SE22 November 2022

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Welcome to

Where has this year gone too! It amazes me that I can be writing about Bonfire Night and Christmas when it feels like the summer has only just finished!

As usual I have rounded up all the great events taking place in and around Dulwich. The events pages start on page 6. November is always a busy month for events as we start to see the Christmas fairs appear, so we have a mega eight pages of online and in person events happening in and around Dulwich.

Please do check any event before turning up to make sure that they are still going ahead. Remember to check out www.arounddulwich.co.uk too as many events get added after I have gone to print. You can often find out more details online too.

Suzanne James cooks up a storm with her recipe for Quince Jelly on page 14. Leanne Spencer discusses getting out and about in nature to help with our health and wellbeing in Fitness Tips on page 16.

In Pets Corner Leonie finishes the series on How to Prepare Dogs for the arrival of a Baby, see page 34.

I hope you enjoy the magazine this month, please feel free to let me know if you do.

Until next time.

Angela Angela Burgess

of All Things Community

Deadline - 15 November (please allow an extra two days if design is

www.semagazines.co.uk.

Life Drawing Classes, see p6.

Dulwich Park Runners see p6.

Brian Green Online Talk, see p6.

Goose Green Coffee Morning, see p6.

Portraiture Classes see p8.

BNI Adventurers Meeting see p8.

Supporting Dyslexic Learning, p8.

Pottery Classes see p8.

Dulwich Folk Dance club, see p9.

Art Deco Vintage Printing Works, p9.

Live Band Karaoke, see p9.

Dulwich Park Runners see p6.

Goose Green Coffee Morning, The Singing Geese p18.

Supporting Dyslexic Learning, p8.

The Lighthouse of Stalingrad, p18.

Dulwich Folk Dance club, see p9.

Persiana Everyday - Cookery Demonstration, see p18.

Life Drawing Classes, see p6.

Goose Green Coffee Morning, see p6.

Talk on the history of Jazz, see p24.

Supporting Dyslexic Learning, p8.

Pottery Classes see p8.

Dulwich Folk Dance club, see p9.

Goose Green Coffee Morning, see p6.

Change Your Mindset to lead a Happier Life, see p24.

Life Drawing Classes, see p6.

Goose Green Coffee Morning, see p6.

Portraiture Classes, see p8.

p8.

Pottery Classes see p8.

Dulwich Folk Dance club, see p9.

An Evening with Hugh Bonneville, p25.

Forthcoming Events

Garage Press Open Studio, p10.

Bell House Open Garden, see p10.

Basic Life Support Training see p10.

Yoga for Insomnia, see p10.

Junior parkrun, see p18.

Drawing from the Garden, p22.

Autumn Winds, see p22.

parkrun, see p9.

Drawing from the Garden, p22.

The Illusioneer Magic Mix, p24.

Smartphone Filmmaking, see p24.

Creative Arts Club for Older Adults p25.

Mark Evision Foundation Carol Concert, see p25.

Granny’s Attic, Liam Cooper & Phil Stevens @ The Ivy House, see p25.

parkrun see p9. parkrun, see p9.

Drawing from the Garden, p22.

Love West Dulwich Christmas Fair p25.

Dulwich Christmas Market, p25.

Dulwich Choral Society Concert p25.

Junior parkrun, see p18.

MidCentury Modern, see p24. Classical Orchestral Concert, p24.

Junior parkrun, see p18.

PRE-PREP

What's On - November

Tuesdays 1, 8, 15 22 & 29

November: Life Drawing & Painting

Tuesday 1 November: The Decline of Farming and the Rise of the Sports Clubs in Dulwich with Brian Green (online)

8pm – 9pm. Farming in Dulwich, which had provided income for the Priory of Bermondsey for 400 years and for almost as long for Alleyn’s College of God’s Gift, was virtually over by the outbreak of the First World War. Local historian Brian Green shows us how Dulwich farms became the sports fields of today. This is an online event. www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

Tuesdays 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 November: DPR Social Runs

7pm–8.30pm. This is an online drawing & painting session conducted via Zoom and in studio. Long pose life painting and drawing. A single pose held for three hours with 5-minute model breaks every 25 minutes. This class will be run by Freya Tate, a wonderful artist with a sharp eye and a playful line. The session will be life model focused but Freya will introduce chaotic elements to challenge you and move your drawing on to higher levels. The Dulwich Art Group & School. www.dulwichartgroup.co.uk.

Tuesday 1 November:

Honor Oak WI

7.30pm. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at Stanstead Lodge Cafe SE23 1DD. honoroakwi@gmail.com twitter.com/honoroakwi www.facebook.com/groups/honoroakwi/ Honoroak_WI

For listings contact: angela@semagazines.co.uk

7.30pm-8.30pm. Fantastic local running club. Social runs every Tuesday 7.30pm at Trevor Bailey Sports Ground on the south circular. Plus runs every Sunday morning; coached sessions on Thursdays; cross country races; competitions; weekends away; frequent social activities. Come along on a Tuesday to try us out! www.dulwichparkrunners.co.uk. Trevor Bailey Clubhouse, Dulwich Common, Dulwich. enquiries@dulwichparkrunners.com. www.dulwichparkrunners.co.uk.

Wednesday 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 November: Goose Green Coffee Morning

11am – 12:30pm. Do come and join us at Goose Green Coffee Morning. Everyone is welcome to drop in for a coffee or tea and some cake. It’s a great place to meet others from the local community. If you would like to know more, email goosegreencoffeemorning@gmail.com. St John’s Church, 62A East Dulwich Road, SE22 9AT

What's On - November

Wednesdays 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30

November: Zoom Portraiture

@Dulwich Art Group & School

Thursday 3, 10, 17 & 24

November: Hand-building Pottery Classes

2pm - 5pm. A hybrid session with 15 artists in the studio and also cameras for artists attending through Zoom. Paint a clothed model with a focus on the portrait over two three-hour sessions. We give you a wide view and a closer portrait view so you can work out the framing for yourself. The model will at times be engaged in conversation to bring some animation to the face. www.dulwichartgroup.co.uk

Thursday 3, 10 & 17 November: Supporting the Dyslexic Learner:

6pm – 8pm. Tina will help you understand how you can best support a child at home and at school. Children with dyslexia may learn differently from you. This course has been designed to help you understand how you can best support a child at home and at school. We will cover how to recognise different learning profiles, multisensory learning, age-appropriate reading matter and tools, note taking, mind mapping, making numeracy more visual and how to gather evidence that a child needs help and support.

