Campaign launched to beat loneliness in Brent

Eleven Brent charities have launched a campaign to raise awareness of loneliness and community activities across Brent. The Together in Brent campaign promotes the Jo Cox Great Get Together on June 22^nd and the following week, as a Borough-wide Open Day. It encourages residents to try out one activity and discover what’s in their local area and to volunteer to help tackle loneliness. 

There are over 1,000 social activities where you can meet people in Brent. From singing, exercise, drawing, crafts, volunteering, lunch clubs, computer classes to the more unusual such as acting or fixing electronics. 

The campaign includes a free arts exhibition exploring isolation, Peeking Through Windows. This tells stories from across the borough through original art pieces, sculpture, dance, photography and video. 

Loneliness affects people of all ages. It’s a deeply personal issue people can’t easily talk about and yet so important that the Government created a new Minister for Loneliness this year. There is a range of specialist support locally in Brent for people experiencing emotional distress, carers, older people and others. There are also projects that help build confidence and can even accompany you to an activity the first few times to help settle in, understanding that it’s not easy to go to a new place and meet new people. 

Peeking Through Windows is open to all, on Thursday 21^st June, 12-2pm at the Yellow Pavilion, Wembley[M1]  Park, HA9 0EG. To find out about activities in your area, support and volunteering phone 0741 531 5998, email togetherinbrent@cvsbrent.org.uk or join the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/togetherinbrent/ or follow on twitter @togetherinbrent  

The charities involved are: Age UK Brent, Ashford Place, Brent Carers Centre, Brent Community Transport, Brent Mencap, British Red Cross, CVS Brent through the Social Involvement in Brent Initiative (SIBI), Elders Voice, Hestia, Linking Lives, Youth With A Mission

Why vote Green in Willesden Green?

The election for the last three seats on Brent Council takes place on Thursday June 21st and the voters in Willesden Green have an opportunity to ensure that the Council's actions are subject to rigorous scrutiny.

They won't do that by electing yet more Labour councillors - there are already 57 pitched against 3 lack lustre Tories.  Immediately after the May 3rd election Muhammed Butt, leader of the Council, tightened his grip on power appointing a rubber-stamping Cabinet and extending his period of office.  Just after the election councillors gave themselves a rise and the Cabinet confirmed that that £17.8m of public money would be spent on cosmetic 'improvements' to Olympic Way.  Their actions have shown us what we face  for the next four years unless electors make a stand.

This matters because the right-wing is still firmly in control on the Council despite an increase in Momentum activists in the borough. The latter found themselves campaigning for council candidates who had little sympathy with Corbyn and unlikely to mount any significant opposition to cuts or Butt's close relationship with developers.  There are perhaps 3 or 4 of the 57 who may ask awkward questions and it would considerably strengthen their hands if Green councillors were elected on the 21st.

But Green councillors on their own would provide a new dynamic committed as they are to a range of policies far more radical than those of Brent Labour providing rigorous scrutiny of issues such as social housing, planning, clear air, the use of the community infrastructure levy, the condition of roads and pavements, protection of open spaces, upkeep of parks, provision of affordable meeting places for community groups, effective consultation rather than a tick box system and opposition to academisation.  They would challenge the current Wembleycentric bias in Brent.

Green councillors in other London borough have shown that even one Green voice can make a big difference. Willesden Green voters should seize the chance on June 21st.

Green Party Willesden Green Election Action Day Sunday June 17th

Action Day for Willesden Green by-election. Join us, take pics, help out, ask questions, grab posters & find out about @TheGreenParty! Sunday 17th June 11am-1pm Willesden Green station.

Sian Berry (Green Party Assembly Member) and Rashid Nix (Green party activist from Lambeth) will be joing us. 

Our candidates are Shaka Lish (above), William Relton and Peter Murry.

Brent receives share of migration funding

Unedited press release from Brent Council

Brent has been awarded over £440,000 of funding over three years from a £19 million government pot to help support emerging communities in Brent.


