Last month saw the launch of a new Having now attended many of these Brixton-based record label by Laid Bare nights in different venues, the quality and organiser and local musician Rami Radi, eclecticism of local talent never ceases with an event celebrating the first EP to impress me. Rami’s gift for not only release at the Ritzy. finding these brilliant performers, but also Laid Bare Records builds on over two choosing such appealing venues, means years of the Laid Bare nights, which that the events always draw a crowd. have given local unsigned talent Variously a musician, producer a platform to bring their and mixer, cinematographer, music to a wider audience. video editor and podcast The first release is Moon host, Rami has big plans Songs, an EP from singerfor Laid Bare. songwriter Chris Belson. He’s clearly very Rami began passionate about the organising music nights project. His main vision while at university in is to “shine a light” on York and then took part all the hidden talent we in an open mic night in have so close to home, The Voice contestant Hannah West London on moving and he’s currently looking Symons performing at a back to the capital. to expand the live nights Laid Bare night at This inspired him to set to incorporate more venues, Upstairs at the up something similar in south with the Fu Manchu shows Ritzy London, and Laid Bare was born now taking place weekly. He hopes in July 2013. to have four releases on the label this year, It began at the Ritzy as an open mic and is already planning the second, although night and developed over six months into he’s not revealing who the artist is yet. an acoustic night, with Rami finding and Moon Songs includes five new songs booking all the acts. from the dulcet-toned Chris Belson. With Laid Bare nights have now grown a very indie edge to his acoustic stylings, to include regular events at the Ritzy, recent reviews have compared his sound to Clapham’s Fu Manchu and the Century Radiohead and Sigh No More-era Mumford Club in central London. Sister night Laid & Sons among others. Bare Presents takes over the beautiful ■■ The EP was released on 8 January Brixton East venue to showcase the and can be found on iTunes, Amazon most popular artists as well as many and Spotify.
Chris Belson plays at the launch of Laid Bare Records
16 ARTS & CULTURE
brixtonblog.com
February 2016
Brockwell Park – a day in the life Local author Emmanuelle Smith’s new children’s book is a love letter to Brockwell Park and a must-read for local pre-schoolers. Ruth Waters reports. Published last week, Park Life is a collaboration between journalist and mum of two, Emmanuelle Smith (left), and Peckhambased illustrator, Cally Lathey. The book tells the story of a day in the life of one of Brixton’s most-loved spaces and counts Blur, John Donne and Dylan Thomas amongst its cultural references. Talking about how her enjoyment of Brockwell Park became Park Life, Emmanuelle describes how she’s there with her children almost every day. “I live in a flat, and although we’ve got a small garden, we’d always rather come to the park. You see people you know, it’s more sociable. there’s a real community here.” With children, Rosa and Noam, aged five and three, Emmanuelle knows all the highlights of the park from both an adult and a child’s perspective. “My children love the playground, the secret garden [the
walled garden] and feeding the ducks”, whereas she loves the Lido and having space to think. With Lambeth council considering cutting budgets for parks, it’s an important moment to teach Brixton’s children to treasure our outdoor spaces and all that they offer. “It would be such a shame if the park fell into disrepair; even small things like bins overflowing or swings being broken make a big difference to your visit. “The park is such a valuable resource for all sorts of people and the better it’s kept the more people will treasure it.” When I ask Emmanuelle how her children feel about mum being a published author, she laughs – “they’re kind of nonplussed!” While Rosa and Noam may not grasp their mum’s new venture, they absolutely love the illustrations: “The illustrations are what make the book. My children love all the details and finding different things in each of the pictures.” ■■ Park Life is available on hive.co.uk and is the perfect read for young fans of Brockwell Park.
Stories that put you in the shoes of an outsider in Cuba Brixton author Leila Segal launched her debut collection of short stories, Breathe: Stories from Cuba last month. Arts co-editor Ruth Waters found out more about the story behind the stories. Breathe: Stories from Cuba transports its reader to an environment quite different to SW2. On meeting local author Leila Segal, my first priority is to find out how she came to be living in and writing about Cuba. “I was very drawn to Cuba”, Leila explains, “it’s apparently easy to be in and to understand, but actually it’s very complex. The longer I stayed there, the more layers I experienced and the harder it was to understand. Sensually, musically, visually, emotionally it’s an incredibly stimulating place.” Leila found herself living between London and Cuba for a seven-year period and, in a relationship with a Cuban man, she spent time not only in Havana but also in the rural west of the country. She was deeply involved with Cuban life, yet her “foreignness” (when living in the west, she was the only non-Cuban in the town) allowed her to see the sides of Cuban life reserved for tourists. “I was in a strange position where I had access to all the things which foreigners had access to. Tourists and foreigners were very restricted in their access to regular Cuban people and life, but I had access to all those things too. I was seeing things from both points of view.”
Leila Segal in Cuba Throughout her stories, Leila expresses the complex and conflicting emotions which bind together and splinter apart foreigners and Cubans. “Part of writing is not understanding. The thing which drives me to write is to understand and makes sense of experience,” she says. Leila was acutely aware of herself as an outsider during her time in Cuba and her stories draw upon the theme of being the alien, the one who doesn’t quite understand the fabric of a community. “If my stories are about one thing, it’s about being the outsider. Even the Cubans in the stories are outsiders or are preparing to be outsiders.”And while her stories are grounded in a very particular time and space, she hopes their emotional dynamics
are universal. Leila writes about Cuba with a unique style and voice. Fast-paced, unconcerned with setting out context and extremely involved with the minutiae of emotional bonds, Leila’s style is refreshing. I ask her to what extent her own Cuban experience dictated the style of her fiction: “I experienced Cuba in flashes and truncated experiences … and through my writing, you, the reader, are in my shoes.” How much are these stories Leila’s travel log, transcriptions of her own experience, I wonder? “It’s taken many years to write them (the process began in 2000) and there are many layers in each story. The me who experienced Cuba is not the same as the
person who wrote the stories, and added to them layer by layer.” Leila describes the stories as “representations of things she wanted to say and feel” rather than autobiographical accounts. While the emotional truth of each story is incredibly important to her, each story has been crafted as fiction.“If I had just reported the things I had experienced it wouldn’t have had the same power as using voices of people who are actually inside the experience.” Emotional connection is what Leila prizes over all else. It’s what inspired her to write the stories, what helped her select and edit them and what she wants her reader to experience. She loved the importance placed on “emotional connection and comfort” by Cubans – “it’s the opposite of being in London, where everyone is too busy and everything is too fast.” ■■ Breathe: Stories from Cuba can be bought online from Waterstones or Foyles and will be stocked at local bookshops. Having read at Brixton Library in January, Leila will be reading at Parissi on Railton Road on 18 February. Find out more at www.leilasegal.com.