• 3rd November Study Skills

• 10th November Writing Skills

• 17th November Developing & Supporting Numeracy Skills

Single sessions are £20 each but please use the appropriate Eventbrite listing according to which week you would like to attend. Bell House Dulwich, 21 College Road, SE21. Tickets can be booked on www.bellhouse.co.uk.

1pm – 3:30pm. Whether you’re a seasoned potter or new to the craft, the pottery at Bell House offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere where creativity flows as freely as friendship. We will help you create your own pieces from concept and design to construction and glazing. You will expand your skills in coiling, slab-making and pinching. We also offer a great space to socialise with others with similar interests and spend a quiet moment or two dedicated to yourself exploring an ancient craft. Each date can be booked individually and costs £45 for each session. You are welcome to book one or as many sessions as you would like. All the material, glazing and firing costs are included. Email info@bellhouse.co.uk. The classes will be run by Annie & Ekta AKA Mudlife, a community venture. www.bellhouse.co.uk.

Thursdays 3, 10, 17 & 24

November: BNI Adventurers

6.30am-8.30am. Part of the award winning multi-national networking organisation, BNI, Adventurers brings together businesses local to Dulwich with the aim of passing business and keeping money in the local community. Givers gain, and members of Adventurers have excelled at both over the last 12 months. Now back in person this as exciting time for the chapter. Breakfast included. Free parking. Get referrals: boost your business! Dulwich & Sydenham Golf Club, Grange Lane, College Road, Dulwich SE21 7LH. Please contact Hayley on 07843 989728.

Thursdays 3, 10, 17 & 24

November: Dulwich Folk Dance Club

What's On - November

Friday 4 November: Art Deco Vintage Printing Works

We invite you to come country (aka folk) dancing at St Barnabas Parish Hall, Dulwich Village from 8pm to 10 pm on Thursdays. Experienced or not, partnered or single, you can join in immediately and get the full benefit and joy of the event as all dances are first practised and then “called” as we dance to remind us of all of the moves. There are many people to partner you and show you how it’s done, should you need it. A chance to meet new friends and enjoy yourself.

3 November: Caller - Gwen Godwin.

9 November: Caller - Joyce Wood.

16 November: Caller - Sue Hastings

23 November: Caller - Jane Lowe.

ULEZ: Please note, the Club’s Hall lies within the south circular. John Blase: 020 8693 2873 johnhblase@aol.com or Wendy Newall: 07821 089861 wendy.marsh@hotmail.com.

£5 (£4 Club Members). Pay at the Hall.

Friday 4 November: Live Band Karaoke

7pm -11:30pm. Belt out classics from Dolly Parton to Metallica, live on stage, backed by a sensational 5-piece band, in front of an electric crowd at Peckham Rye’s historic Ivy House. Pick from around 300 tunes. Lyrics are provided on screen, and our compere will be on stage with you to provide additional support and / or add those critical backing vocals. Doors + signups from 7pm; £6 (adv) / £8 (door, subject to availability). Ivy House, 40 Stuart Road, SE15 3BE. https://live-band-karaoke.designmynight.com/

2pm – 5pm. Spend an afternoon ‘putting on The Ritz’ in Dulwich Village! Start with a special tour of our vintage print studio installed and run by Simon Trewin of The Garage Press and then it is time to get printing - using gorgeous original 1920’s typefaces and fashion illustration blocks. Learn how to print bookmarks, personalised greetings cards and a frameable print or two on one of historic vintage printing presses and spend a wonderful afternoon embracing traditional crafts - all backed with a soundtrack of jazz age classics. No experience required. Bell House 27 College Road, Dulwich SE21 7BG. www.bellhouse.co.uk.

Saturdays 5, 12, 19 & 26

November: Dulwich Park & Peckham Rye Park Runs

9am-10am. Free, weekly timed 5k run, jog, or walk. Every Saturday at 9am promptly starting from Queen Mary’s Gate (Dulwich Park) and Colyton Road Entrance (Peckham Rye Park). Register once and bring your printed barcode (can be used at any parkrun across the world). First-timers briefing at 08.50. https://www.parkrun.org.uk/dulwich/ https://www.parkrun.org.uk/peckhamrye/

What's On - November

Saturday 5 November: Garage Press Open Studio

Saturday 5 November: Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation (AED)

Training - Session 1 & 2

10am - 12:30pm. / 1.30pm – 4:00pm

Move from being a passive bystander to an active life saver with our FREE adult basic life support (BLS) course and learn how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road, Dulwich SE21 7BG Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk

10am – 1pm Please join us for a demonstration of print techniques and a tour round the workshop. A tour of newly-installed The Garage Press letterpress studio at Bell House and a chance to watch Simon Trewin demonstrating traditional print techniques using a number of vintage presses – included the foot-powered 19th Century press ‘Gloria’. Plus, an opportunity for visitors to print a Bell House bookmark to take home. This event is FREE! Bell House Dulwich, 21 College Road, Dulwich SE21 7BG, UK. Tickets can be purchased at www.bellhouse.co.uk/events.

Saturday 5 November: Bell House Open Garden

Saturday 5 November: Yoga for Insomnia during Perimenopause, Menopause & Beyond

11:30am – 1:00pm. The Walled Garden comprises of raised beds filled with kitchen essentials grown organically. The House Garden features a rose garden and woodland walk designed to attract wildlife and provide safe habitats. The gardens are a place of community learning, maintained by volunteers who promote gardening as an activity for physical and mental well-being. Arrive anytime between 11am and 12:45. Tea and coffee will be available We encourage a £5 donation that will go towards garden maintenance and activities. Free tickets are also available. Bell House Dulwich, 21 College Road, SE21 7BG. www.bellhouse.co.uk/events.

1:30pm - 3:30pm. The aim is to provide a safe and supportive space in which to share information about how hormonal changes during the menopause can cause insomnia. During the session you will learn specific tools to enable you to sleep better: - gentle and restorative yoga postures, breathing exercises, mindfulness techniques, meditation and relaxation. The yoga session is suitable for beginners and does not require the body of a gymnast or any special equipment! Please bring a yoga mat if you have one, a blanket, a cushion, a notepad and pen, and water to drink. Wear warm comfortable clothes that enable you to move freely – layers are ideal to ensure you don’t get too hot or too cold. If you don’t have a yoga mat, there will be some available to borrow.

