Camden magazine March 2019

Camden Camden this month

Your guide to council services | March 2019 | camden.gov.uk

Independent living The Greenwood Centre opens, run by and for disabled people @CamdenCouncil

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Lucy Palmer (left) and Eleanor Miller, who found work through a recruitment agency set up to make sure Camden residents benefit from the redevelopment of King’s Cross. Find out more on page 14

camden.gov.uk

camdenmagazine@camden.gov.uk

The Camden magazine is distributed free to all homes in Camden to give you information about our services.

It costs 15 pence a copy to produce, and is printed on paper that is 50% recycled and 50% from sustainable sources.

Cover image: Justin Thomas

@CamdenCouncil

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Published by Camden Council Editorial, advertising and distribution: Communications team, Camden Council, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, WC1H 9JE 020 7974 5717 Distribution from 7 March 2019

You can request your copy of the Camden magazine in large print, audio format or in another language by phoning 020 7974 5717.

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Camden this month Young people discuss issues around identity at Real Talk debate.

We’re investing £1.5 million in our libraries.

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22 Page

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Get active and give back with Camden Green Gym.

Tottenham Court Road is changing to two-way.

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30 Look out for your new, quarterly Camden magazine in June, including your pull-out summer programme guide to events and activities across the borough.

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You can also read the latest news on our website at camden.gov.uk/news

Features

Welcome Introduction to the March edition

Cover story Greenwood Centre opens

News

Council tax information Camden’s financial challenge Free university places Youth Safety Fund Clean Camden Camden Women’s Forum Support to stop smoking Rebalance weight management programme Young people’s Real Talk debate Investing in children’s mental health The Mayor’s charity update Supporting our LGBT+ communities New jobs in King’s Cross West End Project: Tottenham Court Road

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Recycling information Brexit: supporting our residents 20 Celebrating Camden’s people and stories Investing in our libraries Camden Alive arts project 6 Giving back to your community 8 Raising the bar for landlords 9 9 Breakaway service for disabled adults 10 HS2: The Avalon Motorcycle Club 10 Camden Green Gym 11 My Camden – Sarah Hoyle 11 12 Listings 12 13 Free and low-cost events 13 14 15

16 18 19 22 23 24 25 26 27 30 31

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ENROL TODAY

ENRICHING AND ENJOYABLE LIFELONG LEARNING Daytime, Evening and Saturday Classes for adults starting now.

Some courses require an assessment before you can enrol Maths and English: Friday 22 March at 10:00 ESOL: Tuesday 2 April at 10:00 or 13:30 Vocational / Skills for Work: Tuesday 2 April at 9:30 or 16:30 Check out our website for more information:

www.wmcollege.ac.uk Come in and see us. We are easy to find.

Keep up to date with the latest information and be social with us:

WorkingMensCollege

@WMCollege

44 Crowndale Road, Camden, London NW1 1TR Call: 020 7255 4700 email: enrol@wmcollege.ac.uk

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wmc_the_camden_college

The Camden College

WMC Camden College

Welcome

to the March edition of Camden magazine

all we can to ensure they know they are valued and welcome in our borough. Find out more about the support we’re giving to EU citizens on page 18.

18 | Brexit: supporting our residents

20 | G reenwood Centre opens

24 | G iving back to your community Camden’s EU residents are our neighbours, our colleagues, our friends and a core part of our communities. The uncertainty about Brexit does nothing to change our commitment to doing

As part of celebrating the people that make Camden, we are asking you to share your experiences of living here. Whether you have recently moved to Camden, or like me, you’ve been here all your life, everyone has a story to tell about why they love Camden. We’d love to see your memories and photos – find out how to get involved on page 19.

One of the priorities identified in Camden 2025, our community vision for the borough, is making sure all residents can lead healthy, independent lives. Last month we celebrated the opening of the Greenwood Centre, home of Camden’s first Centre for Independent Living. Run by and for disabled people, Greenwood gives residents with a range of care needs access to high-quality services that will support them to live more independently. Find out more on page 20.

Places like Greenwood flourish in Camden because we have residents who are committed to contributing to their communities and making a difference. There are a range of ways for you to meet people and give back in Camden – turn to page 24 to get ideas for how you can help a local community organisation.

We are proud of the public services we provide for our communities, and the investment we have made in services that support vulnerable residents, support youth safety, provide modern learning and community spaces in our libraries, build new council homes and improve our schools.

But as a result of continued government cuts and increased demand on services, we face huge pressures. As part of our financial planning for the year ahead, we have made the difficult decision to raise council tax by 3.99%. This decision comes as government cuts to our funding reach 54% since 2010 and it is getting harder and harder to protect the public services we all rely on. You can read about where the Council’s funding comes from and what we will spend our budget on in 2019/20 on page 6.

The next Camden magazine will be out in June. We’re reducing the frequency of the magazine, while including more information about our services that you’ve asked us to provide, as part of our response to our financial challenge – find out more on page 8.

Councillor Georgia Gould Leader of the Council 5

Council tax special From April this year, council tax will rise by 3.99% As part of our financial planning for the year ahead, we have taken the difficult decision to raise council tax.

For a Band D property, this will mean an increase of 94p a week in council tax. This decision comes as government cuts to our funding reach 54% since 2010.

Find out more about our financial challenge on page 8.

Planning for the future This is a difficult time for councils and public services nationwide.

With less money and increasing demand, we have to prioritise where we spend our budget.

Where Camden Council’s money comes from Total income 2019/20: £839.7 million overnment funding G £429.8m (51%) esidents’ council tax R £112.4m (13%) etained business rates R £122.1m (15%) ents, fees and other R income £175.4m (21%)

Government funding makes up 51% of our income. Much of this income is restricted and is being cut.

Central government cuts Due to funding cuts from central government, increasing demand and rising costs: since 2010 we have had to reduce our budget by £169 million

to be followed by a further estimated £35-40 million from our annual budget by 2022. This includes £23 million in 19/20.

At the heart of our work is protecting frontline services and supporting our most vulnerable residents. The rise in council tax will be made up of a 2.99% core council tax increase, and an additional 1% dedicated to adult social care. This 1% will go towards vital services including care services for elderly residents, and those living with dementia, mental health issues and disabilities.

To continue to support the ambitions set out in the borough’s community vision, Camden 2025, we will focus on where we can make the biggest impact for our communities. For instance we are investing in a new employment offer to help those furthest from the jobs market in particular to Find out more 6

Council tax contributes just over £1 out of every £8 of our income.

Since 2010 government funding for Camden services has been cut by 54%.

find suitable training, education or employment. We’re also working with partners to tackle youth violence, along with building more affordable homes than we have in a generation through our Community Investment Programme.

camden.gov.uk/counciltax

The decision to raise council tax was agreed at a council meeting on Monday 25 February. To find out more, including if you’re entitled to help with paying council tax, visit our website below.

