IslingtonLife summer 2017 magazine

Your local magazine from Islington Council • Summer 2017

Save money on energy bills

Market Trader of the Year

A fun filled summer with Heatwave activities

Do something different this summer!

IslingtonLife

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Contents 03

Welcome Message from the Council Leader

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News Islington standing together and tackling youth crime

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On energy Helping Islington residents save money on energy

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Heatwave A fun filled summer for young people

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Working Construction opportunities at Kings Cross

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Your Home News and information for Islington Council’s tenants and leaseholders

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Local life A new Finsbury Leisure Centre and more

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Market trader of the year Nominate your favourite trader

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Adult Social Care A different way to receive payment for social care support

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Health and Wellbeing Be Clear on Cancer

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Operation Nightsafe Staying safe after dark

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What’s on Find out what’s coming up at Islington Assembly Hall

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Islington Ladies FC Celebrating 10 years

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Arsenal in the Community The latest news from Arsenal FC

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Archway Zero Emissions Network Improving air quality

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The Garden Classroom Nature inspired learning

Highlights 04

Keeping young people safe

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The new Finsbury Leisure Centre

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Islington’s garden classroom

Summer 2017

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Welcome

Cllr Richard Watts Leader of the Council

View this and previous issues online at issuu.com/islingtonlifemag Be the first to hear about the latest news.

Follow us on Twitter @IslingtonLife and @IslingtonBC for council news You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram. Search for IslingtonLife

Other formats If you would like IslingtonLife in large print, audiotape or another format, please call 020 7527 3416

Welcome to the latest edition of IslingtonLife. You will see on the following pages that there are lots of brilliant activities for local people to get involved with this summer – both outside and indoors! There really is something for everyone; from getting more active in our brilliant parks and leisure facilities, to gaining new skills with the Summerversity.

The summer can be an expensive time and we want to help put more cash in your pockets, so you can spend it on the things you want to be doing. That’s why our ‘On Energy’ services are so important in helping local people save money on energy bills. In the next few months we will be launching a council-owned alternative to the ‘Big Six’ energy companies that will help local people save more money. You can find out more about how we can help you save money on pages 6 and 7.

Helping local people to save money is a key part of making our borough a fairer place for all, and one area in particular we want to see a better deal for residents is tackling rogue private landlords. Just last month we took action to secure a fine of more than £13,000 for a landlord who was not maintaining their property correctly. It’s really important to me that the council is on the side of local people and if you are experiencing problems with your private landlord, you can report issues on the council’s website.

We are also working hard for young people in Islington through our pioneering Fair Futures Commission, which is listening to local people about how we can make Islington the best place to grow up. One way we are supporting young people is by helping them secure good quality apprenticeships. Since 2014, the council has helped around 300 young people into apprenticeships at the council or with local employers. You can hear from some of the council apprentices on pages 12 and 13.

The horrific fire at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington has shocked us all. On behalf of the council, I have sent our deepest sympathies to those affected, and the council has provided support to help with the response. As a council we work hard to ensure all our homes are wellmaintained and that all have regular fire safety checks. There is further advice in the following pages about steps you can take around fire safety in your home.

Finally, in recent weeks and months the country has seen several despicable terrorist attacks, with our own Muslim community in Finsbury Park attacked on 19th June. Islington is a vibrant and unified borough - this is our community, and we will not be divided by any terrorist. I want to thank everyone for their response to this attack, standing shoulder to shoulder against those who seek to bring hate into our community. They will never succeed.

Recycle me!

Please recycle this magazine once you’ve finished with it.

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IslingtonLife

News

Keeping young people safe Islington Council is committed to keeping young people safe, launching a pioneering new action plan to tackle youth crime and taking the lead nationally on addressing the issue of ‘county lines’ drug dealing.

to establish an effective national strategy and action plan, drawing support from 21 London boroughs.

He met with Home Secretary Amber Rudd MP to discuss the issue facing some of London’s most vulnerable young people. Now, Islington Council will pilot a new method of identifying young people involved in county lines, which includes alerting local taxi drivers and car hire companies about county lines exploitation.

“Working Together for a Safer Islington” will ensure that the steps the council has taken to tackle youth crime in recent years will make Islington a safer place for young people.

In 2016, the council made a £2million commitment to tackling the causes of serious youth violence in Islington. Two specialist charities, Chance UK and Safer London, have been commissioned to support young people of primary and secondary school age, helping them to develop self-confidence, turn their back on offending and complete their education. The provision of mentoring is also a key component of this approach.

A key focus of the action plan is tackling ’county lines’ operations in Islington. This is a model of organised class A drug-dealing where organised crime groups groom vulnerable young people to transport and sell drugs in towns outside of London, returning the proceeds to those at the top of the gang’s hierarchy.

Earlier this year Cllr Joe Caluori, Islington’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families, led the call for central government

This funding also enabled the St Giles Trust to expand its work in Islington.

Its SOS Project uses specially trained ex-offenders to teach young people about the terrible impact gangs can

Free 30 hours childcare Working parents can now apply for 30 hours free childcare for three and four year-olds starting in September. To qualify, both parents must be working and earning on average at least £6,000 and not

more than £100,000 each year.

Don’t miss out, apply now to see if you are eligible, visit www. islington.gov.uk/30hours

have on their lives and on those of others. This includes a new programme, starting this month, that will see an assertive outreach team work on Friday and Saturday nights, advising and supporting vulnerable young people.

Further financial support will help expand work of the council’s Integrated Gangs Team (IGT). This is an important part of the borough’s response to the rise in youth crime, bringing together staff from the police, the council, Job Centre Plus, the NHS and voluntary sector organisations. The new action plan helps the IGT increase its focus on early intervention, such as working with at-risk young people to deter them from getting involved with gangs.

“Working Together for a Safer Islington” is the only youth crime plan in England to be embedded within safeguarding practice, setting out a blueprint on how Islington Council will tackle youth crime until 2020. You can read the full strategy at www.islington.gov.uk/policingsafety/crime/young.

This summer Islington Council will be running the borough’s resident survey.

We would like to know how satisfied you are with the services and facilities provided by the Council and what priorities are important to you over the coming year. Please visit www.islington.gov.uk/residentsurvey by 14 August to take part.

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News

Islington standing together People of all faiths gather at Muslim Welfare House for the Great Get Together

Islington’s diverse, welcoming and tolerant community has shown that it will not be divided by hate following the horrific terrorist attack in Finsbury Park.

Hundreds of people laid flowers outside Muslim Welfare House in the days following the attack and 1,000 people attended the Solidarity Street Iftar outside Finsbury Park Mosque.