Tickets are £25 per person. Please email Bell House if you would like to be considered for a free or half price ticket info@bellhouse.co.uk. Bell House Dulwich, 21 College Road, SE21 7BG.

J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio

Saturday 26th November 7:30pm

St. John the Evangelist Church SE19 2RX

The Dulwich Choral Society is very pleased to bring you a performance of J.S. Bach’s wonderful and exuberant Christmas Oratorio, originally written for the yuletide of 1734. So come along and start the Christmas season with us in style with the abiding beauty of Bach.

With:

Ethan Uggoda – Treble

Helen Charlston – Mezzo Soprano Nick Pritchard – Tenor Dominic Sedgwick – Baritone

Tickets in advance via Ticketsource and the DCS website: http://www.dulwichchoral.com @dulwichchoral | @realdulwichchoralsociety

Remote online service. Accessible in all ways. Inclusive in all ways. No hourly rate charged. What you see is what you pay!

Grow Your Own Apples

Garden Talk with Janine Winlaw | Instagram @janinewinlaw

There’s nothing more satisfying, tasty and healthy than picking and eating your own homegrown apples. And with pretty pink- tinged blossom in spring and glowing autumn fruit, an apple tree adds an attractive and romantic feel to a garden and is wonderful for wildlife too You can plant bare root apple trees from November through to March. Here’s what you need to know.

Apple trees can act as a focal point in a lawn or provide structure in borders. And because they’re grafted onto rootstocks producing different sized trees, there’s an apple tree to fit every garden. The most vigorous rootstocks, M111 and M25, make large standard trees to sit under, and are wonderful for wild orchards under planted with bulbs.

However, even urban gardens can have an orchard if there’s room for five trees, argues author Naomi Slade in her excellent book An Orchard Odyssey, it just might mean using smaller trees such as semi dwarfing MM106. Otherwise M26, M9 and M27 make smaller trees still and can be trained and pruned into espaliers and fans, flat against a wall or fence, ideal for making the best use of space and maximising productivity.

Apples can also be grown in containers or trained into cordons – single stems with short side shoots – I’ve seen a row of these trained diagonally making an attractive and productive hedge. And step overs, cordons grown horizontally, around 45cm off the ground, are perfect for lining a path or edging a bed.

There are thousands of different apple varieties to choose from flowering and cropping at different times. It’s best to plant at least two apples from the same or adjacent groups (of which there are 6) so that they can pollinate each other. If there’s an apple tree in a neighbouring garden in the right group, that may even be enough.

Early Varieties

Discovery. A popular disease resistant red dessert apple.

Sunrise. An early red apple and one of the best. Worcester Pearmain. An early sweet red apple.

Mid Season Varieties

Jupiter. Similar to Cox’s Orange Pippin but larger and redder in colour.

Lord Lambourne. A traditional English apple with crisp, juicy, sweet apples. Delicious!

Late Varieties

Blenheim Orange. A classic English heritage variety with a distinctive flavour.

Topaz. A crisp, sharp dessert apple with red flushed skin.

Braeburn. A popular sweet, crisp apple. Elstar. One of the best modern apples with an excellent fruity flavour.

Spartan. A popular heavy cropping dark red dessert apple.

You can buy trees bare root between November and early March, or in containers for planting the rest of the year. Plant your tree in a warm position with free draining soil that gets around 6 hours of sun. Keep their bases weed free and mulch in the early years, and you’ll reap the rewards in years to come.

Quince Jelly

Recipes from Suzanne James | www.suzannejames.co.uk

It’sQuince time again. Originating from eastern Turkey and Afghanistan, but now found all over Europe, as both an ornamental and orchard tree the fruit is inedible raw, and the most common use is to make quince jelly and quince cheese. It can also be stewed and used like stewed apple in pies. Quince is ripe in October and November in the UK (they still feel hard but smell sweet at the end opposite the stalk). Lots of people have Quince but don’t use them so it’s worth asking around (I am lucky to have access to free Quince for this very reason). Every year I make Quince Jelly to serve with Christmas cheeseboards or alongside pork or game dishes. It is high in pectin so it is easy to make and set, and provided you ladle the hot jelly into sterilised jars it will keep for up to a year in a dark, cool cupboard.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time 2 hours

Ingredients

(This quantity will make 2 x 350ml jars)

• 1.5kg ripe quince, washed and cut into 1” chunks (no need to peel or core them)

• 1 lemon zest peeled and cut into strips, and then juiced

• Approx. 900g of preserving sugar

Method

1) Put the quince, lemon peel and juice into a large, deep saucepan.

2) Cover with water – just over 3 litres should do it.

3) Bring to the boil.

4) Reduce to a simmer and cook for 1½ hours until the quince is very soft.

5) Line a colander with a muslin cloth and put over a large saucepan or heatproof bowl.

6) Tip the quince into the lined colander, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to strain for 4-8 hours until all the juice has dripped out.

7) Discard the pulp (can go on the compost heap) and then measure out the strained juice and transfer into a large, deep saucepan, allowing room for the jelly to bubble up as it cooks.

8) Add 500g of sugar for every 600ml of juice.

9) Bring the mixture to the boil over a low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar and skimming off any scum, then bring to a rapid boil so it bubbles. Once boiling start the ‘wrinkle test’ - drop a teaspoonful of the liquid onto a chilled plate and leave it for a few seconds. Then push the drop of jelly with your fingernail. If it wrinkles your quince jelly will set and can be transferred into the hot jars and sealed.

10) Remove from the heat and use a glass jug to pour the jelly into the hot sterilised jars and seal.

To sterilise jam jars place them on a baking tray in an oven at 1400C whilst making the jam.

In Season This Month

Fruits, Nuts & Fungi - Apples, Cranberries, Pears, Quince, Wild Mushrooms

Vegetables & Herbs - Artichoke, Beetroot, Butternut Squash, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Parsnips, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Salsify, Shallots, Swede, Truffles, Turnips, Watercress

Meat & Game - Beef, Duck, Goose, Grouse, Guinea Fowl, Hare, Lamb, Mallard, Partridge, Pheasant, Rabbit, Turkey, Venison, Wood Pigeon

Fish & Shellfish - Clams, Cod, Coley, Crab, Dab, Dover Sole, Gurnard, Haddock, Halibut, Hake, Lemon Sole, lobster, Mackerel, Monkfish, Mussels, Oysters, Plaice, Pollack, Red Mullet, Wild Sea Bass, Sea Bream, Skate, Squid, Turbot, Winkles

Getting out in Nature for our Health & Wellbeing Fitness tips with Leanne Spencer | www.bodyshotperformance.com

I’d like to elaborate on a point that is often made about Blue Monday, the day in January when people report feeling their lowest. In the past, I shared with you my top three ways to boost mood and energy in winter. To recap they were: 1) move in nature, 2) make a future plan and 3) interact with an animal (our dog and cat). In this article I wanted to go back and further discuss the first thing on that list: Move in Nature.

