Camden magazine December 2016/January 2017

Camden Camden this month

Your guide to council services | December 2016/January 2017 | camden.gov.uk

Get ready for 2017 Apply for a place in one of our excellent primary schools now. @camdentalking

facebook.com/lbcamden

Page 6 Supporting schools to promote active and safe travel

camden.gov.uk

camdenmagazine@camden.gov.uk

The Camden magazine is distributed free to all homes in Camden to give you information about our services.

It costs 15 pence a copy to produce, and is printed on paper that is 50% recycled and 50% from sustainable sources.

Cover image: Philip McCorkell, featuring pupils from Carlton Primary School.

@camdentalking

facebook.com/lbcamden

Published by Camden Council Editorial, advertising and distribution: Communications team, Camden Council, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street WC1H 9JE 020 7974 5717 Distribution from 7 December 2016

You can receive your copy of the Camden magazine in large print, on audio tape or in another language by phoning 020 7974 5717.

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Camden this month Fun and interesting sports for people with disabilities (and some new activities coming in 2017). See page 30.

Apply for a reception place in one of our excellent schools by 15 January. See page 6.

The Mayor of Camden is collecting unwrapped gifts for Camden children and teens in need. See page 8.

Tons of information, tips and ideas to have a healthy and safe winter, and make a great start to 2017. See pages 16-19.

Give the right gifts to your recycling bin, and don’t forget about the tree when the festivities are finished.

See page 20 and back cover.

Welcome Introduction from the Leader of the Council

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Cover story Apply for a reception place

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Features Safe, sustainable travel for schools Hawley Primary School opens New waste contract starts in April Mayor appeals for childrens’ Christmas gifts Watch out for scams Taking action against poor air quality

6 7 7 8 8 9

Changing the way we allocate housing New Greenwood community resource centre How the Housing Act could affect you Help for domestic abuse this winter Winter: plan, prepare and be aware New year, new ideas to make 2017 great Recycling this Christmas Outstanding childcare Saving money with digital investments Changing our adult and social care services High Speed 2 – look back at 2016 New sports for people with disabilities My Camden

Features

Listings

Viewpoints 10

Local events and courses

11 12 14 15 16 18 20 23 24 25 26 30 31

28 3

Christmas 2016

Recycling and rubbish collection day changes Collection services will remain the same unless your normal collection day falls on one of the dates listed below.

Normal Collection Day

Christmas Collection Day (One day after)

Normal Collection Day

Christmas Collection Day (One day after)

Monday 26 December

Tuesday 27 December

Monday 2 January

Tuesday 3 January

Tuesday 27 December

Wednesday 28 December

Tuesday 3 January

Wednesday 4 January

Wednesday 28 December

Thursday 29 December

Wednesday 4 January

Thursday 5 January

Thursday 29 December

Friday 30 December

Thursday 5 January

Friday 6 January

Friday 30 December

Saturday 31 December

Friday 6 January

Saturday 7 January

For more information visit camden.gov.uk/waste

Ever thought about working for Camden?

Exciting career opportunities in 2017 In Camden, community is everything. We want to create a place where everyone feels involved and proud to live. The way we work demands us to think differently and find new and innovative ways to deliver first class services. We want to make sure everyone knows they have a chance to succeed, and nobody gets left behind.

As one of London’s most diverse and vibrant boroughs, we have the opportunity to create a place that works for everyone. We’re looking for enthusiastic, passionate people to join us in this exciting venture.

Where better to find the people we are looking for than right here in the Camden community?

Why us: • W e embrace diversity, actively welcoming people from all backgrounds.

• W e have a commitment and desire to increase employment in the local area for local people, working closely with organisations such as KX Recruit.

• C amden is the country’s first Timewise council, and, as part of this commitment, we work to help parents balance work with childcare.

• W e offer over 180 training courses to our employees to help fulfil their career progression.

We invest. We achieve. We are Camden. Visit our jobs page: togetherwearecamden.com

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Welcome

to the December and January edition of the Camden magazine.

We reflect on our 2016 achievements and on 2017 challenges in this double issue of Camden magazine.

9 | Taking action

against air pollution

10 | Fairer housing allocations

26 | High Speed 2

in review

The Brexit vote was the seismic event of the year and its effects will cast a long shadow over 2017. The Office for Budget Responsibility set out terrible projections for the impact of Brexit on our economy but Government’s autumn statement failed to fully set out how they would respond. Government also failed to acknowledge the more immediate crisis—the chronic underfunding of adult social care.

As it has no adequate plan for either, we’re currently left to try to respond ourselves. There’s more on page 25.

We can’t look back on 2016 without talking about High Speed 2 (page 26). Throughout the year we pushed to get the best deal for Camden, taking our case to the House of Lords Select Committee and supporting residents to make concerns heard. Regardless of what happens in 2017 we are planning to minimise its impact and we’ll hold HS2 Ltd to account every step of the way.

2016 saw a number of our Community Investment Programme (CIP) projects break ground, and

it’s great to be able to celebrate the progress of one more before the year is out—the community resource centre at Greenwood Place (page 12). We will update you on these projects in 2017 as we reach important milestones.

Last year we also changed our Housing Allocation Scheme to make the process fairer. On page 10 you can hear from two Camden families who benefitted almost immediately. But there are still massive threats to affordable housing in Camden. On page 14 you can see how the Housing and Planning Act could affect everyone, not just council tenants.

Despite these difficulties, we remain dedicated to making our borough an even better place to live in 2017, including making Camden greener by increasing recycling rates and taking action against poor air quality (page 9).

Thank you for helping make 2016 a productive year. I’m looking forward to what we will achieve together 2017.

Councillor Sarah Hayward Leader of the Council

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News

Apply now for a Camden primary school In Camden, an amazing 98% of children attend primary schools rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted – higher than almost anywhere else in the country.

If your child was born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013 you need to apply for a reception place before 15 January.

You can name up to six school preferences on our online form.

If you have just moved here and want to find out about current spare places in any year group, you can ask our school admissions team, then apply directly to local primary schools.

Pupils in Camden perform well above the national average in test results for 11 year olds. In 2016, provisional figures show 60% of Camden’s primary pupils achieving the national standard and above in reading, writing and maths – well above the national figure of 53%.

Our schools also offer fantastic arts, sports and enrichment opportunities, including visits by top theatre groups and worldleading companies, and access to excellent performance venues, museums and galleries.

Find out more camden.gov.uk/admissions admissions@camden.gov.uk

Making music in the studio at Rhyl Primary School

School run STARS We’re supporting schools to promote active and safe travel, as part of a London-wide programme.

Transport for London’s north regional STARS (Sustainable Travel: Active, Responsible, Safe) schools celebration event was held at the Camden Centre.

This year’s STARS have reduced vehicle use by parents and teachers, and increased safe walking and cycling to school for children and young people.

STARS encourages children, parents and teachers to adopt safer and more sustainable ways of travelling to school, nursery or college. Participants were awarded bronze, silver and gold awards, based on their success in changing travel behaviour.

Twenty-six Camden schools received awards for their achievements in active travel.

We support local schools and children to enjoy safe cycling by offering free bikeability training.