How Camden Council spends its budget How Camden Sustainability and green spaces £3.5 million

Council spends its budget

Employment and economic development £4.9 million

Parking, highways and transport £16.3 million

Regeneration and planning £5.9 million

Customer service £7 million

Public health £22 million

Streets, safety, leisure and open spaces £88 million

Voluntary sector organisations £5.2 million

Total spending 2019/20: £839.7 million

Libraries, sports, arts and tourism £5.3 million

Young people £7.4 million Early years £42.8 million Supporting vulnerable families £42.5 million Support for schools £14.1 million

Secondary schools £62.7 million Primary schools £71.2 million

Restricted: £367.9m £9 out of every £20 we have has to be spent according to government rules.

Controllable: £471.8m We can decide how this is spent.

Other costs £45.9 million Cost of financing £2.5 million

Capital spend funded from revenue £5 million

Adults £29.2 million Mental health £19.8 million Learning disabilities £25.1 million Preventing homelessness and support to homeless households £32.6 million Passenger transport service promoting mobility for older and disabled residents £15.2 million

Government benefit payments and services £179.7 million

Funding for Council priorities -£0.2 million

Insurance £2.3 million

Levies £0.5 million

Pensions backfunding £16.7 million

Reserves £19 million

Support services £55.6 million

High needs pupils £40.3 million

Children, schools and families £280.9 million

Waste and cleaning services £34.8 million

Older adults £45.8 million

Vulnerable adults and older people £167.6 million

Community safety £5.2 million

Council tax special

Corporate finance, procurement and internal audit £8.1 million IT £12.3 million Legal services £3.8 million Strategy, human resources and member support £11.9 million Property £19.5 million

Income from and expenditure on council housing has to be held separately, in a ring-fenced account.

This infographic based on the 2019/20 Local Government Finance Settlement.

Income from is and expenditure on council housing has to be held separately,

in a ring-fenced account

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News

We’re proud of the public services we provide for our communities, but we face a huge financial challenge and need to make some difficult decisions.

Public services in Camden and across the country are at tipping point. Due to funding cuts from central government, increasing demand and rising costs, since 2010 we have had to reduce our budget by £169 million, to be followed by a further estimated £35-40 million from our annual budget by 2022. This includes £23 million in 2019/20.

Don’t councils have money set aside for times like this?

We have a limited amount we can use, but long term this isn’t the solution for managing the cuts from the government and rising demand on services. Because once that money is gone, it’s gone.

Can’t you just raise the money through council tax?

Council tax only makes up 13% of our income – see pages 6 and 7.

There are just no easy choices left.

Will you cut a bit off everything?

You can read our plans for savings on our website below. Here are answers to some of the questions you might have about our financial challenge.

You’ve saved money before, surely you can do it again?

We’ve had to save £169 million since 2010 – but this was incredibly hard to do while protecting frontline services.

Even with our history of managing money carefully, this is a huge amount.

Find out more 8

That wouldn’t work, we have to prioritise. At the heart of our decision-making is achieving the priorities identified in the Camden 2025 community vision, supporting our most vulnerable residents, and making sure Camden is a place where nobody gets left behind.

The five priorities set out in our Camden 2025 community vision will be at the heart of everything we do:

Homes and housing

JOBS

Strong growth and access to jobs Safe, strong and open communities Clean, vibrant and sustainable places Healthy, independent lives

Why do you have to make these savings?

What happens now?

The majority of proposals will require further development.

There will be plenty of opportunities to help shape decisions around individual proposals through public consultation and engagement.

We will keep you updated.

camden.gov.uk/financialchallenge

Watch our video Visit our website below to watch our short video that explains more about how and why we will make savings.

News

Free university places through Camden Scholarships Camden residents of all ages have until the end of the month to apply for free undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

These university places at Birkbeck University and Hult International Business School are offered through the Council’s Camden Scholarships scheme and start in September 2019. All tuition fees are covered by the scheme. Visit our website below to find out more and apply before Sunday 31 March.

If you live in Camden and would love to move onto higher education but are finding the cost a barrier, or you want to take the next step

in your career but need another qualification to do so, a Camden Scholarship could be for you.

Lauren Picton, 38, who gained an MSc in International Project Management through our programme, said: “I really enjoyed studying again. It was a different experience from my first degree, as I had 10 years of work experience to draw from.

The qualification enabled me to move into an amazing project manager role.”

camden.gov.uk/camdenscholarships

Lauren Picton recently completed her master’s degree with Camden Scholarships

economicdevelopment@camden.gov.uk

Apply to the Youth Safety Fund Applications to our Youth Safety Fund to support projects aimed at preventing youth violence are open until Sunday 31 March.

Bids to the fund must be made by partnerships of at least two organisations, which can include public sector bodies, schools, charities, and voluntary and community organisations.

Local young people will be among those joining the panels to assess applications, which can be made for projects running Find out more

Youth Safety Fund applications are open

for one or two years under two categories: • under £5,000 per year (£10,000 total) • £ 5,000 to £25,000 per year (£50,000 total).

This is the first of two opportunities to apply to the Youth Safety Fund, with another

camden.gov.uk/youthsafetytaskforce

due in late 2019/early 2020.

The fund will help to act on the recommendations of the Youth Safety Taskforce, which called for a whole community approach to tackle youth violence.

Keep up to date with our youth safety work or apply to the fund by visiting our website or emailing the address below.

youthsafety@camden.gov.uk 9

News

Keeping Camden clean together We’re committed to making sure that Camden is a clean, vibrant and sustainable borough.

That’s why, from Monday 1 April, we’re increasing the cost of fines for illegal dumping of rubbish and business waste to take stronger action against those spoiling our environment.

We also want to work together with residents to make sure that our neighbourhoods are cleaner Find out more

and healthier places. We’re supporting the Great British Spring Clean (22 March to 23 April 2019), a UK-wide clean-up event organised by Keep Britain Tidy, which you can take part in with your local community. Find out about events near you on the Keep Britain Tidy website below.

If you fancy hosting your own community clean-up we can help.

Email us at the address below and we’ll provide you with litter pickers, gloves and bags.

We’re supporting the Great British Spring Clean

You can also download our Clean Camden app and our community toolkits, full of useful tips on how you can help keep litter, graffiti, dumped rubbish and dog poo at bay in Camden, on our website.

keepbritaintidy.org camden.gov.uk/cleancamden street.environment@camden.gov.uk

Women make Camden

Camden Women’s Forum aims to give a voice to all women and girls

Camden Women’s Forum, launching on International Women’s Day on Friday 8 March, will explore some of the key challenges facing women and girls in the borough.

Made up of inspiring women who represent the diversity of Camden, the forum will be co-chaired by Camden’s Gender Equality Champion, Helene Reardon Bond OBE, and Cabinet Member for Best Start in Life, Councillor Angela Mason.

Together, members will explore complex issues such as Find out more 10

equality in the workplace, gender stereotyping, and women and girls’ participation in our communities.

