Southwark Life Spring 2013

Life Southwark

Spring 2013

Keeping our Fairer Future promises Locals enjoy view from the Shard Latest from the Elephant and Castle Get prepared for benefit changes

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www.southwark.gov.uk

Intro

Contents Focus 4

News Volunteer at Burgess Park, Dulwich Society unveils WWII plaques, get involved with Barnardo’s under fives charity and much more

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Budget cuts find out how we’re managing Southwark’s money

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Benefits are changing – will this

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Fairer Future promises find out

affect you? how we are keeping them

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Community conversations have your say on the future of council housing

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Elephant and Castle under construction

Life 19

London Life Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Dulwich Festival

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Events Eye spy for little ones, You and Me at the Blue Elephant Theatre, Chinese language and culture courses and things to do for young people Meet Martha Caidan the sound of Southwark

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The Lasting Olympic legacy

Spring 2013

www.southwark.gov.uk

welcome...

Three years ago we set out our plan to deliver a fairer future for all in Southwark. This month we’re reporting back on our promises and how we’re doing. We think we’re making great progress: delivering free healthy school meals; making homes warm, dry and safe, investing in CCTV, roads and our customer service; and increasing recycling across the borough.

One of our promises was to bring the full benefits and opportunities of regeneration to all Southwark’s residents and build new family homes on the Aylesbury and at the Elephant and Castle. This is now well underway and this edition of Southwark Life shows you how we are changing the Elephant for the better.

We are also reporting back on the government’s welfare changes which will impact on people across the borough. It’s important that you start to think about whether these changes will affect you and decisions you’ll need to make about managing your money. There is a range of support available to help you ahead of the changes in April.

I hope this edition of Southwark Life gives you a taste of how we’re working hard to deliver on our promises to you, using money as though it were coming from our own pockets and making Southwark a place that we can all be proud of.

Camberwell Leisure Centre, Herne Hill Velodrome and Peckham Pulse

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Mind your own business funding and support for young entrepreneurs

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How to... live independently, our top tips for adults and older people

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Get in touch

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. We will print a selection of letters but will edit those that are long.

We won’t print anonymous letters but can withhold your name and address if you request it.

Editor Nazarine Aiken Contributors Kim Bowers, Louise Grace-Timms, Fariah Nanhoo, Claire Wortley, Elizabeth Bolton, Maria Valdivia, Wendy Foreman, Louise Neilan, Richard Wells, Subira Massell, Claire Hughes and Helen Cundy.

Design Whatever Design Ltd

We have changed the paper we use for Southwark Life to a new paper that can be printed in a more environmentally friendly way.

Print Headley Brothers Printed on 100% recycled paper

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, sign up for our enewsletter by visiting www.southwark.gov.uk/enews or receive info at facebook.com/southwarkcouncil and at twitter.com/lb_southwark

Distribution London Letterbox

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News...

For more news and events sign up for our monthly enewsletter at www.southwark.gov.uk/enews

Burgess Park – blooming beautiful Burgess Park is a breath of fresh air and bursting with opportunities. Whether you’re interested in gardening, building wildlife habitats, growing food or conservation, you can become a Burgess Park volunteer and lend a hand, learn new skills, make friends and get fit. No experience required as training will be given. Everyone welcome, light refreshments will be provided. For further information visit www.southwark.gov.uk/burgesspark or contact Catherine Morgan on 020 7525 3645.

Helping vulnerable people The Local Account 2011/12 is Southwark’s first public performance report designed to increase accountability and transparency and is now available to read online. It gives examples of the ways we have made changes to deliver adult social care services in a more cost effective and more efficient way to ensure we meet our Fairer Future promise of supporting vulnerable people.

Visit www.southwark.gov.uk/ healthandsocialcare to read the Local Account.

New Camberwell Jubilee Hall The new Jubilee Hall at Camberwell leisure centre was officially opened on Saturday 26 January. Special guests; local resident and star of BBC’s Call the Midwife Jenny Agutter, Mayor of Southwark Cllr Althea Smith, Leader of the council Cllr Peter John, Cllr Veronica Ward, Cllr Dora Dixon-Fyle, Cllr Norma Gibbes and Helen Owen co-founder of Camberwell Baths campaign attended. The ceremony celebrated the completion of the third stage of the project to refurbish Camberwell leisure centre.

Southwark helps put the ‘village’ back into Nunhead With support from the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund (OLF), we are investing over £1m to boost business, cultural activity and the physical environment in Nunhead’s village centre. The series of projects, which support the emerging area action plan, will be rolled out over the next two years. This will also build upon Nunhead’s rich mix of festivals and events. To find out more visit www.lovenunhead.co.uk

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Foxes We encourage residents and home owners to take some practical measures to reduce the likelihood of foxes having potential food sources and to deter them from entering your property. This includes removing potential food sources, keeping rubbish and garden clippings in closed bins, filling gaps under garden sheds, repairing damaged air bricks and tidying overgrown gardens. Only leave bird food in bird food dispensers and protect small pets like rabbits and guinea pigs in sturdy hutches. Report cases of nuisance foxes to the Fox Project www.foxproject.org.uk

Focus

Spring 2013

Books for health and happiness scheme Southwark libraries books for health and happiness scheme is a collection of healthy living books, to guide you in your journey to improve your health and wellbeing. Choose from a wide range of books recommended by NHS Southwark, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and Southwark library staff. These include books on healthy eating, weight management, physical activity, stopping smoking and mental wellbeing. The books are free to borrow at any Southwark library and borrowers can take books out for an extended period of six weeks with unlimited renewals. Find out more or where your local library is at www. southwark.gov.uk/libraries

www.southwark.gov.uk

Barnardo’s Big Toddle

This fun-packed sponsored walk is the biggest charity event for under fives. The money raised helps transform the lives of disadvantaged under fives.

