IslingtonLife magazine spring 2017

Your local magazine from Islington Council • Spring 2017

Jermain Jackman: Why I’m championing young people in Islington Spring’s here! Get growing for Islington In Bloom

Clampdown on flytipping

Young people special

IslingtonLife

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Contents 03

Welcome Message from the Council Leader

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News Our best performing schools and kids get techy

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Budget How the council is spending money on local priorities

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Youth Council Introducing the new Young Mayor and Deputy Young Mayor

09

Fair Futures Making Islington a great place to grow up

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Young Islington Give your child the best start in life

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Working Celebrating the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week

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Your Home News and information for Islington Council’s tenants and leaseholders

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Islington in Bloom 2017 Gardening tips and how to get involved

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Explore Islington Get walking and discover the benefits

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Quality of life Don’t let disability hold you back

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What’s on Find out what’s coming up at Islington Assembly Hall

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Arsenal in the Community The latest news from Arsenal FC

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IslingtonLife online Keep up to date with what’s on our website

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Cleaner Islington Why it’s important to recycle and dispose waste responsibly

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Local life Tackling air pollution and more

Highlights 05

Our trailblazing pupils

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Meet Islington’s new Young Mayor

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Grow for Islington in Bloom

Spring 2017

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Welcome Welcome to the latest issue of IslingtonLife. As spring approaches, like many people in Islington, I will be taking advantage of the better weather to make the most of our brilliant local parks. In such a small borough, we are lucky to have great green spaces that are open for the enjoyment of everyone.

Cllr Richard Watts Leader of the Council

View this and previous issues online at issuu.com/islingtonlifemag Be the first to hear about the latest news.

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Recycle me!

Please recycle this magazine once you’ve finished with it.

The spring is also the time when the council must set its budget for the year ahead. Despite another year of massive cuts from the Government, I am proud to deliver a council budget that makes a difference on Islington’s top priorities.

By 2020, the Government will have cut funding to the council by 70 per cent in a decade. But our commitment to making a difference for people in Islington means that we are continuing to deliver on the issues that matter most.

This year’s council budget will invest £40million in delivering new council homes, prioritised for local residents.

The 131 council homes we will build this year will be the most built in Islington in a single year for 30 years, and is part of our building programme which will see 500 new council homes and 1,500 other genuinely affordable homes built by 2019.

We will also continue to help young people in Islington achieve their potential with further investment in targeted services, as well as protecting youth services budgets and our pioneering policy of free school meals for all primary school pupils.

Our local schools continue to improve, and results released recently show that secondary school pupils in Islington make better progress than pupils almost anywhere else in the country.

There has been a radical transformation in the performance of our local schools. Islington now ranks in the top 20 in the country for boosting pupils’ attainment, whereas in 2008 the borough ranked in the bottom 20 local authorities for its GCSE results.

But we must do more to help young people achieve their potential and to make Islington the best place for children to grow up. That is why I am very excited about the Islington Fair Futures Commission, which we are working on. The Commission will put young people from Islington at the heart of an in-depth look at what it means to grow up in Islington, and what can be done to change this for the better. You can read more about this ground-breaking commission on page 9.

The budget also protects funding for services that help local people find decent and secure jobs, allowing the council to build on the success of our services that have seen 2,700 people helped into work since 2014, including 700 young people.

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IslingtonLife

News

Top of the class

Islington now has some of the best performing schools in the country thanks to the hard work of pupils and teaching staff.

Recent figures show that the borough’s secondary school pupils make better progress than students almost anywhere else in England.

Islington was ranked 18th out of 151 local authorities for the academic progress made by pupils between the end of primary school and their GCSE results across eight key subjects.

This is a radical transformation from 2008 when the borough ranked in the bottom 20 local authorities for GCSE results.

The good news follows official figures last year that revealed disadvantaged children in our primary schools were the 11th-best in England for reading, writing and maths combined.

Fighting fraud Fraud is big business. If you suspect someone of committing fraud against the Council, please report them.

You will be doing yourself and fellow residents a favour, as the loss from fraud has to be made up by more public money or cuts to local services – or both.

Fraud takes many forms – lying to obtain a council tenancy, using a blue badge allocated to someone else, or obtaining a Council Tax discount you are not entitled to. It not only costs the council but local people lose

out, like families waiting longer for a council flat, or a disabled person struggling to find a disabled parking bay.

Islington Council is committed to

fairness and ensuring its services are there for those who need them.

That is why we take fraud seriously and have robust procedures in place to tackle it and dedicated staff to investigate it.

We also rely on local people who know or suspect that fraud is taking place to let us know.

For tenancy fraud, contact our telephone hotline on 0207 527 7432 or email housing.fraud@islington.gov.uk.

To report suspected blue badge fraud, email parkingfraud@islington.gov.uk.

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News

A tech generation

Yahaga and Frankie, both 7, from Hargrave Park school

Say hello to this hand-built robot, just one of the amazing creations made by pupils at Islington’s code clubs.

The fifth annual Celebration Of Computing at the Emirates Stadium was a huge success. Thirty schools showcased their pupils’ projects made with the latest programmable micro-computers, including the BBC’s micro:bit, and a generous dose of imagination.

Pupil’s creations included wearable tech like T-shirts, hats and jewellery, programmed drones, virtual reality and 3D printing technology.

“It is fabulous to see what one borough can do when young people are given the time to learn computing,” said Miles Berry, IT expert and principal lecturer in computing at Roehampton University, who was at the event.

“I have been going around asking difficult questions of these children, and they have a deep understanding of what’s going on.”

