The Newhammag by London Borough of Newham

Pub watch

issue 270 // 15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 28 March 2013

Investing in what matters most Mayor Sir Robin Wales outlines his promises to you (p10)

Chess mate

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk about sex

The winners of each heat will perform at the Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Newham Show in July 2013

Do you like to perform? Do you have a talent that you want to showcase to the rest of the borough? Are you aged 25 and under? Well get your talent out of the shadows and audition for Time to Shine 2013! Open audition 2013 dates: East Ham Hartley Centre, E6 1LB

Friday 1 March 6.30-8.30pm

Beckton Beckton Globe Youth Zone, E6 5JQ

Friday 15 March 6.30-8.30pm

Manor Park Little Ilford Youth Zone, E12 6JB

Friday 5 April 6.30-8.30pm

Forest Gate Forest Gate Youth zone, E7 0DH

Thursday 11 April 6.30-8.30pm

Custom House & Canning Town Shipman Youth Centre, E16 3JH

Friday 19 April 6.30-8.30pm

Green Street Priory Park Centre, E13 9DQ

Thursday 25 April 6.30-8.30pm

Royal Docks Britannia Village, E16 1TU

Thursday 2 May 6.30-8.30pm

Stratford Chandos East Community Centre, E15 1TT

Friday 3 May 6.30-8.30pm

Plaistow The Mix (Priory Park Partnership), E13

Thursday 9 May 6.30-8.30pm

Please visit www.newham.gov.uk/timetoshine for entry rules and regulations.

Look out for the next issue from 28 March 2013

contents

15 March 2013 // issue 270

I this issue we look ahead to the In new financial year as Mayor Sir n Robin Wales makes his promises R tto you (p10). We’ve worked hard tto ensure we can help you get tthrough tough economic times and for the fifth year running a tthere will be no increase to your Council C il Tax T bill. bill We are delivering the services that matter to you. We’re teaching our schoolchildren to set their aspirations high with our Every Child programme, which we are expanding to include teaching the game of kings (p24). You can also find out how landlady Jan Dooner is making our pubs safer (p22) and start looking forward to this summer’s key events (p8).

Cllr Lester Hudson

Regulars 04 NEWS – two pages of news from across the borough 06 MAYOR’S VIEW – news from Sir Robin Wales 16 CAUGHT ON CAMERA – tell us who these people are 20 NEWHAM IN PICTURES – your fortnight in photos 22 WORKING LIVES – Jan Dooner, landlady of the Railway Tavern 28 YOUR SPACE – Rianna Raymond-Williams on sexual health 29 OUR NEWHAM – community news from across the borough 32 KIDS’ CORNER – poems, pictures and puzzles for our younger readers

Deputy mayor and executive member for finance, property and support services

Publication of an advert in the Newham Mag does not constitute endorsement of any goods or services offered. The Newham Mag is printed on 100% recycled paper by Woodford Litho Ltd and distributed by Letterbox Distribution.

school during curriculum time gives it added kudos.” Teacher Rita Doolan said: “Chess helps with social skills such as patience, decision-making, fair play and how to be a gracious winner and a good loser. I had never played before, but now the children are teaching me something for a change, which is great.” The council hopes to develop a chess festival and even put giant chess sets in the borough’s parks. Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: “Chess is a wonderful way for our young people to build their conﬁdence, concentration and problem-solving skills. The secret of success with chess is being several steps ahead. It’s a vital lesson in life that our children can learn in a fun way. “This is a great example of how we work with other organisations to innovate. Our Every Child programme already includes reading, music, sports and now chess, to give Newham’s children the best opportunities in life.”

Primary schools already involved are: Brampton, Calverton, Colegrave, Dersingham, Keir Hardie, Lathom, Ravenscroft, Selwyn, Sheringham, St Antony’s, St Stephen’s, Tollgate, Upton Cross and William Davies.

Angel, 9. “I hadn’t played before and I’ve only been playing for half a term so it’s still new to me. The classes are about important things on how to play so you have to really listen to the instructions and do what the teacher says. I haven’t won yet but I practise at home and I’m going to keep on playing. It’s really good.”

Roy, 8. “I’ve been playing at home for a while as I have my own chess board. My favourite chess piece is the knight. I play with my little brother and when I play with him, I like to win.”

If you are interested in playing chess in your local library come along to the Hopkins Room at Stratford Library, The Grove, E15 on Thursdays 5.30pm-7.30pm.

24 Council Tax support is changing The Government has decided that Council Tax Benefit is being abolished in April. Council Tax Benefit is currently a national welfare benefit scheme that helps people on a low income to pay their Council Tax for the home they live in. It is fully funded by the Government. But now as part of its welfare reforms, the Government has decided to ask all councils in the country to replace it with financial support schemes of their own. In Newham this will be called the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. The Government has also said that it will no longer fully fund the new schemes and plans to reduce the money it gives to councils. In Newham this means an overall reduction of approximately £3.6 million. Difficult decisions are having to be made about who can be helped with a discount towards their Council Tax. Everyone of working age currently entitled to Council Tax Benefit is potentially affected by the changes. Most residents who currently qualify for Council Tax Benefit will need to pay something towards their Council Tax bill, even if they previously did not pay anything and their circumstances have not changed. Pensioners are not affected by the change. Following consultation with local residents and groups, Newham’s new Council Tax Reduction Scheme aims to spread the burden of the Government cuts as fairly as possible by helping households on low income meet the cost of their Council Tax while protecting the most vulnerable members of the community. Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: “We have had no choice but to make changes that we would not have proposed ourselves. We have tried to ease the burden by freezing Council Tax for the fifth year in a row, ensuring Newham still has the lowest Council Tax of any outer London borough.” From 1 April 2013, under the new scheme: > working age residents (aged 18 and over) will only be able to reclaim a maximum of 80 per cent of their Council Tax bill > most people will have to pay 20 per cent or more of their Council Tax, some vulnerable groups, such as pensioners and war widows, will be protected from these changes > you will no longer be able to get help based on the circumstances of other adults living with you. They will have to contribute more to your household’s Council Tax > pensioners (anyone who has reached the state pension credit age) are exempt from these changes. It is important to stay up to date with your Council Tax. The easiest way to do this is by Direct Debit. Just complete and return the mandate form included in your annual bill. Full details of your Council Tax bill for 2013/14 will be posted to you shortly. Advice about money management or debt is available. Please visit www.newham.gov.uk/debtadvice for details. if you do not have access to a computer or the internet, free access is available at your local library.

How the changes could affect you To help you understand how the changes might affect you we have provided some typical examples. A pensioner on state pension Joanne is retired and lives in Canning Town. She currently receives maximum Council Tax Benefit and does not have to pay any Council Tax. Under the new scheme, pensioners receiving Council Tax Benefit will not have to pay any more than they do now. A low income family The Khans are a family of four living in Forest Gate. He works part time and earns £300 per week. Currently they receive some Council Tax Benefit but have to pay £12.74 towards their Council Tax per week. Under the new scheme they will have to pay around an additional £4 more per week. Single parent on benefits Leanne is an unemployed single mum who lives in Plaistow. She currently pays no Council Tax, but under the new scheme she will now have to pay £4.28 per week towards her Council Tax. Leanne uses money from her other benefits to pay this shortall and is now looking for work through Workplace. Single person on low income Pete works part time as a plumber. He lives in Beckton and currently receives some support with his Council Tax but does not qualify for full Council Tax Benefit. Under the new scheme he will have to pay about £4 a week more than he currently does. A couple working full time Cedric and Makemba both work and live together in East Ham. Based on their household income, they do not qualify for Council Tax Benefit. The changes to Council Tax will not affect them. The above are examples for illustration only. The actual amounts may vary once the scheme is finalised following consultation.

For further information on how these changes affect you visit www.newham.gov.uk/counciltax To get support ﬁnding work visit call 020 8430 4331 or visit www.newhamworkplace.co.uk

34 WHAT’S ON – five pages of activities and events for you to try – most of them free

To advertise in the Mag call Julie Madell on 07890 529 090 If you do not receive The Newham Mag at home, or know someone who doesn’t, please call 020 3373 1517, write to The Newham Mag, West Wing, 4th Floor, Newham Dockside, Dockside Road, London E16 2QU, or email newham.mag@newham.gov.uk

First knight nerves

In an age of computer games and the internet, a board game which dates back to the 6th Century is still having a big impact. Newham Council, charity Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) and East Village, the ﬁrst legacy neighbourhood from the 2012 Games, are giving children in 14 primary schools the chance to learn the game. Results so far have been a success, boosting concentration, strategic decision-making and even maths. So much so, the plan is to roll out chess to each of Newham’s 64 primary schools by 2015 as part of the council’s Every Child programme, with libraries also hosting chess clubs. CSC’s Newham chess project started in 2010 when England women’s international Sabrina Chevannes began teaching at Ravenscroft Primary School in Canning Town. Since then, more than 500 children have taken part in weekly lessons, and some have entered national tournaments. One school already involved is St Antony’s Primary School in Forest Gate, where the beneﬁts are already clear. Head teacher Brian Lucey said: “The children love it and we can already see that it helps them with academic achievements. Put simply they get there faster. Having a teacher come in from outside the

To request a large print version of the Newham Mag call 020 3373 1517 or email newham.mag@ newham.gov.uk SENIOR PUBLICATIONS OFFICER: Anita Plaha PUBLICATIONS OFFICER: Glenn Gossling PUBLICATIONS TRAINEE: April Isaacs STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Andrew Baker Call the Mag team on 020 3373 4576

Youngsters could become chess grandmasters of the future thanks to Newham’s pioneering Every Child programme, which is set to bring chess to primary schools and libraries across the borough.

Features 08 2013 HIGHLIGHTS – key dates for your calender 10 THE MAYOR’S PROMISES – Sir Robin’s commitments to you 17 A FANTASTIC OFFER – Theatre Royal’s super discount deal 19 WOMEN THAT MEAN BUSINESS – kickstart your business idea with help from the University of East London 24 A GAME OF KINGS – chess is added to Newham’s Every Child programme 26 COUNCIL TAX – Government cuts bring changes

Find us online at www.newham.gov.uk/mag For information on all Newham Council services visit www.newham.gov.uk

IN BRIEF // Autism plan unveiled Residents are invited to an event to launch Newham’s autism plan as well as to celebrate international autism day. The event, hosted by Newham Autism Steering Group, takes place on Tuesday 2 April from 10am to 12.30pm at St Mark’s Community Centre, Tollgate Road, Beckton. Using feedback from residents, a plan has been developed to improve the support available to people with or affected by autism. For more information contact selma.ghouse@newham.gov.uk or call 020 3373 8563.