Anyone can hold a Big Toddle, from nurseries and childminders to parents. It’s simple to organise and Barnardo’s will provide a free pack with all the information you need to make it a day to remember. This year’s theme is nursery rhymes and fairytales. Toddlers are invited to dress up as their favourite characters and sing rhymes as they toddle. Find out how you can get involved at www.bigtoddle.org.uk Since 2004 the UK’s national DNA database (NDNAD) has been permitted to hold DNA samples of any individual arrested for an offence, regardless of whether that individual was actually charged or convicted. Police are no longer allowed to keep DNA samples of people who have never been charged with an offence and from May 2013 all DNA samples held for innocent people will be destroyed.

Innocent people already on the database can also apply to have their records wiped through the Met’s Early Deletion Scheme. Visit www.met.police.uk for more information about how to get yourself removed from the DNA database.

Help for residents on DNA database

Dulwich Society – World War II plaques Dulwich Society is unveiling 12 memorial plaques across Dulwich to remember those civilians who lost their lives in the bombing.

Two plaques have already been unveiled, with the next to be unveiled at 12noon on Saturday 17 April, Burbage Road SE24 (on the Green at the junction of Burbage Road and Turner Road). For more information on the remaining plaque unveilings please visit www.dulwichsociety.com

Southwark school students visit the Shard In January, students from Michael Faraday School were given a sneak preview of the Shard viewing galleries and experienced the 360 degree panoramic view across London from the 72nd floor of Western Europe’s tallest building.

We worked with the operators of The View from the Shard to secure places for 4,500 Southwark residents and 8,000 tickets for Southwark maintained schools to visit. To find out more about the Shard visit the-shard.com

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r i a F l l a for Find out how we’re managing Southwark’s budget as though it was our own family budget as despite unprecedented cuts to the money we receive from government, we have frozen council tax again.

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Southwark Council’s budget 2013/14

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or the third year running the council has received a reduction in funding from central government. Over the three years the council has had to save £85m and in 2013/14 is having to save £24m. Southwark has been the eleventh hardest hit borough as a result of unprecedented government funding cuts for the third year across the whole country.

This means we’ve lost £250 for every person in the borough since 2010/11 up to the forthcoming year 2014/15. We strongly oppose these cuts as it means we now have a limited amount of money to spend on the diverse range of services we provide for the Southwark community.

Focus

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In this time of austerity, we all have to tighten our belts. Inflation has pushed up food prices and travel costs more year after year. Along with this many employers have had no choice but to freeze wages, putting more pressure on everyone’s budgets.

Cost of living vs Southwark Council tax

Rising cost of living £ Council tax level £

2008 Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council

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For the fifth year we have frozen council tax despite the increasing cost of living due to inflation.

Despite these challenging financial times we are still committed to providing a fairer future for our residents. This means sticking to our promises and ensuring we do the best we can for you regardless of the reduction in government funding. You might expect to notice the effect of the cuts, but we hope you don’t.

We’ve done everything we can, to ensure that most local people will not see a negative impact on the services they receive. Three quarters of the savings we’ve found for 2013/14 have come from behind the scenes – doing things differently, squeezing more out of our contracts and making sure we’re employing the right people in the right roles.

We have had to make some hard choices, to ensure we provide the services that local people need and to do it well. We don’t want to tell any of our residents that they can’t have something that they need, something that makes their life better, healthier, safer or more fulfilling. Unfortunately budget cuts make these ambitions ever more challenging.

We’re managing the borough’s budget as we would our own family finances by squeezing the most out of every penny, while protecting the young and most vulnerable among us.

As well as being a great place to live, we also want Southwark to be a good place to work and run a business. We hope our plans to continue our free evening and weekend town centre parking will help our high streets in these tough times.

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Councillor Richard Livingstone Cabinet member for finance, resources and community safety

Despite unprecedented cuts we are sticking to our promises In line with our Fairer Future promises we have set aside money to deliver some projects that we think are really important

From September, all primary school pupils will be offered a free, healthy school meal.

“We hear in the news every day that councils are facing unprecedented cuts to their budgets, and Southwark is no exception as Southwark is the eleventh hardest hit council in England by government cuts.

Despite this, we have set out a budget that is fair for local people, saving as much money as we can without affecting their day to day lives and services. We’re also extremely proud to be maintaining groundbreaking initiatives like free healthy school meals and paying the London Living wage to all staff, despite the cuts. This budget shows that the council understands the financial pressures on local people and that we will do all we can to support them.”

NEED TO KNOW For more information visit www.southwark.gov.uk/budget

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The Youth Fund will continue to help young people move into further education or training.

We will continue our major investment in our roads.

We will install more CCTV cameras around the borough to improve safety.

Everyone who works for us, including those who are paid by other companies, will receive the London Living Wage of £8.55.

Focus

Spring 2013

www.southwark.gov.uk

Benefits are changing from April 2013, make sure you are prepared In April 2013 the government will begin to significantly change welfare benefits and services for working age recipients, including those provided through Southwark Council.

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housands of people in Southwark will be affected by these changes and some will receive less help as a result. It is important that you know how the changes will affect you, what you need to do and what other information and support is available. You need to get yourself and your family prepared for the changes ahead.

• Child benefit

From April 2013 central government is rolling out a major overhaul of the benefits system.

These changes are likely to affect you if you are not a pensioner and currently in receipt of the following benefits

• Income support

• Bereavement allowance

• Widow’s pension

• Carer’s allowance

• Widow’s pension age related

The benefit cap Between April and September 2013, the government is introducing a benefit cap on the overall amount of benefit that working age households can receive.

Pensioner age households and disability allowance recipients will be exempt from the benefit cap.