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IslingtonLife

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Budget

Spending on your priorities National government funding to Islington Council will be cut by 70% by 2020 £160m

£160m

£140m

£120m

£100m

£80m

£68m

£60m

£46m

£40m

£20m

2010-11

2016-17*

2019-20*

*denotes like-for-like figures after adjusting for technical changes to the finance system since 2010-2011

Over the next year, Islington Council will spend money on local priorities like housing, employment services and young people.

Last month the council set its budget for 2017/18, which sets out all the council’s spending and savings for the next 12 months.

cent of its core Government funding.

It comes against a background of ongoing government cuts to council funding.

Despite this the council is protecting frontline services, including libraries, children’s centres, leisure centres, swimming pools and school crossing patrols.

Between 2010 and 2020, the council will have lost 70 per

To help pay for local services, council tax will rise by 1.99 per

cent. This is an increase of about 40p a week on an average Band D property.

The council has also applied the government’s social care precept of 3 per cent on council tax to help pay for the growing costs of adult social care. This is about 60p a week on a Band D property.

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Budget

Housing To help deal with Islington’s housing crisis, the council will spend £40million to help build badly-needed new council homes in 2017/18. This means over the next year the council will build more council homes than it has in any year since the 1980s. This includes new homes at Dover Court in Canonbury, King Square in Bunhill Ward, and Rowstock Gardens in Holloway.

Employment Since 2014, the council’s employment service has helped more than 2,700 unemployed local people – including more than 700 young people – into paid jobs. Council employment services include the iWork programme, which provides coaches to help people who have been out of work for six months or more to develop skills and confidence to find and keep a job they enjoy. The council will spend £3million to keep its employment services going, after government changes to New Homes Bonus which previously funded this.

Young people Islington Council has scrapped council tax for young people leaving care until they’re 25. This is to help stop care leavers from falling into debt, and the move has been welcomed by the Children’s Society who say “to expect some of the country’s most vulnerable young people to start paying council tax just days after leaving care is setting them up to fail”. The council is also continuing its extra £500,000 funding for youth safety, targeted at 7-18-year olds already at risk of or involved in gang activity. This is the second year of four years of funding.

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Youth Council

Introducing the new young leaders

Tega Agbede, Serkan Marasli and Diana Gomez, representing our young people

It’s all change at Islington Youth Council with new leaders elected to speak up for the young people of Islington and hold authorities to account on the issues that matter to them.

become the second ever Member for Youth Parliament for Islington.

Diana Gomez has become the new Young Mayor of Islington, Tega Agbede has taken the role of Deputy Young Mayor, and Serkan Marasli has

A new member of Youth Parliament was also elected. Serkan Marasli has taken over from youth councillor Mohamed Abaas.

Diana, said: “I’m delighted to be elected as the new young mayor.

My aim is to represent and engage with young people in order to make Islington a great place for young people to enjoy, learn and achieve their goals.”

Serkan said: “I’m really excited about representing Islington’s young people at national events organised by the British Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament, including attending the annual sitting at the House of Commons in November.”

Find out more about the youth council at izzy-info.com, or follow them on Facebook.com/IslingtonYC or Twitter @IslingtonYC

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Young Islington

Getting a fairer future Making Islington a great place to grow up is the aim of a ground-breaking new initiative. The Fair Futures Commission will put young people at the heart of an in-depth look at how to build a fairer future for all children and young people in the borough.

Its chair, 22 year-old Jermain Jackman, a former Islington Arts and Media School pupil who in 2014 won TV talent show The Voice, got involved because of his experiences growing up in London.

health issues, knife crime and increasing gang violence are serious issues. This commission is a first step in the right direction towards trying to tackle these problems for young people in Islington.”

young people at risk of gangs.

“The commission resonates with me because I have seen that young people have the ability to reach their full potential, but too often society pushes them to the side,” he says.

“I grew up in Hackney and have seen for myself so many young people who have been held back from reaching their full potential.

The council is committed to making the borough a fairer place for all. Cllr Joe Caluori, executive member with responsibility for children, young people and families, explains: “Aiming to give children the best start in life has seen us pioneer free school meals for all nursery and primary school children, keep our children’s centres open, and invest an extra £2million in targeted support to help

“By putting younger people in the driving seat of the Fair Futures Commission, we want to challenge ourselves and others to make Islington the best place to grow up.”

“For a young person today, mental

“But we know that growing up in Islington is not always easy, particularly for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

For more information visit www.fairfutures.org Twitter @FairFuturesIs #myfairislington

The Chair

Jermain Jackman shot to fame after winning the third series of the BBC’s singing competition The Voice in 2014.

He was the first male to win the competition and was given a £100,000 recording contract.

Jermain was born in Hackney and studied at Islington Arts and Media School. He released his debut album in March 2015.

Passionate about singing and politics, he is currently at university in Leeds studying politics.

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IslingtonLife

Young Islington

A bright start Islington has fantastic services and activities for families with children aged up to 5. With high quality early education and day care, health services, fun activities and family support, Islington is a great place to raise a family.

Islington’s children’s centres are hugely valued by parents and carers and offer services that support raising a happy family.

However, some families are not taking up the services that are available to them and what is on offer can vary across the borough.

Islington needs to increase

the number of childcare places to meet rising demand. Plus, due to government funding cuts, the way services work has to become more efficient to make savings.

To meet these challenges, Islington Council, is working with Whittington Health and the voluntary sector, to reorganise early childhood services. Over the coming months, alternative venues, such as libraries and community centres will be identified where family support activities, like stay and play can be held. This will make services more accessible while freeing up space in some children’s centres to increase childcare places.

Improvements will also be made to information about activities on offer and how more parents can be involved in shaping services.