Residents, community and faith leaders, police and pupils also took to social media to condemn the attacks and offer condolences.

Only one day before the terrible attack, Islington’s community gathered at Muslim Welfare House on Seven Sisters Road, as part of the Jo Cox Foundation’s Great Get Together, to celebrate all that we have in common.

“We stand in solidarity with the Muslim community and will continue

to stand together and support each other. Islington is a vibrant and unified borough: this is our community, and we will not be divided by any terrorist,” Cllr Richard Watts, leader of Islington Council, said in response to the attack.

His comments were echoed repeatedly by people across Islington’s community. “An attack on one faith is an attack on all faiths and communities. Those who try to divide us and who aim to spread fear, hatred and division will not succeed,” Islington Faiths Forum said in a statement.

The council is coordinating a package of support to help victims and their families directly affected by the

attack, which includes emotional support, financial help and benefits advice, housing options, help with expenses, translation services and legal advice.

Residents who might have witnessed the attack or are feeling anxious about it are also encouraged to seek support. Victim Support can be contacted on 08081689111.

If you are victim to or witness a hate crime report it to the police nonemergency number – 101, or if in immediate danger, 999. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and report it online.

A book of condolences is open for residents and people working in the borough to write in at the Town Hall.

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ON Energy The council is doing a lot of work to make energy cheaper and greener in Islington. Using cutting edge technology, Islington is proud to offer an alternative to residents and businesses.

Innovative schemes, such as the SHINE network ensuring that vulnerable residents can afford to heat their homes, and projects like Bunhill Heat and Power Network which will use heat from the Tube to warm local homes, are helping to reduce energy bills and cut carbon emissions across the borough. Here are some of the energy saving schemes being run in Islington.

Save energy, save money Last year, the Energy Advice Service helped over 6,000 Islington residents to reduce their energy bills by switching energy suppliers, installing energy saving measures and receiving grants. They offered advice on how to reduce their water bills, helping 1,300 people to access water bill discounts.

Heating controls are being upgraded on the Redbrick Estate, with new smart timers that calculate when heating needs to be turned on for a perfectly pre-heated home.

Individual control systems in flats will feed real-time information back to the estate boiler system, which will

then know exactly how much heat it needs to produce at any one time.

Money saving measures such as LED lighting and ventilation improvements are being made to help make council buildings more energy efficient and reduce running costs. There’s over 3000m2 of solar panels - which would cover 11 tennis courts, delivering over 40,000 kWh of green electricity to council buildings.

These measures are saving the council over £250,000, which can now be invested back into front line services.

Cutting edge technology The Bunhill Heat and Power Network Phase 1, completed in 2013, connects over 800 homes and two leisure centres to cheaper, greener heat, reducing carbon emissions and fuel poverty.

Work is now taking place on an innovative extension to the network – the first of its kind in Europe – that will capture waste heat from the Tube to warm more homes and

cut local energy bills. A new control system will increase local electricity production when demand and costs are high and use more when a surplus exists. This new technology will help the UK move towards having a greater proportion of renewable energy on the national grid.

The Q-Bot is a clever robot vehicle being used by the council to provide insulation under suspended timber floors in draughty old homes where residents have serious health needs.

The Q-Bot can easily access hard to reach places under floorboards and provide insulation directly below them, saving residents an average of £220 a year on their energy bills.

Islington Council are trialling

Summer 2017

pioneering new solar battery storage technology. An innovative new project will highlight the existing potential for residents to benefit from solar energy, even when the sun has stopped shining. These British-made batteries will be tested to measure the impact they can have on reducing household energy bills and contributing towards a low carbon future.

Helping vulnerable residents SHINE is Islington’s one stop shop to help vulnerable people out of fuel

poverty. It brings together over 30 different services from energy and water bill discounts to air pollution alerts, fire safety checks and heating and insulation works, to help people stay safe, warm and well in their homes. SHINE has assisted almost 14,000 homes in Islington since 2010.

Our Energy Doctors in the Home offer simple energy saving measures to those on low incomes. Low energy light bulbs, draught proofing, reflective radiator panels and water saving devices to name a few, can help residents take control of their energy use. Islington’s Energy Doctors have visited 6,500 homes so far, with in-home advice and small energy saving measures typically saving around 10% on energy bills.

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We want to involve the whole community in reducing Islington’s energy consumption and carbon emissions. Later this year we will be launching the Islington Community Energy Fund, open to any community group in the borough.

Funding will be available to develop local community energy projects, such as solar panels on a community building or improving energy literacy in a neighbourhood.

Innovative proposals will be very welcome.

Consultation with community groups will take place soon ahead of a launch date in autumn 2017.

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IslingtonLife

Fun for all ages!

There are loads of activities on offer in Islington this summer for children and young people of all ages. Over the next four pages we highlight some of the interesting and exciting things to do. But there is so much more than this happening. Go online and search www.islington.gov.uk/heatwave for full listings. Make sure you get active, get involved and feel the heat!

Read Want to meet an owl, meerkat or millipede? Safari Pete will be at Islington libraries this summer offering you the chance to meet lots of fascinating, feathery and furry animals up close.

Top children’s author and comedy poet Neal Zetter will also be at libraries reading some of his funny animal poems, playing word games and creating animal tongue twisters.

This year you can also take part in the very first Wordie Islington project. Think of a word – any word – that you like or means something to you. Then take a selfie

Summer 2017

or a photograph that represents that word to you and upload it to Instagram. Your word will then be included in a unique poem written by the brilliant Paul Lyalls.

Summer Reading Challenge

Get crafty at Islington Museum’s host of great summer activities.

Watch out for messy play and family art days, plus don’t miss the Storytelling: Summer Everywhere event on Thursday 6 July from 10am-11.30am for an interactive, sensory adventure exploring all the sounds and smells of summer, and the chance to create your own summery craft to take home.

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with experienced LTA qualified instructors where you can learn to serve like a pro.

Discover and explore Adventure playgrounds

Young people with disabilities There’s swimming for 5-14 yearolds at Archway Leisure Centre, or trampolining for 5-16 year-olds at Sobell Leisure Centre. For outdoor fun, 5-19 year-olds can head to Hayward Adventure Playground, which is specifically designed for children with special needs and disabilities and offers soft play, zip wires, tree houses and more.

Calling all 4-11 year-olds, Islington libraries have a challenge for you!

Join in with Animal Agents, the 2017 Summer Reading Challenge, and collect six fantastic mini-prizes and a medal and certificate. Some lucky readers will also win one of the 150 extra prizes on offer! Sign up at any library from 1 July, or go to www. summerreadingchallenge.org.uk to find out more.

Need help finding out what’s on?