February 2016
Winter warmers
FOOD & DRINK 17
brixtonblog.com Are you sick of feeling like you have to choose between being warm in a chain restaurant or chilled to the bone (rather than in mood) in an independent eatery in Brixton? It can be frustrating to need to plan to
have thermals on before you venture out for a cocktail, but the good news is that a new breed of small and independent places in Brixton are combining cosiness with a good time. We went along to three of them that
offer the opportunity to try anything from a lazy brunch to a quick sandwich while on your lunch break to pre-dinner drinks or a whole evening’s entertainment – all while keeping warm and enjoying the local people-watching at the same time.
Blue Jay, Brixton Village Tucked away on the corner of 4th and 2nd Avenue in the Village, this semi-permanent pop up project has taken over the space of the old Cornercopia restaurant. It welcomes Sherri Dymond back to the market after she spent several summers cooking at Cornercopia. This return allows her to combine her Canadian roots with Brixton ingredients to create a unique place for anyone to eat at. The small and cosy space is like a home from home but with the charm of good service and the kind of food you want to make but never quite find the time for. It has a personal feel that makes regulars feel valued and new visitors feel welcomed. The clientele ranges from a surprising number of Tinder dates, to well known Brixton faces eating out in their
own community, to people treating themselves to a solo weekend brunch over the papers. Sherri prepares everything from scratch, using locally bought and sourced ingredients to add real Brixton feel to what you eat. The fruit and veg is often what the guys at the Fruit Garden in Herne Hill have specially picked out for Sherri to collect as she cycles past each day, as well as selected from specific stalls in Brixton market. Meat comes from Jones, The Butcher and there are locally picked or foraged items from allotments, gardens and greenhouses. These are all transformed with love and care into delicious creations such house cordials for cocktails, decadent smoothies for brunch or whole menus that turn out to be accidentally vegan. There’s often a pie for two to share
and the famous home-cured Canadian style peameal bacon which goes extremely well with a jerked Bloody Mary on the side. It’s a neighbourhood restaurant for people who love their neighbourhood. Not a place for just a quick pre-Ritzy bite to eat, it’s one for a night out when you want to see and feel Brixton. It’s well priced to feel like you’re indulging the fact you live here. It would be my choice for eating out for Valentine’s Day, even if your date is Brixton itself. ■■Kitchen opening hours: Wednesday noon-3, Thursday noon-3 & 6:30-10, Friday noon-3 & 6:30-10, Saturday noon-3 & 6:30-10, Sunday 11-2 (closed Monday-Tuesday) ■■Cash Only. Bookings in person or by bluejaybrixton@gmail.com
Binks’ Gin Shop, 5th Avenue Brixton Village You could spend all day at Binks’ Gin Shop. You might not have a lot of memories of it if you go just for the range of artisan gins and vermouths or house cocktails, but luckily they offer non-alcoholic drinks, infused teas and food that will line your stomach or cure your hangover as well. It’s also well worth just popping in on your lunch hour to get one of their magnificent salt beef sandwiches. Brisket from Jones, The Butcher is cured and salted in their own unique spice mix and black treacle for ten days before being served in generous slices on a caraway rye bread from the Bad Boys Bakery for what I think is the best salt beef sandwich in London. (Everywhere else buys their salt beef ready cured from the same supplier.) You can customise your sandwich with a choice of sides from seasonal slaw, potato salad, Swiss cheese and horseradish relish to other constantly changing options. You could have a different sandwich every day and not get bored. All for a fiver for the daily special.
Unit 16, Market Row Over on the other side is Unit 16 which I think has one of the best locations in town with the only corner unit you can sit in at Market Row. Big windows which fold back to become double doors make this cosy in winter and open to the joys of spring and summer on a good day. It also fits buggies and pushchairs nicely which not everywhere nearby can manage. Under new management as a collaboration between Sarah and Carlos at Casa Morita and Joe at 20 Storey, this is a venture all about familiar faces and people who know and value Brixton. All the staff have worked in and around Market Row for years and recognise their customers from all round the area. This creates a sense of community apparent throughout the day and night at Unit 16 with people popping in for a quick coffee or for lunch or staying to work all day or catch up with friends. The evening crowd come for pre-gig cocktails and many stay for the BYO vinyl nights and chance to hear good amateur DJs play at the weekends. There are also plans for book readings, spoken word nights, tango dancing, brass bands and maybe even Brixton’s first death cafe [http://deathcafe.com]. It’s got a feel of old Brixton ambience with no one
type of clientele dominating and everyone being equally welcome. Its identity varies by time of day without trying too hard at any point. It’s the kind of place people pop into and are then reluctant to leave. For the customers, it hopes to offer a venue where interests and passions can be enjoyed without a sense of oneupmanship or contrivance. For the staff and owners, it’s all about passion for details. The fruit and veg is sold in the deli as well as being turned into fresh juices and the base of excellent cocktails or delicious cakes baked daily in the cafe. There are toasted sandwiches made with local bread from Kennington that are so good you’ll also want to eat them just slathered with the exceptional chicken liver pate and a few slices of ripe red tomato on the side. And let’s not forget the coffee by Damosso & Puttini which I think might be the best in town. You can even buy your beans to take home. Lunches, brunches and plates in the evening will continue to grow and develop as they do and they promise to be the place to fulfil your 4pm cake craving in Brixton. It’s a cafe bar with excellent people watching opportunities, run by people who like to read, listen to music and eat and drink. What more could you want in your local area?
