Neighbourhoods Connect Blog
Halloween in Haringey
by Dave Clements
Wednesday 31 October
While we're not ones for scaring residents half out of their wits, we do like to enter into the spirit of things at Neighbourhoods Connect. We've been on the look-out for Halloween themed events across the borough. To be honest, we were surprised that everybody seems to be costumed-up and bobbing apples already.
Nevertheless there are still a few spooky goings on. For instance, there is a Halloween Craft Event at Wood Green Central Library on Saturday. It's called Making Bats - which is pretty self explanatory - and it's for children and young people only. Just in case some of you older folk were thinking of trying your hand!
They're discussing trick or treating strategy (external link) on Harringay Online. So go there for the latest advice on which end of the ladder to start from. They are very generous folk confirms one parent. But what has really got them going in Harringay - and this was back in September! - is that a well-known supermarket (external link) is already stocking it's shelves with Xmas fare!
"What about Halloween?" they cried - quite. But what of the really scary matter of avoiding those parking fines. A monstrous segue admittedly but an important matter still. One of our number was recently caught out so we're all for making life easier for Haringey's drivers. We were pleased to hear that over the last few days Haringey Council has joined a new online pay by phone parking scheme.
The service will be made available across the borough - including more than 3,500 spaces - by November, and will allow motorists to pay using smartphone apps and other "customer-friendly payment methods". In the meantime drive carefully and look out for small figures wandering up and down the ladder in white sheets.
|Back to topFive Fave Follows
by Dave Clements
Thursday 25 October
Shortly after posting 'Not just Beer and Bingo' our resident blogger was taken ill. While there may be no connection between the topic of the blog and his subsequent state we were taking no chances. He was confined to his bed (or more likely, sofa) for a couple of days last week. So, sadly, avid readers of this blog missed out on his usual witticisms.
But in anticipation of a repeat performance he has promised to get a few more guest bloggers on board. So look out for them over the coming weeks. Also, while watching Jeremy Kyle, he has being doing his best to keep active. In a social media sense at least. Indeed, he recommends that you might like what he has taken to calling his Five Fave Follows on Twitter.
To be honest, he's a little delirious, so who knows and this selection is perhaps indicative of his under the weather and sofa-ridden status. Still, for the time being and in no particular order (as they say on X Factor) they are ...
HAGA (external link) - Haringey Advisory Group on Alcohol - the borough's 'local alcohol service, supporting people affected by alcohol since 1981'. Whittington Health (external link) who describe themselves as 'Caring for you' from 'Whittington Hospital and community services in Haringey and Islington'. YoButler! (external link) 'a brand new handyman (and woman!) service that takes the hassle out of everyday chores, helping you save time to do the things you love'. And Dunn's Bakery (external link) in Crouch End where everything is 'hand crafted & freshly baked' and Downhills Park Cafe (external link). We assume the butler's doing the fetching.
Anyway, be sure to follow us here at Neighbourhoods Connect (external link) and we'll keep you posted (if you'll excuse the pun!). Til next week when normal service will be resumed. All the best.
|Back to topNot just Beer and Bingo
by Dave Clements
Friday 12 October
A good friend of ours at Neighbourhoods Connect - indeed she was a former colleague back in 2010 when we first started out - has just published a book. Not only was Ruth Cherrington our community development worker back in the day (as young folk say) busily trying to engage Haringey's older folk, but she is also an established authority on the history of the working men's club.
Indeed, as Harringay Online (external link) helpfully remind us, Ruth will be speaking at Stroud Green and Harringay Library tomorrow to talk about her new book. I mention this not just to plug the event and Ruth's new book, or out of misplaced nostalgia for days gone by - at working men's clubs and at Neighbourhoods Connects! But because the decline of clubs and pubs says something about how neighbourhoods do and don't connect these days.
You might say that Neighbourhoods Connect only makes sense because there is something missing. Sadly, while those old meeting places and the social solidarities they once embodied might only be of interest to social historians like Ruth - projects like ours are about seeking out the people and the projects that are trying to take their place.
