The Brent Magazine Issue no.153 Autumn 2017 Free for people who live and work in Brent This is the large print edition of The Brent Magazine produced for people with visual impairment. If you have comments on how it could be improved, or if you would like a copy on audio tape please contact 020 8937 1062 . www.Brent.gov.uk Advertisement MCVITIE’S In this issue NEWS 6 INSIDE SOUTH KILBURN Be Part of the Biggest A round up of the STUDIOS 40 Biscuit Factory in Europe! latest news in Brent Meet the South Kilburn SPREADING THE LOVE 22 entrepreneurs Based in North West London, just around the corner from Love where you live grants GETTING YOUR HEALTH Harlesden Station, the McVitie’s factory has been here for over make a difference BACK ON TRACK 42 100 years. You may have already seen us in the BBC2 IS YOUR LANDLORD How a new scheme in programme, Inside the Factory with Greg Wallace, which was LICENSED? 24 Willesden can help shown in August! We employ around 600 people and are proud Don’t settle for poor living FIRE SAFETY MATTERS 44 to make the nation’s favourite biscuits and baked snacks – conditions Tackling safety issues together Digestives, Chocolate Digestives, Rich Tea, Chocolate Hob Nobs ATTA COMING ATCHA 26 THE FUTURE OF BRENT 49 and Mini Cheddars. We run 7 days a week, 362 days a year and Wembley poet is The borough in 20 years’ time we can make 140,000 tons of biscuits in that time. loud and proud CYCLING WITH A GROUP We are busier than ever and have exciting opportunities for A DAY IN THE LIFE OF… 31 IS FUN 53 you to join one of our manufacturing teams. We follow the Get involved with your Technical Operators Production Operators MetPatrol Plus team local club £32,903 Days £29,614 Days BOURNE IN WEMBLEY 32 LOCAL BOY WITH MS Film star Riz Ahmed WINS BIG 56 £36,194 Nights £32,575 Nights is from Brent Two medals at Para Athletics If you have 12 months experience of working in automated manufac - #BACKBRENTSBID 34 Junior Champs turing and are numerate with good communication skills and love Help Brent become ARTS AND CULTURE 59 working in a fast paced working environment, a Production Operator Borough of Culture 2020 Theatre, music, events position could be just what you are looking for. FROM WAREHOUSE TO and more You should be a team player with a can-do attitude and a real focus on FULL HOUSE 35 WHAT’S ON 66 quality. If you are also great at fixing things and have experience of One family turns their empty Classes, fitness and doing basic maintenance activity, then you could become one of our property into cash opportunities near you Technical Operators. We operate 12 hour shifts working fixed days or fixed nights so you TOP MARKS FOR STUDENTS would work only 183 days a year. In addition, we offer a great benefits IN BRENT 36 package including 23 days holiday. GCSE and A-Level results are in To apply, simply go to www.pladiscareers.co.uk and search for vacancies at our Harlesden site. We look forward to hearing from you soon. 2 3 The Brent Magazine Shaping Brent’s future Issue 153 Autumn There are two big asks this autumn, activities as our wonderfully diverse 2017 both of which will have a big borough plays host to music, dance, impact on Brent’s future. First, we food, theatre, music and sport from need residents to get involved and all corners of the globe. I hope Large print edition have their say on a new planning everyone in the borough will back document known as the Local Plan. Brent’s bid by pledging your support Published by the London Borough of Brent, Brent Civic Centre, Second, we need as much support and telling us what activities you Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ as possible for our bid to become enjoy locally. See how you can get The London Borough of Brent does not accept responsibility for any goods London Borough of Culture 2020. involved on page 34. or services offered by advertisers. Publication of an advertisement does not The Local Plan sets out how the Speaking of Brent’s Future, I was imply recommendation by the council of any goods or services advertised. borough will grow to meet future delighted – but not at all surprised – Please use your local paper bank when disposing of this and other demand. It will detail how many to hear how well so many of our newspapers and magazines. new homes we need, how students have done in their GCSEs infrastructure such as roads, schools and A-Levels. Congratulations to all and transport needs to change, and of you and best of luck for what lies what employment opportunities will ahead. best support our local communities. It’s crucial that this plan sees the right development happening in the right places at the right time and that’s where you come in. Find out more on page 49. Brent magazine contacts This month Brent is