• Child tax credit • Council tax benefit • Disability living allowance • Employment and support allowance (except where it is paid with the support component) • Guardian’s allowance • Housing benefit • Incapacity benefit • Jobseeker’s allowance • Maternity allowance • Severe disablement allowance • Widowed parent’s allowance • Widowed mother’s allowance

At present, the government has not confirmed exactly when the cap will affect Southwark residents. However we know the cap will apply as follows • For couples, families and lone parents the total amount you can receive from one or more benefits is £500 per week • For single people the total amount is £350 per week If you are receiving more than the amount above, your housing benefit will be reduced to bring your total benefit income down to the benefit cap level.

To find out if you are likely to be affected by the benefit cap and for advice on how you can protect yourself from a reduction in benefit, visit: www.southwark.gov.uk/welfarereform

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Which benefits count towards the benefit cap?

If you are receiving any of the benefits listed below they will count towards the benefit cap • Bereavement allowance • Carer’s allowance • Child benefit

The benefit cap will not affect you if you, your partner, or any children that you are responsible for qualify for any of these benefits: • Working tax credit • Attendance allowance

• Child tax credit • Employment and support allowance (except where it is paid with the support component) • Guardian’s allowance • Housing benefit • Incapacity benefit • Income support • Jobseeker’s allowance • Maternity allowance • Severe disablement allowance • Widowed parent’s allowance • Widowed mother’s allowance

• Disability living allowance • Personal independence payment • The support component of Employment and Support Allowance • Industrial injuries benefits (and equivalent payments as part of a war disablement pension or the armed forces compensation scheme) • War widow’s or war widower’s pension

• Widow’s pension • Widow’s pension age related

Disability living allowance (DLA) changing to personal independence payment (PIP) The government will start to replace DLA for people aged 16 to 64 from 2013. A new benefit is being introduced in its place called personal independence payment (PIP).

New claims for PIP will begin to be made in Southwark from June 2013. From October 2013 anyone whose DLA comes up for review or children receiving DLA reaching 16 years of age will be tested for PIP rather than DLA. The government expects to have invited all other DLA claimants to apply for PIP by 2017 so you may not be affected by this change for a few years.

There are differences in how you qualify for these benefits. DLA was assessed mostly by taking physical disabilities into consideration and awards were indefinite. The new system will assess individuals differently. To find out more you can visit the government website at www.gov.uk/pip

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Housing benefit From April 2013, new rules come into effect that mean a new size criteria, often described as the bedroom tax, will be applied to housing benefit for working age recipients (16 to 64) in the social rented sector, such as council housing.

The government will allow one bedroom for each person or couple living as part of the household. Children under 16 of the same gender will be expected to share and children under 10 will be expected to share regardless of their gender.

Tenants or their partners who have a disability and who need a non resident overnight carer will be allowed an extra bedroom. We will support existing foster carers who might be affected by the bedroom tax. Similarly, residents who could be interested in fostering for the council would be favourably considered by Southwark Council.

If the government assesses you under these rules as having more bedrooms than it is necessary for your household, you will be considered to be under occupying and the amount of housing benefit you receive to pay your rent will go down.

How much will I have to pay?

If you are deemed to be under occupying under the new rules, there will be a • 14% reduction in housing benefit for one spare bedroom • 25% reduction in housing benefit for two or more spare bedrooms If only part of your rent is covered by housing benefit, the reduction may be slightly higher.

Paying your rent It is important that you pay your rent and it will remain your responsibility to do so. If you are concerned that you may fall behind in your rent payments, it is important that you seek advice from an appropriate agency. For further information, visit www.southwark.gov. uk/rent

Focus

Council tax replacement scheme (CTRS) The government is ending council tax benefit from 1 April 2013 and has asked all local councils to deliver a replacement scheme for non pensioner residents on a low income. In Southwark, the replacement for council tax benefit will be known as the council tax reduction scheme (CTRS). This means that pensioners are not affected by this change.

As part of these changes, the government has cut the money available to councils for funding this scheme. Southwark Council’s funding for the scheme is being reduced by £2.8 million. Because the council is not able to meet this shortfall, the support offered to claimants under this scheme has been reduced by 15%. This means that the most anyone of working age will receive is 85% of their council tax bill. A council tax reduction is based on • Your council tax liability • Your personal circumstances and those of your household • Your income and savings and those of your partner • The income of any other adults in your household These changes mean that if you currently receive council tax benefit, you will have to pay at least 15% of your council tax from April.

However if you are currently claiming council tax benefit, you should have received a letter from the council letting you know that changes are due to come into effect on April 1 2013 and how much you will have to pay.

If you think you will have difficulty paying your council tax, call us on 020 7525 1850. Please do not ignore your council tax bills as this can lead to prosecution and eviction.

Spring 2013

www.southwark.gov.uk

Universal credit The government plans to introduce universal credit as a new single payment later this year, which will replace a number of existing working age benefits including • Housing benefit • Income based jobseeker's allowance • Income related employment and support allowance • Income support • Child tax credits • Working tax credits New claims for universal credit will start in October 2013 and claims for the above benefits will be moved onto universal credit over the next few years.

Universal credit will be digital by default, meaning that you will need to claim online. Help and support will be on hand for people who may find it difficult to use the online system.

What help is available?

It is important that you prepare yourself for the reforms to benefits that will affect you and your family and how you plan your money. Here's some essential contacts for you

The government website Full details from the government on the changes Web: www.gov.uk/browse/benefits

The Citizens Advice service Provides a wide range of confidential advice Southwark Citizens Advice Bureau Tel: 0844 499 4134 Web: www.southwarkcabservice.org.uk

Rightfully Yours Service Make sure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to Tel: 020 7525 3393 Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/rightfullyyours

Blackfriars Advice Centre Tel: 020 7358 7035 Web: www.blackfriars-advice.com

London Mutual Credit Union Affordable financial services for the community Web: www.creditunion.co.uk

NEED TO KNOW For further information about the changes to the benefits please visit www.southwark.gov. uk/welfarereform

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Creating a fairer future for all in Southwark We are committed to deliver our three year programme for a fairer future for all in Southwark so that everyone shares equal access to the opportunities that central London has to offer. We set ten specific promises to help us deliver a fairer future for all. Find out how far we have come in delivering each promise.