Council condolences Frank Knight, widower of former civic mayor and councillor Maureen Knight, has died in hospital at the age of 74. He served as Councillor Knight’s consort during her mayoral year from 1994-95. Newham Council offers condolences to his family, friends and those who knew him.

Conman loses his OBE Disgraced Peter Nicholson, former boss of Newham Council’s youth offending team has been Nicholson stripped of his OBE after defrauding almost £300k of taxpayers’ money. He was convicted of creating a gang of “ghost” employees and stealing the wage they generated to pay for lavish holidays. Nicholson was jailed for five years following an investigation and prosecution by Newham Council, who are currently seeking to recover the money.

Digging into the past

Councillors join children and residents to bury the capsule

Plaistow councillors Forhad Hussain, Sheila Thomas and Charity Fiberesima joined youngsters to bury a time capsule that in future years will show how a community garden has grown. They dug in with children from plaistow’s Curwen Primary School and residents to bury the capsule at the Urban Wilderness Garden in First Avenue. A sign has been erected instructing that it be dug up in 2022. The capsule contains the stub of an Olympic Games ticket, donated by Councillor Hussain, from a night when gold medallist Mo Farah ran. It also contains newspapers, a receipt to reflect the cost of shopping and a computer memory stick with images showing how the community garden grew out of derelict land. The community garden was set up in 2011 as a place for residents to grow vegetables and flowers and hold social events. Councillor Hussain said: “The garden is an important hub for the community.”

Tenancy changes in social housing From 1 April, many social housing providers, like Newham Council and some housing associations, are changing their rules on whether a tenancy is for life or for a fixed term, and under what circumstances a tenancy can be passed on if a tenant dies. Current Newham Council tenants will be unaffected unless they move home. If a tenant moves to another Newham Council property they will retain their lifetime tenancy, but under new Government rules, their children will no longer be able to take over the tenancy should the tenant die. After 1 April, anyone taking on a social housing tenancy should seek independent advice on how they will be affected. You can visit a law centre, Citizens’ Advice Bureau or contact a helpline like SHELTER on 0808 800 4444. Visit www.newham.gov.uk to view the council’s new allocations policy and tenancy strategy.

Disabled people in control

Floating village launched

Residents have been helping Newham Council to develop improved services for disabled people. Cllr Furness, back centre, with residents Our Lives – Our Right to Control, staged at the Boleyn Ground in Upton Park, showed how the council communicates with residents, and how it encourages employment programmes for disabled people and supports micro-enterprises. Councillor Clive Furness, Newham’s executive member for health, said: “We believe that effectively engaging disabled people as partners in deciding how services are delivered pays huge dividends – leading to better services and outcomes for everyone. This has been a great event and we plan to hold more in the near future.” For more information email RTC@newham.gov.uk or visit www.newham.gov.uk/righttocontrol

Ambitious plans An artist’s impression of the floating village have been unveiled to create the UK’s largest ‘floating village’ in a drive to transform the Royal Docks. The village is expected to bring jobs, commercial space and homes back to the capital’s waterways. Fifteen-acres of water at the Royal Victoria Dock site, under the Emirates Air Line, will be transformed into a thriving community with floating homes, hotels, restaurants and bars. When complete, it will have some of the best transport links in the capital with a new Crossrail station, DLR and the cable car linking it to central London and Canary Wharf. Mayor, Sir Robin Wales said: “London is moving eastwards and the Royal Docks offer an investment opportunity in scale unmatched anywhere in Europe.”

Tennis tips are just ace Youngsters at Silvertown’s Britannia Village Primary School got some top tips from British Wimbledon aces Elena Baltacha and Jonny Marray and Paralympian Ade Adepitan to celebrate World Tennis Day. The year 3 pupils had a visit from the stars as part of the Aegon Schools Tennis programme. The school is the 15,000th to become part of the programme. The Britannia Village youngsters have now joined children from more than half of all schools in the country on the programme. More than 2.1m pupils are able to enjoy tennis in school halls and playgrounds using free tennis equipment and coaching DVDs. The pupils celebrate with Elena, Johnny and Ade Head teacher Linda-May Bingham said: “It is very appropriate that a school in the 2012 Games host borough has reached this important milestone. Playing tennis will promote a healthy lifestyle, develop confidence and introduce children to a great sport.”

Success story that makes for a very good read Being able to read is probably the most important skill that our children will learn during their early schooling because it has far reaching implications on their future lives. At North Beckton Primary School, which Government inspectors have rated as outstanding, I saw the excellent reading progress being made by pupils in years 1 and 2 at ages five, six and seven. Their success is thanks largely to our Every Child a Reader programme, aspects of which are already being delivered in almost every primary school in Newham. North Beckton School, like many others, is successfully embracing the use of phonics, to teach reading, writing and spelling. This is supported by the Department for Education and is part of our efforts to improve literacy across the borough. Since adopting this approach to learning, literacy levels have improved at the schools across the borough that are taking part. The pupils at North Beckton were keen to share their favourite stories with me. I was astounded to learn from head teacher Manjit Rai that in September these confident, charismatic and expressive narrators could not read. The progress they have made in such a short space of time is testament to the impact that

Sir Robin with readers from North Beckton Primary School

our reading programme is having. As successful as the phonics programme is, not every child learns in the same way or at the same rate as their peers. This should not mean they fall behind, slip through the net and grow up to become adults who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t read. By providing the right intervention at the right time there is no reason why any child should leave school unable to read. The Every Child a Reader programme identifies those that need additional help and provides them with the extra support they need through one-to-one by tuition with volunteers

or reading mentors. Our Every Child a Reader programme is one of the initiatives I have committed to funding in my contract to residents, which you can read more about from page 10. In the middle of a recession council funding has to be well targeted, but initiatives like this are giving our children the best start in life and the skills and aspirations to succeed. I see this as an investment that will pay dividends in future. If you would like to become a reading volunteer visit www.newham.gov.uk/reading

Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s view 06

Top class school will be heart of the community I joined excited pupils from Keir Hardie Primary School and head teacher Violet Otieno to help them lay the foundations for their new state-of-the-art building, which will form the centrepiece of the Fife Road regeneration scheme in Custom House. The new school will include a playground with multi-use games area, a creche, nursery, hall, dance studio and roof garden with weather centre. The facilities will be shared with local residents for a variety of community uses and events. Activities for babies and children up to the age of five, adult learning and family support will also be available. Keir Hardie School is at the heart of the community in Fife Road and the new building will provide modern facilities for the children and other residents. The redevelopment of this area is moving at a pace, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to see families who were temporarily rehoused elsewhere now being able to move back. Many of our schools are increasingly becoming places for the delivery of wider services to children and families, providing adult learning, parenting support, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centres, and specialist assistance to those with additional needs. There is already some wider community use of school sites but I want all schools and other public buildings to

offer wider services to residents. This will bring a whole range of benefits. I expect higher attainment by children and young people, a stronger community, including better links between old and young, and support to thriving district centres like the one we are seeing being rebuilt in Custom House and Canning Town. I look forward to seeing future school building projects incorporating this vision. All school leaders will be encouraged to

take forward plans to realise this. And local people will have the opportunity to lead change to meet local priorities, including support from their local councillors to take forward their plans. Schools at the centre of community engagement, supported by multi-agency teams, will not only ensure of a better life for children and young people but will also support development of a stronger, more cohesive community.

Sir Robin, Richard Cherry of Countryside Properties, councillors Conor McAuley and Pat Holland, head teacher Violet Otieno, school staff and pupils help lay the foundations

with Sir Robin Wales

Get Set for Summer Every year thousands of us enjoy Newham’s fantastic free events. This year’s programme is as exciting as ever, so banish your winter blues and look forward to a superb summer. Newham has the biggest and best free events programme in the country thanks to Mayor Sir Robin Wales’ commitment to providing opportunities for the community to come together and have a good time. Our family friendly events have something for everyone to enjoy so grab your calendar and make a note of the following dates.

The Mayor’s Newham Show and Newham Carnival Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July, 12noon-6pm Central Park, High Street South, E6 For two exciting days, Central Park will be packed with free family fun including a real seaside, hobbies and crafts, a traditional village fete, plus a fantastic programme of live music and dance

on the main stage. There will also be a huge children’s area, an under-fives’ entertainment area, sports participation, cabaret entertainment and much more. This year’s Carnival will bring a vibrant splash of colour and music to the streets of East Ham on Saturday afternoon. It is always one of our most popular community events.

Under the Stars Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 August, doors open 6.30pm Central Park, High Street South, E6 Four nights of fabulous live music for free. The Under the Stars open air concerts offer something for everyone, whatever your musical taste. Entertainment will range from eastern beats to a night of classical music with an explosive fireworks finale.

The Newham London Waterfront Festival Saturday 21 September, 12noon-8pm Royal Victoria Dock, E16 Last year thousands attended this festival to enjoy superb live music and an epic fireworks display over the docks. Throughout the day you can also take to the water, enjoy a boat trip, sample some culinary treats from the food village and dive into the nautical themed children’s entertainment area. Keep up-to-date For more information on all these events, detailed programme information, special offers and what’s on, visit www.newham.com/summer *All dates and content are subject to change.

Revised Bank Holiday refuse and recycling collection days Collection day

Revised Collection Day

Mon 1 April

Wed 3 April

Tue 2 April

Thu 4 April

Wed 3 April

Fri 5 April

Thu 4 April

Sat 6 April

Fri 5 April

Mon 8 April

Tue 9 April

Wed 10 April

Thu 11 April

Fri 12 April

Sat 13 April

Normal collections will resume from Monday 15 April.

Please note that most recycling collections are now fortnightly, so residents are advised to refer to the leaflets recently delivered to their homes for their collection calendar.

visit www.newham.gov.uk/recycling call 020 8430 2000

Sound Insulation Scheme

Do you support someone with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD)?

The Airport offers sound insulation treatment to eligible properties within the 57 dB LAeq,16h noise contour and enhanced sound insulation to properties within the 66 dB LAeq,16 contour. To be eligible, your property needs to be within one of the contours, and meet criteria relating to the date planning permission was granted for the construction of your property.