Call the Family Information Service on 020 7527 5959.

Get active

There are 12 adventure playgrounds in Islington that are safe, fun, welcoming and free. You don’t need to book, though children do need to register. All have exciting outdoor structures and play activities that help children develop selfconfidence and keep healthy. Try dressing up at Crumbles Castle, arts and crafts at Timbuktu, den building at Waterside and gardening at Lumpy Hill.

Create There are seven leisure centres and nine courts and pitches across the borough offering loads of different activities this summer. Sobell has a great holiday programme that runs on weekdays from 10.30am to 3pm with activities like a bouncy castle, badminton, gymnastics, games area and more. There are also several tennis summer camps taking place

Discover 1,000’s of amazing family activities happening across Islington with HOOP mobile app. Available for free on iPhone & Android www.hoop.co.uk

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IslingtonLife

Take summer to the next level As a young person and in my role as Deputy Young Mayor I am looking forward to the summer after a busy few months of revision and exams.

Summerversity is back with a great line-up of free activities and opportunities for 13-16 year-olds.

Explore your inner fashion designer, learn how to be a radio DJ or try virtual reality. All activities are free and places are available on a first-come first served basis. Plus, all activities are suitable for complete beginners, no previous experience required. @Summerversity

Summer is your first big break from school or college, and you should take the stage to shine. The opportunities you can take up during this time can be defining moments which could shape your life and open your eyes to new horizons.

I currently play basketball and this summer I am looking forward to working on my game so that I will be able to play in a national league.

I took part in Summervesity last

summer and it gave me the freedom to explore new activities without the fear of judgement. Also I did track and cross county through Access to Sports.

This year I also look forward to trying some of the activities on offer through Launchpad and I encourage you all to get involved too!

By Deputy Young Mayor Tega Agbede

Gain new skills and experiences with Launchpad’s workshops and courses for young people aged 1624. This programme of activities is specially designed to help young people develop skills and interests that support them in continuing their studies at college or university, taking up an apprenticeship or finding work. There is everything from radio and music video production, to coding and animation, to carnival cooking or starting your own street food enterprise. @LaunchpadLDN

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Go Islington The Fair Futures Commission continues to reach out to children, young people and their families to understand what can be done to make Islington a great place to grow up.

Events are taking place across the borough to find out what residents would do to improve their experiences of living, working or playing in Islington.

In May, members of Islington Youth Council led senior council officials on a borough tour, explaining the impact that Islington’s physical space has on their lives.

The festival is back for its fifth year and bigger and better than ever. Have a go at more than 20 different sports, like cycling, football, basketball, tennis, rugby, badminton and netball. Hear live music and try salsa and street dance.

Watch the ‘Wheel of Death’ in the main arena and visit the family field for toddler entertainment. Then test your strength against a strongman for the chance to win £1,000.

Everyone is welcome and it’s all for FREE! Find out more at www.islington.gov.uk/goislington or search #GoIslington

Become a Challenge Champion If you’re aged 13-19 years help younger children complete their Summer Reading Challenge and get a £10 Love2Shop voucher as a reward.

Apply today at www.islingtonreads.co.uk

Eric Manners, from the council’s planning team, said: “From different perspectives, what looks like a safe space for an adult can feel intimidating to children and young people. The walk was a real eyeopener for how we design and manage Islington’s public spaces.”

Deputy Young Mayor, Tega Agbede, highlighted the importance for young people to get involved in the commission. “Decision makers don’t always have the best ideas,” he said, “even if they have good intentions.”

Find out more about the commission or get involved by visiting www.fairfutures.org.

Share your Islington experiences on: Twitter: @FairFuturesIs Facebook: @fairfuturesislington Instagram: fairfuturesislington

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Working

Get into Construction

Islington apprentice Connor Harte completed a 13 week traineeship at Kings Cross Construction before joining the council’s Housing Repairs team.

Since April 2012, Kings Cross Construction (KXC) has helped 255 unemployed Islington residents to find jobs in the construction industry.

KXC is a centre that provides construction skills training and employment support. It was established in 2004 by Camden Council, to address a demand for construction skills from businesses based at the King’s Cross development site. Now, a partnership with Islington helps

residents from both boroughs to find employment in the construction sector.

The centre helps unemployed local residents to fill the jobs needed by employers. They offer specialist support and advice to job seekers, whilst providing a recruitment service to contractors and subcontractors. On top of this, they run internal construction training and are an accredited test centre for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS).

A number of opportunities are available to Islington residents,

including pre-apprenticeship training, apprenticeships, jobs and work placements, CSCS practice tests, CV workshops and more.

Over 170 residents have found an apprenticeship through KXC since 2012, with a further 184 starting a construction skills or health and safety training course.

If you have been out of work for six months or more, Islington’s iWork coaches can help you develop the skills you need to find a job.

Email iwork@islington.gov.uk or call 02075272796 for more information.

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Working

Saturday jobs for young people Local employers are being encouraged to offer Saturday jobs to Islington’s young people, in an effort to help boost youth employment in the borough.

In April of this year nine Islington teenagers started new jobs, either at the weekend or after school, as part of the council’s Saturday jobs scheme. Current employers offering work to young people include Travis Perkins and Montcalm Hotels.

The scheme lasts for a minimum of 12 weeks and young people must commit to working at least four hours a week. Studies suggest that working a manageable number of hours during the school

year or summer break can lead to young people finding more suitable employment, better career networks, and even higher incomes later in life.

For businesses, offering experiences like weekend placements can better enable staff to learn management skills, boost their company’s profile in the community, and help combat what is often perceived as a shortage of employability skills among school leavers.

In praise of Islington’s young people, one Montcalm Hotel manager said: “It has been a pleasure to have students in our Club Lounge for the past few months. They come across as very eager to learn and good team players.”

Part-time jobs offer young people the opportunity to gain valuable skills in a real workplace environment.

For more information about the Saturday Jobs scheme, please contact the youth employment team at youthemployment@ islington.gov.uk or call 02075273559.

Apprenticeships with Islington Council Afsa Ahmed is one of the council’s newest apprentices. Her brother advised her to get in touch with the council’s youth employment team after they helped him find an apprenticeship in the construction industry.

“After seeing the progress my younger brother made I got in contact with the team,” said Afsa.

“They helped me understand the process of how Islington Council work in terms of hiring a new apprentice. They also offered me advice and techniques on how to do

well in an interview which boosted up my confidence.”

Afsa is completing a business Administration apprenticeship in the council’s housing and adult social services department. Her day to day role includes carrying out administrative tasks for the safeguarding team.

Call 02075273559, email youthemploymentteam@islington. gov.uk or visit www.islington.gov. uk/apprenticeships.

