Health and Wellbeing Fun Day for Young People at Ark Elvin, Wembley, Thursday October 27th 12-6pm

 

Half-Term Nature Activities at Welsh Harp

Apologies I got this information too late for today's activities but here areThursday and Friday:

 

Smartphone Safari

Thursday 27th, 10.30am – 12.00pm & 1.00pm – 2.30pm

Learn how to use your smartphone camera like a pro using simple and fun methods by Jet Black Squares. Bring your smart phone and get ready to explore the Education Centre woods! Ages 8+

 

Nature Fun in the Wild

Friday 28th, 10.30am – 12.00pm & 1.00pm – 2.30pm

Join us for pond dipping and mini-beast hunting in the wilds of the pond and woods at the Education Centre! Ages 5-12.

 

Booking is essential, please contact us on:

Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre

Birchen Grove, NW9 8RY. Follow the signs towards the Garden Centre.

Phone: 07711 701 694

Email: welshharpcentre@thames21.org.uk

 

Further info:

• An adult must attend & supervise children throughout activities.
• Places are limited and booking is essential, please contact us to book and also let us know if you need to cancel your booking.
• Children and adults should wear comfortable outdoor clothing that may get dirty if you wish to come for a walk in the woods.

FURTHER UPDATE - Pressure may be low. Affinity Water update on the Mall water main burst

From Affinity Water

 

So we can get your water flowing again, we’re redirecting water across our network from other areas. This may be at a lower pressure whilst our repairs are ongoing.

What we’re doing

Our repair team are working hard to repair the burst water main on The Mall. Once we know how long this will take, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

We’re really sorry about this and thank you for your patience.

We updated this message at 15:00 and we'll update it again after 19:00

 

What we’re doing

Our repair team had to extend the excavation to continue repairs. Once we know how long this will take, we’ll let you know as soon as possible. All customers should have normal water supply. 

We’re really sorry about this and thank you for your patience.

We updated this message at 10:40 and we'll update it again after 14:40

What's happened so far

(08:25 - 26th October) Repair team are on site and are continuing to repair the burst water main.

(00:00 - 26th October) Our team have isolated the damaged section of water main, this means all customers should now have a water supply. The team will continue to repair the damaged pipe.

(22:40 - 25th October) Technician on route to investigate.

'Challenging and disruptive' 18 day works following a gas leak at Brent Cross begin tomorrow

 

Cadent Gas works on the A406 North Circular Road opposite Brent Cross Shopping Centre  are due to commence on Thursday 27^th October with works starting in the early hours. The closure involved is on the border of Brent so will affect residents.

 

Cadent recently identified a leak on one of their gas pipes on the North Circular, opposite Brent Cross Shopping Centre, just west of the Brent Cross Flyover. The leak was temporarily made safe  but there is now need to permanently repair the leaking pipe. To do this, they will need to reduce traffic to one lane in both directions. 

 

Brent councillors have been told that given the location and the significant traffic volumes, the works will be challenging and disruptive, something Cadent are fully aware of and are now actively preparing for.

 

Cadent predict the works will last approximately 18 days, and to ensure the disruption ends as swiftly as possible, their frontline teams will be working extended hours, 7 days a week.  

 

Water supply restored to HA9 and NW9

 Affinity Water was able to restore the water supply to a wide area of Kingsbury and Wembley after a burst main at The Mall.  

Use this LINK to register for updates and alerts.

This was the midnight message from Affinity:

Your water will be back on by 01:00

We’re really sorry for the problems with your water today. We’ve isolated the damaged section of water main and you’ll see your water flowing back to normal soon.

Our repair team will begin to carry out repairs overnight, however we expect no impact to customer whilst this takes place.

Appearance of your water

If your water is discoloured or cloudy, don’t worry this is normal. We know it doesn’t look nice, but it’s not harmful and you can help by running your cold tap until it’s clear. To find out more, please click here.

We added this message at 00:00 and we'll update it again after 08:00 on Wednesday 26th October 2022

Affinity working on water supply interruption in HA and NW9 postcode after burst water main in The Mall

 

Interruption to you water supply - HA0, HA1, HA2, HA3, HA7, HA8, HA9, HP3, NW9

Tuesday 25th October 2022

No water in postcode areas: HA0, HA1, HA2, HA3, HA7, HA8, HA9, HP3, NW9

We’re really sorry you haven’t got any water. We’ve been made aware of a burst water main on The Mall, Harrow which may be causing this.

What we’re doing

Our technician is on their way to your area to investigate and get your water flowing again soon.

What you can do

Until we’ve sorted this, please avoid using your:

• Washing machine
• Dishwasher
• Electrical appliances that use water

If you still have water, we recommend you put some in your kettle or fridge for drinking in case your water needs switching off for the repair.

We’re really sorry about this, we’re working to get your water back to normal as soon as possible.

