Thamesmead Newsletter October 2020
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T hamesmead Newsletter October 2020 S pirit of Thamesmead on show We continue to live in uncertain times It said so much about the fortitude, with the advice about how to protect enterprise and optimism that is such ourselves against Coronavirus a big part of Thamesmead’s DNA. constantly evolving. We are also continuing to assist The well-being of residents continues local entrepeneurship with the to be our highest priority but we’re Thamesmead Business Forum online also supporting local businesses and every month and the Thamesmead finding ways of safely celebrating the Sessions 2.0 series for developing best of Thamesmead. personal skills. Over the past few weeks there’s been If you need extra help during this an outdoor family street performance time, you’ll find details about the on Byron Close, as part of the support available from Peabody, Greenwich+Docklands International as well as our partners at Royal Festival, the monthly Thamesmead Borough of Greenwich and Market at Southmere Lake and The London Borough of Bexley Big Picnic in Birchmere Park. Councils, on page six. At last month’s Market it was great Stay safe and well. to meet and talk to stallholders and residents, all determined to maintain John Lewis, some sort of ordinary life in these Thamesmead Executive Director, John Lewis at Thamesmead Market most extraordinary circumstances. Peabody Growing home In July, the Making Space for Nature team sent more than 300 Summer Salad Kits to Thamesmead residents. The kit included seeds, dry compost and a ‘How to Guide’. Now the team are about to distribute hundreds of Spice and Season Boxes to help even more local people experience the joy of growing food at home. The Summer Salad Kits proved a great hit with residents like Kelly Jagger and Jamie Zubairi. Jamie Zubairi with his summer crop Kelly said: “I saw the kits advertised and wanted to try it. I Jamie added: “I think growing back and let things happen at thought, ‘Right, I’m going to grow has kept me a little bit sane during their own pace.” tomatoes’, while really thinking, lockdown, it’s been too easy to ‘These aren’t going to grow!’ get caught up in keeping up with If you want to find out about future Within three days we had sprouts what’s happening all the time. growing kits sign up to the Making and it just got bigger and bigger. So, having plants doing their slow Space For Nature newsletter via I couldn’t believe it.” thing has been a reminder to sit www.thamesmeadnow.org.uk 1 Chris enjoying another day in the office Swapping cabs for canals Chris Burns is a member of 30 years of driving a London taxi… “I love every day at work, rain or sun, Peabody’s Environmental Services yet never thought it would happen. it’s so rewarding to sit back at the team in Thamesmead, helping to end of the day feeling that we have keep the town’s waterways and “I chose to volunteer for the made a difference. green spaces in great shape for Thames 21 charity, which involved everyone to enjoy. helping clean out the canals in “We can be in the boat one day, in Thamesmead. I thoroughly waders the next, rescuing injured Here he reveals how he came enjoyed the day and intended to swans, building islands for the to work in Thamesmead, after a make volunteering for them a wildlife, and litter picking the canals diversion or two along the way: regular thing. to keep them looking their best. “My dream job was to work on a “I was very lucky…after only one “It’s nice too, when residents canal. My family transported coal day volunteering, I was told I had say thank you to us and see the by barges along Regents Canal done well, and later, that there was hard work we put in. I feel a very back in the day, and the canal and a permanent job coming up within lucky man!” barges always fascinated me. Peabody for a Canal Operative. If you’re interested in exploring job “I knew Thamesmead had canals, I went for it, and luckily got the opportunities at Peabody check and thought how I would like to do job, and have loved working here the Thamesmead Portal www. that, and changed career after over ever since. thamesmeadnow.org.uk/portal/ Young Prints charming Peabody is helping nearly world of contemporary art. All the 500 students from schools in submissions for the prize have been Thamesmead and the surrounding created, judged and curated by area to take part in a major new young people themselves. artistic project – the first Young London Print Prize. This year’s Fair has attracted a record response to the global call This exciting initiative is part of the for entries, with more than 600 fifth Woolwich Contemporary Print printmakers competing to exhibit Fair, running from November 12 to 15 from local artists to international