The Gate

More Moogy News

If you were to ask anyone with half an ounce of sense whether there was much going on over at the Edmund Waller MUGA site the answer would be YES INDEED JUST LOOK AT THE DIGGERS.

The works are going well, with the old rubbishy surface ripped up and consigned to the MUGA bin of yesteryear, and a couple of unruly and dangerous trees uprooted and placed sensitively in a nearby shredder.

The new fencing is expected to arrive any day now so keep an eye out for more exciting developments in the epic that is the Edmund Waller MUGA Story.

To be continued....

NDC Awards Scheme.

We want to recognise the good work people do in New Cross Gate so we have introduced this awards scheme. Simply fill in one of the attached nomination forms and tell us why you think a person should be recognised.

It could be a local volunteer, and member of staff, a member of the Board or someone who works for an NDC project. We also want to recognise good projects.

So if you think a person or project has done particularly well, for whatever reason , then fill in the attached form and help them get the recognition they deserve!

You can also use the reverse side of the form to make a suggestion on how we can improve our services.

If yu would like to nominate a person or a project in New Cross Gate NDC simple email aidan.haughey@lewisham.gov.uk stating:

The name or organisation you are nominating.

What impresses you about them?

Who are you? (you don’t have to leave your name if you don’t want)

How can we contact you? (It might help us if we can contact you for further information or you might be asked to present the award).

You can also send suggestions of how the NDC can improve its service to the same address.

Artist Forum
Forty people attended the re-launch of the Artists group in New Cross Gate. An artists forum had been meeting for some time and this re-launch was aimed at geeting more people involved and providing help in getting activities off the ground. David Mabb a senior lecturer in fine art from Goldsmiths gave a presenation of his latest exhibitions. His work is heavily infliuenced by William Morris and he uses Morris prints and combines them with his own images and images of other artists. The group also had a presentation from Stuart Mayes who is an artist and founder member of the Crystal Palace Artists Group. They have been meeting for some time and have a semi formal organisation to help promote local artists and provide a forum for new ideas and collaborative projects.
A lot of people were very keen to see a similar group established in New Cross Gate and the NDC have agreed that they can use the conference room to meet once a month to help them along. Ben Eastop is an artist that helped to set up the Crystal Palace group and he also has experience of other community art projects. He will be working with the team to develop a plan for the group and establish a website. For more information about this article please email aidan.haughey@lewisham.gov.uk

You never forget how to ride a bike....but you might forget the bike



A mystery cyclist came to the NDC towards the end of last year and forgot something when they departed.

Any ideas about who owns this bike?

All Change!

Today is the first day of the new staff team and people have been busy moving deskspaces and fitting into new rotas. Welcome to Nicole and Catherine who return to us in the Hatcham Mews Office from 137. Welcome as well to Ruth, Sydney, Rachael and Courtney who have moved into the main office from B3. Things will be a bit more lively in the main office from now on. There are not quite enough desks to go around so people will have to hot desk from time to time. Drinks are on Clive at 6pm in the Hobgoblin on Friday to celebrate the start of spring

NDC Newsletter
Find out about multi million pound developments in New Cross Gate.

*£7m centre
*Clutch Clinic to be transformed
*How a family changed their lifestyle by joining the MEND project.
*Enviroworks clear five lorry loads of rubbish from one garden.
*Big Lottery Grant for Afghan Organisation
*What do people of New Cross think of the proposed smoking ban.

The latest NDC Newsletter is hot off the press today. As you read this 3500 copies are being delivered to every door in the NDC area. The latest issue is full of exciting news stories. So look out for it on your doorstep. If you don't get one please call the NDC today on 020 8314 9335. You can download the Newsletter by clicking here.

Safer Neighbourhoods Panel make progress

The Safer Neighbourhoods Panel had its second meeting last Thursday (17th March 2006). The purpose of the Panel is to give residents a greater say over community safety decisions in the New Cross Gate area. The idea for the Panel came from the Metropolitan Police, who also organise the meetings. Though the area is served well by community safety services - it has a Police Seargent, 2 Beat Police Officers, 4 Police Community Support Officers, 12 Wardens as well as a number of other measures such as CCTV - residents are often best placed to pinpoint crime and community safety issues.

The meetings occur bi-monthly have representatives from the area's 6 Tenant Associations as well as other local residents, the NDC, Police, Wardens and the Council Crime Reduction Team. At their first meeting in January 2006, local residents Dorian Williams and Mel Couldwell were elected as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively.