PROMISE

PROMISE

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

Council tax in Southwark has remained frozen since 2008/09 and it is now the 7th lowest in London.

PROMISE

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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.

Violent crime is falling.

We are continuing to make progress against the five priorities set out in our violent crime strategy. In the first six months, we had particular success with the following recorded crime types;

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

We are committed to improving the lives of our tenants through the delivery of our ÂŁ326m warm, dry and safe programme. This year we will spend ÂŁ63m making homes across Southwark warm, dry and safe. We have secured further funding and will receive ÂŁ65.7m for 2013/14 and 2014/15 from the Greater London Authority.

PROMISE

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

9% reduction in violence with injury 4% reduction in most serious violence 22% reduction in knives used to injure 19% reduction in youth violence 10% reduction in domestic abuse Our new digital CCTV system has already helped police in making over 500 arrests in the first six months of 2012/13. In addition, 30 redeployable cameras will be purchased enabling us to respond quickly to emerging crime and antisocial behaviour.

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The council wide initiative to improve the delivery of online services is progressing well. The My Southwark personalised account service went live on 12 March 2012. My Southwark currently has over 26,000 subscribers and new customers are joining at the rate of 250 per week.

The repair service continues to show improvement in 2012/13. According to monthly telephone surveys, more residents are satisfied with the overall repair service and importantly more repairs are being completed correctly the first time. 84% of our residents are satisfied with the overall repair service and 78% have informed us that their repair was completed correctly the first time.

Focus PROMISE

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

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PROMISE

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Spring 2013

www.southwark.gov.uk

Open Canada Water library in autumn 2011.

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

Canada Water library was opened on 28 November 2011.

In September 2012, our free healthy school meals programme was successfully rolled out to years 2 to 4 resulting in a rise in the number of children having a hot meal. Over 90%, or around 10,000 of Southwark’s primary school pupils in reception to year 4 are now enjoying free healthy school meals.

PROMISE

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

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90%

target 63%

Southwark Council’s performance

47% inner London average

PROMISE

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Attainment in the borough continues to rise, with Southwark at or above the national average across all key stages.

For example, attainment at the end of the primary phase stands at 83% compared to 79% nationally, while some ¾ of schools are judged by Ofsted to be good or outstanding.

The roll out of personal budgets remains strong, with performance at 63% against the latest inner London average of 47%. Our performance is on track to deliver our 90% target by the year end.

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

In its first year Canada Water library has become one of the most visited libraries in the country with 452,845 visitors and 396,987 items issued.

All our libraries remain open.

PROMISE

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A new leisure centre at Elephant and Castle is due to open in 2015. It is anticipated that each year, 300,000 to 500,000 people will visit the facility to take part in exercise and other activities.

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.

Aylesbury Estate The construction of 261 new homes on the first development site continues on programme for completion summer 2013, with a new resource centre and 60 homes already built.

Planning consent has been granted and a development partner selected for the next site which will deliver 147 new homes with construction planned to start in 2013. This scheme has over 50% affordable units and includes 45 new family homes with three or more bedrooms.

Elephant and Castle There will be 1,650 new affordable homes, 595 of which have already been built. The project includes redevelopment of the shopping centre and strategic transport upgrades, which will also be progressed during 2013.

PROMISE

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Phase one of our Burgess Park revitalisation project was completed during the summer of 2012. The park now enjoys a newly extended lake, a new play area for over fives, new plants and trees, wildlife friendly areas, a 5km running route and a new car park. The park also offers a wide range of formal and informal activities and facilities including tennis, football, rugby, cricket, adventure play, outdoor gyms, fishing and gokarting.

Libraries currently have 42 volunteers carrying out added value tasks contributing over 1,900 working hours in the first half of 2012/2013.

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

Six months into this year we had already raised recycling to 30.3% of our total waste.

We are continuing to improve the amount of waste recovered and not sent to landfill. During the first six months an average of 61.5% of waste was recovered, meaning that less than 40% of our waste ends in landfills.

Work is now underway on our housing estates to increase participation in our clear bag recycling scheme.

NEED TO KNOW For more information visit www.southwark.gov.uk/fairerfuture

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Let’s talk about...

The future of housing Join our community conversation and help shape the future of housing in the borough for the next 30 years

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ast year the council commissioned asked an independent commission to look at the future of council housing, including opportunities and challenges within Southwark. It was chaired by nationally acclaimed housing lawyer Jan Luba QC. The commissioners have already spoken to many individuals and groups when they were pulling together their report and we now want as many people as possible to get involved in a conversation about the proposals put forward in the commission’s findings.

Join the conversation Saturday 16 March, 11am to 4pm Peckham Square, Peckham High Street, SE15 Saturday 23 March 11am to 4pm The Blue, Southwark Park Road, Bermondsey SE5 Saturday 6 April, 11am to 4pm Co-op, Lordship Lane, Dulwich, SE22 Saturday 13 April, 11am to 4pm Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, SE1 Saturday 20 April, 11am to 4pm Butterfly Walk, Denmark Hill, Camberwell SE5 Saturday 27 April 2013, 11am to 4pm Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, Redriff Road, SE16 Saturday 4 May 2013, 11am to 4pm Dulwich Park, College Road, SE21 7BG

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Cllr Peter John, Leader of the council, said “As London’s largest local authority landlord, housing clearly plays a key role in shaping the future of the borough. Our priority goes beyond simply ensuring all our homes are warm, dry and safe. We are committed to investing in the future of our homes, and providing a fairer future for all.”

We’d like to urge anyone who has something constructive to say about the future of council housing, to get involved in this once in a lifetime opportunity to shape housing policy for the next 30 years.

Everybody’s view will count and we want to ensure that as many people as possible can take part in order to have a real understanding of Southwark’s future housing plans.

