Category: Uncategorized

CSSC Active Wellbeing Autumn (AWA)

Register before 20 ^th  September for your chance to take part

AWA is a physical activity workplace initiative for the public sector and civil service with the main objective to get more people more active and looking after their wellbeing in and outside of the workplace. CSSC is back this Autumn with a brand-new team challenge, run, walk, cycle or swim your way from London to Paris and keep active this September.

Share your passions and get involved.  Each week in September CSSC will dive into a new activity sharing events, prizes, funding and access to our communities to give you a new way to get active this Autumn.

Discover more information on the challenge and Register for your account before 20 ^th  September

Construction’s day of reckoning as Grenfell Inquiry finds severe failings across industry laid ground for deadly blaze

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Decades of central government failure led to Grenfell tragedy, says inquiry

Manufacturers knowingly misled the market over combustible construction materials, Grenfell Inquiry concludes

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Good afternoon,

Today, we have launched a campaign called Find a place you can afford to raise awareness of the grim reality facing the thousands of homeless households in Brent and encourage families to take control of their housing situation and work with Brent Council to improve the situation for them and their families.

Despite building more new homes than almost any other borough in the capital over the past decade, Brent is facing a homelessness emergency. The words ‘crisis’ and ‘emergency’ can sometimes feel overused given the number of issues that are labelled this way at the moment but the situation in Brent with homelessness really is dire. It is now both a human and financial emergency.

Brent has experienced a 23 percent increase in the number of homelessness applications – up from 6,000 to more than 7,300 – over the past three years. Each week, an average of 140 households are becoming homeless in Brent. Of all homeless households, around half are trapped in very basic and costly ‘temporary’ accommodation.

Up until December 2021, we were making good progress in tackling homelessness and reducing our reliance on temporary accommodation. In 2012, Brent had 3,176 homeless households living in temporary accommodation, which was the largest number in the country. By December 2021, this number had reduced by more than 50% to 1,584. However, since then, the homeless emergency has spiralled due to factors outside of our control. Not only have private rents soared by nearly 34% in Brent over the past year, making rental homes even more unaffordable, there has also been a backlog of people being evicted since the pandemic, reduced supply of private rented housing and cost of living pressures, creating a perfect storm.

This is not a problem unique to Brent. Government data shows that London accounts for 57% of England’s total number of homeless households living in temporary accommodation. Around 175,000 Londoners – equivalent to one in 50 residents of the capital – are currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local borough. This figure includes one in 23 children, meaning on average there is at least one homeless child in every London classroom.

There are more than 34,000 families or individuals on our social housing waiting list.  Some have been waiting since the last century and they are still waiting. An average of just 650 council homes become available each year, with 40% of them being 1 bed properties, so this queue is moving very slowly and waiting times are getting longer as more residents become homeless.

This means that most homeless people will never get the council home they dream of and instead will end up in the private rented sector. In the current climate, this could be outside of London due to the sky-high rents in our capital city and lack of affordable housing. Sadly, the only real choice homeless people have is the route they take to get to find a privately rented home.

Rather than being stuck in basic temporary accommodation for years on end, which we know is not good for health or educational outcomes for children, we are advising homeless families to take control of their housing situation and work with us to find a place they can afford today. We will be able to help families financially to secure a home, ensuring that the rental property is safe and checking that it is affordable in the long-term.

This week, we have launched a video, information booklet and webpage with more information about the ‘Find a Place’ campaign. Learn more at www.brent.gov.uk/findaplace

We would appreciate your help and assistance sharing this information and these resources with local residents and service users you are in touch with, especially if you know anyone experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Thank you in advance for your support.

WELCOME TO OUR AUGUST NEWSLETTER: YOUR VOICE IN OUR COMMUNITY

WHY DO YOU TO CHOOSE ARNEWAY HOUSING CO-OP?

This article provides members with some information about Co-ops and especially what a Co-op delivers for its members. From the outside, a co-operative like Arneway Housing, might look like any other housing provider – what happens inside makes them different.

This article provides members with some information about Co-ops and especially what a Co-op delivers for its members. From the outside, a co-operative like Arneway Housing, might look like any other housing provider – what happens inside makes them different.

1. A Housing co-op is owned and controlled by its members.
2. Housing Co-ops exist for the benefit of their membership.
3. Housing Co-ops are democratic – every member has a vote and has an equal say in how it is run. Arneway Housing is no different.
4. Every member in Arneway contributes in some way – working, volunteering or investing in it – and has a say in how resources are used and costs are spent each year.
5. Arneway Housing provides training to everyone who wishes to be a Board Member, so that members can develop the co-op and promote the benefits of co-operation within Arneway Housing.
6. Arneway Housing co-operates and works in solidarity with other housing Co-ops and small housing Associations to support the wider co-operative sector.
7. Arneway Housing works to support and sustain the communities
   it works and engages with, especially in the London Borough of Brent.

