Have your say on a new permanent Community Centre for Clementswood Ward

We are conducting a survey, and your response would be appreciated.

We are in the process of applying for Big Lottery funding to develop the Clementswood Centre into a proper, functioning and valuable centre for local people from Clementswood and Loxford.

Our aim in partnership with local Volunteers is to run a series of multi-faith, multi-cultural events from the Centre (which will be refurbished). These will bring people from the community together and build community spirit.

These events might include:
• Informal English language training to people that need it
• Inter-faith sessions
• counsellings, asylum and immigration advice
• Weekly health & sports activities – some in the building and some using local park and school
• Musical activities
• Barbecue Days/ Food Halls/ Sports Days.

We need your views on what the issues are and what needs to be done locally. These are needed for our bid to Big Lottery, although we will not pass on details of who the views are from – we will simply say that the views of the community are...
Could you please give us 10 minutes of your time by answering the following questions:

Here is a link to the survey:

(CLICK HERE)

Stop the stabbings!

Image taken from previous community centre meeting.

Clementswood and Mayfield Safer Neighbourhood Police Teams, have scheduled a public police meeting at our community Centre following an increase in local violent crime and burglary.

The Ilford Recorder has been littered with stories on violent crime in the last few months and local residents concerned about the apparent rise, have been calling for a meeting.  Incidents include:

• 4th November 2012 - Man Stabbed to death on Shell garage forecourt on Ley Street, Ilford
• 24th October 2012 - 17yr old boy stabbed on Henley Road, Ilford; survived after being in critical condition.
• 21st August 2012 - Teenager stabbed 4 times while waiting for a haircut on Connaught Mews.

Details for the meeting are as follows:

Date:                           7th February 2013

Time:                           7pm

Address:                     Clementswoood Community Centre
                                    14a Connaught Road
                                    Ilford
                                    Essex
                                    IG1 1RN

Danny O'Brien from Anti-knife UK will be joining us and will share information on how parents can pick up the tell tale signs of a youth entering into violent crime. He will also be providing advice on how to avoid becoming a victim and what to do if you have antisocial behaviour in your area.

Local Police will share statistics on all local crime and various literature on how to prevent and reduce crime.  They intend to obtain local intelligence from visitors, so please do make yourselves available. Together we can ensure our local team is equipped as best as possible,  when tackling ongoing crime issues.  Feedback obtained will assist in the planning of their regular policing priorities.

Anti-knife UK awards campaigner Wilson Chowdhry

Yellow Advertiser article (Click here)

Wilson Chowdhry Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association and East Ilford Betterment Partnership was awarded an Anti-knife UK Award for "Services to his Community" on  4th Januray 2013.

The award was presented to Wilson by Danny O'Brien the founder of the group whose sole purpose is to highlight awareness of violent crime and foster change in communities and legislation to eradicate the growing social malaise.  Despite being Redbridge based Wilson is the only local man person to receive a trophy.

Wilson was recognised for the Community cohesion and safer environment he has espoused locally in Redbridge via the BPCA and EIBP including;

• BPCA Queens Jubilee Event (15,000 attendance)
• Redbridge Carnival
• Gordon Road Queens Jubilee Street Party 
• In excess of 30 community barbecues across the Borough
• Interfaith Harmony meetings at New Clementswood Community Centre (founded by Wilson)
• Input on Clementswood and Mayfield Safer Neighbourhoods Police Panels
• Installation of Redbridge Peace Monument and London Week of Peace concerts for the last two years
• Using his business headquarters as a distribution centre for Police crime prevention devices.
• Initiating 63 new Neighbourhood Watches in his former role as Chair of Redbridge Neighbourhood Watch.
• Successful challenge to extend local "Controlled Alcohol Zone" reducing antisocial behaviour.
• Gaining funding for several gates to protect local alleyways and fencing for vulnerable allotments.
• Introducing the Operation Payback graffitti removal schemes to several wards in the Borough.

Danny O'Brien commented;

"Wilson has been an outstanding voice for the community of Redbridge and he is a recognised figure amongst local crime prevention groups, both statutory and non-statutory.  His passion and drive have seen him create innovative programs to challenge existing crime, with exceptional results."  

Wilson Chowdhry said;

"I would like to thank Anti-Knife UK for this award which I will cherish.  It is always nice to be recognised for my work especially by groups that have such a strong focus on positive change." 

Anti-knife UK is still recruiting members to its facebook profile click the link below to learn more:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/130449020307092/