We added this message at 22:40 and we'll update it again after 00:40

 

Register for text alerts/updates HERE

 

 

Schools Adjudicator finds Islamia Primary School admission criterion that favours children of alumni (parents who previously attended the school) is unlawful

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator oversees the fairness of the admissions procedures of schools. They become particularly important when schools are over-subscribed (have more applications for places than are available). For most primary schools in Brent the local authority is the admissions authority and sets the criteria. Faith schools are their own admissions authority, and this is the case for Islamia Primary School.

 

The Adjudicator in a Determination published on October 21st has considered a referral by 'A parent' claiming discrimination in criteria c and d of Islamia's criteria for admission when over-subscribed.

 

The adjudicator found that Criterion c (see below) was neither directly or indirectly race discriminatory, but that Criterion d (below) was indirectly discriminatory under Section 19 of the Equality Act 2010 and thus unlawful and will have to be removed or reviewed by the school.

 

“Over-subscription Criteria 

 

1. If Islamia Primary School receives fewer applications than the Published Admission Number, then all those applying will be offered places.

2. If Islamia Primary School receives more applications than the Published Admission Number, after children with an Education, Health Care Plan in which Islamia Primary School is named have been admitted, admissions will be dealt with by applying the following criteria in the order set out below:

a. Looked after children, previously looked after Muslim children and internationally adopted previously looked after Muslim children who meet the religious practice test.

b. Children of Muslim staff where the member of staff has been employed at Islamia Primary School (IPS) for two or more years at the time at which the application for admission to Islamia Primary School (IPS) is made or the member of staff is recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a staff shortage.

c. Muslim children of at least one parent who has reverted [converted] to Islam (not born in the Islamic faith). Up to a maximum of 25% (15 children) of the published admissions number.

d. Muslim children of parents who are former pupils of the school (alumni) since it became a Voluntary Aided school (post May 1998). Up to a maximum of 10% (6 children) of the published admissions number.

e. Muslim children who have a sibling at Islamia Primary School (IPS) or a sibling who is due to be attending this school at the proposed date of admission of the applicant.

f. Other Muslim children who meet the religious practice test who do not have a sibling at Islamia Primary School (IPS) or a sibling who is due to be attending this school at the Proposed date of admission of the applicant.

g. Any other looked after children, previously looked after children or internationally adopted previously looked after children.

h. Any other children based upon distance from the school.” 

 

It is worth reading the Determination in full for detailed discussion about what constitutes discrimination and the interplay between race and religion. LINK  Of interest is the claim that converts are a vulnerable group because of the prejudice they encounter both from non-Muslims and Muslims.  The parent ('Referrer' in legalese) argued that in listing the Criterion on converts high in the priority list it discriminated against groups where both parents were 'born' Muslim and gave Somalis as an example). 

 

The Adjudicator writes:

 

The question here is whether there is an exact correspondence between, on the one hand, the overt reason why a pupil would not fall within the criterion, namely that they do not have a Muslim convert parent, and, on the other hand, their race (taken here to be Somali). 

 

I do not consider that there is an exact correspondence of the sort required. I appreciate that the Referrer has contended that at least the great majority (if not all) of Muslim Somalis will have parents who are born Muslim, as opposed to having a parent at least one of whom is a convert. However, first, the material before me does not indicate that that is invariably the position as a matter of fact: in paragraph 13 of the original Objection, the Referrer states rather that there are “virtually” none who convert; and in paragraph 5 of the same document, it is accepted that there may be a “handful” of converts in Somalia and only “probably” none in the UK. I have not overlooked the Referrer’s contention that no Somalis in the local area will have a convert parent, but that contention needs to be seen in light of the way that the position is described elsewhere. 

 

Secondly, even on the assumption that, as a matter of fact, no Somali child who might wish to attend the school would have a convert parent, that does not mean that there is the exact correspondence required for direct discrimination to occur. It is plainly possible, however seldom it may occur, for the parent of a Somali child to be a Muslim convert. Any Somali may have a child by a person not born Muslim, which person may be a Muslim convert. The overt criterion and the claimed race-based criterion are therefore dissociable. On that basis also, there is not exact correspondence. 

 

It follows that I do not consider that criterion c is directly race discriminatory. 

 

The Adjudicator quotes the school's justification for the criteria which reveals the influence of Yusuf Islam on the voluntary-aided (receives funding from the state) school:

 

“The Yusuf Islam Foundation which is the umbrella body of Islamia Primary School was founded by Yusuf Islam formerly known as Cat Stevens who reverted to Islam at the height of his music career. Despite being a celebrated and highly respected individual he is fully aware of the vulnerability of reverts as they face hardships and challenges not just from their heritage community but also unfortunately, from the Muslim community. 

 

Many studies have been carried out which show the negative impact on reverts when they become isolated and no longer have access to a support network. 

 

Furthermore, support for reverts has always been an important aspect of the admissions process at Islamia Primary School as it was and remains an aspect that is very close to the heart of the Yusuf Islam Foundation. It is nothing new. 

 

Reverts were considered a priority group with a specific number of points awarded to the applicant in this category. It was only when the point system was extensively reviewed and eventually terminated that the revert category was ‘lost’ in the process and has now been reinstated as part of the admission policy, as opposed to a measure of practice in the supplementary information form. 

