Brent Council is consulting on making changes in the Council Tax Support scheme. As you can see from above their drop-in sessions have attracted very few people. There is still time to take part in the consultation online that ends on December 15th 2024. Residents' Brent Council Tax bill is expected to increase by a further 5% in 2025-26.
The council is seeking savings of £2m on the scheme by revising the proportion of Council Tax paid by working families in need of support. The lowest income group would now receive a reduction of 65% rather than the 100% reduction (ie pay no Council Tax) at present:
I have embedded the full consultation document below. To take part in the consultation follow this LINK.
Marketing video for purpose built student accommodation in Wembley Park
There has recently been discussion about the amount of purpose built student accommodation in Brent, with some disquiet even in the Brent Planning Committee. (See LINK) Rather than reflecting an anti-student prejudice it is often about the loss of sites that could otherwise be used for family housing and questions about balancing local communities.
Brent planners have insisted that the need for student accommodation both in Brent and London as whole has been established and contributes to housing targets,
The London Mayor has recently published London Plans guidance for London local planning authorities which reviews some of the issues. The full document can be found HERE and key extracts follow (my highlighting):
The Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA)
London Plan Guidance (LPG) provides advice on how to apply London Plan Policy
H15 to best meet London’s needs. This guidance applies to a specialist form of
housing designed and managed for students. This typically comprises a mixture
of flats for 6-8 students with shared living spaces, and larger studio flats,
plus additional communal social spaces and other facilities.
As well as providing students with a place to live, PBSA can play an
important role in alleviating pressures on the wider private rental sector.
Indirectly its provision also helps underpin London’s higher education sector
as a global player, and the wider knowledge economy of the city.
The LPG sets
out detailed advice on siting, designing and developing such housing, including
balancing it with other housing types. It aims to ensure that these
developments are designed and managed to be of good quality, safe and inclusive
and integrated into their neighbourhood. The guidance is aimed at those
designing PBSA schemes and decision-makers assessing them as part of the
planning application process.
London’s
universities are disproportionately concentrated in a few areas,including within the CAZ (Central Activity Zone) .
PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) has clustered in similar areas,
particularly ininner
London. This has diversified the student accommodation offer from thetraditional, university-built PBSA, and private
rented homes. Several boroughswhere this
is the case have sought to limit further growth in such (purpose built)student accommodation, as well as in some cases,
HMOs Homes of Multiple Occupation). This reflects their concerns about housing
mix in their neighbourhoods and the potential ‘crowding out’ of conventional
housing, given other types of housing need amongst their population. However,
in turn, other boroughs (including within outer London, some distance from
where London’s universities are concentrated) have since seen a particularly
high influx of PBSA schemes, giving rise to similar concerns.
PBSA in
relation to neighbourhood housing mix can be considered in two ways:
• In support
of PBSA proposals that help disperse from traditional concentrations to
alternative, suitable locations – perhaps adding an element of student housing
to existing residential stock that is primarily conventional housing. This may
be particularly relevant where there is a shortage of family homes, which
students are currently occupying as HMOs or which they could be in future, in
light of PBSA shortages.
• As a more negative
consideration, where there are long-standing or more recent concentrations of
PBSA, or similar, non-self-contained accommodation, relative to conventional
housing. This may be spatial (in particular neighbourhoods) or as a proportion
of housing delivery, where PBSA may be considered to be ‘crowding out’
conventional housing schemes. Such dominance may be particularly acute under
certain market conditions; and where development sites are limited (which would
ordinarily be equally attractive for conventional residential use).
PBSA should
form part of a wider positive strategy in delivering mixed andinclusive neighbourhoods in most Local Plans. It should be acknowledged thatwhat is considered an appropriate balance of PBSA
and conventional housingwill differ
across London, and within boroughs. Local Plans should identify ifand where spatial concentration of PBSA, or
proliferation of PBSA deliverycompared to
conventional housing delivery, is impacting the ability to ensuremixed and inclusive neighbourhoods. They should
also identify more positiveopportunities
for PBSA to help contribute to local and strategic objectives.