also launching our bid to become London’s Editorial : [email protected] Borough of Culture 2020. Brent is Councillor Muhammed Butt 24 hour contact number: 020 8937 1234 alive with a huge variety of cultural Leader of Brent Council Email: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] www.brent.gov.uk 4 5 News Update £10 million fire Wembley girl safety boost for writes off the Brent tower blocks competition Brent’s young Extended doctors A range of fire safety improvements, An 8 year old from Wembley has people excel hours seven days a such as sprinklers, smoke detectors been named a regional winner in and fire alarms, are set to be rolled the National Young Writers’ Award. The results are in and young people week including out in high-rise tower blocks in Jasmin Vimalathas from Roe Green in Brent have once again achieved Bank Holidays Brent after a multi-million pound Strathcona School fought off tough great success in their A Level, package was backed by councillors. competition from children all over Vocational and GCSE qualifications. Opening times for doctor’s While none of Brent Council’s 37 the region with her story, ‘The A Level results are above the appointments in Brent have been high-rise blocks are covered in Amazing Day’ . national average, students have extended to seven days a week dangerous cladding and are all fire achieved good GCSE results despite including Bank Holidays. risk compliant, the council says the Carbon copy the implementation of a new GPs can offer patients cash boost has been agreed to grading system this year and there appointments from 6pm-9pm, ensure that Brent is ‘among the very conman fined have been great reports from Monday to Friday and from 8am- best’ for fire safety in high rises. schools regarding Vocational 8pm, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Brent was one of the first councils £30,000 Qualifications successes. Holidays as well as during their in the capital to reveal plans for a Cllr Mili Patel, Cabinet Member for A conman who sold thousands of current hours. major roll-out of fire safety pounds worth of counterfeit toners, Children and Young People, said: It is hoped the additional improvements since the Grenfell “I’d like to congratulate all of our A memory cards and phone appointments will improve GP Tower tragedy. accessories online has been given a Level, Vocational and GCSE students services as well as reduce avoidable Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of who have done Brent proud with six month suspended sentence and A&E visits and unscheduled hospital Brent Council, said: ‘Grenfell ordered to complete 180 hours of these results. admissions. changed everything. When it comes “This success is a testament to the unpaid work. Dr Ethie Kong, chair of Brent CCG to fire safety, “good enough” is no Kasimali Hajiyani, 34, who used a hard work these students put in all said: “Our aim is to make GP longer good enough. year round and the tireless storage unit in Alperton was also services quicker, safer and accessible ‘Here in Brent we have 37 high rise ordered to pay costs of £12,500 and commitment from all the staff who to all – especially for parents, carers blocks and they’re all fire risk work in Brent’s many fantastic a confiscation order of £19,674 after and people with work compliant. But we also have lots of pleading guilty to the possession schools. commitments. Previously, patients people asking whether those rules “In Brent, we are committed to and sale of counterfeit items at have told us that they were and regulations are actually up to Harrow Crown Court. supporting all of our young people concerned about the lack of access standard, and who can blame them? to reach their full potential. This is Cllr Tom Miller said: “This man to GP appointments.” So we’ve found the money to go made a small fortune selling fake an exciting time for students and I above and beyond what’s required, wish them all the very best for the goods over the internet, duping to ensure that residents are safe – customers into thinking they had next steps in their lives.” and feel safe – in their homes.’ Read more on p36. bought genuine printer toners and More information is available at mobile phone accessories when they www.brent.gov.uk/firesafety had not.” 6 7 No drilling here – Tackling food Harlesden factory Cat missing for council holds firm poverty locally takes the biscuit eight months has a against fracking Staff from Wembley housing A Harlesden biscuit factory, which is purr-fect reunion association Network Homes spent a the biggest of its kind in Europe, Following a recent enquiry by day volunteering at foodbanks has featured in BBC2 documentary A cat who was missing for eight London Local Energy, Brent Council within Brent.