The Brent Magazine issue 97 December 2009

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ISSUE NO.97

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FREE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN BRENT

DECEMBER 2009

Warm up for winter Jonny Berliner’s hit heads for The Tricycle

Wishing all our readers a very Happy Christmas

Brent’s Christmas events

Activities to stop you hibernating

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Local issues

Who’s got the answers?

Have your say at one of Brent’s five area consultative meetings. Come and discuss the local issues which concern you, such as environment, transport, planning, streetscene, health care and policing with councillors and local policy makers.

Brent Area Consultative Forums 2010: Harlesden ACF 12 January Willesden ACF

13 January

Wembley ACF

26 January

Kilburn and Kensal ACF

27 January

Kingsbury and Kenton ACF 2 February BRENT ACF Area Consultative Forums

For more information contact Brent Consultation Team Tel 020 8937 1055 Email consultation@brent.gov.uk www.brent.gov.uk/consultation

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Contents 14

Features

13 14 17 19 21 23 25

A well winter How to stay healthy and safe

Welcome to The Brent Magazine

Christmas events Your guide to festive events in Brent

Warmly received

The festive season is upon us again and The Brent Magazine is helping you to celebrate.

We have details of Brent’s Chanukah celebrations and a guide to all the different events going on for Christmas. This year a Christmas lights switch on, lantern parades, bazaars, craft classes, and even a vintage Christmas card exhibition are planned.

Other things going on this month are the launch of a winter shelter scheme by Brent churches, and the start of an environmental pledge campaign

by Brent Council.

For those of you who would like to be entertained in the next month, Cricklewood’s Jonny Berliner tells us about his new show at The Tricycle.

Winter night shelters for homeless to open

Brent’s Civic Centre Discover new local government building

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Caring for canines Advice on dogs as presents

Firmly Pledged Environmental campaign is launched

Your views on Brent Results of latest Residents’ Attitude Survey

Regulars Update

James Diamond Editor The Brent Magazine

Brent people All in a day’s work

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Secret history Competitions Time out

Issue No. 97 December 2009 The Brent Magazine contacts Distribution queries and editorial 020 8937 1068 tbm@brent.gov.uk Advertising 020 8937 1097 advertising@brent.gov.uk Published by the London Borough of Brent, Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley Middlesex.

13 The London Borough of Brent does not accept responsibility for any goods or services offered by advertisers. Publication of an advertisement does not imply recommendation by the council of goods or services advertised.

Printed on Near Wood Free Stock (10-30% mill spoilage recycled content). Please use your local paper bank when disposing of this and other paper.

One Stop Service 020 8937 1200 www.brent.gov.uk The Brent Magazine is available in large print and on audio tape.

Please ring 020 8937 1106 Cover image: Jonny Berliner at the Tricycle Photographer SIMON HANNA

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Green energy upgrade for Brent estate Brent Housing Partnership has launched a green energy scheme on Brentfield Estate.

The works programme is focusing on older homes with poor insulation which are more likely to suffer from damp. It will improve the quality of the homes and boost their energy efficiency – helping to keep down energy bills for the residents.

It will install external insulation cladding to 114 homes with 84 of them also fitted with solar electric tiles. Other energy efficiency measures include loft insulation, aluminium double glazed windows and doors, and use of water butts to conserve water. Ecological roofs of special tiles are being installed, which helps to remove pollutants from the air.

Shaun Gillam, Head of Major Works at Brent Housing Partnership. said: “We are

Library open into 2010 Barham Park Library will now remain open until early 2010 when work will start to transform it into a new library and children’s centre, for details e-mail rashmi.agarwal @brent.gov.uk or call 020 8937 3143.

very excited about the programme on the estate, and are keen to follow this up with other projects in Brent. It is investing in the future and making a positive impact on the environment. It will reduce residents’ spending on energy and meet energy efficiency targets.We’re able to make a real difference to the quality of our tenants’ lives.”

The work will be completed by January 2010; contractors include Solarcentury and Lakehouse.

• Joyce Baldy-Gray from St Raphael’s, Karin Jaeger from Harlesden and Brentfield and Dennis Woolcock from South Kilburn were recently elected as new tenant members on to Brent Housing Partnership’s Board after a turnout in which 2,576 tenants voted in the election.

Lakehouse’s Martin Coupe and Shaun Gillam

New chair for BrAVA The chief executive of Kilburn-based charity Centre for Peaceful Solutions is the new chair of Brent Association for Voluntary Action (BrAVA).

Maria Arpa was formerly chair of Mediation UK, has also worked in advertising,

and helped set up the Damilola Taylor Trust. She will help BrAVA, which is an umbrella organisation for Brent’s voluntary sector, to strengthen its governance and help it provide more effective services.

Two more children’s centres open Two more children’s centres have opened to provide services and support children and parents in Brent.

Floella opens Church Lane, left, a child at the Alperton opening, right.

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Children’s television presenter Floella Benjamin opened Church Lane Children’s Centre in the grounds of Fryent Primary School, while music and dance marked the official opening of Alperton Children’s Centre alongside Alperton Community School recently.

The centres, which received £1 million from Brent Council, run services such as family support classes, speech and language therapy, citizens’ advice bureau, stay-and-play sessions, computer classes, childcare, storytelling, baby massage and fathers’ groups.

In addition, the former Riverbank Nursery in Crouch Road, Neasden, has re-opened as the Riverbank Children’s Centre. Wembley, Alperton, Willesden, Neasden and Stonebridge now all have children’s centres. E-mail Brent Council’s

Children and Families Information Service at cfis@brent.gov.uk or call 020 8937 3001.

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Brent’s blooming winners The winners of Brent in Bloom 2009 have been presented with their awards by Mayor of Brent Councillor Jim O’Sullivan.

The annual competition applauds gardening skills with judges awarding marks for plant colour, design, and quality. It also helps to make Brent more attractive, and this year the borough went on to win a Silver Gilt Award in the London in Bloom competition.

The competition encourages community involvement in amateur gardening and horticulture.

“This year we asked everyone for greater efforts to show that Brent can be the best in London. Our gardens

Group aims high for the disabled A support group has been set up especially for parents and carers of disabled children and young people.

1 voice is run by parents, for parents and works in partnership with Brent Council to give families a say on issues affecting their children. It has been founded by the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme, which aims to improve services and support.

The group meets from 1012.30pm on Mondays (termtime only) at Hay Lane School, in Grove Park, Kingsbury, e-mail info@1voicebrent.com or call Kieran O’Donnell on 07985 195 939.

and green spaces, even our window boxes and hanging baskets make Brent a cleaner and greener place to live in,” said the Mayor Jim O’Sullivan.

The neighbourhood category was introduced last year and was retained for this year’s competition and has been won by the NW2 Residents’ Association on both occasions. The award encourages communities of all sizes to make positive and lasting changes by ‘greening up’ local streets, gardens and open green spaces in their neighbourhood.

The winners in 2009 are Neighbourhood Award: (1st prize) NW2 Residents’

Association (2nd prize) Roe Green Village Residents’ Association; Front Garden Seasonal Planting: (1st prize) Edward Murphy (joint 2nd prize) Mr Conybeare and John Quinn (3rd prize) Lena Jefferies; Front Garden Permanent Planting (1st prize) John Philippou (2nd prize) Robert Smith (3rd prize) Edward Murphy; Container Planting (1st prize) John McMahon (2nd prize) Carol Nichols (3rd prize) Patrick Rock; School Garden: (joint 1st prize) Preston Park Primary School, Leopold Primary School (2nd prize) Newfield Primary School; Outstanding Achievement

Award: John Quinn, Margaret O Sullivan, Lena Jefferies; Business and Public Premises: (1st prize) BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Neasden (2nd prize) The Corrib Rest, (3rd prize) The Ox and Gate.

Another coup for Brent’s youngsters Four youngsters met top officers at Brent Council’s children’s services to mark national Takeover Day on 6 November.

The national day encourages organisations to open their doors to young people to find out how decisions are made and is run by the Children’s Commissioner for England.

The four, who are members of Care in Action and Brent Youth Parliament, joined Rik Boxer, Assistant Director for Achievement and Inclusion, and Graham Genoni, Assistant Director for Social Care, over lunch to discuss the council’s support for young people.

Farrukh Chodhry, Alilyah Weekes, Amal Abdi, Kishan Parshotam, Graham Genoni and Rik Boxer (back row) Renata Chavda, Youth Participation Officer, Manveen Patwalia, Principal Youth Participation Manager and Natasha Thomson, Children in Care Participation Worker (front row).

Take a twirl at Stuart‘s classes Dance champion Stuart Barrett is leading same-sex Latin and ballroom dancing classes for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youngsters.

The free beginner’s classes are organised by LGBT project

Mosaic for youngsters, 19 and under in Brent and will run every Saturday starting at 12noon until April next year.

