Lambeth Future Jobs Fair Thursday 8 July 2010

If you are looking for work or would like to receive advice and information on how to put yourself into the best position to find work come along to the Lambeth future Jobs Fair on Thursday 8 July 2010 at Lamnbeth Town Hall, Brixton. Further details are in the flyer below or see the Future Lambeth website

Come dancing across Lambeth

Starting this weekend there will be numerous dance events occurring across Lambeth including some in Vassall Ward. The events are part of the Big Dance which is aimed at everyone and is about encouraging new ways of taking regular, fun exercise. The Lambeth and Southwark dance network have organised local events with performances, dance lessons and events for people to join in and give dancing a go.

Of particular interest to Vassall Ward residents is the performance of Roadworks by Etta Ermini Theatre which is taking place in Myatts Fields Park bandsand on Sunday starting at 1:30pm. Set in a typical London environment, this short performance features a busker, a dancer and a BMX rider with humorous consequences.

Further details of the Big Dance events are available in the latest edition of Lambeth Life or details of all the events are given in the Big Dance 2010 website

Big Lunch Sunday 18 July 2010

On Sunday 18 July 2010 various Big Lunch events will be going on around London. The aim of the Big Lunch campaign is to get neighbours together.

To find out if there is an event near you see the Big Lunch website. We know that there is one planned on the Cowley Estate but more will be added over the next few days. If theres not one listed near you why not organise one?

Try racketball and squash in Brixton for £5 for five weeks

Local residents will have an opportunity to try racketball or squash at Brixton Recreation Centre in a special five week course set to start on 1 July. The course of five sessions will cost just £5.

GLL who run Brixton Rec for the council are working with England Squash and Racketball to offer an hour of training in either sport for five weeks. The sessions are open to anyone over the age of 16 and will cost just £5 in total.

Joe Rham, partnership manager at GLL,said: “We are delighted to be working with England Squash and Racketball and are proud that Brixton Recreation Centre will be one of the first in the capital to pilot this new training and development scheme."
“The partnership will work to build a programme of squash and racketball activity at leisure centres across London, with the aim of bringing new people into the two sports and increasing participation.”

More classes will be on offer later in the year at the Rec with training, leagues and tournaments all on the cards.

The Five for £5 Racketball course sessions start at Brixton Recreation Centre start from Thursday 1 July between 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

For further information see the Brixton Rec webpage

Lambeth ranked second most environmentally friendly borough

Lambeth has been rated second overall in London in a new league table showing how green each of the boroughs is. The rating is a testament to Labours investment and improvements to make Lambeth a greener place to live.

Lambeth was praised in the league table, compiled by Darren Johnson, London Assembly Member for the Green Party, for its excellent progress in reducing CO2, improving recycling rates and reducing road traffic.

The league table partly reflects how boroughs performed on domestic energy use, carbon emissions, waste arisings, and recycling rates. The table also partly reflects how boroughs improved in terms of helping people to reduce their energy use and carbon emissions, making the roads safer and reducing congestion. In these areas boroughs face very different challenges, so making improvement an important additional measure of success.



Labour Councillor Lorna Campbell, Cabinet Member for Environment welcomed the recognition shown by the league table saying “This is good news for Lambeth and reflects the importance we have placed on helping people be more environmentally friendly as part of their day to day lives. We have been improving and extending recycling facilities, incentivising people to use their cars less and other forms of transport more, and helping residents save on energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient through our ‘Green Doctors’ scheme. Our ‘Green Community Champions’ scheme is also recognised across London, and now has hundreds of members who are working to make their local areas more sustainable by setting up food growing projects and other council supported schemes.”

Lambeth Recycle Week 21 - 27 June 2010

Monday 21 - Sunday 27 June is Recycle Week in Lambeth and this year the week is focussing on the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment. Lots of electrical equipment from electric toothbrushes to toasters, hair straighteners to remote controls can be reused or recycled rather than thrown away. Lambeth have set up collection points in schools to encourage school students to recycle and reuse electircal items.

There will also be a special recycling event on Saturday 26 June in Windrudh Square, central Brixton 11am-4pm. This will see a give and take stall in the square. Bring your unwanted small electrical and electronic items down to the stall between 11am to 1pm and take any items away between 2 to 4pm. All items will be professionally inspected and electrically tested for safety.