NEED TO KNOW Find out more about the housing commission, our community conversations and have your say online at www.southwark.gov.uk/ communityconversations Download the full housing commission report at www.southwark.gov.uk/ housingcommission

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Focus Life

Spring 2013

www.southwark.gov.uk

London Life To mark the 20th anniversary of Dulwich Festival, Southwark Council has curated London Life, a series of innovative live art events celebrating the heritage and people of south Southwark They are coming...

Date: Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 May Venue: Dulwich Library, 368 Lordship Lane, Dulwich SE22 Admission: Free Tel: 020 7525 3422 Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/londonlife Info: Who? What? Why? We could tell you, but that would spoil the surprise.

The curious exchange

The culture cart

Date: Friday 10 to Sunday 19 May Venue: Original entrance to Dulwich Leisure Centre, East Dulwich Road, Dulwich SE22 Admission: Free Tel: 020 7525 3422 Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/ londonlife Info: Artists and makers are invited to give something they’ve made to be displayed in a cabinet of curiosities.

Each contributor can then exchange their object for someone else’s creation.

Date: 12, 18, 19 May Venue: Festival Fair on Goose Green, Dulwich Park Fair and other venues around south Southwark Admission: Free Tel: 020 7525 3422 Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/ londonlife Info: A hand-crafted cart, drawn by an English gentleman on a vintage bicycle hosting a range of printing workshops, inspired by Dulwich’s historical and cultural heritage.

Dulwich Festival Friday 10 to Sunday 19 May Street art, chamber music, a lively programme of walks and talks, sports, theatre and the popular festival fair will all be part of the 20th Dulwich Festival. With a host of events to whet your cultural appetite, this year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever.

The artists’ open house programme is a well loved favourite, and this year there’s pottery, paintings and handmade jewellery all up for grabs.

A street art festival with internationally renowned artists will enliven the streets with large murals re-imagining famous paintings from Dulwich Picture Gallery.

As the festival approaches its 20th year, it is a time to reflect on the amazing dedication and energy of the many people who have helped to make the festival what it is today. If you would like to help make this year’s festival extra special, please email info@dulwichfestival.co.uk or visit www.dulwichfestival.co.uk

Build your worlds Date: Sunday 19 May Venue: Dulwich Park, College Road, Dulwich SE21 Admission: Free Tel: 020 7525 3422 Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/ londonlife Info: Build your worlds features over 200 local people working together to create musical buildings, dancing paintings and moving sculptures.

The events delivered by Southwark Council have been developed in partnership with Dulwich Society, Dulwich Park Friends, Dulwich Festival, Pavilion Café, local councillors and residents.

For more information, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/londonlife

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Events calendar Theatre

You and me Date: Tuesday 9 to Saturday 27 April Time: 8pm Venue: Blue Elephant Theatre, 59a Bethwin Road, Camberwell, SE5 Admission: From £8.50 Tel: 020 7701 0100 Web: www.blueelephanttheatre.co.uk Info: A bitter sweet physical comedy for anyone who is a day older than yesterday.

Proof Date: 13 March to 27 April Time: 3.30pm and 8pm Venue: The Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, London SE1 Admission: From £31 Tel: 020 7378 1713 Web: www.menierchocolatefactory.com Info: Catherine has cared for her father Robert, a renowned mathematician, through his mental illness for the past five years. She struggles to find out who the groundbreaking work in her father’s office belongs to and how much of her father’s madness or genius she has inherited.

Family friendly

Bringing down the moon

Raestar Ventures presents Zoe Rahman Date: Saturday 11 May Time: 7.45pm Venue: Canada Water culture space, Canada Water Library, 21 Surrey Quays Road, SE16 Admission: £12, £10 concessions Tel: 020 7525 2931 Web: canadawaterculturespace.org.uk/ whatson Info: Join the 2012 MOBO award winner as she plays contemporary jazz from her recent album Kindred Spirits plus new material.

From Docks to Desktops Date: Every Thursday until 27 March Time: 6.30pm to 8.30pm Venue: London Bubble Theatre, Swedish Seaman’s Church, 120 Lower Road, SE16 Admission: Free, donations welcome Tel: 020 7237 4434 Web: www.londonbubble.org.uk Info: An oral history project exploring the subject of work and how changes to work affect a community. The stories and research will be gathered into a new show for summer 2013.

For ages nine years and over, under 12s should be accompanied by a participating adult.

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Spring 2013

Date: Friday 22 to Saturday 23 February Time: 1pm and 3pm Venue: Canada Water culture space, Canada Water Library, 21 Surrey Quays Road, SE16 Admission: £7 each or family ticket for four £24 Tel: 020 77010 100 Web: canadawaterculturespace.org.uk/ whatson Info: Join mole as he sets out to play with the moon in this heartwarming tale of aspiration, adventure and a little bit of mischief.

Each Peach Pear Plum Date: Saturday 11 May Time: 1pm and 3pm Venue: Canada water culture space Admission: £7 each or family ticket for four £24 Tel: 020 7525 2931 Web: canadawaterculturespace.org.uk/ whatson Info: A game of eye spy for little ones (aged three and over) and their families. Watch as your favorite nursery rhyme characters spring to life through songs, music and enchanting puppetry.

Join them as they head to Mother Hubbard's for some plum pie.

May Fair Date: Saturday 18 May Time: 12noon Venue: Burgess Park, Albany Road SE5 Admission: Free Web: www.friendsofburgess park.org.uk/MayFair Info: Travel back in time to the industrial revolution and capture the spirit of the 19th Century. See the transformation of this area from market garden villages to a manufacturing focal point, with the Surrey Canal at the heart of this new landscape.

Tree Tales Date: Thursday 11 and Friday 12 April, (free workshops) to Saturday 13 April (finale event) Times: 6pm to 9pm Venue: Dulwich Park, College Road, Dulwich SE21 Admission: Free Tel: 020 7525 3422 Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/treetales Info: Celebrating the trees of Dulwich Park with storytelling and music, an interactive installation and a magical wishing tree of fire.

