Entries tagged with “community organisations” from Working For Walthamstow

This Summer I'm seeking volunteers to join a project developed in partnership with the local police, the local McDonalds franchisee Zulfikar and Worth Unlimited, a local youth charity, to help ensure young people in Walthamstow are given the support they need to have a summer full of activities. To support their safe participation in summer activities I'm seeking volunteers to help walk young people to and from a range of activities in the Walthamstow area during the evenings of the summer holidays. Working in partnership with trained youth workers, other volunteers and young organisers for this scheme, those who participate in this scheme will play a key role in helping our local young people access services. They will also have the opportunity to build relations with young people they may not ordinarily get to meet in your local community and help inspire them to achieve their potential through a summer of positive community outreach activities. Throughout this project training and support will be given to all volunteers.

In the first instance this "safe passage" scheme will run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers who take part in this project will be asked to commit to participating for a minimum of four evenings during the course of the six week summer holiday period.  If you are interested in learning more about this project or volunteering through this scheme please contact Ebony Vincent on 020 8520 6586 or email at ebony@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk. I hope you'll be able to join me in helping our local young people stay safe this summer.

I'm honoured to have been elected as the new MP for Walthamstow. I love this area. It's been home to me and my family for over thirteen years. I want to celebrate what happens here - all the people, activities, events that make Walthamstow special to us as residents.

 

I also want to tackle the many challenges we face here - from community cohesion, to gang crime and child poverty. But I'm determined that, together with public services, we can and will resolve these. As our MP I want to support this work, and to be a strong local voice for Walthamstow and the things that matter to us here. I learnt this not least from working closely with Neil Gerrard. Neil has been a fantastic MP for Walthamstow for the last eighteen years, serving the needs of people here from every background and fighting for our public services. It is a tremendous privilege to follow in his footsteps.

 

I don't want to live in a society where a child has to be lucky or privileged to succeed. The kids I work with here in Walthamstow deserve better. And we all benefit when they're given the chances they crave to achieve. I do not seek to address these challenges on my own because if my experience campaigning in this community has taught me one thing, it's this: when we work together, we can achieve more. We can challenge the injustices we see. We can secure the services we need. We can enjoy a better life here together. 

I want to say thank you to everyone who has worked with me in Walthamstow over this last decade for our community - and now as your MP to ask you for your help with the work we need to do next.

 

Whilst the implications of the election are considered at a national level, I want to reassure you that I am focused on working on the local priorities residents have told me matter to them. That's why in the weeks ahead my focus will be on helping our local young people to ensure that they are given opportunities to achieve their potential, working with the Council and businesses to get our cinema and dog track back and bring jobs and investment to Walthamstow and continuing to support our vital local healthcare services; these are just a few of the reasons I stood to be your MP in Walthamstow and I've already started to work on these issues with groups and public services within our area. If you would like to be part of these projects please do get in touch.

 

There will of course be a period of practical transition over the next couple of weeks while we set up a parliamentary and constituency office as well as redesign the features of this website. During this time if you need my help as your local MP you can contact me via email stella@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk or phone on 020 8520 6586.  The Working for Walthamstow e-newsletter will also continue to be distributed each week- so please do get in contact if you would like to receive this. It details where you will find me out and about in Walthamstow if you wish to speak to me - and if you have activities you would like me to include please do get in touch!

 

Thank you once again Walthamstow for your mandate- I'm committed to working for a better future for us all here.

 

We are deeply angered to see London and Quadrant's notice of an application for planning permission hidden in small print on this week's Waltham Forest Guardian on page 25. Despite having repeatedly attempted to talk to them and to see if it would be possible for a deal to be done with those seeking to buy the dog track back, they have not even had the courtesy to let us know of their decision to press ahead with an application directly. This notice gives little detail at present of any substantial community amenity or any consideration of the effects of this development on local transport and schools. We have therefore asked to meet them as a matter of urgency.  We intend to press them to take seriously the offer being made for the site for the benefit of the local community and our local economy. We know Walthamstow needs its dog track back to help kickstart our night time economy and we are pledged as local representatives to lead the fight for this to happen.

