1. art and entertainment
2. theatre

On Your Doorstep - Part One
PAge 8
RESTRICTED: Kilburn SA
Eat yourself healthy this winter
PAGE 14
crime hotspots revealed
PAge 6
ual categories of ASB that were recorded by Brent Council
ns of ASB incidents. ASB incidents recorded by BHP were
ISSUE 27 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2014
www.skpartnership.net
Welcome
News
I feel really fortunate to live in an area
which until recently has been one of London’s best kept secrets. So what makes
South Kilburn such a great place? Apart
from its desirable location, it scores high
in the following areas:
2
Welcome
3
News
NEWS
4
Regeneration update
COMMUNITY HELP NEEDED
Sociability – there is a real community
vibe. People are friendly, welcoming,
diverse and neighbourly.
5
Hoops for the future
6
Crime Update
Opportunities – these are varied and for
all ages, whether in the form of an event,
club or course. There are also initiatives
to support employment, enterprise and
entrepreneurship.
8
On your doorstep
10
Community
12
Enterprise & employment
14
Health & Well-being
15
Money Advice
16
Events Listings
Accessible – the area has amazing transport links, with essential amenities and
green spaces all within walking distance.
Linett Kamala, Vice Chair
South Kilburn Trust
Image – as well as many beautiful historical buildings, regeneration is seeing
the development of new high tech homes, as well as plans for a new urban
park.
SOUTH Kilburn’s Community Organisers
need local people to get involved with a
series of new projects including a home
work club and parenting classes.
A newsletter with details of more than 10
new initiatives will be arriving through letter
boxes in November and December. Anyone
able to donate time or skills to helping
should contact Harry on 07929337036.
Mark Allan, Chief Executive, South Kilburn Trust receiving sponsorship
cheque from Richard Hawes, Bouygues UK
SOUTH Kilburn’s month-long summer
festival programme has been hailed a
success - as Winter Festival preparations
get under way.
You will find in this edition of Connect SK that there are now even more ways to
get involved. This could be by coming up with an idea for a new project, volunteering or simply striving to live a healthier lifestyle.
With so much development going on as part of the £600 million regeneration,
it is hoped that more people will be inspired to consider a career in construction or the built environment.
The South Kilburn Trust, working together with the police and council are determined to make the area even safer. On pages 6 & 7 there is information on the
crime hotspots, advice on how to stay safe and what can be done to improve
the situation.
Our Winter Festival is sure to be a highlight of the season with lots of activities
taking place in various locations across South Kilburn - hope to see you there!
SKOPP new venue
Editor, Mark Allan
Publisher, Caren Owen
Head of Content, Daniel Evans
Design, Dan Rolfe Johnson
Photographer, Kit Oates
Email: hello@southkilburntrust.org
Tel: 020 7328 1199
South Kilburn Trust
Carlton Hall
Canterbury Terrace
Kilburn NW6 5DX
Connect SK Issue Issue 27 Nov-Dec
South Kilburn
Winter Festival
Festival gatherings, markets, events and holiday clubs
across South Kilburn
Launch event in Peel Precinct and lanterns procession
on 5th December
To find out more email
hello@southkilburnstudios.org
Sponsored by
Produced by Can Can Productions on behalf of South
Kilburn Trust (the Trust). We reserve the right to use
any photographs that have been taken at the Trust
events, meetings and projects for the Trust marketing
and publicity purposes. The editor reserves the right to
amend or shorten articles at her discretion.
The Editor of Connect SK and South Kilburn Trust will
aim to ensure that information printed in Connect SK
is correct at time of going to press. However, The Editor
cannot take responsibility for information contained in
articles provided by third parties.
Please connect with us and our
ambassadors online through our
social media outlets:
Twitter:
@ SKTrustNW6
Facebook: SouthKilburnNW6
CONNECT SK | Issue 27 | Nov - Dec 2014
2
SOUTH KILBURN FESTIVALS
The South Kilburn Older People’s
Project has now relocated and found
a new home at the Carlton Hall in
Canterbury Terrace.
It meets every Monday with people
arriving at 10.30-11am and staying until
around 2. Activities include keep fit,
bingo, art and lunch.
BACES relaunches as START
BACES at the Carlton Centre, Carlton
Vale has rebranded as START with a
clear focus on supporting anyone who
wants to gain employment or start
their own businesses. Their community
learning programme will continue to run
alongside it.
Brent Start is for anyone who wants to
learn new skills, to help them get into
employment, find a better job or improve
themselves. There is a wide choice of
courses, many of which lead to nationally
recognised qualifications. START offer a
range of high quality vocational training
in areas such as accounting, IT, business
administration, health and social care,
working with children, and hair and beauty,
with most courses leading to nationally
recognised qualifications.
More than 1,000 people enjoyed the
opening celebration for the summer event funded by the South Kilburn Trust - despite
showery weather.
talent on stage was really impressive. The
whole month went brilliantly,” said Festival
Manager Caren Owen. Other highlights of
the Summer Festival included the Rainbow
Playscheme, Tabot ‘Potential’ Holiday Club,
the Creative Skills Summer programme
at South Kilburn Studios and a trip to the
beach by local elders.
Highlights included the return of the
Bellingdon animal farm and the big pirate
ship, an outside broadcast from Kilburn to
Kensal Radio, performances from South
Kilburn’s own Vybz Nite and Tabot dancers
alongside sets from acclaimed spoken word
artist and rapper Akala, plus headline act Tru
Xperience.
