Download IslingtonLife - Summer 2012 - Islington Council

Your local magazine from Islington Council
IslingtonLife
Issue 47, Summer 2012
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The Olympic Torch is on
its way to Islington p.16
Crackdown on
loan sharks p.4
Free swimming for the
kids this summer p.5
Your guide to
what’s on p.30

Contents
Cover: Children at St Luke’s Primary School make their torches in
preparation for Schools’ Torch Relay Day, 19 July.
See page 17 for more.
Inside
this issue
3 Welcome
4-5 News
Loan sharks beware
Choosing a secondary school
The next
edition of
IslingtonLife
will be out in
October 2012.
17
4
6-9 Safer Islington
Park gets makeover
Clean-up at Finsbury Square
10-11 Your home
Could you be a resident champion?
Housing scheme wins award
12-13 Young Islington
Update from the Youth Council
New youth hub, Lift, opens
14-15 Summer fun
The Heatwave 2012 programme is here!
16-19 Celebrate the Games
The Olympic Torch comes to Islington
Your Community Heroes announced
13
7
20-21 Local life
Help for Islington’s carers
Benefits changes - know your rights
FEATURE
22-23 Healthy living
Let’s get physical
Be clear on lung cancer
24-25 People and places
People’s Plaques - the votes are in!
A quick guide to Holloway
26-27 Noticeboard
New library opening hours
Register for free school meals
28-29 Arsenal in the community
16
30-31 What’s on
Win tickets to see Rock of Ages
Events for the whole family this summer
2

Welcome
www.islington.gov.uk
Cllr Catherine West,
Leader of the Council
Top right
Cllr Catherine West with the loan shark.
Bottom right
Free swimming for kids this summer!
Turn to page 5 for more information.
The countdown is almost over and in a
few short weeks the Olympics come to
town. I’m delighted Islington will be right
at the heart of the action on 26 July
when the Olympic flame passes through
our borough on the final stage of its
70-day journey across the country.
We’ve got a packed programme of
events to celebrate the occasion
including a fantastic sporting celebration
for young people on Highbury Fields
(see page 16 for more details), special
performances at the Town Hall and our
own local Islington Schools’ torch relay.
London won the bid on the back of
our young people and a promise to use
it as a source of hope and inspiration
for the young, so we’re helping make
it even easier to get active by offering
free swimming all summer for anyone
aged 16 or under in Islington. That’s in
addition to an exciting programme of
free Heatwave events.
We’re on the side of our residents in
these tough times and know that many
families are struggling as a result of
government cuts, welfare and housing
benefit changes. Page 20 sets out
how the changes might affect you
and where you can get help. We
brought a Citizens Advice Bureau back
to the borough so everyone can access
free face to face advice and support
when they need it most.
We’re also taking action against loan
sharks who prey on desperate people in
need - often using threats of violence
to scare people into paying massive
rates of interest. You can help us by
“shopping a shark”. Turn to page 4 for
more information as well as details of
alternatives to borrowing from them.
Come to Highbury
Fields on 26 July
when the Olympic
Flame comes to
Islington - there
will be 19 different
Olympic and
Paralympic sports
for you to try!
Other formats
If you would like
IslingtonLife in large
print, audiotape, or
another format, please
call 020 7527 3416.
3

News
The loan shark roadshow visits Ambler Primary School
Loan sharks beware!
Local residents are being encouraged to
report loan sharks - people who charge
huge rates of interest on loans.
It is not illegal to borrow money from a
loan shark, but it is illegal for them to lend
money without a licence.
If you know anything about any
loan sharks, you can report them or
give anonymous tip offs to the 24/7
confidential national hotline on
0300 555 2222.
Credit Union offers alternative
Islington Credit Union is a community bank
for local people.
One of the best alternatives to using
expensive – and sometimes illegal – loan
services, like those offered by loan
sharks is to join a Credit Union.
Islington’s Credit Union charges
between 11 per cent and 26 per
cent APR on its loans. Compare this
to the rate charged by some wellknown
payday lenders, which can
be over 4,000 per cent and you’ll
know it’s a fair offer.
If you have money or debt
worries there is plenty of help in
Islington:
■■
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
- 020 7947 7771
■■
Islington Law centre –
020 7607 2461
■ ■ Islington People’s Rights –
020 7561 3685
Or you can call the National Debtline
on 0808 808 4000
For more information about
the Credit Union go to
www.credit-union.coop
or call 020 7561 1786. Your
savings are guaranteed in a Credit
Union account up to £85,000, the
same as any high street bank.
4

