Southwark Life Spring 2014

Life Southwark

Spring 2014

Keeping our Fairer Future promises All About the Band We talk to the inspiring Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson

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How to make sure your vote counts

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Free events for the family

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Your magazine from Southwark Council

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www.southwark.gov.uk

The council plan outlines ten Fairer Future promises.

These promises are the council’s vision and demonstrate our commitment to transparency, outlining specifically how we intend to create a Fairer Future for all Southwark residents.

This is a summary of our promises. To find out more about our progress, please visit www.southwark.gov.uk/annualreport

Promise 1

Value for money

Provide improved value for money and keep council tax increases below inflation.

Promise 2

A safer borough

Work with residents and the police to make the borough safer for all by cracking down on antisocial behaviour and implementing our new violent crime strategy.

Promise 3

Warm, dry, safe homes

Deliver the first three years of our five year plan to make every council home warm, dry and safe.

Promise 4

Improved customer service

Improve our customer service with improved online services, including delivery of a better housing repairs service, independently verified by tenants.

Promise 5

Improve educational attainment

Introduce free healthy school meals for all primary school pupils and champion improved educational attainment for our borough’s children.

Promise 6

Support vulnerable people

Support vulnerable people to live independent, safe and healthy lives by giving them more choice and control over their care.

Promise 7

Encourage healthy lifestyles

Encourage healthy lifestyles by transforming Burgess Park, opening a new swimming pool at Elephant and Castle and awarding £2m to local sports projects to leave a lasting Olympic legacy.

Promise 8

Invest in libraries

Open Canada Water Library in autumn 2011.

Open a library in Camberwell and conduct a thorough review of the library service.

Promise 9

Homes, jobs and growth

Bring the full benefits and opportunities of regeneration to all Southwark’s residents and build new family homes on the Aylesbury Estate and at Elephant and Castle.

Promise 10

Cleaner, greener Southwark

Double recycling rates from 20 per cent to 40 per cent by 2014 and keep our streets clean.

Intro

Contents Focus 4

Need to know... Easter egg hunt, local libraries, street parties, university scholarships and much more

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Southwark on Film Southwark

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Money matters Explore

youngsters get work experience on hit show ‘Youngers’ the council’s financial plans for 2014/2015

Life 11

Housing Heroes We applaud

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Know your rights Whether you’re a privately renting tenant or landlord

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CCTV: Keeping you safer

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Southwark’s BIG and FREE adventure Find out more

our most dedicated community figures

What we're doing to keep our communities safe

about the borough's fun and free adventure playgrounds

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Getting Southwark moving We talk to Paralympics inspiration Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson

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A Fairer Future for all

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Your town centre Updating you on exciting developments

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What's new in Elephant and Castle

Keeping our promises

Spring 2014

www.southwark.gov.uk

welcome...

For the sixth year in a row council tax is being frozen in Southwark. At a time when the cost of living continues to rise I am delighted that we have been able to help your household budget – and in this edition of Southwark Life we look at how we have managed to keep our costs low while protecting the services you value most.

And there are updates on all that is going on at the Elephant and Castle and in Peckham, Nunhead and Camberwell to make these even better places to live, work and enjoy.

In November The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited Southwark and met some of our brilliant Southwark Scholars at the Shard. If you are thinking about going to university this September and need help with your tuition fees then please apply to be one of the next round of Southwark Scholars – details are inside.

And we update you on our performance as a council against the Fairer Future promises we made to you.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Southwark Life.

Info 24

Events Dulwich Festival, Music in

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Get a spring in your step

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How to... make sure your vote counts Follow our simple

the Museum plus lots more Five ways to boost your mood

steps to have your say

Peter John Leader of Southwark Council

Contact us

The Southwark Life team

Do you have something to say about Southwark Life? Write to: Your letters, Southwark Life, Communications, Southwark Council, 160 Tooley Street, Second floor, hub 5, SE1 2QH or email southwark.life@southwark.gov.uk

Editors Wendy Foreman, Louise Neilan

Front cover...All About the Band master class with Zoe Devlin, see page 5.

Editorial Assistant Kate Walwyn-Jones Contributors Kim Bowers, Asha Budhu, Angelica Burrell, Florence Igbokwe, Lucy Lee, Miriam McGrath, Louise Neilan, Catherine Simonds, Louise Timms, Maria Valdivia Photography Jamie Simonds Design Whatever Design Ltd

Keep in touch Southwark Life is a quarterly magazine with the next issue due out in the summer.

You can contact the magazine at southwark.life@southwark.gov.uk.

For more regular updates on council news and events, follow us on social media at facebook.com/southwarkcouncil and at twitter.com/lb_southwark

Print Headley Brothers Printed on 100% recycled paper Distribution London Letterbox

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Need to know...

For news and events follow us on Facebook and Twitter, find out more at www.southwark.gov.uk/enews

Download tap-it – our free personal safety app A simple way to keep you and your loved ones connected. tap-it is free to download and use. It keeps you in touch with friends and relatives, letting them know where you are and alerting them if you need assistance.

As well as keeping you connected to your safety network, tap-it helps you locate the nearest police stations and 'safe sites' that have been approved by your local council.

The app is available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play. Find out more at www.tap-it.com

The Mayor of Southwark’s Common Good Trust needs trustees Do you want to make a difference in the community? The Mayor of Southwark's Common Good Trust supports people in need in the borough.

They are currently looking for new trustees to help shape, direct and support the charity and to help organise community events. You will need to either live or work in the borough and be available to attend roughly 12 meetings a year which start at 5pm.

For an information pack and application form, contact Carol Payne on 07985 170 278 or email carolapayne.2@btinternet.com

Young Peacemakers Book Challenge Are you aged seven to 17 and up for taking part in a writing challenge to get your work published? Become a young peacemaker and commemorate the First World War centenary with your own story about peace.

Create a poem, story or letter to submit by the deadline of 15 June. The top 40 peacemakers, as judged by a panel, including author and former Children's Laureate, Michael Morpurgo, will be announced in the summer, and have their entries published in a book that will become available at all Southwark libraries. Visit www.southwark.gov.uk/ypbc to get involved.

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Go local There’s more to your local library than you think. Volunteer to take care of the garden or join the knitting club at Nunhead Library, take the whole family to Kingswood Library to create beautiful arts and crafts, or join the children’s or adults’ book clubs at Blue Anchor Library. All libraries also offer free internet access, and many offer Wi-Fi, study spaces and free computer classes. So go local and support your local library. Find out more at www.southwark.gov.uk/libraries or follow @southwarklibs

Easter egg hunt The Easter bunny is going to be leaving sweet treats at Burgess Park over the Easter weekend.

Pick up your clues from the Park Life Cafe between 11am and 3pm on Sunday 20 and Bank Holiday Monday 21 April.