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Irene Doukas, 11, (left) and Leila Racaniere, 10, from St Margaret’s School at the Camden STARS event.

Find out more tfl.gov.uk/stars cycle.training@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 5071

News New Hawley Primary School opens The 210-pupil primary school opened on 1 November and will mean that children can stay at one place until secondary school. school for pupils to attend once they reached age seven.

The new all-through primary school, including a 26-place nursery, has been built to replace Hawley Infants, which had been in Camden Town for more than 100 years but had outgrown its site. The new school, part of the Hawley Wharf redevelopment, is just 300 metres from the old school building, but is larger and will allow pupils to stay at one school until they move on to secondary school. Previously there had been no linked junior

Proud that @the_hive_ camden is a regional finalist for the 2017 @CTAwards #communityparticipation

A neighbouring Grade II-listed home was also converted for school use and the decorative iron gates from the infants’ school were relocated to the new site.

Nice, safe cycle lane installed by @camdentalking between parked cars and pavement on Royal College Street

Find out more camden.gov.uk/schools www.hawley.camden.sch.uk

Look out for the latest rubbish and recycling information in January

From April 2017, we will have a new waste, recycling and street cleaning contract that will be delivered by Veolia.

Your comments on social media.

The new, energy efficient building includes classrooms around a central courtyard. Each classroom has its own outdoor space, some with rooftop terraces, and there is a hard play space, a multi-games area and garden.

New waste contract starts in April As our funding from Central Government continues to shrink, we have been making changes to our rubbish and recycling collections to make them more efficient. We had a difficult challenge to reduce the environment services budget by ÂŁ5 million a year and have been working hard to find new ways of doing things, not only to improve the service you receive but also save money.

Camden talking

Veolia will be responsible for your food, recycling and rubbish collections. In January, you will receive some important information about the changes you can expect to see to your waste collections when the new contract comes into effect in April.

Visit the link below for more information about the changes to our waste, recycling and street cleaning services.

@nerysanthony via Twitter

@TwoWheelsGoodUK via Twitter

We have @camdentalking with us today spreading some #wednesdaywisdom to families on how to cook for a healthier lifestyle.

@KingsgateCC via Twitter

Safeguarding Adults a must course for the Leadership Team. Thanks to partners @camdentalking @Hopscotchawc for training ours yesterday @camdenlgbtforum via Twitter

Join the conversation: facebook.com/lbcamden

Find out more camden.gov.uk/wastechallenge

@camdentalking 7

News

The Mayor’s Christmas appeal Could you spare a gift for a Camden child in need?

This Christmas, the Mayor of Camden, Councillor Nadia Shah, is collecting gifts for local children and teenagers who are either in care, temporarily homeless or the victims of domestic violence.

Councillor Shah is raising awareness of child poverty during her mayoral year, and the Council is working hard to address this.

However, there are many children that may not receive a Christmas present without your help.

If you are able, please bring a new, unwrapped present to reception at the Town Hall, 5 Find out more

Pancras Square or the Crowndale Centre by Tuesday 20 December.

Presents will then be wrapped and delivered to local children through our family services and social work teams.

the lives of local young people who experience mental health problems. Find out more about these events on the Mayor’s Facebook page.

Next year, The Mayor will also continue to hold fundraising events for her chosen charity, the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families. The charity is dedicated to transforming

facebook.com/themayorofcamden

mayor@camden.gov.uk

Protect yourself from seasonal scams Scammers don’t take time off during the holiday season.

They see it as an opportunity to con you out of your money.

You can be scammed by post, phone, email, text message or on your doorstep. Here are some tips to protect yourself: Stop, chain and check. Don’t open the door to anyone before you’ve checked who it is. If you’re not expecting someone and you don’t know them, don’t let them into your home, no matter what they say. Phone or doorstep scammers may pretend to be police, bank or other officials (e.g. a person from a utility company).

Find out more 8

Keep personal details safe.

Never give out your bank account details to someone you don’t know. Never email your financial information, even if you know the person you are emailing.

Do not give money to claim a prize. No legitimate company will ask for this.

Don’t feel pressured.

Say no or tell them you need time to take advice.

camden.gov.uk/citizensadvice

Contact Citizens Advice at the number below for more information.

You can report scams to Action Fraud at the number below, but always call 999 in an emergency.

03454 040506 (Citizen’s Advice)

0300 123 2040 (Action Fraud)

News

Camden unites to tackle poor air quality Residents, students, businesses, council officials and campaigners came together last month at Camden Council’s third annual air quality conference to take action against pollution in the borough.

Poor air quality in London has a major impact, with nearly 9,500 people annually across the capital losing their life as a result of dangerous levels of pollution, which exceed legal limits.

Councillor Meric Apak, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Environment, Simon Birkett, Director of Clean Air in London, and Elliot Treharne, Air Quality Manager at the GLA, outlined what action was being taken at a national, regional and boroughwide level, while Keir Starmer MP joined the conference, hosting a Q&A on future opportunities.

Residents shared their own ideas and solutions for tackling poor air quality. Everything was up for discussion, including anti-idling, car-free days, reducing demand Find out more

for delivery vehicles and restrictions on high polluting cars. A call for wider monitoring and enforcement, investment in electric cars and charging facilities, workplace parking charges and more schools schemes were also made. From the conference, Councillor Meric Apak took away six main action points the Council will explore to improve air quality: • introduce car-free days • m ove towards being a diesel-free borough • promote electric transport • more trees and green spaces • m ove towards more measurement and target setting in the Camden Air Action Plan

• w ork more closely with schools to tackle air quality.

The six new action points outline how we can move the Camden Air Quality Action Plan forward. These will contribute to initiatives already in place to tackle poor air quality in Camden, such as switching our recycling and waste collection vehicles from diesel powered to powered by compressed natural gas from April next year, and introducing car-free ‘play streets’ across the borough.

Go car-free The biggest contributor to air quality is tailpipe emissions from cars, especially diesel vehicles. Whenever possible, walk, cycle or get the bus.

camden.gov.uk/airquality 9

Viewpoints

What do you think?

In January we introduced a fairer scheme for allocating council homes. Two Camden residents give their views on the changes.

It’s been almost a year since we improved the way we provide council homes in Camden. The old system wasn’t working and you wanted us to make it fairer. The changes we’ve made to the housing allocations scheme gives greater priority to local people and helps tackle child poverty by enabling more families living in overcrowded conditions to find larger homes.

Rabia Khatun was living in a small studio flat with her husband Mizanur and daughter Habiba, who turned four in April. They had been waiting since 2007 to be rehoused.

Abbas Neamati and his wife Sabiheh were living in a privately-rented studio flat, and were expecting baby Yasmin. They had registered for a council property in 2012.

Before the new scheme came into place we were all in one room together. The space was small and very cramped. We made 538 bids on properties with no luck. We were not classed as overcrowded as Habiba was not yet five. This had got me really down and upset.

We were in a really small place for many years. It wasn’t comfortable for us. I was on the register for a long time. With my medical condition and Sabiheh being pregnant we really needed a bigger place.