www.islington.gov.uk
Free swimming all summer!
Make a splash this summer with free
swimming for anyone aged 16 or under
at all the borough’s swimming pools.
Islington Council and Aquaterra have
joined forces to offer free swimming
during any casual or fun session
from Tuesday 24 July until Sunday 2
September.
If your son or daughter is heading to
secondary school next year, you need
to start thinking about which schools to
apply for.
Islington has a wide range of
secondary schools offering great
teaching, an exciting curriculum and
excellent facilities. Our pupils are
achieving better exam results than
ever before, setting them on the path
towards a range of further and higher
education and job opportunities.
Executive member for children and
families, Richard Watts said: “We want
all children to be happy and safe at
school and to be able to achieve their
very best.”
“Whatever your child’s needs they
can fully participate in school life. For
Islington’s high achieving pupils, our
schools develop skills and attainment
through a varied programme of
All you need to do is register for a
Free Swim Card at Highbury, Cally or
Archway pool. If you already have a
Swim Card or Junior Izz Card, bring this
along on every visit.
Meanwhile, the Sobell leisure centre
is playing host to Olympic volleyball
teams who will be using the main hall
to sharpen their skills in the run up
to the Games. This means the main
sports hall will be closed from Monday
2 July to Monday 20 August. The car
park will be restricted from 25 June
to 20 August. Customers using the
gym, sauna, ice rink, studios, Dojo and
squash courts will not be affected.
Ready for secondary school?
advanced learning, competitions and
challenges.”
“For those with special educational
needs, schools encourage and support
children to become confident learners
and celebrate their achievements
as valued members of the school
community.”
■■
■■
Go to www.islington.gov.
uk/admissions for more
information about Islington
schools, open days and how
to apply.
Choosing a secondary
school
■ ■Visit the schools
talk to teachers, parents and
pupils to find out all you can to
help you choose the right school.
Don’t apply at the last minute
the deadline is 31 October 2012
but now is a great time to apply!
Apply online
it’s simple and easy, and the
system helps you by checking
for errors or if you forget to
fill anything in.
Fun at King Henry’s Walk
Safe play
More than half a million pounds is
being invested into six of Islington’s
adventure playgrounds to make sure
they are a great, safe place for local
children.
The council has also pledged
to protect its overall budget of
£1.2million for all 12 of its adventure
playgrounds and to keep the sites as
playgrounds forever, guaranteeing
their future. These decisions came as
a result of a detailed review into the
borough’s adventure playgrounds.
Half of Islington’s adventure
playgrounds are currently run by
the voluntary sector but after April
next year they will all be managed by
one organisation. This will ensure a
consistent standard, with access to
high quality support and resources.
Every playground will keep its own
unique facilities for local children
and families.
Volunteers spruce up playgrounds
Five of Islington’s adventure
playgrounds are being spruced
up thanks to a huge volunteering
programme with funding from
Islington Council and the Royal Bank
of Scotland (RBS).
By the end of October, Lumpy Hill,
King Henry’s Walk, Crumbles Castle,
Cornwallis and Martin Luther King
Adventure Playgrounds will all have
benefited from the scheme.
Islington has 12 adventure
playgrounds. For more information
about what each one has to offer,
visit www.islington.gov.uk/
playgrounds
Top tips
5