Find all the clues and take your map back to the cafe for your Easter treat. For under 11s accompanied by a parent(s) or carer.

The Big Lunch It’s that time of year again; street party time. So start talking to your neighbours and sewing your bunting. This year’s Big Lunch falls at the end of the summer half-term break, on Sunday 1 June. The deadline for applications is Thursday 1 May. Applying to hold a street party is easy, and best of all it’s free – please visit www.southwark.gov.uk/streetparty

Focus

Spring 2014

www.southwark.gov.uk

All About the Band

Do you know your fire plan?

In 2014 Southwark kicked off All About the Band, as seen on the front cover, an exciting free project giving Southwark’s young musicians the chance to produce, record and perform music to a professional standard. The first of its free series of master classes was led by Southwark based singer-songwriter, producer and musician Zoe Devlin who you may recognise from X Factor 2013. If you are aged 13 to 18 years old and want to get involved in the next round, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/allabouttheband for details.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) is asking anyone who lives in a purpose-built flat or maisonette to get to know what to do in the event of a fire, and to know who to ask for advice.

Planning to go to university in 2014 and worried about getting into debt?

We know the thought of leaving university with large debts may put you off applying to study for a degree. That is why we created a scholarship scheme to pay a contribution towards the cost of your university fees.

Now in its fourth year, the scheme has already supported 26 people to go to university and improve their future career prospects.

Daniella, studying a degree in advertising said: “I was nervous about being able to afford a degree, especially as I have a one year old son depending on me and I didn’t want to come out with a massive debt. I would say to anyone who meets the criteria to go for it.”

Applications must be completed by Friday 4 April 2014.

For more information and to apply online visit www.southwark.gov.uk/scholarship

The new ‘Do you know your fire plan?’ campaign has been developed to address recommendations made to the fire brigade from the inquest into the Lakanal fire in Camberwell in 2009.

Want to know how to make your own fire plan and who is responsible for keeping your building safe? From mid-March all the answers will be available on LFB’s dedicated website www.knowtheplan.co.uk

Canada Water Library celebrates 1 millionth visitor Last month Canada Water Library celebrated its 1 millionth visitor since it opened in late 2011. For more information on how we marked this exciting occasion, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/libraries or follow @southwarklibs

MASH is launched In January Southwark Council officially launched its own Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) – a specially designed information gathering system that aims to protect vulnerable children. With 20 local organisations signed up to the scheme, including police, health and housing groups, Southwark has the largest range of agencies in the country working together and sharing information to spot new potential issues before they thers to launch MASH team ga Dixon-Fyle turn into family crises. with Cllr Dora system

For news and events follow us on Facebook and Twitter, find out more at www.southwark.gov.uk/enews ©The View from the Shard/Imagewise

Last November, Daniella and her fellow scholars were delighted to meet Her Majesty The Queen as part of a visit to Southwark.

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Southwark on Film Life on set of E4’s Youngers

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hile film students up and down the country are fiercely competing for work experience on film sets and in TV studios, young residents from Southwark have been offered a helping hand through projects such as the local production of hit E4 show ‘Youngers’.

In this unique partnership between Southwark Council and Channel 4, the show, based and shot in Peckham, has been working with us to offer placements on set for local young people interested in the notoriously ‘hard-to-crack’ film and TV industry, where experience is everything. Such an opportunity will be a great boost to their CVs and is just one of the many ways Southwark is investing in its young people and their future.

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Promise 9 Homes, jobs and growth

The five young people, aged 18 to 25, completed an 11 week paid placement programme on set between November 2013 and January 2014, in which they got a rare access all areas insight into the filming of a TV series on location. The placements in sound, production, costume, camera and as assistant director were a truly unique experience for our young people on the aptly named show ‘Youngers’.

Focus

Spring 2014

www.southwark.gov.uk

Stephen Stephen said: “I'm really happy to be working with a brilliant team on Youngers.

I have been given the chance to work with the production team and also the assistant director on set and would like to thank everyone involved for such a great opportunity.”

Reuben

Filming in Southwark Southwark is one of the busiest London boroughs for film-making and has always used its place as a sought after film location to benefit its local residents wherever possible. With around 1500 filming days a year, Southwark has offered its iconic venues to high profile projects such as Doctor Who, The King’s Speech, Skyfall and global phenomenon Harry Potter to name just a few.

Recent work has also included working with Calltime Company on a training programme at the Aylesbury Estate. The programme involved setting up sessions to discuss with residents entry level jobs and experience in the film and TV industries. These then went on to further talks, a tour of the estate's Pride film set and advice from well-known industry professionals, including Downton Abbey producer Chris Croucher.

Reuben said: “It is a real honour to read the scripts and then help bring those scripts to the screen; this has truly helped me to better my craft as a writer and an aspiring director of photography.”

For more information on Southwark on Film visit www.southwarkfilmoffice.co.uk

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Promise 1

Money matters

Southwark Council is determined to continue delivering high quality services despite having an ever decreasing pot of money to draw from. Here we explore the council's financial plans for 2014/15

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I

t’s no secret that councils, like most residents, have found the last few years a challenge financially. And while economic forecasters are optimistic that things will get better generally, councils are facing further stringent cuts to government funding in coming years.

The council feels strongly that local council taxpayers should have a say in deciding how to spend a shrinking budget, which is why last summer the council asked residents which services they thought should be protected, and which should see their budgets cut (more details overleaf).

These are extremely difficult decisions, and we are grateful to all those who took the time to speak to us at one of our consultation events, or try out our budget simulator online. What you told us has shaped the council’s budget for 2014/15. You told us that you wanted to protect or increase spending on frontline services like children’s services. Wherever possible the council has squeezed

Value for money

the £25.4m savings it has had to make from back office functions, and more efficient arrangements.

The council has also announced a council tax freeze for the sixth year in a row, recognising the financial pressures that local people are feeling. In the same vein, the council has set aside money to help those affected by welfare reforms, and is also protecting low-paid staff, many of whom are residents, by paying all staff the London Living Wage, and rolling that out to all its contractors’ staff too.

Although it’s welcome news that through careful financial management the council has managed for another year to make savings that shouldn’t impact on services and residents, these savings cannot be repeated year after year. Early indications suggest that the 15/16 budget is going to be far more challenging, with cuts of £33.5 million proposed by government – a further 11% cut from the 14/15 budget.

Focus

Spring 2014

www.southwark.gov.uk

Cllr Richard Livingstone Cabinet member for finance, resources and community safety “We are freezing council tax for the sixth year in a row, because we know that times are tough for Southwark residents. Like any family trying to make its budget go further by changing to ‘own-brand’ products or swapping energy suppliers, we have made the whole council more efficient and squeezed every last penny from the back office.”