After the new scheme came into place, we managed to find somewhere after 54 bids and we moved in September this year. The new place is great. We have two bedrooms and more space. Habiba is happy as she is able to run around and play.

Find out more 10

camden.gov.uk/housingallocations

I had made nearly 300 bids before the new scheme. When the new scheme came into place, we made 43 bids and were able to move into a two-bedroom property in April before Yasmin was born.

Feature

New housing allocations scheme We’re giving greater priority to Camden residents and improving living conditions for Camden families.

Changes to the scheme: • children under five are recognised in the overcrowding assessment • families with dependent children in studios are now automatically awarded 250 severe overcrowding points (the highest overcrowding award)

• households living in cramped conditions, who are using living space for sleeping, are now awarded 50 points • households with dependent children who share facilities, such as kitchens and bathrooms, with people who are not family are awarded 50 points • no age limit on sharing a bedroom for non-dependent adults.

We’ve also made applying for housing easier by introducing a new version of the online application form, an improved Home Connections website and new bidding app.

The new scheme: facts and figures

96% 86% 134 54% Find out more

of households on the housing register live in Camden.

Previously this was only 72%. of registered households have been Camden residents for at least 10 of the last 15 years. Previously this was only 54%.

I n the first six months of the new scheme, 134 more Camden children have moved from severely crowded housing to a home of the right size.

This is 3.85 times as many as in the same period the previous year.

Annually this could be around 270 children.

Last summer, the proportion of households on the housing register with dependent children and overcrowding points was 9%. This year it increased to 54%. This means that overcrowded families, who are now also more likely to be Camden residents, have a far greater chance of bidding successfully.

camden.gov.uk/housingallocations housingnews@camden.gov.uk

camden.gov.uk/housingact

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Feature

New community New community resource centre resource centre

Work is starting on a new, high-quality centre in Kentish Town, with accessible activity spaces for physiotherapy, advice, counselling, events and much more.

Building work on the new community resource centre at Greenwood Place will start this month. The new centre will be an opportunity for people with a range of care needs to access highquality services that will support them to live independently.

Illustration of the new community centre at Greenwood Place, which is a part of our Community Investment Programme.

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It will also be home to Camden’s first Centre for Independent Living, which will be run and managed by a user-led organisation. The new centre will lead the way in delivering a range of services and peer-support that promotes and enables independence, health, wellbeing and inclusion in the local community.

Feature

Greenwood Place is part of our Community Investment Programme (CIP), a 15year plan to invest money in schools, homes and community facilities. We’re committed to building and refurbishing 9,000 square metres of community facilities and space across Camden through the programme – equivalent to the area of 35 tennis courts.

Despite government cuts, we’re investing over £1 billion in Camden through CIP. We will build 3,050 new homes, including 1,400 affordable homes, and invest £117 million in schools and children’s centres.

To date, we have built 277 homes through CIP, and we expect to complete another 425 homes in the next 18 months. We’ve also invested £61 million in schools and children’s centres and provided 1,242 square metres of community facilities, including the new St Pancras Community Centre, which opened over the summer.

Find out more

Community toilet scheme expands Facilities at the centre at Greenwood The new centre will include: space for services supporting people with a range of care needs private meeting spaces for information, advice, counselling and health appointments space for physiotherapy and occupational therapy fully accessible flexible activity spaces and a ground-floor room for exercise classes or events a café, training kitchen and catering facilities.

Get involved People who will use the service, along with their families and carers, will have the chance to get involved in how the spaces are used.

This will ensure that the centre is the best possible resource for our community.

camden.gov.uk/greenwoodplace camden.gov.uk/cip

Our community toilet scheme now has members in Kilburn and across the borough. Members of the scheme let the public use their toilets during normal opening hours, whether they are paying customers or not. In return, we pay members an annual fee of up to £750 (including VAT), and promote their businesses locally and online. We’re always keen to hear from more businesses or community groups that would like to join.

Look out for signs like the one below, which will tell you where there’s a community toilet. Visit the website below to join the scheme or to find out where the toilets are located.

You’re welcome to use our toilets

Camden community toilet scheme camden.gov.uk/publictoilets

Find out more camden.gov.uk/publictoilets 13

Feature

Housing Act: how could it affect me?

Council tenant

trying to get on the property ladder

Camden Council shares the concerns of many of our residents about the possible impacts of this new law. Find out what it might mean for you.

While the Housing and Planning Act is now law, we are still waiting on Government to publish much of the detail about how it will operate in practice.

In fact, it remains possible that some elements of the Act may never come into effect, or may be altered further. Recently, Government dropped “Pay to Stay”. Councils will no longer be forced to charge tenants more in rent if their household earns over £40,000.

The Council has opposed all of these changes from the beginning, and we are continuing to make the case to Government that going ahead will make it harder to meet the needs of our diverse community and will do nothing to resolve the housing crisis.

Find out more

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renting privately

renting privately

I am… a council tenant New, shorter tenancies will mean less stable housing for your children if they become council tenants in the future.

If you are currently living in overcrowded conditions you could have to wait longer to move as the Council may have to sell council properties when they become empty, leaving fewer available overall on our housing register.

trying to get on the property ladder Government’s new Starter Homes will cost up to £450,000 to buy in Camden, which we consider to be unaffordable for all but the highest-earning first-time buyers. The Council is prioritising building genuinely affordable homes, but this new law might make this harder.

camden.gov.uk/housingact housingnews@camden.gov.uk

a home owner

local business owner

The Council believes that the new law will affect the entire housing market. Because it will reduce the availability of affordable homes, the risk is that more people are pushed into the expensive private rented sector, raising prices further.

a home owner We are proud of Camden’s diverse and socially mixed communities.

We are already concerned about the number of properties bought and kept empty in Camden.

We are worried that the new law will encourage more people to buy properties and that inevitably some of these will be for investment rather than to live in, damaging the vibrancy of our neighbourhoods.

a local business owner The Housing and Planning Act might make it harder for businesses to recruit local staff if fewer people on low to middle incomes can afford to live in the area.

legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/22

Feature

Know you’re not alone this winter Instances of domestic violence and abuse increase at this time of year. We are here to offer you and your family support.

and abuse will be experienced by 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men in their lifetime. Sadly, we see a rise in instances of domestic violence and abuse over Christmas and New Year.

This season is typically a time when people look forward to being with family and friends but, for some, this time of year can be a source of fear, bringing with it the threat of raised voices, intimidation and violence.

Situations involving heightened emotions, stress and alcohol can often be used by perpetrators of violence as excuses for their behaviour. The person suffering the abuse may try to pretend everything is fine for appearance’s sake in front of the rest of the family, particularly their children.

In the UK, two women are killed every week by a partner or expartner, while domestic violence

If this sounds familiar, know you’re not alone. We understand it can be a difficult time to reach out for

Find out more

camden.gov.uk/know 020 7974 2526

help or to let others know what’s going on. Especially at this time of year, when the person who is harming you may be around more than usual, checking up on you, or monitoring who you are talking to, it can make options seem limited.