Plans are now under way for the South
Kilburn Winter Festival which will include
a Christmas Lights switch on event on
December 5 in Peel Precinct. Lantern
workshops for this will take place with local
groups beforehand. The Winter Festival will
promote and include everything happening
locally throughout December.
“It’s always great to see people of all ages
out for the day having fun and the local
YOUTH GROUP AWARD HOPE
YOUTH group Mosaic has been
shortlisted for an Ultimate Planet award.
Mosaic Youth meets on Wednesday evening
between 6.30 and 9pm.
For further details contact: 07931 336 668.
The group, for young lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender people, was nominated in
the Youth Group of the year category.
The winner for this award, Stonewall
Housing, was announced on November 2
in an awards ceremony hosted by PlanetLondon.com, the online guide to the
LGBT scene.
Mosaic Centre Manager Lukasz Konieczka
(pictured) said: “We are all thrilled to be
nominated and shortlisted for Planet
London Ultimate Youth Group of the Year
Award - it shows that young people really
appreciate the work we do and the impact it
has on their lives.”
Mosaic Youth - which offers advice,
mentoring and support against bullying and
homophobia among its services - is one of
150 nominees across 37 categories.
3
Regeneration Update
Jobs
REGENERATION UPDATE
Gloucester House and
Durham Court
PLANNING permission has been granted
for the redevelopment of Gloucester House
and Durham Court, as part of Phase 2b of
the South Kilburn regeneration programme.
The redevelopment will deliver 236 new
homes (of which 102 are affordable and for
existing secure tenants of South Kilburn and
134 for private sale), an energy centre for
the South Kilburn Neighbourhood Heating
System, replacement play space, associated
landscaping, general public amenity space
and car parking.
Site 11b
BOUYGUES Development and the London
Borough of Brent have announced that
Marks & Spencer has taken the ground-floor
retail space at Queen’s Park Place, the site of
the former British Legion and Albert Road
Day Care Centre.
The redevelopment will deliver 116
homes for private sale in partnership with
Londonewcastle, and 28 affordable homes
for existing secure tenants of South Kilburn
that London Quadrant Housing will manage.
On completion of the scheme in 2016, Marks
& Spencer will open the 5,000 sqft retail
unit as a Simply Food store, offering a wide
range of delicious food from its popular
ranges including Count On Us, Fuller For
Longer and Classic.
Wood House Urban Park
THE Council aims to deliver a high quality
urban park called ‘Wood House Urban
Park’, located on Albert Road/Rupert Road,
South Kilburn.
The new park will include an innovative
play environment for 5 to 11 year olds,
which will have a simple setting of robust
trees and natural materials that is easily
accessible to many local children.
The park will also include a route linking
Albert Road to Denmark Road and planting
that will contribute significantly to the
wider attractiveness and landscape value
of the local area.
The Council has appointed Erect
Architecture, who designed the Adventure
4
Playground at Kilburn Grange Park, to
develop design in consultation with local
residents.
Working in partnership with South Kilburn
Trust, the Council will create a dedicated
group called the ‘Friends of Woodhouse
Urban Park’ who will help design the new
park and have a say on how the park will be
managed and maintained. The first meeting
of the ‘Friends of Wood House Urban Park’
was held on Monday September 22, 2014.
For further information or to join the
group please email marie.frederick@
brent.gov.uk call 020 8937 1612 or
visit the website www.brent.gov.uk/
southkilburn
Cllr Margaret McLennan, Lead Member for
Regeneration and Housing at the London
Borough of Brent, said: “The arrival of M&S
at Queen’s Park Place is fantastic news for
South Kilburn. We’re investing heavily in
the regeneration of South Kilburn with
lots of new homes being built and we’re
thrilled that blue-chip businesses want to
open branches here. The store opening will
bring job opportunities for local residents.
Working with Bouygues Development and
Londonewcastle, we are making this part
of Brent an exceptionally attractive place to
live and work. M&S’s quality retail offering,
together with the high standard of the new
homes being delivered here, will add to the
growing appeal of the area.”
BRENT Council, in partnership with the
South Kilburn Trust organised a bus
tour to two new, exciting parks in East
London (Three Mills Park and Tumbling
Bay Playground in the Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park) to provide inspiration for
the design of Wood House Urban Park on
Saturday 25th October.
The Council will be holding a wide range
of workshops and consultation sessions
over the coming months, starting on
Thursday 13th November 2014, 4.30-7pm
at the Carlton Hall, Canterbury Terrace,
NW6 5DX, to engage local residents in
the project and help shape the design
of the park that will be enjoyed by the
local community.
JORDAN’S BIG HOOPS FOR FUTURE
THE shiny main court of Charteris Sports Centre is echoing with thudding basketballs and
squeaking trainers.
Seventeen sport-hungry teenagers are
honing their skills - duelling one-on-one,
bamboozling each other with intricate play.
Jordan himself discovered the rewards of
the sport through his old school, Preston
Manor High in Wembley.
It’s clear they’re in their element – all under
the watchful eye of Former Team GB forward
Julius Joseph, head coach of the Kilburn
Kings through a programme called Reach
and Teach.
He recalled: “It was the first time I had
been involved in a professionally coached
basketball session – it was really fun and
best of all I got an award for being the
hardest worker. That award made a big
difference - it inspired me.”
But today the focus is not on 6’4” Julius, but
rather 19-year-old Brent resident Jordan
Condison; one of three locals to earn
coaching badges under a scheme run by the
London School of Basketball.
“Before I found basketball, I wasn’t sure
where I was going or what I wanted to do,”
said Jordan.