So, not to be too gloomy, what do the residents of Haringey do these days when they want to get together? Where do they go and who do they meet up with? Do they meet up with people like themselves - like those 'working men' of old - or do they mix with people from different backgrounds (and genders!).
Haringey is a big place, with lots of differences, but how do people find common cause these days? No doubt some of you still go to pubs and clubs. Wherever you go, or even if you don't go anywhere much, we'd love to hear from you.
|Back to topBins, homes and automobiles
by Dave Clements
Friday 5 October
After a busy couple of weeks pitching to funders and potential partners - hence the no-show on this blog last week - we are looking forward to an exciting few months for Neighbourhoods Connect. I'll save the details for future posts as we're still working things out. Suffice to say that we'll be out and about in Haringey both on and offline with two or three exciting initiatives. So watch this space!
In the meantime, and as this month's contribution to the series of What's Up posts, we've been surfing not only Haringey Council's website but taking a look at our favourite neighbourhood microsites too.
Starting with bin collection day changes - from 22 October, with the exception of estates and blocks of flats, changes will "cover the whole borough, allowing collection rounds to be reorganised to make them more time and fuel efficient".
Bin collection might not be the most exciting topic but we are all for serving neighbourhoods well while making the best use of resources. Which is perhaps why the notice on Opinion8 that there will be a Big Green Saturday at Railway Fields (external link) and Bowes and Bounds Connected's highlighting of an energy-saving advice evening (external link) next week, both caught our eye."Whether you own or rent, come to find out how to make your home more energy-efficient, comfortable, and cheap to run", say the organisers of the latter.
We might not be carbon-neutral at Neighbourhoods Connect but we're certainly politically-neutral. So while we can't comment on whether electric cars are good for the environment or a 'threat' as one of Harringay Online's (external link) recent discussants' argues, wherever you're heading over the next few days make sure you watch out for them. They're alarmingly quiet!
|Back to topWhy I became a Games Maker
by Graham Day
Thursday 20 September
Having watched many past Olympic Games on TV, when it was announced the 2012 Games were going to be in London, I thought this was my once in a lifetime opportunity to get involved in some way. As I am not an athlete I wanted to take on a role as a volunteer. Having suffered a spinal cord injury in 1995 following a road accident, I drive an adapted vehicle every day of my life which provides me with so much independence. I was aware there was an opportunity to drive an adapted BMW car so I applied and was selected to be one of the 70,000 Games Makers.
During my time as a Games Maker I met lots of friendly and interesting people who had come together to make the Games the greatest show on earth. In my role as a driver I took members of the International Olympic Committee, the media and the Games workforce to venues throughout London. They were all very friendly and curious to learn about how an adapted vehicle is controlled. This generated quite a lot of interest and I featured in a number of newspapers and magazines. I even appeared on the BBC's One Show and in a McDonalds advert (external link) - I'm 12 seconds in - which was shown on TV during both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Away from the excitement of the Games, I live in Haringey and spend a lot of time volunteering with the disability community. I receive a Direct Payment to pay for my care and this allows me greater control and choice in my life. To ensure other people like myself have a voice in the community last year I helped to establish the Personal Budget Users Forum (external link). This is where anyone who receives a Direct Payment or Personal Budget can come together to discuss and share experiences and solve common problems together.
|Back to topGetting your social care online
by Dave Clements
Friday 14 September
Many of those we work with at Neighbourhoods Connect use social care or may have need of it at some point. It is now possible for you to submit a general enquiry, make an initial referral or request an initial assessment online rather than having to contact Adult Services by phone, fax, in writing or by visiting us in person or during 'office hours'.
These are the links to Accessing Adult Services online and to the General Enquiry Form. They invite you, or somebody on your behalf, to simply and quickly contact us for basic information and advice about the support you may need to stay healthy, safe and well where you live. There may then be a need to complete a Referral/Assessment Form. This asks about the sorts of problems you might be experiencing with mobility, hearing or sight etc and enables you, a family member or your carer, or somebody from the health or voluntary sector, to request an assessment of your social care and support needs.