They will collect evidence and meet with residents to hear their experiences first-hand.

They will then use the findings to make practical recommendations about how the Council, partners and communities can work together to remove barriers to

internationalwomensday.com

success and help women and girls reach their full potential.

We want Camden to be a place where everyone has a chance to succeed. The Women’s Forum aims to give a voice to all women and girls who make Camden the special place it is, supporting equal opportunities, and the chance to live freely and safely without prejudice or discrimination.

News

Amazing things happen when you stop smoking National No Smoking Day on 13 March is just around the corner – and it’s the perfect opportunity to stop smoking.

You might have tried before and not managed it, but don’t let that put you off.

You’re up to four times more likely to successfully stop smoking with expert help and advice, so our Breathe Stop Smoking Service is here to help.

You can get support to stop smoking in the way that suits you best – including online, telephone and face-to-face.

Find out more

Since its launch in 2017, over 2,250 Camden residents have stopped smoking with the help of the service.

Make No Smoking Day your date to stop smoking. Think about the benefits: • If you smoke 10 cigarettes a day, by stopping smoking you could save as much as £2,000 a year.

breathestopsmoking.org

Breathe Stop Smoking advisers on their stall in Chalton Street

• When you stop smoking you’ll start to have more energy and your breathing will improve, making it easier to exercise.

• Stopping smoking is good for your teeth, your breath and your skin.

020 3633 2609 (or text QUIT to 66777)

Lose weight and feel better Our free weight management programme Rebalance is changing people’s lives.

Kim Asumani from King’s Cross knew she wanted to make a change. She was overweight and her blood pressure was high. She went to her GP for help.

“They told me the best place to send you is Rebalance,” said Kim.

up and check how you’re doing.

“It has changed my family’s life.

We don’t eat junk food anymore.

We look at the label, what we’re putting into our bodies.

Rebalance is a 12-week group programme of exercise and advice about healthy eating for overweight adults.

“People come to me in the gym and ask ‘How did you do it?’ They think I had a magic pill. But I say you just have to be committed and do everything the programme taught you and you lose weight.

people taking the programme that they’ll change their lives like I did.”

“I found the programme easy to follow,” said Kim. “The staff are really helpful. They always follow

“Now I’m happy. I don’t need my blood pressure medication anymore. I wish for all of the

Find out if you’re eligible for Rebalance and apply on our website below.

Find out more

camden.gov.uk/rebalance

Kim Asumani took part in the Rebalance programme

020 7974 3019 11

News

Young people’s Real Talk Young people discussed issues around identity at our young people’s Real Talk debate, held during Children’s Mental Health Week.

What makes us who we are?

Is it our gender, race, sexual orientation, clothes, who our parents are, our income, where we live or our past experiences?

These were just some of the tricky questions tackled during our debate, held in the Council Chamber on 6 February.

Aimed at 16 to 21-year-olds, the debate attracted more than 60 young people from youth centres and schools across the borough, who talked openly about the

Young people and staff from The Hive, a youth hub providing emotional health and wellbeing support

challenges they face in being themselves.

Professionals from the Brandon Centre, The Hive, the Council and Tavistock and Portman NHS

Foundation Trust were there to offer advice and guidance and help lead some of the conversations on gender identity and sexuality.

Investing in children’s mental health A new programme will improve mental health support for children in Camden’s primary and secondary schools.

Camden Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which runs health services in the borough, successfully bid for £3.5 million of funding from NHS England to provide early intervention mental health services for young people in schools.

Together with the Council, Camden CCG and Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust have

Find out more 12

launched two new mental health support teams for the Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

Building on our high quality CAMHS schools service, the two new mental health support teams will target young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties, as well as supporting

tavistockandportman.nhs.uk

vulnerable groups who are at more risk of developing mental health problems.

The support teams cover all 10 of our secondary schools and 20 Camden primary schools. The aim is to reach Camden’s other 22 primary schools and there will also be opportunities for collaboration and shared learning between schools.

mentalhealthcamden.co.uk

News

The Mayor’s charity update The Mayor of Camden, Councillor Jenny Headlam-Wells, has so far raised more than £47,000 for her Mayoral charity for 2018 to 2019.

Camden Music Trust supports the Camden Music Service to provide free tuition and musical instrument loans to children who might not otherwise be able to afford to develop their musical talent.

The Mayor said: “I want to help Camden Music Trust continue to ensure that music making is not

an elitist pursuit, but something all our children and young people can enjoy.

“As the charity says, ‘music inspires, excites, uplifts and connects. It builds confidence and self-esteem, supports academic achievement, fosters discipline and patience, and promotes creativity’.”

The Mayor of Camden, Councillor Jenny Headlam-Wells, with students from the Camden Music Service

Find out more

camden.gov.uk/mayor

Upcoming fundraisers Visit our website below to book.

An evening with Michael Palin, Lauderdale House Friday 8 March, 7.30pm Join Michael Palin for an evening of ‘Places and Poems’. ayor’s fundraising dinner, M Bleeding Heart restaurant Thursday 28 March, 7pm Superb food, drink and music at the medieval Crypt of St Etheldreda’s in Ely Place.

An evening with Baddiel and Banks, Lauderdale House Friday 26 April, 7pm A rare chance to spend an evening in conversation with David Baddiel and Morwenna Banks.

020 7974 1989

Supporting our LGBT+ communities Local organisation forum+ works to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in our communities.

Formerly known as Camden LGBT Forum, forum+ is now working across Camden and Islington to serve an increasing diversity of LGBT+ people in our communities. The organisation supports victims of hate crime and incidents through the sometimes difficult reporting process, working with Camden Council, Islington Council and Find out more

forumplus.org.uk

the police. forum+ also raises awareness of LGBT+ issues in our schools and communities, and runs outreach events throughout the year to celebrate the history and achievements of LGBT+ people.

To find out more about forum+’s work, visit their website below, or drop into their monthly LGBT+ coffee morning.

Out4Coffee • Last

Wednesday of every month: next date 27 March, 11am to 12.30pm • Meet new people and chat to forum+’s experienced caseworker on hand to discuss any LGBT+ hate crime or other concerns.

• 4 2 Beans Café, 69 Camden Hig h Street, NW1 7JL

020 7388 5720 13

News

New jobs in King’s Cross Over 1,000 people have secured jobs through a recruitment agency set up to make sure local residents enjoy the benefits of the new King’s Cross development.

KX Recruit, a partnership between Camden Council, Islington Council and King’s Cross Central Limited Partnership, supports local people into good quality jobs and training opportunities.

employers helps businesses to grow and supports our shared vision of an inclusive local economy that reduces local unemployment, poverty and inequality of opportunity.

Among the Camden residents who found a job recently with the help of KX Recruit is Lucy Palmer, who is a play worker at King’s Cross Academy Primary School.

Recent developments include KX Recruit using partnerships with local providers to create tailored training courses and holding

successful jobs fairs. More than 20 employers and over 370 local people attended the first jobs fair, with more planned for 2019.