“The coaches here told me about the
possibility of working towards qualifications
of my own. It’s something I want to do fulltime once I give up playing.”
For now, Jordan is helping the Kilburn Kings
put out two teams – under-14s and under16s – to compete in London’s Community
Basketball League.
Many of the youngsters were new to the
game when South Kilburn’s regeneration
partners - Catalyst Housing, L&Q, Genesis,
Brent Housing, Brent Ward Working and the
South Kilburn Trust – started the project
in 2013.
Jordan said: “Training gives the players
structure and discipline. They are so
enthusiastic. There are lots of teenagers on
the streets especially with the youth clubs
closing down. This gives them something to
look forward to.”
Basketball has taught Jordan more than just
the game.
He added: “Over the last three to four years,
it’s helped me develop both my basketball
skills and my life skills; things like being on
time and being organised. It taught me to
work hard at school and on the basketball
court.”
Now, Jordan is building up the 25 hours’
voluntary coaching required to clinch
his England Level 2 Basketball Coaching
qualification.
“it’s helped me develop
both my basketball
skills and my life skills.
It taught me to work
hard at school and on
the basketball court.”
“I went to do a week-long coaching course
with the London Basketball Association
(LBA) in Lewisham. We did a lot of one-toone work teaching me how to interact with
players of different ages and abilities on the
court. It showed me how to be professional.”
Charteris Sports Centre on Charteris
Road, NW6 7ET, is open from 6pm
week days and 10am weekends.
The gym is open daily. Here is a small
selection of other classes:
All classes take place in the evening.
Mon:
6:15 - 7:15 Circuit Training (with Moreece)
6:00 - 7:00 Martial Arts (Children)
7:30 - 8:45 Integral Hatha Yoga
Tues:
6:00 - 7:00 Junior Basketball (u-18s)
7:30 - 8:30 Zumba
Weds:
6:00 - 8:00 Queens Park Sharks football
(kids)
6:30 - 9:30 Adult ballet
8:00 - 10:00 Basketball (Club)
Thurs:
7:00 - 8:00 Boxercise with Moreece
8:00 - 9:15 Pilates
7:00 - 10:00 Aikido
Fri:
6:00 - 10:00 Gym
6:15 - 8:15 Over 50s' fitness and exercise
class (Free)
Bookings on 07984 579011
5
Crime Update
Crime Update
CAUGHT
MAPPING
KILBURN’s CRIME
Violent Crime
RESTRICTED: Kilburn SA
RESTRICTED:
Kilburn SA
Figure 3.12. from
Change invehicles
theft from vehicles in Kilburn ward, January 2012
– December 2013
Theft
Robbery
from
a person
Primary hotspot (and % of
The Kilburn High Road and
crime in each area):
roads off the High Road,
 Torbay Road area (43%)
including the area around
The streets around the
Kilburn Park station was the
Torbay
Road
area
main robbery hotspot (see
predominantly
contain
Figure 3.15).
This hotspot
terraced housing with very
accounted for 63% of little
all off-road parking - almost
all vehicle owners have to
robbery from the person park
in their vehicles on the
Kilburn.
street.
Kilburn High Road
Figure 3.9. Hotspots of violence against the
person in Kilburn, highlighting the Kilburn
High Road as the most problematic area.
The academic from University College
London’s Jill Dando Institute of Crime
Science told how Kilburn High Road
was the area’s big generator of
illegal behaviour – with people and
businesses in the night-time economy
at particular risk.
box and leave it open
to show it holds
nothing of noisy neighbour incidents (19 incidents in 2013) and loitering
geographic
distribution
of value.
incidents (34 incidents in 2013) recorded by BHP Wardens. These maps show that within the
Loud
Music
(a) Criminal damage
Figure 3.17. Hotspots in Kilburn for (a) criminal
damage, (b) theft from the person and (c) ASB
incidents of loud music recorded by BHP wardens
Primary hotspots (and % of crime
in each area, compared to the whole
ward):
 Priory Park Road (27%)
 Brondesbury Road (22%)
These two areas contain a mix of
terrace houses, semi-detached and
detached town houses.
damage of another person’s
property - accounted for about
14% of all crime in Kilburn last
year. The area between Kilburn
High Road and Priory Park
Road was a particular hotspot.
(b) Theft from the person
Figure 3.10. Change in burglary dwelling in Kilburn ward, January 2012 – December 2013
University College London 2014
Criminal damage – the
Kilburn ward the largest density of incidents for noisy neighbours and loitering that were unlawful destruction or
recorded by BHP Wardens were in the south Kilburn area.
RESTRICTED: Kilburn SA
Burglary from a home
Now, in extracts from his 45-page report,
he reveals the hot-spots and hot-times for
crime and anti-social behaviour on the
Brent side of Kilburn Ward between January
2012 and December 2013.
CRIME PREVENTION TIP:
Be discreet with your belongings;
displaying expensive jewellery
or electronic devices, like mobile
phones or cameras, could attract
unwanted attention.
B. Acquisitive
crime
Half
of recorded
violent crimes – any
Burglary from a dwelling
The area around Torbay Road off
which
uses
or
threatens
force
upon albeit small, reduction over the last two years (see
Burglary dwelling has seen a
consistent,
Willesden Lane accounted for 43% of
3.10.
The two
primary
hotspots
aFigure
victim
- across
Kilburn
took
placein Kilburn were in the areas around Priory Park Road
and Brondesbury Road (see Figure 3.11). These two hotspots accounted vehicle
for a halfcrime
of all with approximately 11
between
Kilburn in
High
Road Station and
domestic burglaries
Kilburn.
incidences
aLondon
month.