Focus Life

A Right Song and Dance Date: Sunday 28 April Time: 3pm Venue: Kingswood House, Seeley Drive, West Dulwich SE21 Admission: Free Tel: 020 7525 3422 Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/ songanddance Info: The wonderful Ida Barr hosts an afternoon of music and dance, featuring the Kingswood scratch choir with a repertoire of songs that eloquently ‘mash up’ old music hall classics with R&B chart hits. Laughter, fun and joy guaranteed.

Museums

Moving Pictures: Animating Murillo Dulwich Picture Gallery will be working with a new art form for its forthcoming project Moving Pictures: Animating Murillo. The gallery’s successful Good Times: Art for Older People programme is teaming up with professional animators from Salmagundi Films, to create stop frame animation films with members of Jewish Care’s Stepney Jewish Day Centre. These will be shown at the Murillo and Justino de Neve: The Art of Friendship exhibition, from 5pm on 16 May 2013. See full exhibition details below. To get involved with Dulwich Picture Gallery volunteering projects, contact Dulwich Picture Gallery on 020 8693 5254.

Spring 2013

Birds, beasts and beyond Come along to the Cuming Museum to see the free exhibition of ceramic artistry from the Martin brothers, explored in a fascinating story of continual strife for artistic originality. On display until Saturday 31 August, from 10am to 5pm.

Olivia Armstrong will be holding a storytelling session – Dreaming in clay: baptized by flames, the marvellous melancholy of the Martin brothers on Thursday 16 May from 6pm to 8pm.

Cuming Museum, 151 Walworth Road, SE17, www.southwark.gov.uk/cumingmuseum

Lichtenstein: A Retrospective Date: Until Monday 27 May Time: Monday to Thursday 10am to 6pm, Friday and Saturday 10am to 10pm, Sundays 10am to 8pm Venue: Tate Modern, Bankside SE1 Admission: £14 Tel: 020 7887 8888 Info: See the renowned artist's work based on comic strips and advertising imagery, coloured with his signature hand-painted Benday dots.

Things to do for young people Are you aged 16 to 19? There’s a lot for young people to do in Southwark • Get active – at Camberwell youth centre (based inside Camberwell leisure centre) there is a range of activities from fitness to music.

• Get involved – with the youth community council and make a difference to your local area.

Call 020 7732 7917 or email youth.council@southwark.gov.uk • Have your say – with the Southwark Youth Council about council provided services. Contact Davina Bailey on 020 7525 5120 • Start your own business – Apply for funding through the Mind Your Own Business scheme. For more information visit www.whtvr.org

Murillo and Justino de Neve: The Art of Friendship Date: Until Sunday 19 May Time: 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sundays Venue: Dulwich Picture Gallery Admission: £11, £6 concessions Tel: 020 8693 5254 Web: www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Info: This dramatic exhibition will bring together over 30 paintings documenting the relationship between Murillo and his patron as well as Dulwich’s own collection of works by the artist.

www.southwark.gov.uk

For more to do for young people in Southwark, visit www.whtvr.org

Chinese language and culture courses New Chinese language, dance, Kungfu and TaiQi, as well as Art & Culture courses are being taught at the Confucius Institute, Goldsmiths 17 Laurie Grove, New Cross SE14.

Classes vary from 11am to 8.30pm until 31 May 2013 and costs start at £15. For more information contact Lin 020 7919 7650, confucius@ gold.ac.uk or visit www.gold.ac.uk/ confucius-institute

Become a fan of our facebook page www.facebook.co.uk/whtvrorg and keep up to date with events, things to do and the latest youth news.

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Lara Thornton

Cycling at the Herne Hill velodrome

The lasting legacy of London 2012 Take a look at how the £2m Olympic legacy fund is being used to boost sports in Southwark

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outhwark is making a real impact in delivering a proper and lasting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games through a special £2m fund that the council especially created in 2010 to increase participation in sport in our borough. Following an amazing summer of success. As the only London borough to have a 1948 Olympics Games finals venue still in active use, at Herne Hill, the importance of a lasting legacy to an Olympic Games was only too well understood. After inviting bids, in 2011 ten projects were named as

being successful in receiving some of the council’s legacy fund.

Now that several of those projects have been completed Councillor Veronica Ward, cabinet member for culture, leisure, sports, the Olympics Legacy and volunteering said “The real measure of the success of the games will be our ability to build a lasting legacy that will benefit local people. We are confident that each of these projects will positively impact upon the whole community and help promote an active and healthy lifestyle.”

Info

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Sharing the SOUTHWARk COUNCIL £2m legacy fund Here is an update on a few of the projects.

Camberwell Leisure Centre The leisure centre was granted £490,000 for the refurbishment of two sports halls.

Jubillee Hall and Warwick Hall were officially opened on 26 January. The halls provide an excellent space that can be used for a wide variety of sports as well as community cultural activities including dance, music, spoken word and theatre.

Darren Darren Randon took part in a body combat taster session at the official opening of Jubilee Hall at Camberwell Leisure Centre “I think it is a great space. The class was fun. The facilities are fantastic. I’ll be coming regularly.”

Herne Hill Velodrome Famous for being used by Sir Bradley Wiggins as a child, the velodrome was granted a £400,000 contribution towards work on a 250m junior track inside the main track with a hard surfaced multi-use games area inside and trackside lighting for evening use. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2013.

Transforming the velodrome into a multi-purpose cycling centre for the whole community, creating family and junior cycling tracks to encourage people to try the sport from a younger age.

Peckham Pulse disability pool hoist Fusion, the council’s leisure partner, was granted £5,600 for a disability pool hoist for the Peckham Pulse healthy living centre. The hoist was unveiled in September 2012 and has led to greater inclusivity for disabled users at the centre.