66 dB LAeq,16h

If so come along to an information event where you can ﬁnd out about: UÊ 7>ÞÃÊÌ Ê i «ÊÃ i iÊÜ Ì Ê* ÊV Õ V>ÌiÊ UÊ ÜÊÌ ÊÃÕ«« ÀÌÊÌ i ÀÊ i> Ì Ê ii`Ã UÊ 7 >ÌÊÃÕ«« ÀÌÊ> `ÊÃiÀÛ ViÃÊ>ÀiÊ>Û> >L iÊ Ê iÜ > UÊ iÌÜ À }ÊÜ Ì Ê Ì iÀÊ«i « iÊÜ Ì Ê* ]ÊÌ i ÀÊv> iÃÊ> `ÊV>ÀiÀÃ° Wednesday 20 March 2013 1 Mariner Rd, Manor Park, London E12 5RX Drop in anytime from 11am - 2pm

57 dB LAeq,16h

London City Airport

No application to the Scheme is necessary; every year an annual report is produced listing the properties eligible. You can view the list and get more information on the London City Airport Consultative Committee (LCACC) website at www.lcacc.org/noise. If you are on the list you will be contacted directly by post by the Airport’s Sound Insulation Administrator.

1 Mariner Rd

ÀÊvÕÀÌ iÀÊ v À >Ì Ê> `ÊÌ ÊL Ê>Ê« >ViÊ contact frances.pett@newham.gov.uk or Ìi i« i 020 3373 4592°

East London NHS Foundation Trust

For those already treated under the previous Sound Insulation Scheme 10 year checkups are available for properties which have had either secondary glazing and/or mechanical acoustic ventilators.

For further information, or to view the latest noise contours, please visit the LCACC website: www.lcacc.org/noise. Alternatively, you can contact the Sound Insulation Administrator on 01277 262870 or environment@londoncityairport.com.

My promises to you Every year, Mayor Sir Robin Wales publishes a set of promises – key priorities and initiatives that you tell him will make life better for you. Here is what he has committed to delivering in 2013/14. “The rising costs of utility, food and fuel bills means that a lot of residents are having to make big sacrifices to be able to afford essential living i R id items. Residents tellll me that the impact of the recession means making ends meet is tougher than ever; easing this burden is at the forefront of my contract with you. “As a council with a smaller central government grant than before, we’ve worked hard to stretch our finances so we can protect what matters most to you. “From freezing Council Tax for the fifth year in a row to ensuring our children get the best start in life, I have prioritised what you say is important in my annual contract with residents. “This set of promises is focussed on housing, employment, education, helping you through tough times and creating opportunities for the community to come together. “Resilience, helping residents to help themselves, is at the heart of addressing our challenges and overcoming them. Economic resilience can be achieved by helping residents into sustainable employment. Personal resilience is about giving young people and adults the very best chance in life and community resilience helps make us stronger. By investing in these areas, my promises will deliver the transformational change that residents deserve. “We’re taking a pioneering approach to many of our policies, which include prioritising housing for those who are in work and licensing private rented properties to raise the standards of accommodation in the borough. “We want these key policies to have a positive impact on all our residents. My promises go some way to achieving this and I hope that they make life easier and better for all of us.”

Sir Robin Wales Mayor of Newham

Freezing our Council Tax Our Council Tax will be frozen for the fifth year in a row, ensuring Newham still has the lowest Council Tax in outer London.

Newham still has the cheapest Council Tax of any outer London borough

Sarah Ejang, Plaistow “Paying Council Tax can be difficult, especially with the rising cost of other bills. Living costs are increasing but wages are not. It’s good to know that I won’t have to worry about where to find more money to pay my Council Tax.”

Supporting hard working residents through tough economic times Free parking permits We will give each Newham household in a Residential Parking Zone (RPZ) its first parking permit for free. If you do not own a ill give i your car but live in an RPZ RPZ, we will household 30 free visitor permits.

Newham continues to have the lowest resident parking costs in London Free swims for residents aged under 16 and over 60 We were the first council in England to provide free swims for residents aged under 16 and over 60. We will continue to offer this in 2013.

Free bulky waste collection We will continue to offer our residents free collection of up to six items of bulky waste, such as fridges, mattresses and sofas. More and more boroughs now charge for this service. If you had six large heavy items to be removed it would cost you up to: £30 in Tower Hamlets, £61.90 in Havering, £185.69 in Redbridge and a minimum of £29 in Bexley. Where irresponsible residents dump items in their garden a charge will be levied where enforcement action is needed to clear them.

We will also provide 1,500 Newham residents with access to skills training courses to give them the best chance of securing new and existing jobs and to turn their jobs into careers.

In 2013/14,

5,000 residents will be helped by Workplace to find sustainable work

Asif Hussian, Stratford

Bolaji Olaiya, Stratford

“I know that other boroughs charge for this service so it’s excellent that we have a free bulky item and green garden waste collection service. I wish more people would take advantage of it.”

“Workplace has helped me more than my own family. They’ve supported me, never doubted me and have always been on my side. My life is the way it is now because of Workplace.”

FREE bulky waste collection of up to six items in Newham

Getting Newham residents into work and providing the training they need In 2013, we will get 5,000 Newham residents into sustainable work via Workplace, the council’s employment and training service.

Decent homes for hard working residents Prioritising housing for those who contribute to the community y

Our pioneering housing allocations policy gives priority to members of the armed forces, people in employment and carers. This rewards those who make a contribution to our community, as well as those who are working hard on lower wages.

Increasing the number of decent homes in Newham We will help hard working residents to buy their own home. We have established a shared equity scheme to assist Newham residents to access affordable home ownership. We will help more than 150 households to buy a share in their own home.

Princewell Omegbemi, East Ham “I’ve lived in Newham for eight years and been on the council’s waiting list for some time. I have been shortlisted for a home in East Village, formally known as the Athletes Village, in the Olympic Park. Living in a home with the Olympics attached to it is everyone’s dream. This is the real legacy of the Games.”

Newham fought for and has been allocated 308 of the 322 family homes for social rent in the former Athletes Village.

Many residents struggle to find a decent home at an affordable rent in the private rented sector. Starting in 2013 we will build and purchase a minimum of 2,000 new affordable homes over the next five years, which will be available for Newham residents to rent privately.

Every private rented property in Newham now requires a licence We want to ensure every private rented property in Newham is well-run and of a good standard. Some of the worst housing in our borough is in the private rented sector, which results in increased levels of anti-social behaviour. We are taking action to drive up standards by targeting the minority of rogue landlords who let sub-standard accommodation. We are the first council in the country to implement mandatory property licensing across the whole borough, which means landlords now require a licence for each property they manage. We will take enforcement action against anyone who tries to avoid registering.

Sonia Jones, Stratford

Every Child Matters Free school meals We will provide free school meals for every child in a Newham primary school. This is worth at least £566 per child before tax.

Marie Francis, Stratford “Having free school meals for children is great. It does help financially, because they are quite expensive. It’s good that the council offers a free lunch to every child in a Newham primary school.”

28,500 private rental properties are now licensed. Landlords that fail to license their property face a fine of up to £20,000

“My son came home with a free keyboard and he was chuffed to bits. My daughter has music lessons so they now play together at home. I would have struggled to pay for music lessons for two children.”

Every Child a Sportsperson We will help every year 7 student in a Newham secondary school to find a sport they enjoy and are good at through our free activity programme – Every Child a Sportsperson. Working with the University of East London, our children can choose from more than 20 sports, from trampolining to rugby, helping them identify their sporting talents. We will also support local people to be coaches and dance tutors by providing small grants to get classes up and running.

More than different sports are available to choose from in the Every Child a Sportsperson programme

Every Child a Reader

Every C Child a Musician Every Child a Musician (ECaM) is the largest and most successful musical programme in the country, with 10,000 Newham children benefiting. Every child in year 5 at a Newham school receives a free instrument and free tuition for three years.

To reach their full potential every child must be able to read. Our £1.5m Every Child a Reader programme will help Newham primary school children aged five to seven to improve their reading. We support the teaching of phonics to help young children learn to read and fund extra one-to-one support for those who need it. Our programme is supported by volunteers from businesses and the community who help children to practise

reading and understand new words. It is helping to improve reading in Newham schools. The first schools in the programme have already seen improvements. The proportion of children at age five achieving the expected level or above for phonics has increased by an average of 15 percentage points.

In 2012 we fined more than 80 people for failing to control their dogs and impounded more than 50 dogs – more than the total for all other London boroughs put together. We will continue this tough approach in 2013, including seeking eviction of social housing tenants where dangerous dogs attack people or cause serious nuisance.

Alister Albert, reading volunteer “I’ve worked with three children. They were really fantastic and enthusiastic about a new face coming to engage and read with them. “Before I started, I didn’t think I would have the patience or ability to keep pace with such energetic kids but having done my first session I really enjoyed it and look forward to the rest of my time with them.”

In 2012 more than we will ill ensure action ti iis ttaken. k We will pay for 46 extra police officers to work alongside council enforcement officers, to tackle anti-social and criminal behaviour across the borough.

people were fined for failing to control their dogs

Expanding our CCTV network We will expand our council network of 957 CCTV cameras to enable us to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour more quickly and effectively. This includes 90 mobile cameras and two CCTV vans, which are deployed rapidly to address residents’ concerns. We will also review and improve the security and CCTV coverage of council owned blocks of flats.

Making our streets cleaner and smarter We will keep our streets clean while ensuring tough action against those who fly-tip and litter in our community. Our streets are cleaner than they were five years ago. We’ve reduced the amount of flyposting and graffiti but we still have more to do. We will invest in improving the standard of our street cleaning and refuse service.

In Newham, rubbish collections will remain weekly

Julie Najib, Plaistow

Taking tough action against crime and anti-social behaviour We will not tolerate crime and anti-social behaviour from a minority of residents and businesses. When residents report it,

Tacking anti-social dog owners A bad dog is the product of a bad owner. We will fine owners who do not take responsibility for their dog, or their mess. We have ensured that Dog Control Orders cover all public land in Newham.

“I’ve noticed the streets are a lot cleaner than they used to be and there are more street cleaners around.”

Event dates for your diary:

Taking pride in our community

The Mayor’s Newham Show

Investing in good quality parks, play areas and leisure facilities We are improving local services that are important to our residents, including our leisure centres, parks and community outdoor spaces. We are investing £14.7m in a new state-of-the-art Atherton Leisure Centre, which is expected to open in mid 2015. We will improve our parks and have secured a £1.9m improvement and activity programme for Plashet Park, E6.

£14.7m

We are investing in a new state-of-the-art Atherton Leisure Centre, which is expected to open in mid 2015.

Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July

Delivering the biggest free community events programme in the country More than 200,000 residents attend our free events each year. We will build on this with a series of free events across Newham in 2013 including the Mayor’s Newham Show, Under the Stars music nights, Waterfront Festival, Fireworks Night and other exciting free events and opportunities.

Under the Stars • Thursday 15 • Friday 16 • Saturday 17 • Sunday 18 August

Saturday 21 September

Maybury Road MUGA, E13 Chandos, E15 Abbey Green MUGA, E15 Little Ilford Habitat, E12 Hermit Road Rec MUGA, E16

Yahid Haque, Plaistow “I’ve been to Central Park for some of the council’s events. The atmosphere was great and it was good to see all the different cultures together. I had a great time and enjoyed the free music and party mood.”