Visit KX Recruit’s website below to find the latest job opportunities and to find out about support available if you need help in your job search.

Lucy said: “I came to KX Recruit for a practice interview and their recruitment adviser also showed me around the area and where the school was. I started work at the school in September and I love it there.”

Councillor Danny Beales, Cabinet Member for Investing in Communities, said: “We’re delighted that KX Recruit has now supported over 1,000 local people to find jobs and is helping more than 100 employers to meet their recruitment needs. It is important that KX Recruit helps our residents to find employment that pays fairly, provides opportunities to progress and allows flexibility.”

Since opening in early 2014, KX Recruit has established relationships with employers across the estate and the wider King’s Cross area. Their free recruitment service for

Find out more 14

kxrecruit.co.uk

Lucy Palmer, who got her play worker job through KX Recruit

News

Tottenham Court Road is changing This Easter, Tottenham Court Road will be changing to two-way as part of the West End Project.

Over the Easter weekend in April, Tottenham Court Road will become a two-way road.

Restrictions will apply to how and when vehicles can drive in the southbound lane. This will mean changes for anyone who makes a journey in the area. We will also be resurfacing the whole of Tottenham Court Road and applying new road markings. Check our website for details, as this will also affect how you can travel.

Tottenham Court Road will become two-way

enjoy new widened and renewed pavements. We will complete the new diagonal pedestrian crossing at Tottenham Court Road tube station by the end of spring 2020, when the whole project is complete.

Cyclists

Buses will no longer serve the length of Gower Street/ Bloomsbury Street.

In spring 2020, the new segregated cycle lanes will be open on Gower Street/Bloomsbury Street.

From Easter this year, the new southbound stretch of Tottenham Court Road will be open but you may prefer to continue to use Gower Street to make a southbound journey. Find out more about local cycle quiet ways on TfL’s website below.

Pedestrians

Motor vehicle users

By Easter, we expect to have finished all our works on Tottenham Court Road so you will be able to

If you travel around the area in a motor vehicle, there will be changes to the routes you can

Bus users The West End Project is improving bus journeys, making catching your bus easier. All buses will leave from Tottenham Court Road, so you’ll be able to get on and off your bus from the same street.

Find out more

camden.gov.uk/westendproject tfl.gov.uk/west-end-project

take. During 2019 all vehicles will be able to travel northbound up Tottenham Court Road, until spring 2020 when new restrictions will be put in place.

If you want to travel southbound during 2019, there will be restrictions on which part of the southbound lane you can use and when. This is to keep the southbound lane free for buses and cyclists while still allowing access to loading bays.

Visit our website below for the latest travel map.

The map outlines the vehicle access restrictions that will apply on Tottenham Court Road during 2019.

Have a question?

Email us at the address below.

westendproject@camden.gov.uk

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Feature

Recycle for a greener Camden Around 85% of a rubbish bin in Camden can be recycled – helping to reduce the impact on our environment.

When we recycle, our old items can be turned into new products, helping to conserve raw materials and natural habitats for the future. Recycling also helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change. We also collect small batteries, electrical equipment and textiles for recycling with your weekly recycling collections. Find out more on our website below.

Did you know?

X2

One recycled drinks can saves enough energy to power 65 smart phones.

One recycled banana skin generates enough energy to charge a smartphone twice.

One recycled aerosol saves enough energy to power a shower for eight minutes.

Confused over plastic?

Around 35.8 million plastic bottles are used every day in the UK, but only 55% are recycled.

You can recycle: Drinks bottles

Plastic trays

Milk bottles

Food pots and tubs

Plastic packaging

Toiletries and shampoo bottles

Margarine tubs

Cleaner and detergent bottles

Yoghurt pots

Many households in Camden can also recycle their food waste

Visit our website to order your caddy online and turn your peelings into power. We’ll collect your food waste weekly too.

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55%

Feature

Don’t let your recycling go to waste Putting the right items in your recycling is important. Putting in wrong or dirty items is called contamination and is bad news for the recycling you’ve collected.

Contaminated recycling can lead to the whole lorry load of recycling being rejected by the recycling centre.

This means the contaminated recycling has to be disposed of as rubbish instead, which costs a lot more than it does to recycle. Over the last few months, nearly 300 tonnes of Camden’s recycling was rejected as contaminated.

Check before you chuck These items are currently a real issue in Camden’s recycling and are causing contamination.

Make sure you don’t put the following items in your recycling:

✘ Black bin bags ✘ Food waste

✘ Hygiene and sanitary products (nappies, wipes, sanitary towels)

✘ Clothing and

✘ Garden waste

✘ Polystyrene

textiles

Tackling contamination We’re going to be tackling contaminated recycling by using new tags and stickers to let you know if your recycling bin is contaminated. We’ll also use these if your bins have been left in the wrong place.

Find out more on our website. If you have difficulty moving your bins or need help or advice with your recycling, get in touch with us using the details below.

Top tips to recycle right

Widely Recycled

• Look out for recycling labels on packaging to help identify whether it is recyclable or not. Visit the Recycle Now website for more information on what different symbols mean: recyclenow.com.

Find out more

• Empty and rinse all containers. Replace the plastic tops on milk bottles before you recycle.

• Don’t forget to recycle items from all rooms in the house, such as shampoo bottles from the bathroom.

• If in doubt, leave it out.

camden.gov.uk/recyclingandrubbish

uk.occamden@veolia.com

020 3567 8105 17

Feature

Brexit: Supporting our residents We’re supporting EU citizens who live in Camden with practical help and free assistance with the EU Settlement Scheme.

There are 24,000 EU citizens playing their part in the life of our borough, including many working in vital health services, the community sector and businesses. With continuing uncertainties around Brexit, we want our EU citizens to continue to call Camden their home.

That’s why we’re supporting residents by: • Offering a free ID verification service for EU residents and their children making their EU Settlement Scheme application • Running an EU Make Camden advice summit on Monday 11 March, where residents can ask questions, share experiences and give their point of view, get advice and hear what is being done in Camden to manage the impact of Brexit • Making sure we have up to date information to help EU residents to make their applications and working with advice partners so that residents have more places to go for support • Working together with schools, community centres and voluntary organisations, to make sure they are prepared to show Camden residents where to access support.

Find out more 18

EU make Camden summit • Monday 11 March, 6.30 to 8.30pm • Swiss Cottage Library, 88 Avenue Road, NW3 3HA • Any interested Camden resident can come along to ask questions, tell us your experiences, get advice and hear about the work being done to reduce the impact of Brexit on Camden residents.

• Booking essential – visit camden.gov.uk/ eumakecamden to register.

• We will also be live streaming the event on our Facebook page below.

Advice to EU citizens If you are an EU citizen, you need to register through the EU Settlement Scheme on the Home Office website or you will lose your rights. Visit the Home Office website below.