Thiscould be used to develop spatial policies; or to
indicate the significance ofneighbourhood
or pipeline housing mix in decision-making.
My father in the first weeks of captivity, when razors were not available, and consequently (as he wrote home) 'most of the fellows here look like Biblical characters'.
Dear Editor,
An article written by me about my father G.C.G. 'Todd' Hawkins is about to appear in the November 2024 issue ofBristol Blenheimmagazine. I've taken the liberty of writing a 288-word description of the article, which is attached to this e-mail, and which might perhaps appear on the Wembley Matters blog if you thought it of sufficient interest to readers.
In the first half of last century Todd's family was well known to such Wembley personages as G. Titus Barham, the Rev. J.W.P. Silvester (who as vicar of St John's church married my parents), and his son Victor, the prominent dance-band leader. Todd's own career ended in a stroke of extraordinarily bad luck after nearly five years in captivity.
‘Todd’ Hawkins, 1911-45
An RAF airman, from a family once well known in Wembley, was shot down
over occupied France on the first day of the Battle of Britain and spent nearly
five years as a prisoner in Germany, only to be killed by ‘friendly fire’ a few
days away from liberation.
‘Todd’ (Gordon Cyril George) Hawkins flew as a navigator/bomb aimer in
Blenheim bombers. His story, illustrated by photos and his own drawings, is now
told in an article by his son Richard in the latest issue of Bristol
Blenheim, the magazine of the Blenheim Society. The article is based on
material preserved by Todd’s family, including letters he wrote home and
cartoons he drew while a prisoner, as well as wartime mentions in the Wembley
News.
Todd was born in 1911, left school at fourteen, and became a clerk in
the Workers’ Travel Association. His life before the RAF was nearly all spent
in Wembley, while its population grew from 10,000 to 100,000. His parents were
Henry Frederick Hawkins (shopkeeper, organiser of the Wembley town band, and
active in the Wembley Tradesmen’s Association and sports club) and Susannah
Jane Hawkins, eldest daughter of James Wood Blackmore, the first LMP policeman
to be stationed in Wembley.
Todd met many Canadians among his fellow prisoners, and might have
emigrated to Canada if he had survived the war. Over 200 of the cartoons he
drew as a POW did survive. It is hoped that they will have a permanent home in
the RAF Museum at Hendon.
Copies of the Nov.
2024 issue of Bristol Blenheim with the article on Todd can be obtained
from the editor, Ian Carter, through the Blenheim Society website, https://blenheimsociety.com/contact
The Newsletter gives the impression that the consultation is just about Bridge Park and Unisys but as Philip Grant says in a comment below it is about more sites that this.
The map below indicates the other sites involved in what Brent Council is calling the 'Hillside Corridor'. Residents of Roy Smith House and Bernard Shaw House should make a special effort to find out what plans are in the pipeline for their homes.
Conduit Way is not included in the map but Brent Council in the past suggested tall building there. LINK
For Stonebridge Park an additional area
adjacent to the site allocation BSSA7 Bridge Park and Unisys Building has
been identified. This incorporates the Conduit Way estate. This
extension is justified on the basis that the existing estate is of low
density, lower quality homes which has the potential to be intensified to
a higher density reflective of its higher public transport accessibility.
This is particularly so along and in the areas adjacent to the Brentfield
frontage. This will complement the taller buildings proposed on the Unisys
and Bridge Park site and reinforce the gateway role from the
North Circular of those entering the borough from further afield.
I have prompted Brent Council several times recently over the Unisys/Bridge Park development. The twin Unisys buildings have been empty for decades. In answer to a series of questions I tabled in September 2024 to Full Council LINK Brent Council said that the immediate priority was to progress scheme plans for a pre-planning resident consultation towards the end of 2024 which would include the latest on the New Bridge Park Centre and target dates for planning submission, determination and on-site delivery.
The resident consultation was launched yesterday on the Brent Council website and although the focus is on Bridge Park Centre the wider major development that includes 1,000 homes and a hotel is also important. The consultation closes on January 6th 2025.