Saturday 13 July

The Newham London Waterfront Festival

In 2013 we also plan to improve these smaller parks and multi-use games areas (MUGA): • • • • •

The Newham Carnival

Bringing our community together Supporting resident led community events and activities In 2012 our Let’s Get the Party Started grant programme saw more than 1,000 resident-led celebrations across the borough. In 2013 we will provide community grants to residents who have great ideas for events and activities that bring our local community together and get more people involved in their area.

We will continue to support and train local people to become volunteers and play their part in Newham.

8,000

To find our more about each of the Mayor’s promises visit www.newham.gov.uk/ promises

Newham volunteers benefit from a wide range of exciting opportunities

Contact the Mayor

More than

Denise Evans-Barr, Let’s Get the Party Started organiser “I enjoyed organising the event. Not many people in the area realised we have a parent and toddler group at Keir Hardie Methodist Church, so it was a great way of promoting it. The event gave people the chance to come together and have fun.”

Lorraine Cezair-Philips, Forest Gate “I’ve always wanted to give something back to the community. My first volunteering experience was absolutely amazing. During the Olympics I was based at information points in Stratford. The atmosphere was electric.”

Free club membership for over 60s Volunteering to make a difference in our community The Newham Volunteers Programme is the largest of its kind in the UK, with more than 8,000 local volunteers benefiting from a wide range of exciting opportunities. The programme enables residents to get involved in their local community and meet new people while learning new skills and improving their confidence.

Promises online

We want all Newham residents to be a part of the community. We want to support vulnerable and older residents to lead independent lives so we will continue to provide free club membership at Newham sports clubs for those aged over 60.

Sir Robin holds regular surgeries at locations across the borough where you can come along and have one-to-one, confidential discussions about matters concerning you. You can also speak to the Mayor via his telephone surgeries. For all surgeries taking place this month turn to page 38. To find out more about how to contact the Mayor visit www.newham.gov.uk/ mayor

My Newham Apply for services and make payments quickly and easily online using My Newham. To sign up or for more information visit www.newham.gov.uk/ mynewham

Keep in touch To keep yourself updated on everything taking place in the council visit www.newham.gov.uk Follow us on Twitter @NewhamLondon Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ NewhamCouncil

People who litter, trade illegally, graffiti or think it’s acceptable to behave antisocially are not getting away with it. Our enforcement officers have been pounding the streets searching out and holding to account the ignorant few who blight our borough. And you’re giving us a hand by helping identify the people we’d like to speak to in relation to a host of environmental crimes. Our enforcement officers are equipped with cameras which capture people doing things they shouldn’t. We need you to tell us who the people we have pictured are so we can take action. You can play your part by identifying the people on the right and calling the number below.

Ref: MR5230

Ref: MR7622

Ref: MR7626

Ref: MR8838

Ensuring your anonymity Newham Council is committed to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in partnership with the police and other agencies. If you provide information regarding identities: > You will not be required to provide your name > You will not be required to leave your contact details > You will not have to make a statement.

Report it The easy way to report rubbish, litter or anti-social behaviour is online via My Newham. Simply register online and then any time you report an issue you can use our interactive map to pinpoint its exact location. My Newham also lets you track any issues that you have raised to see how they are being dealt with and what progress is being made. To find out more visit www.newham.gov.uk/mynewham

Please call 020 3373 4479 and quote the reference number by the picture.

CAUGHT ON

CAMERA 16

Theatre Royal Bar’s new seven-day programme If you’re looking for a local night out with free live music, comedy, games nights and more, head down to Stratford’s Theatre Royal Bar for all this and some irresistible offers on food and drink. Tucked behind Stratford Centre on Gerry Raffles Square, E15, the Theatre Royal Bar has a special atmosphere. This much-loved venue in the heart of Newham is the place to head for delicious food and a free great night out. Start the week with some top class comedy. COMIC MONDAYS regularly feature three or more comedians. This popular night has seen the likes of Vanessa Fracton, Lateef Lovejoy, Shazia Mizra and Jason Patterson take the stage to raise some laughs. Ava Vidal will be headlining on Monday 25 March from 8pm. Swing by on TENNER TUESDAYS for a red hot offer – two meals and two drinks for just £10. If you like a challenge RETRO WEDNESDAYS is made for you. Relax with friends over drinks and games including dominoes, cards and board games. Theatre Royal Bar’s happy hour gets extended on THIRSTY THURSDAYS, with ten per cent off all food and drink until 9pm. Get into the groove on FUNKY FRIDAYS with DJ sets featuring reggae, hip hop, funk and soul. At the weekend you can catch some great live music on LIVE LOUNGE SATURDAYS or scout out new and emerging talent on UNSIGNED SUNDAYS. For more details visit www.stratfordeast.com/bar Follow them on Twitter @stratfordeast

Exclusive offer – free drink with a main meal Theatre Royal Bar is offering Newham Mag readers a free drink with a main meal. To redeem your voucher, enter your details below and hand it in to a member of bar staff. First name: Last name: Email: Is this your first visit to Theatre Royal Bar:

YES

We’d like to send you our monthly e-newsletter, complete with latest listings info, exclusive deals and a chance to win a bottle of bubbly in our monthly prize draw. If you do not wish to receive these updates, please tick here: Terms and conditions: Voucher valid on purchases made between Friday 15 and Thursday 28 March. One voucher per customer. Present your voucher when ordering. Purchase a main meal at the bar (minimum spend £7.50) and receive a free drink from the following list: glass of red, white or rose house wine or port, pint of Carling Zest, Red Stripe or Cobra or any soft-drink. Offer is subject to availability.

Queens Easter Saturday Market Green Street, Upton Park, E13 Saturday 30 March 9am - 4pm Come along for a festive experience at your local market including: • Children’s Easter egg hunt from 12noon • Face painting • Henna artwork • Free give-aways Train:

Upton Park Station (District and Hammersmith and City Lines) Buses: N58, 58, 104, 330 & 376

For more information telephone 020 8475 8971 or visit www.newham.gov.uk

Rathbone Good Friday Market Barking Road, Canning Town, E16 Friday 29 March 8am - 4pm Come along to grab a bargain at your local market • Second-hand goods • Retro • Confectionary • Ladies and gents clothing, shoes and lots more. Train: Canning Town Station (Jubilee Line and DLR) Buses: 300, 115, 276 and 5

For more information telephone 020 8475 8971 or visit www.newham.gov.uk

Selena Bolingbroke

Calling Newham’s women entrepreneurs

If you’re a woman who has a great business idea but needs financial backing to make it happen, the University of East London (UEL) could turn your dreams into reality. The University’s Centre of Excellence for Women’s Entrepreneurship (CEWE) has secured £50,000 funding to help make Newham’s female entrepreneurs the business women of the future. Make it Real offers individual projects a cash injection of £2,000, three months of free office space at UEL’s Knowledge Dock, a designated mentor and six expert workshops. CEWE is a specialist service to support entrepreneurial development by providing the tools needed to set up and grow a new business. This includes industry contacts, knowledge, research and collaboration. CEWE also runs the Make it Global project which helps local business women target global markets. Based at UEL’s Docklands campus, CEWE is backed by a network of UK business experts including support around

research and innovation and expertise in developing international markets. Project lead, Selena Bolingbroke, said: “You don’t have to be a student at UEL to apply to Make it Real. This project is about UEL doing something for its community. Since UEL opened we have tripled in size, and our commitment to Newham residents remains strong.” According to UEL’s research, Newham’s diversity is a business strength. From February 2010 to February 2012 there was a 43 per cent increase in the number of businesses in Newham – more than any other London borough. Selina said: “At UEL one in seven of our students become self-employed. We believe it is the diversity of the students that makes them so enterprising. We are building on this to make UEL the leading university for

female entrepreneurship in Europe.” One person who has benefitted from CEWE’s expertise is Faith Johnson, a UEL art and design graduate and founder of fashion label Caramel Rock Ltd, based in Canning Town. Faith, a strong advocate of CEWE, said: “CEWE came at a perfect time in my life; I had recently graduated and started my business, but needed professional advice and support to help it get off to the best possible start. I was referred to an amazing member of their team who put me in touch with CEWE’s partners and members who have helped me grow my business to what it is today.” For more information on CEWE, Make it Real, Make it Global or to apply for a grant email cewe@uel.ac.uk or visit www.uel.ac.uk/cewe

Newham in pictures 20

1 Blown away by tennis. Pupils from Britannia Village Primary School in Royal Docks get a tennis masterclass. 2 On board: children from St Antony’s Primary School, in Forest Gate, enjoy a game of chess. 3 Lost in space. The Duchess of Cornwall visits Stratford’s Discover Children’s Story Centre on World Book Day. 4 The power is in your hands. Residents lead on developing and improving services for disabled people. 5 Legs 11, at the East Ham Spring Festival.

Landlady Jan Dooner has been pulling pints at the Railway Tavern for more than 40 years, first under the watchful gaze of her parents and now with her husband Tom. The pub traditionally served railway workers and Angel Lane Market traders, opening at 6am every morning. The demise of the docks and the changing face of Stratford has meant the pub has had to change too, a challenge which Jan has

tackled head on. The pub lodgings, where Jan raised her family, and its function suite, which used to host a Bottleneck Blues Band club where Fleetwood Mac and Spencer Davis Group started their musical careers, has been transformed into guest accommodation, accredited by Visit England. As well as being a landlady with a character larger than Peggy Mitchell, Jan has been the chair of Newhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s branch of Pubwatch, the

national organisation for pubs and licensees, for more than 20 years. What would you have done if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d not been a landlady? I always had a passion for good food and wanted to be a chef. I studied at Lister School but became a civil servant. Tom was in the 3rd Battalion Royal Green Jackets and was posted to Berlin, so we

> WORKING LIVES In recent years, what’s made the biggest impact on pubs? We’ve lost a lot of pubs over the past two years for various reasons. The smoking ban has been good for health but bad for some businesses. Personally I have never been a smoker but my lungs are shot to pieces through passive smoking. The recession or anyone selling cheap booze also doesn’t help. Thankfully the council has a very good licensing team that investigates any illegal drinking dens as soon as they hear of them.

