Events

Past Events 2007

December 2007

Santa lands at Betty Brunker Hall - 18 December, Betty Brunker Hall
Tuesday 18 December, 130 residents from St Lukes Estate and Gambier House saw Santa land at Betty Brunker Hall. The Mayor, Murphys and HFI staff and residents welcomed Santa who distributed pressies to all.
Photo - Santa Lands

Contact: Mary Switzer, Telephone 0207 527 4342

Community safety day – Kings Square on 11 December 4pm to 8pm
St Luke’s Centre, 90 Central Street, London EC1V 8AJ
The Community safety day took place at St Luke’s Centre on 6 December.  The day included festive food, carol singers and a santa’s grotto. Following the two successful community safety days at Highbury, Spring Gardens and Boston and Nailor estates, Kings Square was another successful event.

The purpose of the day was to meet residents to promote awareness of services and community safety issues in the Kings Square area and to encourage residents to report incidents of antisocial behaviour and crime.

Contact: Stephanie Garner-Winship, MAGPI support officer 020 7527 3402

November 2007

Kids enjoy benefits of Payback through the Mayors Project
The Mayors Project celebration took place last week at Mayville Estate Playground, organized by Islington Council in conjunction with Homes for Islington and attended by Islington Mayor Barbara Smith and over fifty very excited children from nearby Newington Green school.

LBI and HFI Payback teams renovated the play equipment with paint provided by Homes for Islington. Money secured from the Premier League Creating Chances Scheme was used to replace damaged wire fencing, and Homes for Islington’s Payback team revamped the garden area with plants donated by Greenspace.

Children at the event enjoyed a range of activities including basketball coaching (courtesy of Access to Sports), recycling bag painting, creating creatures from grass seed (Groundworks) and, of course, the chance to play on the newly refurbished equipment.
Mayors Project - Image 1
Mayors Project - Image 2

October 2007

Autumn fun day for residents at Holland Walk area - 4th October
St Johns Community Centre, London N19 will be converted into a fun place to be. Local residents are invited to come along and enjoy music and food. A number of local organisations, will provide lots of information around youth provision activities and services across the area. Staff from HFI will meet residents to provide guidance and information on the services available.

Contact: Liza Durrant on liza.durrant@homesforislington.org.uk

Celebrating black history month – 6th October at Highbury Fields
LBI are organising a community event to launch celebrations for black history month. This festival aims to bring different communities together in an atmosphere of fund. Information on council services will also be provided.HFI staff will be present to meet and inform residents of HFI services.

Contact: Mary Switzer on mary.switzer@homesforislington.org.uk

Leaseholder information fair – 22nd October at The Resource Centre, 356 Holloway Road
HFI will host an information day for leaseholders, the day will run from 2pm until 8pm, and you will be able to drop in whenever it is convenient for you. It will be an opportunity for us to provide you with information about the services we provide, and also for you to provide us with feedback about the services you have received.

In addition to HFI staff, other organisations such as the framework contractors, advice agencies, solicitors and estate agents will have stalls at this event.

Invite to leaseholder Information Fair (pdf file 292Kb)

Contact: Alex Evans on alex.evans@homesforislington.org.uk

Mayor’s project –  October at play areas on Mayville Estate
The Mayor will open the new look childrens’ play area and basketball court on the Mayville Estate. Basketball coaches will be there to shoot hoops and coach young people. Islington was selected as one of only two boroughs to have a “Mayor’s project. The Mayor has agreed that during her mayoral year the theme playgrounds will be the “Mayors project”, so watch out for further improvements to playgrounds on estates.

Contact: Lee McDermott on lee.mcdermott@homesforislington.org.uk

September 2007

Community safety day – 15th September at Boston and Nailor Estate
Following a survey of residents on the estate a community safety day has been planned from 12pm to 4pm. Residents will received information to increase their knowledge of services with a community safety theme in the area. An action plan to resolve antisocial behaviour will be developed and feedback to residents through a newsletter.