“I love seeing the difference when families that are struggling get the right support. Parents enjoy being with their children more and it makes such a difference when basic needs like financial security are sorted out.”

Yasmin Ali, Family Support Worker

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Young Islington

Free and subsidised childcare Are you getting what you are entitled to? There are a number of schemes for early learning and help with childcare costs. Not only will this help your household budget, but you will see huge benefits for your child.

2 years

You are eligible for 15 hours’ free childcare and early learning for 2-year-olds if you are out of work, in work but earning less than £16,190 per year, or if your child

has special educational needs, is looked after or adopted. www.islington.gov.uk/free2

3 and 4 years

All 3-and-4-year-olds get 15 hours a week free early learning at a nursery or with a registered childminder. Government rules are changing and from September, some working parents will be able to get an additional 15 hours free (30 hours per week in total). www.islington.gov.uk/30hours

Tax-free childcare

If you are working and paying for childcare (for children up to the age of 12, or 17 if a disabled child), you could be eligible for a new tax-free childcare offer. For every £8 you pay into your childcare account, the government will pay in an extra £2, up to £2,000 per year, per child (£4,000 for children with disabilities). Find out more at www.gov.uk/childcare-calculator

Learning through play Michael Jarrett, Head of Ambler Children’s Centre, sees every day how the free provision is a fantastic opportunity for children: “We are already seeing that by the time these children start school, they are likely to progress more quickly in reading, writing and maths.”

Suhar Elmi’s daughter Amina goes to Ambler Children’s Centre for 15 hours per week under the ‘free childcare for 2-year-olds’ scheme. When staff suggested she take up the place, Suhar had reservations. “In my culture it is more the norm to keep children until they are older, but I knew the centre and could see it would be a good

opportunity for her,” she says.

Since Amina started, she has come on leaps and bounds. “She’s more confident and she is better at sharing,” Suhar explains. “She has so much fun and she learns communication and language skills through playing with the other children.”

The extra time has also been a huge opportunity for Suhar. She’s been able to concentrate on her new baby and has attended other activities and skills classes at the children’s centre, such as English as a second language (ESOL).

For further information about early childhood services, free early learning, finding and paying for childcare, contact the Family Information Service: 020 7527 5959, fis@islington.gov.uk, www.islington.gov.uk/fis

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Working

Apprenticeships: find your perfect placement It’s National Apprenticeship Week from 6-10 March and Islington is joining in nationwide celebrations about the positive impact of apprenticeships and traineeships.

There are loads of different opportunities in Islington.

Whoever you are and whatever your background, you can find something that’s right for you.

Meet 20-year-old Billy Chandler, who is completing a digital and marketing apprenticeship at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, from which he will achieve a Level 2 Business Administration certification.

Billy lives in Islington and went to sixth form at St. Mary Magdalene Academy, while also attending “The Courtyard” which is a unit at St. Mary Magdalene Academy for students with special educational needs. He found his apprenticeship from a worker at JobCentrePlus, but was also given support with the application process and interview skills by iWork Youth Employment and Street League,

a UK sport for employment charity.

“I love keeping busy and having lots of great people around me,” says Billy. On a typical day his job involved anything from editing images and creating photo galleries on the theatre’s website, to updating the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page and using a program called Tessitura to find out ticket sales for Sadler’s Wells, The Peacock Theatre and Lilian Baylis Studio.

“Keep your head up and keep looking, there’s always going to be at least one apprenticeship out there that suits your interest and skills,” says Billy. “So keep smiling and also, whether you like the course work side of it or not, always remember, it looks great on a CV.” The Sadler’s Wells apprenticeship was created between the council and Islington creative employers.

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Working

Celebrating adult learners Congratulations to all the people from Islington who completed a free adult learning course last year.

Islington Assembly Hall was packed with learners, their families and friends at the Adult and Community Learning service’s annual Celebration of Achievement event.

Learners who were nominated for good attendance, determination, gaining confidence and overall progress were presented certificates

by Cllr Richard Watts, Leader of Islington Council.

The free adult learning courses cover a range of subjects – from CV workshops to GCSE maths, or setting up an email address to applying for a job. There is something for everyone.

Call 020 7527 3559, email youthemploymentteam@islington. gov.uk or visit www.islington.gov. uk/apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are changing From April, the Government is bringing in a range of reforms, including the apprenticeship levy for large employers which will increase the number of places available for young people.

The growth of higher and degree apprenticeships is also exciting, as these will offer school leavers new routes into careers that bring the best of both worlds – gaining qualifications and valuable experience while being paid, without the debt that university brings.

Find out more at www.getingofar.gov.uk

The courses are hosted at a large number of venues across the borough, some of which offer childcare services. The courses have helped hundreds of Islington residents to increase their confidence, develop their skills, find work or just try something new.

Courses are free for Islington residents or parents with children in Islington schools. You must be 19 or over, unemployed or low-waged and receiving benefits to be eligible.

You can enrol for courses now.

To find out more, please visit www.adultlearning.islington.gov.uk or call 020 7527 5083 or 020 7704 4500.

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Your Home

Your Home News for council tenants and leaseholders

Building new homes for local people Islington is pushing ahead with its commitment to deliver new affordable and council housing for local residents.

Two new housing developments that are due for completion this year are Ivy Hall in Tollington ward and Bramber House in St Georges Ward.

Once complete, Ivy Hall will have 23 units housing 80 people, all for social rent, and the existing community centre will be replaced with a new purpose built one.

The Bramber House development will have 34 units, which will house 103

Construction on 15 new homes in Tollington Way, Holloway, started in November 2016

people. This project also includes a new, purpose-built library.

homes. Currently, 239 affordable homes are under construction.

