Issue 2, Winter 2012 Footprints is a Fair Share Trust Brent publication. www.fairsharebrent.org.uk Opinion: Lady TT asks why young Family support: Joy Francis Young people: Interview with Recipes: Kenny Tang and his women are acting like boys and profiles the work of the Starfish footballers Rachel Yankey MBE and dad share their favourite Chinese hiding their femininity. Project. Paul Canoville. dumpling dish. 3 4 6 8 Neighbourhood legacy meeting at News in brief Girl power Unity Centre a success A new empowerment project for young women gives them the chance to talk about their role in society. Girls are Stupid! Girls are The stakeholder meeting Dumb! is run by P2P, part of Catalyst Housing explored the history of Group. Project coordinator Andreen Irving the area. said: “Teenage girls face lots of pressures Aerial photo of Church and this project provides a space for them Road in 1920 to talk to other women about their problems.“ The project has been running since November 2012 and is looking for new participants. For more information, call or text Andreen on 07525 905 128. Hi tech youth centre The Roundwood Youth Centre in Longstone stakeholder meeting held by Fair which provide an opportunity for local people Avenue has reopened after a complete re- Share Trust Brent to discuss plans for to come together and influence planning and build. Targeted at 13 to 19 year olds, the state Aa neighbourhood forum as part of its social policy in their neighbourhood. This has of the art building has a range of facilities, legacy attracted a positive response. the potential to be a powerful legacy for Fair including a café, IT suite, media and perfor- Representatives from voluntary organisa- Share Trust Brent.” mance areas, a recording studio and a sports tions, Brent Council, Catalyst Housing Group The meeting also looked at the history of hall. Young people can also use the centre and Fair Share Trust Brent’s panel discussed the area and Brent Council’s plans for Church to get advice, guidance and information. To how a neighbourhood forum in the Church End and Roundwood. Richard Lee, from Just find out more, call020 8937 6680 or email End and Roundwood area would provide lead- Space, a community planning consortium, [email protected]. ership and allow local people to have a voice recommended that the Localism Act be used in developments in the area. by local communities to influence planning Patrick Vernon, legacy consultant for Fair decisions in the neighbourhood forum area. Share Trust Brent, said “We had a good atten- A public meeting to discuss the neigh- Free ESOL classes dance for what was an exploratory meeting. bourhood boundary and seek support for the The Unity Centre is offering free ESOL We met with representatives of local organ- establishment of a neighbourhood forum for (English for Speakers of Other Languages) isations who have a professional interest in Church End and Roundwood will be held at classes every Thursday. The women’s class the area to gauge their reaction to the idea the Unity Centre on Saturday 2 February 2013. is held on Thursdays from 10am to 12 midday of having a neighbourhood forum.” To find out more about the public meet- while the men’s class runs from 1pm to 3pm. Neil Jackson, Fair Share Trust Brent’s com- ing and how you can contribute, call Neil All levels are welcome. For further details, munity development manager, said: “There Jackson on 07587 770 706 or email him at contact Tony on 07964 765 799. are changes in the law and at Brent Council [email protected]. WELCOME 60 seconds with... Ros Baptiste “Working in Church End ‘Ros Baptiste, an energy and Roundwood makes me adviser with Energy Solutions, advocates feel positive. I’m fortunate on behalf of vulnerable residnts living with fuel to work with people who poverty.’ care about the area.” With fuel prices increasing, Footprints spoke to Ros Baptiste, an energy adviser at the charity Energy Solutions, about how she makes a difference to the lives of Harlesden residents living with fuel poverty. Let’s be honest. We all like to complain once in a while, about the weather, the neighbours, the buses, cracks in the pavements, even the local wildlife. How do you help people suffering from fuel poverty? Negative views As an energy adviser I advocate with energy Living in this area you can overhear people being negative, with the companies on behalf of vulnerable residents about views of outsiders bordering on the extreme. A few years ago a local payment issues. I also visit residents at home and help paper got into the habit of linking serious crime stories to Harlesden, even them with budgeting and