T hamesmead Newsletter August 2020 Ge tting back to “normal” signage and floor markings, so you designed with the young people can shop safely. of Woolwich Polytechnic and Hawksmoor Youth Club. Our outdoor spaces continue to be so important as somewhere people I’m also delighted to say that can exercise, relax and refresh. hundreds of you enthusiastically We’ve carried on improving these signed up for the Making Space for over recent weeks with an eye- Nature summer salad kits and are catching fountain now installed at growing your own food at home. Southmere Lake. If you think you might need some And while we’ve sadly had to extra support at this time you’ll postpone this year’s Festival there’ll find who to contact for help and still be an opportunity to celebrate advice at both Peabody, as well as We know this is still a testing the best the town has to offer our partners at Royal Borough of and trying time for everyone but with the Thamesmead Market Greenwich and London Borough thankfully some of the things we at Southmere Lake on Sunday 9 of Bexley, on page six of this took for granted before lockdown August – while respecting social newsletter. are now returning to give some distancing of course. sense of normality. Stay safe and well. Elsewhere, The Moorings underpass For instance, we’ve been working (pictured) has been completely John Lewis, with shop owners in the town centre, renovated with new lighting and Thamesmead Executive Director, putting in place measures such as an amazing colourful mural, co- Peabody

Spout and about The most eye-catching addition to the work at Southmere Lake is the creation of a new fountain. It can be set to light up in a range of colours and is being tested at the moment.

Along with the new seating, reed beds and fishing platforms we’ve recently installed, the new water feature is another way of making the lake a really pleasant place to relax.

Next to the lake, Southmere Village is continuing with internal fittings such as kitchens going in the first phase of blocks and brick exteriors nearly complete. The outside of the library is now finished, and we’re starting on the internal work. image credit: Paul Elliot @respectedphotographylondon

On Claridge Way the growing club While Crossway Park is starting Peabody Estate Services team area now has a potting shed and to reveal its blooming secret – planted earlier this year to help more garden fencing is going up. hundreds of sunflowers which the brighten up the area.

1 Archive website coming soon Peabody’s Culture team is working with local design team Dos Studio, designer Peter Chadwick and TACO to create a website for the Thamesmead Community Archive.

The Thamesmead Archive is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and has been collecting residents’ photos, maps, papers and memories since 2018.

All this fascinating material is now being turned into a website so everyone has access to it. It’s due to be launched later this summer so visit www.thamesmeadnow. Town centre open org.uk for details. for business again Peabody has been working with common areas, so please respect shop owners in the town centre to them when you’re out shopping. help them open within government guidelines after they had to shut The stores in the centre rely on their doors during lockdown. local people to stay in business so please support them and buy local. Most have now re-opened and Remember to wear a facemask to to make sure everyone stays safe help protect you and your fellow we’ve installed signs and floor shoppers. It’s being vigilant that markings in the car park and will help to keep shops open.

Thamesmead Festival to bounce back Unfortunately, because of the Coronavirus pandemic, we have had to postpone the 2020 2.0 Thamesmead Festival until 2021.

The event is produced by the Thamesmead Festival Production Group, made up of

11 dedicated residents, who work “ What I learned and benefited collaboratively with Peabody’s from the sessions is to come Interested in developing up with a vision that gets me Thamesmead cultural team as personal skills, learning about going every day” well as producers, Serious. growth sectors or achieving Enoch goals, there’s a Thamesmead Session for that Julia Hien, a resident on the Production Group said: “While it’s 11 August How to transform your business idea into reality sad the festival can no longer go 25 August Learn about Construction ahead this year it has encouraged 08 September Landscaping your future – Green Skills 22 September Digital inclusion: Skills for work and life us to continue to work hard at 06 October How to kick start your career in Gaming ensuring community spirit is very 20 October Explore the Creative Industries 03 November Understanding the Fashion Industry much alive at next year’s event, 07 November An introduction into Social media for businesses and influencers from the planning stages to the 01 December Young People Services day itself!” Sessions delivered via zoom Book your place with 11am - 12:30pm [email protected] For the latest updates on the or call 07880101223 Thamesmead Festival 2021, visit www.thamesmeadnow.org.uk and our social media outlets.

