RCDT ENEWS/EVENTS LISTING 25 FEBRUARY 2008

From Riverside Community Development Trust, 20 Newburn St, SE11 5PJ. 020 7820 0555. info@rcdt.org. www.rcdt.org

Previous ENews/Events Listings can be seen on www.rcdt.org

This Thursday

KOV Forum. Meeting. 6.30 for 7pm

·                    Project Blake - Details of an Arts project celebrating William Blake's connections with North Lambeth

·                    S 106 planning obligations and local Project Banks (Clive Fraser, from Lambeth Planning Department),

·                    KOV proposed new Constitution.

Papers available from Jacqueline Christie, Area Project Officer, North Lambeth Town Centre Office, 20 Newburn St.   020 7926 8295; jchristie@lambeth.gov.uk

Vauxhall S Post Office closure. Further to the special ENews on 19 February Kate Hoey, MP’s, rejection of the post office closure plan was carried in the Evening Standard that day. In response to receiving the ENews Councillor Robert Banks (Oval Ward) writes: ‘Thanks for this – certainly all Bishops and Oval ward councillors will be opposing the closure.’ Valerie Shawcross (GLA Member) has issued the following statement: ‘I am extremely angry at the proposals to consult on the closure of 14 local Post Offices in Lambeth and Southwark. I recognise the vital role that Post Office plays in the social and economic life of local communities.  I am very worried that at a time when we are seeking to regenerate poorer areas of London that local shopping parades will be hit by the loss of an important local service which attracts shoppers to use their local shops and facilities.  I am particularly concerned that the criteria for access to Post offices has been downgraded in London - previously deprived communities in London had to be within a half mile of a post office.  Now this has been reduced to 1 mile.   I will be making strong representations to Post Office Ltd and I would encourage any one worried about the impact of losing these post offices to do the same. The Assembly's Health and Public Services Committee have studied the impact of the loss of post offices and have concluded that Post office services must be easily accessible to all communities and extra protection is needed to prevent closures of branches in urban deprived areas.  The Assembly also concluded that Post offices should be more ambitious and innovative in the range of services they provide, and in the way they deliver services. I know that the Mayor Ken Livingstone has already made a formal response to Government, calling for a halt to the closure of local Post Offices in the capital and opposing proposals to downgrade current criteria on access to Post Offices. He wants a post office within half a mile of 90 per cent of Londoners but the DTI consultation paper suggests that this minimum distance should be changed to one mile.’

Norman Foster Towers get Lambeth Council’s Plannning Approval.  Lambeth Council’s Planning Applications Committee has given approval to the replacement of Hampton House by three towers between 13 and 27 storeys, comprising a 167-room apart-hotel and 242 new homes.  Councillors have accepted a lower provision (32%) for affordable housing than  planning policies require (40%). London Mayor Ken Livingstone may decide to reject the permission because of this. Tim Boxall, on behalf of Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre and Kennington Association told the Committee that it was wrong to create "vertical gated communities", the developer had failed to consult with residents of the housing estates to the east of the railway line, and that there would be loss of light and light and views for residents. For more details see: http://www.London-SE1.co.uk/news/view/3154. Comment. The meeting of the Kennington, Oval & Vauxhall Forum on Thursday may want to consider supporting any further action VGCC and Kennington Association propose, like making representations to the Mayor and the Secretary of State on the grounds that the scheme is not consistent with planning policies.

Community Safety Pulls Plug on CPCGL Meeting. Simon Harding, Lambeth Council’s Assistant Director (Community Safety )has told the Community/Police Consultative Group for Lambeth that it is withdrawing from public discussion meeting set up for Tuesday 26 February.  "The Strategic Assessment is now completed and a presentation has already been given to the CPCG.   There is therefore no further work required on this exercise.  As the SLP move towards completion of their new Partnership Plan we hope to liaise further." CPCGL has therefore announced that the event is therefore cancelled and ‘we regret any inconvenience caused. We shall endeavor to establish if there is any way at all for a community input into the Partnership Plan and shall keep you informed.’ admin@lambethcpcg.org.uk. 020 7733 0878. www.lambethcpcg.org.uk for details of future events and information resources.

Lambeth Small Grants Available – Closing date 17 March. Are you a small voluntary or community organisation operating in Lambeth, with two or less (full time equivalent) paid workers and an income of less than £20,000? If the answer is yes then you can apply to the LBL Small Grants Programme (administered by LVAC) for a maximum grant award of £800.

