Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Church Converts to Creatives.
The NDC Gate Agency is leading on a new project that has attracted £3.5 M of London Development Agency funding to convert St James Church in New Cross Gate into a state of the art creative business incubator centre.
In April 2004 the London Development Agency (LDA) launched an initiative called Creative London. This project is a part of the wider group of projects the LDA is working on to address the priorities of the Greater London Authority’s Economic Development Strategy. This will crucially inform how London is directed and governed over the next 10 years. Creative London’s aim is to grow the creative sector in the capital which has an annual value of £21 billion and is predicted to generate 1 in 5 of all jobs over the next 10 years. One of the key mechanisms for achieving this goal will be by establishing 10 Creative Hubs throughout London. The New Cross incubator centre will be one of the first London pilots for the Mayors Economic Development Strategy.
The New Cross incubator centre will provide an environment that supports local start up businesses and helps to stimulate increased economic activity with a more diverse and sustainable base, particularly for disadvantaged groups. It will offer 24 hour access, board room and multi media facilities and free and specialised business support from legal advice to business planning and marketing.
The centre is scheduled to open in the summer of 2007 once the St James church building has undergone a complete refurbishment
For more information contact Jack Hiett – 020 7635 1312
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
African Community Partnership launch new project at event tomorrow
The African Community Partnership (ACP) is hosting an event tomorrow Saturday 22nd April, from 10am-5pm at Barnes Wallis on Wildgoose Drive (off Queens Road) to commemorate the launch of a new project called Building Healthier Communities. ACP is working in partnership with New Cross Gate NDC to deliver this new project in conjunction with the array of other NDC activities aimed at improving health and well-being for people living in New Cross Gate.
The objective of the Building Healthier Communities (BHC) project is to improve the health status of the local NDC population; particularly those at-most risk of suffering health inequalities and to strengthen the local health infrastructure.
A dedicated team will be employed over a three year period, consisting of a senior Community Health Development Coordinator and an Outreach Worker. BHC will invest in health education to combat stigma and raise awareness of health issues, particularly Sexual and Mental health through raising awareness on what the health conditions are their causes and prevention, what effective interventions exist and where the services are.
A range of information and resources mainly posters, leaflets, and booklets will be collated and distributed to individuals and local organisations. These will also be made available at the Wild Goose Resource Centre and other strategic locations in the community. Community events aligned to the health calendar will be delivered and in the first year ACP will organise 15 events of which two will be major events ( see calendar of events). At these events there will be screening to target those at risk of the following conditions, smoking related complications, high blood pressure, obesity, coronary heart diseases, HIV, depression, diabetes etc who will then be referred to the appropriate service.
A Well being and Life management Programme an element of the project with a focus to promote healthier lifestyles and mental well being will be run by UAAF and ACP. These activities will be used as an added vehicle for health promotion and to improve skills necessary for positive sexual health. It will establish a social network of support amongst service users by giving access to health, fitness and lifestyle change opportunities and advice in a positive and supported environment.
Each session will run physical activity sessions for local residents, carry out fitness assessments, give lifestyle advice and management, provide exercise counselling and prepare individual exercise programmes; and offer a programme of health prevention initiatives and interventions such as nutritional advice on specific conditions such as diabetes, which reflect local needs and which complement services offered by the Health Authority and voluntary organisations.
Sessions will run at Barnes Wallis Centre, and in the second year of the project include Scotney Hall.
To strengthen the local health infrastructure within the NDC voluntary sector BHC will offer training, quality assurance packages and mentoring and also facilitate networking opportunities.
The project has already forged real partnerships with Ugandan Action Aids Fund (UAAF) in the delivery of this work. This will be extended to a whole range of statutory agencies such as Lewisham PCT, South London and Maudsley Trust (SLAM), London Borough of Lewisham and other organisations involved in the delivery of health related services.
A starting point towards a successful project is the recognition of all the networks that exist in the New Cross Gate NDC area. This will only be possible if there is commitment, energy and deep local knowledge. ACP will endeavour to strive towards this.
The African Community Partnership (ACP) is hosting an event tomorrow Saturday 22nd April, from 10am-5pm at Barnes Wallis on Wildgoose Drive (off Queens Road) to commemorate the launch of a new project called Building Healthier Communities. ACP is working in partnership with New Cross Gate NDC to deliver this new project in conjunction with the array of other NDC activities aimed at improving health and well-being for people living in New Cross Gate.
The objective of the Building Healthier Communities (BHC) project is to improve the health status of the local NDC population; particularly those at-most risk of suffering health inequalities and to strengthen the local health infrastructure.
A dedicated team will be employed over a three year period, consisting of a senior Community Health Development Coordinator and an Outreach Worker. BHC will invest in health education to combat stigma and raise awareness of health issues, particularly Sexual and Mental health through raising awareness on what the health conditions are their causes and prevention, what effective interventions exist and where the services are.