If you have any concerns or questions about your circumstances, contact one of our advice partners: • Camden Community Law Centre: 020 7284 6510

camden.gov.uk/europe

gov.uk/staying-uk-eu-citizen

•C itizens Advice Camden: 0300 330 1157 • Age UK Camden: 020 7837 3777 • Mary Ward Legal Centre: 020 7831 7079 We’ll continue to monitor the government’s plans around Brexit and speak up on behalf of our communities and businesses about what’s best for Camden.

facebook.com/lbcamden

Feature We make Camden celebration • Thursday 4 April, 6 to 8pm • Greenwood Centre, 37 Greenwood Place, NW5 1LB • Come along to celebrate how we make Camden – including food, special guests and performances.

Find out more on our website below.

Share your stories We make Camden together. So whatever your story, whether you have a memory of growing up or moving here, favourite place or reflection on your community, we’d love to hear it.

Share your stories and photos with us on our Twitter below.

We’re celebrating the people and stories that unite Camden and want to hear from you.

To celebrate the people behind the place, we’re inviting you to share your experiences, memories, hopes, journeys and reflections about your time in the borough.

These stories will form part of a campaign to celebrate Camden’s diversity and create a shared sense of belonging.

Everyone has a different experience of Camden, whether you have lived here all your life or recently moved here. We want to celebrate our communities and encourage as many people from as many different backgrounds as possible to share their stories.

We hope to create a shared sense of pride and build a picture of the

Find out more

people that have helped to shape our borough and communities.

We know from developing Camden 2025, our community vision, that our residents value a sense of community, want to know their neighbours and contribute to their communities. We know that across the country many people feel alienated and there has been an increase in extremism, which has caused tension and concern.

We want our communities to be compassionate and fair.

As part of this work we’re holding an event in April alongside our partners, residents, schools and businesses. It’s an opportunity for open conversations about

camden.gov.uk/wemakecamden

what works and what doesn’t, and will help form an action plan for how we can work together to strengthen our communities.

“It’s a diverse borough, so you get to live with people from different backgrounds, which opens your horizons.”

“My wife and I moved over from the States about three years ago… we didn’t really start to feel at home in London until we moved [here], and we feel that we really fit in that community, and I think that’s a good sign of what people coming from the outside can find in Camden.”

@CamdenCouncil #WeMakeCamden 19

Feature

Greenwood Centre opens A new centre to help residents with a range of care needs to live more independently has opened in Kentish Town.

The Greenwood Centre is home to the borough’s first Centre for Independent Living, run by disabled people for disabled people.

Over 150 people, including residents who use the centre, staff and partner organisations, came together to celebrate the Greenwood Centre’s opening on 25 February. The Leader of the Council, Councillor Georgia Gould, officially opened the building, with the event including music performances from people who use the centre and an art display.

New facilities Built and paid for by Camden’s Community Investment Programme, the Greenwood

Centre provides a one-stop shop for residents, with advice, support and activities to empower and help people to develop interests, skills and independence.

The centre includes accessible space for meetings, a café and space to socialise and meet other people. Special adaptations help residents with particularly complex needs to use the centre, such as large Changing Places toilets that give staff the space to support residents, and ceiling track hoists, to support people to take part in activities or to use particular facilities when required. Residents have the freedom to take part in a range of activities, including art, music, gardening and pottery.

SM Boshby (left) and Patrick Heffernan from the mental health services band at the centre’s opening event

New opportunities Oliver Greene, Chair of Camden Disability Action (CDA), which runs the Centre for Independent Living, said: “The dream of many has come to fruition and now we as disabled people with various disabilities – both visible and invisible – will have a one-stop shop for all.

“CDA will be running an information and advice hub, bringing activities and therapies into the building, and engaging with all disabled people. There will be training, volunteering and campaigning.”

The Greenwood Centre

20

Councillor Patricia Callaghan, Cabinet Member for Tackling

Feature

Celebrating the centre’s opening: (left to right) Oliver Greene, Chair of Camden Disability Action; Holby City actor Jules Robertson; Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council; Angela, member of Little Venice band; service users David and Jean; and Councillor Patricia Callaghan, Cabinet Member for Tackling Health Inequality and Promoting Independence

Health Inequality and Promoting Independence, and Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “We believe that everybody in Camden should be able to lead a good quality of life and remain as independent and connected as possible.

“People should be able to access a range of services – from universal services to specialist day opportunities – which help maximise their potential and overcome or manage challenges.”

Local resident Amin Meah has been busy making use of the centre’s facilities as well as taking part in activities in the community.

Amin Meah

Find out more

Amin said: “I’ve made new friends at the centre and I like it here. I like to sing, and do karaoke.

“I copy book covers in art and swimming is my favourite thing.

We can now walk there [Kentish Town Sports Centre] instead of taking the bus.”

Living and ageing well in Camden We have a plan for living and ageing well in Camden.

This focuses on how we work with people who need support to identify their strengths, build stronger networks in our communities and live more independently. Find out more on our website below.

camden.gov.uk/greenwoodcentre 21

Feature

Investing in our libraries We’re investing £1.5 million in our libraries to help them thrive in the future.

Library services Across our nine libraries, you can get free access to books in our collections, as well as free use of computers and the internet.

We’re installing new technology in our libraries and speaking to residents about how we can share library spaces in new ways

Our libraries welcome everyone in Camden, from children learning to read, to adults carrying out research and groups coming together in meeting spaces.

Despite the continuing financial challenge we face, we’re committed to keeping libraries open and at the heart of our communities.

Over the next year we’re investing in the latest digital technology in all our libraries across the borough, including: • April 2019: introducing new all-in-one printing, scanning and copying machines that you can access from your phone, tablet or laptop • Summer 2019: phased installation of brand new PCs • Autumn 2019: installation of new self-service kiosks to

Find out more 22

make accessing library services quicker and easier • End of 2019: upgrading our computer network, with faster internet access.

These improvements will give everyone in the borough access to high quality digital services, as part of our commitment to making sure no one in Camden gets left behind.

At the same time as we make these improvements, we’ll also be speaking to residents about how we can make sure our libraries best meet the needs of their local communities and increase the number of residents visiting libraries.

These conversations will help us to create spaces in our libraries that our communities can share and use in new ways. We’ll keep you updated with opportunities to get involved.

camden.gov.uk/libraries

Our libraries also offer: • free access to around 5,000 online e-books and e-audio books, 6,000 newspapers and 160 magazines that you can read wherever you are – find our digital library on our website below • DVDs, audiobooks, language courses and computer games for a small fee – concessions available • over 30 free weekly activities for all ages and interests, including rhyme time, support with applying for jobs, computer classes, homework and coding clubs, book groups, and arts and crafts • spaces to study, work and meet.

Join at any Camden library by showing proof of your name and current address.

Find out more about libraries on our website below.

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Our groundbreaking Camden Alive project will bring culture into our neighbourhoods for everyone to enjoy.