University College
2014
21
Brondesbury Station. There was a total
average of approximately 27 per month,
too few cases
CRIME PREVENTIONThere
TIP: Ifwere
at all possible,
leave of individual categories of ASB that were recorded by Brent Council
to determine any geographic patterns of ASB incidents. ASB incidents recorded by BHP were
50% of which happened between 8pm
nothing on view – it can take just 10 seconds for
large enough in volume to examine the distribution of ASB incidents across the
Kilburn area. Kilburn SA
RESTRICTED:
and 5am.
a thief to steal from your
Empty
your
Criminal
The car.
main
types
of glove
ASB recorded by
BHP relateddamage
to noise and loitering. Figure 3.16 shows the
CRIME PREVENTION TIP: Try to stay away from
places that are dark and empty. Have your house
keys close to hand – especially at night – so you
can get into your home quickly.
And Mr Chainey – whose successful
work with police services across the UK
has seen him compared to TV’s criminalprofiler Cracker - believes South Kilburn’s
regeneration will bring change for
the better.
3.13. Hotspots of theft
Half of the robbery offences Figure
in vehicles
from
in Kilburn.
the Kilburn High Road hotspot
were committed during hours
associated with the NTE.
Figure 3.15. Hotspots of
RESTRICTED: Kilburn SA
robbery from the
person in
Kilburn.
HOTSPOTS REVEAleD
IN our last edition, Connect SK revealed how crime-mapping
expert Spencer Chainey was working with the police and council
to create a master plan for a safer Kilburn.
More than 60% of robberies
happened on or near Kilburn
High Road, with half occurring
between 8pm and 5am. Areas
close to Kilburn Park Station
Tube saw the most offences.
Overall, there was an average
of about six a month - with half
committed after dark.
CRIME PREVENTION TIP: Start up
a Neighbourhood Watch scheme
to discourage perpetrators from
carrying out criminal damage in
your area.
Visit www.ourwatch.org.uk for
details on how to get involved.
19
Real-life ‘Cracker’ Spencer Chainey
23
University College London 2014
What is the Jill Dando
Institute of Security and
Crime Science?
JOURNALIST and TV presenter Jill Dando
was a household name in 1999 when she
was shot dead on her Fulham doorstep
in one of Britain’s most shocking
unsolved murders.
In tribute, her fiancé Alan Farthing and
former Crimewatch co-star Nick Ross
founded the Jill Dando Institute of Crime
Science at University College London
in 2001.
It’s the world’s first
institute devoted
to Crime Science
and works with
UCL’s expert
departments and
research groups
to find new ways
to cut crime and
promote public
safety.
(c) Loud music
The report shows a small rise in
domestic burglaries – averaging around
eight a month - with two hotspots
emerging. The areas around Priory Park
Road and Brondesbury Road accounted
for half of all incidents across Kilburn.
HANDLING ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR: Brent
council can issue ‘noise abatement’ orders to
tell a person to turn it out down or face a fine
of up to £5,000. Call 020 8937 5252 daytime
or 020 8937 1234 out of hours for help.
CRIME PREVENTION TIP: Fit your front door
with a 5-lever mortice deadlock and ensure the
frame is strong. Consider fitting London bars.
Priory Park area
Figure 3.11. Hotspots of burglary dwelling in Kilburn.
6
Brondesbury Road area
There were 22 cases of loud music
University College London 2014
reported to wardens of the Brent
Housing Partnership during 2013 in
Kilburn Ward. South Kilburn was a
particular focal point.
Priory Park area
Theft from motor vehicles
Trends in theft from motor vehicles showed little change during 2013 following a short periodic
increase and high levels between June – September 2012 (see Figure 3.12). The main
hotspot for theft from vehicles was around the Torbay Road area – this area contributed to just
(a) Criminal damage
(b) Theft from the person
25
Figure 3.17. Hotspots in Kilburn for (a) cri
damage, (b) theft from the person and (c)
incidents of loud music recorded by BHP war
Do you have information
about a crime?
Call Crimestoppers in confidence on
0800 555 111
7
ON YOUR
DOORSTEP
The South Kilburn Trust is a charity with the community’s
interests at heart – quite simply, it is the reason we exist.
2014 has been a time of great change for the area. Regeneration has
been forging on apace, and we’re all getting used to the new faces of
South Kilburn.
Of course, such physical changes leave a lasting imprint on the people
who live here, and over the last year we have been listening carefully to
their needs.
In January we asked people to have their say on what they loved and would
like to change about their neighbourhood. Hundreds of people responded to
our questionnaire and their voices have moulded the work we do.
Here we reflect on what we’re doing – and if you think we
should be doing more, let us know!
Could your local project benefit from a grant of up to £2,000 towards running costs?
These ones already have:
We are still accepting applications.
South Kilburn Football Club
SKFC – or, as it’s known by fans, The South
– competes in the Middlesex County League
and plays at the 3,000-capacity Vale
Farm Sports Centre in Wembley. For more
information visit: www.pitchero.com/clubs/
southkilburnfc
RAINBOW CLUB, ST MARY’S
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Summer holiday scheme for children aged
four-11, offering specialised support where
families have experienced divorce, loss or
grief.
8
SK Saturday Street Dance Club,
Tabot Centre
This weekly club for children aged 4 to
12 teaches different styles of street dance.