How the council is squeezing more money from the back office You told us you wanted us to protect frontline services as far as possible. This is our ambition too, but it hasn't been easy when we've lost £249 for every man, woman and child in Southwark since 2010. We've had to look for increasingly innovative ways to find savings and deliver services more efficiently. Some of the ways we've found savings without affecting the services you value most include: • A further £2 million saved yearon-year from the purchase of the council’s Tooley Street offices, in addition to the £1.5m already saved in 13/14

• Reducing costs in our central support services • Improving our council tax collection rates to raise another £0.75 million • Reducing contingency to plough an extra £1 million each year into services • Squeezing more from our external contracts to ensure they offer the best value for money The council will also save some of the money that it spends on already offering free healthy school meals to all primary school pupils, when the government introduces free lunches for children in reception and years 1 and 2.

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what you told us Last summer the council held consultation events across the borough asking residents for their views on the coming year’s budget. More than 500 people took part, replicating the decision making that the council goes through every year in deciding how to spend your money. Those taking part were given 25 savings cheques representing the £25m savings that had to be made, two cheques to increase spending on services, and one protect cheque to spare a service from any cuts.

This is what you decided:

“Children’s services must have the highest protection – they are our future”

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“Libraries are a real help for older people, more should be spent on them”

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“The council should protect the easily overlooked and voiceless”

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Cllr Livingstone “Work more collaboratively with neighbouring boroughs on shared services”

“It’s no surprise that residents want us to protect services for the most vulnerable in society, such as older people and children, and also retain the services they value most highly like libraries. We have listened and have come up with a budget that we believe, despite the cuts we have faced, really does reflect the wishes of local people.”

Life

Spring 2014

www.southwark.gov.uk

Promise 9 Homes, jobs and growth

You’re all heroes When we held a competition to find Southwark’s Housing Heroes, you told us some amazing stories about people who work hard to make Southwark a great place to live. Meet some of the people who stood out and were presented with one of the first ever Housing Heroes Awards In September 2013, Southwark Council set out to find the people who have dedicated their lives to helping others on its housing estates and in its communities.

In January the winners were announced at an award ceremony.

The competition was open to all tenants and leaseholders, and nominees could include fellow residents, those who play an active role in their local tenants and residents association, council staff or simply jolly good neighbours.

We received an astounding 92 nominations. Cllr Ian Wingfield, cabinet member for housing management, said: “This shows the breadth of appreciation that our residents have for each other, the power of friendship and loyalty to their neighbours and I am moved to hear so many positive stories of those going out of their way to support fellow residents. Everyone deserves to be appreciated and I’m really proud of all those who were nominated and the people who put their names forward. The winners are exceptional people and organisations and I want to thank all of them for their tireless dedication to improving housing, and to each other.”

Lifetime achievement 2013 Albert Willey Albert Willey, 95, has been active in the community for 50 years since he moved into Delawyk Crescent when it was built in 1963. He played an active role in the Delawyk Resident Management Organisation until just three years ago. He has devoted all his life to the welfare of the estate and the community.

Good affordable housing The winners were: Neighbours of the year 2013 Patrick Duerden and Cordula Zeidler Best community initiative 2013 Bankside Open Spaces Trust Customer service of the year 2013 Janeth Aguilera Good landlord 2013 United St. Saviour's Charity for work at Hopton's Almshouses Tenant and resident association 2013 Ledbury tenants and residents association Lifetime achievement 2013 and Outstanding achievement 2013 Albert Willey

As well as investing £326m to make every council home warm, dry and safe, the council has already committed to building 11,000 new council homes over the next 30 years and recently set down our principles for a long-term housing strategy, which seeks to increase the supply of all kinds of homes across Southwark and demands the highest standards of quality, whether your home is in private, housing association or council ownership. Cllr Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration, said, “The main thrust of our housing strategy addresses this need for affordable homes, without compromising on quality, to create places everyone can afford to live – particularly our young people putting down roots, and older people who want to stay near their friends and families."

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Thousands of homes in Southwark are rented privately. Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, make sure you know what your rights are, before and after you sign on the dotted line

T

he rental market in London is probably one of the most buoyant in the world, with increasing competition for flats and houses keeping rental prices high. In Southwark, 24 per cent of the population lives in 28,500 privately rented homes. The number has doubled since 2001 and if the Greater London Authority’s predictions are correct, it will rise to nearly 44,000 by 2025.

With so many people living in the private rented sector, the council wants to ensure that everyone, whether a private landlord or tenant, is aware of their rights and responsibilities. We have recently published the Southwark

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NEED TO KNOW Rental rights and responsibilities

Private Rental Standard which outlines the responsibilities of all parties in a rental agreement.

Make sure you read it online at www.southwark.gov.uk/ knowyourrights Everyone deserves to live in good quality, warm, dry and safe accommodation. This is why we have also introduced an accreditation scheme for private landlords who rent properties to the council, to drive up standards for people in desperate need of housing.

Promise 3 Warm, dry, safe homes

Landlords are responsible for: • Making sure the property is safe • Letting tenants live in a quiet and peaceful environment • Ensuring the property is repaired and maintained • Carrying out repairs in a reasonable time • Treating tenants fairly Tenants should: • Tell landlords quickly if anything develops a fault • Act considerately • Pay rent and bills on time, every time • Do their best not to damage the property

Life

Spring 2014

www.southwark.gov.uk

Promise 2 A safer borough

CCTV:

Keeping you safer We're investing in our CCTV and working closely with the police to help keep you safe

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ssues around crime and antisocial behaviour affect us all, which is why the council, with help from the police, community leaders and the probation service, is working hard to keep your area safe. At a time when police resources are stretched, the council is keen to do all we can to reassure residents and help reduce crime.

One of the ways the council is doing so is by investing in state of the art CCTV technology which not only acts as a deterrent, but is also having a direct impact on crime and detection. We have improved the cameras we have and are installing more around the borough, particularly in areas where residents have told us they have concerns. Already, we have replaced and upgraded 142 CCTV cameras on 19 estates, all of which are now monitored live from the council's CCTV control room.

CCTV sits alongside our community wardens, our neighbourhood watch scheme, our trading standards team and many other things the council does to keep the community safe.

The results of effective CCTV can be hugely worthwhile as a recent incident highlights. Last year, an unsuspecting resident was attacked in Nursery Row Park. The attack was picked up by a vigilant CCTV operator based at Southwark's CCTV control suite. The operator quickly alerted the police who arrested the suspect at the scene. Following a full investigation, the attacker was brought to trial and was eventually sentenced to six years in prison.

Although awful, incidents like these highlight how effectively CCTV can be used to help keep your community safe. In the future, we want to continue using CCTV alongside other community safety initiatives to keep people safe and catch those who damage our local communities.