This financial year, the council has set aside a budget of £40million – the biggest amount in a generation – to build new council homes.

New home building also helps create a chain of lettings by freeing up existing homes that can then be let to other families in severe housing need.

The council is committed to seeing 2,000 new affordable homes built in the borough between 2015 and 2019, including 500 new council

To find out more about new council housing in Islington visit www.islington.gov.uk/newbuild

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News for council tenants and leaseholders

Meet the council’s Green Team These green-fingered chaps have brightened up the Westbourne Estate after completing a major planting scheme. This involved hand digging more than 20 tonnes of earth, adding extra soil and planting shrubs and greenery across the estate.

Roger D’Elia, Chairman of the estate’s tenants and residents association, said: “I was amazed at the high standard of work provided by the team. They worked tirelessly to achieve the requirements of the plan, and in my view are a true example of commitment.”

The scheme was paid for through the annual environmental improvement fund.

Government’s tax increase for leaseholders Leaseholders’ buildings insurance service charge is set to rise in line with the Government’s annual increase to insurance premium tax (IPT).

In the last budget, IPT was increased to 10 per cent, up from 9.5 per cent in November 2015, and this will be applied to the 2017/18 buildings insurance service.

This tax is levied by the Government and Islington Council does not keep any of the money.

Additionally, the Government announced IPT will rise to 12 per cent from 1 June 2017.

This will be applied to the 2018/19 buildings insurance service charge that will be invoiced to leaseholders in September next year.

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Your Home

Cook with care

New repairs preview service Leaseholders now have the chance to see a list of the repairs done to their block, estate and heating system before they are invoiced for them in their annual service charges.

The lists will be sent out by the Home Ownership service at the end of the financial year, giving leaseholders the chance to query any repairs carried out.

Each year, cooking causes more accidental fires in the home than anything else.

In fact, half of all accidental fires in homes start in the kitchen - often because of distractions like phone calls or family. So whatever is happening elsewhere in your home, always make sure you have one eye on the hob or oven.

You can also follow these safety tips below to stay safe in the kitchen.

Supporting residents

For information email homeownership@islington.gov.uk or call 020 7527 7715.

Help with household repair Handyperson scheme

Ho

The council’s handyperson scheme offers help carrying out basic repairs around the home for vulnerable or disabled residents and registered carers of adults.

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Take pans off the heat or turn them down if you need to leave the kitchen whilst cooking.

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Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob, and take care if you’re wearing loose clothing.

Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking. Turn pan handles to the back of the cooker.

Keep your equipment clean and in good working order.

A build-up of fat and grease can ignite a fire.

Don’t cook after drinking alcohol.

Never throw water on a chip pan fire.

In the event of a fire, have an escape plan in place.

If a pan catches fire, don’t take any risks – get out, stay out, and call 999.

Make sure you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and test them monthly.

Only a small fee is charged for services, which include: home maintenance security fixing appliances

carpentry plumbing gas and electrics

You don’t need to be receiving benefits to be eligible to make use of the service.

To find out more and see if one of our team can help you, please contact 0800 694 3344 or 020 7527 5400.

Alternatively, you can email repairs.handyperson@islington.gov.uk

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Spring 2017

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News for council tenants and leaseholders

Do your building works comply?

Did you know that building work undertaken

by Islington leaseholders and occupiers must follow the council’s Code of Construction Practice (COCP)?

This regulates the working hours and site management regardless of how

Leaseholder home visits Becoming a homeowner for the first time can be quite daunting, and as an Islington leaseholder your rights and responsibilities may not be clear.

big or small a job is.

The basic requirements of the code are to be considerate to your neighbours, tell them what works are proposed, what the working hours will be and the duration of project.

The council has powers under the Control of Pollution Act to restrict the hours of noisy working. Any work outside these hours can result To help, the Home Ownership team is now offering home visits to leaseholders to answer any queries face-to-face.

The council automatically gets notified when one of its properties is sold. A leasehold officer initially sends out a welcome pack, including information about the council and the services that are available

in prosecution and a fine of up to ÂŁ5000.

Building works that generate noise can be carried out between 8am to 6pm on Mondays to Fridays, and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. No noisy building works are allowed on Sundays or public holidays.

Full guidelines are available at www.islington.gov.uk to leaseholders.

But for any leaseholders who have further questions and want to speak to an officer in person, a home visit can be arranged.

For information email homeownership@islington.gov.uk or call 020 7527 7715.

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ON T G I S LIN IN BLOOM

A blooming big year Calling all residents – experienced growers and novices alike – we need you to help make Islington bloom.

The borough’s annual gardening competition opens at the end of March. This year, having won London in Bloom for the second year in a row, Islington has been invited to compete in Britain in Bloom. It’s been seven years since we last took part in Britain in Bloom, and this year being the 50th anniversary of London in Bloom, we want Islington to make a colourful impression.

Islington in Bloom is open to all residents and businesses. Even if you don’t have space at home you can get growing with your neighbours – whether that’s growing food or creating new gardens to encourage wildlife to your estate.

Every hanging basket and window box counts and will help our borough to bloom.

Follow our handy tips below on how to create a successful display, or get involved with one of the community gardening clubs happening across the borough.

Every entrant will receive a free bag of compost from Camden Garden Centre.

Prizes for each category are 1st - £100, 2nd - £75, 3rd - £50.

For more information on how to enter visit www.islington.gov.uk/ inbloom, call 020 7527 6394 or email inbloom@islington.gov.uk

Gardening clubs Get involved, or take inspiration and start one of your own.

Urban Wild Places, run

by Octopus Network, is a food growing project on estates and parks celebrating Islington’s rich cultural heritage.