From the Brent Council website:
Residents are invited to have
their say on the future of Bridge Park Leisure Centre as part of an
ambitious plan to invest £600 million into the Hillside Regeneration
Corridor in Stonebridge.
Brent Council is working with the owners of the Unisys buildings,
Stonebridge Real Estate Development Limited (SRED), to redevelop Bridge
Park and the neighbouring land currently occupied by the Unisys
buildings which have been derelict for more than 20 years.
The proposals include more than 1,000 high-quality homes, including
family homes and affordable options; new parks and green spaces; a new
263-room hotel, commercial and affordable workspace. The designs are
worked up to maximise the environmental benefits of the new buildings
and encourage sustainable and active travel.
The redevelopment is part of a wider plan to invest in a number of
sites, including Bridge Park, Morland Gardens, Twybridge Way, and
Bernard Shaw House, along Hillside corridor.
The existing Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre has reached the end
of its useable life. The current condition of the building demands
substantial investment to keep the site open, including major and
expensive works to the lifts and other parts of the building, which is
not affordable. The proposal is therefore for the building to close next
year with a decision expected in early 2025.
Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader
of Brent Council said:
Bridge Park has always been a symbol of
community and togetherness. So, as the building comes to the end of its
life, it’s important that we do justice to both its history but also to
what comes next. We take that responsibility very seriously.
We’ve listened to what residents have told us they want in a new,
state-of-the-art centre. Our proposals not only provide a new Bridge
Park Leisure Centre but expand and improve it for future generations.
Wider plans for investing in the site will create new opportunities for
everyone in Stonebridge, as well as desperately needed new homes.
Please take part in the consultation, we want to hear what you think
of these proposals. Together, we can make sure that Bridge Park
continues to serve and unite our community.
Mr. Mohammed Al-Miqdadi, SRED Director and Senior Director of
International Development of GMH General Mediterranean Holding S.A.,
SPF. said:
Stonebridge
Real Estate Development is excited to be working with Brent Council to
bring forward a transformative vision for Bridge Park and the Unisys
site. These plans focus on creating vibrant green spaces for everyone,
with a commitment to inclusivity, ensuring accessibility for people with
disabilities, older adults, and neurodiverse individuals. This project
underscores our dedication to sustainable, community-centred spaces that
enhance quality of life for local residents."
We’re proud to be delivering much-needed new homes, including
affordable housing options, as well as creating hundreds of job
opportunities across the hotel and leisure sectors. This major
investment into Stonebridge will enrich the area and catalyse wider
regeneration, whilst building on Bridge Park’s legacy as a place for
connection, activity, and opportunity for all.
Have
your say at two exhibitions to find out more in person at Brent Start,
Twybridge Way, London NW10 0ST on Thursday 28 November, from 3 to 7pm or
Saturday 30 November, from 10am to 2pm
There will also be an online version, which will be live from Monday 25 November on the website
The Labour Group motion to 'consider
a formal twinning agreement between Brent and the city of Nablus, which
sits under the governance of the Palestinian National Authority, and receive
a report considering the proposal at a future council meeting' was passed by a large majority at last night's meeting.
An amendment by the Conservative Group (see video) was defeated and a Liberal Democrat move to get both withdrawn, because the issue was 'divisive' failed. Legal officers ruled that both the substantive motion and the amendment were in order.
I have asked the Liberal Democrat to confirm how they voted as the Mayor does not summarise the vote and the council video does not pan across the chamber to show the voting. Cllr Neil Nerva removed himself from the council chamber before the vote was taken and returned afterwards.
A large group of Palestine supporters cheered as the motion was passed.
STOP PRESS: Brent Liberal Democrat Group confirm that they voted against both the Conservative Amendment and the Labour motion.
TfL will complete the renaming of the London Overground lines by the end of the year. LINK There have been criticisms that this will involve unnecessary expense. TfL justify the changes thus:
London Overground was created in 2007, when TfL took over a series of
under-used suburban rail lines and transformed them into a high frequency
metro-style service.