Councillor Richard Livingstone, cabinet member for community safety, said: “The investment in CCTV helps aid both crime prevention and crime detection which help to keep Southwark a safe place to live and work. Incidents like the Nursery Row Park attack show how important well placed cameras are, and how good footage can help bring justice to victims of crime.”

Other ways we are helping you to keep safe: Victim care points – Whether you've been a victim of crime or are seeking advice on behalf of a friend or family member then a trip to a victim care point is well worth the visit. The drop-in sessions are based within the local community so they're discreet and easy to get to.

For more information visit www.southwark.gov.uk/ keepingsouthwarksafe Neighbourhood Watch – Help keep your local area safe by setting up and/or becoming a Neighbourhood Watch coordinator. For details on signing up visit www.southwark.gov.uk/ neighbourhoodwatch

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Promise 5 Improve educational attainment

Southwark’s BIG and free adventure Take the kids on a free fun outdoor adventure at one of Southwark's fantastic adventure playgrounds

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laying out is the best part of being young. It’s also vital for children’s development, helping them stay healthy and active while making friends and gaining independence. But many people think kids today are missing out on the experiences of previous generations, as safety worries conspire to keep them close to home. That’s where Southwark’s 11 adventure playgrounds come in. All our adventure playgrounds are free to use and provide a wide range of fun activities for children of all ages. From flying through trees on tyre swings and climbing up boulders, to a game of football with friends

or an arts and crafts session, why not let your children enjoy a big adventure?

Cllr Dora Dixon-Fyle, cabinet member for children’s services says “Children need fun and stimulating places where they can take a few risks but where parents know they are safe. Our adventure playgrounds are great for this, children can enjoy the freedom to play, have fun and make choices.

They’re supervised with qualified playworkers on site so children can visit them independently and learn to make choices about the positive use of their free time.”

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Fredericks Adventure Playground “I like the activities at the adventure playground, especially during the holidays.

I feel very safe when I'm in the adventure playground and we also get to go on lots of trips and get to do lots of arts and crafts. I also get to play with my friends. I like the staff at the adventure playground because they are kind and very friendly.”

www.southwark.gov.uk

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a little t create r children o n y h W you t and ure for ed spor advent e p u rvis s r u o with for tivities play ac ther he hire. W anising org you’re l fair or o h a sc o n estate ,a fun day special or l festiva fun e have w t even ages s for all activitie and crafts to ts e from ar stles. We hav ce a c dren ien y r c for chil ' expe boun ervices n years s e are y v e e la s p W r bile ove gh. ring mo ross the borou e variety e v li e d of wid 5 ac , ice in a ve to 1 he serv and outdoors aged fi t e id v ro s r p alls, o h o o t able th ind s, TRA o e c b a , s p s n n . tio of loca parks and ope hool premises g sc ost of c in d d n e a h lu t c s in g and centre in y ir it h n u v t .go .uk abou comm thwark t more u u o o .s d w n To fi it ww ent, vis equipm

NEED TO KNOW ✣ To find out more about our adventure playgrounds and

what’s on offer, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/playservice

✣ To find out more about our youth services and what's on offer, visit www.whtvr.org

15

“ It is always important to make time for sport�

We meet Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and talk to her about our Olympic Legacy and the London Youth Games

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Life

Spring 2014

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson was born in Cardiff in 1969.

Tanni first used a wheelchair at the age of seven and went on to become an internationally successful athlete, winning 11 gold medals, four silvers and one bronze over five Paralympic Games. Aside from her sporting triumphs, Tanni has been awarded 26 honorary degrees and published two books on her life and career. She was made a Baroness in 2010 and now uses Southwark as her London base.

First of all, what made you choose Southwark as your London base?

Southwark is a vibrant part of the city, it has great transport links and has a nice feel to the area, and I spent a year looking so I should know. It was also great to experience 2012 in Southwark.

The atmosphere was brilliant and all the hustle and bustle of London Bridge was really cool.

For us in Southwark the 2012 Games was an exciting time What do you think is the legacy of London 2012?

That’s a tough one; the legacy of the Games is so much more than participation. The best thing about it here in London was the vibe I think.

During the Games, everyone was in it together. You got on the Tube and people were chatting to each other, there was a real buzz. So I think the fact that people will always remember it positively is a great legacy.

What would you say to young people looking to get into competitive sports in London? The London Youth Games is a great platform but do you think it goes far enough to support young people?

Realistically not everyone wants to do sport. The London Youth Games is a positive and useful opportunity to start but we should make sure there are next steps for those who want to do more.

Southwark has a very diverse community; do you think it does enough to provide access to sport for everyone?

It’s not easy to provide access to all but I think with the number and quality of facilities in the area, Southwark is doing positive things. Despite tough economic times, I can definitely tell there is an exciting passion for sport here.

We have recently installed a disability hoist in the pool at Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre, funded by Southwark's 2012 Olympic Legacy Fund, and we hear you used to be a keen swimmer growing up – what made you choose track athletics over swimming?

Well in all honesty I wasn’t that great at swimming. Plus track training provided the outdoor scenery and fresh air that I love. We also didn’t have pool hoists back when I was growing up, so it’s exciting for people now who want to just turn up and swim. It gives them that helping hand.

In Southwark we are trying to encourage healthy lifestyles for all, especially among children and young people – what do you encourage your daughter, for example, to do to be healthy?

Well it’s not easy for anyone with a hectic life but I think aiming to influence a lifelong attitude to health and fitness is best.

The reality is, many girls in particular don’t have great experiences in schools, so as a mother it’s about putting those things behind you and doing activities with your child if you can. It is always important to make time for sport and it definitely doesn’t always need to be competitive, but fun too.

www.southwark.gov.uk

TANNI’s SOUTHWARK

Borough market Definitely my favourite place Southbank I also like the Southbank area by London Bridge Public transport One of the things which drew me to Southwark was its fantastic transport links and accessibility

NEED TO KNOW For more about our £2m Olympic Legacy Fund and the projects we have supported visit southwark.gov.uk/olympicnews Now it is even easier to find activities for you and your family to do this holiday with the launch of the new Get Active website. For more information visit www.southwark.gov.uk/getactive For more information about the London Youth Games visit www.londonyouthgames.org

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What we’ve been doing...

We asked our residents to tell us about the impact our Fairer Future promises have had on them. Here they share their experiences

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W

e know it’s important to you to know what your council is doing and why. It’s easy to think of the council as your rubbish-collectors and street sweepers, but whilst those important functions continue, the council has also been quietly transforming Southwark: we have started work to demolish the Heygate Estate ready for the huge regeneration of Elephant and Castle, we have taken a step forward in announcing a preferred development partner to help us regenerate the Aylesbury Estate and we’ve seen the new swimming pools at Elephant and Castle start to take shape.