At the meeting on Thursday, the Police reported the good news that the shop on the corner of Camplin St and Egmont Rd (pictured), long-rumoured to be a selling place for drugs, has finally been closed down by its landlord, who also intends to sell the premises. This is due to a sustained effort on the Police's part to put pressure on the shop's owner to take responsibility for what was happening there.

There was also a discussion about street drinking in the area and the nuisance and intimidation this has been causing residents. Gerry (Head Warden) also noted that there had been some incidences of squatting in the decanted housing on Briant St. Finally, Maggie Gardiner from the Council's anti-social behaviour team gave a presentation on their work and how it will impact on some of the areas discussed.

The next meeting takes place on 11th May 2006, at Hatfield Close, starting at 7.30pm.

Support your local sailing club

Dateline 14th March, New Cross Gate, London, England, Europe:

You can join the millions of people in London looking forward to watching Katie Derham on ITV at 7.30 this evening, when she presents advice for people applying for lottery grants of up to £50,000 to fund community projects across the capital.

Among tonight's highlights will be a profile on the Ahoy sailing centre, so get tuned in now.

There's also an update on last year's recipients, who reveal how the money is being spent. Viewers can vote for shortlisted entries later in the year

Community activists behave like children

On Monday, 13th March, eleven community activists were behaving like children, when they attended a ‘Let’s All Play’ workshop. It was all organised as part of the HAPI programme at All Saints Community Centre, New Cross Road. And all attendees had a thoroughly good time!

The workshop was about raising awareness of disability and promoting inclusive play for disabled and special needs children. The day started as it continued ~ with lots of children’s games, which were used to identify how and where exclusion can occur and how activities can be readily adapted to promote inclusiveness.

Many of the activities developed into hilarious episodes with large elements of boisterousness, much laughter and a lot of learning. What was particularly useful was that it was recognised by many of those attending that the skills gained during the day were applicable in all sorts of everyday situations where professionals need to promote inclusiveness and engagement.

At a more serious level, attendees gained entry level training for play and out of school workers, which is certificated. In between the fun and games, the group developed definitions of disability and identified the barriers to social inclusion. In addition, they also gained an overview of current legislation and play work values.

The training was delivered by Kay O’Brien, who was great. It was facilitated through the Pip (promoting inclusive play) programme from Kids Active (kidsactive.org.uk). Attendees came from a range of groups which work with local residents, including All Nations, Anyadwe, Contact A Family, LEMDA, Reconcilers Children’s Club, Somerville Adventure Playground and Tukes After School Club.

Incidentally, the trainer, Kay O’Brien, actually works for an organisation called Oyster Training. Oyster also deliver training on team work (including team building, conflict resolution, and managing change), family support and positive parenting, as well as disability and inclusive play awareness. The Oyster website can be found at www.oystertraining.co.uk.

Question: How do you get community activists to behave like children?
Answer: Get them to attend a workshop organised by Steve McGann

From Board Member to Royalty

The day after Lil Virgo’s final Board meeting (reported yesterday – see below), she received a surpirse call from Buckingham Palace!

She has been invited there to take part in the celebrations for the Queen’s birthday next month and will fulfil her lifelong ambition to meet the monarch. Lil was delighted to accept and still can’t quite believe it “I thought it was one of you lot winding me up!” she quipped. Rumour has it that Carole Cooke (our Government Office representative on the Board) pulled some strings behind the scenes in order to make this happen.

Steph is the woman!
Steph has just leavered £5,520 from Lewisham Council towards street cleaning in the New Cross Gate NDC area. When asked what the secret of her success was she replied "I just asked for it!". Well done Steph the Finance crew beleive in you.

Lil and Irene's farewell...and other Board tales

At last night’s Board meeting, Chair Gill Haynes bid farewell to the residents stepping down after the recent elections. Lil Virgo, a resident member since 2002 and Irene Byworth, serving since 2004, were each presented with a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of champagne as leaving gifts. Lil’s soaring Dublin wit and Irene’s passionate championing of Winslade Estate issues will be missed at the Board meetings, but we’re more than hopeful that they will remain involved with NDC, through other decision-making groups.

The Board also discussed improving partnership work with the Metropolitan Police and strengthening the Board’s relationship with the Community Groups Forum. They approved:
- The recommendations of the Equalities Audit - looking to improve the NDC’s role in tackling equalities regeneration issues, whether related to race, agenda, disability, gender etc
- The Year 6 Delivery Plan and revised Strategic Outcomes
- The recommendations of the Gate Agency evaluation
- The architects for the NDC Centre, selected through the recent design competition and consultation
- The architects for the retail restoration project

Lindon Beckford, also presented a report recommending greater closer collective working between the resident members, which was supported by the Board.