Every member in Arneway Housing is dependent on their neighbour especially, on how they live and behave in their property. If one member continues to play loud music and causes a nuisance the Board must handle that situation; eventually, if that member refuses to live in a socially accept- able manner the Board have no alternative but to issue a Notice to Quit and remove that member from the Co-op.

Take another case where one member continues to pour oil and other nasty substances down the drain and causes additional expenditure on clearing the drains this cost cannot be paid by all members; that would be unfair to all the other members, in the Co-op. Eventually, if this continues despite several warning letters the Board must make a decision to exclude that member, or where there are more than one member, other members, too, from the Co-op because that behaviour is intolerable and not acceptable

to the principles and values of living in a Housing Co-op. Sadly the Board must issue a Notice to Quit to that member or members to prevent the Co-op having to spend costly repairs in fixing the drains and preventing additional damage to the fabric of the properties.

So, hopefully, this short article will be useful reading to members who continue to cause damage and additional and unnecessary repairs. So,
if you receive a Warning Letter that informs you about the continuous cost of repairs to the Co-op you are causing by your behaviour; be aware that the next Letter may be a Notice to Quit and this will mean that you will lose your property, and you must leave the Co-op and find alternative accommodation.

The same applies to members who refuse to pay their rent on time and incur large rent arrears. The Co-op must be fair and if you are in rent arrears, please contact the Office to make arrangements to repay your rent arrears immediately. Failure to contact the Office will result in a Notice to Quit as this is unfair to all other members who pay their rent regularly. If this
applies to you contact the office NOW before it is too late.

Next month’s activity planner is now available for you to plan in your activities. These free monthly planners provide daily activity ideas you could do with the people you support, enabling you to always have something fun lined up. Tweak ideas to best suit the people you support.

September’s activity planner includes ways to celebrate Balance Awareness Week, World Gratitude Day, how to find Heritage open days and more!

Download now

In case you missed this month’s planner…

View all planners

Get Social

If you use any of our activity ideas, send your pictures to @nourishcare on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn! We’d love to see the people you support having fun.

How you can use Nourish to record activities 

The Nourish platform allows you to quickly and easily plan and record the activities for those you support. Details such as what activity was carried out, for how long and the levels of engagement can be stored within Nourish, along with photos which get automatically stored to individual care plans.

Find out more

Many local authorities at that time encouraged these groups to form Co-ops and so it was that Arneway Housing was formed and Brent Council kindly offered the group some old properties to purchase with the help of Government loans and subsidies; these properties have all been paid through the mortgages that was arranged at the start of the Co-op. But these are fairly old properties and very soon many, if not all of them, will be 100 years old. So, you can imagine we need to maintain these properties to ensure accommodation for many more homeless applications in future years. The Board must make arrangements to celebrate 50 years since the formation as I believe some 400 or more members have enjoyed the accommodation that Arneway has been offering in Brent over these 45 years.

Click here to Download Full Newsletter

Dear Sir/ Madam,

Brent Council is inviting comments on the draft Staples Corner Growth Area Masterplan and Design Code SPD (draft SCGA SPD).  The formal consultation period is from 4 June to 16 July 2024.

The document can be found on the Council’s Have Your Say consultation portal from 4 June 2024 via this link: https://haveyoursay.brent.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/brent-have-your-say-staples-corner-consultation

The draft SCGA SPD has been produced to support the policies of the adopted Brent Local Plan (adopted 2022) | Brent Council and will be used to assess planning applications and inform future planning decisions for development in the area. The draft SCGA SPD is needed to bring forward physical, social and economic regeneration for the benefit of all the community.

Other documents such as the Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening are also available to view and comment upon.

How to comment

 

If you wish to make representations, you can do so through:

 

• Our Have Your Say consultation portal.

 

• Our email address: Staplescorner@brent.gov.uk.

 

• Visiting one of the Brent Council Libraries during their respective opening hours.

 

• By post to the following address:

 

Kiran Chauhan

Regeneration Team

Neighbourhoods & Regeneration

London Borough of Brent

Brent Civic Centre

Engineer’s Way

London HA9 0FJ

 

• By coming along to one of our events, details of which can be found on Have Your Say.

 

When sending your representation, you must include a name and a postal and / or email address. We will show the name of any organisations that respond, but not those of individuals or any other personal information. It would be helpful if you also indicate your status, e.g., resident, landlord or agent.

Please indicate if you wish to be notified of the adoption of the SPD and future Brent Planning Policy consultations. Additional information on how we will use your personal data is set out attached.