We want you to know that there is someone you can talk to over this period, and throughout the year. When it is safe for you to do so, call the team at Camden Safety Net, our dedicated support service, who are here to listen if you need a friendly ear and can help you when you are ready to find support. With 2017 just around the corner, we can support you to make a new start.

camdensafetynet@camden.gov.uk 07814 671427 15

Feature

WINTER

WISE We wish you a healthy, safe and enjoyable winter.

Visit our winter web pages throughout the season for information, and visit our news pages for updates during bad weather.

camden.gov.uk/winter

Plan, prepare and be aware The Winter months bring increased risk of illness and injuries. Look out for yourself and the needs of friends, relatives and neighbours. People who are particularly vulnerable to the cold include older people, those with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and those with young children.

Remember • Try to keep a constant temperature of 18-21ºC in all frequented rooms.

• Stay tuned to the Met Office forecast and plan ahead with supplies if needed.

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• If you meet the criteria, register for priority service with your energy and water suppliers.

Green Camden Helpline

• Have regular hot meals and drinks throughout the day and keep active to help you stay warm.

Our freephone helpline (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) has a team of friendly advisors on hand to provide you with energy-saving advice, including how to switch energy tariff and what to do if you are in fuel debt. The team can also check if you are eligible for an energy or water bill discount, energy efficiency grant and a Well and Warm home energy visit.

• Check if you’re eligible for a Well and Warm visit at the website below.

• Have your heating and cooking appliances checked regularly.

• Wear a few layers of thin clothing rather than one thick layer, and, when you need to go outside, wear shoes with slip resistant, good-grip soles.

Find out more camden.gov.uk/wellandwarm 0800 801 738

Personal safety – at home and away The festive season is a time to enjoy but it can also increase risks to personal safety.

Top tips

North London Cares reaching out to older people Winter can be the most isolating time of year, especially for older people. North London Cares will again be running an outreach project to help older neighbours stay warm, active and healthy.

Supported by us, their Winter Wellbeing programme will aim to hold warming conversations with around 1,500 older people throughout the borough. They will reach people through door knocking, letters and phone calls, social clubs, stalls at supermarkets and food banks, work in chemists and GP surgeries, and by distributing blankets, coats, scarves and socks to those most in need. Visit the website below to get involved.

Find out more northlondoncares.org.uk

• Don’t leave bags unattended in shops, and keep your purse, wallet, mobile and keys out of sight and out of reach.

• Be extra careful when using cashpoints. Most street crime is opportunist so make sure nobody is hovering nearby and don’t count your money in the middle of the street.

• Heading out for the night?

Keep to well-populated and well-lit areas, and let someone know where you are and what time you’ll be home. Plan your route home in advance or book a cab.

• Burglars know that there are presents around at Christmas time. Keep them out of sight and double lock your front door when you go out.

• Ask a neighbour to watch your home if you are going away.

Find out more camden.gov.uk/winter/keepsafe

Christmas and New Year customer service closures Contact Camden, our customer services team, will not be available: • from 6pm on Friday 23 December to 8am Wednesday 28 December • from 6pm on Friday 30 December to 8am Tuesday 3 January Essential services will continue over Christmas and New Year.

In case of an urgent issue, call 020 7974 4444 (24 hours a day).

You can use your Camden Account at any time to manage key services in one place with one log in.

Find out more contact.camden.gov.uk 17

Feature

Try something new for

With January just around the corner, we’ve made your new year’s resolutions easy by rounding up 10 of the best ideas (in no particular order) that you can achieve right here in Camden.

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Health Check

Get active

Be kind to your body and start your 2017 with a free NHS Health Check. It’s free, simple and can take as little as 20 minutes. It could lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. Speak to your GP, visit nhshealthcheck.com/camden or call 020 3282 7886 to book at a pharmacy.

Try the fantastic facilities at our leisure centres with a range of membership options, including many concessions. Over 60s can swim for free on weekdays from 7am to 12pm and kids can swim for as a little as £1 during school holidays. You can find many more free and low-cost community activities on our website, such as health walks, outdoor gyms

Feature and physical activity and sport sessions. camden.gov.uk/active

Discover more of your borough

challenge and join others across the UK who are choosing to banish booze for 31 days. dryjanuary.org.uk

From small independent galleries and museums to theatres and interesting urban sites, there’s something to entertain everyone in Camden. lovecamden.org

If you’re worried about your drinking, or someone close to you, these resources can also help: oneyoucamden.org/drink-less or the alcohol support service on 0300 303 2420.

Kick the habit

Volunteer

Tight on cash after buying all those Christmas presents? Giving up smoking could save you up to £250 a month, as well reducing your chance of heart disease, cancer and stroke. With help from our stop-smoking service, you’re four times more likely to stop for good. It offers free expert advice, one-to-one and group support, a personal stop smoking plan and a range of tools and treatments to help you beat the cravings. smokefreelifecamden.co.uk 0800 1070 401

Set aside some time this year to make a difference to the people and causes that matter to you. volunteercentrecamden.org.uk 020 7424 9990

Sing your heart out There are music groups and choirs to suit every taste in Camden. And they’re looking for people just like you. camden.gov.uk/choirs

Cut down on your drinking Many of us enjoy a drink from time to time, but regularly drinking too much alcohol can lead to serious health problems. January is a perfect time to cut back, and it will make you look and feel better. Take part in the national Dry January

Lose weight If you’re concerned about your weight, why not sign up for Rebalance this month? It’s a free 12-week programme tailored to you, to help you lose weight, grow in confidence and take control of your lifestyle. It includes indoor and outdoor activity classes and one-to-one advice about your diet and nutrition. You could get a half-price gym membership if you complete the course. camden.gov.uk/rebalance 020 7974 1741.

Find a new job Feel like a change? Get advice to build your experience, help with your CV and interview tips. A range of local apprenticeships are also available for 16 to 24-year-olds in everything from retail and catering to construction and mechanics. camden.gov.uk/jobsandskills

Get learning Learn a new skill for free at our adult community learning courses starting in January.

• Basic computer skills: search for jobs, stay in touch with friends and family, pay your parking and council tax.

• Prepare for employment: write or improve your CV, practice interview skills, and search and apply for jobs online.

• Beginner English: drop-in conversation groups, practice speaking English, come any week for as long as you need.

Enrolment day: Sign up for courses on Wednesday 4 January, 9am to 4pm: • Richard Cobden Learning Centre, Camden Street, NW1 0LJ • Adult Learning Centre, Netley Campus, 72-76 Stanhope Street, NW1 3EX

Find out more camden.gov.uk/adultlearning adultlearning@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 2148

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Feature

‘Tis the season for giving… to your recycling bin Don’t leave your recycling bin out of the Christmas spirit this year. Here’s Santa’s list of naughty and nice recycling.

Naughty

Nice

Please don’t recycle these things

Reuse or recycle these items

• Shiny foil wrapping paper – use paper or fabric to wrap presents and reuse it next year, or use old paper to make decorations.

• Recycle Christmas cards or make gift tags or Christmas decorations for next year.

• Dirty paper cups and plates – use reusable crockery and save yourself some money.

Give your food waste caddy a holiday ake stock from the M turkey carcass. reeze carved roast meat F for sandwiches. litz leftover cooked turkey B in the blender to make turkey mince. reeze Christmas cake and F pudding in slices so you can defrost a piece at a time.