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Your Home

Your Home News for council tenants and leaseholders

Meet the new fire brigade borough commander for Islington, Paul Hobbs the floor where the air should be clearer. Always use the stairs rather than lifts and call 999 as soon as you are in a safe place.

It was my childhood dream of becoming a firefighter, and I’ve been doing it for 24 years. I love what I do, it is so much more than a job. If you speak to anybody in the brigade they would all tell you how much they love being part of it.

I first applied at 19 and joined Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service back in 1994 before joining London Fire Brigade (LFB) in 2000.

I was posted to stations in Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets, before being promoted to Borough Commander.

The terrible fire at Grenfell Tower has claimed many lives, caused devastation to families and the local community, and will forever be

etched into the history of LFB and London.

It is important to know that if you live in a high rise property you are not at more risk of a fire starting.

Our advice is that people who live in high rise purpose built flats or maisonettes, aside from having a smoke alarm and taking fire safety precautions, is to make sure you know the escape route and what to do if there is a fire inside your home or somewhere else in the building.

If a fire is inside your flat or maisonette our advice is to alert everybody in your flat and leave, closing your doors behind you. You should follow your escape plan and if there is lots of smoke, crawl along

If a fire is elsewhere in the building then the structure of the building – walls, floors, doors – are designed to give you a minimum of 30-60 minutes’ protection from a fire to enable you to remain in your flat whilst it is dealt with by the Fire Service. If a fire is elsewhere in your building then you are usually safer to stay in your flat unless the heat or smoke from the fire is affecting you, in which case you can leave via the stairs if safe to do so. If it is not safe to leave and you do remain in your flat call 999 and tell them which flat you are in.

The brigade offers free home fire safety visits. We give residents advice about kitchen safety, bedtime routines and other fire risk and where needed supply and fit smoke alarms for free.

Residents can contact their local fire stations if they want an appointment, or go online using the following link: www.london-fire.gov.uk/ HomeFireSafetyVisit.asp

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News for council tenants and leaseholders

Fire safety update

Cladding has been removed from Braithwaite House, E1

Keeping people safe is Islington Council’s top priority.

After the dreadful fire at Grenfell Tower in June we surveyed all our housing to check whether any had cladding similar to that on Grenfell.

This type of cladding, known as ACM (Aluminium Composite Material), could be one of the reasons why the fire at Grenfell spread so quickly.

We removed samples of cladding from three blocks that were over six storeys and had cladding, and sent it for investigation. The only cladding sample which had ACM was from Braithwaite House in EC1, which had these cladding panels on two sides.

The council and fire brigade visited the block immediately and confirmed residents were safe to stay at home.

We set up fire safety patrols day

and night, and contractors started removing the cladding, which has now been taken down.

Cladding samples from the other estates – Brunswick Estate, EC1 and Harvist Estate, E7 - did not contain ACM. The council has stopped all planned work to install cladding on other high rise council properties.

All council housing and estates meet the current fire regulations, and have up to date Fire Risk Assessments approved by the London Fire Brigade.

The council is also looking into whether sprinklers could be fitted in any of our tower blocks.

The council carries out regular inspections but if you see any of the following please report it to your local area housing office: if fire escapes are blocked – for

example with bikes, prams or other objects if rubbish or items such as mattresses are dumped in communal areas For more information about fire safety and to find advice from the London Fire Brigade, visit www.islington.gov.uk/firesafety

Hotpoint fridge freezer A Hotpoint FF175BP fridge freezer was the initial source of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Anyone with a Hotpoint fridge freezer model number FF175BP (white) or FF175BG (grey) should call Whirlpool Corporation on freephone 0800 316 3826 or visit www.hotpointservice. co.uk/fridgefreezer to register their details for further updates.

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IslingtonLife

Your Home

Building new council homes for our residents

Blenheim Court

Islington Council is committed to tackling the borough’s housing crisis and is on track to build 500 new, much-needed council homes for residents between 2014-19. Here we provide an overview of some new and recent projects.

New flats and a brand-new community centre at Holly Park, N4

policy, people from the local estate get the first chance to rent the new council homes.

Building new homes on the site of under-used garages, N19 and EC1

Holly Park

New tenants have just started moving into a new block of 23 new flats for social rent on the Holly Park estate. Under the Local Lettings

The council has just finished building two three-bed flats and two onebed flats at Blenheim Court, on the site of some under-used garages. All these properties are for social rent.

In August 2016, 13 new homes on the Brunswick Court Estate were completed at a site previously made up of boarded-up garages and an old

oil tank. Former bedsits were turned into new wheelchair accessible homes. New paving, lighting, trees and planting and a cycle store were also fitted, and the TMO office refurbished.

To find out more about new council housing in Islington visit www.islington.gov.uk/newbuild

Our Local Lettings Policy‌ Under our Local Lettings policy, people from the local estate get the first chance to rent the new council homes.

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News for council tenants and leaseholders

A better repairs and gas service for you Over the last four years the council has made significant changes to the way housing repairs and gas services are delivered based on resident’s feedback.

Kwest Research contact residents on a monthly basis to monitor the level of satisfaction and take suggestions for improvements. So far, these have included things like improving the team’s customer service and listening skills, keeping residents better informed and keeping the number of visits to do the repair to a minimum.

As a result, the team is undergoing an extensive training programme to help improve customer service, IT systems are being upgraded to diagnose repair problems more effectively and help reduce the number of visits required.

Overall customer satisfaction has risen from 73 per cent in 2015-

16 to 90 per cent in 2016-17.

But listening to residents’ feedback does not stop here. The council is committed to delivering a repairs and gas service to its tenants that continues to improve.

The Repairs Team is running DIY sessions for residents, if you want to find out more or sign up please email Charmaine.brouard@ islington.gov.uk

Lease Extensions important if your lease has just over 80 years left, as lease extension becomes much more expensive when a lease falls below 80 years.

Letting a lease run down will also eventually affect a leaseholder’s ability to get a mortgage against the property. To be able to extend your lease, you must have owned your flat for at least two years.

If your lease has less than 99 years remaining then you might want to extend it. This is particularly

If you decide to apply to extend your lease, we strongly recommend you get professional advice first. Serving

the notice commits you to paying the council’s costs, so it is important to think things through beforehand.

You can get information and advice from LEASE, the independent leasehold advisory service.

LEASE Maple House 149 Tottenham Court Road London W1T 7BN Phone: 020 7383 9800 Website: www.lease-advice.org

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IslingtonLife

Local life

Islington Pensioners Forum its Chair George Durack.