They also offer a new take on another London favourite of pie and mash. Homemade pies come with crushed new potatoes, peas and caramelised onions for a hearty lunch. The Scottish style minced beef pie came with melting shortcrust pastry while the cauliflower and dal veggie version had the butteriest puff pastry I’ve had in a long time. I didn’t have room for the weekend brunch options of salt beef hash with kale and poached egg or Polish style potato waffles with smoked salmon and sour cream, but I made good work of a few 35ml standard gin and tonics while I watched the world of Brixton come and go all afternoon, hearing how many people had travelled for the salt beef or come to see old friends and faces. Just as well I don’t actually work in an office. I’d get fired on the spot after my very extended and enjoyable lunch at Binks’. I suspect I’ll only leave in the evenings when they lock the market up for the night.
18 FOOD & DRINK
brixtonblog.com
February 2016
R ECI PE • AU B E RG I N E AN D POM EG RANATE SOU P
Looks can be deceptive Learn how to peel a pomegranate with Miss South as you brighten your winter day with soup
If you’re anything like me, January is not the month to start new things. I neither like to begin or give up anything when it’s cold and grey outside. January is about making my life easier so I’ve gone for a recipe that used storecupboard ingredients and took 30 minutes to make. It happens to be vegan if that was your January plan and excellent with a glass of red wine if you’re reading this in February … It’s really worth buying the pomegranate molasses if you can. You won’t regret making a trip to the Nour Cash and Carry for it at an excellent price, trust me! Heat the olive oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan and sweat the diced onion for about 5 minutes on a medium heat. Add the aubergine and allow both to soften and colour gently for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The aubergine will absorb all the oil and stick slightly but don’t add more
and it will brown around the edges to add flavour. After 10 minutes add the cumin and half the pomegranate molasses to the softened vegetables. Make sure they are well coated and allow to caramelise and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring regularly. Drain the beans and wash well under running water to remove the sticky film tinned pulses have which makes them harder to digest. Add to the caramelised vegetables and add the rest of the pomegranate molasses. Cook for another minute and add two thirds of vegetable stock. I usually buy Marigold bouillon powder which is available at Oracle in Brixton Village or Esme’s in Market Row and has the best flavour of all the veggie stocks I’ve tried. So many taste like cheap crisps to me but this is great. Simmer the soup for another few minutes to warm the beans through and combine the flavours, seasoning well. Carefully cut your pomegranate in half and place one half in a bowlful of cold water. Using your fingers, pull the skin back and start to loosen the seeds from it
AUBERGINE AND POMEGRANATE SOUP (serves 2) ¡¡1 tablespoon olive oil ¡¡1 small onion, diced ¡¡1 large aubergine, diced ¡¡1 teaspoon ground cumin
¡¡salt and pepper to taste ¡¡1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses ¡¡1 x 400g tin of white beans (such as butter
or white kidney beans) ¡¡750ml vegetable stock ¡¡1/2 pomegranate, seeds removed and served on top
and the white inner pith. The pith will float and the seeds will sink. Simply scoop the pith and peel out with your hand and then drain the water off the seeds. Rinse them if needed and repeat with the other half which you can keep aside for another occasion. This is how you peel a pomegranate without hassle or mess. Take the soup off the heat and use a hand blender to puree it to a smooth silky
texture. It will be very thick at this stage so add enough of the vegetable stock to reach the texture you like and gently warm it again before checking the seasoning and serving with a drizzle of olive oil and the pomegranate seeds scattered on top. Even if it isn’t the most cheerful looking soup, it will brighten up any winter day in Brixton in no time at all and remind me to buy aubergines more often.
February 2016
FOOD & DRINK 19
brixtonblog.com
FOOD NEWS
Is it time to end the drought? As always there’s lots going on in Brixton around food and drink this month
NNOne for immediate action is the pop up pub courtesy of Clarkshaws Brewery at Platform Space SW9 on Ridgway Road in Loughborough Junction. There’s a chance to sample their beers and listen to live music.
NNAlso helping
or hindering your decision whether to extend Dry January, depending how you feel, is the opening of First Aid Box in Herne Hill on Dulwich Road. An all-day cafe and cocktail bar from the people behind Shrub and Shutter, it looks like it’ll be a popular spot in no time.
NNBrixton’s hitting
the big time! Chef Nicholas Balfe of Salon in Market Row has a new recipe residency in the Guardian, showcasing his local and seasonal style of cooking. Our congratulations to him. Move quickly to get a Valentine’s Day booking …
NNAnd speaking of
Valentine’s Day, don’t forget to visit the new chocolatier Kokoo in Brixton Village to buy someone you love* some independent Ghanaian dark chocolate or handmade truffles. (* FYI let’s not forget about self love in this circumstance too …)
MMM … Mussels
PIE … Pastry was buttery and the filling was bold
Growing up, Friday doubt it was one of the perfection – juicy and R EVI EW • CH I P SHOP B R IXTON tradition was fish and chips. meatiest mackerels I’ve flaky and all things nice. A We’d jump in the car after ever had the pleasure of great effort. school and drive straight to eating. It was a shame that The guys behind this new the chippy. Fish, chips (with some parts were slightly Brixton chippy are doing scraps, always), mushy peas over-done and had lost some good things. Offering a and curry sauce four ways. of their juiciness, though short but broad selection Then we’d take them home overall I was very happy I of fish dishes and having and me, mum, dad and my had ordered it. a good go at proper fish sister would eat them out But what I was really and chips. I’ll definitely of the newspaper and wash there for was to see if I had, be back – in particular them down with a cuppa. at last, found Yorkshirefor another of those big Yes, I’m from Yorkshire. comparable fish and chips bowls of steamy, winterIn my eyes, this reprein Brixton. I’ll cut to the warmer mussels on a cold, sentative upbringing puts Putting years of Yorkshire-bred experience to chase – no, I hadn’t, but wintery evening. me in good stead to take a it wasn’t far off and it’s a use, Nikki Griffiths checks out Brixton’s hip position of authority on this pretty tall order. Where it hop chip shop and finds much to recommend well-loved British classic. lost points were the slightly Another option for When I moved to London, soggy chips and the lack of frustrated northI didn’t want to believe of Eric B & Rakim and Nas. in public, I would have big nuggets of crispy batter those who told