Haringey's Big Lottery Fund winners

Posted on by

The Big Lottery Fund was set up to give a financial boost to projects that support communities and those in need across the country. For every £1 spent on the lottery, 28p goes to good causes, with 10 – 11p going to the  Big Lottery Fund. To date over £4 billion has been distributed by the fund.

I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all the local recipients of a Big Lottery Grant this year. Each one does fantastic work within the community, and they deserve every penny they get.

Without further ado, the recipients in my Hornsey and Wood Green constituency are:

– Family Action– To fund a continuing project that aims to reduce health inequalities in the Congolese, Somali, and Vietnamese communities.

– Ambitious About Autism – The money will help continue support for people with autism and their families in the local area, including specialist education through the Treehouse School.

– The Turkish Women’s Philanthropic Association of England – With the new funds, the Association will purchase computer equipment and provide basic ICT training for their members.

There have also been a number of grants awarded to groups in other parts of Haringey, including Nene Tereza Ltd, The Golden Jubilee Project, Jump Fitness for All, Park View School, Haringey Independent Cinema, Back to Earth Projects Ltd, Smart School Community, High Cross United Reform Church, and MyAfrik International.

Of course, there are many other community groups who haven’t received awards this year, but who may be eligible. Several programmes are currently open for awards of £300 – £500,000, and it is well worth checking to see if a group you know or work for could benefit. Details of these schemes can be found at www.awardsforall.org.uk and www.biglotteryfund.org.uk.

Once again, congratulations to all the winners, and keep up the good work!

Starting small-small

Posted on by

I am currently in Sierra Leone in my role as International Development minister. Here is a blog from the visit, which you can also read on the DFID site.

English may be the official language here in Sierra Leone, but the majority communicate every day in Krio, a mash of English, Portuguese and French with an African grammar. Because there are some English words peppered around in there, you think you can follow along (until you can’t). Today I’ve been hearing about ‘small-small’. DFID runs some big projects which impact on millions, of which I am very proud. But sometimes it is good to be reminded of the small-small.

Take Mama, who I met today in Makeni with Street Child. Supported by DFID, Street Child found 2 of Mama’s children on the street – she did not have the money to feed them. Our project has provided her with a grant of around £30 for a business, promising to match whatever she could save from the business in 10 weeks and mentoring her. Mama says her business, selling firewood, is small-small. But it means all her children eat, and go to school. The business continues without further help.

Take a small DFID pilot project in Makeni, attempting to prove that waste can promise wealth. Among the small recycling projects, I visited a group of women weaving with strands of plastic bags. A woman had been out from Ethiopia with the idea, spent a week teaching the technique and left some knitting needles behind. When I turn up, there are 6 women around the table, some disabled, who are knitting the most beautiful things. That idea, those needles, are small-small. Their impact for those women and the local environment is not.

In Sierra Leone, DFID will ensure that by 2015, 1 million more children will be protected from malaria by sleeping under nets; and we’ll help around 1.4 million people gain access to clean drinking water.

UK aid can be significant sums aimed at tackling major national and international problems. As it approaches the local level, it can be split into small-small packages. But I never cease to be proud of the impact it can have. It can be huge.

Sierra Leone: A helping hand on the road to recovery

Posted on by

I am currently in Sierra Leone in my role as International Development minister. Here is a blog, which you can also read on the DFID site.

To enter Freetown from its airport, boating across the river is your best option. The view of Freetown as the sun sets over the water is breathtaking, but one sadly seldom enjoyed by many from outside the country. Certainly from the UK, Sierra Leone is no tourist hotspot, known best for its recent civil war that ended only 12 years ago. And this is a shame, because the depth of the UK’s relationship with this place is amazing.

Its capital, Freetown, was established by British philanthropists in the 18th century as a settlement for repatriated and rescued slaves. It’s a proud part of the Commonwealth. And more recently, the UK played a pivotal role in ending the civil war.

Importantly, we didn’t then just leave. Because despite its beauty, Sierra Leone is one of the poorest places in the world, with all the problems you might expect as a result. One in 6 children will not see their fifth birthday here. Maybe one tenth of the population have consistent access to electricity.