2 B ack to school Sarah finds job Thamesmead resident Sarah completing online application After completing both courses, she Blyth was finding it difficult forms, personal statements, applied for jobs in local primary to get back into job market interview preparation and schools and to her delight got a job once her two children, careers guidance, but as a Learning and Support Assistant who she’d raised as a lone Sarah still didn’t have any with her first application. parent, left school. luck getting responses. Sarah said: “Peabody was After months of Ian then told her about a new extremely supportive and even disappointment due to her lack NVQ Level 2 Teaching Assistant provided childcare for each parent. of qualifications, one of Sarah’s course, which lasted three months Once I completed the courses, neighbours suggested she try and included a two days-a-week I felt a sense of self-worth and The Link and speak to a Peabody school placement. Sarah passed extremely proud of myself and work adviser. the course and enjoyed it so much all that I’d achieved. she then signed up for a Level 3 Adviser Ian Diggens helped with Diploma in Learning and Support “Now that I am employed, I am writing a CV and cover letters, Assistant qualification. living a comfortable life with a regular income, I now no longer receive benefits so I’m not reliant on Job Seeker Allowance. I felt that I had a purpose in society again.”

If you’re interested in exploring training opportunities like Sarah contact employment.training@ peabody.org.uk Lockdown masterclass Young people in Thamesmead have been improving their skills during lockdown thanks to a series of masterclasses.

Summer salad kit success Ten local youngsters have been taking part in online Masterclass Making Space for Nature’s growing kits in the Autumn with Tuesdays via Zoom, organised by Summer Salad Kits have been herbs and seasonal vegetables Peabody’s Youth Development a great success with all 300 of on the menu. Coordinator, Nadia Kassab, after them being snapped up by local consulting with those currently residents in just a few days. To make sure you get one of the taking part in programmes. kits check www.thamesmeadnow. The programme has been so org.uk where you can also join Over seven weeks, 18 Masterclasses popular that Making Space for the Making Space for Nature have helped them to develop their Nature will be giving away more mailing list. business and negotiation skills in areas including: Tactical Empathy; Mirroring; Body Language and Bargaining.

Participant, Julia Huynh, 18, said: “In this time of uncertainty, having Masterclass Tuesdays has prompted me to follow a schedule and refine my time management and self-discipline skills.”

Masterclasses covering a variety of different areas will continue to run throughout the year. Anyone interested in taking part should contact Nadia at nadia.kassab@ peabody.org.uk

3 M aking Space for Nature S ummer Checklist!

Free things to do when exploring No Thamesmead’s parks and open equipment 25 spaces this summer holiday. needed! The Thamesmead Making Space for Nature team has come up with 25 challenges for the summer holidays. How many can you tick off? Share your progress with us using the hashtag #SummerInThamesmead

Look under sticks and logs Use sticks to make a Look up at the clouds 1near trees – count how 12 house for a woodland 21 – choose one with an many different minibeasts you find. creature – like a hedgehog, squirrel interesting shape and draw it before or fox. it disappears. Visit the heronry at 2Tump 39. There is a viewing Make a map of the Use your hands to make platform off of Templar Drive. 13 place you live – add 22 a frame. Try framing: paths, roads, plants and trees.  A scene with no people in it Prepare a picnic and take it  A scene that is full of tall trees 3to your nearest park to eat. Walk along the  A scene with some beautiful 14 Ridgeway – what can flowers growing Go on a walk and collect you spot from this raised pathway?  A scene with children playing 4three things on your way  Can you spot Southmere Lake? that will remind you of your journey.  Can you see any trees and plants Pretend you are with berries growing on them? 23 a TV presenter Find a quiet place to sit  Can you see horses in the fields? filming a wildlife documentary in 5 near some trees. Try to stay Thamesmead. Get someone to still for two minutes and count the Find a tree that needs record you sharing something number of birds that you see. 15 a hug and stretch your interesting in a park! arms around it. Visit the newly planted Visit Birchmere Park – 6 Trees in Birchmere Park Find an interesting 24 how many swans are – if it’s a hot day share some of your 16 building and sketch swimming on the lake today? water with them! the outline. Discover and explore Visit Claridge Way Go for a walk in the rain! 25 some of Thamesmead’s 7 Woodland Walk – can you 17 What’s different about hidden gems; see the brand new treehouse? your local park when there’s wet  Crossways Canal weather?  Moat Garden Visit Claridge Way 8 – can you find the new Find a place with lots of gardening club? 18 trees. Close your eyes and tell somebody what sounds Stand at the highest point you can hear. 9 of Southmere Park – count how many horses you can see. Visit the River Thames 19 Footpath and see if you Find the giant stones in can see any of Thamesmeads Seals! 10 Southmere Park. Make up a story for how they got there! Visit the Sunflower field 20 in Crossways Park. Count how many new Are the flowers still there? 11wooden platforms there Can you find one the are on Southmere Lake. same height as you?