A range of information and resources mainly posters, leaflets, and booklets will be collated and distributed to individuals and local organisations. These will also be made available at the Wild Goose Resource Centre and other strategic locations in the community. Community events aligned to the health calendar will be delivered and in the first year ACP will organise 15 events of which two will be major events ( see calendar of events). At these events there will be screening to target those at risk of the following conditions, smoking related complications, high blood pressure, obesity, coronary heart diseases, HIV, depression, diabetes etc who will then be referred to the appropriate service.
A Well being and Life management Programme an element of the project with a focus to promote healthier lifestyles and mental well being will be run by UAAF and ACP. These activities will be used as an added vehicle for health promotion and to improve skills necessary for positive sexual health. It will establish a social network of support amongst service users by giving access to health, fitness and lifestyle change opportunities and advice in a positive and supported environment.
Each session will run physical activity sessions for local residents, carry out fitness assessments, give lifestyle advice and management, provide exercise counselling and prepare individual exercise programmes; and offer a programme of health prevention initiatives and interventions such as nutritional advice on specific conditions such as diabetes, which reflect local needs and which complement services offered by the Health Authority and voluntary organisations.
Sessions will run at Barnes Wallis Centre, and in the second year of the project include Scotney Hall.
To strengthen the local health infrastructure within the NDC voluntary sector BHC will offer training, quality assurance packages and mentoring and also facilitate networking opportunities.
The project has already forged real partnerships with Ugandan Action Aids Fund (UAAF) in the delivery of this work. This will be extended to a whole range of statutory agencies such as Lewisham PCT, South London and Maudsley Trust (SLAM), London Borough of Lewisham and other organisations involved in the delivery of health related services.
A starting point towards a successful project is the recognition of all the networks that exist in the New Cross Gate NDC area. This will only be possible if there is commitment, energy and deep local knowledge. ACP will endeavour to strive towards this.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
The NDC's Charity sub-group held its first meeting last Thursday 6th April 2006 (6.00pm at the NDC offices). The sub-group (of the main NDC Board) has been given the task of overseeing the formation of a new charity, which will become the NDC's main legacy body. The charity will take ownership of the NDC's assets (such as buildings), oversee on-going projects and act as a voice for the New Cross Gate area. The sub-group has 10 members, including 5 residents and is Chaired by Gill Haynes.
The following was agreed at the first meeting:
- Brian Lymbery (from Lewisham Primary Care Team) agreed to be ther group's Vice Chair
- a report updating progress will be submitted to the Board after each sub-group meeting
- the process of setting up Charity should take no more than 12 months
- the group would visit other similar charity's to get a better understanding of their structure, membership and protocols
- information from existing regeneration programme successor bodies to be gathered for best practice
- a schedule for future meetings was agreed
The next meeting is on Thursday 25th May 2006.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Congratulations to the Lewisham Muslim Women's Group on receiving £5,000 from the Community Chest fund to hold Arabic lessons in New Cross Gate for 43 weeks beginning in May/June 2006. This are the first of its kind in the area and will enable all Muslim women from different countries to share one common language and share common experiences. This is an amazing achievement for a group who have only been up and running for one year. They have also received funding for swimming lessons for one year from Lewisham Council. If you would like to join the Muslim women's group or attend Arabic classes contact Catherine Nduati 07730637142. (This programme is open to women only)
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Huge Swan found in bucket
A press release from NDC HQ today confirmed the news today that the new fencing had arrived at the Edmund Waller MUGA site. This picture shows that good progress is being made on the MUGA project and we can all look happily forward to tomorrow's generation of Emile Heskeys and DJ Campbells doing their stuff on the new court.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
The Three Amigos.
Any of your projects work with people on Incapacity Benefit or other disability-related allowances?
No? Don't bother reading this then.
Yes? get them to contact one of this lot - Tony (JobCentre+), Tracey (JobCentre+) or Dennis (The Shaw Trust). They are working out of A3 every Tuesday helping local people back into employment.
They are brilliant.
Dennis can be contacted on dennis.caxton@shaw-trust.org.uk and Tracey on tracey.mullings@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
Jobs = Power
Monday, April 03, 2006
Good news for AFRIC
AFRIC, the African Francophone Resource & Information Centre, has just been awarded a £1,000 grant by Lewisham Council’s community sector unit. This follows on from £4,900 grant which they received from the Community Chest last week. AFRIC is very much a new organisation but is already making an impact in the area.
Earlier this year, AFRIC received a grant from the Home Office to set up a befriending project to support exiles and refugees seeking asylum in London.
The group has a base in the A3 Community Office Space providing a drop-in service on Thursdays and Fridays, primarily supporting French-speaking Africans who have fled the unrest which has displaced many people from francophone African states, like Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of Congo.
AFRIC, the African Francophone Resource & Information Centre, has just been awarded a £1,000 grant by Lewisham Council’s community sector unit. This follows on from £4,900 grant which they received from the Community Chest last week. AFRIC is very much a new organisation but is already making an impact in the area.
Earlier this year, AFRIC received a grant from the Home Office to set up a befriending project to support exiles and refugees seeking asylum in London.
The group has a base in the A3 Community Office Space providing a drop-in service on Thursdays and Fridays, primarily supporting French-speaking Africans who have fled the unrest which has displaced many people from francophone African states, like Sierra Leone and Democratic Republic of Congo.