Walthamstow is a haven of creative and talented people. If you would like to join in this activity then there are two local community groups currently looking for singers to join in their activities:

Chapel End Savoy Players have been performing the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas in the Walthamstow area for 35 years. Their next production is Iolanthe, which they're performing this May at the Deaton Theatre, Forest School, Snaresbrook. The Group is currently trying to recruit new singers for this production. They rehearse on Tuesday nights at St. John's Church, on the corner of Chingford Road and Brookscroft Road, Walthamstow, E17 5AL. All voices and levels of expertise are welcome, with membership subject to a short audition. If you would like to know more please contact Jackie on 0785 2928287 or email Ian.

I'm concerned to read internet reports mistakenly suggesting that there is a connection between one of our local mosques on Lea Bridge Road here in Walthamstow and Islam4UK. A spokesperson for the Mosque Tariq Mahmood has issued the following statement which I'm reprinting below for public information:

"We want to do everything possible to bring communities together here in Waltham Forest and the UK. We oppose those who want to divide us. I want to confirm that Lea Bridge Road Mosque committee does not have links with Mr Choudrey or Islam4UK, we don't speak for him or Islam4UK and his views are not shared by us".

 

 

 

 

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN  

I write in support of the view that the restoration of Walthamstow Dog Track as a viable commercial enterprise is both possible and desirable, and would be in the best interests of the people of Walthamstow.

For many visitors and tourists the Dog Track defines E17, and the story of its development is for many the story of the changing East End of London. It has entertained not only local residents but brought people and investment to the area. It was also one of our major local employers with many jobs that were part time or flexible, so suitable for those with family commitments. Its closure in 2007 meant Walthamstow lost an iconic piece of local heritage and nearly 500 people lost their livelihoods.

Regeneration should not only be about the physical investment such as transport links or high quality housing but also the provision of "places to go, and things to do". Walthamstow struggles to offer many activities to fit this description meaning local residents often leave the area for leisure pursuits. This also means there is a lack of inward investment from visitors. Despite the challenging economic conditions of the last eighteen months, there has been persistent interest from commercial organisations in restoring the Dog Track. This highlights how there is not only a social but an economic case for action and that any such development would be highly likely to prosper. Indeed, the site is well suited to such activities, being close to main roads and transport hubs yet contained away from nearby residential properties.

I recognise that Waltham Forest is in desperate need of affordable housing and I want to participate in finding viable solutions to this challenge for our community. I also know it is difficult to identify other sites locally that could provide the opportunity for large-scale leisure facilities. I am hopeful that an acceptable deal for the site could be reached which could in turn finance alternative local housing provision.

As a local community activist I fear Walthamstow becoming a "dormitory town". It is why I have campaigned for many years to retain and expand the provision of venues that can offer jobs as well as entertainment for local residents. I hope that both the prospective buyers and the current owners of the site, London and Quadrant, will commit themselves to negotiations to see if a sale could be achieved for the benefit of our local people and ultimately our local economy and community.

Many readers have contacted me about how to help action to assist those who are currently sleeping rough in Walthamstow. The causes of homelessness locally are complex and many. That's why I want to pay tribute to the work being done by many of our faith communities to help these local residents as well as those in danger of losing their homes. I'm working with them to help support these services and in particular the provision of local day and nightshelter services. The groups running these facilities would really appreciate help with two things. Could you spare some time to volunteer at these facilities? Alternatively, the shelters at local churches also need food and would welcome donations of bread, margarine, tea, coffee, milk, sugar etc for a light breakfast and dried foods rice/pasta, tinned tuna etc so they can provide an evening meal. If you could help us with either or both of these requests for assistance let me know.

I promised to pass on the responses I received from the local council to the points residents raised at our recent community meeting with Ed Miliband MP. I've now received this first response, from Cllr Marie Pye:

Thank you to everyone who came to our community meeting with Ed Miliband last Thursday. Over 250 local residents participated in the discussion, representing many different aspects of Walthamstow. It was inspiring to hear them come together to talk with such knowledge and passion about how we can tackle climate change. A big thank you to Willowfield School, staff, parents and pupils for their help and participation as well. 