Aiming to ease pressure on local services from recent migration, the fund will help Brent Council provide services to meet the growth in new communities and put support structures in place for new residents which promote independence and help them to adapt to life in the UK.


This includes a new community outreach team as well as drop-in sessions, Eastern European and Latin American fairs and recognised courses in English Language (ESOL), which will cover CV-building, employability and citizenship skills, designed to equip residents with the tools they need to participate in daily life.


Also on offer will be conversational English workshops and cross-cultural activities to celebrate and share community culture.


Cllr Margaret McLennan, Deputy Leader of Brent Council said:

Brent is one of the most diverse boroughs in London and we want to make sure that new residents feel supported and equipped to take part in everyday life. We work hard to make Brent a great place to live and work. At a time of stretched resources for councils across the country, this funding will help meet the challenges of a growing population as we take a joined up approach to easing pressure on local services.


This funding gives us the opportunity to provide a wealth of resources for new residents which they can rely on, reducing the risk of exploitation by rogue landlords or employers who pay below the legal minimum wage.

The funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to support projects until 2020.

Lone Star reported to have received 7 first-round bids for Quintain

Property World LINK is reporting that seven investors have lodged first-round bids for Quintain, the developers of Wembley Park.

Quintain  is currently owned by US company Lone Star. Property World report that the bids include offers for the whole business, an offer to become a business partner and and an offer  to acquire the whole of the 5,000 home Wembley Park development. 

It appears that  Guy Hands' Terra Firma Capital Partners has not after all made an offer through its Annington Homes company. LINK

As reported before on Wembley Matters there is also the possibility of new owners for Wembley Stadium and the FA is said to be looking for further offers at a higher price than the initial one from Shahid Khan and is also seeking assurances that the stadium will remain the home of English football as part of the deal. It appears to be inevitable that any bid will include an increased number of events at the stadium to maximise the income of the new owner. Meanwhile Spurs will play its first home match at Wembley on August 18th before transferring to their new stadium. LINK

See the Property News 'Big Interview'  with Quintain HERE

An evening with novelist Kamila Shamsie Preston Library June 19th

Preston Community Library is delighted to be hosting an evening with British/Pakistani author Kamila Shamsie who will be reading from and talking about her prize-winning novel Home Fire. This will be one of Ms Shamsie's first public appearances since Home Fire won the Women's Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize) which is the world's most prestigious award for women's writing. The event is in Preston Library next Tuesday, 19 June, at 6.30pm.

Brent Mencap Open House Friday 22nd June

Support school music in Brent - Brent Makes Music June 27th at the Arena

At a time when high stakes testing is narrowing the curriculum and financial cuts often mean cutting the arts first it is wonderful that the Brent Music Service continues to work with so many children in Brent schools with additional classes at weekends.

An appearance at the iconic Wembley Arena (sorry SSE Arena) will be a memorable event for nearly 1,500 Brent children on June 27th and I hope that as many people as possible can come along and support them as well as reinforce BMS's claim that making music changes lives.

Tickets are available HERE

Paul Fensom, the powerhouse behind Brent Music service who has overseen its survival and transformation will be retiring this summer after 40 years promoting music in the borough and BMS is planning a big and well-deserved goodbye party:

From BMS Facebook:

FAREWELL TO MR FENSOM - Have you got your tickets yet? 7.30pm Saturday 14th July 2018. Book today as spaces are running out: https://farewell-to-mr-fensom.eventbrite.co.uk/

SHOUT-OUT TO BMS ALUMNI - Are you a past student, staff or ensemble member of Brent Music Service? Then join us for this perfect opportunity to offer Paul your best wishes for his retirement and to catch up with BMS friends and colleagues.

Such a special celebration - Paul's 40 years of dedication and commitment to bringing music into the lives of the children of London borough of Brent Council. #MakingMusicChangesLives

Please share so others don't miss this opportunity.

A buffet, music and a cash bar are all available to enjoy, so book your tickets today at: https://farewell-to-mr-fensom.eventbrite.co.uk/