Back To Basics

Getting out into nature isn’t a new idea – in fact, it’s just going back to what our ancestors would do all the time when life was much simpler. In the past, you may remember I talked about phytoncides (medicinal oils released by trees), that can have a really positive effect on both our mental wellbeing and immune health. Long before the invention of prescribed medication and processed foods, nature was the sole provider, and I think it is important to refer back to that concept every once in a while.

Experience Nature

Try and get out – even just for five or ten minutes – look at the leaves and experience the crispness of the earth under your feet. It may not seem like much is going on this time of year, but there most certainly is – particularly underground – you just have to feel around for it with your mind. Sure enough, as you tune into your awareness, you’ll begin to notice the little buds on the trees and be able to see things that are happening in nature. I think this can really instil a sense of hope and optimism during times that for some of us can really feel quite blue.

Get Into Going Out

There are two books I’d like to recommend that will inspire you to get out, and though quite different, both are lovely reads that illustrate the powerful effects of nature therapy:

Everyday Nature by Andy Beer

This book features a very short paragraph for every day of the year, which tells you about

what’s thriving, growing, or starting to grow at that particular time. And the second book, I’d like to recommend is: Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari.

You’ve most probably heard me talk about this one before as Johann Hari is one of my favourite authors! In the book, Hari argues that one of the reasons we are experiencing more feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression is that we’ve lost our connection with nature and the natural world. Just take a look at Scotland, there some GP surgeries issue “nature prescriptions” to help treat mental illness, diabetes, heart disease, stress and other conditions.

So, I want to encourage you to get outside and ‘out of self’, to begin looking for things in nature, and learn to interact with something that’s much bigger than everything you know.

What's On - November

Sundays 6, 13, 20 & 27

November: Peckham Rye Junior parkrun

Monday 7 NovemberThursday 10 November: Cookery Demonstration:

Persiana Everyday by Sabrina Ghayour

9am -9:30am. A free, weekly, timed run for 4–14-year-olds at to get fit, stay healthy and have fun! We run 2km every Sunday morning at 9am, through rain and shine. The course is visible, well-marshalled, and all held on the paths around the sports pitches. Register on: www.parkrun.org.uk/peckhamrye-juniors/ Peckham Rye Park, Colyton Road, SE22 0NE.

Sundays 6, 13, 20 27 November: Horniman Market

7:30pm -8:30pm. Persiana Every day is a new collection of more than 100 fuss-free, crowdpleasing recipes for everyday eating. Sabrina will be demonstrating some recipes from this new book and will be chatting to Guardian journalist and author Felicity Cloake. This event will be followed by a book signing. The Great Hall at Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, SE22 8SU. Tickets: www.mct.alleyns.org.uk

Wednesday 9 November: Goose Green Coffee Morning - The Singing Geese

11am - 12:30pm. Do come and join us at Goose Green Coffee Morning for The Singing Geese, our wonderful community singing group led by Steve Barbe. All are welcome, even if you think you can’t sing! We will be open from 11 o’clock for tea or coffee and cake, with the singing starting at 11:30. St John’s Church, St John’s East Dulwich, 62A East Dulwich Road. If you would like to know more: goosegreencoffeemorning@gmail.com.

10am–3pm. The weekly Horniman Market is open to provide food items including fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, bread, cake, meat, and street food. Alongside food stalls, you’ll find body care, clothing, jewellery, design and craft; most are locally produced, ethical and many use environmentally friendly materials, natural and organic ingredients.

Market stalls will be positioned outdoors at a safe distance from each other to ensure we can maintain a social distance for all customers and traders. www.horniman.ac.uk.

100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ.

Thursday 10 November: The Lighthouse of Stalingrad:

The Hidden Truth at the Centre of WWII’s Greatest Battle by Iain MacGregor

7.30pm – 8:30pm. An enthralling, insightful look into the most decisive battle of the Second World War, shedding new light on the heroic work of those who fought and died as we mark the 80th anniversary of the famous Soviet counterattack at Stalingrad – Operation Uranus, the turning point in the war. The Lower School at Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, East Dulwich SE22 8SU.

Tickets: www.mct.alleyns.org.uk

We invite you to come to West Dulwich in South London to discover just how we get the best out of our students and harness top talent within an ethos characterised by warmth, culture and care.The amazing popularity of the school is a reflection of our renowned academic achievements, inspirational award-winning learning environment and the unusually rare opportunities we provide.

Kingsdale is extremely proud of its special reputation and heritage in Music and Mathematics. We offer scholarships for new entrants to the school who show musical, mathematical, artistic or sporting talent. Scholars receive free individual or small group tuition provided by expert professionals, to the value of £1,000 per annum.There is equality of access for admission places irrespective of distance from the school or home locality.

Kingsdale offers private tours of the school during normal working hours throughout the academic year. Tours are arranged for prospective parents at a time that best suits them!

What's On - November

Thursday 10 November:

Sorolla, The Master of Light

8pm – 9pm. Sorolla believed painters could never reproduce sunlight as it really is, and he could only “approach the truth of it”. He captured the light of the Mediterranean beaches he loved and the energy of Spanish life like no other artist. In this lecture we will look at Sorolla’s life and art, from having been almost forgotten to his rediscovery in the last few years. Also available to members and non-members live on Zoom. Lecturer: Arantxa Sardin. James Allen’s Girls’ School Sixth Form Centre, Green Dale. www.theartssocietydulwich.org.uk/programme/ lectures

Saturday 12, 19 & 26 November: Drawing from the Garden

10am -12:30pm. Join us for a drawing workshopall material provided. Working with the weather conditions, we will either sit and draw out in the garden or bring the garden inside and work from still life and photos to depict our interpretations of the seasonal changes occurring in the Bell House gardens. All materials provided, including paper and drawing boards. Bell House Dulwich, 21 College Road, London SE21 7BG, UK. Tickets www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

Saturday 12 November –Sunday 13 November: Sale of Original Prints & Etchings.