Residents’ conference – 22nd September at The Resource Centre, 356 Holloway Road
Due to the success of last years residents conference, HFI have arranged to meet with you again. It is running in a similar vein to last year, getting resident input into the business plan, but also incorporates some work around residents' priorities for where HFI spend money.

Contact: Mary Switzer on mary.switzer@homesforislington.org.uk

Black History Month - Starts Friday 28th September
Programme of Events
Friday, 28 September marks the start of this year's Black History Month celebrations with an uplifting launch at Islington Town Hall from 6pm. The programme includes keynote speakers on the chosen theme of 'Freedom'.

There will also be gospel singing, a musical performance from the acclaimed St Mary’s Islington Youth Centre and tasty Caribbean refreshments. Please attend the launch and encourage your colleagues and friends to attend.

October's events includes: a fun 'Freedom' festival at Highbury Fields on 6 October; writing workshops; exhibitions; food, music and dance.

For background information to BHM please click on links below.

http://pubweb/Community/equalitydiversity/black_history_month.asp

Black History Month 2007 Programme of Events (pdf file 1.28Mb)

August 2007

HFI second annual summer fair – celebrating decent homes –
30th August, The Girdlestone Estate
Residents came in their hundreds on 30 August to the second HFI summer fair. The Girdlestone Estate was taken over by inflatable sumo wrestling, a bouncy slide, face painting, juggling, a penalty shoot out area, bingo and a cartoonist. The mayor, Barbara Smith, opened the day which was sponsored by Eugena, Mulalley, Murphy, Apollo, Kier Islington, Balfour Beatty and Mansell. All these contractors are involved in major works programmes on HFI estates. There were a range of HFI staff present to ask residents to become involved in their estates.

Dean and Phillip - Locals win Work4Islington
The second annual Apprentice of the Year for Work4Islington award was announced on 30th August 2007 at HFI's summer fair. Nominees were judged on their attendance at work and college, their manager's feedback, level of customer satisfaction, feedback from their college and self motivation, enthusiasm and teamwork.

This year's winner was Dean who has been working for Apollo, helping to renovate Islington properties as major works improving residents' homes. Commendation also went to Phillip who is doing an apprenticeship with Castlepoint Gas.

(Photos of 2007's annual summer fair)
Mayor Welcoming
Awards Ceremony - Image 1, Image 2)

(Photos of last years event at Kings Square)
Kings Square - Fun in the sun
Kings Square - Fun on the swings

Andover clean-up day
An exciting Clean-up Action Day took place recently at the Andover Estate, on a warm sunny afternoon outside the Andover Community Centre.

Groundwork, working in partnership with residents, HFI, Street Management Cleaning Squad and Islington Council organised the day, which included visits from the Police Safer Neighbourhood Team and the London Fire Brigade. The clean up was designed to raise awareness among residents of how everyone can do their bit to make their estate a better place to live in.

Residents surveyed revealed that the majority were concerned about fly tipping, littering and dog fouling. It was felt that the behaviour of a few spoilt the estate for everyone else. As one resident remarked “We have beautiful estate and it’s a pity it only takes a few people to mess it up”. A clean estate is a key factor that impacts on the lives of all who live and visit the estate.
www.groundwork-nl.org.uk

New Orleans Gardening Morning - 17th August 2007
On the 17th of August 2007 the charity Groundworks, in partnership with New Orleans TRA and Holland Walk Area Housing Office, are holding a gardening morning on the New Orleans Estate by the Beehive Nursery. Help a London Child will be filming the day!

All children aged between four and fourteen from the estate and surrounding area invited to attend. Activities will start and 10am and finish at approximately 12.

Activities will be provided entirely free of charge and will include refreshments and a hand painted pot and plant for each participating child to take home.

Following on from the success of the morning Groundworks and New Orleans TRA are hoping to establish a gardening club for children in the area.

The children will be fully supervised by adults from Groundworks, New Orleans TRA and Holland Walk Area Housing Office, but as filming is taking place parental consent will be required. Forms will be available on the day.
(Photo of New Orleans Gardening Day - Greenfingers)

July 2007

HFI Kier Islington annual fun day – 8th July at Brewery Road
The HFI Kier Islington annual fun day took place on 8 July. A steel band provided music for the mayor and others to dance to whilst bouncy castles, bucking broncos and inflatable bungee jumping kept the crowds entertained. HFI and Kier Islington were on hand to give out information about the services on offer to Islington residents. Over 3,000 residents enjoyed the free community event.