Stuart was the UK Same-Sex Showdance Trophy champion and an Outgames 2009 gold medallist. “I have been dancing

all my life. I would like to get more LGBT young people dancing and bring more gold medals back to the UK in years to come,” said Stuart.

Contact Lukasz Koniecka at Mosaic on 0800 0 433 411 or text 07931 336 668.

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Chanukah festival to light up Brent Brent Council will be celebrating the Jewish festival of Chanukah this month with music, drama and songs.

Chanukah is an important Jewish festival which celebrates the revolt and victory against the ancient Syrians around 2,300 years ago, and is known as the Festival of Lights.

On 12 December you can discover more about Jewish culture on a tour of Wembley Synagogue in Forty Avenue, Wembley, from 5pm till 6.30pm; on 15 December a musical performance by Avigdor Hirsch Torah Temimah Primary School in Dollis Hill will be held in the Council Chamber at

Brent Town Hall from 6pm.

The main event will be on 16 December at 5pm in the Paul Daisley Hall at Brent Town Hall featuring Brent-based beat boxer Daniel Brill, choirs from the North West London Jewish Day School, and a Chanukah play performed by pupils from Micheal Sobell Sinai School, and attended by the Mayor of

Brent Councillor Jim O’Sullivan. The London Cantorial Singers – a group of Jewish choral singers – will perform in the Council Chamber at Brent Town Hall on 17 December at 8pm.

Eight candles will be held in a menorah at Brent Town Hall with one candle lit every night of the festival from the first until the eighth day. Residents can create their own menorah in a festive competition, visit www.brent.gov.uk/whatson to download the menorah template to enter. For more on Brent’s Chanukah celebrations email festivals@brent.gov.uk or call 020 8937 3117.

Take your cue from wardens Brent Housing Partnership residents’ satisfaction with Neighbourhood wardens and the work of the Anti Social Behaviour Team is higher than ever, a survey has found.

The independent survey found 84 per cent were happy with a case’s outcome; 95 per cent

Aim at archery An environmental education centre supported by Brent Council is running an archery coaching qualification course in December.

The Gordon Brown Centre is running the four-day course from 14-17 December for £125 a place, including food and accommodation.

It is a Level 1 coaching qualification for adults from the Grand National Archery Society and is taught by master archer Colin Stopher.

The centre is in Rotherwick, Hampshire, call Sophie Axford on 01256 762824.

would be happy to report a case, and 84 per cent with the overall service.

Neighbourhood wardens deter crime and improve relations in the community while the Anti Social Behaviour Team deals with serious and persistent nuisance and harassment.

Warden Ducaale Mire with a young resident

Carers’ Rights Day event this month Brent Council is marking Carers’ Rights Day by holding an information event for carers to find out about

rights, benefits and services on 3 December.

The event will be from 10-3pm in Committee Rooms

1-3, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, e-mail fay.austin@brent.gov.uk or call on 020 8937 4051.

Roman author hails school’s new library

Caroline Lawrence with librarians Heather Powell and Pamela Folie

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A distinguished author whose work is inspired by classical civilisation opened the new library at Claremont High School.

Caroline Lawrence signed copies of her books in Latin for pupils at the Kenton school after the ceremony recently.

She won a prize from the Classical Association for her books ‘The Roman Mysteries’, which has been adapted by the BBC into a TV series.

She congratulated the school, pupils and teachers on the new state-of-the-art library.

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Pupils shine at Saturday learning scheme A project using creative media activities to boost pupils’ achievement in key subjects has been hailed a success.

SHINE is held on Saturdays at the City Learning Centre in Preston Manor School for Year 6 and 7 pupils from

Make room for homeless Homeless youngsters will stay a night in residents’ homes thanks to a scheme starting in December.

Depaul Nightstop Brent offers a room in the homes of volunteers for young people aged from 16 to 25.The project, run by the charity Depaul UK, is supported by Brent Council and is appealing for people to offer a room. Hosts will receive training, daily expenses, and 24-hour support; you do not need to be a home owner or have previous experience, e-mail nightstopbrent@ depauluk.org or call 020 8459 7033.

Music award Young musicians have until 11 December to enter the Brent Musician of the Year 2010.

For more information visit www.brentmusicservice.com or call 020 8204 8096.

nine Wembley schools. It focuses on using multi-media to help children to understand science, maths, English and ICT, and is now in its second year.

Its 60 students enjoy activities from field trips to music making to ignite their enthusiasm for learning. It is run by Brent Council’s Extended Services Team with schools including Barham Primary, Oakington Manor Primary, Preston Park Primary, St Joseph’s Primary, Sudbury Primary, Wembley

Primary, Alperton High, Preston Manor and Wembley High. “Its success is largely down to the dedication and hard work of the staff and peer mentors who give up their Saturdays to deliver such an amazing learning experience for all the students taking part. Equally it wouldn’t work so well without the commitment of those pupils and their parents to work hard with us and really focus on raising their attainment and striving for success,” said SHINE Project Manager Trish Madigan.

Classes are also held at Welsh Harp Environment Centre. Sessions run from 10am to 3pm every Saturday

during term-time. They learn with hi-tech visual and audio equipment, together with more traditional learning methods, such as field trips and classroom-based lessons.

Activities are led by teachers and classroom assistants who are passionate about their subject areas and improving the students’ performance.

Projects involve sixth-form peer mentors from other schools. Although places are full up at the moment, parents should contact their school if they are interested in enrolling a child, or email trish madigan@brentclc.com, visit www.brentclc.com or call Trish Madigan on 020 8385 4915.

Brent Council signs £220 million care contract A contract valued at £220 million a year has been signed by Brent Council and five other councils to jointly purchase adult social care services.

The West London Alliance boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon

and Hounslow have been working together to develop the WLA Adult Social Care Efficiencies Programme.

The councils, which provide services to more than 1.4 million residents, have agreed to collaborate with each other on the purchasing and commissioning of adult social care services, which have an

estimated value of £220 million per year.

To kick the programme off, the councils will be tendering contracts in autumn 2009 for adult social care with a total value of approximately £220 million per year. This is thought to be the largest value exercise of its type yet launched in the country.

Deaf basketball club

Party for the park Young Friends of Brent River Park marked its sixth year with a birthday party at the open space, including football, painting, face painting, games, and stalls.

Alana Hay celebrates.

A deaf basketball club is looking for new members.

Deaf London Lions play in the London amateur league and tournaments in Europe. They cater for deaf and hearing-impaired men and women aged 14 upwards.

Training takes place on Friday from 6.30-8.30pm at Preston Manor High School, Carlton Road East, Wembley, email ramas.rentelis@deaf basketball.org.uk call 07932 225 818 or call Brent Council on 020 8937 3726.

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BRENTpeople

Cricklewood performer Jonny Berliner is taking his musical for children to The Tricycle in Kilburn this month.

Photograph by SIMON HANNA

Musical marvel What else have you done apart from musicals?

How did you start writing and performing?

At university I wrote a musical, acted, and played in a band. I’d played the guitar, but never anything more. Then I started doing more theatre and writing music and took plays up to the Edinburgh Festival. The Tricycle has an excellent youth theatre group: it’s friendly and has a great atmosphere. I’d love more youngsters to join up.

What do you like about Brent?

I’ve lived in Cricklewood for almost five years and I love the multicultural nature and mix of the area. I’ve even written a musical about Cricklewood Broadway, and did research for it at Brent Archive. I love Gladstone Park – it’s a great place. I lead the Tricycle Singers – a singing group based at The Tricycle – and we performed in the park at the Gladstonbury Festival. I’ve been to Brent Town Hall when the Singers performed at the former Mayor of Brent Ralph Fox’s Cultural Celebration this year.

Visit www.jonnyberliner.com or for dates for ‘Dude Where’s My Teddy Bear!’ at The Tricycle in December see Time Out on pages 30-31, visit www.tricycle.co.uk or call 020 7328 1000.

I set up a ‘choir of complaints’ at Queen’s Park Community School.

The choirs are a new performance art where people sing about their complaints; by singing about it they put their words into song, air a problem, and get their feelings out. The children sang about things like homework and playtime. I worked with Janis Kelly, the opera singer, it was great fun. The choir had about 30 children and we did a performance at Willesden Green Library Centre. Many of their parents and teachers came along. Apart from that I still also play in a country and blues band called The Freewheelers.

Have you performed anywhere else in Brent?

I played at the Brent Museum. It was for the opening of an exhibition about objects collected from the Brazilian community in Brent.

I wrote a Brazilian piece of music using guitar and samba drums, and sang live. A lot of the lyrics were inspired by interviews I did with Brazilians in Brent and their experiences of coming to live here.

What is your upcoming show at The Tricycle about?