• Toys made of recyclable and nonrecyclable parts, like a toy car with metal, plastic and wood pieces. These can’t be recycled, so donate them to a local charity instead.

reeze Stilton to use F in cooking.

• Recycle chocolate and biscuit tins or use them to store buttons, safety pins or spare change.

• Don’t forget the bathroom – put a small recycling bin in your bathroom for toilet rolls and empty hand soap bottles.

se leftover fruit in U smoothies and cocktails. ake soup with leftover M veggies and meat. eep snacks like nuts, K crisps and biscuits covered so they last longer.

Have you signed up to Camden Recycling Rewards?

Earn points this Christmas for recycling your wrapping paper, cards, Christmas trees and food scraps. Don’t forget to use your rewards card to get discounts at local retailers and the Green Points Eco store when you’re doing your Christmas shopping. Sign up to make recycling more rewarding.

Find out more 20

camden.gov.uk/recyclingrewards

Feature

Ask

Jenny Introducing Jenny, one of Camden’s resident recycling experts. Each issue she will answer some of your waste and recycling questions.

See the holiday recycling and n io rubbish collecton s e g n a ch day page 4.

Is it possible to describe which types of plastic can be recycled and which can’t? I am bewildered, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Might an explanation be published in Camden magazine?

Not accepted

There are lots of different types of plastic, so it can be hard to know which ones you can recycle. The general rule is that heavier plastic, like drink bottles and meat trays, is recyclable, but lighter, thinner plastic, like cling film, is not. Crisp packets, cling film or chocolate wrappers cannot be recycled. They can get caught in the recycling machinery, causing blockages and breakdowns. Remember to make sure there is no food waste or liquid left in the packaging.

This helps reduce contamination in the recycling, and also stops creepy crawlies getting too interested in your bins.

• Coffee cups (but you can recycle the lids).

Accepted • Milk bottles and lids.

• Yogurt pots.

• Margarine boxes.

• Pots, tubs and trays but no black trays.

• Toiletries packaging, like shampoo bottles and moisturiser.

• Cooking oil bottles.

• Cleaning liquid bottles.

• Crisp packets.

• Cling film.

• Chocolate, biscuit and sweet wrappers.

• Cheese bags.

• Freezer bags.

• Toothpaste tubes.

• Black trays – the machines at the recycling centre aren’t able to identify black plastic trays like those used with ready meals.

What should I do with Christmas lights that don’t work anymore?

If your Christmas lights stop working, you can take them to Regis Road or one of 11 other electronic and electrical recycling centres in Camden. If you buy new lights but your old ones still work, donate them to charity or offer them on Freecycle to brighten up someone else’s Christmas.

Speaking of electrical items, if you happen to get a new large appliance for Christmas, have your old one collected and recycled for free.

Find out more camden.gov.uk/ electricalrecycling 123recycleforfree.com

Do you have a recycling question for Jenny?

Email it to us at camdenmagazine@camden.gov.uk and she’ll answer a selection in the next issue of the magazine.

21

Members’ Allowances Scheme Payments 2015/16 In accordance with the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) Regulations 2003, notice is hereby given that the London Borough of Camden, during the financial period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, made total payments to each of the following Members as set out. Payments were made in accordance with the published Members’ Allowances Scheme for the same period.

Payments to Councillors

Payments to Councillors Member

Basic Allowances

Special Travel and Responsibility SubCycle Carers’ Allowances sistence Allowances Allowance Total

Olad A

9,654.00

5,319.00

-

-

582.00

15,555.00

24,330.94

Olszewski R

9,654.00

5,319.00

-

-

-

14,973.00

9,654.00

Pietragnoli L

9,654.00

2,187.24

-

-

158.73

11,999.97

-

14,243.78

Pober A

9,654.00

-

-

165.88

-

9,819.88

-

9,654.00

Quadir A

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

-

-

9,654.00

Rea F M

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

-

-

25,608.00

Revah L P

9,654.00

13,985.16

-

-

-

23,639.16

-

-

9,654.00

Robinson R L

9,654.00

10,635.00

-

-

-

20,289.00

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Member

Basic Allowances

Special Travel and Responsibility SubCycle Carers’ Allowances sistence Allowances Allowance Total

Ali N

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Apak M

9,654.00

14,495.98

-

180.96

-

Baillie S

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

Beales D

9,654.00

4,589.78

-

-

Beattie D A

9,654.00

-

-

-

Berry S

9,654.00

-

-

Blackwell T W

9,654.00

15,954.00

-

Bucknell J M

9,654.00

-

-

Callaghan P A

9,654.00

15,954.00

-

-

-

25,608.00

Rosenberg P R

Cooper O H

8,667.84

-

-

-

-

8,667.84

Roy L

9,654.00

3,488.81

-

-

-

13,142.81

Cotton R S

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Russell L J

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Currie T W

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Shah N

9,654.00

1,374.60

-

-

-

11,028.60

Eslamdoust M

9,654.00

5,319.00

-

-

-

14,973.00

Simpson J A

9,654.00

15,954.00

-

-

-

25,608.00

Francis S

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Spinella G

9,654.00

1,830.19

-

-

-

11,484.19

Freeman R J

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Stark S

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Fulbrook J G

9,654.00

2,187.24

-

-

-

11,841.24

Tomlinson P E

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Gardiner T

9,654.00

5,319.00

-

-

-

14,973.00

Vincent S

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Gimson S

9,654.00

15,954.00

-

-

-

25,608.00

Williams D W

9,654.00

5,319.00

-

-

-

14,973.00

Gould G A

9,654.00

15,954.00

-

-

-

25,608.00

Wood A

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

520,329.84 279,536.78 -

346.84

740.73

800,954.19

Hai A

9,654.00

15,954.00

-

-

-

25,608.00

Yarde J A

Harrison A D

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Total

Hayward S L

9,654.00

28,716.00

-

-

-

38,370.00

Headlam-Wells J 9,654.00

5,319.00

-

-

-

14,973.00

Johnson H M

9,654.00

5,319.00

-

-

-

14,973.00

Jones P D

9,654.00

15,954.00

-

-

-

25,608.00

Kelly A

9,654.00

5,319.00

-

-

-

14,973.00

Khatoon S

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Lewis O

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Leyland C

9,654.00

15,954.00

-

-

-

25,608.00

Madlani R

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Marshall A

9,654.00

-

-

-

-

9,654.00

Mason A M

9,654.00

15,954.00

-

-

-

25,608.00

McCormack M E 9,654.00

4,589.78

-

-

-

14,243.78

Mennear K A

5,319.00

-

-

-

14,973.00

9,654.00

Payments to Independent Persons Independent Persons

Basic Allowances

Special Travel Responsibility and SubAllowances sistence

Cycle Carers’ Allowances Allowance Total

Redfern M A

-

1,038.00

-

-

-

1,038.00

Terry S D

-

1,038.00

-

-

-

1,038.00

Total

-

2,076.00

-

-

-

2,076.00

Total for all Members Basic Allowances

Special Travel and Responsibility SubsisCycle Allowances tence Allowances

Carers’ Allowance

Total

520,329.84

281,612.78 -

740.73

803,030.19

346.84

If you require any further information, please contact the Committee Services Manager, Anne Rasmussen, by phone on 020 7974 2360, email at anne.rasmussen@camden.gov.uk, or by post at Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, London WC1H 9JE. 22

Feature

Outstanding childcare in Camden Camden’s registered childminders offer high-quality and flexible childcare in a ‘home from home’ environment that suits many busy parents.