Yet with the UK’s help, slow but steady progress is being made. Our combined military, diplomatic and development efforts have played a large part in bringing peace and stability, including 3 democratic elections. In a country of around 6 million, DFID’s investment in health and education will (between 2010-2015) put over 200,000 children through primary school, and provide life-saving care to over 800,000 under 5’s.

And Sierra Leone is beginning to find its feet. The economy is stuttering back to life as iron ore exports have come back on line for the first time in 30 years.

After the brutal civil war, there’s a long and bumpy road to recovery ahead for Sierra Leone (a bit like the track to the jetty from the airport). But with the UK’s help, it’s started strong. I hope in time more people will get the chance to see its beautiful scenery and people.

Lynne Featherstone MP hosts packed public meeting on Hornsey High Street

Posted on by

Lynne Featherstone MP addresses a packed public meeting on the Hornsey Depot DevelopmentAlmost 150 residents attended a packed public meeting on Friday to discuss the future of Hornsey High Street.

The meeting was called by Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone, after developers St James put in a planning application to build a supermarket, a car park, over 400 flats and a gym on the old Hornsey depot site.

Representatives from Sainsbury’s and the project architects attended to answer questions. Haringey Council (who will make the decision on the application) and developers St James both declined invitations to attend.

Local business owners and residents raised concerns about the effect of the development on local trade, the increase in traffic, the impact on local services such as schools and doctors, and the height of the new buildings.

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone commented:

“The large number of people in the meeting is testament to the strength of feeling about this development.

“A number of very serious concerns were raised. I asked a question about the housing. St James built the New River Village development, and worryingly, I am currently fighting for residents there who are experiencing damp and flooding in their properties.

“Based on the strength of feeling at the meeting, I think all of the concerns need to be addressed before the local community can support this development.

“The Haringey Liberal Democrats and I have asked residents for their views already, and will continue to do so. We will represent residents’ views in our response to the planning application consultation.”

Lynne Featherstone MP meets with Veolia to present rubbish survey results

Posted on by

Uncollected rubbish on Lymington Road - summer 2013Last week, Lynne Featherstone MP and Haringey Lib Dem environment spokesperson, Cllr Jim Jenks, met with the Veolia regional director for London to discuss the rubbish collection service in Hornsey and Wood Green.

Veolia are contracted by Haringey Council to manage waste in the borough.

The Liberal Democrat MP recently asked residents for their opinions on their rubbish collection service. Over 400 residents replied, and 68% of respondents were dissatisfied with their collections. Missed collections, overflowing bins and misplaced bins were the top three specific complaints.

Earlier in the year, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green criticised Haringey Council for their failure to fine Veolia for poor performance.

During the meeting, the local MP presented the results to Veolia and a Haringey Council representative, who was also present at the meeting, and asked for an explanation and action.

The Veolia operations director agreed to investigate the results of the survey.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“The results of the survey speak for themselves. In many areas of the constituency, the waste collection service is simply not up to scratch. Yet still the Labour-run Council fails to act to improve services.

“Veolia and Haringey Council can no longer blame teething problems – this regime has been in place for two years now and should be running smoothly. Yet, we still have to put up with piles of uncollected rubbish, bad smells and vermin.

“I am determined to keep pushing for a better service for local residents – and I will not rest until we get results. Residents pay one of the highest rates of Council Tax in London and we deserve better than this.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits local Cypriot Community Centre

Posted on by

Lynne Featherstone MP talking with Cypriot Community Centre users.

Lynne Featherstone MP last week visited the Cypriot Community Centre on Earlham Grove, Wood Green.

The centre provides a large space for people of all backgrounds to socialise, eat food and take part in activities. During the day, the centre is predominantly used by elderly people, with younger members of the community meeting there later in the evening.

The centre has a number of rooms to hire and holds events such as dinners and dances to help raise funds.

The Liberal Democrat MP was given a tour of the centre by the Chair, Susie Constantinides, meeting local residents and users of the Centre along the way. The Hornsey and Wood Green MP then sat with the Centre Chair, Manager, Secretary and Treasurer to discuss the issues facing the Centre.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It was great to visit this wonderful Centre, which is such an asset to the local community. Many of the users of the Centre may otherwise be at home alone – instead they are able to come and sit in the warm, socialise and eat a hot meal. The users are predominantly Cypriot, but the Centre is open to anyone – and this inclusiveness is fantastic to see.