Since then, the network has expanded, improved connectivity for millions of
people and supported new jobs, homes and economic growth.
The Overground network covers 100 miles of railway, 113 stations and all 9
London zones.
Now there are more than 3 million passengers using the service each week,
connecting some of London's most historic and diverse neighbourhoods.
Giving each of the 6 London Overground routes an individual line colour lets
us improve the way our customers experience our network. It also gives them
their own name and identity.
Benefits
Specific improvements will include:
Increased usability and understanding of the
network
Greater customer confidence
Clearer wayfinding
Clearer service disruption information
It also brings a positive and unique opportunity to
engage customers and communities and showcase London's rich diversity.
Two Overground lines serve Brent and pss through Willesden Junction. TfL explain why they have chosen the names.
The
Lioness line Watford Junction to Euston
The Euston to Watford Junction line runs straight
through the heart of Wembley, where the Lionesses enjoyed their greatest
triumph when they won the UEFA Women’s EURO final in 2022. The team are
creating a lasting legacy that continues to inspire and empower the next
generation of women and girls in sport.
Following their triumph at the UEFA Women’s EURO in
2022 and their memorable run to the FIFA Women’s World Cup final a year later,
the Lionesses’ success has attracted millions of fans and had a significant
impact on the sport’s participation numbers. Following the EURO success, 2.3
million more women and girls were inspired to play the season after the
tournament. Showing the remarkable impact the squad have on the next
generation.
The Mildmay line Richmond and
Clapham Junction to Stratford (via Willesden Junction)
The name celebrates Mildmay, a small but crucial charitable NHS hospital serving
the NHS in Tower Hamlets, with a long history of helping Londoners in need.
Mildmay opened in the 1860s as an informal help centre organised by the
Reverend William Pennefather and his wife Catherine at St Jude and St Paul’s
church in Islington. William organised Mildmay Institutions to care for the
sick and Catherine trained well-educated young women – ‘deaconesses’ in
nursing. When cholera broke out in 1866, two Mildmay deaconesses volunteered to
assist in the East End’s poorest slums, an area strictly avoided by other
Londoners. In 1892, the first purpose-built Mildmay Hospital opened in
Shoreditch.
In 1982, Mildmay was closed owing to its small size and a lack of funding.
After a six-year battle, it reopened as Europe’s first hospital for people with
HIV- and AIDS-related illnesses. It was visited by Princess Diana a total of 17
times. The press coverage of some of these visits helped break the stigma at
the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The name cherishes the role of the NHS and
its smaller healthcare centres in caring for all Londoners. To this day,
Mildmay is still an internationally renowned centre for the rehabilitation of
and care for patients with complex HIV. It a valued and respected place for
London’s LGBTQ+ communities.
The Minutes of the Brent Council Meeting on September 19th have been published for approval this evening.
This is Cllr Butt's answer to my question regarding the development of the Bridge Park/Unisys site. You will note that the financial viability part of the question was not answered:
In
thanking Councillor Tatler for the written response provided, Martin Francis in asking
his supplementary question began by taking the opportunity to highlight that it
had been nearly 10 years since former Councillor Dan Filson had warned against dealing
with General Mediterranean Holdings (GMH) and 7 years since the Conditional
Land Sale Agreement relating to Bridge Park had been approved. Referring
to the latest accounts from Stonebridge Real Estate Development Ltd (Subsidiary
of GMH registered in Luxembourg) he pointed out these had shown a reduction
in valuation of the company from £36m to £29.5m.
Members were also reminded
of the aim outlined within the Council’s original decision notice relating to the
agreement back in 2013 which, he pointed out, had been for the council pursue the
option of GMH (and its subsidiary company) developing the Unisys and Bridge Park
sites for residential and commercial development to fund a new Bridge Park sports
centre with the site value of Bridge Park put at £4m and the cost of a new Sports
Centre at £9m and the difference made up from the GMH agreement and Strategic
Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL). Given the financial update provided
he therefore asked whether Bridge Park was still felt to be financially viable
and if an update was available on the timeline for completion of the financial viability
assessment of the GMH plans and when they were expected to go to planning.