Last year, we were delighted to be given the Mayor of London’s Cultural Impact Award as part of the London Borough of Culture competition. Our award-winning project, Camden Alive, will celebrate diversity and unite our communities through stories, cutting-edge technology and virtual reality.

The project is currently underway in 10 areas across Camden, where artists are working

alongside residents to share their stories through music, dance, fashion, design, performance and visual art. These unique stories will be showcased through Camden People’s Museum, a virtual reality museum that will capture stories for years to come.

Through sharing stories and ideas, Camden Alive aims to connect our communities and develop creative skills for the future.

To help bring Camden People’s Museum to life, we’ll be working with London-based augmented reality providers Arcade to develop a series of virtual reality routes through the streets of Camden. Using smartphones, visitors and residents will be able to unlock a range of diverse stories created in collaboration between residents and artists.

This exciting and immersive experience will be launched in the autumn for everyone in the borough to enjoy.

To find out more about the project and how you can get involved, visit our website below.

Camden Alive will celebrate our communities and help to develop creative skills for the future

Find out more

lovecamden.org/camdenalive @CamdenAlive #CamdenAlive

Our Camden Alive partners Arcade are offering training opportunities for Camden residents with an interest in augmented reality technology, including work experience placements and workshops.

To find out more, get in touch using the contact details below.

camdenalive@camden.gov.uk

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Giving back to your community You could make a difference to your community by sharing your time and skills.

Local community organisations are at the heart of Camden, bringing people together and working to make the borough a better place to live for everyone.

Many local organisations rely on the support of residents – and that’s where you can help.

Getting involved with a local community organisation or charity is a great way to give back, put something on your CV, meet new people and try new things.

There are always plenty of opportunities to help in Camden, whatever your experience and interests, and whether you’re free throughout the week or only have a couple of hours to spare each month.

A few examples of the kinds of activities you could get involved with include: • fundraising • administration and IT support • befriending and mentoring • practical work and DIY • marketing • events and stewarding support • trusteeships.

Get started If you’d like to help out in your community, start by thinking about how much time you have, what you can offer and what you would like to get out of the experience.

Find out more 24

Here are a few ways to find opportunities in Camden: • Volunteer Centre Camden: search for opportunities on their website and find out about services including one-to-one appointments to find your perfect match volunteercentrecamden.org.uk • Team London: the Mayor of London’s volunteering database volunteerteam.london.gov.uk • Inspired: volunteering for 14 to 25-year-olds vinspired.com • Comoodle: an online platform to share your stuff and skills comoodle.com/camden • You can also drop into your local

volunteercentrecamden.org.uk

community centre to find out how you can get involved camden.gov.uk/ communitycentres For more inspiration, turn to page 30 to read about volunteering with Camden Green Gym.

For another way to support local organisations, you can donate to Camden Giving, an independent charity that invests money in projects to tackle inequality in the borough. camdengiving.org.uk

Feature

Raising the bar for landlords Nobody wants to live in a home that isn’t up to standard. We’re on the case of private landlords who don’t maintain their properties.

We make sure that landlords comply with the law on shared housing, also known as HMOs (houses in multiple occupation).

Many privately rented homes come into this category: house and flat shares, bedsits, student homes and some buildings converted into flats.

Letting agents and landlords must apply for a licence if they want to let a building as an HMO. They must comply with fire safety regulations and homes must come up to a certain standard or be repaired. Unlike many local authorities, we won’t issue a licence to an HMO until we’ve inspected the property.

Since 2017, we have issued more than £460,000 in Housing Act fines through Civil Penalty Notices. Most fines were handed out to rogue landlords and agents for failing to apply for an HMO licence. We recently secured a rent repayment order against the landlord of a block of flats in Finchley Road, who had to repay £22,000 in housing benefit because the property was an unregistered HMO. If tenants are paying rent themselves whilst Find out more

Letting agents and landlords need a licence to let a building as an HMO

living in an unregistered HMO, they may get thousands of pounds back themselves.

We’ve fined landlords for faulty smoke alarms, a dangerous balcony, leaking showers and fire doors in disrepair. In the past year alone, we’ve carried out 60 criminal prosecutions, with fines totalling £237,000. The Council is second on the Greater London Authority’s rogue landlord database for the number of prosecutions obtained.

Support for landlords Landlords and letting agents can

camden.gov.uk/hmo

opendata.camden.gov.uk

visit our website below to check if they need a licence and if their property meets our standards. If your property needs a licence, you can also find out how to apply.

Support for tenants So far we have received 3,684 licence applications to our HMO licensing scheme. Tenants can check if their home is licensed as an HMO on our Open Data Camden website below. If it’s not, and you suspect your landlord is breaking the law, please contact us.

020 7974 5969 25

Feature

New home for Breakaway service Our popular short breaks service for adults with learning and physical disabilities has moved to a new home.

Our Breakaway service has been offering short stays for disabled adults, to give families a valuable break from their caring role, since the early 1990s.

Previously based in Prince of Wales Road in Kentish Town, Breakaway has now moved to a newly-refurbished base in Ainsworth Way in Swiss Cottage.

The new building offers eight bedrooms, instead of the previous six, and better facilities, all on a single level. The building is designed to support people with complex needs, so the rooms have overhead hoists and en suite showers, while there are large communal indoor spaces as well as a safe garden area around the building.

Sharing a site with the Alexandra Centre further education college for young adults with learning disabilities, the new centre is more attractive for families with young people aged 18 upwards, and can cater for over 16s under certain conditions.

Find out more 26

Kishore Rajguru’s daughter Jothi, aged 30, has learning disabilities and cerebral palsy. She needs constant one-to-one care.

Kishore said: “This is a very important service for us – it’s the only real break we get. Jothi comes here four nights a month, as well as going to the Greenwood Centre during the day from Monday to Friday.

Sharon Elliott

“The new Breakaway is all on one level and there’s so much more room for her to move around.”

Sharon Elliott, who stays at Breakaway for three nights per month, said: “I live with my sister and coming here gives both of us a break. I need help with showering and I’m really unsteady on my feet. I like the way it’s all on one level now with no stairs.”

Kishore and Jothi Rajguru

camden.gov.uk/learning-disabilities

Turn to page 20 to read about the opening of the Greenwood Centre, which provides services for residents with a range of care needs.

Feature

Keeping young people on track The Avalon Motorcycle Project offers young people the chance to learn vocational skills. Now, thanks to brand new facilities, they’re looking to expand.

For more than 40 years, Silverdale Motorcycle Project has provided alternative education courses for young people, teaching practical skills in motorbike mechanics.

However, when HS2 Ltd announced their plans for Euston, the future of the motorcycle project seemed in jeopardy, with construction due to force the closure of their base on Harrington Street.

Since then, the Council has worked hard to secure commitments from HS2 Ltd to reduce impacts on residents and maintain valued local services. Among these commitments were new facilities for the motorcycle project, safe from HS2 construction.

investing in new equipment like welding gear and we want to tailor the learning in ways we couldn’t before, giving more young people hands-on experience of a much bigger range of skills.”