Like schools, nurseries and children’s centres, registered childminders are inspected and graded by Ofsted. An amazing 91% of childminders in Camden are rated ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’, which is well above the national average of 83%.

This means you can expect excellent care, and for your children to receive the same highquality early education they would in a school’s nursery class or children’s centre.

Your child can learn, explore and have fun while you have more free time to study, volunteer or take on extra hours at work. Early education also helps your child’s learning and development.

“Parents like the flexibility and home from home experience that their children get.”

Teresa takes the children she looks after to attractions such as Kentish Town City Farm, local parks, Talacre Leisure Centre and rhyme time at Kentish Town Library.

Childminder Margaret Jones, from Euston, also rated ‘outstanding’, enjoys taking younger children to the regular ‘stay and play’ drop-ins at local children’s centres, which

are part of the Camden Sure Start service.

Margaret was among six local childminders to receive book token awards from Councillor Angela Mason CBE, Cabinet Member for Children, at a recent celebration evening.

Search for local childminders at the address below. If you’re a Camden resident with a twoyear-old child, you might also be entitled to 15 hours of free childminding per week.

Many of the borough’s 133 registered childminders are linked to our Camden Sure Start children’s centres and local activities for under fives, as well as receiving training and support through our early years service’s childminders’ partnership.

Childminder Teresa McDonald, from Kentish Town, is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. She said:

Find out more

Outstanding Camden childminders, including Margaret Jones (front row, left) at the awards event with Councillor Mason (far left) and Kay Williams, the Council’s early years team manager (far right).

camden.gov.uk/childcare

camden.gov.uk/twoyearolds

23

Feature

Efficiency savings through technology and digital investments By 2018/19 our like for like funding from Central Government will have been cut in half since 2010. This means we need to find new ways to maximise the value of our scarce resources in order to maintain support for our most vulnerable residents. One of the ways we are doing this is by investing in new technology.

Over the last year, digital investments have enabled us to save money while delivering good services for Camden residents and we are keen to continue this.

Open access in libraries Early next year we will be introducing ‘open access’ technology in five of our libraries.

This will mean that you can borrow books, book a PC, print and more without needing help from staff.

Find out more

24

By investing in a modern library service, we have been able to keep all of our libraries open despite a reduction of £800,000 from the budget.

Camden Account: Simple, safe, smart Each time you visit Contact Camden in person it costs the Council £13.86. A telephone call costs £3.86. But a website transaction costs just 32p. About 75% of the enquiries we get are phone calls, but our research told us that £13.54 per most of you transaction would actually prefer to contact

camden.gov.uk/simplesafesmart

Save

us online, using a computer or smartphone.

We focused on how we can make your experience better and save money at the same time. So, we have expanded the Camden Account, our online service where you can complete some of the most common council transactions such as making payments, reporting missed rubbish collections and managing parking permits.

Making these services available online does not mean you can’t call us or come and see us. But what it does mean is that our Contact Camden phone lines and centres will be freed up for those residents who need extra support to access services.

Feature

Changing our adult social care services We’re working out how we can best support current and future users of our adult social care services, in challenging times.

is growing, and people are living longer, often with long term health problems. We’ve already reduced some of our spending, but ongoing reductions have been more difficult as demand for services and the cost of providing them increases.

an active part in our community.

At the same time, we will continue to support those with the most complex needs, and will prioritise protecting people from harm.

There are significant challenges facing adult social care nationally and locally. Owing to cuts to our funding from Central Government, we need to reduce our adult social care budget by £16 million between 2014 and 2018. At the same time, Camden’s population

So now we’re rethinking how we deliver high-quality, sustainable, adult social care services. We want to create a service that reflects how people who need adult social care live now, focusing on what they can do, not what they can’t, to ensure they can play

• helping people early before problems grow bigger, and more expensive to address

How we think we can make most impact

• continuing to work with Camden’s voluntary organisations to reduce social isolation • working with health partners where it makes sense to do so • exploring how technology can give people more independence • supporting those who can work into employment We also want to make changes to our current customer contributions policy to make sure it is fair and in line with the Care Act 2014.

We will be proposing a new adult social care vision, and revised budget and investment programme at our Cabinet meeting on 14 December. If these proposals are agreed, we will consult on specific plans in the new year and urge you to take part and have your say.

Find out more

camden.gov.uk/ascchanges

25

Feature

HS2 – year in review The Council has put pressure on High Speed 2 (HS2) Ltd throughout the year to get the best deal for Camden, but the work isn’t over.

Summer 2016

Councillor Sarah Hayward, Leader of the Council, with Andrew Dismore, London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden (left), and Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, outside Euston station during the Mayor’s tour in July.

Over the past year, the Council has pushed HS2 Ltd at every opportunity to get the best deal if the new high speed railway from London to Birmingham goes ahead. Here’s a review of our efforts over the past year, and what’s next in 2017.

Winter 2015 We secured over 100 assurances (agreements) from the House of Commons Select Committee last December, which will help to reduce HS2’s impact.

These include noise insulation and ventilation for residents, replacement open space, and measures to support businesses and schools. HS2 Ltd also committed to studies such as 26

moving construction and waste materials by rail to further reduce impacts. We put pressure on HS2 Ltd throughout 2016 to ensure they made progress on delivering their commitments.

Spring 2016 Work began to build replacement homes for tenants and resident leaseholders set to lose homes to HS2. These homes will be ready to move into at the end of 2017.

The HS2 Bill moved to the House of Lords for further review, beginning a new petitioning period. We supported residents and businesses through the petitioning process by holding preparation events during spring and summer.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, visited the Euston area to meet residents and see the disruption HS2 will bring. We stressed the need for the comprehensive redevelopment of Euston mainline station in time for it to integrate with plans for HS2 and Crossrail 2, a new link across London. This would minimise disruption and create the opportunity for 2,200 new homes and 16,000 jobs through over-site development.

The Mayor has called on the government to rethink Euston station.

HS2 Ltd released proposals that we believe did not go far enough in committing to remove construction vehicles from Camden’s roads by transporting materials by rail.

We prepared to take this issue to Select Committee.

HS2 Ltd revealed their latest proposal for minimising the height increase of Hampstead Road Bridge, which would still raise the height by over four metres.

HS2 Ltd also published a study on alternative construction lorry holding areas to a potential site in Park Crescent, Westminster, including five sites in Camden.

Following negotiations we secured assurances that HS2 Ltd will keep the design of Hampstead Road Bridge under review, and will consult the Council on any

Feature

The Council pushed for the full redevelopment of Euston mainline station at the House of Lords Select Committee in September.

proposed on-street lorry holding areas in the borough.

HS2 Ltd indicated that they are now reviewing the design of the scheme in the approach to Euston station, with results expected in February 2017.