‘Dude! Where’s My Teddy Bear?’ is a musical for children with rock’n’roll anthems. I wrote it with Sheridan Humphreys. There are a lot of catchy songs and people are usually singing along to them by the second chorus. It tells the story of a young boy called Max who wakes up to find his teddy bear stolen. He’s helped to find the bear again by a granny and a surfer, and during his adventures he meets a rock’n’roll robot, whale and moon gerbils. It has a great pantomime feel. Although it’s for young children, adults will enjoy it as well. The show has been performed at the Edinburgh Festival, and I noticed there were quite a few 20 somethings coming in to see it!

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LOCAL BUILDERS established 25 years • loft conversions • extensions • roofing • bathrooms • refurbishments • plumbing boilers • power flushing • electrical rewires • and much more

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Free beginners dvd with this voucher

Also at West Drayton and Uxbridge Tel: 020 8933 4350 or 07860 250961 Email: alanandsue@clubceroc.com Info: www.clubceroc.com Cut out this voucher for free life membership and free admission for the first week and free DVD. (New members only)

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DECEMBER 2009

BCT has been successfully providing transport services to the community for over 32 years.

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Hire of coaches and accessible minibuses available We offer competitive tailored quotes Hire us for daytrips, educational trips, weddings, airport journeys and self-drive

Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley HA9 9HD

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Transport for all

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Call for a free quote Dom McGowan 07931 550 242 • 020 8438 8827 Email d17dom@yahoo.co.uk

CEROC is a fusion of Jive and Salsa.

Brent Community Transport

Tel: 020 8838 1353 Email: enquires@brentct.org.uk Web: www.brentct.org.uk Registered charity No. 280698

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ALL IN Aday’s

work

Consumer champion Kelly Eaton is helping the borough’s consumers through her work at Brent and Harrow Trading Standards.

Kelly Eaton is one of two Consumer Advice Officers at Brent and Harrow Trading Standards who offer advice and assistance to consumers to resolve their problems.

Complaints can vary from a faulty washing machine to a terrible holiday or a defective car. Over the last six months thousands of pounds have been saved or refunded to consumers in Brent as a result of intervention work by the service.

Cases are referred from Consumer Direct – a government body – to Kelly. Each one is assessed by Customer Services Officers and if it shows a breach of contract valued over £400, or the consumer is classed as vulnerable and lives in Brent, then it is passed to her. She examines the paperwork and contacts the trader, which is how most cases are resolved.

However, where a trader does not reply and there has been a breach of civil law then she will assist the consumer to sue the trader. “Court is a last resort, and it does not offer a complete guarantee that the consumer will get their money back.

“Sometimes though the trader will respond to a court summons when they have not replied before,” she says.

Kelly also writes articles for residents’ newsletters and offers talks to any group or association in Brent. “The great thing about my job is that I get to meet and help so many interesting people and my job is always varied,” she says.

December is a time when people purchase more gifts and Kelly advises residents to think carefully about their purchases. “There is no automatic right to a refund if a person changes their mind about an item they have bought,” says Kelly. “Your statutory rights say that any goods you purchase have to be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for their intended purpose and you can only return

an item if it does not meet these requirements. People should check individual stores’ policies for returning unwanted presents and ask for a gift receipt.

Additionally, be careful where you shop for children’s presents as counterfeit toys can be more likely to come apart or be unsafe with potentially dangerous consequences.”

She warns that people also need to know their rights when buying online. Consumers have seven days after the day you receive the item, to send it back for any reason, unless the item has been personalised.

Furthermore, if you don’t specify a delivery date, anything bought online can legally take up to 30 days to be sent to you.

“Make an early New Year’s resolution to know your legal rights and responsibilities and become a confident consumer,” she added.

“Check individual stores’ policies for returning unwanted presents and ask for a gift receipt.”

Kelly Eaton

Visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk e-mail trading.standards@brent.gov.uk or call Brent and Harrow Trading Standards on 020 8937 5555.

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Keep warm and well For many older people the winter months herald freezing temperatures, bigger fuel bills and a greater chance of falling ill. Last year more than 25,000 people in England and Wales died from cold-related illnesses that could possibly have been prevented. So it’s never been more important to keep warm and well. Here a few ways.

Wrap up your home

Look out for others

• Check your home is properly insulated by blocking any gaps in doors or windows with draft excluders. Cover your hot water tank with lagging to stop heat escaping.

• Lay insulation in the loft to reduce heat loss.

• Check your central heating is working properly and is serviced once a year.Your supplier may offer a free safety check. If your system is old and in need of replacing, you could qualify for a grant to help pay for the work • Keep at least one room in your house at a constant 21˚C • Never use a hot water bottle with an electric blanket as you might get an electric shock.

• If you’re over 60 you could be eligible for a grant of up to £4,000 from the government’s Warm Front programme to help heat your home. Call 0800 316 6011 or text 0800 072 0156, 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

• Find out if you can claim a winter fuel payment. Call the helpline on 0845 915 1515, 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Are your older neighbours keeping warm and well?

Check their milk, post and newspapers are being collected.

Curtains closed during the day or rubbish not being put out could be a sign that something is wrong.

Save energy

Don’t risk flu • Several thousand deaths each year are due to flu. Those most at risk include the over 65s.

• Flu is much more serious than a cold. If you are at risk from flu and over 65, ask your GP about a free flu jab which lasts for 12 months.

• Take steps to reduce the spread of flu by covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands to avoid picking up or spreading the virus.

• To find out more, talk to your GP, nurse or pharmacist, or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or www.dh.gov.uk.

For health advice call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

• Turn off lights when you’re not using them.

• When cooking, put a lid on a saucepan and turn down the heat.

• Only put as much water in the kettle as you need.

Stay warm indoors • Stock up your cupboards in case the weather become so severe you don’t want to leave the house.

• Have regular meals and hot drinks throughout the day. This can help prevent hypothermia.

• Don’t sit in one place for a long period. Regularly stretch your legs by walking around the room or doing small chores around the house.

Home Heat Helpline 0800 336 6999 Help the Aged Free Winter Warmth Line 0800 289 404 Energy Solutions 0800 169 5693 Age Concern Information Line 0800 009 966

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There are a lot of events in the borough to celebrate Christmas this year from lantern parades to festive arts and crafts and the Brent Christmas Festival at Brent Town Hall.

1 December – 7 January 2010 ‘Bygone Christmases’ exhibition at Brent Archives, seasonal cards and photographs from archives and Brent Museum, 1st floor Willesden Green Library Centre, archives@brent.gov.uk 020 8937 3541.

Brent’s festiv 3 December Kilburn Winter Glow Festival Kilburn Square, Kilburn High Road 4pm Mayor of Camden switches on Christmas lights, 4-7pm steel pan band, carols, Madame Santa, festive food, late-night shopping caren.owen@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 2271.

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10 December Queen’s Park Winter Gathering Salusbury Road and Chamberlayne Road, Queen’s Park; lantern procession at 3.45pm and 4-7pm festive entertainment, meet Santa, promotion in pubs and venues carencan@mac.com 07769 694 733.

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19 December Christmas crafts Make a Christmas hat, Kilburn Library 2.30-4pm 020 8937 3530 Make 3D Christmas Trees Ealing Road Library 2.303.30pm 020 8937 3560, and Barham Park Library 2.303.30pm 020 8937 3550, 3D Tags Tokyngton Library 2.30-3.30pm 020 8937 3590 Christmas

12 December Festive Arts and Crafts Cricklewood Library in Olive Road 11-1pm 020 8937 3540 Preston Road Library 11 – 1pm 020 8937 3510, Ealing Road Library 2-4pm 020 8937 3560 and Kensal Rise Library in Bathurst Gardens 2-4pm 020 8969 0942 All for children aged five and over; maximum of two children per adult, booking required.

Crafts, Preston Road Library 11-12noon 020 8937 3510, and 2.30-3.30pm Kingsbury Library Plus 020 8937 3520 Willesden Green Library Centre 020 8937 3400 Neasden Library Plus 020 8937 3580 children aged five and over; children under eight years must be accompanied by a parent or carer; no booking required.

ve calendar 17 December Brent Christmas Festival Paul Daisley Hall, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley.

Brent Christmas Bazaar from 5-8pm featuring gift stalls, tombola and recycled card making, 5.45pm ‘Snow White and the Messy Dwarves’

pantomime puppets and songs for children, 6.30pm carols, a Christmas play by Drama Workhouse, Brent’s Youth Circus Group perform, music by Brent Junior Choir and Brent Youth Orchestra 020 8937 3144 festivals@brent.gov.uk

Throughout December Brent Christmas Lanterns Lanterns made by young people from recycled materials decorated with a 2012 Olympics theme displayed at Brent Town Hall and Willesden Green Library

Centre. To create your own lantern download a template from www.brent.gov.uk /whatson and try it at home.

For more on any events visit www.brent.gov.uk/whatson email festivals@brent.gov.uk or call 020 8937 3144.

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Charlotte Curran of Cricklewood Homeless Concern, Reverend Phil Stone and Marlon Nelson at St Mark’s Church, Kensal Green.