Working closely with local schools, The Avalon, which is part of our Integrated Youth Support Service, offers training on a day release basis. This means project attendees, some of whom have special educational needs, are able to get out of the classroom and into a practical setting that better suits their learning style.

The project continues to offer off-road track days to enhance

practical learning and promote motorcycle safety. In addition to motorcycle mechanics, attendees can learn electronics, equipping them with the skills needed to move into mechanics when they finish school.

The managers at The Avalon are already hoping to take this a step further with the addition of BTEC qualifications.

“We’ll soon be offering a BTEC level one in engineering,” said Neil.

“There’s a lot of gold in pushing young people past what they think is possible. It’s perfect in helping raise their self-esteem and what they believe they can achieve.”

To mark their move and the start of a new chapter, Silverdale has been renamed The Avalon Motorcycle Project, in memory of Avie Cummings, Silverdale manager who passed away last year. Now, thanks to their new facilities, they’re making ambitious plans to expand their offer to more young people than ever before.

The Avalon Motorcycle Project Neil Monaghan, the manager at The Avalon said: “Our new space is bigger than before, which has given us a lot of potential to develop our service. We’re already

Find out more

camden.gov.uk/hs2

Neil Monaghan, manager at The Avalon Motorcycle Project, in the new facilities

theavalon@camden.gov.uk 27

Listings Arts and culture Finding a bed in Victorian London Saturday 9 March, 3pm Talk on the history of homes and homelessness in Victorian London and the south east. Free with museum admission: £11 adults, £8.25 concessions, free for people aged 21 and under.

The Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ foundlingmuseum.org.uk 020 7841 3600 Change in View exhibition To Saturday 16 March: Monday to Thursday 10am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday 10am to 5pm Exhibition celebrating the diversity of Camden’s urban environment and people’s connection to nature within it, highlighted through artworks from Camden’s art archive and recent portraits of Regent’s Park Estate residents by Liz Hingley.

Swiss Cottage Gallery, 88 Avenue Road, NW3 3HA lovecamden.org Free lunchtime piano recital Tuesday 19 March, 1.15 to 2pm Pianist Stephen Hose performs live in the Long Gallery at Lauderdale House on the third Tuesday of every month.

Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, N6 5HG lauderdalehouse.org.uk 020 8348 8716 Brin Edwards – birds and landscapes exhibition 20 to 31 March: Wednesday to Friday and Sunday, 12 noon to 5pm Oil paintings of birds and landscapes with a contemporary feel.

Burgh House and Hampstead Museum, New End Square, NW3 1LT burghhouse.org.uk 020 7431 0144 Lunchtime recital – Duo Brikcius Thursday 28 March, 1.15 to 2pm František Brikcius and Anna Brikciusová perform cello pieces by 28

All activities are free unless otherwise specified.

Offenbach, Martin, Klein, Kosíková and Janáek.

St Pancras Church, Euston Road, NW1 2BA stpancraschurch.org 020 7388 1461 Friendship before Facebook: Social Networks in a Pre-Digital Age exhibition To 12 May, see website for opening times Exhibition of pocket-sized friendship albums, made between the 16th and 19th centuries.

The Sir John Ritblat: Treasure Gallery, British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB bl.uk 01937 546546

Community Restart party at Abbey Community Centre Saturday 16 March, 12 noon to 2pm Come and get your broken electricals fixed by the Restart Project’s team of engineer whizzes. Arrive early to secure your place.

Abbey Community Centre, 222c Belsize Road, NW6 4DJ abbeycc-kilburn.org.uk 020 7624 8378 Store Street Spring Market 29 to 31 March: Friday 12 noon to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday 12 noon to 5pm Market with street food, groceries, crafts, jewellery and accessories from around the world.

Store Street, WC1E storestreetbloomsbury.co.uk Spanish conversation classes Thursdays, 5.30 to 7pm Start from scratch or improve on your speaking skills and learn more about Latin American culture. Suggested donation of £10.

Latin American House, 10 Kingsgate Place, NW6 4TA casalatina.org.uk/en 020 7372 8653

LGBT+ Out4Coffee morning Last Wednesday of every month: next date 27 March, 11am to 12.30pm forum+, previously Camden LGBT Forum, holds a coffee morning where you can come and meet new people, and chat to their experienced caseworker on hand to discuss any LGBT hate crime or other concerns.

42 Beans Café, 69 Camden High Street, NW1 7JL forumplus.org.uk 020 7388 5720

Families Families for life: community five to 11 years Wednesday 6 March 2019, 4 to 5.30pm A free four-week programme every Wednesday for parents and children to learn about healthy eating, cooking and easy ways to get kids moving more. Booking essential.

Kingsgate Community Centre, 107 Kingsgate Road, NW6 2JH camden.gov.uk/healthy-eatingfamilies HealthAndWellbeingTeam@camden. gov.uk Creative fun for two to fives Wednesday 13 March 2019, 10.30am to 12 noon A fun introduction to the gallery and a making session for two to five yearolds, parents and carers. £5.50 for one adult and one child (includes admission to the gallery on the day).

House of Illustration, 2 Granary Square, N1C 4BH houseofillustration.org.uk/ whats-on 020 3696 2020 Starting solids Starting solids next steps Various dates in March, 10am to 11.30am or 1pm to 2.30pm 90-minute separate sessions supporting parents of babies who have not yet started solid foods and giving advice to parents of babies under 12 months who have already

Listings started solid food. Booking essential.

At children’s centres and nurseries in Camden uk.bookingbug.com/home/45750Camden-Sure-Start Castlehaven youth sessions Tuesdays 4.30 to 7.30pm, 11 to 15 year-olds; Thursdays 4.30 to 7.30pm, 16 to 19 year-olds Fun youth sessions offering arts and crafts, sports, fitness, cooking, day trips, residentials and summer holiday activities.

Castlehaven Community Centre, 23 Castlehaven Road, NW1 8RU castlehaven.org.uk 020 7681 8643 Family garden club Saturdays, 1 to 3pm For children and all the family.

Seasonal gardening and creative activities in the community garden.

All levels of gardening experience welcome. £2 per person.

Kentish Town City Farm, 1 Cressfield Close, off Grafton Road, NW5 4BN ktcityfarm.org.uk 020 7916 5421 Easter holiday sports scheme Monday 8 to Friday 12 April and Monday 15 to Thursday 18 April Fun sports activity scheme for young people aged four to 14 during the school holidays. Please email to ask for an application form. Day scheme for eight to 14 years: full price £134; standard membership £77, concessions £37.50. Mini-camp for four to seven years: full price £65, standard membership £42; concessions £25.80.

Talacre Community Sports Centre, Dalby Street, NW5 3AF camden.gov.uk/active sportsdevelopment@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 8754

Get active Camden Green Gym in Chalton and Levita House Tuesday 19 March, 10.45am to 2pm Work to help create a food growing space.