All representations must be received before midnight on 16 July 2024. If you have any other queries related to this consultation or planning policy in Brent, please feel free to contact us on 020 8937 4779 / 020 8937 1744, also at: Staplescorner@brent.gov.uk

Regards,

 

Regeneration Team, Brent Council

 

Privacy Notice: You are providing your information to Brent Council’s Regeneration Team who can be contacted by phone: 020 8937 4779 / 020 8937 1744 and via email:  Staplescorner@brent.gov.uk . The Council’s Data Protection Officer can be contacted via dpo@brent.gov.uk  or 020 8937 1402. Your information is collected for the purpose of assisting with the development of the Staples Corner Growth Area Masterplan & Design Code SPD as required to fulfil the council’s duties under The Town and Country Planning Regulations 2012. Further information can be found at www.brent.gov.uk/privacy.

 

Poetry writing workshop

The Road to Freedom: Ending slavery in Britain

Join Learning Through the Arts for an adult’s poetry writing workshop inspired by poems responding to impacts of slavery and the slave trade. Come and explore these themes as part of The Road to Freedom: Ending slavery in Britain exhibition.

Where: The Library at Willesden Green
When: Saturday 18 May,11am – 1pm

Book your free ticket on Eventbrite

 

London slave owners talk 

The Road to Freedom: Ending slavery in Britain

Discover the stories of some of the many London people who owned plantations where enslaved people worked. Discover the untold stories and hidden truths of this dark period in the city’s past.

Book your free ticket on Eventbrite

 

Wembley Library closed this weekend

Wembley Library is getting an exciting makeover, with a new purpose-built chidren’s library, additional study areas and much more.

From Monday 29 April the library will temporarily be based on the first floor of Brent Civic Centre. All library services will operate as normal from the temporary space, but the events proramme will paused.

As a result of the move Wembley Library will be closed this weekend, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Ealing Road Library is the nearest library and is open as usual.

Ealing Road Library
Coronet Parade
Ealing Road
Wembley
HA0 4BA

Brent Libraries opening hours

 

Coffee Morning: Fraud and scams, don’t miss a trick

Join staff from HSBC bank to learn how to protect yourself from fraud and scams.

Where: Kingsbury Library
When: Tuesday 30 April, 11am – 12noon

Book your free place on Eventbrite

 

Last chance to see: Time has Burned

Until Saturday 27 April

Willesden Gallery, The Library at Willesden Green

This group exhibition delves into various themes such as spirituality, displacement, and the interconnectedness of human and natural elements, making it an intriguing and thought-provoking experience.

Works include painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, crafts, video, mixed media, and printmaking.
Throughout the exhibition week, the gallery will host free interactive workshops inspired by the showcased artworks.
Artists: Dr. Ziyang Chen, Emi Kubota, Emily Davidson-Brett, Joy Baek, Madeleine Jarvis, Micha Horgan, Mingzhang Sun, Ruby Khan, Ruiyao Zhu, Toni Martinez Solera, Vincenzo Muratore, Yiwen Li, Yvonne Devine

Read more about the exhibition

 

Coming soon:  FREEHAND Contemporary Textiles London

Monday 29 April – Sunday 12 May

Willesden Gallery, The Library at Willesden Green

Contemporary Textiles London is a group of around 25 London-based textile artists, with practices based originally in contemporary and modern quilting.

The title ‘Freehand’ reflects the recent name change of the group from quilt to textiles, broadening the scope and literally allowing each member a freehand to produce a textile piece.

Artists: Amanda Ogden, Annie Folkard, Cathy Corbishley Michel, Connie Gilham, Dani Atkinson, Dianne Whyte, Helen Harris, Jane Munns, Jane Wray, Janet Beck, Jill Holden, Khurshid Bamboat, Lucy Poloniecka, Pauline Macauley, Rachel Tyndall, Sandra Grusd, Sarah Hibbert, Urszula Chojnacka, Valerie Huggins, Viv Philpot, Maggie Jarman, Nicqui Willis, Janine Pound, John Miller, Linda Seward

Read more about the exhibition

 

Kingsbury Coffee Morning: Diet and health

Join consultant dietitian Salma Mehar to learn about the local lifestyle programmes to support people living with or at risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

Where: Kingsbury Library
When: Tuesday 21 May, 11am – 12noon

Book your free place on Eventbrite

Reading recommendations

Stephen Lawrence Day

Stephen Lawrence Day, which took place on Monday 22 April, was created by the Stephen Lawrence Foundation as a celebration of his life and legacy. It exists “to inspire a more equal, inclusive society, and to foster opportunities for marginalised young people in the UK.”

Shakespeare’s Birthday, 23 April

Celebrate the birth of the Bard in new and exciting ways!

Explore the collection for children and young people on Overdrive

Reflecting on World Health Day, we’re reminded of the importance of health management. This day emphasizes the need for knowledge and action. Continuing from this global health observance, understanding post-meal blood sugar levels becomes paramount, especially for those with glucose management as part of their daily routine.

Our blog post targets the significance of managing postprandial blood sugar. It’s crafted to provide you with the knowledge on how dietary and lifestyle decisions affect these levels and outlines practical measures for keeping them within a beneficial range.