A real EastEnder If you’re looking for an East End pub with character and charm you’d be hard pressed to find anything more traditional than The Railway Tavern. Tucked on the corner of Angel Lane and Windmill Lane in Stratford, as well as real ales and hot food you’ll always find a friendly face behind the bar. lived there for a couple of years. When we returned my dad asked if we’d be interested in managing the pub and we’ve been here ever since. How did the 2012 Games impact on your business? The day we won the Games I went to Meridian Square for the annoucement. When I came back I said to Tom: ‘That’s

it. We have to make this into a hotel’. It’s the best thing we ever did. Exactly one year after we won the bid, Seb Coe visited us here. He came back to Stratford but was running early so they pulled up the bus and he came in for a drink. We started talking and he asked what I was going to do. I said I was looking to start up the hotel. He said that’s exactly what he was trying to get people to do.

What’s your role in Newham Pubwatch? I’m the chair. This one has been around since my dad’s days. It’s one of the longest running Pubwatches in the country. Pubwatch is here to make pubs safer for residents, visitors and staff and supports licensees in the borough. As well as licensees, we have representatives from the police and the council. We share information via email but we also have a text message system that we use to contact our members when the police or the council alert us to anything. Two years ago we set up Football Watch, a sub-group of Pubwatch, because our members around the West Ham United Football Club ground would have problems with some of the away fans. We worked closely with the football police to successfully tackle that. In recognition of this I was awarded Pubwatch’s outstanding contribution award in 2012.

A watchful eye If you manage a licensed premises, pub, club or off-licence in Newham, become a member of Newham Pubwatch. The group meet on the second Wednesday of every month. Membership is £15 per year. To find our more call Jan on 020 8534 3123 or email therailwaytavern@btinternet.com The Railway Tavern also serves delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner – including a Sunday roast. No booking required. Visit the pub for a real taste of East End hospitality.

First knight nerves

Youngsters could become chess grandmasters of the future thanks to Newham’s pioneering Every Child programme, which is set to bring chess to primary schools and libraries across the borough. In an age of computer games and the internet, a board game which dates back to the 6th Century is still having a big impact. Newham Council, charity Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) and East Village, the first legacy neighbourhood from the 2012 Games, are giving children in 14 primary schools the chance to learn the game. Results so far have been a success, boosting concentration, strategic decision-making and even maths. So much so, the plan is to roll out chess to each of Newham’s 64 primary schools by 2015 as part of the council’s Every Child programme, with libraries also hosting chess clubs. CSC’s Newham chess project started in 2010 when England women’s international Sabrina Chevannes began teaching at Ravenscroft Primary School in Canning Town. Since then, more than 500 children have taken part in weekly lessons, and some have entered national tournaments. One school already involved is St Antony’s Primary School in Forest Gate, where the benefits are already clear. Head teacher Brian Lucey said: “The children love it and we can already see that it helps them with academic achievements. Put simply they get there faster. Having a teacher come in from outside the

school during curriculum time gives it added kudos.” Teacher Rita Doolan said: “Chess helps with social skills such as patience, decision-making, fair play and how to be a gracious winner and a good loser. I had never played before, but now the children are teaching me something for a change, which is great.” The council hopes to develop a chess festival and even put giant chess sets in the borough’s parks. Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: “Chess is a wonderful way for our young people to build their confidence, concentration and problem-solving skills. The secret of success with chess is being several steps ahead. It’s a vital lesson in life that our children can learn in a fun way. “This is a great example of how we work with other organisations to innovate. Our Every Child programme already includes reading, music, sports and now chess, to give Newham’s children the best opportunities in life.”

Chinemerem, 8. “Chess is something you have to think about because sometimes you don’t know if your opponent might do a trick move and then they get more points – that’s how you lose. “I’ve been playing since I was five. My favourite chess piece is the pawn. I also play on the computer at home. I like it because you’re playing against the machine.” Angel, 9. “I hadn’t played before and I’ve only been playing for half a term so it’s still new to me. The classes are about important things on how to play so you have to really listen to the instructions and do what the teacher says. I haven’t won yet but I practise at home and I’m going to keep on playing. It’s really good.”

Roy, 8. “I’ve been playing at home for a while as I have my own chess board. My favourite chess piece is the knight. I play with my little brother and when I play with him, I like to win.”

If you are interested in playing chess in your local library come along to the Hopkins Room at Stratford Library, The Grove, E15 on Thursdays 5.30pm-7.30pm.

Council Tax support is changing The Government has decided that Council Tax Benefit is being abolished from April. Council Tax Benefit is currently a national welfare benefit that helps people on a low income pay Council Tax for the home they live in. It is currently fully funded by the Government. But now as part of its welfare reforms, the Government has decided to ask all councils to replace it with financial support schemes of their own. In Newham this will be called the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. The Government will no longer fully fund the new schemes and plans to reduce the money it gives to councils. In Newham this means an overall reduction of approximately £3.6m. Difficult decisions are having to be made about who can be helped with a discount towards their Council Tax. Everyone of working age currently entitled to Council Tax Benefit is potentially affected by the changes. Most residents who currently qualify for Council Tax Benefit will need to pay something towards their Council Tax bill, even if they previously did not pay anything and their circumstances have not changed. Pensioners are not affected by the change. Following consultation with local residents and groups, Newham’s new Council Tax Reduction Scheme aims to spread the burden of the Government cuts as fairly as possible by helping households on low income meet the cost of their Council Tax while protecting the most vulnerable members of the community. Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: “We have had no choice but to make changes that we would not have proposed ourselves. We have tried to ease the burden by freezing Council Tax for the fifth year in a row, ensuring Newham still has the lowest Council Tax of any outer London borough.” From 1 April 2013, under the new scheme: > working age residents (aged 18 and over) will only be able to reclaim a maximum of 80 per cent of their Council Tax bill > most people will have to pay 20 per cent or more of their Council Tax. Some vulnerable groups, such as pensioners and war widows, will be protected from these changes > you will no longer be able to get help based on the circumstances of other adults living with you. They will have to contribute more to your household’s Council Tax > pensioners (anyone who has reached the state pension credit age) are exempt from these changes. It is important to stay up-to-date with your Council Tax. The easiest way to do this is by Direct Debit. Just complete and return the mandate form included in your annual bill. Full details of your Council Tax bill for 2013/14 will be posted to you shortly. Advice about money management or debt is available. Please visit www.newham.gov.uk/debtadvice for details. if you do not have access to a computer or the internet, free access is available at your local library.

How the changes could affect you To help you understand how the changes might affect you we have provided some typical examples. A pensioner on state pension Joanne is retired and lives in Canning Town. She currently receives maximum Council Tax Benefit and does not have to pay any Council Tax. Under the new scheme, pensioners receiving Council Tax Benefit will not have to pay any more than they do now. A low income family The Khans are a family of four living in Forest Gate. Mr Khan works part time and earns £300 per week. Currently they receive some Council Tax Benefit but have to pay £12.74 towards their Council Tax per week. Under the new scheme they will have to pay around an additional £4 more per week. Single parent on benefits Leanne is an unemployed single mum who lives in Plaistow. She currently pays no Council Tax, but under the new scheme she will now have to pay £4.28 per week towards her Council Tax. Leanne will have to use money from her other benefits to pay this shortall. She has an appointment with Workplace, Newham Council’s training and employment service, and is hoping to find a job soon. Single person on low income Pete works part time as a plumber. He lives in Beckton and currently receives some support with his Council Tax but does not qualify for full Council Tax Benefit. Under the new scheme he will have to pay about £4 a week more than he currently does. A couple working full time Cedric and Makemba both work and live together in East Ham. Based on their household income, they do not qualify for Council Tax Benefit. The changes to Council Tax will not affect them. The above are examples for illustration only. The actual amounts may vary once the scheme is finalised.

For further information on how these changes affect you visit www.newham.gov.uk/counciltax To get support finding work call 020 8430 4331 or visit www.newhamworkplace.co.uk

g to n i h t e m your Got so out? Email ab .mag m a shout h w to ne ideas ov.uk g . m a h @new

LTH A E H L A U X een E D S E , has b R d 3 r o E f t V tra rd 201 O C from S he year awa , er 1 h N 2 r , o U of t ams ok f li o n r il o B s W r y harit ng pe mond

you Ray alth c Rianna d for the JLS ’s sexual he e and e le st UD. eop in advic a p O g L g o A n shortli t u e o exually ple in ional y ng peo ine Sh uality, S rmed u x z e o a s y g , r a e by nat fo m violenc ething ake info health m to m ate som tion, domestic e e sexual r h t c o le t b ed ntracep , to ena “I want ims und co d more o n r a a ) e OUD a Is g L T d A (S le e s w in n o h and tio kn ealth. r ago. S relationships d Infec h a e l t e a it y u m a x s e n Tran heir s re tha ex and about t tion mo about s le p o choices d the publica e p young “I starte ntertain , e lture. u d c n a active ur and ate s c y t l r u l a d a e n u o to ex yo res s featu u are s r tantly test o y f also ha i , o e p

b would but most im e c i v d “ My a ntraception rly.” xual g of se a l o in c u d n g e a t e us rking ers ealth r fore wo ter und h t e e l B b . a a le u s e op sex ut not a given m y of pe

William

mond-

Ray Rianna

would s they variet e has asics b ip a in b h h h s e it S n h t w n go ork d relatio I knew “Workin e chance to w sex an n sex – and d o n s u p larlly. m h o u t r u a d and ng m clue tion lth regu u a a y r o e c y e h u v l d e health a e ’t u m n better h beca our sex e I was d HIV. ool wit y test y y had a lives. h tl on Shin do now. e c n h ydia an t s ta m r if o t o t la t p a h ir n I h C t e im e s l h s t t w a e s t such a that I much but mo ips. I fe s abou me a friends ith STI’s eption c lationsh med decision w a e r s tr will give y n m h o it “Some to lt c p a r in e e m s fo w h y u in n s ’t active, en in u if I don always e more sure. had be . Even sexually d there aren’t to mak d o re e le to a is b e n a u b g o n y o ee sing, an you can never ing rec ld be, if have b ugh kis k is be r ip ice wou ro o v h th s w d t n a y h o y g ti m “M be cau rm rela means ctor.” dia can alth se a long te this award, it y e h m in l or la e a h b u C y r ex co.uk . you ma d nalist fo le within the s h fi u g a u o l o e h a b e Alt o e peop ttered t w.shin w ith mor w w “I’m fla k t r i o s e vi to netw chance agazin LOUD

> > >

ShineA d the m To rea on twitter @ it follow

Priz stud

NEWHAM SERVICES FORUM

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEWHAM SERVICES FORUM PLEASE CONTACT JULIE MADELL ON 07890 529 090

London Borough of Newham Council Tax – 2013/2014 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on 25 February 2013. Under Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992, the Council of the London Borough of Newham set the following amounts of Council Tax for the period 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014. +(;,+ [OPZ ÄYZ[ KH` VM 4HYJO Valuation band

Amount of Council Tax

£832.42

£971.16

£1,109.89

£1,248.63

£1,526.10

£1,803.58

£2,081.05

£2,497.26

Dated 5 March 2013 Kim Bromley-Derry Chief Executive

Outdoor catering opportunities Do you live in Newham or is your catering business based in the borough? If so, would you be interested in catering at The Mayor’s Newham Show, Under the Stars or Guy Fawkes Night Fireworks Display? For further information please contact: Alex Reynolds-Cocroft T: 020 3373 1774 E: alex.reynolds-cocroft@newham.gov.uk

To advertise here call Julie Madell on 07890 529 090 or email julie.madell@newham.gov.uk

OUR NEWHAM 30

School raises hundreds for Richard House (right) from Pupils and Cecilia Bekker their cheque with ary Prim on Sir John Her

Children from Sir John Heron Primary School in Manor Park honed their talents to raise hundreds of pounds for Richard House Children’s Hospice in Beckton. Year 6 pupils got together to put their art and crafts skills to good use. They created handmade cards, baked cakes and biscuits and made decorations. These were sold to parents and teachers, raising more than £300 for the local hospice. Teacher Cecilia Bekker said: “The children did all the planning themselves. They decided on what they wanted to sell, calculated the budget and planned how the hall was to be set out. It was a very successful day.” To find out more about Richard House Children’s Hospice, or to make a donation, visit www.richardhouse.org.uk or call 020 7511 0222.

