The Big Lunch!

A few weeks ago I blogged about how communication leads to community, and now on the 19 July 2009, we all have a great excuse to meet our neighbours and take part in something really fun.

The Big Lunch, is a new community initiative created by the Eden Project, and supported by individuals from the Prime Minister to Jamie Oliver.

The Big Lunch is basically a national initiative delivered at a local level.  A party in your street where everyone is invited.

Taking part in The Big Lunch is a great way to strengthen community relations, meet new people, and also combat social isolation.  After all, how many of us know our neighbours? 

“Imagine a summer’s day on which millions of us, throughout the UK, sit down to have lunch together, with our neighbours. In the middle of our streets, around our tower blocks and on every patch of common ground”

Anyone can get involved, and there  are no set rules on how a lunch should be organised – as the website says “it’s your party”.  But if you need some pointers to get going, there is a whole heap of useful advice to help you get started, from growing your own food, to decorating your street.  Take a look at the Big Lunch’s online guide of useful information.  

At present there are no Big Lunches organised in the East Finchley area

So why not get involved?  If you are feeling proactive, why not organize your own?

You can also chat about and share tips on how you are going to get involved in The Big Lunch over on the East Finchley Network

Media Box – Grants for Young People

Are you aged 13 – 19?  Do you live in England?

If so then Mediabox could offer you grants to make creative media projects for film, television, radio, online, print and multi-media platforms.

Mediabox is for young people who don’t usually get opportunities like this.

What’s on offer?

Media Box offers a variety of different grants ranging from £1,000 to £40,000 for organisations to create and distribute youth-led media projects. They also offer a smaller grant of £500 for individuals:

Mini Mediabox – open to grassroots and community youth organisations

Mid Mediabox, Big Mediabox and Mix Mediabox – open to established youth and or media focused organisations

My Mediabox – open to individual young people via competitions and partner organisations

Find out more on the Media Box website >>>

Using vacant shops in and around East Finchley

What would you do with the vacant shops in and around East Finchley High Road? 

One collaborator on the East Finchley Network has proposed these vacant shops be utilised for both practical and social uses.   East Finchley Open Member writes: 

“…[these empty shops] look sad and depressing and – eventually – they’re bound to be trashed or postered over. There’s a lot of talk around the idea of using them while they wait to be re-let

East Finchley Open (EFO)are a local group of artists that work in and with the East Finchley community. We’re interested in using these empty places as “pop-up shops” on a very short-term basis (maybe only a few weeks each), to show our work during the year. We are hoping to display our work in the windows (as promotion) and open a shop maybe once or twice a week (for sales). We are also considering offering “drop in” skills exchange – learn how to paint, make jewellery, write, or other arty stuff.

Doing that means the shop could be available for other events or activities at other times: we think there may be other community groups that could use the space part time too … maybe a drop-in surgery for financial advice, parenting, starting a business?”

This idea is a great example of how we can share skills and build community cohesion alongside injecting new life into our local area.  Indeed, The Department of Communities and Local Government recently proposed an ‘Empty Shop Revival Plan’  to revive our declining high streets.  Hazel Blears is quoted as saying

“Town centres are the heartbeat of every community and businesses are the foundation so it is vital that they remain vibrant places for people to meet and shop throughout the downturn”

 (And even the Guardian agrees this is a good thing).

So what needs to happen next?

Well, if you can help implement this plan then we want to hear from you. 

Are you a landlord or estate agent who could offer some practical advice on short-term letting issues?  Are you a local community group with a desire to have a High Road presence?  Do you have any thoughts on how this idea could progress going forward?

Then get in touch!

Have your say and join the group on the East Finchley Network

We are in The Archer

Many thanks to The Archer for printing this

 Click here to see the full article >>>

Take It Away!

Did you know, that if you are over the age of 18 and have a passion for music that you can get a loan of up to £2,000  from The Arts Council’s Take it Away Scheme for the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, and pay it back in nine monthly instalments, completely interest free.

The Take It Away Scheme is designed to help more people get involved in learning and playing music, and is primarily for those who might otherwise be unable to afford an instrument.

To find out more, visit The Arts Council>>>

Today is National Donor Day

Today is National Donor Day in the UK, and the campaign Gift of Life is encouraging people to sign up to be an organ donor on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

“On Tuesday 7th April, people all over the UK are going to be doing something big. Very big.

They’re going to take two minutes to become a hero.

Please repost this flyer wherever you can to help spread the word and encourage people to be proactive in spreading the word.

It takes two minutes to save lives. Get involved, Be a hero: Put the Kettle on!  Thank you”

Becoming an organ donor can really make a difference to someone’s life Click here to sign up! 

What do you think of East Finchley?

A few weeks ago we asked the question ‘describe your neighbourhood in 1 word’, and here’s the outcome.

Interesting eh?

 

Airspace Relief

Guest blog by David Tupman, The Archer

The threat of more aircraft in the crowded skies over East Finchley has been lifted, following the government’s recent rejection of plans to increase traffic.

Many local authorities including Barnet Council had been alarmed at draft proposals by the National Air Traffic Services (Nats) to allow more planes to fly over north London to Heathrow, with the prospect of more noise, worsening air quality and potential safety risks. Currently, seven flight paths involving airports in the south-east of England already affect those living in the N2 postcode area.

While the British Airports Authority plans for a third runway at Heathrow were approved earlier this year, Secretary of State for transport Geoff Hoon has rejected proposals which would have meant planes flying every three to four minutes.

However, if the third runway is built at Heathrow, there will be substantially more aircraft over north London, which would require a significant re-design at the airport to accommodate additional growth.

Barnet keeps quiet on Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ)

By guest blogger, Diana Cormack – The Archer

In July 2008 Barnet Council asked the residents of East Finchley to fill in a questionnaire about their Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), of which there are three in the area. Our current CPZs were, according to the council, “designed to allow local people improved parking opportunities in areas affected by various causes of high density parking”.

The questionnaire reviewed these CPZs, to discover if local people’s needs were still being met.

Nearly nine months have passed and the results of this questionnaire are, at the time of writing, still not available. Since last autumn, The Archer has been asking for an update, always to be told that they are not ready.

Some residents in the 10am-6.30pm CPZ are particularly irritated. They feel this restriction is too long and means they are forced to buy more visitor vouchers. Local businesses suffer greatly because the restrictions also operate on Saturdays. Other people believe there should be some sort of compromise, particularly in the roads immediately round the station.

These restrictions were imposed when Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute opened near East Finchley tube station in 2004. Residents recall that at the time a review was promised within 18 months, which never happened.

Read more about Controlled Parking Zones >>>

What do you think about the Controlled Parking Zone?  Have your say here >>>

Touch Base

By guest blogger: The Archer

A website has been set up to help young people find out what clubs, activities and services are available to them in Barnet.

BASE is aimed at 11 to 18-year-olds and lists more than 500 activities ranging from sport to music and volunteering to drama, as well as a whole range of holiday activities, youth clubs and other facilities open to young people.

BASE also lists organisations offering support and advice on such wide-ranging issues as drugs and alcohol, home and family life, money and benefits.

For more information go to www.barnetbase.net