“Susie and the team of volunteers have such a large space to manage, and they do it very well. If any local group are looking for venues for events, I would recommend getting in touch with the Centre.

“I want to wish Susie and the team all the best for the future, particularly with their aim to secure more funding, and set up a website!”

Help the Parkland Walk!

Posted on by

The Friends of the Parkland Walk (FPW) are launching the biggest ever clearance operation, and they need you!

FPW is looking for between 200-300 volunteers to help remove the rubble, waste, and litter that has accumulated in the Parkland Walk over a number of years.

Equipment will be provided and any level of help would be appreciated. I am very pleased to support FPW’s work, and I am sure that this will be a productive and enjoyable event. If you have some free time, please do go along and help tidy up this fantastic community asset.

There will be four sessions over the weekend:

Saturday 16th November 10:00 – 12:30 and 13:30 – 16:00 meeting at the meadows on Florence Road.

Sunday 17th November 10:00 – 13:30 starting at the Cranley Gardens entrance.

Sunday 13:30 – 16:00 meeting on the walk behind Milton Park.

Further information can be found at http://www.parkland-walk.org.uk/events/the-big-clean.html or by contacting FPW via email (info@parkland-walk.org.uk).

 

Exposure’s ‘Fed Up’ Film!

Posted on by

Muswell Hill’s Exposure Organisation is holding a screening of their short film ‘Fed Up’ as part of Parliament Week.

The film explores the pros and cons of the Stop and Search procedure, using humour to bring to light many of the common concerns raised by those affected.

Exposure’s film aims to bridge the gap between young people and the police by showing how both sides feel about stop and search, and by giving advice on how to avoid conflict.

The film will be shown on 21st November from 1.15pm at the West Green Learning Centre, N15. Seats are limited, so anyone interested should contact Flo Codjoe on 020 8883 0260, or flo@exposure.org.uk

If you want more info on Lib Dem policy on stop and search – just contact me.

Sainsburys & St James to attend Depot public meeting

Posted on by

Lynne Featherstone MP outside Hornsey DepotGood news – I’ve just had confirmation that both Sainsburys and St James will attend the public meeting I have called on the future of Hornsey High Street.

We will be discussing the planning application for the Hornsey Depot site on Hornsey High Street. The developers, St James, plan to demolish the existing structures to make way for a Sainsburys supermarket, a car park, over 400 flats and a gym.

The meeting will take place this Friday (the 15th)  at 6:30pm, at Greig City Academy – entrance via Hillfield Avenue – and is open to all. 

Residents will have the chance to put their questions and opinions across.

I’m glad that both the developers and Sainsburys have agreed to attend this meeting and engage further with residents – on top of the work they have already done in this regard.

I look forward to seeing local residents at the meeting.

Lynne Featherstone MP launches petition against ‘sickening’ Council bonuses

Posted on by

Lynne Featherstone MP has launched a petition calling on Haringey’s Labour-run council to ensure that money is spent on building new homes, rather than on bonuses for staff.

The petition has been launched in reaction to revelations that Homes for Haringey staff have received £3.7million in bonuses in the last two years.

The bonuses have been branded ‘sickening’ by the Liberal Democrats, who have said that the money should have been spent on building new homes, or refurbishing ones that already exist.

Residents can sign the petition here.

It has already attracted over 300 signatures.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Haringey Liberal Democrat Housing spokesperson, said:

“It is disgraceful that money has been wasted on bonuses for staff that could have been spent on repairs and improvements to people’s homes. Tenants and leaseholders pay a lot for repairs through rents and charges and they rightly expect a good service and not for their money to be wasted on bonuses.

“Our petition is calling on the council to spend public money wisely on homes not bonuses. Hundreds of residents have already signed the petition and I urge everyone to support this campaign to stop Labour wasting local residents’ cash on bonuses and start spending it on the things that matter.”

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Even at a time when individuals, families and businesses have to tighten their belts, the culture of waste at Labour-run Haringey Council continues.

“It’s frankly sickening that £3.7 million has been dished out in bonuses, at the same time as the Haringey Labour cancelled Decent Homes repair work on hundreds of local houses due to a ‘lack of money.’

“The money also could have gone towards building new homes – which are much needed seeing as Labour-run Haringey haven’t built any in 25 years.

“I hope residents will sign the petition, and join me in calling on the Council to spend money on buildings, not bonuses.”