Safer Islington
Free home fire
safety visits
Local kids enjoy the improved Hillside Park
Park gets makeover
Local children are enjoying
improvements at Hillside Park that
have made it better and safer for
everyone. The park has been revitalised
over the winter following consultation
with local people, the police and Hillrise
ward councillors.
The improvements include new
natural play features for all, a children’s
ball games area, wildflower covered
hillocks and new expanses of grass.
A number of measures to address
Crackdown on dog mess
Islington is seeing its biggest-ever
crackdown on irresponsible dog owners
who let their pets foul our streets, parks
and estates.
Since May, Islington’s Dog Squad have
patrolled hundreds of miles, issuing £80
fines to anyone caught letting their dogs
mess up the borough.
The 22-strong team – thought to be
the largest of its kind in Britain – is using
lightweight cameras to catch offenders
and responding to complaints from
residents about fouling “hotspots”.
■■
■■
■■
Dog owners of all ages
are reminded:
when going out with your pet,
always take some plastic bags
to clean-up the waste
when your pet makes a mess,
clean it up immediately
put the bag of waste in a
rubbish bin.
crime and anti-social behaviour have
also been implemented including the
removal of walls, improved lighting and
the lifting of tree foliage and pruning of
heavy shrubs to provide better visibility
throughout the park.
As a result, the park is much more
welcoming and feels safer so that local
people of all ages can come and relax.
This in turn reduces the likelihood of
anti-social behaviour occurring there.
Dog Squad team member
“Shop a dropper” -
tell the Dog Squad about
someone who regularly lets
their dog foul by calling
020 7527 7272.
Follow the work of Dog Squad on
Twitter #thedogsquad.
For more information see
www.islington.gov.uk/dogsquad
Rhys Powell, London
Fire Brigade’s Borough
Commander for Islington,
talks to IslingtonLife about
how residents can be safe
from fire at home.
“
Your safety is very important
to us at the London Fire
Brigade and together with
Islington Council, we are aiming
to reach residents that may be
most in need of our services.
Our local firefighters can
come to your home, free
of charge, and help you
understand how you can be
safe from fire. They will offer
advice on escape routes and
how to prevent a fire, fit free
smoke alarms and even fit free
specialist smoke alarms which
vibrate or flash for the hard of
hearing or visually impaired.
”
To book a free home fire
safety visit call our free number
- 0800 028 44 28 or email us
at smokealarms@london-fire.
gov.uk. Please quote reference
number ISL 04.
You can also visit
www.london-fire.gov.uk
for further information on
fire safety and home fire
safety visits.
6

www.islington.gov.uk
Finsbury Square clean-up begins
Clean-up at
Finsbury Square
A big clean-up has been taking place to
return Finsbury Square to community
use.
Until recently the site was occupied
by a protest camp, and homeless and
vulnerable people were also living on
the site.
The council decided to take action
to return the site to local people, and
many of the original Occupy protesters
agreed to leave.
The council offered support to
homeless people in the square,
providing help to 48 different people
in need.
The council and police then carried
out a peaceful enforcement action to
reclaim the square.
The square is now clear of campers,
and the council has been clearing up
the site - including removing more
Cllr Paul Convery
than 20 lorry-loads of rubbish.
Soil on the site, which had been
badly damaged during the camp, has
been removed and new turf is being
laid.
Cllr Paul Convery, Islington Council’s
executive member for community
safety, said:
“Finsbury Square is public space
for the people of Islington and we
have taken action to return it to
community use.”
“It has been a major operation
to clean the square and reopen it
to the public.”
“We cleared the rubbish before
laying fresh turf and giving it time
to bed in, before we can fully
reopen the square.”
On the
beat
There are over 5,000 Special
Constables in London who
volunteer their time to help police
the capital, many of them patrol
across Islington. Special Constables
have the same powers as regular
police officers.
Working in partnership with
the Metropolitan Police Service,
council staff are being given the
opportunity to get involved in
fighting crime and anti-social
behaviour in the borough.
The scheme forms part of our
commitment towards ‘A Fairer
Islington’ which encourages staff
to volunteer for charity and
community groups in Islington.
Lesley Seary, Chief Executive
of Islington Council said: “The
scheme is a great opportunity to
work alongside the police and play
an active role in helping to make
Islington a safer place.”
“Staff have the opportunity
to develop new skills which helps
them to perform better and
improve their confidence in their
day–to-day jobs.”
To find out more about
what a Special Constable
does and how to apply
to become one, visit
www.metpolicecareers.
co.uk/specials.
7