Autumn 2016 We appeared at Select Committee in September, followed by over 140 petitioners from Camden.

The Council pushed for fairer compensation for local residents and businesses; the need for the full redevelopment of Euston station; and for HS2 Ltd to do more to transport materials by rail.

Find out more

At the time of writing, we were awaiting a response from the Committee.

During negotiations before our appearance, we secured further assurances, including the establishment of a ÂŁ3.5 million Camden-wide fund for community projects, funding for support workers for vulnerable residents, and higher standards for construction vehicle emissions.

HS2 Ltd also agreed to improve community engagement and share more construction activity data.

Looking ahead Royal Assent for the HS2 Bill, which would give HS2 Ltd permission to start building

camden.gov.uk/hs2

the railway, was expected in December 2016. At the time of writing, it appears that this is likely to be delayed until early next year.

HS2 works are still set to begin in early 2017.

The Council continues to oppose plans for HS2 because they will bring almost two decades of disruption to local residents and businesses. If the HS2 Bill is passed, we know next year will be difficult as we will begin to see the effects on Camden.

We will hold HS2 Ltd to account on the assurances given to us, use the powers we have to restrict noisy works, and continue to do everything we can to minimise the impact of HS2 on Camden.

highspeed2@camden.gov.uk 27

Listings Seasonal events Queens Crescent festive market Saturday 10 December 10am to 6pm Queens Crescent, NW5 camden.gov.uk/markets marketstream@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 2475 Hanukah ceramics family day Create a Hanukah lamp or bowl, and other activities.

Sunday 11 December 2016, 10am to 2pm Free with museum entry Jewish Museum London 129-131 Albert St NW1 7NB jewishmuseum.org.uk/ whats-on 020 7284 7384 Christmas at the farm Sunday 11 December, Noon to 4pm Kids 30p, Adults £1, activities extra Kentish Town City Farm 1 Cressfield Close NW5 4BN ktcityfarm.org.uk Christmas with Pooh Bear and Friends Family-friendly readings and concert.

Sunday 11 December 2016, 1pm £5. Free for children age 10 and under.

Christmas Story Lanterns (Event to follow the above) Illustrate your lantern. Suitable for children aged 3 and up.

Sunday 11 December 2016, 2.15pm Free for children and up to two accompanying adults 40 Brunswick Square WC1N 1AZ foundlingmuseum.org.uk 020 7841 3600

28

All activities are free unless otherwise specified Afternoon poems: the bells are ringing Annual festive selection of poetry and prose.

Sunday 11 December, 2 to 3pm Booking recommended Keats House, 10 Keats Grove NW3 2RR keatsevents.eventbrite.co.uk

Bach to Baby Christmas Family Concert Friday December 16, 10:30am (doors), 11am (start) Adults £12, children free Lauderdale House Highgate Hill, Waterlow Park N6 5HG Pre-booking essential at bachtobaby.com/highgatespecial

Dickens at Christmas: Episodes with a Camden Flavour Performed by John Levitt Tuesday 13 December 2016, 7.15pm Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre 2nd Floor, Holborn Library 32-38 Theobalds Road WC1X 8PA

Family Day: Festival of Lights Make a tea light holder using recycled materials.

Sunday 18 December, 1 to 4pm (stories at 1.30, 2.30, 3.30) Keats House 10 Keats Grove, NW3 2RR keatsevents.eventbrite.co.uk

Camden Christian Fellowship Carol Service Thursday 15 December 2016 at 1pm King’s Cross Methodist Church 6 Crestfield Street WC1H 8AT camdenchristianfellowship. wordpress.com camdenfellowship@gmail.com

Queens Crescent Community Association’s Seniors Christmas Lunch Thursday 22 December, 12 to 4pm £7.50 per person Queen’s Crescent, Community Centre, 45 Ashdown Crescent NW5 4QE qcca.org.uk info@qcca.org.uk 020 7267 6635

Seasonal quiz Annual quiz with prizes and refreshments.

Thursday 15 December, 7.30pm £5 per person in support of the library Keats Community Library Keats Grove NW3 2RR keatscommunitylibrary.org.uk Camden Green Gym – Christmas celebration Thursday 15 December, 10:45am to 2pm Dartmouth Park Lodge entrance, Waterlow Park tcv.org.uk/camden gg-camden@tcv.org.uk 07768 710 359

Hampstead Community Centre Over 60s Christmas Day Lunch Transport available. Volunteer by contacting the centre office.

Sunday 25 December, 11am to 3pm Hampstead Community Centre 78 Hampstead High Street NW3 1RE hampsteadcommunitycentre. co.uk hampsteadcommunitycentre@ btconnect.com 020 7794 8313

Winter Takeover Artist-led activities suitable for all ages Friday 30 December, 2 to 4.30pm Camden Arts Centre Arkwright Road, London, NW3 6DG camdenartscentre.org Chinese New Year – Fundraising variety show Welcome the year of the rooster with a lion dance, magic and music.

22 January, 11am to 12pm (food and handicrafts), 12 to 3pm (variety show) £5 (over 12), £2 (under 12), £12 (families)Camden Centre, Bidborough Street WC1H 9BT camdenccc.co.uk facebook.com/camdenccc xavier.wong@camdenccc.co.uk 020 7388 8883

Under 5s Baby Bounce Sessions Every Tuesday, 10.30am Kentish Town library 262-266 Kentish Town Road NW5 2AA kentishtownlibrary@ camden.gov.uk 020 7974 4001 Every Wednesday, 2pm Camden Town Library Crowndale Centre 218 Eversholt Street NW1 1BD jane.mcgrath@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 4444

Listings Under 5s sessions Drop-in sessions including arts and crafts; music and rhyme; and cookery.

Tuesday to Friday (term time), 9.30am to 12.30pm £3 for first child, £1.50 for second. Further concessions available.

Hampstead Community Centre, 78 Hampstead High Street, NW3 1RE hampsteadcommunitycentre. co.uk hampsteadcommunitycentre@ btconnect.com 020 7794 8313

Get active Somers Town community table tennis Table tennis: Wednesdays, 2 to 3.30pm (adults and older adults), 3.30 to 5pm (young people aged 11-19 years) Basil Jellicoe Hall, Drummond Crescent NW1 1LE andrew.gilbert@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 6595 Somers Town & St Pancras community tennis hub Saturdays, 11am to 1pm St Pancras Community Association sports pitches, 67 Plender Street NW1 0LB andrew.gilbert@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 6595 Somers Town Striders Beginners running group Every Thursday, 6.30pm Somers Town Community Association, 150 Ossulston Street NW1 1EE andrew.gilbert@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 6595

Social Funky Moves Disco presented by Camden People First (CPF) Saturday 10 December, 6:30 to 10:30pm £5, and carers are free 4 Lady Margret Road, NW5 2XT camdenpeoplefirst.org.uk facebook.com/ camdenpeoplefirst info@camdenpeoplefirst.co.uk 020 7388 2007 Camden SOUP A micro-granting dinner that supports community-based projects Wednesday 14 December, 6.30 to 9pm £3.50 donation (all money goes towards the winning project) Camden Hub, 8 Fairhazel Gardens, Swiss Cottage NW6 3SG facebook.com/camdensoup/ abigail.darton@hcct.org.uk 020 7278 4437

Courses and education Drawing for people with aphasia A monthly drawing group for people with speech and language difficulties due to stroke or head injury.

