The Holloway Express - first issue

Islington invests money to make the area= safer after knife crimes, p.2

FREE Issue 1 19th Jan 2015

Teachers offered a pay rise to teach in poorer areas of the borough, p. 2

Student life: top tips to save money, p. 3

H

the

Lumiere Light Festival delights people in all parts of London, p. 4

lloway express

Local Residents triumph over TfL

by Gabriel Bruno, Giorgia Cole Plans to close Caledonian Road tube station for eight months were abolished this morning after legal action was threatened

by Islington Council – all thanks to a petition signed by more than 8,000 local people.

TFL retracted their plans of the closure after pressure from the local council and the online petition, which took off in October when the proposed closure was announced.

The original plan was to close the station for to update the two lifts, which on average break once a week. TFL originally stated it would be dangerous to the public for the station to stay open during the work.

“It is helpful that it’s staying open but it does need updating,” said Alan Westall, 58,

Caledonian Road resident.

TFL have decided to keep the station open and fix one lift at a time. That means only one will be open, which may cause delays.

Mohammad Sali, 42, travels from Hackney to his

job near the Caledonian Road. “Any work done on the station will cause me to get up 30 minutes extra just to get into work,” he said.

The lifts are 30 years old and have been a nuisance to passengers for a number

of years.

The station has never installed e s c a l at o r s but the lifts go straight from ticket level to platform, which is ideal for disabled users.

Local Resident Jake Thompson, 40, says: “Caledonian Road is beneficial to disabled passengers due to lifts being there to accommodate them and the support of the staff.”

The nearest Piccadilly Line station is Holloway Road which would add another 10 minutes to people’s journeys had the closure gone through.

Donald Trump welcomed by Corbyn

by Abigail Opiah, Sophie Deijkers, Lea Fourmaux

Local MP and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has welcomed Donald Trump to visit the Finsbury Park mosque after a debate in the House of Commons over whether the US presidential hopeful should be banned from entering the UK ended without a vote.

More than 575,000 UK residents signed a petition asking that Mr Trump be banned from entering the UK because of his proposal for all Muslims to be prevented from entering the US.

During the debate yesterday, ministers reiterated that Donald Trump must live up to the promises he made to invest in Britain. The billionaire has threatened to withdraw investment from Scotland, where he owns a

golf course, if he is banned.

Political Science student, Benn Joseph, 23, said that Trump “is reflecting the rise of Adolf Hitler when Hitler was taking charge of Germany in the 30’s. He is playing into the hands of ISIS because they want people to turn against the Muslim religion and to have the Islamic state pushed aside.

“Trump is doing

Is match-fixing prevalent in football today? p. 6

exactly what ISIS are doing and he is literally creating hatred. To top it off, he is just a very horrible person and I personally think he should be banned.”

Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn, whose wife is Mexican, publicly took a stand against Trump’s views earlier this week. He invited the “weird” Trump to visit the Finsbury Park Mosque.

“My wife is Mexican and my constituency is very, very multicultural. So what I was going to do was go down to the mosque with him, and let him talk to people there,” he told the Andrew Marr show.

Some Islington locals have expressed contradictory opinions. “I totally agree with the petition and I would sign it,” said Sonam Kaur, 27, a waitress. “He should be banned. he’s a nasty piece of work.”

As it stands, Mr Trump ignored the debate in the UK as he gave his own speech in Virginia, where there was no mention of what was taking place in Westminster, or more importantly, his suggestion of banning Muslims.

Students protest to save the CASS

by Amara Howe Last week plans were unveiled for a £125 million project which will see London Metropolitan University’s Holloway campus refurbished into a bigger learning space.

It will include availability to the local community and access to the building’s exhibitions and cafes.

Vice Chancellor John Raftery, announced that the plan will help create an inspirational and vibrant campus.

Award-winning architects have been commissioned to secure the future of the campus with this expansion.

Protests were underway immediately after plans were announced in October to close two of the university’s campuses at Aldgate and Moorgate, which would mean a reduction of 3,000 students, a third of its staff and 19 course closures.

Home of the Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design, the Aldgate campus has received a vast amount of support against its closure.

Campaign group ‘Save the CASS’ have carried out several protests, including a light projection of the words ‘DON’T KILL THE CASS’ on the north campus building.

According to Jenny Nash, a 24-year-old BA Photography student and member of ’Save the CASS, the student’s voices are not being heard. After a meeting with the Vice Chancellor, Nash said: “He would not listen to us unless we find a two-campus solution that equated to £126m.”