me that fish They’ve even got Biggie’s drunk it. to break off and dunk in erners is takeaway and chips wouldn’t be the ten crack commandments The fish of the day was the gravy. The curry sauce chippy Brixton’s same. I searched hard in my written on the stairs for mackerel which came was also a touch too sweet. Rock, located half first few months, but wound you to read on your way whole, lying regally on a The flavour of the batter way up Acre Lane. up with my best find being back from the loo. It’s cute, platform of potatoes, green however was excellent It’s good news, people. a mediocre adaptation, at playful and will probably beans and rocket. Without and the cod inside it was some trendy spot in East earn them a higher number London where I paid five of first time visitors. entire British pounds just I think it’s possible to for a ceramic, goldengo to Chip Shop and have rimmed ramekin of gravy. two entirely different It’s not like up north. experiences. As well as the You and I both know that battered chippy classics fish and chips taste better they also serve more refined when eaten out of paper, so seafood dishes such as crab, I always meet the concept of monkfish tail and tuna, a fish and chip restaurant vegetarian options and with much scepticism. Chip steaks. Food is reasonably Shop, which stands on the priced for what you get, but corner of Atlantic Road and the cost of drinks leaves a Coldharbour sour taste. Lane and is Lucky for They’ve even got the second them I got venture from Biggie’s ten crack distracted the folks who by the large commandments MEATY … Mackerel own Brixton enamel pot, Village Grill, is written on the overflowing one such estab- stairs for you to with succulent lishment. mussels in read on your way They’ve done a perfectly back from the loo well with the seasoned small interior white wine – it’s laid back, cosy and sauce which was placed has huge glass windows, in front of me. They really inviting the busy streets were delicious and in stark inside. And as well as tables contrast, at £8.75 for a there’s a bar area and the seemingly never-ending dig, AT LAST, WE NOW SERVE BRUNCH ALL DAY LONG. option to order food to take were fairly priced. home. But that’s not all. Straying from the aquatic They’ve decided to theme menu, we thought we’d try the restaurant. Some clever another Yorkshire favourite design work separated the – a homemade beefy pie. I “C” and “S” from Chip did have concerns it would Shop, leaving “Hip Hop”. resemble something which PLUS, POP-UP DINNERS COMING SOON. CHECK @THELIDOCAFE FOR DETAILS. There are portraits of Biggie once lived inside a wrapper, and ODB adorning their but those concerns were shutters and the owners gone within seconds. The are very proud of their pastry was buttery and playlist of 80s and 90s hip the filling was bold. And hop classics from the likes that gravy – if we weren’t
Not Yorkshire … but I could have drunk the gravy
Good news …
20 WHAT’S ON
Arts Co-Editor Barney Evison rounds up the latest music news from our corner of south London
BOWIE CELEBRATED Brixton became the focus for the extraordinary global reaction to the death of David Bowie. Fans left tributes at the mural beside Morleys, and local events celebrated the star’s incredible musical legacy, including a street party outside the Ritzy, a tribute night at Windmill Brixton, and a planned event at the Tate Library for National Libraries Day on 6 February. Some locals are even calling for a more permanent memorial to be erected in Windrush Square. More about Bowie in Brixton on p9.
NEW BRIXTON RECORD LABEL We were really excited to witness the launch of a new Brixton record label last month – Laid Bare Records! The brainchild of local musician Rami Radi – the man behind the Laid Bare music nights – Laid Bare Records has released its first EP, a debut from singer-songwriter Chris Belson. If the standard of curation is as high as Rami’s events, we’re expecting great things. Read more about it on page 15.
SECOND ALBUMS With Fat White Family having just released their second album, this year we’re looking forward to second records from two other successful Brixton acts; Misty Miller (top) and Childhood. Punk singer-songwriter Misty’s been waiting to get this album out for a while, and psych-rockers
February 2016 © CHRISTINE SUGARY STAPLE
MUSIC NEWS
brixtonblog.com
MON 1 @ THE WINDMILL
Why not start the month with a night of pop music? “Pop Composition” features short bursts of material from some of London’s most inventive acts – including Tom O.C Wilson Ensemble; Al Berkowitz; Melanie Pappenheim and Michael Woodman. 8pm. £4.
MON 1 @ VIDA WALSH CENTRE
Bored by music, frazzled by film? Try politics. Can Corbyn Survive? Red Flag South London Forum is an open discussion facilitated by Kady from Young Labour and Herne Hill Labour Party at the Vida Walsh Centre, 2B Saltoun Road SW2 1EP. 7.30pm. Free.
TUES 2 @ BRIXTON LIBRARY
The Brixton Library book group has its monthly meeting. Each the group provides participants with a copy of one of the books from its list. 7pm to 9pm.
WEDS 3 @ HOOTANANNY Childhood are currently working on the follow up to their acclaimed 2014 debut, Lacuna. Don’t miss these records!
WINDMILL STILL GOING STRONG At a time when several well-known venues in London have been forced to close, the Windmill still sails on and curated a strong week of events to celebrate Independent Venue Week in January, without even having to look north of the river for talent. Head to the Brixton Blog for reviews of performances by Misty Miller, Childhood and upand-comers Shame.
BROCKWELL PARK FESTIVAL The team behind Brixton night club Phonox have announced a new summer festival in Brockwell Park called Sunfall, with the lineup being revealed some time this month. Slated for Saturday 9 July, the festival is billed as a “celebration of the underground”. There will be several afterparties in nearby bars and clubs, including Electric Brixton, Effra Social, Phonox and the Bussey Building.
Hootananny’s live band karaoke invites punters to the stage to sing their favourite rock or pop hit with its live band Cornucopia. 9pm to 12 pm. Free .
THURS 4 @ RITZY
Beat the winter blues and treat your little ones to the big screen with Hopster Showtime: Snow and Ice . Hopster, the learning and entertainment app, is showing special screenings of TV series Pingu, Rupert Bear, Wonderballs and 64 Zoo Lane at Picturehouses. 11am (also Tues 2). £3 kids, adults go free.
FRI 5 @ PRINCE OF WALES
Check out the legendary Neville Staple (above) – “The original rude boy” and veteran ska performer – at the Prince of Wales. 7pm. £15.
FRI 5 @ DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY
The grounds of Dulwich Picture Gallery will transform into a world of light and fire this weekend to celebrate the opening of the major exhibition Nikolai Astrup: Painting Norway . Fire sculpture specialists Walk the Plank will transform the grounds after dusk into a live fire garden, visitors can enjoy access to the gallery’s permanent collection and there will be warm refreshments available. 6.30pm to 9.30pm (Sat 6 too). Kids £5, Adults £8.