Further information on the Recycle Week page on the Lambeth website and the Recycle Now website

Friends of Slade Gardens AGM next Wednesday: 23 June 2010

The Friends of Slade Gardens will be holding their Annual General Meeting next Wednesday, 23 June 2010, at 7:30pm. The AGM will be held in St Michael's Church Hall, between Stockwell Park Road and Stockwell Park Crescent, SW9.

As previously reported on Vassall View the Friends have exciting plans for the park so this is a great opportunity to find out about developments and get involved.

Lambeth are working with the Friends to completely regenerate the park. Plans include new playgrounds, sports pitches, a fitness trail, a café, toilets, new planting and trees and a new community building.

For more information see the Friends of Slade Gardens website

Myatt's Field North planning application passed

At the Lambeth Council Planning Committee on Wednesday night the planning application for the regeneration of the Myatts Field's North (previously highlighted on Vassall View) was passed - work is expected to start later this year.

Vassall Councillor Kingsley Abrams commented "This decision is great news for residents of Myatts North as it brings the regeneration of the estate one step closer. I look forward to the work starting shortly."

8 July 2010 Edited to add: Lambeth have produced a press release highlighting the scheme: £114m housing scheme gets the go ahead

Community Payback scheme brings flower beds to Paulet Road

Residents of Paulet Road in Vassall Ward, Lambeth SE5 will shortly benefit from a blooming street thanks to participants in the Community Payback scheme which puts offenders to work to improve the community. Several new flowerbeds have been installed ready for planting - it is hoped also that the flowerbeds will reduce dumping of

Community Payback is run by the London Probation Trust in partnership with the Metropolitan Police to use the work of offenders to imrpove the local environment. Further information is available on the London Probation trust website.

Myatts Fields Park Summer Fair this Saturday

Come to Myatt's Fields Park in Vassall Ward this Saturday for the Myatt's Fields Park Summer Fair




Plus on Sunday: the Myatts Fields Tea Dance
Come to the Myatt's Fields Tea Dance on Sunday at the bandstand in Myatt's Fields Park, SE5. The event is put on by Ragroof Theatre and featires Ida Barr's Mash Up, it will take place from 2 - 5:30pm on Sunday 20 June 2010.

A glorious afternoon of tea, dancing, music and rap. for more information see the Home Live Art website or contact laura@homeliveart.com

Myatts Field North regeneration planning application to be considered by Council on Wednesday

The plans for the regeneration of the Myatts Field North estate in Vassall Ward (details of which were previously highlighted on Vassall View) will be considred by the Lambeth Council Planning Committee at its meeting on Wednesday. The Councillors will consider the original plans together with the consultation responses that have been made to the proposals by local residents before making a decision on whether to proceed with the regeneration.

Read a summary of the responses and background information on the plans on the Lambeth Planning Committee webspage

If the planning application is passed the regeneration of Myatts Field North is likely to start later this year.

Nominations open for Carer of the Year award

This coming week is National Carers Week when the efforts of carers are recognised and celbrated. It is is estianted that over 18,500 people across Lambeth devote their time and energy to looking after a friend, family member or loved one as carers.

These unpaid volunteers contribute the equivalent of around £268 million each year in unpaid care. Lambeth’s carers come from all backgrounds and include young and old alike. Many work part-time and spend the rest of their time as a carer. For others caring is a full-time occupation.

The theme of this year's carers' week is A Life of My Own. The council will be running a series of events that reflect this theme including special pampering days running alongside information and advice events.

As well as the events running during National Carers' Week Lambeth offers ongoing support throughout the year for carers. From weekends away to help and advice on coping with stress, carers are encouraged to make the most of the services that are available. The latest addition to the support network is the Lambeth Carers' Hub. It is a voluntary organisation that gets its funding from the council and NHS Lambeth and is designed to help carers avoid becoming isolated.

Lambeth Carers Week also sees the opening this year's carers award nominations. This award is to help celebrate the fantastic and selfless contribution carers make to improving the lives of others. Nominations are invited from all over Lambeth and help is needed to identify these unsung heroes.