Youngsters learn teamwork and discipline
through their routines and confidence
through performing them publicly. For more
information visit: www.tabot.co.uk
South Kilburn Older
People’s Project
SKOPP has been running since 1998,
providing activities, meals, socialising and
health events for older people and their
families in the area. The group now runs at
Carlton Hall every Monday.
CHOIR
South Kilburn Intergenerational
choir is an exciting work in
progress that’s soon to benefit
from its own dedicated choir
mistress.
From November, Koulla
Constantinou will be leading
rehearsals as the choir prepares
to enter a national competition
next year.
“We’re looking for singers of
all ages and abilities to get
involved,” said Koulla.
“The choir is a fabulous fun
opportunity to meet new people
and develop your vocal skills.”
The choir meets every
Wednesday at Carlton Hall,
Canterbury Terrace, from 6pm.
HEALTH:
When we spoke to residents
in February as part of our
business plan consultation you
told us you wanted more advice
and workshops on health and
wellbeing. We’ve responded
to that by running activities
throughout SK on a wide range
of health issues including
diabetes, mental illness and
cancer support and we will be
doing more next year.
SOUTHKILBURNNW6.
LONDON
Our new website will go live in
November and is the new hub
for community information in
South Kilburn. It will be the go-to
resource for those in the know
with a monthly what’s on guide
and connections to all your local
services.
FESTIVALS:
Lots of people tell us they want
to see South Kilburn enjoying
itself. That’s why every summer
and winter we hold a festival for
local people. This summer there
was a month-long programme
of events and activities across
South Kilburn. Highlights
included the Festival Opening
Celebration, summer play
scheme at St. Mary’s School,
a performance by influential
poet, rapper and songwriter,
Akala, outdoor broadcasts from
K2K Radio and the brilliant
Bellingdon Animal Farm. We’re
now looking forward to the
winter event which will include
lanterns workshops, holiday
clubs, festive gatherings and the
switching on of the Christmas
lights at the Peel Precinct on
December 5.
SMALL GRANTS:
South Kilburn Trust has awarded
small grants to 12 local groups
and organisations.
We financed a new bingo
machine for the South Kilburn
Older People’s Project (SKOPP),
and a fun day at St Mary’s
school. Other beneficiaries
include the Granville Kitchen
project, the London Design
Festival, and the Tin Tabernacle.
YOUTH
We’re engaging with the young
people of South Kilburn in
different ways. In the summer,
we held a barbecue for more
than 50 who had a chance
to tell us how they feel about
their neighbourhood and
what kind of environment they
want to live in. We’re hosting
a Youth Question Time with
local prospective Parliamentary
candidates in the new year, and
we’re presently applying for
planning permission to build an
outdoor gym in Carlton Vale.
CONNECT SK:
You’ve told us you enjoy Connect
SK magazine and we’ve spent
the last year trying to serve
our readers by making it an
entertaining source of news,
views and features alongside
information about the big local
issues. We’re looking forward
to bringing you a fresh new
look in 2015 too - along with
chances for the community to
get involved with its production.
COMMUNITY GARDEN:
The garden at Carlton Hall had
two magnificent late-blooming
sunflowers as Connect SK went
to print. Green fingered local
people have also been growing
food for a Halloween harvest
meal at the Carlton Centre’s
Concord Cafe. Community
garden leader George Allawi
said: “It’s been massively
rewarding to see people
enjoying getting their hands
dirty and reaping the rewards.”
SOUTH KILBURN STUDIOS
The Trust became the main
funder for the studios in
April 2014. We have been
supporting the project to ensure
that the residents of South
Kilburn directly benefit and to
increase the likelihood of a
long term future for the project.
The studios provide workspace
for creative businesses and
trainees and a free programme
of workshops and events. It is
available for local non-tenants
to use for their own projects
and community events. We are
very keen to see South Kilburn
residents make the most of the
opportunities available.
www.southkilburnNW6.london
hello@southkilburntrust.org
SouthKilburnNW6
SKTrustNW6
9
Community
Community
EDUCATION ON THE MENU
Q: WHERE is South Kilburn’s newest place to eat and learn about healthy and sustainable food?
A: The Granville Community Kitchen.
More than 60 people turned up for its
launch on September 17 and enjoyed
an autumnal menu of pumpkin...
prepared no fewer than seven ways.
Dee Woods, 48, is the lady behind the
stove with such delicacies as spiced
Pumpkin Bread and Pumpkin Lattes on
the mind.
“Pumpkin in pumpkin pie must always
be roasted never boiled,” she explains
with infectious enthusiasm, holding a
pot of special spices she had sent over
from the Caribbean.
“That way you keep all the sweetness so
there’s no need to add sugar.”
Such a focus on healthy eating goes right
to the heart of the Granville Community
Kitchen project’s ethos.
Dee, who is teaming up with Leslie
Barson, explained: “We’re showing
people how to make good and healthy
food accessible, especially at a time
when there are so many fried chicken
shops and unhealthy sources of food.
“We talk about food waste issues, look
into traditional and cultural skills and
also grow our own, so it’s more of a food
hub than just a café.”
Dee added: “We want to start getting
people interested in food issues and
urban agriculture, so we are starting a
small community garden.
“My dad was a farmer back in Trinidad so
I was brought up with food and land and
agriculture. I’ve always grown my own
and want to pass that learning on. So the
kitchen is also an educational facility.
“We had a group of 12 to 15-year-olds
here learning to make pancakes last
week, so they were developing simple
catering skills.
“If enough people show interest then
we can go down the road of doing Level
2 Hygiene Certificates and maybe more
advanced qualifications.