Nash also said students were turning down their placements at the CASS and choosing alternative universities due to the planned proposals.

“If this continues then soon there will be no art students to teach and art will be phased out completely.”

Despite fears among the students, the university has previously announced that the CASS will not be closing, simply moving. However, this relocation will see an immediate downsizing of the faculty.

News Investment Against Knife Crime

by Ammaarah Khan, Amara Howe Islington Invests Against Knife Crime

By Amara Howe and Ammaarah Khan Islington Councillors Richard Watts and Andy Hull on Wednesday announced a £500,000 investment into tackling knife crime, as part of the Council’s 2016/17 budget proposal.

The councillors pledged to invest into mentors with a strong track record in turning the lives around of those who are at risk of being drawn into gangs.

Leader of the Islington council, Councillor Watts, told Islington Gazette: “We have to choose the right areas to spend and the big priority in our borough is how to keep young people safe.”

Last year, when knife crime was at a five-year high, the borough lost three young lives to knife crime: Alan Cartwright, 15, Stefan Appleton, 18 and Vaso Kakko, 17.

Last Wednesday, a 15-yearold boy was found bleeding in a Holloway street. The teenager, who had suffered a stab wound, was found by police

officers in Liverpool road at approximately 2.45pm.

According to local officers, the boy’s injuries were not life-threatening.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 101”.

This is not the first

time an individual has been stabbed in daylight.

Last month a 41-year-old man was stabbed to death in Hilldrop Crescent.

This comes a day after Islington Council announced it will inject half a million pounds into next year’s budget in order to keep young people in the borough safe due to an increase in vi-

olence during the last year.

Mum of two, Juliette Morris, 42, said: “These children need opportunities to succeed in what they are passionate about. For years they have been doing schemes and workshops about knife crime in the schools that my children are in and I don’t feel like additional mentors will make any difference.”

Sam Dhvari, 24-year-old owner of Customer Made Furniture on Upper Street said: “I don’t think we need that much money to be invested, just more policing around North Holloway which you don’t see in comparison to Upper Street.

“I have been living in Islington for 20 years and I have never feared for my shop or my life.”

Due to government cuts, the investment capital will be generated through a 1.99pc rise in council tax. Redundancies of 100 positions, 40 of those that were voluntary, will also help with savings.

Following two scrutiny meetings and feedback from residents, the final document is expected to pass at a council meeting on February 25th.

Pay Rise for Teachers in Poor Areas

borough of Islington from 2014 to 2015. London’s performance on a whole, has excelled in comparison to places like Humber Former Deputy Prime and Yorkshire with only Minister Nick Clegg sug- 62.8% achieving 5+ A*-C gested that a pay rise grades in their GCSEs. should be set in place for teachers in poor areas to raise the standards and erase ‘postcode inequality’.

The ex-Liberal Democrat leader is addressing the inequality in the education system, which has been set up by the Social Market Foundation thinktank. Paying teachers more to work in poorly performed areas could help bring the inequality gap closer together, according to Clegg.

Research from the London data store found that 80.2% of pupils in the borough of Richmond upon Thames achieved 5+ A*-C in their GCSEs, compared with 69.7% of pupils in the

by Abigail Opiah

Nkechi Nwanokwai, 24, who is a supply teacher and has worked in many schools around London including City and Islington college as well as Holloway secondary school says: “Nick Clegg has a point that

there needs to be an incentive to get better teachers in the struggling areas, but who is to say that the money will not attract teachers that care more about money than the kids?”

Linda Anderson, 43, mother of two, says: “I live in Angel and picking a secondary school for my daughter is based solely on their past pupils’ performance at GCSE. Knowing that teachers may get paid more, we may see better results all round and the pressure to pick the right school will not be so high.”

Clegg, who is joined on the commission

by Tory Suella Fernandes and Labour’s Stephen Kinnock, have made an announcement directed at MP’s from all parties to set aside their political differences to work together on the big educational challenges facing the UK.

CARIS to reduce homelessness

by Patrice Winn

News ALAN

in Brief

RICKMAN GLENN

by Léa Fourmaux British actor, Alan Rickman died at the age of 69 of pancreatic cancer on the 14th of January.

Soon after his death, the famous Platform 9 ¾, in King Cross, got turned into a memorial area for the actor.

Rickman got noticed by his performance as Hans Gruber in Die Hard and hasn’t left the big screen since.

Memorable performances such as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, Harry in Love Actually and of course Professor Snape in Harry Potter will stay with the public forever.

Co-stars paid tribute to Rickman and his work. J.K. Rowling, called Rickman “a magnificent actor and a wonderful man.”