Sonia

Head teacher, Dulwich Hamlet Junior School “The thought of having access to such a wonderful new facility is very exciting, and we are looking forward to working with the new trust so that our children can get sportier and healthier.”

James

General manager “The hoist installation is invaluable for the safe entry of our disabled users into the main pool. Although we have a dedicated pool for disabled users we have numerous members that wish to swim further than the hydrotherapy pool allows, the hoist adds that extra benefit.”

NEED TO KNOW For more information about the Olympic legacy fund and the ten projects granted funding visit www.southwark.gov.uk/legacyfund For more information on exercise classes and sports clubs in your area, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/getactive

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Meet Martha Caidan The sound of young Southwark

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Info

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www.southwark.gov.uk

“ Southwark is on the edge of something exciting” As well as making radio features for BBC Radio 1Xtra, 19 year old radio presenter, DJ and journalist Martha Caidan works full-time at Peckhambased youth radio station Reprezent 107.3FM producing the business show Talking Shop funded by the council’s community restoration fund.

Tell us a bit more about the Talking Shop radio show that you produce The Talking Shop airs once a month, on a Saturday. We get local businesses talking, and listening to what young Southwark people want. There are themed shows each month. We did one on food recently and asked local food business representatives to come in. Then we had a question and answer session based on Tweets that came in from young people.

What do you think the Talking Shop show brings to the local community and Southwark as a whole?

Mainly collaboration. After the food show, the lady from southern-Indian restaurant Ganapati teamed up with a guy from a local takeaway restaurant and they’re now talking about planning a food festival in Southwark this summer.

What inspired you to pursue a career in broadcasting and how did you get involved in Reprezent radio?

I was finishing my GCSEs when my friend Freya and I heard some older kids from our school on Reprezent and thought ‘let’s have a go at that’. That was in 2009. After hanging around helping out and making short features for other people’s shows, Freya and I started doing our own music show, Forecast. It’s still going now, every Thursday night from 7pm to 9pm. It’s just me presenting it now, but it’s still about the freshest tunes from the UK bass scene.

How would you sum up what Reprezent is about?

Reprezent is about training young people and putting them on the radio.

We’re on FM radio across London. It’s also about providing young people with an alternative to standard education. I don’t know where I’d be without Reprezent, honestly.

Reprezent aims to be the voice of young London. In your experience, what issues are young people most concerned about?

The future, basically. Young people struggle to have their own place to live in London. I live with my parents. On top of that, once you hit 18 you have to start paying for travel. I think young people also worry about not ever getting a job.

Time Out magazine recently commended Peckham for its lively arts scene, what makes Peckham unique to you?

I think what makes Peckham really special is the edgy contrast of a million different cultures that sit alongside all the trendy art.

Can you recommend any local initiatives?

Well Reprezent is here but there are so many other art and music initiatives going on in Southwark. I write for a local paper called The Reliant, it's run by recent university graduates.

How do you think a young person growing up in Southwark, or any city in the UK, can achieve their aspirations?

My advice is: if you can’t find anyone to hire you, then make your own thing. Don’t rely on anyone else to put something on your CV, you have to put something on it yourself. Blogging is really useful. If you’re the person to blog something first then people are going to know that. Oh, and say ‘yes’ to everything.

MARTHA’s SOUTHWARK The Bussey Building, Rye Lane There’s so much great stuff going on there. From raves, to art and they even had the Royal Court Theatre in there recently.

Agora indoor market, Rye Lane You can buy a sculpture of an elephant and get your haircut in there, all at once.

The Old Waiting Room, Platform 3, Peckham Rye station It’s the most amazing space.

I invigilated an exhibition there.

It used to be a fancy waiting room back in the 1900s and it’s going to be a public gallery.

Why do you think young people are turning their hand to business and becoming young entrepreneurs?

I think more young people are doing that these days because it’s so tough to get a job. Gbemi Okunlola, was shortlisted for the council’s Mind Your Own Business scheme and was on the Talking Shop show recently. She’s 18 and has been making and selling things since she was at primary school. She set her own clothing business up when she was 17. Gbemi is a good example of a young person just getting on with it.

What do you like about living and working in Southwark?

Southwark is on the edge of becoming an exciting and unique place. I love Rye Lane. The other day, in a shop, there was an entire African band, in full traditional outfits with drums.

I thought ‘only in Peckham’.

NEED TO KNOW To find out more information about Reprezent, how to get involved and what’s on visit www.reprezent.org.uk Mind Your Own Business is a Southwark Council funded scheme focused on supporting young people in business, see page 26 for more information.

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BUSINESS

From a gourmet popcorn business to a singing chef and local car breakdown service, Southwark’s young entrepreneurs are turning their dreams into reality

William

Dulwich Gourmet Popcorn “I am very excited to expand my business into an operating business, this funding will change my life and has boosted my drive, ambition and the self confidence to succeed in setting up my own business.”

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espite ongoing government cuts, the council is investing in the future of Southwark and its young people. In December 2012 we launched the ‘Mind Your Own Business’ (MYOB) scheme to support Southwark’s brightest young entrepreneurs to take charge of their own destinies by setting up and launching their own businesses.

The scheme is funded from the £1m community restoration fund and agreed as part of Southwark’s 2012/13 budget following the widespread disturbances in summer 2011. Part of this funding went towards activities for young people as overwhelming feedback from the community suggested more was needed to encourage young people to engage in positive activities in the community and make positive life choices.

Young people aged 16 to 25 who live in the borough were encouraged to apply for up to £5k towards starting up their own business along with a three year support package from the London Youth Support Trust (LYST).

40 applications were received in December and successful candidates were supported to write a business plan for their idea and present their plans to the ‘Dragon’s Den’ style judging panel. Nine of the best business ideas were awarded funding.