 

Just as the Admissions Code sets out to protect and positively discriminate in favour of vulnerable members of society such as for example Looked after Children, in the same vein the Admissions Authority has long been aware of the vulnerability of reverts and their children and seeks to support them. Unquestionably, the Admissions Authority aims to follow the Code to the letter but also has an obligation to the Yusuf Islam Foundation. 

The reasoning is that by attending Islamia Primary School the pupils who obtain a place through this criterion will be able, with their family to build up a strong network of friends and overall support”. 

 

 Regarding Criterion d the Adjudicator writes:

 

I sympathise with the school’s wish to engender a school community which is supportive and understanding of some of the difficulties it faces, and I am prepared to find that this aim or these aims are legitimate. However, I do not consider that they are strong enough reasons to justify the race-based disadvantage I have identified above to which Criterion d gives rise. 

 

I do not find that the children of alumni have any particular vulnerability such as that of the children of converts. If anything, the children of people settled in England for longer are more likely to have a more stable social and economic position than those of more recently settled groups. The criterion provides for a maximum of ten per cent of the PAN, six pupils, to be selected. Those 6 pupils will ‘displace’ six other pupils into a lower criterion who will tend to come from more recently settled racial groups who are more likely to be vulnerable. 

 

I find that Criterion d is indirectly discriminatory under section 19 of the EqA2010.

I note that the Referrer alleges that the school’s motivation for giving priority to the children of alumni is that such parents are more likely to make financial contributions to the school. I do not find that this is the case. I accept the school’s assurance on this point.

In light of the finding of indirect discrimination, oversubscription Criterion d is unlawful and will need to be removed or revised to become lawful. It is not necessary therefore for me to consider the other issues raised by the Referrer in relation to Criterion d. 

 

The Adjudicator discusses the relative priority of the Criteria but concludes that this is something the Admissions Authority can decide:

 

I accept that there are good reasons for giving siblings a high priority. It is difficult for parents to manage two or more primary aged children who do not go to the same school. Families move and may live further from a particular school when a sibling reaches an age to apply for a place. But that does not mean it is unlawful for the school to afford greater priority under the convert criterion than under the sibling criterion. There is no clearly “right or wrong” order in that respect. As is stated in paragraph 1.10 of the Code “It is for admission authorities to decide which criteria would be most suitable to the school according to the local circumstances”. In this case I have found that Muslim children who meet the convert condition are a vulnerable group in the school’s local area worthy of particular priority.

 

 

 

 

Friends of the Welsh Harp launch fundraiser for a bee garden and refurbished public bird hide - details

 

From Friends of the Welsh Harp 

The Welsh Harp is a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. It's a beautiful and wild blue-green gem hidden in North West London. For so many years it was largely neglected... but not any more!

 

Friends of the Welsh Harp is excited to announce our latest projects for the Welsh Harp:

 

1. BEE GARDEN

 

 

This small site is currently frequented by rats and owing to the compacted soil, can't support any plants. Our plan is to transform it into a beautiful bee garden.

 

Imagine this... 

 

A sloping bee bank, taking advantage of the site’s south facing position, that provides a habitat for wild mining bees and friendly wasps. To the left, a log pile. Dead and decaying wood provides vital habitat for a range of wildlife. To the front of the bee bank, native plants such as Knapweeds, Wild Carrot, Field Scabious, Chicory, Musk Mallow, Weld etc provide ground coverage and floral interest, whilst some Common Gorse provides native shrubbery at either end. Informative, simple signage explains these features and why they’re important. All this has transformed a dead patch of land into a thriving habitat for insects, birds, and small mammals. Plus, it's gorgeous to look at!

 

 

2. BIRD WATCHING HAVEN

 

 

The public bird hide at the Welsh Harp is subject to graffiti, littering, and loitering. The resulting space is intimidating for many. We want to provide a welcoming, exciting space for everyone to enjoy. Our solution is: huge street art 'stickers', a bin, gabion baskets at the entrance, and signage to increase footfall and awareness.

 

Imagine this...

 

A 'secret' birdwatching hide, nestled away from a busy urban environment, that looks out over a wetland which is home to many exciting birds. Sitting on the inviting bright red bench, and looking around, you can see a lot of cool street art - but with an ecological twist. Cormorants, grebes, terns and other bird of the Welsh Harp adorn the walls. There's always been graffiti here, but this new stuff is not offensive or rude, it's informative, interesting, and edgy. More and more people end up bringing their flasks of tea and coffee here, while they try out birdwatching with a pair of old binoculars. Others bring their children, hoping to stir within them a wonder of the natural world. Everyone agrees the birdwatching hide is a special place, and can't believe such a place exists in London! Outside of the hide, the street art 'stickers' are made from wildflower paper, so when it rains, it spreads seeds over time. Gabion baskets have been placed at the entrance, which adds to the invitation.

 

Thank you if you've made it to here. If you think the Welsh Harp deserves some love, please hit the 'Give Now' button. We welcome contributions of all sizes!

 

GIVE NOW