Our new state of the art energy-from-waste plant will pump hot water to council homes; and through our free, healthy school meals programme, which is now being copied nationally, we continued to give our school children a free healthy hot lunch.

Photo: Tim Walker www.electricphotography.co.uk

These are things we’d like everyone to know about, and we want to make it easier for our residents to understand and give their views about our plans.

We want to use less jargon and instead tell you simply and straightforwardly what’s going on.

One great way to find out what we’re doing is our ‘performance report’, which we publish every six months.

It gives you an update on what we promised we’d do for our residents, why we promised that, what we did and what’s coming up in the future.

Our latest report is available at www.southwark.gov.uk/interimreport It’s a simple way to find out what your council is working on. Have a read and tell us what you think; just email councilnews@southwark.gov.uk We also went out and asked residents what our promises mean to them. They said it better than we can so we hope you enjoy reading their thoughts.

And if you’ve got something to say too, positive or negative, please get in touch. We want to get better at providing excellent services that our residents value.

www.southwark.gov.uk/interimreport

Life

Promise 1

Value for money

Edwin and Naudette, Southwark residents “As a working family with two small children we have to be more and more careful each year with our money. The cost of all of the basics keeps going up but salaries don’t. We’ve made a few changes to our lifestyle and think much more carefully now about where we shop and what we buy. It’s good to know that at least our council tax stays the same.”

Promise 2

A safer borough

Dean, Southwark Works employment adviser “Some kids feel that the streets are the one place they’re free. But they’re fighting to know what's right. They don't see what’s happening until they’re in too deep in gang life. My job is to give these kids the chance at a clean slate. They've got transferable skills, with support they can go, get a job, start a business, change their lives. It's a breath of fresh air for them to know that there can be a different lifestyle.”

Promise 3

Warm, dry, safe homes

Denis, Consort Estate “We had a rewire, a boiler put in and new windows.

It was marvellous. There was more done than what I expected. I used to be an electrician and I know good work. It was difficult with the scaffolding and all the work happening but the quality of the work was excellent. The team couldn’t have been better; they were friendly, helpful and just perfect. The foreman Jim from the contractor Elkins helped me when I hurt my leg, I needed to get a new step and he offered straight off to help.”

Promise 4

Improved customer service

Jeff, My Southwark user “I am chair of the Brandon 1 Tenants and Residents Association and regularly contact the council to request a repair to a resident’s home or a communal area. Now, I always make my requests online. It’s convenient, I can do it 24 hours a day and I get a speedy response.”

Promise 5

Improve educational attainment

Gemma, parent at John Donne Primary School “I think free, healthy school meals is a great idea as not only does it help me out financially but my boys are also becoming more adventurous in what they eat. Eating with their friends and teachers encourages them to try new things. They are a lot less fussy at home and eating more healthy things.”

Spring 2014

Promise 6

www.southwark.gov.uk

Support vulnerable people

Margaret, Peckham resident “I really enjoy having meals on wheels delivered to me. My favourite meal is omelette, chips and beans.

The drivers are very polite and helpful and always give me a drink and get a knife and fork for me. As a pensioner I really rely on the service, the price is very good as if I had to go elsewhere I would have to pay a lot more for a hot meal, pudding and a daily visit. It’s even better that it is now more affordable for me so the little income I have can go that bit further. I do not know how I would manage without it.”

Promise 7

Encourage healthy lifestyles

Lee, Athenlay Football Club chairman “Athenlay Football Club has been here for 35 years but it was in a poor state for a long time. When it rained, it was like a swimming pool and in the summer it was like the Sahara. When we made the application for the Olympic Legacy money, it started a domino effect. We've got 18 teams playing so it's been an enormous boost to the local kids and the community.”

Promise 8

Invest in libraries

Diana, Canada Water Library visitor “I am a childminder and I use the library for myself and for the children I look after. It’s a great place for them to read, learn and socialise. Crafts, creative writing, games, manga – there are fantastic facilities for children here. I love coming here for myself too.

I’m doing a degree and there are lots of books that help me, but I also enjoy trying new things; like in Black History Month, there were lots of interesting books and events to look into.”

Promise 9

Homes, jobs and growth

Eduardo, Camberwell resident “I’ve lived all my life in Camberwell. I've spent a lot of my childhood round here because of the Latin American community and all the restaurants. It’s where we meet up. I’m really liking the regeneration. All the new buildings, it's really making the Elephant modern.

I’d like to see more progress on the regeneration. With the leisure centre, I’m expecting great results.”

Promise 10

Cleaner, greener Southwark

Nne, Bermondsey resident “I think recycling is so important for the future of our planet; the council has a really simple system so there is no excuse not to do it. I also think it’s great that food and green waste can be recycled and I hope people listen to the message that they need to play their part.”

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Your town centre: the latest Changes are taking place to benefit local people in Peckham, Nunhead and Camberwell Peckham and its neighbours are famous for their vibrant, bustling and independent high streets selling a wide range of multicultural foods, products and fabrics. The planned changes aim to be a quiet, organic transformation which

protect the atmosphere of the area. Local people are rightly proud of the unique identities of places like Peckham, Camberwell and Nunhead, and so improvements must reflect their individual characteristics.

Peckham Peckham, for example, has a vibrant artistic and creative economy, and has become a destination for people from all over London.

Plans are being formed for improvements to Peckham Rye station and the surrounding area, to open up the entrance to the station, and create a station square on Rye Lane. A clear vision for the rear of the station is also being developed to ensure that the thriving creative industries in the area will form a part of these plans.

Ian and Megan Ian: “I’ve got a job interview today so if it goes well I plan to move to Peckham.”

Megan: “I’ve lived in Peckham for six months; it’s relatively cheap to live here and easy to get to jobs in central London as it has good transport links. Whether the regeneration is successful depends really – I wouldn’t want to see local businesses pushed out, I hope the ones that are here now stay.”

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The council is working closely with local residents and businesses to ensure that what happens next reflects what people want to see.

We are continuing to lobby the Department for Transport for funding to install lifts in the station building, making it more accessible for people with disabilities and parents with small children. We remain hopeful of a positive response in the near future.

Abid, who works at Cafe Spice Caribbean takeaway on Rye Lane, said: “We’ve been here for 12 years. If the work increases the number of people who might come here then it’ll be good for business. I’d like to see wider pavements on Rye Lane too to make it safer for pedestrians.”

Peckham has some surprising architectural heritage, with significant buildings from the 18th Century to the Art Deco period along Rye Lane. The protection and conservation of these buildings will be part of the vision as it takes shape.

Life Info

Spring 2014

Queens Road, Peckham In Queens Road, construction is underway for a new lift to make the station much more accessible for those who can’t use the long flight of stairs.