The MYOB project has been supported by entrepreneur Richard Farleigh, chancellor at London Southbank University and former Dragon's Den panellist, he said “For a young person with a good business idea, the only barrier might be lack of start up capital, which is why projects like this provide a vital first step on the business ladder.”

If you are a budding entrepreneur with a good idea for a business make sure you apply for the next round of MYOB funding which opens on Monday 18 March and is open until midnight Sunday 21 April 2013, visit www.whtvr.org to find out more.

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Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle Cabinet member for children’s services “This was a wonderful opportunity for Southwark’s bright, creative and driven young people to show us their business ideas. I strongly encourage other young entrepreneurs in the borough to apply for the next round of funding. Who knows, we may have the next Sir Alan Sugar or Richard Farleigh just waiting to get started.”

Nathan

Spring 2013

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Jasmine The Jasmine Stacey Collection “My business is a lingerie brand which is fashionable, practical and comfortable for women who undergo surgery leaving them with scars, and stomas on their stomachs.

The funding will help me to launch my business, get stock manufactured, develop a website, attend trade shows and receive guidance from my mentor.”

Emmanuel

Start a Motor “Now I can get my breakdown recovery business started as I’ll be able to buy a vehicle, tools and get my website set up. The mentoring will really help me to understand a bit more about starting a business.”

Gently Doz it “Getting the bursary has improved my prospects and given me more control over my future. It’s allowed me to get off job seekers allowance and hold my head up with pride. Now I will be able to stock up on ingredients for my African catering business and develop a website.”

MYBUSINESS IDEA

NEED TO KNOW Are you a budding entrepreneur?

Get your application in for the next round of Mind your own business funding by midnight on Sunday 21 April 2013, visit www.whtvr.org to find out more.

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How to...

stay happy, safe and independent Find out about help and support available in Southwark for adults who want to keep on living independently

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Southwark Resource Centre

re you an older person who would still like to go out independently and take part in outings and other social activities? There are a number of sport and leisure activities, day centres and befriending services available locally where you can meet new people. Southwark has an interesting and unique range of libraries, galleries and museums which are easily accessible with your freedom pass, a Taxicard or discounted railcard.

Being independent and safe at home is just as important. You can have equipment installed to help you move around your home more easily, continue to do things for yourself and help prevent falls and accidents. You can also have Telecare sensors and alarms placed around your home to detect and help prevent a variety of incidents such as falls, fires, floods and intruders. If a sensor is activated, a call is sent to a 24 hour call centre from which help can be arranged for you.

The Southwark Resource Centre offers older and disabled adults support to become independent and active members of their community. Services provided include, support with; returning to education or employment, taking part in new hobbies or activities and building the confidence to go out using public transport alone.

To find out more about independent living for adults visit www.southwark. gov.uk/mysupportchoices or contact adult social care on 020 7525 3324.

Check out our top tips on how to stay safe and independent wherever you are.

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Dagmar Southwark Resource Centre “I’ve got cerebral palsy so I used to depend on carers and family a lot but I wanted to do things for myself and have more of a social life.

Since I’ve been going to the Southwark Resource Centre I feel much more confident and independent. I now go out on the bus by myself, I volunteer in a charity shop and I’m moving into my own home.”

Don’t turn your back on adult abuse Vulnerable adults can experience various forms of abuse – physical, sexual, psychological, financial, neglect, discrimination, and institutional. It can happen in any setting and can even be done by someone you know. Visit www. southwark.gov.uk/adultabuse or call 020 7525 3324 if you need advice or think someone is being abused.

Top tips

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Get out and about Get involved with a community group or take up a new activity or hobby.

Visit Southwark www.southwarkcircle.org.uk or www.dulwich-helpline. org.uk for more information on local activities and befriending services.

Find out what you’re entitled to Find out if you are eligible for a personal budget for your support needs which can be managed by you, a third party or Southwark Council.

Visit My Support Choices For more information on adult social care and local services, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/mysupportchoices

Contact adult social care You can now call one dedicated telephone number to speak to someone who knows all about adult social care in Southwark, to help you find the right support and advice to meet your needs 020 7525 3324.

Carers can ask for support too All carers are entitled to a carers assessment to identify whether appropriate support can be given to you in your role as a carer.

Southwark Carers and Southwark Circle also offer advice and information on free counselling for carers.

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Getting in touch Main switchboard www.southwark.gov.uk csc@southwark.gov.uk 020 7525 5000

Online

Adult social care www.southwark.gov.uk/ mysupportchoices 020 7525 3324 Adoption and fostering recruitment www.southwark.gov.uk/adoption www.southwark.gov.uk/fostering 0800 952 0707 Building control www.southwark.gov.uk/buildingcontrol 0845 600 1285 Business rates www.southwark.gov.uk/businessrates 020 7525 5505 Child protection www.southwark.gov.uk/ childprotection 020 7525 1921

Education and learning www.southwark.gov.uk/education 0845 600 1284

Registration services www.southwark.gov.uk/registrar 020 7525 7651

Elections and voting www.southwark.gov.uk/elections 020 7525 7373

Planning www.southwark.gov.uk/planning 020 7525 5403

Environment (recycling, rubbish, parks) www.southwark.gov.uk/environment 020 7525 2000 Family information service www.southwark.gov.uk/familyinfo 0800 013 0639 Fraud www.southwark.gov.uk/fraud 0800 052 1010

By post

Southwark Council PO Box 64529 London SE1P 5LX

Face to face

Walworth one stop shop 151 Walworth Road, SE17

Housing repairs www.southwark.gov.uk/housing 0800 952 4444

Peckham One Stop Shop Ground floor Peckham Library 122 Peckham Hill Street, SE15

Libraries, museums and leisure centres www.sothwark.gov.uk/culture 020 7525 2000

My Southwark customer service point 11 Market Place, Southwark Park Road, SE16

If you would like a copy of Southwark Life in large print or audio format please ring 020 7525 5000 or visit www.southwark.gov.uk/southwarklife 30

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