SAT 6 @ O2 ACADEMY
German electronic musician Paul Kalkbrenner will be performing his only London gig at the Academy. Doors 8pm. Prices start at £23.10.
SAT 6 @ BRIXTON LIBRARY
On National Libraries Day, the Friends of Tate Library Brixton are promoting wellbeing through workshops in gardening, creativity and healthy lifestyles. 10am to 4pm. There will also be a David Bowie celebration with music and film in the evening.
The next meeting of the BRIXTON BOOK GROUP in the Effra Social (probably in the Churchill Room at the front) at about 7.30pm on Thursday 11 February will be discussing what the Blog/ Bugle thinks is one of the most fascinating and disturbing novels it has ever read – The Third Policeman by Irish genius Brian O’Nolan, better known by his pen name of Flann O’Brien. ■■http://brixtonbookgroup.com/ the-third-policeman.
See Neville Staple at the Prince of Wales on Friday 5
SUN 7 @ POP BRIXTON
WEDS 10 @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON
Free entry.
THURS 11 @ BLUES KITCHEN
If you can’t make Rio, head for Pop Brixton to celebrate Brazil’s Carnaval . A free day of entertainment and activities for all ages will featuring Brazilian food and drink, capoeira and samba classes, plus special performances from dancers, drummers, live musicians and DJs. Midday to 7pm.
MON 8 @ CARNEGIE LIBRARY
Why not start the week with a free exhibition? Laurent Seksik and Fabrice Le Hananff’s graphic novel Modigliani is being exhibited at the Carnegie Library in Herne Hill throughout February. Not open Tuesdays or Sundays. Free .
THE EXHIBITION OF A COMPLETE GRAPHIC NOVEL
THE LIFE AND DEATH
OF AMEDEO MODIGLIANI by Laurent Seksik and Fabrice Le Hénanff
SEKSIK
LE HENANFF
“A sensitive, poignant evocation of the painter Amedeo Modigliani, who died in poverty at the threshold of his fame at the turn of the twentieth century.” “An impressive artwork, powerful and authentic.” Paris Montparnasse, 1917. Artists sail through life with no thought of tomorrow. The prince of this bohemian, Amedeo Modigliani, dreams of changing the world with his brush strokes. But his taste for opium and absinthe, his passion for women and the craziness of the times are some of the challenges he will have to face.
Modi is about to become a legend... CARNEGIE LIBRARY, 188 Herne Hill Road, SE24 0AG Tel 020 7926 6050 1st-29th February 2016 Mon 1-8, Weds 10-6, Thur 1-6, Fri 10-6, Sat 9-5
TUES 9 @ SENZALA
An exhibition presented by 39A, Belsize Avenue, NW3 4BN salammbopress.com
To celebrate Shrove Tuesday why not head to Senzala in Brixton Market? This Brazilian creperie offers a huge variety of pancake fillings from savoury to sweet or try one of their famous galettes, made from gluten-free buckwheat. Open 10am to 10pm. Pancakes from £4 to £9.
Floating Points sees Sam Shepherd performing with an 11-piece orchestra. His day job is studying for a neuroscience Ph.D. There’s a big demand for tickets, but also an extra date on Thursday 11th. 7pm to 11pm. £15. Motown, Stax and Atlantic lover? Visit Blues Kitchen to hear Soul Sacrifice. Music 10pm until midnight. Free entry (book a table for drinks).
FRI 12 @ JAMM
Jamm hosts the official launch party for Circles with two rooms of music – Room 1 will be strictly D’n’B . Room 2 will have no rules. Performers will include Alix Perez, Technimatic, DJ Die, Hutch and James Rail. 10pm to 6am. £12.
SAT 13 @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON
They haven’t gone away, you know. So Solid Crew will make a rare performance with a DJ set featuring Lisa Maffia and Romeo at Groove Control’s Valentine’s Ball at Electric Brixton. Others on the bill include Artful Dodger, Oxide and Neutrino, Larry Sun, DJ Ramsay and Slim Mike. 10pm to 6am. £20.
SUN 14 @ HOOTANANNY
Rootmaster presents Future Groove’s Valentine’s Day special at Hootananny with some serious Brixton-sourced beats, brass, melodies and date friendly music. With DJ Claudia Wilson, DJ Chief Commander and YAABA. 9pm to midnight. Free before 11pm, £2 membership after.
MON 15 @ BRIXTON LIBRARY
Opening of The National Army Museum’s Empire and Commonwealth exhibition. More than 3 million people from more than 60 countries served alongside British troops during the First World War. The exhibition explores their stories. Closes 28 February. Free .
February 2016
TUES 16 @ DOGSTAR
WEDS 17 @ POP BRIXTON
Brave? Think you can sing? Then try Karaoke Rumble at Pop Brixton. Each contestant has two minutes to sing a song of their own choice with the possibility of being booed off by the audience or the host himself. Followed by a karaoke disco. 8 to 11.30pm. £5.
A six-week course of LIFE DRAWING is beginning in Brixton every Monday and Wednesday from 7 to 8.30pm, starting 15 February. The cost is £90. A professional artist and tutor will lead you through concepts, drawing skills and techniques such as perception, proportion, tone and contrast, mark making – enhancing your skills and confidence. Suitable for all levels, beginners and improvers welcome. Classes are informal with no more than 10 per class. Over-18s only. ■■Contact hello@nicole-gray.co.uk for details.
WEDS 24 @ EFFRA SOCIAL
The Hand in Hand on New Park Road runs weekly open mic nights on Thursdays from 8pm. All styles and abilities welcome.
FRI 19 @ JAMM
THURS 25 @ BRIXTON REC
Cohala’s House is back with nostalgic Hip Hop, RnB, Garage, Funky and Grime and house party vibes across two rooms. At 2am they’ll switch to a power hour of everything that’s hot right now. 10pm to 4am. £5 to £8.
SAT 20 @ BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVES
Adrian Stone returns to Black Cultural Archives for a series of two-hour practical family history workshops “Tracing your Jamaican Family Tree ”. Adrian is an experienced genealogist who researched his own family history from his African ancestors to Jamaica. These workshops offer you the opportunity to search your family tree and learn about the tools needed. Space is limited to eight per session, so booking is advisable. 6, 13 and 27 February too. 1pm-3pm. £10.