(Photos of Kier Islington fun day)
Kier Islington Fun Day - Mayor welcoming
Kier Islington Fun Day - Residents with HFI staff
Kier Islington Fun Day - Fun in the sun

Mayor proves to be a knock out at the Lyon Street fun day –
27th July
Mayor, Cllr Barbara Smith, took no time at all to don the boxing gloves with HFI’s resident board director Jessie White at the Lyon Street fun day and show the crowds what she was made of. Over 200 residents, young and old, enjoyed music and food along with activities arranged by Arsenal Positive Futures, Aquaterra, ABC Times Boxing, Sports Access For Everyone and Kier Islington. Also in attendance were a number of more local organisations, such as CCHP, Prospex, CYP and many more, who provided lots of information around youth provision and summer activities across the area. The Police Safer Neighbourhood Team, The Fire Brigade, staff from HFI and The Islington Anti Social Behaviour Team were also on hand to provide guidance and information on the services that they provide.
(Photo of Lyon Street fun day)

Fun in Central Street
The Central Street family fun day went down a storm in July with local residents enjoying face painting, Indian head massages, a bouncy castle, information stalls and a free BBQ. Homes for Islington (HFI) joined forces with Apollo, Kier, EC1 Connect, Fitness First, Islington Council and local police teams to raise awareness about the services provided in the area. Staff and residents also raised over £300 for the Mayor's charity by holding a raffle, with prizes kindly donated by local businesses.
(Photo of Central Street fun day)

Six commitments to show we care about you
In July, Homes for Islington (HFI), Islington Council and other local housing organisations signed the new government Respect Standard for Housing Management. This shows our commitment to tackling Islington’s antisocial behaviour (ASB) issues.

By signing the Respect Standard HFI promises you that it will:

• be accountable to you while showing leadership and commitment
• empower and reassure you
• identify ways to intervene early to prevent ASB
• make sure that HFI services provide support for victims
• protect you through swift action when ASB happens
• introduce support to residents to tackle the causes of ASB

At the signing Councillor Terry Stacy, who leads on housing in the borough, talked about hopes that the sign up would “make a real difference to our community”. One initiative that makes a difference is the Sports Activities for Everyone (SAFE) programme, for which HFI recently won an award. During 2006/07 over 1,000 estate-based young people took part. Over 50 young people gained a qualification as part of the programme.

Eamon McGoldrick, HFI’s Chief Executive, noted that HFI moves swiftly to take action, resulting in 36 evictions for ASB. A good example is a recent eviction in which HFI worked with Islington Council’s legal services, the local police and a former resident who gave evidence to support the eviction.
(Photo of Respect Launch)
(See also: Respect Standard for Housing Management)

June 2007

Andover community fun day – 30th June at The Andover
community centre
Following the opening of the multi-media centre in April, The Andover annual community fair took place. The rain did not spoil this great community day. Residents received information on HFI services, nominating resident of the year, and joining the resident involvement register.

April 2007

HFI board director unveils the IT and multimedia centre
at the Andover - April 2007
The club, which is run by the Andover Youth Club Trust, has received funding from HFI as part of the Positive Futures programme to improve the existing centre including the provision of new computers, media equipment, state-of-the-art education facilities and making the centre fully accessible.

The youth club will be used as the latest part of the Positive Futures programme that HFI support with Arsenal. It follows on from the refurbished football pitch opened on the Andover estate last summer and means that the Positive Futures programme can provide same educational support as the Harvist estate.

New look reception area at Upper Street Area Housing office –
19 April
Residents met with HFI staff and board directors to celebrate the official opening of the new look reception area at Northway House, 257 Upper Street Area Housing Office, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and walkabout.
(Photo of Opening Ceremony)

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Forthcoming Events 2010
Past Events 2010
Past Events 2009
Past Events 2008
(PR Events 2007)