Go green this spring With spring around the corner, turn your cold fingers into green fingers at Stratford’s Abbey Gardens. The award-winning garden is open to all. Whether you love gardening, want to take up a new hobby or find out more about how to grow your own fruit and veg, come along and get your hands dirty. Visit this green haven which is open every day from dawn til dusk, or lend a hand at gardening sessions. Tuesdays from 1-3pm, Thursdays from 4-7pm and Saturdays from 10am-4pm. Sessions are held at Abbey Gardens, Bakers Row, E15, and are hosted by a professional gardener. If you would like to become a regular gardener email mail@abbeygardens.org To find out more about Abbey Gardens visit www.abbeygardens.org

Dinner and dance Come and shake a leg at the Community Resource Centre’s special event on Saturday 23 March. From 7.30pm the centre, in Chargeable Lane, E13, will be hosting an evening of entertainment. Boogie to live music from band Five to Midnight, who will be playing a range of genres including jazz, blues, pop and more. Enjoy a delicious fish and chips supper and top off the evening with a karaoke session. Adults and children are welcome and you can bring your own drinks if you wish. Tickets cost £10 but when you mention the Newham Mag you can purchase your ticket for £8. To book your ticket or find out more call 020 3373 2211.

Fun for kids Put a spring in your child’s step this season with Newham Woodcraft Folk. The Woodcraft Folk is open to children and young people who want to get active and explore the great outdoors. If your child is aged between six and nine, would like to learn about nature and get dcraft Folk The Elfins get arty at Newham Woo creative with art and crafts they can join the Elfins. The Elfins is the youngest group in the Woodcraft Folk. This term they are running a range of exciting activities. Get involved in nature hunts, outdoor games, drama and music. Elfins are also given the chance to learn how to cycle and go on camping trips. Membership costs £10 per term. If you’d like to join the Elfins at Newham Woodcraft Folk, email s_c_walker@me.com or visit www.newhamwoodcraft.org.uk

Free advice for residents Are you in debt, need help with your benefits or have a housing problem? Canning Town charity Community Links is offering residents free legal advice sessions in community centres across the borough. You can speak to legal advisors for free and gain advice about finance, housing problems and any other issues you may be facing. Sessions run on a first come, first served basis. No appointment needed.

Drop in to a session near you: • Chandos East Community Centre Mondays, 12.30-3pm, 90 Chandos Road, E15. Call 020 8221 2137 • Play, Sow and Grow Community Centre Tuesdays, 9.30am-12noon, 6 Gay Road, E15. Call 020 8522 7337 • Rokeby Community Centre Tuesdays, 12.30-3pm, 63 Rokeby Street, E15. Call 020 8555 3125 • Arc in the Park Community Centre Wednesdays, 9.30am-12noon. Hermit Park Road, Bethell Avenue, E16. Call 020 7511 4253 • Asta Community Centre Thursdays, 12.30-3pm, 14a Camel Road, E16. Call 020 7476 5023. For general advice on a range of matters visit www.adviceguide.org.uk

PLEASE SEND YOUR DRAWINGS, JOKES AND POEMS TO: KIDS’ CORNER, WEST WING 4TH FLOOR, NEWHAM DOCKSIDE 1000 DOCKSIDE ROAD, LONDON E16 2QU OR EMAIL THEM TO newham.mag@newham.gov.uk Don’t forget to write your name, age, address and daytime contact telephone number on the back of your entry

Gallery

Maheen Qureshi, 5

Inaaya CChowdury, 7

Winner

Aqsa Siddique, 10 32

Mohima Akhtar, 12 M

Win free membership at Stratford Picturehouse This issue’s winner receives free annual family membership at Stratford Picturehouse, which includes free tickets and discounts on films. To be in with a chance of winning this or another great prize send your pictures, jokes and poems to Kids’ Corner, West Wing, Fourth Floor, Newham Dockside, 1000 Dockside Road, London E16 2QU. Don’t forget to write your name, age, address and daytime contact telephone number on the back of your entry. Good luck! Visit www.picturehouses.co.uk to see what’s on.

Stratford Picturehouse, Theatre Square, E15

Colour-me-in Wordfit g

3 letters

Mini Musical Makers Free music and story building sessions for 2-5 years. Monday mornings at the Hartley Centre, E6, and Wednesday afternoons at Discover Children’s Story Centre, E15. When you attend Mini Musical Makers, you get a free entry to Discover Children’s Story Centre. Turn to page 34 for full listing.

Poem

AIR AWL BUY EAT ELM EWE FAR FEZ FLY JAG OLD STY USA WET

4 letters EDIT FREE GAZE IFFY ROME SWAB

S W I N G

Family love Floats and flies like a dove, It’s my love, My love is like a rose forever in bloom, It makes me feel like I can go to the moon, This is my family love. Rezwana Rahman, 10

WHAT’S ON? To view hundreds of events, or to add your own, log on to www.newham.gov.uk/whatson

OUR THRILLING THREE... Beckton Spring Festival – Free activities and entertainment for all. Saturday 23 March, 12noon-4pm, Kingsford Community School, Kingsford Way, E6. Call 020 3373 3961 or email yvonne.kumi@newham.gov.uk

Youth sports sessions – Free sports programme on Mon, Tue, Weds and Fri for young people aged 11 to 19. Visit www.community-links.org email Jason.Turner@community-links.org or call 020 7473 9654/07827 235 936. Free BBC Live event – The recording of Mark Ravenhill’s drama – The Octoroon for BBC Radio 3. Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15. Thursday 11 April, 7.15pm. Book your free seat by visiting www.stratfordeast.com/the-octoroon

TRY SOMETHING NEW... THE NEWHAM CAKE-OFF If you’re looking for a new hobby and would like to explore your creative side, try your hand at cake decorating. Learn the skills and techniques of cake decorating for free and put your arty abilities to good use. You can also enter a cake decorating competition at your local Spring Festival. The next cake-off will take place on Saturday 30 March, 10am-12noon at Little Ilford Learning Zone, 1a Rectory Road, E12. To find out more about upcoming cake decorating classes email sonia.lard@newham.gov.uk or call 020 3373 4023. For details of Spring Festivals taking place near you visit www.newham.gov.uk/playyourpart

FIVE PAGES OF ACTIVITIES MOSTLY FREE, ALL FUN!

15 – 28 MARCH

MENTION THE MAG... Discover a new way to exercise with belly dancing classes. Improve your flexibility, learn new dance moves, tone your body and unwind to rhythmic music. Classes usually cost £6 but when you mention the Newham Mag you can enjoy a session for £3. This offer is only valid for classes on 21 and 28 March. The women only classes usually are for ages 16 and over. Sessions are held every Thursday from 6.45-7.45pm at Maryland Dance Studioz, 84-86 Leytonstone Road, E15. For more information or to reserve a space email zubaidah@zubaidahbellydance.co.uk or call 07960 564 401.

Indicates free sessions ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Comedy Night Entertainment every Mon, 8pm, Theatre Royal, Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15. Visit www.stratfordeast.com/ comedy-night Mini Musical Makers Free music and story building sessions for 2-5 years. Wed afternoons, Discover Story Centre, 383-387 High Street, E15. Call 020 8536 5555. Mon mornings, The Hartley Centre, 267 Barking Road, E6. Call 020 7540 6923. Free entry to Discover Children’s Story Centre when you attend. Free music therapy sessions for 2-5 years. Thurs, 3-4pm at Shrewsbury

Children’s Centre, Shrewsbury Road, E12. Call 020 3373 6050 Fri, 2.15-3.15pm or 3.454.45pm, Susan Lawrence Children’s Centre, Lawrence Avenue, E12. Booking is essential. Call 020 3373 7227. COMMUNITY LEARNING Do it Online Basic computer sessions for all. All sessions take place at local libraries. You must book in advance. Tues, 10am-12noon, Beckton Tues, 2-4pm, Plaistow Wed, 2-4pm, Stratford Thurs, 10am-12noon, Canning Town and Manor Park Fri, 2-4pm, East Ham Knit & Natter Craft group for adults, at local libraries. Fri, 10am-12noon, Canning Town

Basic Numeracy (19+) From 25 Mar. Mon-Thurs, 10am-5pm and Fri, 10am-1pm, Jack Cornwell Community Centre, Jack Cornwell Street, E12. Call 07943 887 612/ 07507 173 272 UNDER-FIVES LIBRARY ACTIVITIES Open to under-fives with their parents/carers. All sessions take place at local libraries. Toy Library Tues and Thurs, 10am-12noon, East Ham Imaginative Play Fri, 11am-12noon, East Ham Storytelling Mon, 11am-12noon, Plaistow, Canning Town and Beckton Globe Tues, 11am-12noon, Custom House Tues and Fri, 11am-12noon, Stratford Weds, 2-3pm, East Ham Thurs, 2-3pm, North Woolwich Fri, 11am-12noon, Green Street and Manor Park YOUNG PEOPLE’S LIBRARY ACTIVITIES All sessions take place at local libraries. Homework Club For young people aged 7 to 14. School term only. Mon, 4-6pm, Stratford and East Ham Mon, 3.30-5.30pm, North Woolwich Weds, 3.30-5.30pm, Green Street and Manor Park Storytelling