“We’re doing this because we love to do
things for people, young people, and for
the continuity of the community.”
It’s the first time in five years that the
kitchen in the Granville Centre has been
open and running. For at least 25 years
before that it was Merle’s Diner, whose
famous Caribbean food is still a source of
10
misty-eyed nostalgia for those who ate
there.
The years of neglect means the kitchen
requires some urgent updating,
however. Its big gas range has been
condemned - a new one is needed at a
cost of £3,000 - so Dee and her helpers
are struggling by with three portable
electric rings for cooking for up to 100
people at a time.
Even with a £2,500 grant from the Mayor
of London and the Seeds of Change
organisation with support from the
Plunkett Foundation’s Urban Food
Routes initiative and also the South
Kilburn Trust, the kitchen still needs
urgent funding.
“We are starting small because of
limitations,” said Dee, who is planning
cooking classes, community sharing
days, a weekly food market and
micro enterprise ‘incubator’ to help
people start their own food-related
businesses for the future. “This is just the
beginning,” she added.
Would you like to get involved with the
Granville Community Kitchen project
or could you help fund new cooking
equipment?
Contact Dee on:
07543824439.
Or visit:
www.granvillecommunitykitchen.wordpress.
com/
“We talk about food waste
issues, look into
traditional and cultural
skills and also grow our
own, so it’s more of a food
hub than just a café.”
LOCAL
LEADER
PROFILE
MARK Twain once wrote: “I
have never let my schooling
interfere with my education.”
Those words, more than 100 years on,
might just as easily have come from the lips
of South Kilburn’s Leslie Barson.
For Leslie, 58, is the founder of the
Otherwise Club, a charity that has helped
thousands of parents to educate their
children at home over the last 22 years. “I
began in home education with my own two
children,” said Leslie, a native of New Jersey
brought to Kilburn “by pure luck” aged nine
by her mother in 1964. “I wasted about 13
years feeling unnoticed and unmotivated
at school, but life suddenly became relevant
when my first child was born. For me, raising
people, nurturing the next generation - that
is the essence of life.”
Leslie (pictured right) started a group
project in 1990 so home-educated kids - and
their parents - could meet up and socialise
and get support. Over time it developed
into the Otherwise Club, and moved into the
Granville Centre in 1993.
Today, the club - which has 50 to 60 families
on its books at a time - offers education
based on people’s aptitudes and interests.
Leslie, of Fernhead Road, went on:
“At the moment we are raising money for a
trip to Cuba for the Club’s children aged 14
to 17, so they have a reason to be learning
Spanish and about Cuba. It gives them a real
grounding in the world.”
Growing children : Club
founder Leslie Barson.
The Otherwise Club supports children
through GCSE courses and was once
described as: “A prototype of the kind of
school that educationalists predict will
educate our children in the future.”
“For me, raising people,
nurturing the next
generation - that is the
essence of life.”
Conscious about food :
Dee Woods.
11
Employment & Enterprise
Constructing
new careerS
London is growing – there’s a crane on
every skyline.
Nowhere more so than South Kilburn, where
development of £600million is creating jobs
opportunities for years to come. In this special
employment feature, we speak to construction
exec Tim Porter while Connect SK’s own job
opportunities guru Lauren Bailey tells how you
can lay the foundations of a new career.
Employment & Enterprise
Q&A on the construction industry with
Tim Porter Head Of Regeneration for
Network Housing Group.
Why seek a job in construction?
“Construction is one of the largest sectors of the UK
economy, contributing almost £90 billion every year.
“There are more than 280,000 businesses employing
2.93 million people – about one in 10 jobs.”
What kinds of jobs are there?
“They’re many and varied; everything from masonry to
cladding, carpentry, engineering, electrical, decoration,
ground works, logistics, dry lining, kitchen fitting,
landscaping, interior design and roofing plus lots
more.”
Is it difficult to get a job?
“Right now there is a skills shortage in the industry
so it’s a great time to get involved. There have been
fewer completed apprenticeships in the last three years
and about a fifth of jobs are persistently hard to fill
because employers can’t find the right people with the
right qualifications and experience. Some firms offer
training schemes, so it’s there are good long-term work
opportunities out there.”
Will there be chances to develop my career?
“Yes, hard work is rewarded but, as with everything,
it’s what you make of it. For example, if you start as
an apprentice carpenter on site and complete your
apprenticeship you can go on to be self-employed and
win contracts for yourself. Working through the ranks
to become a site manager can earn you in excess of
£70k p/a.”
So it’s an interesting sector to work in?
“Absolutely. And it’s much more than just bricks and
mortar. There is scope to master a number of disciplines
and learn skills that are in demand both nationally and
internationally.”
Are qualifications important?
For more information on working in the
construction industry visit:
www.citb.co.uk/bconstructive/
www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
“People from a broad range of backgrounds can
succeed in construction, and a skilled and flexible
workforce will be vital to the performance and
competitiveness of the sector in the UK.”
TIME’S flown since my first column in
Connect SK - and it’s been packed with
excitement and inspiration, writes South
Kilburn Trust Employment and Enterprise
Manager Lauren Bailey.
COMPETITION TIME
To win a custommade winter hat
embroidered with
a logo, image or
name of Your choice,
just answer the
following question:
Which local college has recently been
rebranded as START?
a) The Institute
b) BACES
c) College of North West London
Call or text your answer to 0776 9694733
or email hello@southkilburnstudios.org
12
GET HELP UP THE LADDER
TO WORK
I’ve been out and about speaking to lots of people and
getting a better understanding of what is needed in the
area when it comes to jobs and training.