FREY

by Sophie Deijkers and Léa Fourmaux

It’s a saddening start to 2016 as the music industry loses yet another great talent. Co-founder of the Eagles, Glenn Frey, lost his battle against arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia at the age of 67 in New York on Monday.

Together with his musical partner, Don Henley, Frey was responsible for many of the Eagles’ hit songs, such as Heartache Tonight, New Kid in Town and of course the classic Hotel California. Frey played the guitar, keyboards and sang lead and harmony in the band. The Detroit native released his last solo album in 2012, named After Hours which was received well by the public.

The sudden reminder that January brings each year for most of us, is that of eating too much during the holidays, or perhaps spending too much down at the pub on New Year’s Eve. These problems are non-existent if you were one of the 7,500 rough sleepers on the streets of London last year. A bed indoors from the freezing January temperatures is probably your top priority.

Homelessness in London made headlines this year, when Hackney Council threatened to fine rough sleepers. A strong 80,000 people signed a petition and backlash at the proposal caused the heartless amendment to be dropped. Homelessness figures went up in 2014 with 37% from the previous year. Boris Johnson's failed promise to end it by 2012 echoes in our ears.

Islington is currently the 14th poorest local authority within the UK’s 354, and the fifth poor-

est in London’s 32 boroughs. With the Mayoral race well underway, Sadiq Khan of the Labour Party and Zac Goldsmith of the Conservatives, both realise the need to tackle homelessness, unlike their unfulfilling Islington resident predecessor.

CARIS Islington is one of the many London-wide agencies helping to reduce these numbers. The charity runs two services; a bereavement counselling service and a cold weath-

year, January to March.

The shelters are located in seven churches throughout Islington and offer a bed, toilet facilities and meals. It provides further support by helping guests to find long-term accommodation and solutions.

The 500 annual volunteers work intensely with people who suffer from alcohol or drug problems and mental health issues. The list of support also extends out to ex-offenders, people in need of

who are at risk of eviction or abandonment. Mark Brennan, the night shelter coordinator, says that there are three types of homelessness. The “new rough sleepers”, “people that live on the street” and for an array of personal reasons chose this way of life, and lastly the “returners”. These are people who find themselves in and out of tenancy accommodation for reasons such as prison, or addiction. Regardless of people’s circumstances, CARIS assures that they are there to provide hospitality when it is needed the most. Brennan suggests that, “it’s not just the homeless that benefit, the community does too.

We’re helping them renegotiate their lives and see the best of humanity.”

CARIS relies heavily on public funding, and has various online outlets that are easily accessible on their website if you wish to donate. Trust brings a community together, er shelter which runs for support with refugee or and that is exactly what the coldest months of the asylum issues and people CARIS is helping to create.

Student Debt: Big Concern

by Hannah Ledden When friends and family relay their past university experience, conversations of partying, life-long friendships and all-night study sessions are high up on the list of memorable moments. Yet in recent times, the growing concerns over student debt and financial woes beginning in fresher’s year and continuing after graduation are deterring many from furthering their education.

The question remains, however, if this is a true depiction of university students currently in the midst of one of the most memorable times of their lives. Or if politicians and the wider media

are unintentionally depriving people from all walks of life of the career-enhancing experience.

A survey from the National Union of Students shows that 50% of undergraduates regularly worry about paying their basic expenses, including such basic neceesities as rent and bills.

This however is nothing new; even after university it seems common for people to have concerns about their monthly finances.

The worrying statistics begin with the same survey discovering that a proportion of the people surveyed admitted taking out high-risk debt to deal with these, including loans.

Student finance is one of the biggest ways to help people from all backgrounds attend university if

they would like to, with the intention of helping people finance their studies responsibly. However, in recent weeks, this system has been in the spotlight of the government and the media due to cuts being made to the various grants.

The most recent concern, the maintenance grant, was as recently as last week under threat of being abolished.

The grant currently helps around half a million students.

Grants such as this one are supposed to aid those from low-income families attend university and therefore close the gap between people in different income brackets.

Moves such as this are under scrutiny from many groups, including students and parents, suggesting that for some, this means university may not

be a viable option.

Megan Rosindell, 19, a London Metropolitan University student shares this view. “I know people who are really worried about this.

But I don’t think it is the be all and end all of going to university. Most people I know at university have part-time jobs and if you are careful with your money, university can still be a great time.”