“We send out 800 newsletters a month to 500 individual members and 300 organisations. We now aim to extend that reach online and to all generations as these issues that we highlight affect everyone. You too will be old! If you’re lucky…”

The forum meets every Wednesday at 1pm for a light lunch in its hall opposite Islington Green, followed by a session helping older people master their laptops, tablets and smart phones. It also meets on the third Thursday of the month at Islington Town Hall.

This active group, established in 1986, gives a voice to pensioners living in the borough and campaigns on issues affecting them, like changes to pensions, NHS, social care, winter fuel allowance, protecting Post Offices and tackling isolation and loneliness.

Free cycling skills If you or your children want to be more confident cyclists, try our free cycling courses this summer.

There’s a choice of three courses for children aged 5-12 at several local venues. For the less experienced adults we offer beginner and basic cycle skills group courses, while more experienced adult riders can do 1:1 urban and advanced cycle skills sessions. And you can also learn together with our family cycle skills sessions. Details at: https://islington.i-coordinate.co.uk.

Islington Pensioners Forum always welcomes new members and is looking to expand its membership.

“We champion the rights and dignity of pensioners, locally, London-wide and nationally and our aim is to reduce isolation and loneliness,” says

If you would like to get involved, make friends and make a difference, contact Islington Pensioners Forum, Providence Court, Providence Place, N1 0RN, call 020 7226 7687or email ipf@talktalkbusiness.net

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Local life

Redeveloping

Improving

Finsbury Leisure

Quality

Air Poor air quality is a major concern for some people, especially for those with respiratory problems such as asthma, but it affects all of us. It causes around 9,500 deaths per year in London.

Centre

Traffic is one of the main causes of pollution in Islington. Some journeys cannot be helped, but idling – leaving your engine running while stationary creates unnecessary pollution.

The Finsbury Centre is an exciting new building being developed by the council working with Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects in the heart of St Luke’s area in Bunhill.

The new building will replace the Finsbury Leisure Centre which needs major improvements in order to offer high quality leisure facilities. The project will also involve developing badly needed new Council and

private homes opposite St Luke’s Gardens. The Finsbury Centre will re-provide the football pitches and leisure centre within a new civic building which will also accommodate a GP surgery, a nursery and an expanded Bunhill Energy Centre.

To find more about the proposals and the consultation planned for Autumn 2017 please visit www.thefinsburycentre.co.uk

To minimise the impact: Avoid making short car trips Switch off your engine when stationary Choose routes with less traffic when walking or cycling Sign up to Air Text service (Airtext.info) – gives pollution alerts Volunteer If you are concerned about idling in your area, let us know and we can organise an event around your school, workplace or home.

You can also help us to engage with drivers and ask them to switch their engine off.

For more information visit www.idlingaction.london

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IslingtonLife

Local life

Record blooms With the competition now closed and the judging completed, Islington In Bloom entrants have an anxious wait. It has been a whopping year, with 215 entries received – up 60 per cent on 2016 – and the standard has been as high as ever!

The winners will be announced at a

ceremony at Islington Assembly Hall on Wednesday 13 September. In the meantime, judges for London In Bloom have just visited the borough, and Britain In Bloom judges are due to come in August. A big thank you to everyone who entered, keep watering and good luck!

Promoting independence through technology Some of Islington’s most vulnerable residents will benefit from a special technology pilot being run by the council this summer and autumn.

Under the scheme, users and their carers will be supplied with clever digital gadgets – things likes sensors that can track when people have left or arrived home or used the fridge, heating and lighting controls that can be programmed remotely and intercom devices that enable service users and their carers to communicate directly without having to fiddle around with tablets or other devices.

The aim is to help vulnerable people live independently and safely in their homes as well as giving families and carers increased opportunities to participate in and oversee their care.

The pilot, which is also helping the council to save money, has been made possible thanks to the success of the council’s Shared Digital team, (created following the merger of the IT teams from Camden, Haringey and

Islington councils), in securing grant money from the Local Government Association. It will benefit up to 60 users across the three boroughs and will be reviewed in early 2018.

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Local life

Highest award for local parent’s charity Islington-based The Parent House has won a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of its success at providing vulnerable local parents with training and mentoring to help them get into work.

The Queen’s Award is the highest possible honour given to volunteer groups across the country. The Parent House received its award in July. The charity offers guidance through training courses, ongoing one-to-one support and work placements to parents.

It has a small but dedicated team of staff, which nearly two thirds of are previous service users, like Aki whose story is below. Hearing from people who have been in a similar place is one of the most effective ways of engaging new parents.

Gina Camputaro, director, says: “I am so pleased that we won this prestigious award, our volunteers and staff work so hard to provide a

Aki now coordinates one of the charity’s outreach projects

good service to parents, I am very proud to be part of The Parent House.”

was connected with a volunteer mentor, who she still to this day she remembers fondly.

The charity is supported by Islington Council, the Cripplegate Foundation, Morris Trust and Islington Giving.

That first step led to Aki becoming a Volunteer Peer Mentor herself, and applying her new skills to gain a place on two counselling courses.

Her journey has now come full circle and she is now a member of The Parent House staff, sharing her knowledge she has gained with other parents. Aki now coordinates one of the charity’s outreach projects, which trains parents to go out in the community to raise awareness of services.

From service user to staff member Aki, an Islington mum, was thinking about her employment options when a flyer from The Parent House came through her door. It was information about a mentoring project that caught her eye. She contacted the charity about getting a mentor and

Get into composting Composting is a great way to turn kitchen peelings and garden waste into compost. Islington residents can buy compost bins and wormeries at a subsidised price from www.islington. getcomposting.com

If you need tips on how to compost, places are available on free composting workshops.

The next one is on Saturday 19 August from 12 noon to 1.30pm at Freightliners Farm. Book your place at islingtoncompostingworkshop.

eventbrite.co.uk.

Check for future events on the Recycling Islington Facebook page, or email recycling@islington.gov.uk.

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IslingtonLife

Local life

By special invitation Islington has always been a popular choice for couples tying the knot, thanks to its huge range of stunning venues to suit every style and budget, and now planning a wedding or civil partnership is even easier with our new and exclusive stationery service.

From invitations to table plans, choose from our wide range of designs and let us personalise, print and deliver your stationery – another thing to tick off your list!

To find out more, visit www.sayidoislington.com.

You can also follow us on Instagram @sayidoislington.

Looking to try something different Every year Islington Council offers a range of free adult learning courses – from CV workshops to GCSE Maths; from setting up an email address to applying for a job. So whatever you’re interested in, we have something for you!

These courses – some of which offer childcare services – are hosted at a large number of venues across the borough, and have helped many Islington residents to increase their confidence, develop their skills, find work or just try something new.