The scheme is intended to enable small voluntary and community organisations to become more effective, either internally or in their service delivery. Examples of previously funded activities include: Training for management committee,   Project publicity, Office equipment, Small community projects / events. Deadline for receipt of application is Monday 17 March, 9am. For more details and to apply contact Alvin Kinch, LVAC’s Small Groups’ Officer on 020 7737 9468 (24 hour answer phone service) or e-mail sgo@lambethvac.org.uk. The pack can also be downloaded from www.lambethvac.org.uk . Note: if you have received funding from this programme in the last two years you are not eligible to apply

Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services Conference, Tuesday March 11, Oval Conference Centre, 10am-4pm. Do you know the difference between a  drop-in centre and a needle exchange? What’s dual diagnosis? Confused by the multitude of drug and alcohol organisations in the Borough? This one-day event is a special opportunity for voluntary organisations in Lambeth to find out about the treatment services on offer and to understand what resources and grants are available to help their important work in the community. Organised by Lambeth's Drug & Alcohol Team,  it's a free event with lively workshops, plenty of chance to share stories and experiences, put forward ideas, find out what's available and to network over lunch.  Main speaker is the chief executive of Turning Point, Lord Victor Adebowale. Find out more or book your place from Elaine Dacosta on 020 7926 2903 or by email to edacosta@lambeth.gov.uk. Elaine Dacosta is the Community Engagement Officer with the Drug and Alcohol/Community Safety Team

A to Z. Getting to where you want to be. One-to-one sessions for beginner and intermediate writers who want to take practical steps to move ahead with their writing career. You will have the chance to reflect on your practice, explore your strengths and skills and identify where you want to progress to. In addition, you will develop an action plan to help you overcome obstacles and realize your goals. Each session lasts one hour and 15 minutes. To apply, send a letter explaining why you would like to attend and what you hope to get out of the session, along with your writing CV to abi@spreadtheword.org.uk by Monday 10 March. *Abi Sharma studied at Cambridge University and subsequently worked at Shakepseare’s Globe Theatre. She has been working for Spread the Word since 2006, and co-ordinates their Professional Development programme. Abi has trained in Professional Development Planning with Literature training and Allways Learning and has experience of supporting writers of all genres. The sessions will be held on Fridays 18, 25 April, 10.30am-2.15pm. Spread the Word, 77 Lambeth Walk. £30 / £20 conc.. 020 7735 3111

“Two way contributions – organisations and their volunteers working for children”. On 4 March 2008, NCVCCO are holding a FREE conference to celebrate the contribution of the volunteer workforce with children, young people and families, and promote good practice in better supporting volunteers. There are still some places left at the event so please book now to avoid disappointment. For details and to book contact  National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations (NCVCCO), Jordan Thompson <jordan@ncvcco.org. www.ncvcco.org.  020 7833 3319
 

Friends. New sculpture by Japanese,  London based artist. Opens 6.30 to 8.30 pm Friday 7 March and then will be open Tuesdays to Saturdays 11am-6pm until 12 April. Corvi-Mora gallery, 1a Kempsford Road. 020 7840 9111. www.corvi-mora.com. tabitha@corvi-mora.com

Events for Older persons at the Durning Library, Wednesdays 3 to 4 pm. March 19:  Quiz with a prize for the winner; April 16, Quadrille dancing with Elsa

Issues of Representation. The Government Department for Communities and Local Government has been consulting on ‘Principles of representation:  A  framework for effective third sector participation in Local Strategic Partnerships’. The Development Trusts Association, which RCDT is a member of, has rejected the basis of the consultation. ‘The universal view of community organisations in our membership is that the framework set out by CLG is fundamentally wrong and is a backwards step. It is dishonest to use the term representation in this way. o-one in the community sector can nor should use this term to describe their role, and LSPs and other partnership bodies should never require us to act as representatives. It is an invidious and untenable position, and by definition cannot succeed. We contribute to participative not representative democracy, and perhaps, as Archbishop John Sentamu has suggested, the term ‘connector’ is more honest and useful. Community anchor organisations have a valuable part to play in engaging with LSPs, particularly given CLG’s intention to invest in community anchors as set out in its third sector strategy. The framework fails to address this. We therefore ask CLG to abandon this proposed framework and to start afresh. We have provided an outline, and we would be very happy to work further with CLG on this.’ The detailed submission was drawn up on the basis on the experience of several Development Trusts and workers for them like myself who have had experience of the issues in other capacities.  The full DTA response can be seen on www.dta.org.uk:80/whatsnew/news/lspresp.htm