Safer Islington
Police
briefing...
Young gang members
called-in to face victims
Spring saw some of Islington’s young
gang members attend the borough’s
first ‘gang call-in’.
The council’s specialist youth
workers, together with police officers
and housing staff brought young
gang members, and their parents,
together with people whose lives and
communities are affected by gangs. An
A&E doctor, a bereaved young person
and an ex-gang member who turned
their life around were amongst some
of those people brought face-to-face
with the young people. During the
session, the group worked together
to find local organisations that offer
opportunities to help young people
make a change, whether this be
through mentoring, leisure activities,
education and training opportunities,
work experience and jobs.
Since the call-in, the council, Arsenal
youth workers, Job Centre Plus and
The Small Business Consultancy have
continued contact with the young
people. Five have signed up for a
Business Start Up course and one
young person has got a job from a
contact made at the call-in.
We provide young gang members
with the encouragement and support
they need to move away from a
lifestyle linked with crime and antisocial
behaviour.
During the year the council will
implement a number of projects to
help end gangs and youth violence.
This includes positive activities
for young people aged 18-24,
employment and training initiatives,
parenting programmes, communityled
gang prevention projects and
support for vulnerable young
women at risk of gang-related
sexual exploitation.
Of course, we do also have a
responsibility to tackle crime and
anti-social behaviour and keep the
community safe, and the young
gang members know that if they do
not show a willingness to change
their behaviour voluntarily, the
council and partners can - and will -
take action.
Support is
on hand
Support is available for young
women and girls at risk of gangrelated
sexual exploitation.
If you have concerns about
anyone being sexually
exploited you should call
Social Care for advice
on 020 7527 7400
immediately.
In addition, positive and
preventative mentor support is
also available for girls aged 5-11
who are vulnerable to exploitation
by gangs, groups or individuals.
If you know of girls who would
benefit from this service,
please call or text Ross on
07804 909 393.
Islington Police’s
temporary Borough
Commander Simon
Corkill speaks to
IslingtonLife about recent arrests
and iPhone snatching.
“
We have had a number of
significant arrests over the last
few weeks. A 32 year old man has
been charged with six residential
burglaries and another man in
his early thirties has also been
charged for several non-residential
burglaries and armed robbery in
Islington. A 22 year old man, Salah
Karkar, was recently sentenced to
three and a half years imprisonment
after officers from the Crime Squad
discovered he was involved in the
large scale handling of stolen goods
from thefts and burglaries, including
three recent residential burglaries in
Packington Street, Arlington Square
and Danbury Street.
We have seen an increase in
iPhone snatches especially around
Upper Street and Essex Road
where phones have been snatched
from the hands of people by men
in hoodies riding a bike or moped.
Officers are regularly patrolling
hotspot areas and advise the public
to be aware of their surroundings
when using their phone. We also
encourage you to wait a while
before using your phone when
around or exiting transport hubs.
”
On 12 July the Islington Police
Commander and the Leader of the
Council held an online chat to hear
your views. You can find out about
policing events and updates by following
us on Twitter @MPSIslington.
For details of your local Safer
Neighbourhood meeting please visit our
website www.met.police.co.uk and
enter your postcode.
8

www.islington.gov.uk
Tackling crime and
anti-social behaviour
Over the last year we’ve worked closely with partners, including the police,
landlords and community groups to protect the safety and well-being of our
residents. We are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Islington
and keeping our community safe and peaceful.
Below are just some of the actions we’ve taken over the past year
(April 2011- March 2012) to help achieve this.
Anti-Social Behaviour
Orders (ASBOs) were
issued (18 last year)
29 76
Acceptable Behaviour
Contracts (ABC) were
issued (53 last year)
An ASBO restricts a
person’s behaviour in some
way, by prohibiting them
from going to a specific area or
shop, or by restricting their public
behaviour such as swearing or
drinking.
over 90% of ASB
reports on estates
were successfully
investigated and closed
90 20
drug closure orders were
secured on properties
(2 last year)
11 242
people signed up for
Responsible Dog Owner
Agreements
5 29
injunctions were
served on estates
38 14
families received
assistance from the
family intervention
project
notices seeking
possession were issued
on our estates
possession orders for
anti-social behaviour on
estates were obtained
households on estates
were evicted due to
them not keeping to
their possession order
An ABC sets out how the person
should and should not behave and
is agreed between the person
and the agencies involved such as
their landlord.
The family intervention
project brings together the
council and other services under
one umbrella to provide intensive
support to families where there is
youth violence, gang involvement
and ASB.
A notice seeking posession is
a legal warning to householders
who are in breach of their
agreement explaining that they
may be evicted if they don’t
correct their behaviour.
A possession order states that
if the householders continue their
ASB, the council will take action
to evict them.
CCTV catches thieves who stole a pensioner’s life savings
Islington Council’s CCTV team worked with police to catch two
men and a woman who stole a pensioner’s life savings.
A police sergeant alerted the Islington CCTV control room to
the theft, and the thieves were identified from footage, which
was also used in court. The gang received two years in jail.
The council posts images from CCTV footage online so
residents can help identify people who have been caught
on camera behaving anti-socially on our estates.
To view the images go to
www.islington.gov.uk/housingasbimages
9