Photograph by Isabelle Plasschaert

Winter wonder As the winter begins seven churches in Brent will be sheltering the homeless every night.

The five cold and tired men stepped into All Souls Church in Harlesden on a freezing night last January.They were welcomed and fed by volunteers and slept over in the church.That night marked the beginning of a new project to assist Brent’s homeless.

The Route 18 Brent Winter Night Shelter project offers a place to stay for homeless men and women in the coldest winter nights. It ran from last January for 11 weeks. This month it returns again from early December until late March 2010.

It was set up by seven churches in partnership with Cricklewood Homeless Concern (CHC). Importantly, the initiative draws on the support of hundreds of volunteers from church congregations, voluntary groups, and charities.The homeless stay for a night a week in one of the churches where the volunteers provide food, warmth, and company for them. Each person, who has been referred and risk assessed by CHC, is also offered further advice and guidance by CHC and Brent Council to help them into housing.

“The people we helped last year included professionals, workmen, and people from every ethnic group and religion in Brent,” explains Marlon Nelson, a community worker in South Brent Deanery and project organiser. “I know they appreciated the warmth and hospitality they were offered, and often helped to support each other.”

“I know they appreciated the warmth and hospitality.”

The initiative, supported by Brent Council funded Neighbourhood Working, is named after the bus route which the churches sit along.They include All Souls Church in Harlesden, St Michael’s in Tokyngton, St Luke’s in West Kilburn, St Mark’s in Kensal Rise, Church of God of Prophecy in Tubbs Road, Harlesden, the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Willesden, and Community Church Harlesden in Kensal Rise. Last year at least 49 people were helped; churches ran 1,100 bed spaces, offered 2,200 meals and at least

238 volunteers helped out in the shelters.

“Last year it achieved so much. I remember there was snow on the ground for some of the evenings when we were able to offer a place for the night. I was proud to see the shelters opening and so many volunteers turning up to offer food, comfort and friendship,” added Marlon.

This year the organisers hope to help more people, and in future extend it to the north of the borough with the help of the Brent Multi-Faith Forum. Councillor James Allie, Brent Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Customer Services, said: “Religious groups are often keen to play a role and help tackle homelessness. We are grateful to all the support they offer the Brent community and are happy to support them again.”

For referrals to the project contact CHC on 020 8208 8590 or email charlotte@ chc-mail.org, to get involved email Marlon at marlon.nelson@london.anglican.org or call 020 8960 3929 / 07985 382 507.

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Brent’s new Civic Centre Based in the heart of Wembley, opposite Wembley Stadium and Arena Square, the new Civic Centre will be designed by award-winning Hopkins Architects, and will be a building for the whole community to enjoy.

Located in the middle of a future shopping area, and with excellent public transport links, the nine-storey landmark building will accommodate 2,000 staff and councillors.

Around half of the building will be used to provide facilities for use by Brent’s residents.

These will include a multi-purpose foyer with grand civic steps, a flexible community hall that can hold events for up to 1,000 people, a winter garden and a smaller Civic Hall with an external terrace and a café. It will also house a new library and learning centre with space for young people, and there will be a bigger Registrars Service with a wedding suite and wedding garden.

The building will become a new community centrepiece with key festivals and events in the Brent calendar being celebrated in the public areas throughout the year.

The council will continue to work with local people to help shape these public spaces.We want to make sure the new building becomes a place of which the whole of Brent can be proud.

“It will provide new facilities for residents when finished and local jobs during construction” For the first time ever, all council services will be delivered from one building. This will save around £2 million a year overall as the council vacates lots of buildings that it currently occupies across the borough.

This means there will be more money to spend on delivering frontline services for local people. And, services will vastly improve as the council will be able to work much more effectively from one place, and with partners.

Community centrepiece for local people in the heart of the borough

The new Civic Centre will help the council to do its bit to help save the planet, as we’re aiming for the building to be one of the greenest, most eco-friendly public service buildings in the country.The latest renewable technologies will be used to reduce both the costs of running the building and its carbon emissions. Some examples of the measures will include water conservation, reducing and recycling waste and using environmentally friendly materials throughout.

Councillor Paul Lorber, Leader of Brent Council, said: “The new Civic Centre presents a host of opportunities for the borough. As well as being an environmentally friendly building, it will provide fantastic new facilities for residents when finished and local jobs during construction and operation phases. Moving all our services to one building will allow us to save around £2 million per year.We will also be able to deliver more efficient, better value services to Brent's residents from one place – at the heart of the most exciting regeneration area in the country.”

An artist’s impression of Brent’s new Civic Centre

A planning application will be available for viewing from December 2009.

Copies and supporting documents will be available to view at: Brent House One-Stop-Shop, 349-357 High Road, Wembley or on Brent Council's website: www.brent.gov.uk/planning. Any comments should be sent in writing to the Chief Planner, Brent House by 31 January 2010.

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Brent Council One Stop Customer Services We are here to help you with any council enquiry.

If you need a council service, information or you want to complain or make a suggestion, phone or email us first:

One Stop online www.brent.gov.uk/oss

Photos: www.JohnBirdsall.co.uk

customer.services@brent.gov.uk

One Stop telephones

020 8937 1200*

General customer service enquiries

020 8937 5252* Environmental Health

020 8937 4300

020 8937 1790*

Adult and Children Social Services

Council Tax

020 8937 1234

020 8937 1800*

Switchboard and Emergency Out of Hours

Housing and Council Tax Benefit

020 8937 5050*

020 8937 1993*

StreetCare

For people with a hearing impairment

Calls may be monitored and we may telephone you to help us improve services.

One Stop local offices

• Town Hall

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DECEMBER 2009

• Harlesden

• Willesden

*Telephone us Monday to Friday from 8am-8pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm

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Canine caring Brent Council is urging people to think carefully if they are considering buying a dog at Christmas.

As Christmas Day approaches our thoughts turn towards what presents to buy for others. However, Brent Council’s Animal Welfare Service is asking residents to not get a dog or puppy without thinking first about what owning a dog really means.

The service’s appeal is partly in response to rising numbers of stray dogs abandoned on Brent’s streets. In September and October it dealt with 60 stray or unwanted dogs – nearly one a day. In September, 11 of the 23 dogs were Staffordshire Bull Terrier-types. Five went back to their owners and six were not claimed. In October, there were 37 stray dogs: 21 were Staffordshire Bull Terrier-types and 15 were not reclaimed.

“The dogs have been dumped, unwanted and unloved and left for the council to pick up the cost and the care,” says Craig Johnstone, Brent Council’s Pest Control and Animal Welfare Manager. A dog can bring years of happiness and companionship. But a dog should not be bought on a whim from a friend or someone in the street. “With improvements in diets, dogs can now live up to 20 years so there is a lot to think about: expense, dog food, vets bills, kennelling fees. Then there is the time, patience and commitment – a young dog will need socialising, toilet training. Think: are you prepared for dog mess in the house? Will you be at work during the day?”

The Animal Welfare Service, which deals with stray dogs, barking dogs, dog fouling, and animal cruelty, gives advice on pet ownership.

It has two other Animal Welfare Officers – Angela Moruzzi and Rebekah Fearon – an important part of their work is promoting responsible animal ownership through Brent Action for Responsible K9s (BARK) – which is a joint partnership with Brent Police, RSPCA, and The Mayhew Animal Home. The team was recently awarded a RSPCA Stray Dogs Gold Footprint for its work with strays. The BARK project has also won an RSCPA Innovator Award.

“People need to think what will happen to the dog if they go away for a weekend,” added Rebekah who adopted her dog Sandy after it was found on Brent’s streets.

“Who will look after it, and is your home big enough to cope with the size of the dog?

Some dogs require more exercise than others.

There are also differences between female and male dogs. Consider if you have time to exercise your dog at least twice a day, and are Rebekah Fearon with her you prepared to clean up dogs Sandy and Joey. your dog mess from the parks and paths, it’s the law!”

Visit www.brent.gov.uk/animalwelfare email env.health@brent.gov.uk or call 020 8937 5252.

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Make this year a green boxing day Is your green recycling box overflowing?

Do you want to recycle more but the box is too small for everything?

Do you share a box with a neighbour?

During the festive season, there will be lots more you can recycle.

Order an extra green recycling box and get into the habit of recycling more.

Collection days for your rubbish, green recycling boxes and green organics bins over the festive period:

You can recycle more than you think!

Normal collection

Revised collection

December Thursday 24

Normal collection

Friday 25

Monday 28

Monday 28

Tuesday 29

Tuesday 29

Wednesday 30

Wednesday 30 Thursday 31 Thursday 31

Saturday 2

January

020 8937 5050

Friday 1

Sunday 3

Monday 4

Normal collection

www.brent.gov.uk/recycling

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Pledging change Brent Council is urging people to pledge support to controlling climate change at a special event this month. It is a small step, but one which could add up to a big change if done by enough people.