at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich. award-winning printmakers. With funding from Peabody, the Come and see the best of their students are learning how to work and many famous artists make prints and break into the – www.woolwichprintfair.com 2 K eeping Southmere safe together the lake and it’s disappointing a small minority have chosen to try and spoil it for everyone else. “Southmere Lake is a fantastic asset for Thamesmead, and we will continue working with the local community to make sure it’s a place which everyone can enjoy.” During lockdown Peabody undertook major renovation work at the lake with an island, reed bed The local community and Peabody Following a meeting with concerned and viewing platforms being have come together at Southmere residents Peabody has brought in a installed, new seating by the Lake because of a rise in anti-social raft of new measures. These include lakeside and the introduction behaviour after major improvements increased warden patrols; improved, of a fountain. to the lake and surrounding area more durable signage and more over the summer. rubbish bins, as well as working Anyone who witnesses anti-social closely with the ‘Tidy South behaviour at the lake or has There have been increased Thamesmead’ litter-picking group. any concerns should contact incidents of vandalism, such as [email protected]. damage to safety equipment, Phil Askew, Peabody’s Director of uk. If you’re interested in getting littering and people ignoring Landscape and Placemaking, said: involved with the ‘Tidy South warning signs about swimming “We’ve spent the summer Thamesmead’ group you find image credit: Paul Elliot @respectedphotographylondon Elliot Paul credit: image in the lake. introducing these improvements to them on Facebook. R eedy great As part of Peabody’s drive to improve Thamesmead’s waterways and green spaces another reedbed has been installed to enhance the local area and encourage wildlife. The Installation at the Crossway/ Harrow Canal Junction was done in collaboration with the Thames 21 charity and London Wildlife Trust. Because of Covid it wasn’t possible to invite volunteers to participate but Peabody is planning another reedbed for February next year when it’s hoped volunteers will be involved. 3 Building for success YouthBuild, the joint initiative between Peabody and YouthBuild Ventures UK, is looking for more young people to take part in the programme which enables them to learn construction skills and develop leadership abilities. Many of the group of youngsters who did the first four-week scheme earlier this year have secured employment since graduating, despite the difficulties of doing so during the Coronavirus lockdown. A YouthBuild learner on site Among the roles that graduates have found are: labourer with construction company Mace; a warehouse operative; a construction multi-skilled operative and a site operative for a small building company, while another is pursuing a career as a bricklayer. CHOOSE A Peabody’s Economic Inclusion Manager, Christofi Christou, said: “Improving the social mobility of CAREER IN learners is a principle goal of BOOTCAMP STARTS @ SE2 CONSTRUCTION YouthBuild Ventures UK and we are th Tues 27 October 2020 pleased to see that since REGISTER NOW – Places are limited WITH AN EARNING POTENTIAL graduation so many students have OF £150 – £250 PER DAY found meaningful employment.” Anyone interested in talking part in the YouthBuild programme should contact our Socio-Economic Team at [email protected]. Are you.... uk or check the Thamesmead Portal Living within a London Borough ✓ for training opportunities www. Aged 18 – 29 years old ✓ thamesmeadnow.org.uk/portal/ Eligible to work in the UK ✓ Unemployed but looking to work ✓ The programme gives you: Multi-trade Construction Skills: Do you want some help to take this – Painting and Decorating Black History next step... – Plastering – Tiling We can offer you personalised support, Month Dry-lining Upskilling Course practical hands on training, industry certification and access into employment CSCS Card October is Black History Month or apprenticeships? Health & Safety Awareness and Peabody is working with the (Course material, protective clothing, breakfast and Work Skills community to mark this annual lunch provided) recognition of the important ALL FOR FREE One to one support and progression contribution made by people of planning Use these skills to improve a African and Caribbean descent. building in your community At Thamesmead Market on October 11, there will be screenings of films centred around or from black culture as part of a wider programme. For more details about what’s To REGISTER NOW or for further information Call: 0203 828 4749 or 07771 305 971 Email: [email protected] happening during Black History Month visit www.thamesmeadnow.