Based on what I’ve been hearing, two new initiatives have
been launched that readers and their friends and families
can use free of charge.
The first is called Love Work Wednesdays, when anyone
can come along to South Kilburn Studios (Canterbury
Road) and use its facilities, even if you just need a desk to
work at and WIFI for the day.
I’m also on hand to give people one-to-one support and
advice on how to kick-start your own business.
The second initiative is called the Job Lounge, which
runs every Tuesday from 10am to 12noon at Carlton Hall,
Canterbury Terrace, and is a chance to find out all about
the local jobs available in the area and get help with CVwriting and interview skills.
As part of that work we’ve been able to fast-track 30 South
Kilburn locals into interviews with high-street giant BHS at
its flagship Oxford Street store.
So there are plenty of great reasons to get involved – if
you want to learn more, drop me a line:
lauren@southkilburntrust.org
www.facebook.com/southkilburnNW6
13
Health and Well-being
WINTER
HEALTH,
NATURALLY
WINTER is coming and with
it all the usual bugs and
sniffles that just love
colder, fresher weather.
Money Advice
Thankfully, protecting you and your family
as we head into the festive season is as easy
as falling off a chocolate log. Here are my
top tips for building winter immunity:
Start with the basics - make a habit of handwashing. Bugs and viruses love cold winter
weather as we tend to huddle together
more making it easy for them to pass from
person to person through touch. Cold air
also tends to dry out the natural defences
in our nasal passages. So limit the chances
of passing on illness by always using a
handkerchief and keeping your hands clean.
Help for
tenants
“Love it or hate it,
Marmite is a great
source of essential
Vitamin B so if you can
bear the brown sticky
stuff keep a pot in the
cupboard.”
THE number of private renters
in Brent has almost doubled
in just 10 years – with tenants
facing an erosion of rights,
according to a support charity.
THE number of private renters in Brent
has almost doubled in just 10 years –
with tenants facing an erosion of rights,
according to a support charity.
Make brightly-coloured fruit and veg
Living in London – especially if you’re
part of your diet every day. Tangerines,
prone to infections or have children in
school where coughs do the rounds so easily kiwi fruit, red peppers, carrots, pumpkin,
tomatoes and leafy greens are all packed
- it’s doubly important to maintain a strong
with immunity-friendly vitamin C.
immune system.
Love it or hate it, Marmite is a great
source of essential Vitamin B so if you can
bear the brown sticky stuff keep a pot in
the cupboard. If not, be sure to include
mushrooms, broccoli, squash, lentils, peas,
kidney beans, cabbage, celery, bananas,
brown rice, oats, eggs and fish in your diet.
The Vitamin B they carry helps the body
produce bug-busting antibodies, while
also supporting your nervous system and
naturally helping combat winter blues.
Eat good fats like those in nuts and seeds
or oils from corn, sunflower, sesame and
olive. Oily fishes such as herring, mackerel
and sardine are wonderful for protecting
cells from damage and supporting your
heart. They also help your body’s first line of
defence – your skin – stay conditioned.
Canned sardines are an excellent
source of calcium and zinc.
As an added bonus,
consumption of these
fats may also reduce
cravings for unhealthy
READERS’
LETTERS
Do you have something to say
about your community?
Email mark@southkilburntrust.org
Note: Connect SK reserves the right edit
letters for length
14
Dear Readers,
I am a Community Organiser working in the
area - you might have met me knocking on
your door. We move around the community
talking with residents to try and run positive
projects in the community.
First things first - my impression of South
Kilburn in the past six months (I am from
near Harrow): It’s nice, man! People are kind
- very few of you have shut the door on my
face. People say hello to each other in the
street - this doesn’t happen where i’m from.
People are proud of their area. People want
more things for children and young adults
to do and go to.
Research by the Advice4Renters group has
revealed more than 30% of homes in the
borough are privately rented compared to
an outer London average of 19%.
And tenants are becoming increasingly
fearful of losing their homes if they
complain about substandard housing
or repair backlogs – despite paying
astronomical rents.
fatty and fried foods.
Eat fermented foods. Every culture has its
favourite – be it kefir, sauerkraut or live
yoghurt – containing live strains of ‘good’
bacteria. These boost your immune system
in myriad ways, helping to fight off the bad
guys and keep you in tip top condition.
Finally, spice up your cooking with garlic,
ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, onions and
chillies. These are nature’s protectors: onions
and garlic are natural anti-virals, chilies,
cinnamon and ginger are naturally warming
and soothing and turmeric is a strong antiinflammatory. Load up on these in your
home cooking and hopefully see your family
through to Spring sniffle-free.
www.antoniamaguire.com
With residents we are starting to run
projects - homework clubs, opening St
Mary’s sports pitch, women’s and men’s
groups, parenting classes, day trips, black
history, community oven, music and
dance classes, campaigning for central
heating control, business planning, IT
courses. Most of these projects are just
starting - we need numbers to make
them work.
Get in touch.
Harry.Bonnell@corganisers.org.uk
07929 337 036.
If you need
advice on dealing
with a bad private
landlord,
Contact Advice4Renters
on 020 7624 4327.
Advice4Renters believes in:
Affordable
Rents should give the landlord a reasonable, not an excessive, return on the
investment.
Benefit levels should be realistic and reflect the actual cost of renting
Private renters should not be penalised by insurance companies, utility
companies, etc.
Decent
Homes should be habitable, safe and comfortable.
Landlords should be required to maintain their properties and to meet
environmental standards such as energy efficiency.