SUN 21 @ EUROLINK CENTRE
Its the last week of Absolute Beginners flamenco taster sessions at the EuroLink Centre on Effra Road. Suitable for complete beginners, or those wanting to refresh their technique. 3.45 to 5.15 pm (Ring Doorbell 011 to be let in). £13. To book, email info@lamorenitaflamenca.co.uk or call 07944 337904.
TUES 23 @ WHIRLED CINEMA
Head down to Whirled Cinema for its Women in Horror Month event: with eight shorts by female directors, followed by a panel featuring special guests Barbie Wilde, Nicholas Vincent, Jessica Messenger and Abigail Backmore and finishes with a soon-to-be announced
Bear attacks. Haberdashery shoot outs. Rocky sequels. Celluloid wise, 2016 has frankly spoiled us so far. And February is no different – Film contributor Adam Marshall tells us what’s coming to the Ritzy this month
feature film from a female director. Doors open 7pm. £7.50. Brixton Knitting Group AKA “Stitch and Bitch ” have a gathering every Wednesday at Effra Social. Bring your own needles and wool, drink a beer, munch some food and have a good ’ole natter. Beginners welcome. 7pm to 11pm. Free .
THURS 18 @ HAND IN HAND
RITZY ROUNDUP COLUMBIA PICTURES
Laugh Out London comedy club returns to Brixton for a night of alternative comedy with Sara Pascoe, Tom Parry, Jordan Brookes and Joe Davies with MC Tom Webb. Doors 7.30pm, start 8pm (latecomers may not be admitted). £5 advance, £7 door.
WHAT’S ON 21
brixtonblog.com
Learn samba and stay fit to live drumming at the Brixton Recreation centre every Thursday. Beginners and intermediate. 8pm to 9pm. £8.
FRI 26 @ PHONOX
Firmly cemented in the house and techno scene, Midland is joined by San Francisco’s DJ collective Honey Soundsystem. Doors for the bar open from 6pm, the DJs start at 10pm. Adv £5, door £10.
SAT 27 @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON
Feeling the cold? Ants, renowned as one of Ibiza ’s top music gatherings, is in London for the first time at Electric Brixton and says it can recreate the magic in a London February. With Andrea Oliva, Lauren Lane, Noir, Secondcity, Waze & Odyssey. 11pm to 6am. From £17.50.
SUN 28 @ HOOTANANNY
Rootmaster presents Baraka , a Londonbased band performing original material with influences and sounds from Brazilian beats, Caribbean calypso, Eastern echoes and South African swing all fused together. 9pm to midnight. Free .
MON 29 @ IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM
If you haven’t seen it yet, hop on a 159 to the Imperial War Museum and take a look at Lee Miller: A Woman’s War – more than 150 images by one of the most important war photographers of the 20th century, who also worked for Vogue. There’s a snap of her in Hitler’s bath and her portrait by Picasso. Closes 24 April. 10am–6pm. £10. Listings By Anna McKie
Mark Strong and Sacha Baron Cohen in Grimsby
IN THE NEWS Whatever you think of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and its perpetually troubling … conservatism, there’s no getting away from the Oscars’ impact on winter’s cinema programming. And SPOTLIGHT (from 29 Jan) is up for six of the little gold buggers. It tells of the Boston Globe team that blew the lid on the scandalous cover-up of child molestation running a scourge through the Catholic Church. Thank heavens for journalists … right?
WRITE ON!
WAR OF WORDS Talking of hate, there was droves of the stuff spat at the announcement of the new DAD’S ARMY (from 5 Feb) film. And, sure, I may or may not have got a little caught up in
TERRIBLE TWO
A world of light and fire at Dulwich Picture Gallery on Friday 5
Just looking for a boneheaded comedy to turn upside down that February frown? You’re in luck – the Ritzy’s got a duo of them. First, the looooooong
the bile spewing myself. But I may have been something of a stupid boy (sorry), because the cast is a cracker. Toby Jones as Mainwaring. Tom Courtenay as Jones. Michael Gambon as Godfrey. Bill Nighy as Wilson. Could it be good? Don’t panic (sorry) … there’s a chance we’re not completely doomed (sorry).
YOUNG AND OLD In other screens there’s Paolo Sorrentino’s latest masterpiece YOUTH (from 29 Jan), grey pound comedy I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS (from 12 Feb) and Julianne Moore and Ellen Page as a couple in weep worthy FREEHELD (from 19 Feb). And if you’re not afraid of a little debilitating frostiness, the picture house’s Pop Ritzy is popping up Dustin Hoffman’s baby face in 1967 cougar classic THE GRADUATE (21 Feb). And, yes … I am trying to seduce you. BLEECKER STREET
Another new release, another Oscar nomination. But this time for small screen favourite Bryan Cranston. Whether you know him from Malcolm in the Middle, Breaking Bad or any one of his myriad “character actor” movie appearances, the Academy has recognised him for his eponymous lead in TRUMBO (from 5 Feb). One of Golden Era Hollywood’s finest screenwriters, Dalton Trumbo was blacklisted for his association with the Communist party. But did that stop him writing movies? Did it heck-as-like. Here’s the story of how he removed two of his rudest fingers from his typewriter just long enough to flick them at his McCarthyite oppressors.
awaited sequel to 2001’s wonderful Zoolander. Yes, that’s right, it is ZOOLANDER 2 (from 12 Feb). Derek’s back. Hansel’s back. Mugato’s back. Let’s just hope the laughs are. And then there’s GRIMSBY (from 26 Feb), the Lincolnshire-upsetting new comedy from Sacha Baron Cohen. The Ali G originator’s latest creation is a football hooligan from the titular town. Nine children. A harridan of a wife. Paradise. Until he finds out that his separated-at-birth brother is an MI6 agent who needs his help to vanquish a world threatening plot. I absolutely HATE it when that happens.