The Carer of the Year Award will recognise the unpaid carer whose efforts in providing care to someone else are, in the opinion of the judges, particularly exceptional and deserving of special recognition. If you know of someone who cares for a family member, friend or neighbour and deserve some recognition, please nominate them for the award - you can get a nomination form by either phoning 020 7926 4626, emailing carersawards@lambeth.gov.uk or writing to Lambeth Carers' Awards, 3rd Floor Phoenix House, 10 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 2LL. See the website www.lambeth.gov.uk/carers for further details. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday 30 July 2010.

Brazilian music in the bandstand in Myatt's Fields Park this Sunday

Everyone is welcome to come and hear Brazilian band Maracatu Estrela do Norte this Sunday playing in the bandstand at Myatt's Fields Park in Vassall Ward.

The London based band plays Maracatu de Baque Virado, a vibrant style of music that dates back hundreds of years and is rooted in Afro-Brazilian culture. Further information on the band's website

The band will be performing in the bandstand from 2pm on Sunday afternoon. The park's cafe will also be open serving hot and cold drinks and home made cakes from 2-5 on Sunday afternoon.

Celebrate Portugal Day this Sunday in Kennington Park

Everyone is invited to a celebration of Portugal's national day this Sunday in Kennington park, SE11.

The day will see Portuguese food and drink served in the park along with Portuguese music and dancing. Everything starts at 11am and will carry on into the early evening

Lambeth has the biggest population of Portugese origin in the UK with an estimated 25,000-30,000 people mainly concentrated in the North of the borough around Stockwell. Everyone is welcome to come to this fun filled event.

£50 vouchers for lone parents in Lambeth who find work

If you are a lone parent who has recently found work you could be in for a reward. Lambeth are offering all lone parents in the borough a £50 voucher.

Details are on the Lambeth website:

If you are a lone parent living in Lambeth who has been successful in gaining employment between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2010 then you could be entitled to a £50 voucher.

If this is the case and you can provide evidence to support your employment then we want to hear from you!
How do you qualify?

You would need to:

* have started work between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2010
* have worked for more than 16 hours a week for a minimum of 13 weeks.
* have evidence of your employment
* be a Lambeth resident.

Evidence required

We need evidence which shows that you:

* are a lone parent
* live at an address in Lambeth
* have at least one dependent aged under 16.

Evidence of employment can come in the form of payslips, or a letter from your employer as long as it is signed and stamped (or on company stationary) confirming employment of 13 weeks. If you were on a training programme, please contact your provider for advice.

If you think you qualify, contact Lorna Burley on 0207 926 3338 or email lburley@lambeth.gov.uk.

Vassall Ward Labour Councillors surgery details

Vassall Ward's Labour Councillors are available for local residents to contact at any time.

To contact Councillor Kingsley Abrams phone 020 72741257 or email kabrams@lambeth.gov.uk.
To contact Councillor Adrian Garden phone 0781 4568084 or email agarden@lambeth.gov.uk.

Adrian and Kingsley run regular surgeries at various locations in Vassall Ward: call in to raise any problems that you are having with any Council services. In an emergency phone Adrian or Kingsley for immediate help.







Councillor Kingsley Abrams' surgeries
Third Saturday of the month: 2-3pm, Myatts Fields North Tenant Management Office boardroom, 40-41 Foxley Square, SW9 (See map).
Fourth Saturday of the month: 10-11am, Mostyn Road Methodist Church, SW9 (See map).

Councillor Adrian Garden's surgeries
First Tuesday of the Month: 6.30-7.30pm, The Holland Room, Christ Church, Brixton Road (See map).
Third Thursday of the month: 6.30-7.30pm, the Annex at Cowley Estate, 147 Brixton Road, SW9 (See map).

Enter the 2010 Lambeth estates in bloom competition

Tenants and leaseholders across Lambeth are being encouraged to get growing and enter the 10th annual Estates in Bloom competition.

In 2009 more than 100 people entered the competition and showcased their efforts which transformed Lambeth with colourful blooms and green arrangements brightening up estate gardens and open spaces.

With a wide range of categories, gardeners are able to display an array of skills from domestic paved or grassed gardens to community gardens. There’s even a category for young gardeners.

Further information and entry forms are available on the Lambeth Living website. The closing date for entries is 23 July 2010.