4 E xplore Thamesmead’s green spaces Seals sometimes We are spoilt for choice with so many nature spots on spotted along our doorstep. There’s something nearby for everyone this bank to safely explore outdoors during the holidays. Send us your photos of your favourites.

Manorway Green Park RIVER THAMES Thames Thames Tump 39 footpath footpath RIVER THAMES heronry viewpoint

Tump 52 Park Former Crossness Claridge Way golf-course Nature Reserve Butts Wood Claridge Way Crossway Park Woodland Walk RIVER THAMES THAMESMEAD Crossway Gallions Reach Park Community orchard

Thames Sunflower field Southmere Lake footpath Birchmere Park

Gallions Hill Southmere Park

Birchmere Lake Starting point for the Gallions Lake Scavenger Hunt Walk Abbey Way Park

The Ridgeway Walk Portmeadow Gallions Park Walk New trees planted November 2019

Abbey Way ABBEY WOOD

PLUMSTEAD Lesnes Abbey Park and Woodland

As well as ticking off the challenges That is where you will find They’re designed to get everyone on the summer checklist, keep an details about activities like the out and about and enjoying eye on www.thamesmeadnow.org. Mini Family Ramble Challenge Thamesmead’s many green uk for the latest news and follow (see also Page 7 of this newsletter) spaces this summer. Plus there’s #SummerInThamesmead on and Thamesmead Market things you can do at home on a social media. (see Page 8). rainy day too.

5

Do you need help with any of the following? L ocal support during Coronavirus While we are constantly monitoring the situation, we are continuing to follow government guidance so have closed all community spaces, The • Link, the Information Hub and our Benefits advice office on Joyce Dawson Way, for the • Debt and money time being. Do you need help with any of the following? management If you’d like to talk to us about • Looking for a job anything or have any questions • please email us at Immi gration [email protected] • Housing issues If you have an urgent repair or • Benefits advice housing issue we are still here to • Debt and money help in any way we can. management Please call our customer service If you need support, we’re • Looking for a job centre on 0300 123 1237 if you here to help. • need this sort of support. Immigration • Housing issues Call 07815 734 080 Bexley residents: If you need support call the Bexley

Coronavirus helpline – 020 3045 5398, between 8am to 6pm. If you If you need support, we’re would like to find out how different here to help. charities and voluntary groups can

support your health and wellbeing, contact Community Connect - Call 07815 734 080 0300 302 0041 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

Greenwich residents:

If you live in Greenwich and are CO VID-19 National Testing Portal: feeling anxious or lonely due to Covid-19, Live Well Greenwich Anyone who has symptoms of You need to get the test done in the has launched Live Well Connect coronavirus (COVID-19) can get first 5 days of having symptoms. If – please call 0800 470 4831 for a a free test to check if they have you do not have symptoms, you can

listening ear and a friendly voice the virus. You can get a test for only get a test if your hospital has to talk to. yourself or for someone you live told you to. with if you/they have coronavirus Opening times: Mon-Thurs 8.30am- symptoms (a high temperature, a Apply for the test as soon as you 7.30pm, Fri 8.30am-5.30pm, Sat new, continuous cough, or a loss have symptoms. You can do it 9am-12 noon (a message can be or change to your sense of smell online. For more information go to left outside of these hours). or taste). Some people without www.nhs.uk and click on ‘Find out symptoms can have the test too. about coronavirus’.