Friday 9 December and Friday 13 January, 5.30 to 8.30pm Kentish Town Health Centre 2 Bartholomew Road NW5 2BX drawingforaphasia.com

Adult community learning courses Wednesday 4 January, 9 am to 4pm (enrolment day) Various locations camden.gov.uk/adultlearning adultlearning@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 2148 The Leighton Education Project Full-time courses for ages 16-25 with special educational needs and disabilities.

Places still available for 201617 academic year.

Courses are Monday to Thursday, 9.30am to 3.30pm Kentish Town elfridacamden.org.uk sousan@elfridacamden.org.uk 020 7424 1601 Everyday computer skills workshops Council organised workshops run by qualified tutors Various locations camden.gov.uk/computerworkshops adultlearning@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 2148 Batik workshop Learn the technique with an experienced artist Fridays 20 January to 10 February, 2 to 5pm Kentish Town Health Centre 2 Bartholomew Road NW5 2BX freespacegallery.org

Various dates in December mariecurie.org.uk/collections alex.dobbing@mariecurie.org.uk 020 7853 3415 SUPERsized Volunteer Fair Meet 40+ groups to volunteer in Camden and Islington.

Tuesday 24 January, 12 to 3pm Voluntary Action Islington 200a Pentonville Road, King’s Cross, N1 9JP volunteercentrecamden.org. uk/volunteering info@volunteercentrecamden. org.uk 020 7424 9990

Talks and lectures Camden History Society Twenty Extraordinary Building Projects on Primrose Hill Thursday 12 January 2017, 7.30pm, £1 Nursery Rhymes of London Town A Centenary Celebration of Hampstead’s Eleanor Farjeon Thursday 19 January 2017, 7.15pm Elizabethan Camden London, Westminster and Middlesex Family History Society Thursday 26th January 2017, 12.30pm, £2 Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre, 2nd Floor, Holborn Library, 32-38 Theobalds Road WC1X 8PA

Volunteering Collect for Marie Curie this December Donate two hours of your time to collect at one of London’s stations.

Details may change, so please check with the organiser before attending an event. Want to get your listing on these pages?

Email details to camdenmagazine@camden.gov.uk. Space is limited and we give priority to free or low-cost community events.

29

Feature

New sport activities for residents with disabilities Gymnastics and climbing join our range of sports for people with disabilities in 2017.

Gymnastics Gymnastics sessions for children with special needs will be available at Talacre Sports Centre from 21 January. The fun-filled, twiceweekly sessions will run for two age groups (4 to 7, and 8 to 14 year olds), and will include stretching, balancing, swinging, bouncing and learning gymnastics skills.

Active for All As well as the new sessions above, our Active for All programme continues to offer multi-sports sessions for residents with disabilities at Talacre and Swiss Cottage sports centres.

Activities include hockey, boccia, new age kurling and gym sessions.

All ‘Better’ leisure centres across Camden have special membership deals for people with disabilities, giving access to gyms, exercise classes and swimming pools.

The membership advisors at each centre will be able to explain the best options, which include concessionary memberships for people with disabilities.

So, whatever you’re into, make 2017 the year you try something new.

Each group will have full use of the gymnastics hall, with qualified coaches leading the sessions to make sure that exercises can be adapted as necessary.

Head Gymnastics Coach Alex Pakrah said: “Gymnastics regularly catches the imagination of young people when seen at big events like the Olympic Games. This new activity will enable those who have been unable to try gymnastics in the past to have a go.”

Climbing At Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, the established climbing wall will be home to a new disabled climbing session. Benefits to climbing include increased strength, endurance, agility and balance. Details are still being finalised, so please get in touch for more information.

Find out more:

30

Talacre Sports Centre will host gymnastics sessions for children with special needs beginning 21 January.

camden.gov.uk/disabilitysport swisscottage@gll.org (climbing)

gymteam@camden.gov.uk (gymnastics)

My Camden Lucy Collins is a volunteer in Camden, assisting at disability sessions at local sports centres

What’s your Camden connection?

Most memorable thing to happen to you in Camden?

I was born in Hampstead Heath, went to school in Gospel Oak and I currently live in Castlehaven. I’ve worked as a volunteer for more than 10 years at two sports sessions for Camden Council – the Saturday Hub Club at Swiss Cottage, and the Monday Night Club at Talacre Sports Centre.

I help to umpire new age kurling and support those who need it at the sessions. I volunteer at a parents’ group set up by Camden residents called Our Group Your Group (OGYG). I’ve been sports manager there since last summer, supporting people to move more.

I also have a part-time job as a youth worker in Somers Town.

Receiving the EPIC Camden Council Award in 2008, which I was given for exceptional contribution to sport and leisure. I got the chance to go to the Special Olympics in 2007 in China and came second in ten pin bowling. I won the silver medal and my team came fourth overall.

After China I coached the Special Olympics Camden table tennis team.

Find out more

Tell us about your work and volunteering in Camden

What is your favourite thing about volunteering?

When I volunteer, I help bring people along to the sessions, umpire the games, help people get active, and support anyone that needs more help. My youth work is with people with special needs, helping them get active with things like table tennis and cooking.

In my sports manager role at OGYG I help to provide information about activities in the borough.

I love to help people and I also really love sports.

Together that makes me want to help get people active.

volunteercentrecamden.org.uk 020 7424 9990

What makes Camden special?

Favourite places in Camden?

Going to the Café Grill on Camden High Street with friends before heading off to local activities in Camden. I also like to attend Swiss Cottage and Talacre for the sport sessions, the gym and swimming.

I’ve lived in Camden all my life. I like that it’s easy to see my friends and family as they all live in Camden. I also feel like I get the support I need in my borough. info@volunteercentrecamden.org.uk

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If you have a real Christmas tree, please recycle it after Christmas by taking it to one of our recycling points. We’ll compost your tree and it could be used to grow new ones.

The following Christmas tree recycling points will be open between 3 and 13 January:

N6

NW5

Millfield Lane

Boma Garden Centre, Islip Street Regis Road recycling and reuse centre Highgate enclosures, Highgate Road Talacre Road open space

NW1 Camden Garden Centre, 2 Barker Drive Purchese Street open space Goldington Crescent Gardens Harrington Square Gardens Cumberland Market Gardens Chalcot Square Gardens Camden Gardens, Camden Street

NW3 East Heath Road car park Eton Avenue, junction with Lancaster Grove Netherhall Gardens Jack Straw’s Castle car park

NW6 Fortune Green Road open space Kilburn Grange Park, Messina Avenue

WC1 Russell Square Brunswick Square Gardens The Calthorpe Project

If you live on a Camden Council estate, please look out for details locally of where to recycle your Christmas tree.

Sign up to Camden Recycling Rewards and get points for recycling your Christmas tree at camden.gov.uk/recyclingrewards

camden.gov.uk/recycling