Painting peace in Redbridge

The East Ilford Betterment Partnership is offering young people aged between 11 - 17 the opportunity to learn skills associated with Spray art, in a series of free art workshops over the half term holidays.  The end of the project will see the introduction of the Borough's first ever external permanent spray art mural on the walls of Clementswood Community Centre.  Further details of the event are as follows:

Event: Spray Art Workshops
Date:  Monday 27th May - 31st May 2013
Time:  09:00 - 13:00 and 13:30 - 17:30
Venue:  Clementswood Community Centre, 14 Connaught Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1XG
Ages:  7- 11 year old in morning session.  12- 17 year olds Afternoon Sessions.
Cost:  Free to all participants.

If you would like to participate please call 020 8514 0861 or email eibp@hotmail.co.uk

All participants will attain an attendance certificate endorsed by Redbridge Youth Services,, Redridbridge Youth Offender Team, EIBP and Myco.

A number of canvasses will be produced and placed in local council buildings, along railings of local parks and displayed within short term Redbridge Central Library.

Biography for Matt Ryan:

Matt Ryan aka: "MYCO" is a London born artist and spray paint tutor since 2004 with a huge portfolio of public and private commissions including; brand material for companies such as SKY1, MTV, NHS, Titan Sounds records ad Big Dada records.

Matt has Developed and Delivered OCN accredited courses in spray art for local councils and other organisations across London and the UK including; Connexions, NHS, Home Office, Disability charities and many other organisations     

Mr Ryan's work has been displayed (for purchase) as part of gallery exhibitions at London Hip Hop festival, Brighton Hip-Hop festival, "Cans" festival,  Stolenspace Gallery; London,  One Deco; London,  "Upmarket" London.

The workshops will be directed towards young people from the ages 13+ and will be a great opportunity for first time spray art enthusiasts or more accomplished artists seeking experience and additional skills

View Matt's Teaching promo here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1uhi1txZxlhZjZPMG1iR21aOG8/edi

Redbridge Easter Parade and Festival

(Click image to enlarge flyer)

Redbridge is to hold its first ever Easter Parade and Festival organised by the British Pakistani Christian Association and of a number of local town centre churches.  The event details are as follows:


Date:               31st March 2013 (Easter Day)
Time:              14:00 procession starts at Cranbrook Baptist Church
Time:              15:00 Easter Festival and Concert
Venue:            Ilford Town Centre (Town Hall steps for Concert)
Activities:       Facepainting, Music, Food stalls, Henna, Children's Art workshop,  Bouncy Castle and much more. 

Main Performer

Ooberfuse:

Ooberfuse brings together the very best of Western and Eastern musical traditions.  Ooberfuse is a London based electro pop band composed of Hal, Cherrie and Nico.  It's all about fusing bold melodies with cool harmonies!

Learn more here:

http://www.ooberfuse.com/home.cfm

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/

Police gearing up to stamp out crime!

Local Police ramped up the drive to eradicate violent crime, especially crimes involving guns and knives.

Today at Ilford Station a knife arch was strategically located by the main entrance of the station.  The arch was there to deter the carrying of offensive weapons, after a spate of four stabbings in the local area.

Police held an information stall in Ilford town centre yesterday, from 12:00 - 17:00, at which they distributed  panic alarms, burglar alarms and window motion sensors to tackle a recent surge in violent crime, burglary and theft; whilst also providing information on how to keep you home and person safe.

Visible police patrols have increased and Sergeant Sutton of Clementswood Police has also agreed to hold a crime meeting at Clementswood and Mayfield Community Centre in the new year.    We will inform you of dates once they have been confirmed.

Hate crime has increased in our wards and we will be inviting faith groups to join us at the meeting, so that in solidarity as a community, we can provide necessary assistance and intelligence to local police, enabling them to set more appropriate local policing priorities.

Yet another stabbing in our local area - residents demand meeting with Police

The EIBP has received several further requests for a knife crime meeting after a fourth stabbing occurred in our area within 3 months.  This time the incident which occurred on Tuesday around 6pm took place on Philpott Path the off road pavement area behind Winston Way Primary School.  The incident was not a fatal attack.

Local residents at our previous meeting requested Panic alarms and I have spoken to Mayfield SNT who have said they will look into holding a joint Clementswood/Mayfield SNT public reassurance meeting at our community centre.  They will be bringing some free crime prevention paraphernalia including panic alarms.

Mayfield SNT and Clementswood SNT have increased local patrols to ensure residents see a visible display of policing and hope this will deter local crime.  Gang culture in our local area is increasing and we call on parents to be more vigilant in preventing their young ones being drawn into this pervading social malaise.

We will publish details of a date as soon as we are informed and will letter drop the area.

Free crime prevention devices including panic alarms will be distributed in Ilford Town Centre tomorrow.  Police will be setting up their stall form 12pm.