Call 020 7263 7095 or visit www.octopuscommunities.org.uk EC1 Men’s Shed offers a dedicated space and programme of activities, including a local community garden, for men aged 55+.

Call 020 7549 8175 or visit menssheds.org.uk

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ON T G I S LIN IN BLOOM

The New Orleans Estate Food Growers and Gardening Club transformed a derelict tennis court into a vibrant gardening space for residents on the estate to enjoy.

Culpeper Community Garden is one of the greenest public spaces in Islington, with volunteering opportunities and two open sessions a week.

Visit www.culpeper.org.uk Blackstock Triangle Gardeners in Finsbury Park has flourished from a few small seeds to include over 100 households using their front gardens to grow vegetables and flowers.

How to create

an eye-catching

6. Place out your plants before planting to ensure you are happy with your design.

display 1. If planting in pots or containers, make sure there are plenty of drainage holes in the bottom to prevent water logging.

2. Use peat-free, multipurpose or potting compost and add some slow release feed granules.

3. Water retaining granules are good for hanging baskets.

4. Use a variety of plants that will provide different colours, textures and sizes. For hanging baskets and planters, include some trailing plants to cascade down the sides.

5. For sunny areas try Geraniums, Lobelia, Verbena and Petunias.

Choose fuchsias, petunias and

New Guinea Busy Lizzies where there’s some shade.

7. Water regularly to prevent drying out. A quick test is to stick your finger into the compost.

Islington in Bloom is not just about having lots of bright flowers, judges look to see that plants are suited to their location and are providing a habitat for birds and wildlife.

Also think about making compost, planting fruit or vegetables, providing bug hotels, wood piles or bird boxes.

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IslingtonLife

Explore Islington

Get active, get walking Walking has it all. Every walk you do is a step towards better health.

It’s easy to integrate into your daily life, doesn’t require fancy gear, or a monthly membership fee. You just need to get up and go.

Walking has many health benefits from increasing strength to burning calories and easing joint pain. Not only that, it makes you happier.

There is so much to see and do in Islington, with historical places of interest and lots of green spaces, so put a comfortable pair of shoes on and explore.

How much walking is enough?

The NHS recommends at least 10,000 steps a day, but on average most of us only walk about 3,000 - 4,000. As a guide, a mile is on average 2,100 steps, while 10 minutes brisk walking is about 1,200 steps.

To get the most benefit you need to walk at a brisk pace. This means fast enough that your heart rate increases and you start to sweat

slightly. If you don’t walk very much at all, start with short brisk bursts and build up to half an hour.

Find out more about healthy lifestyle services in Islington by visiting the One You Islington website: www.oneyouIslington.org

Dr Jo Sauvage, Islington GP and Chair of Islington Clinical Commissioning Group: “Walking is a simple and free way to improve your health. You can even track your activity and stay motivated with the Active 10 app from Public Health England. So why not discover Islington on foot? Take 10 minutes out of your day and go for a walk!”

Great places to walk Parkland Walk is London’s longest nature reserve - a 4.5 mile green walkway which follows a railway line that used to run between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace.

It’s a great place to explore on foot or by bike.

Soak up the past on local history routes around the borough, including Mildmay, Barnsbury, EC1 and Clerkenwell. Contact the Local History Centre for details.

Clissold Park Walk is a weekly walk organised by Islington resident Lawrence Curtis and Highbury Grange Medical Practice. Held every Thursday at 11am. Meet at the Practice.

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Explore Islington

Walk back in time

Did you know that Islington has a large and knowledgeable group of official tour guides?

Clerkenwell & Islington Guides’ Association (CIGA) offers walks across the borough from Old Street and Clerkenwell in the south to Archway in the north, covering a range of subjects from architecture and radical politics to gin and jellied eels.

All guides have passed exams in local history and tour-guiding skills and studied a specific course at the University of Westminster to become one of the Mayor of Islington’s official guides.

Karen Lansdown is one of its guides.

She grew up in Holborn and went to school in Clerkenwell. As a child she liked to pretend she was tour guide and make little guidebooks.

Karen Lansdown leading a walk for LGBT History Month with the Mayor of Islington

She then became a costume designer, specialising in historic dress, and then a primary school teacher. It wasn’t until she saw an advertisement for CIGA’s course that she realised she could fulfil her early ambition.

“I particularly love leading walks through the narrow streets and alleys of Clerkenwell,” says Karen.

“Even life-long Islington residents are often amazed to discover places they’ve never noticed before.

“As a guide you’re always adding to your knowledge, not just through research in libraries but by chatting to locals who are keen to share their experiences of an area and

sometimes let you have a sneaky look behind closed doors.

“Tailor-made walks are also fun.

Recently I was commissioned by a family to do a walk to celebrate a 60th birthday. It combined general local history with places that were of special significance to the birthday boy. It even included a search for the burial spot of a long deceased, but much-loved hamster.”

In April CIGA is working with Islington Libraries to offer tours on Elizabethan Islington.

Find out more and book places visit www.ciga.org.uk For information on becoming a CIGA guide visit www.westminster. ac.uk/tourguiding-islington islingtonlife.london

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Cleaner Islington

A cleaner and greener place Every year millions of pounds are spent by the council to keep Islington’s streets clean and to dispose of and recycle its refuse properly.

Did you know, there are approximately 1,000 litter bins and more than 100 on-street recycling banks spread throughout the borough? Also, every street is swept at least twice a week and the Clean Islington app is helping to speed up the removal of dumped rubbish.

Despite best efforts there are still issues with fly-tipping and contaminated recycling. Everyone can contribute to improve our local environment and make the borough a greener, cleaner and safer place.