It is hoped that this will help make it a quicker and easier process for you and help us to gather more of the information we need to be able to help you or point you in the right direction at the start of the process. However, before you fill in either of these forms you may find the advice or information you are looking for elsewhere via the Council’s Adult Social Care Home Page.
If you need help with moving around your home or keeping track of medications, details of basic aids and products and where to get them, or might need an Occupational Therapy assessment, AskSARA has ideas and tips about ways to make your life easier.
|Back to topNow the Games are nearly over What's Up?
by Dave Clements
Friday 7 September
It's hard to escape that sinking feeling now that London 2012 is nearing its reluctant end. The Olympics and the Paralympics have been a revelation for so many and it's hard to imagine what we're going to do with ourselves once it's all over. Which, I think you'll agree, is as good a segue as you're likely to get to this month's look at What's Up on the Haringey Council website.
Well if you'd like to relive the buzz of the Games there's a picture of torch-bearer running through the borough's streets on the cover of the latest edition of Haringey People. You can download the magazine from the Haringey People page. In fact, if you really want to do your bit to fill that gaping hole left by the greatest show on Earth, you can even get your own events listed.
This month not only sees the end of something very special, it also sees the beginning of the new school year for Haringey's younger residents. A very exciting, not to forget nerve-wracking, time for all involved. Indeed with this in mind parents of new starters are urged to apply online now for school places in September 2013.
If they've already left the metaphorical nest, or need a little more encouragement to take flight, there is now a free helping hand to a new career available. Haringey Adult Learning Service (HALS) are putting on courses on everything from "starting your own business" to learning "more about working in retail or with children".
If they need some advice or want to enrol on a course, visit Wood Green Library any time between now and Saturday 16 September. Actually it doesn't matter how old you are. You can access the full HALS programme of day, evening and weekend courses. We know its a cliché but you're never too old to learn a thing or two.
|Back to topGetting into the Paralympic spirit
by Dave Clements
Friday 31 August
Here at Neighbourhoods Connect we're very excited about London's Paralympic Games. Even more excited than we were about the Olympics if that's possible. Not least because one of our number (guess who!) has tickets to watch the athletics this weekend.
I'm not the only one - Southgate Rotary Club have donated twenty tickets (external link) to lucky Tottenham youths. Councillor Tahsin Ibrahim said: "These tickets are to say thank you for their hard work and for their contribution to the community in creating a better living environment after the disturbances."
Sally Bishop, founder of Action For Kids, carried the Paralympic torch (external link) on Tuesday part of the way from Stoke Mandeville (where it all began) to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. According to the Haringey Independent "Mrs Bishop started the charity in her front room 21-years-ago in Tottenham before moving to its current base in Hornsey."
Also on Tuesday a multi-use games area and the new Cruyff Court (external link) were opened. The latter is one of 162 such facilities in the world, and only the second in London, provided courtesy of the Johan Cruyff Foundation, Haringey Council and the People's Postcode Lottery. The court hosted a demonstration featuring the Dutch Paralympic seven-a-side team and football workshops with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.
It's great to know that Haringey residents are getting into the Paralympic spirit, and long may it continue.
|Back to topSing-a-long Haringey?
by Dave Clements
Friday 24 August
Have you heard that Haringey Council now plays a new jingle for callers? Not that you should expect to be kept waiting we hasten to add. This 'song for Tottenham' has entered the charts and the Council wants it ringing in everybody's ears so that they go out and buy it.
Or, I should say, download it. Sung by Gladesmore Community School Everybody Dreams is now available on iTunes. A year on from the riots the youngsters wanted to show that they're not all bad. Neighbourhoods Connect admits that it has yet to hear the song but will do so straight after writing this blog.
It's certainly got some impressive backing; from MP David Lammy, Mayor Boris Johnson and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club to Ricky Gervais, Leona Lewis and many other pop star types that we admit we've only vaguely heard of. But that's because we're getting on a bit.
Indeed when we heard about what Gladesmore were up to it put us in mind of the Young@Heart Chorus (external link). The difference being that it is made up of older folk. Well, much older folk. And its based in America. They're celebrating their 30th anniversary this year.