As the world prepares for the United Nations conference in Copenhagen, our borough will be unveiling its own Brent Climate Change Pledge.

The pledge, to be launched on 2 December at a conference to mark the start of the council’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, is for residents to do their bit now to limit climate change in the future.

It has five main categories: to use less energy; cycle, walk or use public transport more; reduce and recycle rubbish; waste less water; eat food which is in season. Although there are lots of steps people can take.

Residents who sign up are asked to get their friends and family to join, and for those who cannot be at the event, they can join online.

“Climate change is going to have a big impact on local people, the borough and London,” says Brent Council Leader Councillor Paul Lorber, who will be speaking at the event. “As well as being informative, the conference will debate how we should respond locally. We all have to start taking our impact on the environment into account in everything we do.

But if we all make small changes, it can add up to a big difference.”

The strategy is the joint work of Brent Council and the Local Strategic Partnership and is believed to be the first borough-wide community based strategy in London. The plan warns of the potential environmental impact on Brent if climate change is not controlled. It says the borough could be hit by transport disruption, higher temperatures, water shortages and flood damage to local businesses and homes by 2050. Apart from the plan the conference will feature a screening of ‘The Age of Stupid’ – the acclaimed film from director Franny Armstrong and starring Oscar-nominated actor Pete Postlethwaite, which was partly filmed in Brent, followed by a discussion on what Brent should do. Speakers on the day include Dr Penny Bramwell, Head of Sustainable Development Unit at Government Office for London, Tom Cumberlege, public sector manager at the Carbon Trust. A theatre group will also entertain and inform with audience participation.

Brentclimate changestrategy

The climate pledge is at www.brent.gov.uk/ climatechange The conference on 2 December runs from 10 - 4.15pm at the Sattavis Patidar Centre in Forty Avenue, Wembley. E-mail environment@brent.gov.uk or call 020 8762 0354 for more information.

The photomontage shown here, of the possible consequences of climate change, is based on a photograph taken of homes in Kensal Rise which were hit by a mini-tornado in December 2006.

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Represent your community and be a voice of the people Brent Council are inviting applications from community representatives for an exciting opportunity to undertake a leadership role representing the wider Muslim Communities on the Building Stronger Communities Board.

The board oversees a wide range of community based projects serving the borough’s diverse Muslim communities. This role would suit applications from leaders who would like to actively participate in encouraging engagement and strengthening community cohesion by representing the Muslim Community.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 23 December 2009.

For an application pack please contact: Misbah Javed on 020 8937 1023 or email misbah.javed@brent.gov.uk For further information or an informal chat please contact: Elizabeth Bryan on 020 8937 1190 or email elizabeth.bryan@brent.gov.uk

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Our survey said…

When residents are asked what they think of life in Brent, the results prove to be encouraging.

Every three years Brent Council faces one of its biggest tests of public opinion – the Residents’ Attitude Survey.

It is carried out by polling organisation Ipsos MORI and includes questions on crime, litter, community relations and local authority services. The survey is to help Brent Council gauge residents’ perceptions and views of the borough in which they live, and this year 2,243 residents were interviewed face-to-face for the study. The 2009 survey has shown that satisfaction with Brent as a place to live is higher than ever.

“Satisfaction is up in almost every area in this year's survey including services that the council provides, as well as wider issues such as 'sense of community' and 'fear of crime',” said Councillor Paul Lorber Leader of Brent Council. “However, we are not complacent and we remain committed to delivering a more efficient council and a cleaner, greener and safer borough.”

In 2009, 65 per cent said they were satisfied with the way Brent Council runs things compared to 48 per cent in the survey published in 2006; 83 per cent were satisfied

with their local area as a place to live in 2009. Twenty-five per cent of people felt that their area had got better, and 51 per cent that it had a strong sense of community – up by 14 per cent since the previous survey.

When asked if their area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well, 74 per cent of people agreed.

In addition, respondents were asked about their top five things that affect what makes an area a good place to live. Crime level is top with 52 per cent of the people surveyed identifying it; clean streets scored 41 per cent; health services 32 per cent; and shopping facilities was picked by 31 per cent of people

“Satisfaction is up in almost every area in this year's survey including services that the council provides, as well as wider issues such as 'sense of community' and 'fear of crime'.”

Satisfaction is up with refuse collection.

The council is delivering efficient services.

who took part in the survey. However, perceptions of low-level crime have improved with a smaller proportion saying that they feel threatened by crime and an increase in those saying that they feel safe in their local area. The number of respondents who said the council should spend more money on fighting crime fell from 30 per cent in 2005 to 16 per cent this year.

Satisfaction with 24 out of 28 council services has risen. The highest was refuse collection (86 per cent saying they are satisfied), parks (82 per cent), recycling (81 per cent). The largest increases in satisfaction are in sports facilities (up 18 per cent), street sweeping (16 per cent), and parks (14 per cent).

The recent survey's results also had some positive findings about your monthly The Brent Magazine. Fifty-six per cent of people identified the magazine as a good way of finding out about council services; up from 54 per cent in 2005. Of those of you who have seen a copy, 42 per cent said you read all or most of it – a six per cent increase from 2005. About seven in ten respondents said The Brent Magazine contains a lot of useful information, and like the way it was presented, again both higher than the 2005 residents' survey.

For more visit www.brent.gov.uk/ras2009 or call 020 8937 1057.

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A place to gather The history of a community association is being rediscovered after its archive turned up again after many years.

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SECREThistory

Far left: One of the books showing old times at King’s Hall, right, the women’s darts team and, below, the hall today.

The three books lay forgotten for years in a cupboard behind the stage at the back of the King’s Hall.

Then Jackie Baines, who had just become secretary of the King’s Hall Community Association, started having a clear-up. Jackie said. “Among the years of dust we found the three separate books.

They had obviously been there for some time, but when I opened them it was a wonderful surprise.”

The books contain photographs, letters, leaflets, and newsletters from the 1940s to the late 1980s and capture the history of the King’s Hall Community Association.

The association has since 1947 been the umbrella organisation for societies, clubs and others to meet and run events based at King’s Hall in Harlesden Road, Willesden Green.

King’s Hall was built in 1905 by the Plymouth Brethren and used by members of the Protestant evangelical body as a place for their assemblies from 1907 to 1947. But its numbers in Willesden declined and the hall was taken over by Middlesex County Council, which in turn handed it to King’s Hall Community Association in May 1947. Its first chairman CEP Taylor told a local paper that it would be ‘a place where people can gather and learn something about life which made life really worth living’.

The archive books capture the post-war years when the association had more than 1,000 members, and myriad clubs. Photos include women’s darts teams, cricket club annual dinners, variety shows, and even the Cactus and Succulent Society. “In those

days everybody in this area of Willesden would have been a member,” explains Jackie. “Annual subs were £1, quite a lot then, but there were clubs for everything.”

The books also record important events in the association’s history such as winning the annual Willesden Carnival in 1950 and 1960; damage from the Great Storm of 1987, and a visit by 21-year-old Brenda Wheeler who won Miss Evening News Office Girl in 1970. They have copies of the association’s newsletter ‘The King’s Herald’

Picture by Caroline Miller

“A place where people can gather and learn something about life which made life really worth living.”

from the 1950s up until the mid-1970s, press cuttings, and the lyrics of a ditty called ‘Forward Together’, written by hall warden Harry Edwards, which was the motto of the London Borough of Brent founded in 1965.

“Sadly, nothing was added after the late 1980s. By then numbers of people going to the clubs had declined quite sharply,” added Jackie. “However, recently, many have experienced a revival and we always welcome new members.” Today groups which meet weekly at the hall include the 25th Willesden Cubs and Scouts, sequence dance, play group, bingo club, Greek group, senior citizens, children’s ballroom dancing, a Pentecostal church, and a lot more. “The ‘Mother Goose’ pantomime on 17 December has sold out, and the Christmas Fair will hopefully be well attended,” said Jackie. “The hall has always been important to the community life of Willesden and I would love more people to join and get involved. The books will be on show at the Christmas Fair for visitors to look through and see if they recognize any of their families!”

The King’s Hall Christmas Fair will be on 12 December from 1.30-4.30pm and includes craft and gift stalls, raffle, tombola, and Father Christmas in his Grotto.

For more information on the association, e-mail kingshallwillesden@hotmail.com call 020 8459 3487 or visit www.kingshallcommunitycentre.co.uk.

Brent Archives has documents of the hall going back 30 years, call 020 8937 3541.

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Small work grants Would you like a grant to help you make essential repairs to your home?

Brent Council provides home owners with grants of up to ÂŁ5,000 to carry out essential repairs to their homes? This includes repairs to windows, roofs, boilers, electrics and more.

To qualify you need to be a homeowner who is over 60 and receiving pension credit, or under 60 with children and on income support for more than a year.