Clamping down on fly-tipping

As well as being expensive to remove, dumping rubbish on our streets is unsightly and irresponsible.

Under new powers the council is cracking down on nuisance flytippers and since October has issued over 160 £400 fines for fly-tipping.

“It is a criminal offence to fly-tip and

Spring clean!

our enforcement officers regularly catch and fine fly-tippers,” said Chris Demetriou, council manager.

“For serious offences fines can be up to £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment, or both if convicted in a magistrates’ court. It is just not worth it.”

What to do if you witness fly-tipping Do not touch the waste. It can be dangerous as it may contain syringes, broken glass, asbestos, toxic chemicals or other hazardous substances.

Take note of its exact location and the date and time. Also try and get a description of any vehicles involved, including the registration number if possible.

Never approach the fly tippers.

You may be at risk if you do so.

Report it online at www.islington.gov/reportasb or call the ASB line on 020 7527 7272.

If you see a fly-tip that needs removing, report it using the Clean Islington app.

Get involved in our borough tidy up days happening soon at the Nag’s Head, Finsbury Park, Archway and Old Street. Full details at Islingtonlife.london/CleanUp

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Cleaner Islington

Improving recycling Following recent changes to recycling and rubbish collection days for street properties, the council is now starting a new scheduling system for its estate recycling bins.

The system uses sensors inside the bin to monitor how full it is. When the bin is nearly full the sensor sends us a message that’s its ready for collection. The bin is emptied when it is nearly full rather than on a set collection day, meaning a better and more cost effective service.

The council is also improving various recycling sites on estates and on Islington streets. This involves replacing old recycling bins with new ones, installing housing units around food waste and recycling bins to improve their appearance and improving signage about what can and cannot be recycled.

Sometimes the council is unable to collect recycling because the wrong items are placed in the recycling bins and boxes.

Please remember NO refuse, black sacks or nappies in with your recycling.

Also, items placed by the side of recycling bins is considered ‘fly-tipping’.

For more information about recycling visit www.islington.gov.uk/recycling

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IslingtonLife

Local life

Tackling air pollution

Air quality in London is amongst the worst in Europe. Poor air quality impacts health; especially among the young, elderly or those with health conditions and contributes to 9,500 premature deaths a year in London.

Islington is working to reduce air pollution across the borough and is pleased to announce it has secured funding for two new exciting

projects; the Archway Zero Emissions Network (ZEN) and City Fringe Low Emissions Neighbourhood (LEN).

These schemes will build on the success of the award winning City Fringe ZEN, where 800 businesses over three boroughs are working together to improve air quality while reducing energy and transport costs.

Archway ZEN will see an expansion of this scheme to Archway while City Fringe LEN will build on the existing scheme to create a superb urban environment and measureable

reduction in air pollution.

Measures include increased infrastructure for low-emission vehicles, safer cycling, managed business deliveries and support for staff and customers of local business to decrease air pollution.

To find out more or get involved email pollution@ islington.gov.uk Archway businesses can register for the ZEN scheme at www.archwaylondon.com/ZEN

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Local life

Need help getting online?

Improving your online skills can boost your chance of finding a job, help you stay in touch with friends and family and open up access to discounted goods and services.

Find out about all the free local support to help get you started. It’s never too late to learn, so whether going online is completely new to you or you simply want to give your skills a boost, go ON and get in touch.

If you are interested in being part of Go ON Islington and helping others develop their digital skills visit islingtongo.online or call 020 7527 2000.

Gonorrhoea is up 123% Syphilis has risen by 108%*

Do it with a condom www.doitlondon.org

With work beginning on the detailed design and construction plans for Caledonian Park and Clock Tower, the council is now looking for local people to get involved.

Building works to restore the park and the Grade ll listed clock tower to its former glory are due to start in early autumn. This includes a brand new heritage centre and regular free guided tours up the clock tower offering breathtaking views across the city from its 40metre-high balcony.

So please get in touch if you’d like to be involved or to receive a regular newsletter on project progress, Islingtonlife@islington.gov.uk

•

• HIV

• IA D Y LAM H •C

HER PES

The council wants to work with local people to develop an exciting programme of activities based on the heritage of the site. Opportunities to volunteer include gardening, clock tower stewarding, developing interpretation material and assisting with delivery of the formal and informal learning programme.

SYPHILIS

Cally Clock Tower

STIs, including HIV, are on the rise.

GONO RRHO EA

Get involved at

•

LA L GE I SH

*Percentage change between 2011-2015 in new STI diagnoses: London residents. Source: Public Health England.

islingtonlife.london

IslingtonLife

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Local life

Are you looking after somebody else’s child?

Did you know, a child who lives with their cousin or great aunt is classed as privately fostered?

parent or step parent, aunt or uncle, grandparent, sibling or a person given legal Parental Responsibility.

This is a private arrangement and not organised by the council. However, by law it must be reported to the council’s Children’s Services so they can offer any support or guidance needed.

Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16, or 18 if disabled, is cared for by someone who is not a close relative for 28 days or more. A close relative is a

The last thing Children’s Services wants to do in these cases is to interfere unnecessarily in arrangements that are already working well.

So if you have a private fostering arrangement or become aware of one, please call 020 7527 4700 and speak to the Children’s Services Contact Team.

You get so much more as an Islington foster carer We currently need foster carers to look after young people of all ages but particularly teenagers. We are also looking for respite carers for children with disabilities and specialist teenage carers. Fostering for a local authority gives stability and ensures you care for local children close to their friends and school.

Foster a child with Islington and you’ll get: l l l l l

24 hour support, extensive training opportunities generous financial support a dedicated social worker regular support groups

Contact us today to really make a difference to a young person’s life.