They continue to 'travel round the world belting out rock classics' as Time magazine put it. And long may they continue to do so. Maybe the older folk of Haringey could take up singing too? Maybe they already are? It would be great to hear about any older choirs out there.
In the meantime here's a favourite of ours (external link), Young at Heart singing with a reassuringly silver haired David Byrne formerly of Talking Heads fame. Enjoy and have a great weekend!
|Back to topAgeing Well
by Dave Clements
Thursday 16 August
Haringey Council with Age UK Haringey, and partners including Neighbourhoods Connect, recently took part in Ageing Well (external link): a programme funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and delivered by the Local Government Association (LGA).
Ageing Well is all about being "prepared for this ageing society" says the LGA webpage. "We need to provide services that make towns, cities and villages good places to grow old". This is something we're committed to at Neighbourhoods Connect.
We agreed to focus, in the first instance, on Tottenham. And then see if we could apply what we learned to other parts of the borough. So, what did we discover as a result of being involved in the programme? Well, we discovered that despite the post-riots media coverage people were generally positive about their experience of living in the area.
Still, people did sometimes feel the stigma of the N17 postcode. The older people we met tended to fall into two groups. Some felt isolated and didn't get out much while others were quite active. Some felt anxious at night or at weekends while others were involved in all sorts of classes and groups.
A few were involved in volunteering or were active in their community in other ways - something we'd like to see more of. We'd also like to help better 'join up the dots' as the LGA put it, and ensure that older people are more able to access those 'assets' that I've mentioned in recent posts.
We're planning to run some community events soon where we'll present the findings in full, and consider how we work with residents in developing a response. Watch this space.
|Back to topHAricare gets an upgrade
by Dave Clements
Friday 10 August
The second in our monthly 'What's Up' instalments takes another look at what's up on the Haringey Council website. This week - and following on from last week's blog on Tottenham and its 'assets' - we're focusing on HAricare, the directory of support and services for adults in Haringey.
It tells Haringey residents about the assets available to them - whether they're provided by the Council, other public sector bodies, the voluntary sector and community groups, or by businesses. It includes sections on Information and Advice, Money Matters, Help at Home, Learning, Working and Volunteering and much more. HAricare contains information about hundreds of community assets.
And following a recent upgrade, most of them also have a map showing the location of an activity or organisation which you can click on to view/download or to get directions to. If there is a telephone number, email address or website available, you can see all of this useful information clearly displayed too. Finally, Haringey Council's Personal Assistant Finder is now live. This is a new service available for resident's looking to employ a PA and for people interested in registering as a PA.
As the Finder explains, a "Personal Assistant is someone who is employed by a person who needs support to enable them to live their life as well and independently as possible". This includes things like providing "personal care such as help with washing, dressing and/or support the person to get out of the house, meet up with friends, go to work or generally play an active part in the life of the community."
All of which, at Neighbourhoods Connect, is right up our street!
|Back to topTurning Tottenham's Neighbourhoods into an Asset
by Dave Clements
Friday 3 August
A year on from the riots that started in Tottenham and spread to other parts of London and England, this week sees the launch of A Plan for Tottenham* (PDF, 13MB). Council Leader Claire Kober says it sets out a commitment to "making Tottenham a place everyone is proud to be a part of"
The Plan, produced in partnership with the Tottenham Taskforce and following consultation with residents and traders, is not only about economic growth, investment and regeneration. It is also about "improved neighbourhoods", "stronger communities... [and] ...a welcoming civic heart"
At Neighbourhoods Connect we share these ambitions.
The plan to "redefine Tottenham into a series of distinct, yet complementary, places that draw on their own strengths" is in keeping with our neighbourhood-level approach. The commitment by the Council and its partners to "using our own assets, buildings and powers as flexibly as possible" is something we welcome as we seek to identify and then connect people with the public, voluntary and community 'assets' available to them.
As the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, says in his foreword to the Plan "I know that the people of Tottenham are proud of their neighbourhood and I look forward to watching the area flourish". Neighbourhoods Connect will be doing its bit to stimulate and foster that flourishing.
* Please note - this is a large file that will take longer to download on slower internet connections.
Report it
Apply for it