The next meeting is on 26th April 2006.

Moogy Muga Moo

The whole world has been celebrating this week at the news that work has finally started on the new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) on site at Edmund Waller School. A partnership between the school, NDC and the FA, the new MUGA will provide a much needed quality floodlit sports space which will be available for both school and community use.

Amongst others, Pele, Sven Goran-Erikkson and Jordan have all been keen to express their joy at the sight of mini-diggers ripping up the old, poor-quality playing surface.

Over the next few days we shall be publishing of the works in progress, so with that in mind take a look at the BEFORE images now and then come back to see the AFTER pictures.

The Management.....................meets

The Management Team met today to discuss, amongst other things, tonight's Board Papers, the team building away day, the summer festival, quarterly milestones, future Turning Point trainee projects, staffing at the Gate Agency and even this blog!

Donnie Gall is obviously honoured to be discussed at the highest level. If you want to get the low down on any of the above discussions, grab the nearest manager and ask them.

Trivia questions 1) which of the pictured managers is no longer here? 2) where did they move to? and 3) name 2 of the car makes he travelled to work in. Put your answers in the comments box, the person with first correct answers wins a can of Sainsburys 2.1 vol Bitter.

The first trainee to gain a full European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) at the Hatfield Skills Training Centre passed the last of eight modules at the Centre last night, it has been reported. The trainee has been identified as Steve McGann, who works as the community development co-ordinator of the New Cross Gate NDC.
Candidates for the ECDL undertake computer based training in the use of standard ICT applications, including word-processing, databases, spreadsheets and presentations as well as email and internet packages. During self-paced learning around all aspects of the various applications, trainees also undertake continuous assessment.
Steve says: "The facilities and friendly support available at the Hatfield Skills Training Centre are excellent and I have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone who wants to either gain or update their computer skills."
He added: "I was able to update and improve my ICT skills in a way that would have been difficult to do in the workplace with all its distractions."
To find out more about the training and facilities available at the Hatfield Skills Training Centre, Tel. 020 7732 7338.

"The sky's the limit" for the new Clutch Clinic development

Finance guru Bayo Kelekun showed staff around the newly purchased Clutch Clinic and Scenarios properties on New Cross Road today. The NDC will be developing the site into a multi-use complex housing the NDC staff team, a training restaurant and shared-ownership flats. The development will take around 18 months and will be ready for use towards the end of 2007. Costing around £6 million and working with Astra Housing Association the buildings will become another asset for the portfolio of the NDC's successor body.


The site, though now unused, has plenty of character. Remnants from previous uses were in evidence (a strong aroma of oil and metal in the Clutch Clinic) and architectural reminders of historical uses like the Electric Empire cimema. Bayo has proved a dab hand at snapping up development opportunities for the NDC, but is less skilled as a caretaker as confusion over keys reigned and we didn't get into Scenarios.

Detailed plans and drawing for the development are currently available in B2 or get in contact with Aidan.

Community Groups show the way

Yesterday the Community Groups Forum had their monthly meeting at Hatcham Mews. Amongst other things, the Forum (Which is chaired by Muriel White) agreed to set up a meeting with Resident Board Members to look at how the groups can best support their role in representing the community and in making important decisions about the area.

The Forum also agreed to help organise a community event in August this year (funded by the NDC) and established procedures for improving the links between the Board and Community Groups Forum. Finally we had presentations from workers from both Lewisham and Goldsmiths Colleges about opportunities for community groups.

The next meeting takes place on 20th April.

Five of Britain's most exciting practices produced schemes for a new community health and cultural centre in New Cross Gate. Following a well-attended public exhibition and consultation process, the assessment panel are recommending to the NDC board and Lewisham Council that Feilden Clegg Bradley be appointed to continue consultation and work up their proposals. The chosen scheme was winner in an exceptionally strong field of entries and was most popular with residents and visitors to the exhibition.
The development will be health-focused and anticipates the emerging Government policy for integrated health care and community facilities. The ambitious brief includes an 8 GP doctor's surgery, pharmacy, dentist, library, youth theatre, café, crèche artist's spaces, housing and a major new public space, which is identified as one of the London Mayor's 100 spaces. What do you think of the design? You can contact us at aidan.haughey@lewisham.gov.uk