If the intentions of George Osborne and the government become a reality, being financially savvy whilst studying may need to become an even more talked about topic. This doesn’t have to mean missing out on all of the fun. Student websites such as studentmoneysaver.com are helping students across the country avoid finding themselves in the red.

top tips to save money Plan meals ahead and cook in batches Use student discount where you can, many shops and restaurants accept them Book travel in advance, train and coach tickets can be a lot cheaper if planned early Bring lunch with you, it only takes a few minutes and can be a lot better for you and your wallet Before taking out any personal finance products, such as credit cards, seek professional advice

Events Lumiere London lights up the city for the first time

by Noa Mokhnachi Cross, London lit up for the first time Thursday evening to welcome the inaugural Lumiere Festival in some of the capital’s most exciting areas.

From 6:30pm to 10:30pm over the course of four evenings, art installations were competing with the stars to light up the city.

Visitors could find them in various locations around Kings

Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, and Westminster.

The festival was produced by the creative company Artichoke and supported by the Mayor of London.

Lumiere London, previously held in Durham, was host to a colourful assortment of projects set up to drown out the dark nights this month.

Barbara, 47, volunteered through t h e Mayor of London

program with her husband near King’s Cross to facilitate the Londoners’ experience and guide them throughout the whole event.

“With nights getting longer and days getting colder, it’s nice to be able to meet people.

Look how many people showed up,” said Barbara, who declined to give her surname, while distributing maps especially designed for the event.

From video-mapped projections on the Granary building to a shimmering dress made from LED lights on the King’s Boulevard, King’s Cross was packed with people roaming through the installations.

Local and international artists showcased their work, bringing 3D projections, interactive installations and other extraordinary light works to the city. The festival teamed up with local restaurants and bars to provide live music and special

menus for the occasion.

People gathered around an interactive light projection made by Floating Pictures that invites audiences to use sophisticated light sensors to do virtual doodles on the ground.

This particular feature proved popular with children, who braved the cold and created their own designs on the ground, dancing with excitement.

“It is an amazing night and shocking to see so many people out to experience!

Even while temperatures are hitting minus figures, spirits are high,” said Joscelynn Hopeson, 27, a healthcare worker.

The Circus of Light designed by the Ocubo installation firm gathered hundreds of parents and children together,

standing in front of the Central Saint Martins building as they watched an animated mini-movie projected on the wall.

This piece was filled with London’s most iconic features: the red buses, the hectic Tube and the famous red phone boxes.

Helen Marriage, Director of Artichoke, explained to Forbes that the main goal of this four-day festival was to “take iconic buildings, streets and squares across central London and King’s Cross and effectively turn it into a giant outdoor gallery”.

‘And the stars look different tonight’

by Patrice Winn

An early interest in music set off his ambition to pursue a professional career in doing Union Chapel in Is- what he loved. twenlington held a tribute concert to musical superstar David Bowie on Sunday, with more than 900 people turning up to celebrate their hero.

With his most recent album released only two days prior to his death, David Jones’ genius reached far beyond his music. He was an actor, a poet, an artist, a fantasist, and above all, an innovator and an inspirer. For a career that lasted longer than half a century, it was indeed a colourful one.

ty-seven albums and 140 million records sold later, we are left with his eternal legacy.

His legacy also exists in his contribu-

tion to diversity. In 1972, Britain was a country of high unemployment, widespread strikes, and high inflation under a Conservative government. Along came Ziggy Stardust- Bowie’s fifth album but probably the most famous of all his alter-egos - like a breath of fresh air.

Though the character only lasted a short time before his next reinvention into Aladdin Sane, it was his visual presentation that made it okay to be different.

He, perhaps more than anyone else of his era, changed the rules for fashion and gender.

On Monday night, a mass gather-

ing was organised in Brixton for people to celebrate the life of one of the greatest British musicians. The event, which was organised via Facebook, drew hundreds of guests wishing to pay their respects.

Louise O’ Sullivan, 28, who was at the street party described it as being full of “surreal and friendly vibes... we knew we were there because someone had died, but everyone was just full of love.”

It’s hard to think of a world where Bowie and his characters don’t exist anymore, but he will forever be our Starman.

Technology The 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) took place from the 6th till to 9th of January in Las Vegas, Nevada. All companies, from Samsung to LG, presented their new products and gave us a glimpse into the future of technology. Prices are yet to be confirmed, but most products will be available in the major electronic stores this spring.

Holloway Express is introducing the most astonishing gadgets of 2016:

LG’s G6 Signature OLED TV: A 18-inch T.V. that can be rolled up like a newspaper.