In
responding on behalf of Councillor Tatler, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leaderof
the Council), thanked Martin Francis for his question and attendance at the meeting
along with the reference to former Councillor Dan Filson. In terms of the current
position, he advised that the Council were still in discussions with GMH as part
of the process in reviewing the plans for Bridge Park so could not give a precise
date, at this stage, as to when final design proposals were likely to be submitted
to planning. Confirmation was, however, provided on the Council’s intention
to undertake consultation regarding the general principles of the development
at Bridge Park in order to gauge views, with the Council remaining committed
to realising the wider opportunities and potential available through the Bridge
Park development recognising the commitment of key stakeholders in seeking
to progress the original development proposals. In terms of more detailed timescales,
the Leader advised he would be willing to provide these once they had been
finalised.
Brent has many waterways, some on open ground but others hidden underground in conduits that reveal their presence at times of flooding. Extreme weather, including heavy rainfall, has made the area more susceptible to flooding, exacerbated by an increase in the number of impermeable surfaces in developments and front and back gardens.
Brent Council is consulting on a new Local Flood Management Risk Strategy and invites contributions from local residents, community groups, organisations and businesses. The RAG rated Action Plan on the consultation website reveals the amount of work to be done with a predominance of Red ratings.
Residents, community groups, and organisations have a chance to help shape
our flood risk strategy.
Periodically we update the strategy which you have the chance to shape. It
focuses mainly on where flooding risk areas are, how we will deal with a flood,
and putting things in place to reduce the risk of flooding.
You have until31st December 2024, so
please do give your feedback and help shape your local environment.
What are we consulting on?
The Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) are consulting community stakeholders,
internal council teams and Risk Management Authorities (RMAs) and partner
organisations on our Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS). This
document explains the different sources of flooding and the actions the Council
will take to meet its strategic objectives for the management of Borough-wide
flood risk for all applicable flood sources.
Why are we consulting?
Section 9 of the Flood and Water Management Act enacted in 2010 (FWMA)
stipulates that the LLFA should develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy
for local flood risk management in its area. The FWMA also requires that the
LLFA consult RMAs that may be affected by the Strategy and the public. The LLFA
are therefore requesting feedback from community stakeholders and RMAs as well
as internally via Brent employees to take any feedback on board and make
changes to the LFRMS ahead of finalising in Spring 2025.
Cricklewood campaigners have been quick off the mark after Cricklewood Post Office was included in the list of potential closures. Kilburn, Harlesden and Kingsbury Post Offices are also on the list. Please let Wembley Matters know of any campaigns for these and I will publicise.
Save Cricklewood Post Office have launched a petition and are asking residents to sign. SIGN HEREor use QR Code below to go straight to the petition.
We, the undersigned, demand that the Post Office keep our local Cricklewood
Office open.
This post office is at the heart of our community, providing essential
services that so many of us rely on. Losing it would hurt not just our local
economy but also the spirit of Cricklewood.
Please join us in supporting the Cricklewood
Post Office and helping to preserve our beloved community hub.
Guest post by Anthony Fulton Willesden & Brent
Chess Club General Secretary and Junior Coordinator
In March 2020 life in the UK experienced
a situation it hadn’t done so for generations. COVID-19 hit UK shores in
February and by March the UK went into the first of many lockdowns. Over the
next two years, life changed as lockdown meant that the many social
activities individuals would partake of ceased as family, friends and even
strangers were unable to interact. However, due to Skype, Teams, Zoom, and
other such platforms, many of these activities were able to proceed
virtually. A foreseen consequence was the impact lockdown would have when
these activities moved from the physical sphere to the virtual (bricks vs.
clicks). Many organisations, i.e., businesses, sports clubs, etc. faced
challenges as if they were unable to migrate to the virtual, since the period
of lockdown would be unknown there could be no guarantee that when life
returned to ‘normal’ that they would continue to exist. These were the
circumstances in which the UK lived including Willesden & Brent Chess
Club (WBCC).