To find out if you are eligible contact Brent Council on 020 8937 2383 or email phs@brent.gov.uk

UP TO ÂŁ5000

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COMPETITIONS

Win your 90 minutes at Wembley Stadium An escorted tour of Wembley Stadium makes an exciting day out for the whole family. Stroll into the player's dressing room and walk through the tunnel towards the hallowed turf, then climb 107 steps, standing triumphantly in front of the royal box and see the FA Cup. For Brent residents, we have four pairs of tickets for the Wembley Stadium tour. For a chance to win, send in the correct answer to the following question:

What competition is being played at Wembley Stadium on 28 February?

Send or email your answers to Wembley Stadium competition at the address below. For information on event times visit: www.wembleystadium.com/events Competition Terms and Conditions • Only one entry per person allowed • Prizes/tours must be redeemed within 12 months of receiving confirmation • Children under 16 must be accompanied on the Stadium Tour by an adult and have consent of their parent/guardian • No cash alternatives for any prize will be offered • Employees of Wembley Stadium and their families are not eligible to enter. Prize winners must adhere to Wembley Stadium Tour’s terms and conditions, available at www.wembleystadium.com/tours • All prizes/tours are subject to availability and pre-booking is required.

Wembley Stadium Event Calendar 13 Feb 2010 28 Feb 2010 3 Mar 2010 28 Mar 2010 10 and 11 Apr 2010 17 April 8 or 9 May 2010 15 May 2010 16 May 2010 22 May 2010 29 May 2010 30 May 2010 19 June Date tbc 28 August 2010 4 September 8 September

Event starts

Saracens v Worcester Warriors Carling Cup Final England Friendly Johnstone’s Paint Trophy FA Cup Semi Finals Saracens v Harlequins FA Trophy / Vase FA Cup Final Conference Play Off Championship Play Off League 1 Play Off League 2 Play Off Green Day The FA Community Shield Rugby League Challange Cup Final Potential England Euro 2012 qualifier Potential England Euro 2012 qualifier

TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC 3pm TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC TBC

This events calendar is correct at the time of going to print and is subject to change and updates. More events are expected to be booked for 2010 – these will be added to the calendar as and when confirmed. Please visit www.wembleystadium.com/events for the very latest information.

Tricycle Cinema Club competition The Tricycle is offering annual membership of its Tricycle Cinema Club to two lucky winners. The Tricycle’s cinema has been described as ‘Britain’s most beautiful film venue’ by Vogue magazine. It is the perfect prize for film lovers with two free tickets for one screening, a £1.50 discount per ticket every time you visit, and priority booking for Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Stars from the world of film who have recently visited the cinema club at the Kilburn venue include Colin Firth, Sam Mendes, Emma Thompson, and Alan Rickman.

For a chance to win, send in the correct answer to the following question:

Which actress was a recent visitor at the Tricycle Cinema Club?

Send your entries on a postcard with your name, address and daytime telephone number to: The Brent Magazine, Room 9, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley HA9 9HD or email competition@brent.gov.uk (add name of competition to subject line). The deadline for all competitions is Friday 11 December 2009.

Last month’s winners: Stadium competition: GB Khatri, Dermot Sullivan, M Mentore, M Bevan Griot’s Tale competition: S Watkins, M O’Mahony, S Moore, JM D’Cruz, Jasper Graham.

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TIMEout

What’s going on…

The essential guide to music, drama, sport, workshops and much more. Find out what’s going on in Brent during December 2009. To get your event listed email tbm@brent.gov.uk or telephone 020 8937 1068.

CHILDREN AIR CADETS Mon and Thurs 7pm 406 Squadron Willesden 020 8451 0406 ARTALIKE 22 Dec 1.30-3.30pm art workshop inspired by film ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ £13 showing from 11.30-1.30pm £5, Lexi Cinema, 194 Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Rise. Call Wilda 07946 755 847 Sats 10am term-time; Sats 10-noon ARTTEEN 7-14 £5, Lexi Cinema 07946 755 847 ART CLASSES Mons, 10-11am, Thurs, 10-11am, Toddler Picassos, aged 15 months to 3 Mons, 4-6pm, Junior Picassos, aged 7-11 Weds, 4.15-5pm, Mini Picassos, Station Terrace, NW10 07903 638 817 BRENT YOUTH MATTERS 2 1 Dec 6pm Bridge Park Complex, Hillside, NW10 020 8937 3680 CHURCH LANE CHILDREN’S CENTRE Mons 9.30-11.30am twins club, 2-4pm baby club; Tues 1.30-3pm cooking. 9.30-noon citizens’ advice by appointment; Weds 9.1510.45am and 1112.30pm stay and play, dietician; Thurs 9.3011.30am family workshop with crèche; Friday 9.3010.30am rhyme time and speech therapy by appointment, 9.30noon citizens’ advice by appointment, Fryent Primary School, Church Lane, Kingsbury 020 8937 3890

DANIEL’S DEN Mons 1-3pm, Thurs 9.3011am, 11.30-1pm, Fris 9.30-11am, 11.30-1pm St Michael’s Church Hall, St Michael’s Ave, Tokyngton Tues, 1-3pm, Gladstone Park Primary School, Dollis Hill www.danielsden.org.uk DRAMA WORKSHOPS Sats 7-16 yrs Duddenhill Centre, NW10 07958 653 725 FAWOOD CHILDREN’S CENTRE Mons, Tues & Fris 9.3011.30am under 5s pop in and play, Weds 9.3011.30am childminder’s network, Fawood Avenue NW10 020 8965 9334 GIRLS’ BRIGADE Weds 5.15-8.30pm for five-year-olds and upwards, Queensbury Methodist Church, Beverley Drive 07961 321 237 GOALKEEPING SCHOOL Mons 6-7pm 7-11 yrs, 7.15-8.15pm 12-18yrs JFS, The Mall, Kenton £5.75 07931 359 323 HATHA YOGA Mons 5-8yrs 5pm, 12 weeks £42, Willesden Green Library 07764 159 318 LITTLE BEEPS MUSIC AND MOVEMENT Mons 10.30am Willesden Community Hospital, Weds 10.30am Salvation Army Harlesden, Fris 10.30am dad-led session at Willesden Community Hospital 07976 379 520

MINI PICASSOS Tues 9.30-10.30am toddlers – 3 yrs £7 drop in, Tues 4-4.45pm 4 yrs-6 yrs £7, £8 drop in, Tues 56pm 7yrs-11yrs £8 or £9 drop in Gracelands Cafe 118 College Rd NW10; Mini Picassos Art at Their Nibs, Chamberlayne Rd NW10 7yrs-11yrs Mons 45pm £8, £9 drop in MINI-SOCCER Suns Year 3 9.4510.45am Year 4-Year 6 10.45-12noon Uxendon Manor School, Vista Way, Kenton, 6 weeks £30, call George Lappas 07957 229 518 MUM AND TODDLER Thurs 10-noon, Preston Mall Community Centre, Kenton £2 020 8204 1148 ONE VOICE Mons 10-12.30pm (termtime only) support group for parents and carers of disabled children, Hay Lay School, Kingsbury 07985 195 939 info@1voicebrent.com PARENT AND CARER TODDLER GROUP Thurs 9-10.30am 50p Barham Primary, Danethorpe Road, Wembley 020 8902 3706 PARENT AND BABY WALK Tues, 10.30am Roundwood Park, NW10 07958 292 524 PIONEER EXPLORER SCOUTS Weds 8-10pm for 14-18 years, Stember Hall, Leighton Gardens, NW10 01582 703121 SEA TRAINING CORPS Thurs 7.15-9.15pm Sea Pirates 7-9 yrs; Thurs 7.159.15pm juniors; Mons and Fris 7.15-9.30pm Sea Cadets; Mons and Fris 7.15-9.30pm Marine Cadets; youth group for boys and girls, Cool Oak Lane, NW9 020 8205 4492 www.sea cadet.org

SING AND SIGN CLASSES Mon-Fri, for babies 6-18 months. Willesden Green & Kensal Rise 07790 955 576 SOCCER SCHOOL Sats 10am-12pm, ages 5-14. Newfield Primary School, Longstone Ave, Harlesden, £28 for 5 weeks. 07863 165 737 SOCCER TRAINING Fris, 6-8pm, for children, first session free Capital City Academy NW10 mdipaola@cyworks.co.uk TREE TOPS CHILDREN’S CENTRE Mons 10-noon childminders’ network, 2.15-4.15pm stay and play; Tues 10-noon healthy eaters, citizens’ advice (appointment only) 1.30-4pm, under ones’ club 2-4pm; Weds 10-noon, 2-4pm stay and play, 10.3011.30am parents’ workshops; Thurs 10noon, stay and play with speech therapist, noon12.30pm one-to-one with speech therapist, 2.15-3.15pm music and movement, 2-4pm stay and play; Fris 9.30-noon citizens’ advice (appointment only), 10-noon and 2.304.30pm stay and play, 10-noon meet the dietician, Kings Edward’s Park, Doyle Gardens NW10 020 8838 3901 WILLESDEN SURE START CHILDREN’S CENTRE Mons 1.30-3.30pm drop-in nutrition, Mons 1.30-3.30pm Tues 10noon and 1.30-3pm stay, play and learn, Weds 10.30-noon Baa Baa Babies, Thurs and Fris 9.30-12.30am citizens’ advice bureau (appointment only) Fris 10-noon parents’ talk.