11:00am – 4.00pm. A pre-Christmas sale of lino prints and etchings, some framed, some in mounts, others unmounted, work by local artist Judith Robertson. Half proceeds to go to Peckham Food Bank. 76 Crawthew Grove, London SE22 9AB, UK

Sunday 13 November: Autumn Winds – Seasons of Mists & Mellow Flutefulness

3.00pm -5.00pm. Join us for a live performance of flute and recorder at Bell House this Autumn. Tickets are £15 each. Discounted tickets for students, children and OAPs are £10. Tickets www.eventbrite.co.uk. Bell House Dulwich, 21 College Road, Dulwich SE21 7BG, UK.

Monday 14 November: Dulwich WI Monthly Meeting

7.30pm-9.30pm. We meet on the second Monday of each month at Vits+Kicks, 57 North Cross Road, East Dulwich, SE22. https://dulwichwi.com

Tuesday 15 November: Entrepreneurs Circle Local Meeting: Dulwich

5:30pm-8pm (registration from 5.30pm). The Entrepreneurs Circle Local Meeting is a new type of Business Growth Meeting (with some networking) that’s guaranteed to help your business grow... If you have any questions, just let us know! Join your fellow Dulwich business owners for our Entrepreneurs Circle Local Meeting at The Clock House (Blakes) 198a Peckham Rye, East Dulwich, SE22 9QA. www.entrepreneurscircle.org

Thursday 17 November –Monday 2 January 2023:

Lightopia 2022 - Feel the Magic of Christmas

The award-winning Lightopia Festival returns to Crystal Palace Park for 2022, bringing its incredible lightshow to London for the second year running and is promising to be bigger and brighter than ever this time.Crystal Palace Park, London, Thicket Road, London SE20, UK. Tickets : www.london.lightopiafestival.com

For listings contact: angela@semagazines.co.uk

What's On - November

Thursday 17 November: Talk on the history of Jazz (with music) - Dulwich & District u3a

2pm – 4pm. Introduction to the history of Jazz (with musical interludes). An intergenerational session from Pat Wright and her grandson Max, a professional jazz drummer.u3a members and non-members welcome. Tickets via: www.u3asites.org.uk/dulwich/events

Saturday 19 November:

The Illusioneer: Magic Mix

Sunday 20 NovemberMid-century Modern®

10am – 4pm. 65 top mid-century dealers and 28 contemporary designers come together at this celebrated interior show. Expect an eclectic mix of collectables with all you need for your home and more including furniture, ceramics, glassware, industrial, metal smalls, vintage posters, art, Danish silver jewellery, lighting, fabrics, rugs and more. Make a day of it with Dulwich Picture Gallery, Dulwich Park and village all within walking distance. Tickets via: www.modernshows.com. Dulwich College, Dulwich Common, Dulwich SE21 7LD.

Sunday 20 November: Classic Orchestral Concert

7.30pm-10pm. Puzzlements, Curiosities, Parlor, Street and Cabaret Magic from The Illusioneer team and guests in a fun and relaxed setting: A seated theatre style show back by popular demand. Bring your own liquid refreshments. We have the drinking vessels. Sorry no food allowed in the venue but there are a variety of eating places close by. Performers are from our resident team and guest artists, they will vary each show. All artists give their performances free and profits are donated to our special children's charity Breathe. Tickets via eventbrite. co.uk. Fison Fitness Centre 280 Milkwood Road, Herne Hill Railway Arches, Herne Hill, SE24 0EZ

Saturday 19 November:

Smartphone Filmmaking

10am – 4pm. A one-day workshop, ‘Smartphone Filmmaking’ will introduce people to the fundamental concepts of filmmaking and provide them with the tools they need to be able to shoot their own films on their smartphone Places are £80 or £50 if you are in full-time education. Tickets: www.bellhouse.co.uk/events Bell House Dulwich, 21 College Road, SE21 7BG.

7.30pm – 9:00pm. Join us in the lovely surroundings of St Stephen’s Church for this beautiful concert, given by the local professional musicians of the Tamino Orchestra. The programme includes tuneful works by Purcell and Boyce and Finzi’s evocative Romance. Douglas Reith (as seen in Downton Abbey) will introduce dances from Stravinsky’s ballet Apollon Musagète and a new work by local composer Nicholas AnsdellEvans, who conducts, with mezzo-soprano Stephanie Marshall. Tickets £15 on the door and online: www.ststephensdulwich.org/concerts. St Stephen’s Church, College Road SE21 7HW.

Monday 21 November: Change your mindset to lead a happier, healthier lifeonline event

7pm – 8pm. It’s not what happens to us in life that really matters, it’s how we react to it. We can all learn from unwelcome challenges and, more often than not, become better as a result of them. By learning strategies to change our mindset we can build resilience, gratitude and humility. The session will include practical tools to utilise in your everyday life which can lead to lasting change. Tickets are £5. There are bursary places available. Email info@bellhouse.co.uk. Tickets: www.bellhouse.co.uk/events Bell House Dulwich, 21 College Road, Dulwich SE21 7BG.

What's On - November

Thursday 24 November: An Evening with Hugh Bonneville

Friday 25 November: Granny’s Attic, Liam Cooper, Phil Stevens 7pm – 11pm

With exceptional musicianship and boundless energy, Granny’s Attic are going from strength to strength. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (melodeon, anglo concertina, vocals), George Sansome (guitar, vocals) and Lewis Wood (violin, vocals) have honed their skills touring the UK and Europe since 2009. The Ivy House, 40 Stuart Road, Nunhead, SE15 3BE Tickets at: www.wegottickets.com/thegooseisout

Saturday 26 November: Love

West Dulwich Christmas Fair

7.30pm – 8.30pm. Village Books and The MCT at Alleyn’s are delighted to announce An Evening with Hugh Bonneville! Tickets can be purchased from https://mct.alleyns.org.uk. Alleyn’s School, Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, SE22 8SU, UK.

Friday 25 November: Creative Arts Club for Older Adults (60+): a Burst of Colour

10am -12pm Hanging tissue Pom Poms can transform a space for any occasion. Simple, effective and fun to make, it always feels like a party when making these so come and join in! Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk. Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road, Dulwich SE21 7BG.