When the pandemic ended and life began to
return to normal WBCC recognised they were a club in crisis. In fact they
were a club in crisis prior to the pandemic. Ironically, lockdown was ideal
for the club as the period was used to review how they operated and if they
were to return they had to ‘build back better’. The club resumed its services
at Cricklewood Community Library on 10th January 2022 and took what at the
time was the risky decision to set up a second night, based at Chalkhill
Community Centre, Wembley from May 2022. It was a risk as throughout the
club’s history (1946 to date) they had traditionally operated one night a
week from their historic base Willesden Municipal District, including after
1965 when London Borough of Brent formed with the merging of Willesden and
Wembley Urban District. For a small not-profit-organisation this placed a
huge demand on resources, both financially and in terms of personnel. It was
accepted that the venture of two nights a week should be tried as at the time
they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Should it prove unsuccessful
the club could retrench by returning to its spiritual home and accept it
could no longer be a competitive club, just be a social one providing
opportunity for like-minded people to meet.
It must be noted that one reason WBCC
chose to set up at Chalkhill is because they sought to expand their chess
presence in the borough and to ensure that both North and South Brent were
properly serviced. By establishing a base in Wembley, it meant that this part
of Brent had a formal chess presence for the first time since 1956 after the
demise of Wembley Chess Club - for further details see A History of Chess in Brent at either Brent Archives (Willesden
Green Library) or on www.willesdenchess.wordpress.com Therefore if the club was to be successful they had
to focus on building capacity from a low base in the area.
The three years at Chalkhill have been
somewhat parlous with September 2022 to December 2023 being a critical period
as it seemed as though the project was doomed to failure, Attendance was low,
at times the number of tables outnumbered the adults who were present after
the junior session! This though appeared to be the nadir as January 2024
began to see a turnaround which has carried through into the current season
(2024-25).
The junior sessions are at full capacity
and for the first time ever there is now a waiting list!The number and strength of attending juniors
has influenced the club to enter junior specific teams into competition. The
number of attending adults has increased to the point where we now have teams
participating in the Middlesex League and Hillingdon League.
The decision therefore has proven to be
a masterstroke! As with any new venture, the first few years are indeed a
struggle but to be fair to the club, as stated, chess had not really been a
force in the Wembley area after 1956ca with the demise of Wembley Chess Club
and the reluctance of the old Willesden Chess Club to focus on in its
historical base, despite assuming the name ‘Brent’ in its title! By
persevering and showing resilience, the club has begun to grow from strength
to strength. The club has ambitions to continue growing in this vein, it may
prove challenging to accommodate all the juniors wishing to attend and
possibly adults if there numbers continue to grow but the beauty of being at
Chalkhill Community Centre is that there is plenty of space within which the
club could expand into subject to the other activities that take place. We
certainly look forward to continuing welcoming new, existing and even former
members.
The club has had its struggles during its history,
none more so than the past decade where they have had to relocate twice after
their long-time base, Scout House, was sold and their replacement, Willesden
Working Mens Club, decided to convert its upper floors to flats. We are
therefore grateful to both Cricklewood Community Library and Chalkhill
Community Centre for allowing us to re-establish firm roots. We must also be
thankful in receiving the Love Where You Live Grant (June 2022) which allowed
us to help build our capacity, we can safely say that the funds received
helped tide us over the tricky period so gave us time to bed down.
Chess in Wembley, and Brent specifically, appears to
have a future as apart from our weekly sessions we:
1.Main session in Allen Suite
a) Have held two of our Brent Junior Congresses
(BJCC) at Chalkhill Community Centre (BJCC23 & BJCC24). [Note our first
post pandemic was BJCC22 at Stonebridge Hub.]