Willesden Centre for Health and Care Sure Start Children’s Centre, Robson Avenue NW10 0208 459 7256

Status Quo – 12 December at the Wembley Arena. See: Music

COMMUNITY ACE CAFÉ 5 Dec 11-4pm Nissan Primera meet; 12 Dec 114pm Ford Pop meet; 19 Dec 11-4pm Mitsubishi Lancer Register meet; 13 Dec 10.30am Xmas Toy Run; Dec 22 6pm – Supra Meet www.ace-cafelondon.com BRAHMA KUMARIS 6 December, 6.307.30pm World Meditation Hour 020 8727 3350; 12 Dec 2-5.30pm Discover the Secrets of Karma www.bkwsu.org/uk/ whatson Pound Lane, NW10 020 8727 3418 BRENT MUSIC THERAPY PROJECT Weds 10-noon Chalkhill Community Centre 113 Chalkhill Road, Wembley, 07939443687 www.brentmusic therapyproject.co.uk BRENT PENSIONERS FORUM 2 Dec 10-12noon Brent Town Hall 020 8998 0564 BRENT AND HARROW NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WIDOWS 1 Dec Christmas meal out, contact Rhona, 76 Marlborough Hill, Harrow 020 8969 3198 GALLERY IN THE PARK Mon-Fri, 9-3pm café and training for people with learning disabilities, Wembley, 07833 374 696 GLAD CLUB Greater London Association for the Disabled, all older and disabled people welcome Wembley Park United Reformed Church, East Lane, Wembley 020 8904 8668 GOSPEL NIGHT 5 Dec 6.30-10.30pm fund-raising night for R&A Music school Bethel Community Centre, Ealing Road, Alperton, tickets £6 020 8621 5273 07828 137 340

Xmas Toy Run at the ACE Cafe in Stonebridge – Prize for best dressed bike and rider. 13 December. See: Community

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KING’S HALL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION 12 Dec 1.30-4.30pm King’s Hall Christmas Fair, gift and craft stalls, raffle, tombola, bric-abrac, meet Father Christmas, 155 Harlesden Road, Willesden 020 8459 3487 MOSAIC Weds, for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people aged under 19 07931 33668 NORTH WEST LONDON LESBIAN AND GAY GROUP Mons 8.30pm, Tenterden Sports Centre, Preston Road, Wembley 07941 707884 OVER 50S DISCUSSION GROUP Tues 11-12.30pm The Gallery, Willesden Green Library 020 8452 8739 TAMIL READING GROUP 12 Dec 2.30-4pm Brent Town Hall Library

CRAFT FLOWER ARRANGING Weds, 8pm Kingsbury Horticultural Association, The Pavilion, Old Kenton Lane Allotments 020 8205 3457 KNITTING GROUP Mons, 6pm Lewis Cresent, Neasden 07775 984 316 WEMBLEY QUILTERS 2nd and 4th Fris, 7.30-9.30pm, Perivale Community Centre, Horsenden Lane 020 8902 9934

DANCE ADULT AFRICAN DANCE Weds 7.30-8.30pm £5 Willesden Sports Centre 020 8955 1120 ADULT STREET DANCE Tues, 7.30-8.30pm, £5.15 New Bridge Park Complex 020 8937 3730 AMZAINA DANCE Suns 1-2pm, Bollywood and street style, Energie Health and Fitness, Wembley Point Harrow Road 07943 158 105

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TIMEout ARGENTINEAN TANGO Thurs, 7.30-9pm, beginners, 9-11pm The Cricklewood Pub, NW2 www.corrientessocial club.co.uk BELLY DANCE Tues 8.30-10pm NY Pilates Studio, Lonsdale Rd NW6 020 7372 3490 Mons 7.30-8.30pm, Fitness First Wembley, £8 drop and £40 for 6 weeks 07855 362 849 www.hayaam.com CLUB CEROC Tues 8-11pm Brent Town Hall, Wembley www.clubceroc.com LATIN STAMP Weds 7-9pm £6/£4 Unity Community Centre Church Road, NW10, Fris 7-10pm £6/£4 Preston Mall Community Centre, The Mall, Preston Hill, salsa, soca, reggaeton classes 07779 591 086 LINE DANCING Fris 6.15-7.15pm, free, beginners, Chalkhill Community Centre, 113 Chalkhill Road, Wembley 020 8976 1099 MAMBO CITY Mons, 7.30-8.30pm Cuban Salsa £6 St Joseph’s Social Club, Empire Way, Wembley jean@mambocity.co.uk SALSA Fris 7.30-8.30pm Willesden Sports Centre Thurs 8.15-9.30pm £4.50, Vale Farm Sports Centre 07961 281 989 SALSA AND KAZOMBA Thurs, 8pm class, 9pmmidnight dancing £5 Club Casa Nossa, NW10 07723 696 318 SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING Mons 8-10pm, £2 Youth Centre, Church of the Ascension, Wembley 020 3078 0018 SELF EXPRESSIVE DANCE Tues 8-9.30pm, £7.50, Holy Innocents Church Hall, Bacon Lane 020 8205 6751 TEA DANCE Mons & Weds, 1.304.30pm, £3, Brent Town Hall, Wembley 020 8937 6206

DRAMA CHAMELEONS Mons and Thurs 8pm, amateur dramatics Neasden Methodist Church, NW10 07968 965 038 DRAMA WORKHOUSE Tues & Weds 8-10pm, adult workshops, Dudden Hill Centre, NW10 07958 653 725

MADHATTERS Weds 8pm amateur dramatics, Stables Arts Centre, Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill Lane.

020 8452 5239 TRICYCLE THEATRE 5 Dec, 4 Dec 10.30am, 1.30pm ‘Aladdin’ by Lanternfish Theatre; 12 Dec ‘Whingerella and the Scary Godmother’ by Myths and Legwarmers; 13 Dec 3.30pm, 14, 15 Dec 10.30am, 1.30pm ‘Bink and the Hairy Fairy’; 19 Dec ‘The Rainbow Fish’ by Blunderbus Theatre; 29 Dec, 31 Dec 12noon, 2pm, 2 Jan 2010 11.30am, 2pm ‘Dude!

Where’s My Teddy Bear?’ tickets: £7.50/6.50 conc, family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) £25/24. Until 19 Dec ‘Not Black and White’ season of plays by black playwrights; including ‘Category B’ by Roy Williams, ‘Seize the Day

by Kwame Kwei-Armah, ‘Detaining Justice’ by Bola Agbaje; 020 7328 1000 www.tricycle.co.uk

Dude where’s my teddy bear

ENTERTAINMENT CATWEAZLE CLUB Tues, 8pm live performance of music, poetry, song; Paradise, 19 Kilburn Lane £5 www.catweazleclub.org

ENVIRONMENT BARN HILL CONSERVATION GROUP 6 Dec 10am tree planning, meet at Bush farm; 13 Dec grassland conservation at Saltcroft Glade, meet at Fryent Way car park 020 8206 0589 BRENT FRIENDS OF THE EARTH 8 Dec 7.30pm, Labour and Trades Hall, 375 High Road, NW10 07793 244 408 FARMERS’ MARKET Suns, 10-2pm, Salusbury Road, School, Queens Park www.lfm.org.uk KENSAL RISE MARKET Sats, 10-5pm, outside Minkie’s Deli, Chamberlayne Road, NW10 07807 057 808 KINGSBURY WALKERS Weds 1.55pm, Meet Bush Farm, Slough Lane and Salmon Street junction.