No overcrowding.
Properly Managed
Landlords and tenants should fulfil their mutual rights and responsibilities.
Tenants should be protected from victimisation for asserting their rights.
Advice4Renters Chief Executive Jacky
Peacock said: “For some people, private
renting is a good experience but for others
it’s a real headache.
“Despite tenants having to pay such high
rents, some landlords turn a deaf ear to
requests for repairs.
“Private tenancies don’t offer much security
and many of the private renters we meet
at our Centre worry that their landlord will
ask them to leave if they complain about
anything.”
Now renters can tap into financial and legal
advice through the charity’s Housing Advice
Centre on Willesden Lane near Kilburn High
Road.
Two new Renters Rights Project Workers,
Jag Bhatia and Katherine Wilkinson, are also
going door-to-door to compile evidence
from tenants to campaign for better rights.
Katherine said: “Our job is to listen to as
many local people as possible and to
support individuals or groups who want to
make changes in their local community.”
Jag, whose research from census records
showed the number of private renters in
Brent doubled between 2001 and 2011,
added: “It‘s alarming, nearly a third of
people in Brent now rent from private
landlords – far more than the 19% average
for outer London and more than the total
number of social housing tenants in the
borough.”
15
EVENTS in
SEPTEMBER
Carlton Hall
Canterbury Terrace NW6 5DX
For more info email
hello@southkilburntrust.org Winter Safety Week- 17th-24th Nov. The
Trust will be running activities this week to
help you keep warm and safe in the winter:
Monday 17th at 3pm Older people- staying
healthy and warm in the winter
Wednesday 19th at 3.30pm Keeping safe in
the dark (at Peel Precinct)
Weekly activities
Mondays 10.30am-2pm - SK Older People’s
Project - food, games, chat and fun
South Kilburn Studios
2a Canterbury rd, London NW6 5SW
Every Wednesday 10am-6pm Love Work
Wednesdays hosted by South Kilburn Trust
A co-working space for self employed
people and those just starting out or
running small businesses to come, work and
meet others. Free wifi and refreshments
Nov 5th and Dec 3rd - Photo Social Club
Nov 13th & 27th & Dec 11th & 18th - 7-10pm
- Paintjam
Nov 14th 7-8pm South Kilburn Speaks Easy
radio show - live debate and broadcast on
important issues.
Plus K2K radio social Til late - open invitation
Nov 28th - Documentary Film Screening:
SODIQ made by young Peckham director
Adeyemi Michael followed by a discussion
with the Director and the radio show panel
from South Kilburn Speaks Easy
Tuesdays 10am-12pm - Job Lounge - find out Dec 13th - K2K Christmas ‘Tropical Beats’
about the latest jobs in the local area and
party 6pm onwards
receive support
Please visit the website for up to date info
Wednesdays 6pm - SK Intergenerational
and more events
choir - resumes Nov 12th with new choir
www.southkilburnstudios.org or email
leader
info@southkilburnstudios.org to join our
mailing list
Every Friday 3pm to 5pm - Come and meet
the Community organisers, talk to them
about your ideas of what can be done to
Brent START
improve South Kilburn.
Carlton Centre, Granville rd, London NW6
Show ups
Enterprise
Come and meet the South Kilburn Trust team
Are you a creative individual who would like
and find out what we’re doing
to find out how to sell your work or start a
business? Sign up for this NEW course to
10th Nov 3.30pm, Craic Court
26th Nov 3.30pm Princess Road
3rd Dec 11am, Kilburn Park tube
15th Dec 3.30pm, Mince Pies in Peel Precinct
Enjoy finding out about:
• What the Creative Industries have to
offer
• Local networking and job opportunities
Mosaic - LGBT Youth Group
• What it takes to start a business of your
own
Every Wednesday between 6-9pm
• Your strengths & weaknesses
Age Range: 16-19 Years old
• How to write a basic business plan and
more
For safety reasons no address will be
published, please call for further details.
Contact number: 07931 336 668
Website: www.mosaicyouth.org.uk
Tues & Wed 12.30 – 3pm
4th November to 3rd December 2014
Granville Plus Youth Arts
Centre Granville Rd, London NW6 5RA
Weekly programme:
14th November - 14th December
Mondays: Teen Library / Homework Study:
4-9pm
Taekwondo: 6-8pm
Guitar (Advanced) 5.30-6.30pm (Intermediate) 6.30-7.30pm (Beginners) 7.30-8.30pm
Drumming Lessons (20min private
lessons) 6pm – 9pm
Yoga and Meditation: 8pm – 9pm
Tuesdays: Teen Library / Homework Study:
4pm – 9pm
Street Dance: 6pm – 8pm
Music Jam: 6pm – 9pm
Piano / Keyboard Lessons (20mins private
lessons): 6pm – 9pm
Vocal Training (20min private lessons):
6pm – 9pm
Wednesdays: Soho Theatre Project:
6.30pm – 8.30pm
Fridays: Music Studio Recording Session:
7pm – 9pm
All courses FREE for young people aged 11
– 24 and there’s no registration so you can
turn up and join in!!! (Booking is required for
the individual recording sessions via Email:
tina.ramdeen@brent.gov.uk
Phone: 02089373612 or Text: 07867189706)
South
Kilburn
Winter
Festival
LAUNCH EVENT: FRIDAY
DECEMBER 5TH, PEEL
PRECINCT 3-6PM
Festival gatherings,
markets, events and holiday
clubs across South Kilburn
To find out more email
hello@southkilburnstudios.org
16