Our courses can also be a valuable stepping stone into employment, voluntary work, or further education.

Residents looking to improve their CVs or interview skills can sign up to one of our employability programmes for lots of helpful hints and tips.

Enrolment is now open for our courses starting in September.

To find out more, please visit www.adultlearning.islington.gov.uk or call 0207 527 5083.

You can also pop in to one of our three Learning Centres; First Steps, Arsenal and 3 Corners.

Council courses are free for Islington residents or parents with children in Islington schools. You must be 19+, unemployed, or low-waged and receiving benefits to qualify. You will need to bring ID and proof of benefits with you when you enrol on a course.

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Local life

Roll up, roll up! The search is on for Islington’s Market Trader of the Year Islington shoppers are being asked to nominate their favourite market trader who goes the extra mile, sells the best bargains or has the tastiest food.

Islington’s Market Trader of the Year 2017 is open to traders directly licenced by Islington Council at one of the four main council-run markets – Camden Passage, Chapel Market, Exmouth Market and Whitecross Street – and a few other sites around the borough.

The winning trader will receive £150 off their stall rent – and the person who nominates them will win £50 to spend at the trader’s stall.

For Islington’s market traders, the award is a chance to get recognition and appreciation from the local community. Chapel market trader Jeffrey Heller won Islington Market Trader of the Year in 2008 and still hangs the award on his stall nine years later.

“It was great to win it,” he said. “It was the first time the competition had been held. To be honest there were lots of other traders worthy of the award. It was a very close contest and I was fortunate to be chosen.

“Although there was some financial gain to winning, the recognition was more important for me. I still hang the award on my stall every day after all this time.”

To enter, send the name of your nominated trader and the market they trade in and say in no more than 20 words why you think they deserve to win.

You can enter by filling in the form below, or by e-mailing the details to

street.trading@islington.gov.uk.

The competition closes on Friday 18 August 2017. The nominations will then be collated and a shortlist drawn up that will be judged by a panel and the winner announced in early September.

Entry form details Name of trader: Market they trade in: Why they should win (no more than 20 words): Your name: Your email or phone number: Please post the form to Street Trading, Public Protection Division, Islington Council, 222 Upper Street, London, N1 1XR, or hand in to reception staff.

You can also enter by emailing the above details to street.trading@islington.gov.uk. The competition is subject to terms and conditions which can be found at www.islington.gov.uk/business/street-trading

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IslingtonLife

Adult Social Care

Paying for care with direct payments If you are eligible to receive support from the council following a social care assessment, you are allocated an amount of money called a personal budget. You can choose to receive that money as a direct payment, which lets you buy the care and support services that work best for you.

We speak to Islington resident, Alyson Ruddick, who explains how direct payments have worked for her sons Perry and Adam, who both have ATR-x Syndrome; a genetic condition which means they have severe learning disabilities.

“My sons both need help around the clock and with things like washing and shaving - so it’s important they can decide who sees to their personal care needs. Direct payments allow them to make those choices.”

Paying for the support you need A direct payment can be used to pay for support and services which have been agreed in a support plan with Adult Social Services. This can

be things like care provider services, staying in touch with friends and family, building new social networks, or paying toward education, leisure or social activities.

Adam and Perry’s condition means they can’t manage their own direct payments, so Alyson does that on their behalf. She explains how, “We use their direct payment to employ Personal Assistants (PAs) to help look after them. We can interview and employ PAs ourselves and make sure they are the right people for them. Adam and Perry have fantastic PAs who have been with them a long time, so they really understand what they want and need.”

Living independently Around 25per cent of adults receiving support from social services in Islington choose direct payments, which for many means they can live more independently.

Alyson explains, “I’ve always encouraged my sons to be as independent as possible, so we have worked with the boys PAs to make sure they don’t lose the skills that we have worked so hard to achieve.

“They’ve got a really good quality of life and that’s been made possible because of the direct payments they receive.

“They both live in their own homes

and pursue the activities they want to do. The youngest Adam is the thespian and Perry is the sportsman.

They need to have a PA with them when they go out, but they stay really active and regularly go out for lunch or days out.”

Getting help to manage a direct payment Many people who need support to manage their direct payment

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Adult Social Care

get help from friends, family or social care professional. For people like Alyson who employ PAs, the council’s Direct Payments Team is here to help. Alyson explains, “I’ve been managing my son’s direct payments for 10 years. I was a little apprehensive taking it on initially, but the support I received from the Direct Payments Team was second to none and it’s always been there.

They help you at the beginning to set things up and do all the necessary paper work to employ a PA and keep

financial records.

“I would encourage anybody who receives social care and support to just give it a try, because they give you more freedom and flexibility to get the right care for you. From our experience, they really can change lives for the better.”

Find out more about direct payments

from adult social services and want to know if a direct payment could work for you, speak to your social care professional.

To find out more about using a direct payment to employ a PA, you can contact the Direct Payments Team.

E directpayments@islington.gov.uk T 020 7527 8164 W www.islington.gov.uk/ directpayments

If you are already receiving support

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IslingtonLife

26

Health and wellbeing

How will you measure up this summer?

As the weather heats up and t-shirts come off you might have noticed a few extra pounds around your middle. When it comes to health, your shape matters as much as your weight and this is especially the case for men.

Regardless of your overall weight, belly fat increases your risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

You can find out if you’re at increased risk by measuring your waist – your trouser size isn’t always a good indication. All you need is a tape measure and you can find instructions and information by visiting One You Islington.

So, how do you measure up?

One man who was spurred into taking action against his waistline was Mark* from Islington, who signed up to Rebalance, the free Camden and Islington weight management programme.

“The thought of going into the gym filled me with horror! The sense of community was the most important thing. We are all able to share our challenges together and learn new things about healthy eating alongside exercise”.

Eight weeks in to the 12 week

programme Mark has already lost 5 kilograms and has made a number of changes to his diet and physical activity levels. *names have been changed to preserve anonymity.

For more information about the wide range of health and wellbeing services in Islington visit http://oneyouislington.org

Top tips for reducing belly fat Eat well – check out One You Islington for advice and recipes Be active – find out about free and low cost sports at venues near you.

Search for ‘sports’on the Islington Council website.

Sign up for the 12 week Rebalance weight and lifestyle programme at camden.gov.uk/rebalance

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Health and wellbeing

Be Clear on Cancer Don’t ignore these symptoms or put off a trip to the doctor. It may well be nothing serious, but may also be a sign of something else that needs treatment, such as lung disease, heart disease or even cancer. Early diagnosis makes these conditions more treatable.