reducing their energy costs. if they occurred in Wembley, much to the fury of local councillors. Working in Church End and Roundwood makes me feel positive. I’m You work closely with residents in fortunate to work with and meet people who live in and care about Church End and Roundwood. the area, showing what a great spirit this neighbourhood has. I’ve always worked within the community. I used to run play groups as part of St. Raphael’s Women’s Supporting young people Workshop in an area where I’ve lived for more than 20 During the summer The People’s Project volunteers came to the Unity years. I’m currently the chair of the Friends of Brent Centre every day for four weeks to support local young people in a range River Park and I am also a Fair Share Trust Brent of activities and events which stretched their minds, bodies and spirits. panel member. Fair Share Trust Brent has been able to fund local organisations to recruit volunteers to allow them to gain vital work experience in a challenging People must really appreciate economic climate. the work that you do. In my work there are many sad stories, but we also Local stories get a lot of thank you letters from people we’ve Footprints also gives local people the opportunity to write articles or speak helped. One of my first clients gave me a plant nearly about their concerns as well as what they think makes Church End and 10 years ago and it’s still sitting in my office today. Roundwood great. So next time you find yourself complaining, count to three and say Do you have any favourite local something you like about this area. With all of us thinking positively we haunts where you go to escape? can make Church End and Roundwood an even better place to live. I enjoy going to Tokyngton Recreation Ground and the open space just before you head into Fryent Country Park. I go right up to the Neil Jackson top of the hill. It’s nice and peaceful. Community development manager www.energysolutions.org.uk Disclaimer Fair ShareTrust Brent Panel The views expressed in Footprints are those of Chair: Howard Bluston the authors, unless otherwise stated, and are not Editor: Joy Francis Vice chair: Iris Brown necessarily Fair Share Trust Brent policy. Whilst every Design: Ahsan Khan Panel members: Ros Baptiste, Liz care is taken to provide accurate information, neither Printer: Hurricane Print Hylton, Jane Lanyero, Brigid Neal, Fair Share Trust Brent, the editor, nor the contributors Address: Fair Share Trust Brent, the Unity Carol Allen, Anab Mohammed undertake any liability for any error or omission. Centre, 103 Church Road, NW10 9EG. Advisory panel members: Patrick Vernon, © Copyright 2012-2013 Fair Share Trust Brent. Tel: 020 8955 1785 Yvonne Williams All rights reserved. Email: [email protected] London Community Foundation: Victoria Warne 2 Footprints - ISSUE 2 OPINION Young women behaving badly? The fight for equality in the home and workplace has yielded Young women many positive results, are breaking free from the but there are also some stereotypical box of how they worrying consequences, should behave, particularly for young speak and dress. Picture credit: women who believe they Higher by Luisi need to act like men to be taken seriously. Lady TT mothers playing this dual role. What they It seems that within don’t see is the joy and value of being explains her concerns. vulnerable or mutually dependent. the “street” culture, It seems that these roles have It’s 3.30am outside Sound nightclub in many young girls find merged so much that the boundaries Leicester Square, London. I’m distributing and expectations of male and female flyers when I hear: “YoooBruv. WhaGwan? it acceptable to address behaviour have almost been eliminated. Its man like me’s 21st birthday.” each other as “Bruv”. Behaviour is no longer gender specific. The pitch is so high I turn in the direction Young women are breaking free from of the loud voice and am surprised to see the stereotypical box of how they it is a conversation between two girls. the way they dress, mannerisms and should behave, speak and dress. speech, to the specific roles they play But in the struggle for equality, has Street culture as mothers and fathers, husbands and this caused more women to become I work with young women, aged 14 to 25, wives, or simply just as men and women. aggressive rather than assertive? usually from an urban class background. I’m an “old school” tomboy. I’m into Over the years I have noticed a massive Changing roles sports and rarely wear dresses. When change in the way they behave, dress Men had always been seen as the I was younger I was always “one of and speak.