Work on a new station entrance and plaza at Queens Road should complete around springtime. Work will soon begin on the long-empty Wooddene site on Queens Road to create new homes with street entrances to change the lifeless road into a natural residential environment. The council recently opened new offices in Peckham, building a stronger economy in the local area. There are plans to give shop fronts on Queens Road and Meeting House Lane a facelift and the cycle superhighway and pedestrian areas will make travel easier for those not using cars.

Nunhead

Camberwell

In Nunhead, the regeneration of Evelina Road and improvements to Nunhead Green are making good progress. A new community centre will be at the heart of Nunhead's conservation area, facing the Green, next to the Nun's Head pub and close to the library. The design of the community centre will enhance the area and should open next year.

The regeneration at Camberwell is now well underway – a site has been cleared for a brand new library. The £75m regeneration includes:

www.southwark.gov.uk

Tash

Tash works at Queen’s Coffee Bar “I think the regeneration is a good thing as long as there’s plenty of affordable housing. I like living in this area and look forward to seeing the new housing appear at Wooddene. Anything that makes the area busier is good for business too. I’ve heard there might be another cafe near here soon but that’s a positive thing – a bit of healthy competition.”

• New homes at Elmington Estate • A brand new library and civic square • Listed buildings protection and improvement • Improved and unified street environment, working with TfL and Lambeth Council • Improvement to how the bus network functions around the town centre • Safer pedestrian and cycling facilities • New green space and park layout • Denmark Hill Station improvements and lifts (completed) • Schools for the Future: New school for Sacred Heart and St Michael and All Angels To find out more about the council's regeneration schemes, see www.southwark.gov.uk/regeneration

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What’s new in Elephant and The Elephant’s economy is growing thanks to a transformation which will bring more people to live, work and shop in the area

Just the job for Southwark

A

lready, 116 local Southwark residents have gained employment on the council’s development partner, Lend Lease’s sites.

Of these early recruits, 47 were previously unemployed, proving that construction is a great industry in which to begin a new career. People have been given jobs or training as part of the demolition of the Heygate Estate in Elephant and Castle thanks to a new partnership set up to create employment and training opportunities for the local community.

Many of these residents have already secured jobs and training at One the Elephant and Trafalgar Place since construction began earlier in 2013.

By 2025 the regeneration will have created at least 6,000 new jobs in the area.

Lend Lease works with the charity Be Onsite, which has partnered with the Construction Youth Trust (CYT), to provide job opportunities to Southwark residents.

The partnership kicked off with a jobs fair last year, held at the

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CYT’s pop-up training facility on the Aylesbury Estate. Keltbray, the demolition company used by Lend Lease, received over 30 applications for work or training from local people. Seven previously unemployed Southwark residents have been given work on the Heygate Estate. Some of the applicants to Keltbray have also been fast tracked onto their in-house training, in preparation for beginning work. The remaining young people have been put forward for training with the Trust to prepare them for future opportunities.

Former resident of the Heygate Estate, Kavyne, recently found work with Keltbray to carry out the demolition of the Heygate Estate. Kavyne said: “I studied property management just down the road at London South Bank University so I was delighted when I visited Southwark Works and they were able to forward on my CV to a number of construction projects in the borough. I want to be a building surveyor in the future so it’s great for me to be getting on-site experience on such a huge regeneration project.

As I used to live on the estate, I’m particularly looking forward to seeing how much better the area will look when the project is complete.”

Kavyne at work in a Heygate property

Find out more Southwark Works: 0800 052 0540, info@southwarkworks.org.uk or visit Unit 239 Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, SE1 6TE. For those interested in hearing more about the activities taking place at our new training facility they can be contacted on 020 7467 9540 or email cyt@cytrust.org.uk

0800 052 0540 020 7467 9540

Life

Spring 2014

www.southwark.gov.uk

Promise 9 Homes, jobs and growth

Castle Major change on the Heygate Many Southwark residents will have travelled along the side of the empty, boarded-up estate to the east of the Walworth Road and wondered when they were going to see something happen there – well the wait is over because the Heygate Estate is now a demolition site awash with people safely deconstructing the original concrete fortress. The last stages of demolition have begun, a pivotal moment before it makes way for nearly 2,500 modern, warm, dry and safe new homes, 25% of which will be affordable.

The first phase of demolition, on Rodney Road, has already finished and construction of 235 new homes at Trafalgar Place, developed by the council’s regeneration partner Lend Lease, is moving apace.

The remains of the estate, including the larger, high-rise blocks, are being carefully and meticulously taken apart using a combination of demolition and deconstruction,

opening up the estate and preparing the area for the exciting developments to come. As well as new housing, the site will be home to central London's biggest new park in 70 years, and a range of new shops, restaurants and other facilities.

Cllr Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration said, “I am hugely positive about what the last stages of demolition mean to the regeneration programme, and to local people, who have waited for a long time to see this happen. What was the Heygate Estate will become home for thousands of people, to bring more life and vibrancy to Walworth as well as employment, a new park, safer streets and not least high quality, modern and affordable homes – part of our wider plans that also include a new leisure centre, shopping centre and better transport links.” To keep up to date with developments at Elephant and Castle go to www.southwark.gov.uk/elephant

first view of new pool at Elephant and Castle The much-anticipated new leisure centre in Elephant and Castle is beginning to take shape.

Foundations were completed over winter and this spring will see the exterior walls and structure of the building start to come out of the ground, with a roof put in place. The site, now clearly visible from the southern roundabout, will house a 25m swimming pool and a learner pool (see above during very early testing) when it completes in 2015. Local people have been asked what they think the new building should be called and a decision has been made to call it The Castle.

ArtworkS If you've ever been to the Boxpark in Shoreditch you'll have some idea of the innovative ways a simple shipping container can be given a new lease of life. Southwark is about to welcome its own unique container-based project to Elephant and Castle in the form of Artworks, providing affordable space to artists and local start-up businesses. This exciting project will be unveiled on Elephant Road this summer, and is just one of the interim uses that the council and Lend Lease have developed to keep the area buzzing during the demolition. Other projects have included the creation of a community garden on Wansey Street, and Hotel Elephant.

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Events calendar Music

Floodtide on the Effra Date: Sunday 18 May Admission: Free Venue: Various around Dulwich Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/floodtide Tel: 020 7525 3422 Info: Floodtide, composed by John Eacott, is a performance by Southwark musicians at locations along the route of the subterranean River Effra.

The music is generated by a sensor submerged in the river, which reads data and transforms it into musical notation played live.

We are looking for singers to get involved. Join Floodtide composer John Eacott on Sunday 4 May, 11am to 1pm at Francis Peek Centre, Dulwich Park. Basic sight reading skills are helpful. Please email events@ southwark.gov.uk to register your interest or if you have any queries.