0800 073 0428 fostering@islington.gov.uk /islingtonfostering

www.islington.gov.uk/fostering

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Local life

Royal occasion for

Memorial stone

foster carers

Cross sergeant

honours Victoria

Frederick Booth was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1917.

Image copyright IWM

Congratulations to Islington foster carers Anjana and Krushnah Appiah who recently received their MBEs from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.

for 12 children of all backgrounds and religions, and have looked after babies and young local children with disabilities and long-term heath issues.

The couple were honoured in the New Year Honours list for their years of care for children and support for other foster carers.

Mrs Appiah said: “Watching a friend foster made me want to do it as well.

My children had grown up and so I thought I could offer some vulnerable children a home.

Mrs Appiah said: “When we first heard the news we were shocked, but it was a pleasant surprise. We were not aware these awards were given to foster carers. Being at the palace was amazing and felt surreal but we were very nervous! The staff at the palace were very warm and friendly which helped put us at ease.”

“For us fostering has been a rewarding experience, watching sick children get better with our care and love and seeing babies grow into toddlers and move on to adoption.

We feel that we were able to offer them a good start to their childhood and help build their character.

Mr and Mrs Appiah are dedicated and highly experienced carers who began fostering in 2003. They have cared

“We would recommend fostering.

Watching a child grow and develop is a blessed experience for me.”

The “conspicuous bravery” of a 26-year-old sergeant in a First World War action 100 years ago has been commemorated with a new memorial stone in Islington.

Frederick Booth, born at 7 Davenant Road on 6 March 1890, was a sergeant in the South African Police, attached to the Rhodesia Native Regiment. He was awarded the Victoria Cross on 12 February 1917 for his involvement in an attack on an enemy position. Under very heavy rifle fire, he went forward alone to help a man who was badly wounded, and brought him back. He also rallied troops from his regiment who had become badly disorganised, and brought them back into combat.

To mark the 100th anniversary of his bravery, a new memorial stone was laid at Islington Memorial Green. It is the second of five which are being laid in Islington as part of the national Victoria Cross Paving Stones project, funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government. islingtonlife.london

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IslingtonLife

Local life

Find your pot of gold Islington Mind has recently launched a new project called Follow the Rainbow which offers employment support to LGBT people who experience mental health issues.

The service offers a range of support and activities to help people enhance their skills and get into to work.

There are peer support and focus groups, one-to-one sessions by appointment, plus support to identify skill gaps and set realistic goals.

Find out about access to relevant training and volunteering opportunities, plus participants get help with CV building and interview role-play.

For further information email email sigal.avni@islingtonmind.org.uk, or call 020 7272 5038 (Tuesdays) or 020 7288 2500 (Thursdays)

A mental health service for families Growing Together is a NHS mental health service, run

by Whittington Health, for parents and their children aged 1-5 years living in Islington, or registered with an Islington GP.

The team is based in children’s centres and other community settings in Islington, and provide support to families where both parents and children need extra help due to mental health difficulties.

The team offer a wide range of interventions, including individual or parent and child sessions,

psychotherapy, family therapy, CBT, and parenting groups. So far more than 400 families have been referred to the service.

Families can be referred by any health, education or social care professional. For more information visit your local children’s centre, or talk to your health visitor or GP.

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Local life

Get involved in local libraries

Reading brings huge benefits to people’s lives, and a great place to start or support your reading is at one of Islington’s libraries. All are free to join and open to anyone, whether you live, work or study in the borough, or are just visiting.

April. If you would like to donate an adult fiction book please take it to your nearest Islington library. Closing date for donations is Saturday 15 April 2017.

All Islington’s libraries have free public computers, Wi-Fi and a dedicated children’s area. There is also a Home Library Service for anyone who can’t get to the library because they are housebound or have mobility difficulties.

Are you looking to set up a reading group?

So don’t miss out, head down to your local library. Here’s how you can

get involved in the coming months.

Donate a book for the homeless

Islington libraries are looking for new books in very good condition to give to people who are homeless on World Book Night – a national celebration of reading and books which takes place every year on 23

Get in touch with your local library and they will provide free copies of this year’s Cityread London book, Prophecy by S.J. Parris, a gripping Elizabethan spy thriller set in London in 1583, to get you started. Books available while stocks last, email tony.brown@islington.gov.uk. islingtonlife.london

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IslingtonLife

Disabled Go

Don’t let disability hold you back A free and easy-touse website is helping disabled people across Islington get out and about and visit more of the great venues the borough has to offer.

Islington Council and national disability organisation DisabledGo have worked together to create an Accessibility Checker available at www.disabledgo.com The checker aims to cover every detail that a person with disabilities might want to know about a place or venue. This is not just details about physical access, but also information that people with visual or hearing impairments, autism, dementia, learning disabilities and mental health issues find important.

The Accessibility Checker is equally helpful to people who just want to know more about a venue’s parking, walking distances and toilet facilities.

Every venue listed on the Accessibility Checker is first visited by a trained DisabledGo surveyor who uses a device that asks between 800-1,000 questions.

Richard Beaty, Head of Surveying at DisabledGo said: “What is unique about how we survey places is that we use a template of questions that we have designed internally through years of consultation with hundreds of disability organisations.

The template is extremely detailed and the questions we ask can vary depending on the type of place we are surveying.”

Users can then make informed decisions knowing someone has

actually been to the place and checked it in person.

Find out more. Simply visit www.disabledgo.com and search for the type of place you are visiting in Islington.

What venues are featured?

- Libraries - Cinemas - Restaurants - Leisure centres - Parks - Tourist attractions - Sports grounds and stadiums - Shopping centres ...and much more.