020 8907 2836

ROE GREEN WALLED GARDEN Tues, Thurs, Sats 102.30pm gardening and wildlife work in the garden, organised by Barn Hill Conservation Group 020 8206 0589 WEMBLEY NATIONAL TRUST 3rd Thurs in month, 7.30pm St John’s Church, Crawford Avenue, Wembley 020 8904 5940 WELSH HARP CONSERVATION GROUP 13 Dec 10am winter birds walk, see scarce ducks and marsh birds 020 8447 1810

EXHIBITIONS BRENT ARTISTS RESOURCE Until 17 Dec Brent Affordable Art Fair 26pm, buy work by emerging artists for less than £100 Willesden Green Library Centre, High Road 020 8459 1421 www.brentartists resource.org.uk BRENT MUSEUM Until 3 Jan 2010 ‘Understanding Contemporary Art’ modern art explained with works from south Asia, Brent Museum, first floor gallery; 8 Dec exhibition tour with Jana Manuelpillai, director of Noble Sage Gallery Centre, 95 High Road, NW10 020 8937 3600 www.brent.gov.uk/ museum STABLES GALLERY Until 6 Dec Brent Camera Club members’ work Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill Lane, 020 8452 8655

LOCAL HISTORY WEMBLEY HISTORY SOCIETY 11 Dec 7.30pm Christmas party, quiz and raffle, full buffet and wine £7, St Andrew’s, Church Lane, Kingsbury 020 8205 3263 WILLESDEN HISTORY SOCIETY 9 Dec 7.30pm Christmas event, please book in advance, Scout House, Strode Road NW10 020 8965 7230 cliffwadsworth@ btinternet.com

MUSIC ACE CAFÉ 20 Dec 7pm carol service; 31 Dec 9-2am New Year’s Eve Party with Slim Slip & The Sliders and DJs £20 (includes a meal), over 18s only www.ace-cafélondon.com

GUITAR LESSONS Mon-Thurs, Kensal Rise contact Udi 07528 016 583 www.udiguitar.com JAZZ Suns 8-10pm, Hugo’s, Lonsdale Road, Queen’s Park www.jazz7.co.uk 020 7372 1232 PIANO LESSONS Mon-Sun, all grades from beginner to advanced, £20 per hour, Cricklewood, call Edgardo Plasencia 020 8450 1067 WEMBLEY ARENA 4, 5, 6 Dec 8pm Eddie Izzard; 7 Dec 7.30pm Simple Minds; 9 Dec 7.30pm Abba The Show; 12 Dec 8pm Status Quo; 13 Dec 8pm Russell Howard: Big Rooms and Belly Laughs Arena Square, Engineers Way, Wembley www.livenation.co.uk

SPORTS & LEISURE AEROBICS Weds, 8-9pm, £4 Father O’Callaghan Centre, Hay Lane, Kingsbury 07861 377 214 ATLANTIS SWIMMING CLUB Weds, Wykeham Primary School, Thurs, Grove Park School, adults & children 07958 422 660 BRENT DOLPHINS Tues, Weds, Fris, Suns, Willesden Sports Centre, Mons, Thurs, Suns, Vale Farm Sports Centre, children’s swimming club 07805 611 956 bdsc@talktalk.net BRENT PARK WALKS Group walks around parks to keep fit, call Sports Service 020 8937 3707 BRIDGE Fris pm Dennis Jackson Centre, London Road 020 8902 5331 BRONDESBURY BOWLING CLUB Evenings and daytime including free tuition, Chatsworth Road 0208 438 0302 BROTHERS PEARSE CAMOGIE CLUB Ladies hurling club, beginners and experienced players welcome, contact Mary Cahill 07904 685 276 www.brospearse camogielondon.com CENTURY BOWLS CLUB Daily indoor and outdoor bowls, new members welcome free coaching available, all-weather green, social activities, Logan Road, Wembley 020 8904 3261

CHINESE KICKBOXING Sats, 3-5pm, Willesden Sports Centre, Donnington Road, 07835 244 398 www.wushukwan.com CREATIVE MEDITATION Fris 7-8pm free, Brahma Kumaris, Pound Lane, NW10 020 8727 3350 WOMEN’S FUN FITNESS CLASS Tues 8-9pm Kingsbury Baptist Church hall, Slough Lane, NW9 £4 07944 523 260 GEMINI SWIMMING CLUB For adults and children with disabilities. Gemini Pool, Kingsbury. Call Jean on 020 8452 6912.

HI AND LO AEROBICS Tues, 10am & 11am Chalkhill Community Centre, 113 Chalkhill Road, Wembley 07900 594 39 KEEP FIT Thurs, 7-8pm keep fit to pop, R&B, house music, £1.50 Chalkhill Community Centre, Wembley 07947 451 525 KEEP FIT WHILE U SIT Mons 1.30-3.30pm.

Improve joint mobility, muscle strength and flexibility, £4, first visit free. Queensbury Methodist Church, Beverley Drive.

020 8537 0229 LADIES FITNESS Mons, Thurs 10-11am £3 Chalkhill Community Centre, Wembley bahdjasisters@ hotmail.co.uk PRESTON PARK BOWLS CLUB New members welcome, free coaching and loan of bowls Preston Park Recreation Ground, Carlton Avenue East 020 8933 9358 or 020 8427 1590 QUEENS PARK HARRIERS Tues & Thurs 7-8pm, Willesden Sport Centre www.queenspark harriers.org.uk SUDBURY COURT BADMINTON CLUB Thurs 8-10pm, The Mall, Kingsbury 020 8904 6698 TAEKWONDO Tues 6-9pm, Thurs 67.30pm, Ealing Road Methodist Church 07832 447 763 TAG RUGBY Suns 11am, training for 7-11yrs, boys & girls, Gladstone Park, Kendal Road entrance Kilburn Cosmos RFC 07971 475 240

DECEMBER 2009

VENUES BRENT MUSEUM WILLESDEN GREEN LIBRARY High Road, NW10 020 8937 3600 THE BRENT ARCHIVE Ist Floor, Willesden Green Library Centre, NW10 020 8937 3541 archive@brent.gov.uk THE PAUL DAISLEY HALL Forty Lane, Wembley, Middx HA9 Box Office 020 8937 6206/6203 THE STABLES GALLERY ARTS CENTRE Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill Lane, London NW2 020 8452 8655 Thursday – Sunday 11am-6pm TRICYCLE THEATRE CINEMA AND GALLERY 269 Kilburn High Road,London NW6 Theatre Box Office 020 7328 1000 Cinema Box Office 020 7328 1900 Disabled access to auditorium and cafe induction loop in auditorium Minicom 020 7625 5105 WEMBLEY ARENA Box Office 0870 060 0870 www.livenation.co.uk/wembley

LIBRARIES Barham Park Library Harrow Road, Sudbury, Middx 020 8937 3550 barhamparklibrary@brent.gov.uk Cricklewood Library 152 Olive Road NW2 020 8937 3540 cricklewoodlibrary@brent.gov.uk Ealing Road Library Ealing Road, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 3560 ealingroadlibrary@brent.gov.uk Harlesden Library Craven Park Road, Harlesden, London NW10 020 8937 3570 harlesdenlibrary@brent.gov.uk Kensal Rise Library Bathurst Gardens, NW10 020 8937 3660 kensalriselibrary@brent.gov.uk Kilburn Library Salusbury Road, London NW6 020 8937 3530 kilburnlibrary@brent.gov.uk Kingsbury Library Plus Kingsbury Road, Kingsbury, London NW9 020 8937 3520 kingsburylibrary@brent.gov.uk Neasden Library 277 Neasden Lane, London NW1 020 8937 3580 neasdenlibrary@brent.gov.uk Preston Road Library Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 3510 prestonlibrary@brent.gov.uk Tokyngton Library Monks Park, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 3590 tokyngtonlibrary@brent.gov.uk Town Hall Library Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, Middx 020 8937 3500 townhalllibrary@brent.gov.uk Willesden Green Library High Road, Willesden, London NW10 020 8937 3400 willesdengreenlibrary@brent.gov.uk THE BRENT MAGAZINE

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Brent Adult & Community Education Service (BACES) – Taking learning into the community

New Year, new learning, new you Fancy trying your hand at something fresh in the New Year?

Some people love to learn just for the joy of it and there are plenty of courses on offer to stretch your mind and help you extend your skills, from working with children and event planning, to cake decorating and car maintainance.

Look out for the BACES course brochure 2009/10 for courses beginning in January 2010

For other people, learning is a way of improving their employment chances and there are many courses that lead to nationally recognised qualifications. New this year is the Progression Pathway which is a package of learning that helps you develop the skills you need to move on to a level 2 vocational course. As part of this package, you will gain a vocational qualification alongside qualifications in ICT, numeracy, English and personal and social development if you need them.

Enrol on a BACES course now and choose from a huge range of exciting opportunities. Courses cost just a few pounds per session – or you may even qualify to study at a concessionary rate.

Sixteen to 19-year-olds who are not in full time education have free access to accredited courses.

Where do I find out more about enrolling?

Stonebridge Centre Madison House Carlton Centre

Case Study Maxwell Antwi picked up a BACES brochure and found that

tel: 020 8838 2882 tel: 020 8795 3977 tel: 020 7644 9460

Visit our website

www.brent.gov.uk/baces

the ECDL (European Computer Driving License) courses were just the thing he needed. He had already taught himself ICT (information and communication technology) but felt he needed to brush up his skills and fill the gaps in his knowledge. His overall aim is to work in ICT support and training, so he plans to further his knowledge by studying the ECDL advanced course next year.

Or pick up a brochure at a Brent library or Brent One Stop Service.

Get on course for your future