Bryan Cranston in Trumbo
22 COLUMNS
brixtonblog.com
Black Cultural Archives vice chair launches education scholarship
GEMMA SINCLAIR
Be prepared – it’s veggie time
by Mamusu Kallon maybe think it’s not worth the trouble. As my mother used to say to me: “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”. Decide what you like and what you want to plant and start with the easy wins – courgettes, runner beans, spinach etc. Get onto the more technical veg when you’ve mastered the basics. You can buy the seeds online or, again, in any garden centre. But try to buy decent quality and not the stuff from the pound shop. You can plant seeds for veg in any type of soil and you can think about adding nutrients at a later date. For now, get the bed weeded, seeds sown (as per pack instructions) and cover with some netting to deter the cheeky birds from nabbing them all. I’m not one for chemical gardening at all, but you will be wise to invest in some organic slug pellets to give your young shoots a chance. And, finally, please don’t forget to put markers in to show what’s planted where. It’s amazing how quickly you’ll forget. ■■If you need any help digging or establishing a vegetable garden, feel free to contact me on 07826 551353 or thegardeninggirlat82@gmail.com.
Brixton-based Black Cultural Archives is to launch an annual scholarship to help African, Caribbean, Asian and minority ethnic young people to pursue their education in the UK at a lecture during this year’s Black History Month. Miranda Brawn (right), vice chair of the Archives and founder of the scholarship said: “I am very pleased that my old law school, The University of Law, has agreed to support and sponsor the “Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Annual Lecture”. The annual lecture and scholarship will highlight that education and diversity is key for progress and success. The lecture is designed to raise awareness of diversity and equality matters among the next generation of leaders and to highlight the work of the Archives. The scholarship will cover £1,000 funding; one-to-one mentoring sessions; CV clinics with Miranda Brawn; and work experience opportunities. Two will be available this year. Brawn said: “Young leaders from a Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) background will be provided with an incentive and opportunity to help prepare themselves
for a successful career. This will also help to increase race diversity and equality in Britain’s workforce.” Candidates must be of a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background, between 14–21 years old and in full time education. Applications will open in February and the successful candidates will be announced during the annual lecture. More details are available at http://bcaheritage.org.uk.
© TERI PENGILLEY/UNP
While I know we have suffered some frightfully cold weather recently, rest assured the worst is over. The temperatures and daylight hours will start to move significantly in our direction from February and we can only hope and pray we don’t get a cruel late visit from winter. Your garden will now be looking pretty sorry for itself and bare. But fear not – you will soon be seeing budding branches and green shoots popping up in time for spring. We are really coming into a very exciting time of the year in the garden, so I hope you have used the winter months wisely to plot and plan your perfect garden. It has become increasingly fashionable to become more aware of our natural habitat and to use our own resources. And now is the best time to prepare and sow your vegetable seeds if a little veggie patch is something you’ve dreamed about. Before you get started, consider the position of your veg patch – veggies like a sunny spot, so do bear this in mind. Ideally you would build a small raised bed, but this isn’t essential, just ideal. Raised bed kits are available from all good garden stores as well as Amazon. The most important thing is to make sure that the allocated area is weed-free. This is a task you might want to short cut – but please don’t. Weed growth will severely hamper the growth of the veggies and you won’t get a great crop and then
February 2016
FRANKIE HOLAH
It’s February – forget the fads February is the so-called month of love and my question to you is: are you still in a loving relationship with your health and fitness resolutions or was it more like a month-long fling which left you unsatisfied and wanting more? To be clear: I am not a fan of the fad (and that’s putting it lightly as I can’t swear). Health and fitness for me and those who I train is, or is turning into, a long-term relationship (Oh yes, things are serious); it’s something you invest yourself and your time in. Not simply a month of detox tea and sit-ups. Throughout January, in particular, we are bombarded with all the detoxes, celeb workout DVDs, shakes, diets, lotions and potions predominantly promising super health and abs in a matter of weeks. The catch here, however, is that the majority of these fads are not sustainable and, most likely, won’t benefit you in the long term. These are the flings and they require less investment but, in the end, you break up with them.
The ultimate goal is to live and move healthfully well into our later years; so I propose LOVE – LOVE the skin you’re in and train and nourish your body not because you hate it but because you LOVE it. Find an activity you LOVE to do and which makes you happy … and finally learn to LOVE the journey. No relationship is easy and there will be times when you struggle and times you need to adapt. But, when it comes to the health and fitness relationship that you LOVE, there is one thing for sure: You always get out what you put in! ■■For details of personal training and classes contact frankie@frankieholah.com. You might find it’s something you love!
National Institute for Health Research meeting at Friend’s House in London
Pop Brixton to host mental health event Pop Brixton will host an event with quizzes, competitions and prizes on Saturday 13 February for young people and/or their parents, families and carers who are interested in how to get involved in research, particularly around mental health and wellbeing. The event is organised by the National Children and Young People’s Mental Health Advisory Group.
It says scientific research is needed to identify the best ways of helping young people with mental health problems and how to reduce the risk of them developing problems. The event will provide the chance to: øøLearn more about research through interactive talks and presentations. øøFind out about how to get
involved in research. øøGain first-hand experience of the research process from taking part in a mock trial. ■■ The event (between 12 and 4:30pm) is free to attend. For more information or to register, contact lisa.doughty@kcl.ac.uk. Registration is not required, but catering and seating is only guaranteed for those who register.
Hill Mead HERALD FEBRUARY 2016
Year 6 charity raffle by Faith and Madison Hill Mead Primary had their first charity raffle earlier this month! It was arranged by a group of year 6 pupils who wanted to do something good for people less fortunate. Through current news and links between staff, it was decided that there would be a raffle to help raise money for a school in Cumbria called Flinby Primary that had been affected by the recent flooding. The year 6 pupils held an assembly to introduce the fundraiser and encourage pupils and staff to bring in any unwanted gifts to use in the raffle, to encourage people to buy tickets. We showed some of the prizes that were up for grabs. The school community did such a great job with providing wonderful gifts such as: a chocolate fondue set, Jacqueline Wilson books and even a train set!
The excitement was building. Every day after school, for four days, the year 6 group sold tickets with enthusiasm. As the day came closer, the tension was brewing. The day arrived. Parents, children and staff gathered in the hall to witness the raffle. Everybody wanted to win the chocolate fondue set, it was the star prize. The raffle began with great anticipation. Year 4 pupils seemed to win the most prizes. However the star prize (the chocolate fondue) went to a delighted reception pupil. The grand total our school raised was £170 which was amazing considering it was only a four-day fundraiser! The money raised will be going towards a new playground for Flinby Primary school. In addition, it will be helping families of children who attend Flinby Primary to help rebuild their lives after such devastating weather.