Thurs, 4-6pm, Custom House and Plaistow Fri, 3.30-5.30pm, Beckton and Canning Town ADULT LIBRARY ACTIVITIES All sessions take place at local libraries. Adult Reading Groups Mon 18 Mar, 6.30-7.30pm, East Ham Over-50s Club Thurs, 10am-12noon, Beckton Globe EXTRA ACTIVITIES Royal Docks Learning & Activity Centre Tues, Bingo, 10am-12noon Healthy Cooking Group, 10am-12noon Weds, Mother and Toddlers group, free, 9.30-11am Coffee Morning, free, 9.30-11am Learn to Earn – Employment Support Drop-in, free, 10am-2pm Sewing Classes, 10am12noon Thurs, Tai Chi, £2, 10.30am-12noon Sessions take place at Royal Docks Learning and Activity Centre, Albert Road, North Woolwich, E16. Call 020 7476 1666 LGBT Community Group For over-50s. Snacks and refreshments provided. Every third Tues of each month, 4-6pm, Community Resource Centre, 200 Chargeable Lane, E13. Call 020 7239 8055 Dirty Hands Project Grow your own fruit and veg. Open to all. First Sat of each month, 10am-2pm, Valetta Grove, (opposite Plaistow Station) E13. Visit www.dirtyhandsproject.org.uk or email dirtyhandsproject@gmail.com or call 07961 674 210

Table Top Sale Sell your goods and keep your profits. £5 a table – open to all. Last Sat of every month, 9am2pm, Jack Cornwell Community Centre, Jack Cornwell Street, E12. Call 020 8553 3459. 1st Sat of every month, 10am-4pm, Community Resource Centre, 200 Chargeable Lane, E13. Call 020 3373 2211 BASKETBALL Youngbloods Basketball All sessions cost £1. U12s, mixed Sat, 1-3pm, East Ham Leisure Centre, E6 U13/14s, boys Mon, 6-8pm, St Angela’s School, E7 Tues, 5.30-7.30pm Newham Leisure Centre, E13 U14s, girls Mon, 4.30-6pm, St Angela’s School, E7 Tues, 5.30-7.30pm, Newham Leisure Centre, E13 U15/16s, boys Tues, 6-8pm, East Ham Leisure Centre, E6 Fri, 6-8pm, St Angela’s School, E7 U17/18s boys Tues, 8-9.45pm, East Ham Leisure Centre, E6 Thurs, 7-9pm, St Bonaventure’s School, E7 Fri, 6-8pm, St Angela’s School, E7. Call 07958 307 657 Newham All Star Sports Academy (NASSA) All sessions take place at UEL, Docklands Campus, University Way, E16. Sessions are £1 unless indicated otherwise. Visit www.nassasports.org.uk Weds, 4.20-6pm, U13-14 6-8pm, U16-18 8-10pm, Senior Men Thurs, 4.20-6pm U13-14 6-8pm, U16-18 8-10pm, Senior Women, £2 Fri, 4.20-6pm, U13-14 6-8pm, U16-18

Basketball

8-10pm, Senior Men Run, £2 Sat, 10.20am-12.20pm, junior boys and girls, 8-14, £2 Call 07703 503 995 or 07712 176 301 National League Mon, 6-8pm, U13/14s, Rokeby School, Barking Road, E16 Tues, 6-8pm, U15/16s Rokeby School, Barking Road, E16 Thurs, 4.30-6pm, U13/14s boys, U14s girls, Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13 6-8pm, U16s, Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13 6-8pm, U18s, Cumberland School, Oban Close, E13 Gifted and Talented Fri, 4.15-5.30pm Cumberland School, Oban Close, E13 Basketball Session Sat, 10am-12noon Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13 Senior Men/Women Programme Mon, 7.30-9.30pm Division 2 Women and Division 3/4 Men. Rokeby School, Canning Town, E16 Call 07947 401 616 3v3 Basketball League Thurs, 5-7pm, 8-19s, Forest Gate Youth Centre, Woodford Road, E7 Fri, 7-8pm, 8-19s, Little Ilford Youth Zone, Rectory Road, E12 3v3 Basketball Competition 2nd Sat of the month, 10am1pm, U12s/U14s/U16s, Little

West Ham Lane, E15 5-a-side Football Competition Weds, 5-6.30pm, 8-19s, Fords Park, Fords Park Road, E16 Thurs, 5.30-7pm, 8-19s. Royal Victoria Gardens, Pier Road, E6 First Sat of the month, 10am1pm, U12s/U14s/U16s, Plashet Park, Plashet Grove, E6 Football

Ilford Youth Club, Rectory Road, E12 Basketball & Multi Sports Fri, 5-6.30pm, 8-19s, Snowshill MUGA, Snowshill Road, E12 FOOTBALL Mayor’s Football League U10s, U12s, Mon, 4.30-6pm and U16s, U18s, 6-7pm Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13 WHU Kickz Mon, U14s, 4-5.30pm 15+, 5.30-7pm West Ham United Community Astro Turf (Beckton), E6 11-18s, 5-8pm Forest Gate Youth Centre, E7 Tues, U14s, 4-5.30pm 15+, 5.30-7pm West Ham United Community Astro Turf (Beckton), E6 11-18s, 6-9pm Priory Park MUGA, E6 Weds, 11-18s, 5-8pm Priory Park MUGA, E6 Thurs, 11-18s, 4-7pm Priory Park MUGA, E6 Fri, U14s, 4-5.30pm Girls 11+, 5.30-7pm West Ham United Community Astro Turf (Beckton), E6 11-18s, 5-8pm Forest Gate Youth Centre, E7 London Youth Games Mon, 4.30-6pm, U14, Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13 Football & Multi Sports Mon, 5.30-7pm, 8-19s, Weds, 5-7pm, 8-19s, Stratford Park MUGA, St

Football & Multi-Sports Sat, 2-3.30pm, 8-19s, Winsor Park Estate, Winsor School MUGA, East Ham Manor Way, E6 AIR Football (16+) Tues, 1-3pm and Fri, 10am12noon, 16+, Memorial Park, Memorial Avenue, E15. Fri, 3-5pm, Beckton Powerleague, E6. Visit www.airfootball.co.uk Ascension Football Academy All sessions £3 School years reception to 11, 10-11.30am King George V Park, King George Avenue, E16. Call 07806 584 925 BOXING AND SELF DEFENCE Boxing West Ham ABC - community boxing, 11-19s Olympic style amateur boxing sessions. Hathaway Community Centre Hathaway Crescent, E12 Weds, 7pm Call 020 8430 2000 West Ham Boys ABC 9+, boys and girls Mon, Wed, Fri, 5-6pm The Black Lion, 59-61 High Street, E13. Call 020 8472 3614 Peacock ABC 8+, Mon, Wed, 6-8pm boys and girls Caxton Street North, E16 Call 020 7511 3799 Newham Boys ABC 6+, boys only Mon, Wed, Fri, 6-7.45pm Old Bath House, 141 Church Street, E15. Call 020 8519 5983

Fight For Peace 11+, boys and girls Woodman Street, North Woolwich, E16. Call 020 7474 0054 Punch Out (16+) Boxing fitness workout. Thurs, 8-9pm, Beckton Community Centre, Manor Way, E6. Fri, 5-6pm, Katherine Road Community Centre, 254 Katherine Road, E7. Email getactive@newham.gov.uk Shoujin Karate Sessions for beginners. Newham Shoujin Karate Club: Weds, (during term time only) 4.30-5.30pm. Fri, 6-7pm and 7-8pm. Sun, 10-11am. Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13. Call 07508 070 638 Docklands Shoujin Karate Club: Mon, 6.20-8.20pm, UEL Sports Dock, Docklands Campus, E16. Call 07517 136 837 Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts for 5+ to adults. £5 per session – family discount available. Sat, 1-2.30pm (arrive at least 15 minutes before start) The Hub, 123 Star Lane, E16. Tue, 7.30-8.30pm, Grassroots, Memorial Park, Memorial Avenue, E15. Call 07725 948 426 or email ace_rosillo@hotmail.com Hop Skip and Punch (18+) Mon, 5.30-6.30pm, Katherine Road Community Centre, 254 Katherine Road, E7. Call 020 8548 9825 Boxercise Bootcamp Class (16+) 90 Day Fatbuster Programme. Mon, 4-5pm and Weds, 6-7pm Indoor classes Tues and Fri, 6-6.45pm, Britannia Village Hall, 65 Evelyn Road, E16. Outdoor classes Mon and Thurs, 7.15-8am, East Ham Central Park, High Street South, E6. Children 7+

welcome with parent. Email info@5starphysique.co.uk or call 07904 625 402. HEALTH AND FITNESS BMX £3/£2 members/£10 annual membership. Sun, 10am-12noon, 6-16s, Gooseley Playing Fields, St Albans Avenue, E6. Call 07961 333 615/ 020 3373 9000 or email paul.farthing@activenewham.org.uk

Indoor Rounders (16+) 50p per session. Mon, 6-7pm, SportsDock, University of East London, Docklands Campus, University Way, E16. Call 020 3373 9000 or email paul.farthing@activenewham.org.uk

Indoor Cricket Weds, 6-8pm, 8-16s, Lister Community School, St Mary’s Road, E13. Call 020 3373 9000 or email paul.farthing@activenewham.org.uk

East End Road Runners Coached sessions for all abilities. Tues and Thurs, 7pm Sun, 9am, meet on the track, Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13. Call 07979 261 647 Run England sessions All sessions are £2 indicated otherwise. Cricket

Sun, 10am-12noon, Newham Leisure Centre, E13 (meet on the track) Mon, 4-5.30pm, Newham Leisure Centre, E13 (meet on the track) 5.45-6.45pm, Newham Dockside, E16 (meet at reception) Tues, 6-7pm, Newham Leisure Centre, E13 (meet on the track) Weds, 12noon-1pm, Newham Dockside, E16 (meet at reception) Thurs, free, 5.15-6.15pm, UEL Docklands Campus, E16 (meet at reception) Sat, 10-11.30am, East Ham Central Park, E6 (meet at the café) 10-11.30am, Wanstead Flats, E12 (meet at Harrow Road Changing Pavilion) 10-11.30am, Memorial Park, E15, £4 (meet at car park) Call 07718 394 874 Cricket Weds, 6-8pm, U16s, Lister Community School, St Mary’s Road, E13. Call 020 3373 9054 Newham Swords (4+) Tues, 6.30-9pm Thurs, 6.30-9pm Fri, 7.30-10pm The Hub in the grounds of Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13 Call 07956 618 898 Newham Striders Free sociable walking group, seven days a week. Call 020 8430 2000 Men’s Health Football Fitness Sessions Sat, 10-11am, West Ham United Community Training Facility, 60a Albatross Close, E6. Call 020 7473 7724 Family Fit Club Sat, 11am-12noon, West Ham United Community Training Facility, 60a Albatross Close, E6. Call 020 7473 7724 Zumba classes Thurs, 7.30- 8.30pm, St Nicholas Church Hall, Gladding Road, E12, £5 per class. Call 07720 805 505