Music in the Museum: Errol Linton and Adam Blake Date: Wednesday 19 March Time: 7.30pm (doors 7pm) Admission: £12 on door or £10 (full price) / £8 (students and JSA) in advance.

SE16 residents, £10 advance or on door Venue: Brunel Museum Engine House Web: www.brunel-museum.org.uk Tel: 07595 154 601 Info: Errol Linton, three times winner of Best Harmonica Player of the Year, singer, pianist and busker extraordinaire plays outstanding urban blues (Chicago by way of Brixton with a nod and a wink to Jamaica), this time here with Adam Blake on guitar.

Family

Cuming Explorers Date: Every Thursday morning Time: 10am to 11.15am Admission: Free Venue: The Crypt, St Peter's Church, Liverpool Grove, SE17 2HH Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/ cumingmuseum Tel: 020 7525 2332 Info: Music, performance, storytelling and crafts inspired by the museum collections. In partnership with Victory Primary School and Children’s Centre.

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The Kingswood Draw Date: Thursday 17 April Admission: Free Venue: Kingswood House, Seeley Drive, SE21 8QR Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/ thekingswooddraw Tel: 020 7525 3422 Info: Join the international collaborative drawing project. See the unexpected. Eat your own art work.

A day of free opportunities to get messy, make art and celebrate the almighty power of the pen. Created by artists Ivan Liotchev, Julia Vogl and Jaygo Bloom in collaboration with the community of Kingswood Estate, and Emergency Exit Arts. This event is funded and delivered in partnership with Southwark Council.

Hahahopscotch Date: Sunday 27 April Time: 3pm to 3.45pm Giggly and Greenfingered. 4pm to 4.45pm Brunel's Traditional Games Admission: £4.50 per session per child Venue: Brunel Museum Garden, Brunel Museum, Railway Ave, SE16 4LF Web: www.brunel-museum.org.uk/ Hahahopscotch Tel: 07917 548 475 Info: The Cocktail Gardener Lottie Muir (of Midnight Apothecary fame) joins forces again with Hahahopscotch to combine fun and frolics for all the family. Garden-themed play sessions for children on the last Sunday of every month. Tickets at www.wegottickets.com/ BrunelMuseum

Theatre

A November Day Date: Wednesday 12 March Time: 7.30pm Admission: £10, £8 concessions Venue: Canada Water Culture Space Web: www.canadawaterculturespace. org.uk/whatson Tel: 020 8692 4446 Info: To mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of WW1, A November Day shows the miracle of friendship when all else seems lost. In forgotten boxes in an attic, a woman discovers

Spring 2014 the story of her grandfather, a survivor of WW1, and his unexpected encounter with a stray dog who knew no boundaries.

Three Sisters Date: Thursday 3 April to Saturday 3 May Time: Various Admission: £10 to £18 Venue: Southwark Playhouse Web: www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk Tel: 020 7407 0234 Info: Three sisters. Three thousand miles from home. Overworked Olga, wild Masha and idealistic Irina dream of returning. Living in a world of deceit, desire and hard drinking, it's difficult but is there something else holding them back? This searing new version of Chekhov's most haunting masterpiece reunites the team behind 2012's sell-out hit, The Seagull.

The Summer Book Date: Saturday 7 to Sunday 28 June Time: 7.30pm (matinee performances available) Admission: £10 to £16 (family discounts available) Venue: Unicorn Theatre Web: www.unicorntheatre.com/ summerbook Tel: 020 7645 0560 Info: Celebrate the centenary of the birth of Tove Jansson, the much-loved creator of the Moomins, with this adaptation of his life-affirming book about a young girl’s adventures with her grandmother on a remote island in Finland. Suitable for anyone aged 6+.

Info

Exhibitions

Jerwood/Film and Video Umbrella Awards: What Will They See of Me Date: Wednesday 12 March to Sunday 27 April Time: 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

10am to 3pm Saturday to Sunday.

Admission: Free Venue: Jerwood Visual Arts at Jerwood Space, 171 Union Street, Bankside, SE1 0LN Web: www.jerwoodvisualarts.org Tel: 020 7654 0179 Info: On 12 March, the four movingimage artists selected for the second edition of the Jerwood/Film and Video Umbrella Awards will premier new pilot works in an exhibition at Jerwood Space, London. The Jerwood/Film and Video Umbrella Awards are major awards for moving-image artists in the first five years of their practice.

Mark Titchner Date: Wednesday 2 April to Sunday 4 May Admission: Free Venue: Cafe Gallery and Dilston Grove, CGP, Southwark Park Web: www.cgplondon.org Tel: 020 7237 1230 Info: In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the opening of Cafe Gallery and the 15th anniversary of the Dilston Grove opening, CGP London has, for the very first time, commissioned a single artist to present works across two venues. Mark Titchner's practice spans a number of media including digital print, wall drawing, video, sculpture and installation.

Darren Almond: To Leave a Light Impression Date: Until Sunday 13 April Admission: Free Venue: White Cube Bermondsey Web: www.whitecube.com Tel: 020 7930 5373 Info: An exhibition of new work by Darren Almond. The Fullmoon series of landscape photographs are shot on long exposures under the light of the full moon. The exhibition also includes work from ‘Present Form’.

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Spring 2014

www.southwark.gov.uk

David Hockney: Printmaker

Nunhead Cemetery Tour

Date: Until Sunday 11 May Admission: £11, concessions available Venue: Dulwich Picture Gallery Web: www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Tel: 020 8299 8750 Info: Timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the artist’s first print this show celebrates David Hockney’s long and fruitful career as a printmaker.

Date: Sundays 30 March, 27 April, 25 May, 29 June Time: 2.15pm Admission: Free (donations welcome) Venue: Nunhead Cemetery Web: www.fonc.org.uk Info: This gothic cemetery is one of seven Victorian cemeteries forming a ring around the outskirts of London.

Meet at Linden Grove gates at 2.15pm.

Festivals

Dulwich Festival Date: Thursday 8 to Monday 19 May Admission: Some events are free, while others incur a small fee Venue: Various in Dulwich and East Dulwich Web: www.dulwichfestival.co.uk Tel: 07791 567 332 Info: The 21st Dulwich Festival continues its tradition of drawing internationally acclaimed artists, musicians and authors together - alongside familiar faces in the community - to celebrate the local area.

Other

Date: Tuesday to Friday Time: 1pm to 5pm Admission: Free Venue: The University Archives and Special Collections Centre, London College of Communication Web: www.arts.ac.uk Tel 020 7514 9333 Info: The archive of acclaimed film maker Stanley Kubrick is the largest archive held at the Archives and Special Collections Centre and one of the most unique cultural collections from the latter half of the 20th Century.