This story will make you love drama by Amisha and Ibrahim In year 5 we have been learning about Ancient Greece. At the moment we are looking at a myth called the Minotaur. It is about a hideous, dangerous and aggressive monster that is half man, half bull. We were lucky in year 4 and year 5 to have some of the members of the Unicorn Theatre come to school to do a workshop. First, we played a game to warm up, then we did role play as characters from the myth called Daedalus and Icarus. It was fun because we got to know more about them. They introduced us to King Minos’
daughter Ariadne. Ariadne has always dreamt of freedom and goes to the trickiest maze to talk to her brother, the Minotaur. They showed us an old box that belonged to Ariadne. It had pieces of her diary inside and we created a piece of drama about the diary extract. Now we are learning more about the Minotaur and we made a maze and we created it using technology. We suggest that other people should take part in this activity because it is fun and an educational way to learn stories. Even if you don’t like drama – this would make you love it.
Our new science lab – my big brother is so jealous! by Reo and Adeline Hill Mead has opened its new science laboratory just like secondary schools – my big brother is so jealous! Our science lab is organised, tidy and clean, and full of exciting science stuff! We have all the resources we
Thank You Miss Blair! When I am older I would like to pour the different chemicals into each other and CREATE something. (Reo)
need to learn about science – some are real and some are replicas. There are real animal bones and skulls to investigate and bugs preserved in plastic. What we want to know is how do they preserve the bugs? There are models of human eyes, ears and stomachs so we can have a closer look inside our bodies! We even have a miniature ecosystem. We are so fortunate as we have specialist science equipment so we can be like real scientists. There are torches, scales, magnifying glass, thermometer, microscopes, test tubes and a small library.
It makes me want to do lots of science stuff. I think it is a good idea to have a science lab in our school because when we get to secondary school we are going to know a lot about science. (Adeline) We asked Miss Blair how we got our science laboratory. “The school won funds from SHINE to set up a science lab so that we could learn to be real scientists.”
Poetry please by Fathia and Kermarley All the teachers in our year group dressed up as characters from poetry books. They performed poems from different books corresponding to their outfits. They asked us to knock the door, each time we knocked on different doors we met different characters. We listened to the poems, chose our favourite ones and wrote our response on our blog. Our favourite character was Miss Jennifer Honey (left) from Roald Dahl’s Matilda. She is very nice and we gave her flowers. She taught us how to spell “difficulty” in a different way: “Mrs D, Mrs I, Mrs FFI, Mrs C, Mrs U, Mrs LTY”.
Mr Magnolia acts super silly and is always messing around with his stick. Most of his poems don’t make sense but make me laugh!
Captain Scott – a pirate from the seven seas, a silly one at that. “Watch out she may steal your earrings.”
Mabel Trottermusher, the witch from Magic Poems. Her best poem was Halloween Disco, where all the zombies, witches and mummies are getting ready for the party.
The Savvy Hunter performing poems about jungles and animals. We told her about animals we would never want to come face to face with.
BRIXTON
Bugle SPORT
Hamlet share points with rivals Thurrock by Sandra Brobbey
QUICK CROSSWORD
Across 1. Musical group (5,4) 8. Of the countryside (5) 9. Speak softly (7) 10. See things the same way (3-2-3) 11. Silvery-white metal (4) 13. Purpose (6) 14. — blaster, hi-fi (6) 16. Archaic form of you (4) 17. Exceedingly (gorgeous) (4-4) 19. City on the Avon (7) 20. Go in (5) 21. Anticipation (8)
D own 1. Blimps (8) 2. Perpetually (6) 3. Epidermis (4) 4. Engagements (12) 5. Instructions from a superior (6,6) 6. Too tempting to turn down (12) 7. Navigating with a map and compass (12) 12. Slender racing dogs (8) 15. Warning of consequences (2,5) 18. Agitate (4)
People’s honour for Brixton BMX guru A Brixton man who influenced the growth of BMX biking in London has been honoured for his lifelong contribution to the sport. Ken Floyde, who founded the Brixton Bandits, London’s oldest club for BMX riders, received a British Citizen Award at the House of Lords on 28 January. Floyde, a popular figure in the local community, was presented with a Medal of Honour at the ceremony in Westminster. The 54-year-old has devoted more than 30 years of his life to helping residents, young and old, to hone their BMX skills. The Brockwell Park based club he created shortly after the 1981 Brixton riots, has nurtured some of Britain’s most talented and celebrated BMX stars. Former members include racing legend Charlie Reynolds and BMX World Championship bronze medallist Tre Whyte. The British Citizen Awards, viewed in some quarters as an alternative to the establishment’s royalty and empire based honours system, was created as a means of celebrating people who make outstanding contributions to their communities. Floyde, who was nominated for a prize by Brixton BMX member Mike Woof, says news of his award came as a “pleasant surprise”. “I’ve been overwhelmed by all the good wishes I received from my family, my friends, from people on social media and even people I don’t know who have been following what we do with the club”, says Floyde. “These awards are all about ordinary people and it’s a great honour to receive this kind of recognition.” Brixton BMX Club are continuing with their efforts to raise funds to maintain and upgrade the BMX track in Brockwell Park. The club recently set up training sessions for young people with disabilities as part of the Ignite programme run by Access Sport. “We’re one of six clubs in London running these inclusive BMX sessions and we’ve been doing them since November last year”, Floyde says.
PICTURES: SANDRA BROBBEY/BRIXTON BUGLE
DULWICH Hamlet were denied a vital win on the road by Ryman Premier League promotion rivals East Thurrock. The south Londoners dominated the Essex-based Rocks for long periods of the game last Saturday but could only come away with a point at the end of a thrilling 2-2 draw. Despite outplaying the Rocks and taking the lead in the very first minute of the match, Gavin Rose’s men were pegged back twice
against the run of play. Nyren Clunis’s 75th minute goal, which put Hamlet in the lead and prompted raucous celebrations amongst the away fans, was swiftly followed by a powerfully struck effort by Rocks striker Sam Higgins. Both teams attempted to go for a winner in the later stages of the game before settling for a score draw. Harrow Borough will be up next for Hamlet at Champions Hill tomorrow. The south Londoners, who are currently in second spot, hope to get maximum points.
Brixton BMX Club member Kelly McKay with Ken Floyde