Meet opposite Chalton Gallery, Chalton Street, NW1 1HJ Camden Green Gym in Highgate Enclosures Thursday 28 March, 10.45am to 2pm Wildflower meadow-sowing workshop, working through each stage of creating a brand-new wildflower area.

Meet in the wildlife garden, junction of Highgate Road and Lissenden Gardens, NW5 1PQ tcv.org.uk/camden 07768 421 881 Adult cycle skills Various dates and times Weekend courses: ‘Learn to cycle’ for beginners, or ‘Building cycle confidence’, to prepare for riding on the road. Individually arranged training for advanced cyclists. Booking essential.

Haverstock School, 24 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2BQ camden.gov.uk/cycleskills 020 7974 1451

Older people Walk for older people Wednesday 27 March, 1.30pm Gentle walk round Farringdon.

Meet Farringdon station (Thameslink, Circle or Metropolitan Line).

Organised by Kilburn Older Voices Exchange (KOVE). kove.org.uk 07973 845 285

Songhaven: dementia-friendly concert Saturday 30 March, 3pm A 45-minute music concert featuring three classically trained professional artists in a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere. £5 suggested donation.

Lumen church and cafe, 88 Tavistock Place, WC1H 9RS songhaven.co.uk Sunday Socials photography Sunday 31 March, 12 noon to 2pm Sunday Socials are monthly creative workshops for people aged 60+.

Includes a light lunch.

Holborn Community Association, 50 Millman Street, WC1N 3EW holborncommunity.co.uk 020 7405 3270 (option 3) Silver Cycling in Regent’s Park Tuesdays, 11am to 2pm Adapted bikes available for everyone over 50, including beginners. Bikes must be booked in advance.

St Mary’s Yard, Inner Circle, Regent’s Park westeustonpartnership.org 020 7388 7932 Ageing Better in Camden Thursdays, 10am to 12 noon Weekly creative workshops for all women over 60, including gardening, singing, creative writing, storytelling, art and exercise, as well as regular outings.

Henna Asian Women’s Group, Abbey Community Centre, 222c Belsize Road, NW6 4DJ hennaorg.co.uk 020 7372 9860 60+ garden club Thursdays, 2 to 4pm Friendly weekly gardening club. No gardening experience needed.

Kentish Town City Farm, 1 Cressfield Close, off Grafton Road, NW5 4BN ktcityfarm.org.uk 07419 820 503

Event details may change. Check with the organiser before you attend.

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A workout that makes a difference Try a new way to get active and give back with Camden’s Green Gym. growing food and community gardens, sowing meadows and creating ponds. You can also get involved in special nature workshops and wildlife surveys in some sessions.

Camden Green Gym runs at locations across the borough every Tuesday and Thursday, between 10.45am and 2pm.

There are always a range of tasks to suit all abilities, so you can work at your own pace. At each session you’ll start with a warm-up and you’ll be shown how to use tools.

Paul’s story Paul Wynacht, Green Gym volunteer

The free Green Gym programme, run by our partners The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), offers opportunities to improve your physical and mental health as well as the environment.

There are Green Gym sessions every week in green spaces across Camden, including nature reserves, parks and school gardens. Sessions run all year round.

What’s involved?

You can take part in hands-on activities including planting trees,

Find out more 30

Paul Whynacht is Camden Green Gym’s most longstanding volunteer, having taken part in over 750 Green Gym sessions over eight years.

He said: “I started Green Gym after I retired because I have always wanted to work outdoors.

Since joining Green Gym, I have learnt many skills, met some great people and have become more outgoing.

“One of my favourite projects has been planting wildflower meadows. The butterflies are particularly beautiful and it’s so rewarding hearing from passersby that they enjoy seeing them when the flowers are in bloom.”

tcv.org.uk/camden

gg-camden@tcv.org.uk

There are also volunteer-led groups: •W est Hampstead Green Gym every Friday, 10.45am to 2pm westhampsteadgg@gmail.com • Belsize and Adelaide Green Gym on the second and third Sunday of the month, 11am to 2pm belsizeadelaidegg@gmail.com •O asis Green Gym at Oasis Leisure Centre on the first Saturday of the month, 10.30am to 1.30pm oasisgreengym@gmail.com There is also a Green Gym just over the border in Islington that welcomes Camden residents and meets every Monday from 10.45am to 2pm at Sunnyside Community Gardens, Hazelville Road, N19 3LX. Turn to the event listings on page 29 to see some of the activities you can help with this month, and find out more on TCV’s website below.

07768 710 359

My Camden Sarah Hoyle is the manager of Kentish Town Community Centre Favourite place(s) in Camden and why?

Sarah Hoyle

What’s your Camden connection?

A few years ago, I lived in a flat above Kentish Town Citizens Advice Bureau before buying a property near Hampstead School, at the very edge of the borough. As a teenager I spent far too much time hanging out in Camden Market trying to look good in awful ripped jeans.

very fond memories.

Working at KTCC can be hard work but it is very rewarding. It’s great to be able to support the local community, especially in the light of funding cuts to local services.

Community centres are becoming more important than ever.

I enjoy a Sunday morning power walk to Hampstead. The walk uphill from where I live is very good for my leg muscles and the quietness of the heath at the top is a real joy.

Whilst walking I like listening to podcasts and will always finish my walk with a good hot chocolate.

Best park or open space?

I really like walking along the Regent’s Canal in the sunshine.

What makes Camden special?

The resilience and kindness of the local people, and the great pubs.

Most memorable thing to happen to you in Camden?

In early 2018 a teenage boy was fatally stabbed a short distance from my community centre.

Working in collaboration with local organisations including NW5 Project, St Luke’s Church and the Somali Youth Development Resource Centre to support the community was a memory that I will never forget. In adversity, we all pulled together.

Tell us about your work in Camden

If you could change one thing about the borough, what would it be?

I have worked at Kentish Town Community Centre (KTCC) since November 2017. I was really thrilled to return to Kentish Town, an area where I have

The busy roads and air pollution are a problem.

I would like cleaner air to enjoy the wonderful street scenes and great parks.

Regent’s Canal

Do you know someone who has strong community connections in Camden that we should profile?

Email camdenmagazine@camden.gov.uk to tell us more.

Find out more

ktcc.org.uk 31

The way you pay for water is changing If you’re a council tenant, from April 2019 you will need to pay Thames Water for your water instead of paying the Council with your rent.

What do I need to do?

Visit thameswater.co.uk/yourthames or call 0800 009 4238 to:

ake sure Thames Water has the M correct personal details for you

Tell Thames Water how you’d like to pay your water bill Find out if you are eligible for a discount of up to 50% on your water bill with Watersure Plus*

Find out more at camden.gov.uk/pay4water email payforwater@camden.gov.uk or call 020 7974 4444. *This is a special tariff for Thames Water customers on incomes below £19,201