If you know someone who has any of these symptoms, encourage them to see their doctor. You could help save someone’s life.

Do you have a cough that’s lasted 3 weeks or more?

Do you get out of breath doing things you used to be able to do?

Find out more Visit www. nhs.uk/beclearoncancer Take a breath test at www.breathtest.blf.org.uk

Type 2 diabetes - It’s time to get serious Did you know that nearly 5,000 Islington residents have diabetes but don’t know about it?

Type 2 diabetes is really serious because it can cause long-term health problems. It can lead to blindness, kidney failure, loss of a limb, and it makes you five times more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke.

Finding out about Type 2 diabetes early is really important because it only gets worse if it is untreated.

Even if you don’t have the condition, you may be putting yourself at risk of getting it, and you can get free support to help you avoid

getting it.

The symptoms of diabetes include: Feeling very thirsty Passing more urine than usual Feeling tired all the time Unexplained weight loss Cuts or wounds that heal slowly Blurred vision – caused by the lens of the eye becoming dry Find out your risk of getting diabetes.

Visit www.diabetes.org.uk/ knowyourrisk islingtonlife.london

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Cleaner Islington

Archway businesses to improve air quality A new council initiative is helping businesses cut harmful emissions and boost local air quality.

Islington Council, with support from the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund, has launched a zero emissions network (ZEN) in the Archway area, only the second in the capital, as part of its ongoing campaign to improve the borough’s environment.

Building on the award-winning

ZEN City Fringe project, Archway ZEN will make the area a cleaner, healthier place to work and do business. It will help local firms switch to lower-emission energy and transport options that reduce local air pollution, improve staff wellbeing and save money. The project offers trials and services tailored to the Archway business community.

To find out more, visit: www.archwaylondon.com/zen

Help us tackle local air pollution and make your business cheaper, cleaner and greener Sign up for FREE trials and offers at www.archwaylondon.com/ZEN

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Go outdoors

The Garden Classroom More and more research today suggests that outdoor learning can boost children’s welfare and performance at school. The Garden Classroom is helping to connect children in Islington with nature to inspire learning and creativity.

of Nature in May. “We’d never organised any event on this scale,” Amy said. “The Big Lottery’s celebrate fund helped us provide all the activities for free. It was a really exciting nature party and everyone had a fantastic time.”

There was bug hunting, birdwatching and scavenger hunts, as well as music, maypole dancing, crafts and talks at Newington Green and five other Mildmay parks and gardens.

Coming up, its ‘Summer On The Green’ programme will be held on select dates in July and August, offering a range of free activities for children and families.

“We want people to see the park differently, so there will be family activities with a nature theme,” says Amy. “It is drop-in and a chance to explore the green and find out what lives here and grows here, looking at the different types of tree and plants.”

In a cabin on Newington Green amazing activities are being created.

The Garden Classroom team plans everything from community festivals to school camping trips in Kent for families living in Islington. “We’ve been going for about eight years now. We only moved to Newington Green about three years ago and since then we’ve had a much stronger community presence,” says Amy Williamson, senior programme manager.

The Garden Classroom is a charity that provides outdoor experiences for children and families to encourage active lifestyles and promote self-discovery and respect

for nature. The principles of LiNE (learning in natural environments) underpin its work with schools, and its outdoor activities for schools are cross-curricular including science, literacy, maths and just enjoying nature.

“Islington schools are really starting to get involved with learning outdoors,” says Amy. “We’ve got all these lovely parks and green spaces across the borough, so it’s actually pretty easy for children to discover nature on their doorstep.”

Hundreds of families did just this when they attended the charity’s successful Mildmay Festival

They also have volunteer work days for people living and working locally and are cultivating a growing space in a section of the park, so are looking for people to be involved in volunteering to work on the planting the area over the next two years.

“We want people to see TGC’s Newington Green garden as their space to enjoy,” says Amy. If you want to get involved visit www.thegardenclassroom.org.uk, email schools@thegardenclassroom. org.uk or call 020 7288 0188.

Summer On The Green When: 25-27 July, and 1-3 and 8-10 August, 10am-2pm Where: Newington Green Cost: FREE

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IslingtonLife

Operation Nightsafe

A safe night for all Islington has a thriving night-time economy – from friendly pubs, bars and restaurants to music venues and iconic nightclubs, people travel from miles around for a great night out in Islington.

However, you might not have noticed a very important part of Islington after dark - Operation Nightsafe.

Operation Nightsafe’s dedicated patrol officers have helped hundreds of late-night revellers since 2015 and saved lives on Islington’s streets.

The team – which is the first of its kind in London – support Islington Council and the police to keep an eye on busy areas at night, preventing criminal behaviour, helping people to get home safely and providing medical assistance if needed.

In May the team received a Borough Commander’s Award for its professionalism, dedication and bravery in apprehending an armed man last year and preventing a potential stabbing.

Scott Pearse, who was on duty, explained “as we conducted a patrol along Holloway Road at 7am on Sunday 20 December, we noticed a man loitering outside the tube station. He looked suspicious, as he appeared to be trying to hide behind a road sign. As we approached, we saw that he was holding a large knife,

which he was trying to conceal up his sleeve. We jumped out of our patrol van and apprehended him – he tried to resist and we had quite a struggle, but we managed to put him in handcuffs and call the police who later arrested him.”

The man was actually carrying two 10cm knives and additional knives were later recovered. During questioning, he admitted to police that he was waiting for a person he planned to attack. He was later prosecuted and given a suspended sentence and a fine.

Jan Hart, Service Director, Public Protection at Islington Council said “We are thrilled that the Operation Nightsafe team has received this award, which recognises the skill and bravery our officers showed when faced with an armed man and highlights the vital contribution they make to keeping the streets of Islington safe.”

Congratulations to Operation Nightsafe and thank you to all its staff!

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What’s On

Coming up at Islington Assembly Hall…

Hipsway Reforming after 30 years, the brilliant Glaswegians are back together as Hipsway! Selling out a 2 night run in just 6 days, they are heading to London to keep the good times rolling. With all their experience now tucked firmly under their belts, they’ll be back, better than ever!

When: 9 Aug 2017

Indigo Girls

Sheer Mag The Seely brothers conspired to crew a rock ‘n’ roll band to end all rock bands and boy have they NAILED it! The band now stands poised on the brink of world domination or complete destruction. Is it Punk? Is it Rock ‘n Roll? We’ll leave that to the music “critics.” But it is punk.

When: 20 July 2017

Indigo Girls These two women have been releasing records for 2 decades and have politely declined the opportunity to slow down with age.

Social outspoken, they don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk! In this day and age, it’s exactly what we need. Support from Lucy Wainwright Roche.