Friday 25 November:

Mark Evison Foundation Carol Concert @6pm

With the Dulwich College choir, celebrity readers Celia and Angus Imrie, Julian Ovenden, Iain Glen, and Lesley Sharp, and singers Kate Royal and Clare Presland (with help from Julian Ovenden). There will be a champagne reception afterwards in the Linley Room at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Tickets are £15 a head, under 16s free, book tickets at events@markevisonfoundation.org. www.markevisonfoundation.org/events. Christ’s Chapel, SE21 7AD

10am – 4pm Enjoy Santa’s grotto at Wigwam Toy Shop, the arts & crafts market, a kids Christmas trail, kids story time, face painting and much more! There will also be lots of offers and promotions at the West Dulwich shops and businesses. The fair takes place throughout West Dulwich on Croxted and Rosendale Roads, SE21. Wigwam, 109 Rosendale Road, SE21 8EZ.

Dulwich Christmas Market

11am – 4pm. SoLo Craft Fair is delighted to be back in the heart of beautiful Dulwich for their Christmas market this year. Start your Christmas shopping by supporting small businesses and finding unique gifts. St. Barnabas Parish Hall, 23 Dulwich Village, SE21 7BT. ww.solocraftfair.com

Saturday 26 November:

Dulwich Choral Society

7.30pm – 9:30pm - The Dulwich Choral Society is very pleased to bring you a performance of J.S. Bach’s wonderful and exuberant Christmas Oratorio, originally written for the yuletide of 1734. So come along and start the Christmas season with us in style with the abiding beauty of Bach. St. John the Evangelist Church, 1 Sylvan Road SE19 2RX. Tickets in advance via ticket source and: http://www.dulwichchoral.com

Wednesday 30 November: Cooking with Scissors

6.45pm-8pm. An opportunity for local business professionals to meet, make new contacts and gain new business. www.cookingwithscissors.co.uk.

Dulwich Hamlet FC

Paul

Barnes’s reign as Dulwich Hamlet men’s team’s interim manager continues to be something of a curate’s egg. The new gaffer was a high whisk appointment when he was poached from lowly Redhill, the board having cracked and dismissed longstanding boss Gavin Rose. Fans have taken to Barnsey’s sunny-side and his hard-boiled approach to game management. But while The Hamlet are clearly performing better, they keep getting beat. The mid-October game against high-frying Dartford was a case in point, with the Pink and Blues going ahead early on, before Dartford equalised with substitute Sheringham subsequently soaring like a souffle to head home the visitors’ second. There was unfortunately no huevos back for a shell-shocked Hamlet. Let us hope the new management team can hatch a plan for getting us out of the bottom oeuf of the league.

The Rabble are certainly hoping for some good results in November, including from the three home games against Weymouth (1st November), Hampton and Richmond (5th) and Ebbsfleet (26th). Matches are often sell-outs these days, so if you’re not a season ticket holder it may be best to buy your ticket online beforehand (although

some walk-ups are available on matchday). Food and booze is available at all corners of Champion Hill so if the football is pants you can have yourself a cheeky pitchside Bacchanal by way of mitigation. Dogs eat for free, from dropped and discarded chips and gyros meat trodden into the terrace concrete.

Meanwhile, after a slow start to the season, Dulwich Hamlet women are beginning to shift through the gears. The day after The Dartford Disappointment (a particularly dull Robert Ludlum novel), The Hamlet goal-machine humbled visitors Aylesford 7-0 in front of a lucky crowd of 213 people and 5 dogs. The women’s team tend to play on Sunday, with their one scheduled home game in November happening on the 13th when they’ll take on the Kentish Women of Ebbsfleet.

With the days shortening, the temperature chilling, and the economy collapsing, it may be some woolly Dulwich Hamlet merchandise is in order to lift the spirits. A woolly beanie or bobble hat perhaps and a nice pink and blue scarf to go with it. If you fancy a bit of that, and more besides, why not take a look at the online Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Trust souk of a site at https://dhst.org.uk/. Up the Omelette.

SE22 Councillors

Councillor James.McAsh | James.McAsh@southwark.gov.uk | @mcash

Rest, work, time spent with friends and family – it all happens on land. Questions about land-use matter, because all human activity needs a place to host it.

If a patch of land is used for one thing, then it cannot be used for another. Who makes these decisions?

In a democratic society, we all have a right to influence the world around us. In particular, we all spend lots of time on publicly owned land. Shouldn’t we have the right to shape that? Or to protect it in its current use? In this column I want to tell you about three projects about land-use in the local area: from a patch the size of a parking space to the borough itself.

East Dulwich Parking Zone Review

The council is conducting a review of the East Dulwich parking zone, which was implemented in 2020. As you may remember, the zone was conceived in response to demand from local residents and its boundaries were drawn to offer controlled parking to the highest possible number of people who wanted it, whilst imposing it on the smallest possible number of those who did not. I wrote about our approach in SE22 at the time – you can read it here: https://bit.ly/EastDulwichParking

This review looks to fine-tune the scheme. Residents and businesses in the zone will be asked whether the timed restrictions are right, and what other provision they want to see. Individual spaces can be parking for residents or for customers of local businesses, or they could be a cycle hangar or a spot for an electric vehicle. A few spaces together are big enough to host a street market – like the one recently launched on Melbourne Grove. These ultra-local discussions of land use can really make a difference to the area. If you live within the zone you can expect a letter about the review soon.

Local List

Land is also key to our history. Like fossils on a cliff face, the urban environment offers clues to our past. In East Dulwich, we have a proud heritage. The Dulwich Society website has a wonderful section showcasing the history of the area – from biographies of famous past residents to accounts of how our streets got their names (I was surprised to learn that Melbourne Grove is named after the

small Derbyshire town, not the Australian city). The council is, for the first time, compiling a “local list” of buildings or structures with local significance and you have until the end of November to make your suggestions. Interested? Submit your ideas here: https://bit.ly/SwkLocalList

Land Commission

Finally, I’m leading a Southwark-wide project to launch a Land Commission. Its goal is to free up more land for public good, like genuinely affordable housing, green open space, and food growing. We’re looking to work with major landowners across the borough and with local community groups. If you have any ideas for patches of land which you think could be brought into better use –please let me know!

We’re always keen to hear from local residents. If you ever need anything, please email us on:

• James.McAsh@southwark.gov.uk

• Portia.Mwangangye@southwark.gov.uk

• Charlie.Smith@southwark.gov.uk

BabyBallet

The award winning movement to music, dance & singing programme for boys and girls from 6 months upwards run with a fun, safe and caring environment. Classes in Dulwich. Call Stephanie 07809 148348 | www.babyballet.co.uk.