Thamesmead residents: Multi-Sports Activities: Social media If you are a Thamesmead resident Working with partners across Royal You may have noticed that we’re there are a number of local Borough of Greenwich, Greenwich sharing more of our day-to-day services which you can access. Leisure Limited has organised news and updates on our Twitter, various fun and socialising multi- Facebook and Instagram Positive Steps Thamesmead sports activities to improve health accounts. can offer telephone advice and wellbeing throughout the and information on a range of summer holidays. If you’d like to stay up to date you issues including housing, benefits can follow us on Twitter: and immigration. If you would like to join a multi-sports @ThamesmeadLDN, on Facebook: session this summer, please go to @ThamesmeadNow and on Please call Positive Steps www.eventbrite.co.uk and search Instagram @Thamesmeadnow Thamesmead on 07815 734080. “GLL Sport”.

6 Underpass overhaul complete A new project has transformed Peabody commissioned and The Moorings underpass from funded The Granchester Pottery dark and seen as unsafe into a and Light Follows Behaviour to bright and stimulating space. produce a colourful tile mural and introduce new lighting. The mural The need to rejuvenate the was designed in collaboration underpass was identified by the with young people at Woolwich local community and Peabody Polytechnic and Hawksmoor as part of a drive to make the Youth Club. area safer and more welcoming for residents. It’s a key part of the work Peabody is doing in The Moorings, with its wardens, environmental services, regeneration and culture teams all working together to create new amenities and tackle anti-social behaviour.

Other underpasses and bridges in Thamesmead are also set for a revamp thanks to a major new street art programme, details of which will Before be announced later this year.

Volunteers needed! Hunt is on for days of fun We are looking for volunteers to assist behind the scenes on Peabody’s Take a break from lockdown To qualify for one of the activity Remote Befriending scheme. boredom this summer and try the sports packs you need to take Mini Family Ramble Challenge a funny or creative picture of The programme involves making starting from Birchmere Hub in the members in your team or follow-up calls to vulnerable and Thamesmead. family group with one of the elderly tenants to check they would hunt images in the background. like to have a Befriender and taking Exercise body and mind by Then please email it to Christine short notes during calls. completing quiz questions and Carrasco – christine.carrasco@ discover the images on the peabody.org.uk There’s no set time commitment but scavenger hunt to win one of you will be asked to make a the 20 Sports Activity packs To download the quiz questions, minimum of five calls. If you’re provided by Royal Borough of scavenger hunt photos and map interested, please email: Greenwich and Greenwich or find out more please go to [email protected] Leisure Limited. www.thamesmeadnow.org.uk.

7 Up market This year’s Festival may have been postponed but there’s still an opportunity to celebrate everything that’s great about Thamesmead.

The Thamesmead Market will take place on Sunday, 9 August from 12pm to 4pm on the north shore of Southmere Lake, next to the Lakeside Centre. It is being delivered with CC Events of Southmere Sundays fame, the Thamesmead Festival Production Group of 11 local residents and our partner, Serious.

The day will feature local food and craft traders, stalls from Bow Arts artists, so you can buy some of their work, and RTM will be broadcasting live.

To comply with strict Covid secure measures numbers will be managed, a one-way system will be in place and hand sanitisers will be available.

If government guidance changes we may be forced to cancel the event at short notice so please check www.thamesmeadnow.org. uk for the very latest information. Green light for eco youngsters Local young people have taken part in Thamesmead’s first ever Youth Eco Development Council. The ten To start the project, the group took The young people will also youngsters, aged 15-18, have been part in a Headliners UK training receive a media skills accreditation meeting on Zoom every week to plan session to develop their social media and opportunities to apply for a an environmentally aware social skills. It has also built a relationship London Wildlife Traineeship and action project with funding from with Thames21 with a view to working contribute to the London Wildlife the National Lottery Heritage Fund, together on a waterways project. Trust’s Youth Board. Anyone partnering with the London Wildlife interested in taking part in should Trust, London Youth, John Muir Trust Follow the journey on their Instagram contact Nadia at nadia.kassab@ and Headliners UK. account @y_e_d_c peabody.org.uk

Please visit thamesmeadnow.org.uk for updates

Find out what’s happening Social media across Thamesmead For the latest news and information Sign up to the Thamesmead e-newsletter. – please stay in touch by following us Email us at [email protected] adding ‘Sign me up’ in the subject line. ThamesmeadLDN ThamesmeadNow ThamesmeadLDN ThamesmeadNow

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