When: 29+30 July 2017

Gizmos & gadgets workshop

Come along and get more confident with technology. From turning on your mobile phone, to getting online – come along and learn while doing. We’ll have some tablets on hand, but if you have your own laptop computer, or mobile phone do bring it along.

Lonely Robot A jam-packed night of prog with Lonely Robot headlining along with TILT and Kepler Ten! Lonely Robot’s latest release went straight in at number 6 in the Rock Charts. TILT are most famous for their three exMarillion singer, Fish’s band (who can be seen at Islington Assembly Hall most years!). Kepler Ten are newbies on the prog block with a starry future!

When: 19 Aug 2017 Check out the full Assembly Hall line up at www. islingtonassemblyhall.com and keep up-to-date on Twitter @ Islington_AH

Where: Platform, Hornsey Road Baths,

2 Tiltman Place, N7 7EE Call: 020 7118 3838 When: Saturday 22nd July, 2pm – 4pm Cost: FREE Presented by North London Cares

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What’s On

Islington Pride – 50 Years of LGBT History This summer marks 50 years since the gay playwright and Islington resident, Joe Orton, was murdered in his Islington flat by his lover, and 50 years since the hugely significant Sexual Offences Act of 1967 came into force.

To commemorate these two anniversaries, Clerkenwell and Islington Guides' Association (CIGA) tour guides are leading two free guided walks. Entitled Islington Pride – 50 Years of LGBT History, the walks visit key sites in the life and death of Joe Orton and also

highlight the many LGBT “firsts” and other developments that have taken place in Islington in the aftermath of the 1967 Act. Orton's local pub, the gathering point for the UK's first gay rally and the former home of a member of the extraordinary Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are just a few of the venues featured on these fascinating walks.

The walks have been funded by Islington Museum to complement an exhibition at the museum called 1967: Up Against It - Joe Orton, Criminal Acts and Islington, which

runs 22 July - 21 October 2017.

The two free Islington Pride – 50 Years of LGBT History guided walks take place on the 50th anniversaries of the events they commemorate.

The first is on Thursday 27th July – the day the 1967 Sexual Offences Act came into force and the second is on Wednesday 9th August – the day that Joe Orton was murdered.

For more information and to book a place on one of the walks, visit www.ciga.org.uk

At the heart of the for Community focussed Community focussed for community for over 150 years more than 150 more thanprovides 150 years years The Islington Gazette readers with the latest sports and entertainment Visitin usnews, at: www.islingtongazette.co.uk Visit us at: www.islingtongazette.co.uk www.islingtongazette.co.uk

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Islington Ladies Football Club

Celebrating 10 years of football

Islington u16s as they are now

Islington Borough Ladies Football Club is 10 years-old. The club was started in 2007 by its current secretary Michael Macneill with just one youth team.

It’s now grown to six teams ranging from the under 9’s up to its ladies team, with more than 80 players active this season.

Two players have been involved since the very beginning – Farley Morgan who plays in the ladies’ team and Chloe Copsey, who started out as an under 9’s player and is now that team’s coach.

Chloe has stuck with Islington

and when they started out in 2007

because it feels like one big family.

She says its amazing players, helpful coaches, and supportive parents create a welcoming and supportive environment for all the people involved.

Islington ladies’ team play in the Greater London Women’s Football League and the youth teams play in the Capital Girls League and the newly formed girls section of the Camden & Islington Youth Football League.

Peter Samways, club chair, said: “It’s been a pleasure, in my first two years at the club to help build on the good work done by Mike and the

countless other people that have been involved. It’s such an important thing that girls get a chance to play the game and enjoy football. What this club has done has given the girls of Islington just that, and also the opportunity to make new friends, keep fit and stay healthy for the rest of their lives.”

When: Wednesday evenings

(session times are all

different due to varying

squads’ time slots) Where: Whittington Park,

Holloway Road,

N19 4RS Contact: Peter.Samways@GLL.org

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Arsenal in the Community

Arsenal Legends help to refurbish local pitches

The Arsenal Foundation has helped refurbish football pitches across Islington in recent months, thanks to money raised from the Arsenal Legends match last September.

Funds from the game, which raised a total of £1million, have already

been used to lay new surfaces at Hargrave Park, Ambler, St John’s Highbury Vale and Pakeman primary schools. More pitch upgrades are on the way.

Arsenal in the Community coaches will use the new pitches to deliver a range of sports and education

Arsenal charity ball raises record total

programmes at the schools.

Former Arsenal stars Martin Keown and Nigel Winterburn, who both took part in the Legends game, have been out in the local area to see how the money raised is making a difference.

The Arsenal Foundation’s flagship annual fundraiser, A Night to Inspire, raised a record total of £464,841 at Emirates Stadium in May. Thanks to the generosity of the Arsenal first team, manager Arsène Wenger and attending guests, the club’s charitable arm will now have the funds to do even more in Islington next season. From helping to refurbish more football pitches in the borough, to backing sports, arts and community projects close to Emirates Stadium.

The night was hosted by comedian Matt Lucas. Generous bids were made on a variety of lots on the night.

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Arsenal in the Community

Arsenal help refurbish new

Alex Iwobi celebrates

music therapy centre

football programme

10 years of estates

Young Arsenal star Alex Iwobi was at Elthorne Park in Hornsey recently to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Arsenal in the Community’s estates football programme ‘Kicks’.

The Arsenal Foundation has been working with music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins, on the refurbishment of their Islington centre.

The country’s only purpose-built music therapy facility will house ‘The Arsenal Foundation Music Therapy Room’ – offering vulnerable and isolated young people a safe place to play and listen to music.

Arsenal keeper and keen drummer Petr Cech paid a visit to the centre recently, to meet participant Peter and take a tour of the facility.

Club win community award Arsenal in the Community have won the ‘Commitment to the Local Community’ award at the Better Society Awards.

The Kicks programme uses football as a way to positively engage young people in the local area. Youngsters in housing estates across the borough are given mentoring and education support, as well as football coaching.

“Meeting the guys was a pleasure” said Alex. “They were just like how I was a few years ago, so it’s incredible to see that Arsenal can play a role in helping them to do well.”

Home fixtures Please visit Arsenal.com for details of the 2017/18 home fixtures.

islingtonlife.london

FIFTH ANNUAL

Go ISLINGTON FESTIVAL2017 A celebration of sport, music and dance cycling • football • basketball • tennis • rugby • badminton • netball salsa • live music • street dance • wheel of death • snakes alive • strongman show with £1,000 public challenge • and much more

Highbury Fields, Saturday 22 July, 11am-4pm www.islington.gov.uk/goislington