Boppin Bunnies

Interactive Music class for under 5’s led by professional musicians. Monday mornings 9:30am, 10:15am & 11am. Punk Me Up Ceramics Cafe. 34 East Dulwich Road, SE22 9AX www.boppinbunnies.co.uk.

diddi dance

Funky pre-school dance classes for girls and boys. Learn coordination, rhythm and great moves to funky songs and boost confidence. Classes in East Dulwich, Anne-Marie for a free trial 07973 982790 | www.diddidance.com.

District & Dulwich Twins Club

Baby and Toddler Group every Friday 10am-12pm (turn up at any time!), at Peckham Rye Playrooms (SE corner of the Rye). It is for multiples only, but you do not have to be a member of the club to attend. BYO coffee cup! www.ddtwinsclub.org.

Gymboree

Classes are designed for newborns - 5 year olds, and are led by experienced and nurturing teachers. We run throughout the year at Gymboree East Dulwich. 184 Peckham Rye SE22 9QA. 07538 795023 | eastdulwich@gymboree-uk.com.

HartBeeps

Mondays at Christ Church, 263 Barry Road, East Dulwich, SE22 0JT. 10am Happy House, 11am Baby Beeps & 12.15pm Baby Bells. Fridays at Ewart Community Hub, 44 Wastdale Road, SE23 1HN .10am Happy House, 11am Baby Beeps & 12.15pm Baby Bells. http://hartbeeps.com

Little Superhero Training

Practice your Superhero moves! Discover Superhero fun facts! Any Little Heroes, Boys and Girls aged 2 - 5, Come along for a FREE taster session. Mondays & Fridays (term time only) St Barnabas Parish Hall, 23 Dulwich Village, SE21 7BT. Contact Lucy 07813 791757 | lucy@littleherocompany.com www.littleherocompany.com

Lucy Sparkles

Outstanding music, drama and dance classes and parties for young children. Fun classes where children engage with singing, movement and live music whilst enhancing learning through developing physical, emotional and intellectual skills. Tues, Weds & Fri classes for different age groups/ themes. sarah@lucysparkles.com | 07929 784 719

Nibble Arts

Are you looking for flexible 8:00 - 6:30pm school holiday childcare? We still have lots of places available at Goodrich Primary SE22 from 4th birthday to 11 - our unique creative childcare lets children explore a brand-new adventure through up to 4 creative workshops a day with industry professionals for February Half-term 14th - 18th Feb!

Children are looked after in key groups of 10 for a really personalised experience and you can request that they are grouped with friends who are also attending.

We are Ofsted approved and you can book in advance up to the end of Summer Holidays 2022 1-5 days a week using childcare vouchers, tax-free childcare, card or instalment plans from £54/day. Where else can you be on video chat to an Arctic explorer live from Svalbard University one day, and meeting Sophie the giant animatronic T-Rex the next? For the full timetable and to book visit www.nimblearts.co.uk/how-our-clubs-work

Mini Athletics (SE London)

Winning the gold medal for children’s sports classes! Start your child’s fantastic journey in athletic development, designed for toddlers up to children of 7 years old. All through a fun play-based format. To try us out, contact Sam: 07811787153 | smcdermott@miniathletics.com www.miniathletics.com

Sing and Sign

Monday - Saturday. 020 7193 3696 | www.singandsign.com

Sparkle Music

Carefully structured and fun music classes for babies, toddlers and pre-school children in SE22. Check the website for current classes. Contact : anna@sparkle-music.co.uk. | 0771 1238352

Our children’s activities pages have been popular for years and now they are back! If you run a class in any of these areas, then advertising in these pages are just for you. Each magazine has 5,000 copies which are hand-delivered every month. You can choose to go for 5, 10 or 15,000 copies, it is totally up to you. Contact Angela at: angela@semagazines.co.uk for a rate card.

Financial Matters

With David Frederick FCCA | Marcus Bishop Associates | marcus-bishop.com

Is it your money?

Ithas become abundantly apparent that an army of aspirant small business owners who set up limited companies are oblivious to the world into which they are entering. Moreover, they are often reluctant to seek professional advice of any description because they believe they know it all! Otherwise, they would seek advice. Their naivety, neglect of the law or sheer arrogance becomes self-evident when they eventually realise, they cannot produce company financial statements for either Companies House or HMRC. Furthermore, they often fail to recognise that Companies House and HMRC are two different agencies and they each require different financial statements. It is amazing. Perhaps the reason for UK small company failure is the obsession with the ease and cheapness in the UK of company formation. Too many people think they can do it because it is so easy.

One may understand their inability to recognise that company directors do not own any company. Shareholders own companies. Furthermore, one may even forgive them for using directors and shareholders interchangeably. However, there must be no understanding, tolerance or forgiveness for the extraction of company funds without either a payroll or knowledge of profit reserves. Too often one hears variations of this sob story, “I just paid myself from the company by transferring the money to my personal account.”

Let’s be quite clear, the funds in a company does not belong to any individual irrespective of what they think or have been advised by any adviser in their local public house or they have researched and misunderstood on the internet. Whether you are a sole shareholder-director or one of many shareholder-directors the company funds are not and never shall be yours.

In short, the action of transferring funds from a limited company to a personal account without appropriate, sufficient, relevant, verifiable evidence is theft. If this sounds unfair, just ask yourself, as an employee would you ever just take money from your employer’s bank account? If the answer is, no, theft is fair. Such behaviour by shareholder-directors is self-

evident that they have failed to fully understand and abide by the seven core principles of a company director.

Remuneration of any employed director or employee of a UK limited company must be undertaken via a HMRC registered payroll. This is not optional or something you can overlook and justify non-compliance. A payroll should be setup in advance of any desire to remunerate any employed director or employee.

Some small company shareholder-directors champion being rewarded by dividends. This is an alternative to salary, but the two are not synonymous and they do not have the same accounting and taxation treatment in company financial statements. This subtle differentiation is often ignored, overlooked or misunderstood by the vocal champions of dividends.

Dividends are distributed to shareholders from the company’s post tax profit and accumulated profit reserves. Therefore, before a dividend can be declared, the company must have distributable profits after corporation tax. To know if the company has distributable profits, financial statements for the month or quarter must be produced. This may be a shock to the army of small companies who rush to find an accountant after 12 months of trading. Vocalising the words is very much easier than understanding its meaning and the process. To close the door on dividends, if the company does not generate a profit, it cannot make any “lawful” dividend distribution.