Midnight Apothecary

On Liveness: Pre/During/Post Date: Thursday 10 April Time: 6.30pm to 8.30pm Admission: £8, concessions available Venue: Tate Modern Web: www.tate.org.uk Tel: 020 7887 8888 Info: Where is the live? Is there a value in liveness? Does liveness matter and to whom? What challenges does performance invite in how we think about time and space? Join curators, artists, writers and cultural thinkers for a critical debate about these issues.

London Marathon information This year the Virgin Money London Marathon takes place on 13 April 2014. Find out about road closures and spectator information via www. virginmoneylondonmarathon.com.

British double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah will make his debut in the event.

@SouthwarkEvents

The Stanley Kubrick Archive

Date: Saturday 19 April Time: 5.30pm to 10pm Admission: £5 Venue: Brunel Museum Roof Garden, Brunel Museum, Railway Ave, SE16 4LF Web: www.brunel-museum.org.uk/ midnightapothecary Tel: 07917 548 475 Info: Easter weekend sees the return of Midnight Apothecary, the now legendary weekly Saturday night pop-up rooftop garden cocktail bar at the Brunel Museum.

Firepit, flares, stunning botanical cocktails, and free toasted marshmallows by the river.

Tickets at www.wegottickets.com/BrunelMuseum

facebook.com/southwarkevents

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Get a spring in your step Discover five easy things you can do to shake off the winter blues

Promise 7 Encourage healthy lifestyles 26

T

here’s nothing like that first glimpse of watery spring sunshine to give you a mood boost. If the dark days of winter have left you lacking in energy, you’re not alone. When the weather’s rubbish and it’s dark by mid-afternoon, it’s really tempting to hide at home, in your onesie, with the TV remote and a bar of chocolate. But now the season’s changing, it’s the perfect time to change how you’re feeling too – and we’ve got some great tips to help you get your mojo back.

Info

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Learn Remember that amazing feelin g when you disc overed how to do something ne w? It might be trying a new sport. It might be an or igami class. It might even be advanc ed taxidermy. Wha tever floats yo ur boat, there ar e tons of things to try in Southwar k.

Check out th e adult learni ng courses at w ww.southwar k. gov.uk/adult learning

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Spring 2014

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www.southwark.gov.uk

Notice Umbilically atta ched to your smartphone?

Shudder at th e thought of sit ting alone in a coffee shop w ithout a paper or book to distra ct you? Eviden ce shows that sett ing aside a little time to notice what is going on around you ca n help you feel better.

Or discover m indfulness and meditation techniques from the Southwark libraries ‘Books for heal th and happin ess’ collection.

Visit www.sou thwark.gov.uk / booksonpresc ription

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Get active

Moving your body can shift your mind too. Regular exercise blows away the mental cobwebs as well as helping you stay physically healthy.

Plus, people often say spending time with nature – maybe a walk along the Thames or a run around your local park – boosts their mood. www.southwark.gov.uk/getactive

Find out more Read more about the five ways to wellbeing at www.southwark.gov.uk/fiveways If you are worried about your mental health or the wellbeing of someone else, don’t worry in silence. One in four of us will experience a mental health issue during our lifetime – ask for help from your GP or call the Southwark psychological therapies service on 020 3228 2194.

Find other useful support via Lambeth and Southwark Mind on 020 7501 9203.

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make sure your vote counts in Southwark Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first time voter make sure you’re up to date with how to vote in this year’s local and European Parliament elections. Follow these simple steps to make sure you can have your say on issues that affect you, your family and friends

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n 22 May this year all registered Southwark voters will be given the opportunity to elect the councillors who will represent them on a local level for the next four years, and also members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who are elected for five years.

Your vote matters. By voting in local elections you’re choosing the people who will assist you for the next four years if you have a local concern or problem, as well as helping to decide how Southwark

Council will spend its budget and deliver over 200 vital services to your community.

The European Parliament election gives people across the whole of the EU an opportunity to shape policies on a much larger scale and express their opinions on the future of Europe. The European Parliament has the power to approve, amend or reject new European laws. It also approves the EU budget and new members of the European Commission.

Here in London voters have the opportunity to vote for eight seats to represent the capital.

NEED TO KNOW • If you are registered you can vote at the local and European elections between 7am and 10pm on 22 May • For information about voting in different languages visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk • For more information about how to vote in Southwark please visit www.southwark.gov. uk/vote or contact us at electoralenquiries@southwark.gov.uk or on 020 7525 7373 • Please visit www.londoneuroelections.org.uk to find out more about the European Parliament election • The election results will be published on www.southwark.gov.uk and/or follow the election results on Twitter @lb_southwark

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Local election 22 May 2014 Joshua

Moses, 18, Southwark London European Youth Council Election 2014 “Elections should be a chance for getting young people’s voices heard and giving a representative view of the whole of society.”

London European Election 2014

Top tips to make sure you can vote on 22 May 2014. Make sure you are registered to vote by 6 May 2014.

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Caprice Woods, 16, Southwark Youth Council “Voting is important because everyone deserves the right to have their voice heard.

Certain policies affect the younger generation and if they don’t vote they can’t speak out about the issues that relate to them.”

Do you meet the criteria To be able to vote in the local elections you need to be a British, Irish, European Union or Commonwealth citizen and resident in the UK. European Union citizens can vote in the local election and choose where to vote either in their home state or the UK for the European Parliament elections.

You must be at least 18 years old to vote, although you can register from the age of 16. For more information, visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk

Registering to vote Most people are already registered to vote. Last month you should have been sent a letter checking that all your voting details are correct. However if you are unsure or have recently moved, you can find out if you’re registered by emailing electoralenquiries@southwark.gov.uk or calling 020 7525 7373. If you’re not registered, the team can send you a registration form which you will need to return to the council at the very latest by 6 May.

Do you know where to vote?

You will receive your poll card through the post in time for the election. This will tell you the address of your polling station, which will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 22 May. You do not need your poll card to vote, however, if you misplace it and do not know where your local polling station is, there is a polling station finder online at www.southwark.gov.uk/pollingstation

Make your vote count – what will happen at the polling station on the day When you arrive at your polling station, please give your name and address to a member of staff so they can check that you are on the electoral register. You will be given two ballot papers: a yellow ballot paper with the names of all those standing in the local election and a white ballot paper for the European Parliament election. You will have three votes for the local elections to choose your three ward councillors, and one vote to choose a London regional member for the European Parliament. If you are not clear on what to do, please ask the staff at the polling station to help you.

Voting by proxy or by post If you have already asked to vote by post, you will have received a letter telling you that you can do this, and you will be sent your ballot papers and instructions in the post between 10 and 12 May. If you want a postal vote or a proxy vote (where someone goes to the polling station for you) you will need to complete an application form and send it back to the council by 7 May at the latest. Call 020 7525 7373 for details.

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