View image

As well as questioning Ed on all sorts of issues we also we gathered feedback from the tables on how we want ourselves to see things change in order to be able to live a lower carbon lifestyle. I've now sent these ideas to the Government and the local Council for their feedback on the points people made. When I get their responses, I'll circulate them via my e-newsletter so do get in touch if you would like to receive this information.
View image
 If you'd like to respond to the ideas in this document - or correct any misreadings of handwriting - you can find it all on Facebook here As we mentioned at the event, I'll be attending The Wave this Saturday 5^th December, along with Ed Miliband. The Wave has been organised by the StopClimate Change Chaos coalition. It's a rally for action on climate change and part of a global series of public actions.
View image
The Wave will call on world leaders to take urgent action to secure a fair international deal to stop global
warming exceeding the danger threshold of 2 degrees C.  We will be leaving Walthamstow at 11.30am on
Saturday to join the rally in Grosvenor Square in central London before the march starts at 1pm. The nearest tube is Bond Street. If you would like to join me and other local residents on this event to show your support for action on climate change, please getin touch.  

 The Waltham Forest Forum for Voluntary, Independent, Community & Private Sector Children's Services Providers is holding an open event on Thursday 2 July that will take place from 4pm - 7pm at the Paradox Centre, 3 Ching Way in Chingford. The programme will include the chance to hear about how to work with Children's Centres, supporting speech and language in early years and changes to early years education. If you would be interested in attending this or showcasing your organisation or group at this event you should get in touch with Barbara at Voluntary Action on 0208 521 0377 or email barbara@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk

I have today finally received this letter 090512 _ Open Letter.pdfregarding the UCKG's response to questions about their plans for the EMD. The McGuffins have also asked me to highlight their website and recent updates on developments which you can read here. Further to this letter the McGuffins have also stated their intention to update their website with details of the history of the planning application, how to join in the campaign for the EMD and future scenarios for the building. Please note at present my understanding is that the planning application will be submitted in late June 2009. However, this is yet to be formally confirmed. 

View imageThis is a copy of the letter from the UCKG regarding when they propose to hold a public exhibition on their plans for the future of the EMD cinema building. The exhibition will be on for two days only - Thursday 16 April between 5.30pm and 8pm and Friday 17 April between 4pm and 8pm at St Gabriel's Church and Family Centre in Havant Road. There is also a dedicated free information line which can be called on 0800 298 7040.

I have written to the church to enquire as to why this exhibition is only on for two days and in a venue some considerable distance from the EMD/Granada building and during a period when people will be away on Easter breaks. If you are able to attend the meeting and record your comments, whether as a note or a video clip, please let me know.

I know funding is always an issue for local voluntary groups. As a new trustee of Voluntary Action Waltham Forest I hope to help ensure they get the support they need to access the resources available to them. With that in mind I wanted to pass on details of some non-local funds that have come to my attention recently to which groups in Walthamstow would be eligible.

•  Comic Relief's Disadvantaged Communities Fund is for grassroots organisations in areas affected by poverty. It tends to fund projects that are small in scale i.e. estate wide rather than borough wide, and those working with groups who are user or volunteer led that have a constitution. 
•  B&Q Better Neighbourhoods Scheme is available to help get a community project up and running. The scheme provides £50 to £500 (at retail cost) of B&Q materials, for example, pond liners, plants or peat-free compost for projects such as a pond/wildlife garden. Schools, community groups and charitable organisations can apply to their local B&Q store for funding to support a local community project. 
•  The Co-operative Community Fund is eligible for groups within Walthamstow because we have co-operative retail shops here. Groups can apply for small grants of £100 to £5000 for charitable purposes that are in line with co-operative values. 

If you're a group working in a local park or green space you might also find the following website a useful resource of information on funding sources for your activities.