Saturdads For fathers, grandads, uncles and children aged 0-16. Sat, 12noon-3pm, Chandos East Hub, 90 Chandos Road, E15 Call 020 8221 2137 Newham Young Britons A.S.C Learn to swim and/or improve your strokes. Children’s session, (£2) 5-16, Sat, 6.15-7pm Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13. Call 07956 304 518 Yoga Classes £5.50 for full-time workers or £3.50/£4 for students and those in receipt of benefits. Tues, 6.10-7.10pm and Fri, 10.30-11.30am, The Hub, 123 Star Lane, E16 Weds, 6.30-7.30pm The Unitarian Church, West Ham Lane, E15. Call 07956 808 007 or visit www.yocoma.co.uk Woodside Badminton Club Intermediate and club standards players welcome, Fri, 8-9.30pm, £5 waged/£3 unwaged, Carpenters Docklands Centre, 98 Gibbins Road, E15. Call 07958 761 676 / 07956 150 240 Table Tennis For beginners and intermediate adult players. Thurs, 6.30-9pm Stratford School, Upton Lane, E15 (Doris Road entrance) For more info call 07976 577 716 or 07828 866 031 or email ginny.harris10@btinternet.com Qi Gong Suitable for adults of all abilities. £5 per session. Thurs, 8pm on the Docklands Community Boat moored near ExCeL. Meet at the gates to Millennium Mill, Mill Road, E16. Call 07930 610 275 or email lee@bigheavenlittleheaven.com

UnityZumba Classes are £5 each adults, children £3. (7+) Mon and Wed, 8-9pm, Hartley Centre, 267 Barking Road, E6 Tues, 7.45-8.45pm and Thurs, 8.15-9.15pm, St Mark’s Community Centre, 218 Tollgate Road, E6 Sun, 6.30-7.30pm, The Well Centre, 49 Vicarage Lane, E6. Call 07886 884 573 Beginners’ Ballroom £2.50 per session. Mon, 10am-12noon, St Paul’s Church Centre, Burges Road, E6. Call 07761 209 463 Twisted Pink Open to 7-21s. Street Dance sessions: Fri, 6-7pm, £3 Zumba classes: (From 30 Nov) Fri, 7.15-8.15pm £5 including childcare. St Luke’s Church, 89 Tarling Road, E16. Call 07534 513 307, visit www.twistedpink.org.uk or email twistedpink26@aol.com Zumba with Annabel (17+) £5 a session, Mon, 7-8pm, Vicarage Lane Community Centre, Govier Close, E15. Weds, 7.30-8.30pm, Beckton Community Centre, East Ham Manor Way, E6. Call 07500 898 665 Badminton at Little Ilford School For all standards. £4 for a court and bring a racquet Thurs, 7-9pm Browning Road, E12. Email morgan_phil@hotmail.com or call 07944 117 263. FEMALE SPORTS Fitness Classes (12+) Zumba: £6, Tues, 8-9pm and Body Conditioning: £3, 9-9.30pm, The Hub, 123 Star Lane, E16. Email bollywoodfuzion@gmail.com or call 07830 455 823

Badminton

Dare2Dance Street dance classes for girls, 12-16s. Fri, 3.30-5.30pm Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13. Call 020 3373 9000 Girls Spinning Sessions 11-16, Mon and Weds, 4-4.30pm. Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13. Call 020 7511 4477 Female Only Gym Sessions 11-16s, Tues and Thurs, 3.30-5pm. 16-25s, Weds, 1.30-3pm. Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13. Call 020 3373 9000 Female Boxfit Classes (16+) Mons, 4.15-5.15pm, Balaam Leisure Centre, Balaam Street E13. Call 07970 783 526 Girls Football Tues, 3.30-5.30pm, 11-16s, Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13 Women United AFC (11+) Mon (term time only), 6-7.15pm, Kingsford School, E6, £1 per session. Call 07792 932 979

Get Back into Netball OPA Netball Club sessions. Tues, juniors, 6-7.30pm, seniors, 7.30-9pm. £2 per session. Lister Community School, St Mary’s Road, E13. Call 07717 281 529 Body Blast (16+) £5 per session. Mon, 7-8pm, Weds, 12.301.30pm and Thurs, 6-7pm Talent Central, Unit 27a, 3

Armada Way, Gallions Reach Shopping Park, E6. Call 07866 612 610 Abs Blast Sessions cost £3. Thurs, 5.30-6.15pm, 11-16s, Newham Leisure Centre, Prince Regent Lane, E13 Just Play (16+) Multi-sport session. Wed, 6.30-8pm, Newham Sixth Form College, Prince Regent Lane E13. Call 020 3373 9000 Female Multi-Sports Cardio, Tennis, Handball, Rounders, Football and more. Fri, 4.15-5.15pm, Little Ilford Youth Zone, Rectory Road, E12. Call 020 8556 5973 or email Farrakh.Khan@locsp.org Sheila’s Yummy Mummy buggy (16+) £5 per session Mon, 10-11.30am East Ham Central Park, E6 (meet outside cafe in the park) Fri, 10-11.30am, Plashet Park, Plashet Grove, E6. Call 07908 614 958 or email spoleon@aol.com Janice’s Fitness (16+) Soca and Zumba fitness sessions. £5 per session. Tues, 9.30-10.30pm. St George and St Ethelbert Church Hall, Burford Road, E6. Email info@jfikarate.co.uk or call 07818 000 643 Bollywood Dance Class For ages 13-18. Wed, 6-7.30pm, Katherine Road Community Centre, 254 Katherine Road, E7. Call 020 8548 9825 SPORTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

Multi-Sports Flying Wheels club for young wheelchair users 6-22. Wed and Fri evenings, 6-8pm. Rokeby School, Barking Road E16. Call 07888 085 259

U19s, Fri, 4.30-6.30pm, Newham Leisure Centre, E13. Disabled Multi-Sports. Tues, 10.30am-12noon, Newham Leisure Centre, E13. Call 020 7511 4477 Fri, 4.30-6pm, NewVIc, Prince Regent Lane, E13. Call 07811 671 082

Mon 18 Mar 9am, Newham Partnership – Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Committee Room 1 7pm, Audit Board, Committee Room 1 7pm, Local Development Committee, Council Chamber, Old Town Hall Stratford, E15

Wheelchair Basketball 11-19, Wed, 4-5pm Rokeby School, Barking Road, E16. Call 07947 401 616

Tues 19 Mar 10am, Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-committee (Provisional), Council Chamber 4.30pm, Newham Partnership – Children and Young People Board. Room EG.05/06, Ground Floor, Newham Dockside, 1000 Dockside Road, E16 7pm, Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board, Room WG.06, Ground Floor, West Wing, Newham Dockside, 1000 Dockside Road, E16 7pm, Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Commission, Committee Room 2 7pm, Strategic Development Committee, Council Chamber, Old Town Hall Stratford E15

Family Swims for Disabled Children and Adults Newham Otters Swimming Club, Sat, Newham Leisure Centre, E13, 4.30-5.30pm. For more details call 07931 788 739 Family Swim, Sun, 12.30-2pm, Balaam Leisure Centre, E13, £5. Call 020 7476 5274 Trampolining Sessions U19s, Fri, 5-7pm and Sat, 12noon-2pm, Newham Leisure Centre, E13. Call 020 7511 4477 Mixed Swimming Sessions for Adults and Children Wed, 10am-12noon, East Ham Leisure Centre, E6. £1.15 per session. Call 020 8548 5850 Swim for Families dealing with Autism Wed, 4-5pm, Balaam Leisure Centre, E13. Call 020 7476 5274 Get fit for free Free use of the gym for one year for people with learning disabilities at Newham Leisure Centre. Tues, 1.30-3.30pm and Fri, 10am-12noon. To book an induction call on 020 7511 4477 B1 Football Club Third Sun of every month, 10am-12noon, East Ham Leisure Centre, E6 Soft play and exercise to music Sat, 2-3pm, Newham Leisure Centre, E13. Call 020 7511 4477 COMMITTEE MEETINGS

All meetings take place at Newham Town Hall, Barking Road, E6, unless specified.

Thurs 21 Mar 10am, Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-committee (Provisional), Council Chamber, Cabinet, Council Chamber 5.15pm, Mayoral Proceedings, Council Chamber 7pm, Newham Community and Police Forum, Lister Room Tues 26 Mar 10am, Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-committee (Provisional), Council Chamber 7pm, Overview and Scrutiny Committee Committee Room 1 Thurs 28 Mar 10am, Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-committee (Provisional), Council Chamber Visit www.newham.gov.uk/ committee for updates. CONTACT THE MAYOR

Walk-in surgeries Tues 19 Mar

Registration 4.45pm, Newham Town Hall, Barking Road, E6 Telephone surgeries Wed 27 Mar You can telephone 020 8430 2000 between 9.30am and 10.30am and register your query and contact details. The Mayor will then ring you back at a later time. LIBRARY CONTACTS Beckton Globe 1 Kingsford Way, E6 Canning Town Barking Road, E16 Custom House Prince Regent Lane, E16 East Ham High Street South, E6 Green Street 337-341 Green Street The Gate 4-20 Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, E7 Manor Park Romford Road, E12 North Woolwich 5 Pier Parade, E16 Plaistow North Street, E13 Stratford 3 The Grove, E15 Archives and Local Studies (limited postal and email service only) call: 020 3373 6881 email: archiveslocalstudies@ newham.gov.uk Community Outreach Services To find out more call 020 3373 0813

Hundreds of services – one website. Visit www.newham.gov.uk Call Newham Council on 020 8430 2000 Follow us on Twitter @NewhamLondon Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ NewhamCouncil

Caring for someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s child?

If a child is living with you for more than 28 days and you are not their grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister or in some cases a step-parent, this is known as privately fostering. You need to advise Newham Council about this arrangement so we can support you and the child. Need more advice? Visit www.newham.gov.uk/privatefostering or call Newham Council on 020 8430 2000 or contact your Local Service Centre for further information.

Failure to notify the local authority of private fostering arrangements either by the parent or private foster carer is against the law and could lead to court actions.

Being able to read is so important for a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self conďŹ dence and success at school. Yet for some children, learning to read is a struggle for a variety of reasons. If you can invest one hour per week for a minimum of ten weeks, you could make a huge and lasting difference to a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life by becoming a reading volunteer.

phone: 020 3373 9020 email: volunteers@activenewham.org.uk visit: www.newham.gov.uk/reading