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What’s On

Coming up at Islington Assembly Hall…

Wolf People are here in April

Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet! 70s and 80s soul, disco, funk and pop purveyors are back for more fun in March.

When: 18 March Fortuna Pop! Twenty Years Of Trouble Featuring the sparkling Americana of The Butterflies Of Love, Australian folk-rock duo Sodastream; classic indie pop trio Flowers and Darren Hayman.

When: 24 March Wolf People With the drummer based in Islington, the psych-prog-blues-folk-rock band, Wolf People finish their European tour at the Assembly Hall.

When: 6 April

London International Ska Festival Four dates over the Easter weekend with legends such as Roy Ellis, The Pioneers, Dave & Ansell Collins, Owen Gray, Rhoda Dakar (plus more to be confirmed).

A must for all ska and reggae fans.

When: 13, 14, 15 & 16 April Stone Foundation The sound of Memphis, via the Midlands. Stone Foundation play vibrant, modern UK soul with the best of them.

When: 13 May Red Hot Chilli Pipers The most famous bagpipe band on the planet come to N1 bringing their

bagpipes with attitude, drums with a Scottish accent and a show that carries its own health warning.

When: 21 May Tickets are available from ticket agencies, which may add on booking and other fees.

The venue does not currently have a box office and does not set ticket prices or fees.

For more information about the venue, call 020 7527 8900 or email assemblyhall@islington.gov.uk Check out the full line-up at www.islingtonassemblyhall.com and keep up-to-date on Twitter @Islington_AH

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Arsenal in the Community

Charity matchday raises record total Arsenal dedicated its Premier League match against Stoke City in December to The Arsenal Foundation, raising more than £250,000 to fund projects that support young people in north London and overseas.

In what is now a club tradition, manager Arsène Wenger and his players donated a day’s wage to the Foundation for the 10th consecutive year.

Supporting local youngsters Arsenal and Islington Giving have given £200,000 to projects supporting young people in Islington in 2017.

The grant will help fund free activities across the borough that give young people the chance to build new relationships, gain confidence and develop their skills, including All Change Arts, Angel Shed Community Theatre, Breakin’ Convention, Centre 404, Fully Focused Community Trust and Prospex.

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Arsenal in the Community

Arsenal stars out and about in the borough

The first-team squad have been busy getting out and about around Islington.

Home fixtures Arsenal stars Chuba Akpom, Kieran Gibbs, Alex Iwobi and Aaron Ramsey meet a young Gunner at Whittington Hospital

March 2017 Arsenal v Bayern Munich Tuesday 7 March (kick-off 7.45pm) Arsenal v Lincoln City Saturday 11 March (kick-off 5.30pm)

Defender Laurent Koscielny plays with children at Centre 404, a centre for disabled young people and their families on Camden Road

Alex Iwobi checks in with trainees at The Arsenal Hub – Home of Arsenal in the Community

April 2017 Arsenal v Manchester City Sunday 2 April (kick-off 4pm) Arsenal v West Ham United Wednesday 5 April (kick off 7.45pm) Arsenal v Sunderland Saturday 22 April (kick-off 3pm)

Carl Jenkinson shows off his green fingers at Copenhagen Primary School’s vegetable patch, which was funded by The Arsenal Foundation

May 2017 Arsenal v Manchester United Saturday 6 May (kick-off 3pm) Arsenal v Everton Sunday 21 May (kick-off 3pm) Shkodran Mustafi with Arsenal Foundation beneficiary, Pedal Power, at Emirates Stadium

Theo Walcott pays a visit to Brecknock Primary School, near Market Road

Please note all fixtures are subject to change islingtonlife.london

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At the heart of the for Community focussed Community focussed for community for over 150 years more than 150 years more thanprovides 150 years The Islington Gazette readers with the latest sports and entertainment Visitin usnews, at: www.islingtongazette.co.uk Visit us at: www.islingtongazette.co.uk

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Spring 2017

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IslingtonLife online

Stay connected Have you visited our website yet? It’s packed with news, stories and events from around the borough. Uncover more about Islington on the blog, go back in time with our history pages, or stay updated on our ‘things to do’ page.

So go online and check these great stories out at islingtonlife.london

Amazing

Markets in

International

artefacts

Islington

Women’s Day

Delve deeper into Islington’s past with Our History series of interesting local artefacts. All objects are on display or held at Islington Museum or the Local History Centre. So far we’ve looked at a 17th century water pipe, artist Walter Sickert’s palette and an engraving of burglar Jack Sheppard escaping Clerkenwell Prison in 1724. Oh, and a bathing suit left behind at Hornsey Road Public Baths in 1900. islingtonlife.london/our-history

From cards, gifts and housewares on Chapel Market near Angel, to delicious fresh foodie treats on Whitecross Street, the borough is home to some fantastic markets.

Did you know there are farmers’ markets every Saturday in Archway and Sunday at Chapel Market? We explore what’s on offer. islingtonlife.london/things-todo/markets

Islington has been home to many female pioneers of gender equality.

On International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March we look back at the borough’s radical history including women like Mary Wollstonecraft, who became known across Europe for her then radical views and the women who demonstrated outside Holloway Prison over the imprisonment of 1,000 Suffragettes. islingtonlife.london/ international-womens-day

You can also follow IslingtonLife on Twitter @IslingtonLife and on Facebook /IslingtonLife islingtonlife.london

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Join toda

It’s time to give up your private car and join Islington’s flexible car club.

Drive one-way, pay by the minute, by the hour or by the day.

FREE registration and £10 driving credit with promocode: SCO-LIFE drive-now.com