The payment of a salary does not require a company to have made a profit but does require a HMRC registered payroll. Salaries are an allowable business expense before the charging of corporation tax. Dividend payments are payable after corporation tax if the company has any distributable profit. The remuneration of shareholder-directors requires stopping and reflection before any decision.

Dogs & Sprogs Part 3

Pets Corner with Leonie St Clair | www.londondogstraining.co.uk

In the final part of our series on dogs and babies, we look at how to prepare the way for a lasting friendship between your dog and your toddlers.

Not all dogs instantly love children. From a pup perspective your little ’un may be more of a scary monster than new, best friend. Running, squeaking toddlers, smelling strongly of forbidden but delicious human grub, may also seem a novel, hunting-ready form of prey, ripe for chasing. Even well socialised pups, growing up surrounded by kids, may after one ill-judged encounter, develop a deep and lasting fear of them. Clumsy handling by a child, where the grip is too tight and the puppy is unceremoniously swooped up into the air, or where inquisitive little fingers accidently poke at eyes and ears, are often the reason why a hitherto friendly dog ‘suddenly bites for no reason’. Pups need to learn how to behave around children:

• First, kiddies are not littermates and biting games are verboten.

• Pups should not ‘jump up’ at humans or other dogs. If you have not taught your pup this golden rule, then get into training now.

• Razor sharp puppy teeth and claws can easily harm a toddler or frail adult.

• Kids need to learn that puppies and dogs are not cute toys, there is a right way to interact with a dog and other ways that may intimidate or frighten your pet, leading to a bite. Don’t put your dog in the position that it has to defend itself against unwanted attention. Follow these tips and educate yourself and your children about dog communication:

• Keep children away from the dog when he is eating and resting. Proof him against approaches to his bowl, chews and resting area. Read “The Perfect Puppy” by Gwen Bailey.

• Dogs may tolerate petting but they do not always enjoy it. Do not let children pull ears or give full body hugs.

• Toddlers approaching dogs at eye level may appear intimidating and challenging. Teach children to approach on a curve, without direct eye contact.

• Stand sideways to the dog and stroke the back, sides or chest.

• Many dogs dislike head touches, especially by people they do not know. The head is a doggy socially sensitive area, as is the neck, tail and paws. Repeated touching or pulling may result in a bite.

• Dogs that roll over and show their tummies are not necessarily inviting a tummy rub, this may be a plea to back off.

• Dogs that turn their head away from you, lick their lips, sniff the ground, or shake off, may be showing they have had enough contact for now.

• Pups should be proofed to approaches from behind, grabbing and looming (see Gwen Bailey) but this should be reserved for emergencies.

• Do not let children pick up puppies. They often hurt or drop them without meaning to.

• Pups on the receiving end of bad handling can develop a lifelong fear of human hands and become the classic ‘snappy’ dog.

• Consider the sort of breed you want to share your home. Dogs with strong guarding and watch dog traits, so-called ‘one-person’ breeds, are possibly not right for a home with small kids.

• Finally, if your dog growls never chastise them. This is an early warning system saying your dog is worried about something. Without that growl your dog is more likely to bite without warning.

• If you hear growling, especially around children, investigate, take note and take action.

SOUTHWARK FRIENDS

We are local people over 50 who like taking part in activities in the company of others and making new friends.

Join our group and...

Come for a walk,

Go on a boat trip,

Join a coffee morning,

Visit a garden,

Have a meal out with friends,

Visit historic houses,

Enjoy a visit to the theatre or cinema,

Come on a picnic,

Try different craft activities,

Visit places of interest,

Support your local food bank,

Explore exhibitions & galleries,

Go on Freedom Pass jaunts to other towns… …the world is your oyster!

TO JOIN US, GO TO: https://meetup.com/Southwark-Friends

Volunteering

Education News from Alleyn's | www.alleyns.org.uk

Megan Ellery-Lloyd, Head of Volunteering at Alleyn’s, tells us how volunteering can benefit your child as well as your community.

Whilst ‘spare time’ can feel like an elusive concept during a hectic school term, the benefits of volunteering are immense and worthwhile. Not only could your child offer vital help to worthwhile causes and the community, they could also reap some benefits themselves.

Helping Communities

Whether sorting groceries at a food bank, working in a charity shop or spending time with the elderly, there are so many ways we can help our diverse communities thrive. By getting involved in local projects, your child will get a better understanding of how their community works, what it needs and how to create a more positive, sustainable future for everyone.

Improving Health

Giving to others can protect and improve our own mental and physical health, reduce stress and depression, build a sense of connection, boost selfconfidence, and provide mental stimulation and a sense of purpose. Volunteering is also a great way to meet like-minded people and make new friends.

Creating Proactive Citizens

Your child may well have heard news stories about these ‘unprecedented times’ and this could leave them feeling despondent and unsure that they can make a difference. Volunteering provides an opportunity to proactively contribute to improving our world – and your child will see their small actions making a big difference to others. Young people involved in social action are more likely to be open-minded, compassionate and hopeful for the future. They will gain a better awareness of what life is like for the less privileged and become more integrated into their communities.

Learning New Skills

Being exposed to different environments, situations and roles can improve life skills. Your child could improve their leadership, listening and teamwork skills, as well as their ability to communicate with people from different backgrounds. The experience

may even spark an interest that provides inspiration for their future degree or career, and it might make a CV or Personal Statement stand out.

Making It Work For You

Volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or even masses of time. Giving in even the simplest ways can be of huge help to charities, organisations and communities. This is the case whether your child is volunteering weekly or for a short spell during the holidays. Perhaps you would like to take the organising into your own hands and go for a Sunday morning family litter pick!

Having Fun!

Finally, volunteering can be fun and rewarding. The vast array of opportunities available can provide completely new experiences and challenges. There are so many projects your child could get involved with and you can help them find something they feel passionate about. They will get so much joy from seeing the effects of their endeavours. Ultimately, it is hard to feel sad when you’re making someone else happy!

Useful Links

• www.dofe.org/thelatest/volunteering-ideas/

• www.iwill.org.uk/about-us/youth-social-action#start

• www.wearencs.com/changemakers

• https://targetcareers.co.uk/careers-advice/skills-and experience/894117-volunteering-for-teens