2.BJCC24 participants
b) Use Chalkhill Community Centre to host its home
league matches, we now compete in three senior leagues (Middlesex League D2;
Middlesex League F4, and Hillingdon League D3) and run three junior specific
teams (Wembley Juniors, Willesden Juniors and a combined Willesden &
Brent Junior team). The institution of junior teams has been a long held
ambition but there were never sufficient numbers; it is good to see this
ambition eventually come to fruition. [Note we are always looking for players
to join our teams so if you’re looking to play more competitively do consider
joining!]
3.Hillingdon League Junior match - W&B Juniors
(facing) vs.Harrow Juniors (30/10/2024)
4.Middlesex League D2 match - WBCC (facing team) vs
Hammersmith 2 boards 1-4 (30/10/24)
c) See that our junior session at Chalkhill is now
at full capacity and we are now having to ask parents to go onto the waiting
list.
[Note there is still scope to attend the junior
session on Monday at Cricklewood Community Library]
Finally, special mention must be made of an extra
event the club will be holding this year at Chalkhill Community Centre, Brent
One-day Secondary School Rapidplay Chess Tournament on 28th November 2024.
For several years the club has been investigating the gap at chess at
secondary level. Students who have a genuine interest are unable to develop
or consolidate this interest as chess clubs either do not run or do not
provide the level of challenge they seek. Quite often schools are even unable
to allow students to learn chess as a skill under the Duke of Edinburgh
programme as there is no-one with requisite skills to be a DofE Chess
Assessor so another skill is learnt instead! Unfortunately, these students do
not always then explore other options such as attending a local chess club so
are lost to chess, they may return to chess as adults in their own right or
when they have their own children but this tends not to be the case, so
opportunity for these individuals to develop a lifelong love of the game is
impacted at a critical phase of their life. As the pandemic showed, apart
from people taking up chess for the first time online, many were returners to
chess. This is not unique to Brent but chess in general as due to the demands
and agenda of secondary schools leadership teams, chess tends not be
considered anything other than a social activity, thus there is a lack of
parity for chess as compared to other competitive activities such as
traditional sports (athletics, basketball, cricket, football, netball, etc.),
STEM clubs, Debating Clubs, Jack Petchey and a raft of other extracurricular
activities that allow the young person to challenge themselves against their
peers in other schools, locally and nationally. Many overlook the fact that
chess likewise has its competitive element and in fact is academically
beneficial. Who would not want students who as a matter of fact are able to
think logically? Take ownership of their actions? Contemplate the
consequences of their actions before they act? Etc. For readers of a certain
age, it will be remembered in 1972 Grandmaster Robert ‘Bobby’ Fischer broke
the Russian stranglehold on the World Chess Championship and opened the path
to the current non-Russsian dominance through the likes of Vishy Anand and
Magnus Carlsen to name but two!
As stated the club knew there was a gap but was
never really in a position to tackle as apart from trying to discern which
schools have chess as an extracurricular activity and how to form a working
partnership, funding is an issue. Thanks to the ECF Grassroots Initiative, a
scheme devised by the English Chess Federation on the back of the government
investment in chess in August 2023, the club is now in a position to address
this gap. Although chess is still not considered a sport in the UK unlike
many other countries, with the government being prepared to invest in chess,
especially trying to develop in deprived areas such as Brent, the club has
jumped at the chance to try and raise chess profile in the borough further by
hosting what is hoped to be the first of many secondary-specific events.
Ostensibly it will provide competition for secondary aged students and to
explore the possibility of instituting a formal competition amongst Brent
Secondary Schools. If the latter comes to pass it means the club would have
successfully revived the Willesden Chess League played by Brent Schools in
the 1960s and 1970s. At present Wembley specific schools that are
participating are: Ark Wembley, Lycee International, Preston Manor and
Wembley High Technical College. At time of writing, it is thought that Ark
Elvin will also be participating.
Onwards and upwards for Willesden & Brent Chess
Club but more specifically for Chess in Brent!
Willesden & Brent Chess Club always
welcomes new attendees no matter your playing strength, so if you do play
chess or would like to learn do consider signing up! We also appreciate any
volunteers to help with service delivery, so you can still be involved even
if not a chess player!