Samsung Smart Suit: A smart suit featuring a NFC button, which lets you unlock your phone and share contact information.

Oculus Rift:

Virtual reality goggles which create a 3D gaming environment. The goggles can Samsung Sol Bag: be connected to your smartBag with integrated phone, computer and gaming console. solar panels, which can

charge your phone in about 4 hours.

Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator: Fridge featuring a 21-inch Wi-Fi touchscreen, as well as cameras to manage your food remotely.

Sport

Ballon D’Or overshad- Mine’s a Pint owed by Fixing Claims and a Run

by Gabriel Bruno The 2015 FIFA Ballon D’Or has once again been won for a record fifth time by Lionel Messi, amidst claims that FIFA has fixed the award.

For the sixth year in a row, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the award with the new inclusion of Brazilian superstar Neymar. The voting gets done by coaches and players from around the world, with FIFA previously stating it has a zero-tolerance policy toward fixing.

Neymar was a key player for Barcelona treble winning season of La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Champions League. He scored 39 goals in 51 appearances including the Champions League final, with numerous fans and players believing he had done enough to win the converted FIFA

Ballon D’Or. However, he finished third behind runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo and winner Lionel Messi.

“The guy is talented and took Barcelona to the treble while Messi was injured.

He even overshadowed Messi when he returned,” said professional footballer, Canvey Island star Merrick James-Lewis. He believes the award should be based on a player’s overall performance, and

not his global stardom.

“I understand Messi is a global superstar, but there are other players who perform just as good but FIFA won’t recognise them as they don’t play in the Champions League,” he said.

Former Ipswich and Hibernian footballer Danny Haynes says: “The award is the most recognisable in the world, however why is it that Ronaldo and Messi are always winning? You can’t tell me Neymar with performances last year didn’t deserve to win.”

With another year of dominance for Lionel Messi and a disappointing one for Cristiano Ronaldo, FIFA’s reputation is already in tatters with the World Cup scandal and bribery accusations. The US Federal prosecutors are already investigating every avenue of FIFA; another showcase like this will have them looking into the Ballon D’Or next.

by Lea Formeaux Stoke Newington’s Lion Running Club has just celebrated its second anniversary, bringing together more than 25 runners who have completed a total of more than 100 runs together.

The club was created over a pint of beer at The Lion pub by Matthew Jeary,

100-mile centurion finisher, and Andrew Wallen.

The friendly club is open to everybody, with meetings in The Lion pub every Wednesday at 7.30pm.

Club members complete a 10km run around Hackney, with a beer - or two - at the end as a reward. You don’t need to be an expert runner to join them, just appreciate the run and the beer.

Students

participate in NBA clinic

Disabled Sport Gets a Boost In Islington

by Lea Formeaux For the past three years, the Islington Council has been trying to make a difference in disabled sports. Over 100 clubs, leisure centres and other venues have been adapted with special facilities since receiving funds from Sport England and creating partnerships with GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), The Elfrida Society and Arsenal.

The goal of the project is not just to push disabled people to adopt a healthier lifestyle, but also to increase their confidence and help them to go out and socialise. The initiative has

allowed disabled people to achieve their full potential and promote a more accessible and inclusive community and environment.

Activities for disabled people of all ages have been adapted, such as dance, martial arts and even trampolining for the youngsters. Also activities for adults with learning difficulties have been created, everything from badminton to walking groups.

A lot of tennis and football activities are also organised along with swimming lessons, with most of them taking place in the Sobell Leisure Centre. These places have a fully trained team and special facilities to

welcome and help disabled people enjoy healthy activities as much as possible.

It is possible, in some instances, for family and friends to participate in these activities too, as Michael Bishop, Aquaterra member, says: “Friends and family members are more than welcome to join our sessions. We actually encourage them, as we find it makes it easier and more enjoyable for participants.”

The newest project over the next year for Islington is to create a new Paralympic champion in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and increase the number of participants in paraplegic sport.

Former player Muggsy, London Met student Kenisha Whyte and ex-WNBA player Allison Feaster

by Laura Mendes Students from Islington Council had the opportunity on Thursday to improve their basketball techniques with experienced NBA players at the O2 Arena.

All students over age 16 who are involved in Arsenal in the Community’s basketball sessions were invited to participate in a NBA clinic, where former

player Muggsy Bogues and ex-WNBA player Allison Feaster coached them for a one-hour training session.

Three female students from London Metropolitan University participated, saying it was a unique experience. “I’m glad I took part in it,” said Kenisha Whyte, first-year Sports Therapy student and captain of the London Met’s Women Basketball team.