Your home
Could you be a
resident champion
■■
Do you enjoy listening to other
residents and representing their
views?
■■
■■
Are you good at solving
problems?
Are you passionate about housing
and making services better?
If the answer to any of these
questions is ‘yes’ then we would like to
hear from you.
The council is looking for tenants and
leaseholders to have a bigger say in the
decisions about their housing services
- things like rent, repairs and the local
environment.
You will be involved in helping
us make the right decisions for all
residents, including:
■■
■■
serving on our new Islington
Housing Executive;
leading independent reviews of
housing services as an elected
■■
residents’ champion or vice
champion;
joining our action groups and
topic groups; or helping choose
the best people to represent
residents.
We provide training and support –
all you need are fresh ideas, a passion
for housing and the ability to listen to
others as well as to speak up. All tenants
and leaseholders will be invited to vote
for their champions, vice champions
and Housing Executive members in
September.
Follow the process at
www.islington.gov.uk/
housing or contact our
team on 020 7527 2903
for more information.
Cheaper energy
on the way
Work on the Bunhill Energy Centre
and heat network is progressing
nicely with over 1 kilometre of
heat network now installed in the
roads around the centre.
Over 700 local residents will
benefit from the new Energy
Centre which will put money
directly back in residents’ pockets
by producing cheaper energy for
local homes as well as heating
the rebuilt swimming baths at
Ironmonger Row Baths.
Large equipment for the
Energy Centre was craned onto
site at the beginning of July which
will allow the council to supply
cheaper, greener heating to the
local community by the autumn.
To find out more please
visit www.islington.gov.
uk/heatnetwork
10

www.islington.gov.uk
Housing scheme wins award
A proposed new development at
Vaudeville Court (pictured above), which
will provide much needed family homes,
has won a national housing design
award.
The state-of-the-art council homes,
to be developed near Finsbury Park,
form one of 30 innovative projects
aimed at providing over 200 new and
affordable homes by 2015. These
are needed to help tackle levels of
overcrowding in Islington which are
among the highest in London. Many of
the projects make use of unusual and
unloved spaces. Our scheme at Vulcan
Way N7, for example, will see a row of
disused garages transformed into
new homes.
Corsica St Islington Life HP :Layout 1 27/6/12 18:16 Page 1
Do you rent a
private property
in Islington?
The council is responsible for
making sure that privately rented
properties in the borough are safe
and up to industry standards.
We work closely with property
owners, investigate complaints
from tenants about poor living
conditions, and, when necessary,
take action against those who do
not comply.
We recently prosecuted a
private landlord who was fined
more than £6,000 for not fitting
safety railings to the front of a
property.
If you privately rent in
Islington and have a
complaint or question
about the condition of
the property, email us
residential.envh@islington.gov.uk
or call on 020 7527 3083.
Islington living without the price tag...
One and two bedroom apartments,
minutes from Highbury & Islington tube
Prices from £83,750 *
(Monthly cost approx: £1,193)
For more info: 0800 068 8990
www.corsicastreet.co.uk
*Price based on a 25% share of a one bed apartment with a full market value of £335,000. Minimum income required: £32,338. Minimum joint income: £41,909. Please note: You must be registered and approved
at www.firststeps.co.uk. You must be buying this as your first or only home, terms & conditions apply. Whilst these particulars are prepared with all due care and convenience of intending purchasers, the information
detailed herein is a preliminary guide only. The organisation employs a policy of continuous improvement and reserves the right to alter or amend the specification as necessary and without prior notice.
11

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taught in the evening and
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the potential to open new doors to a better job, a bigger
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You can afford to go
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If you haven’t studied at
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a UK or EU citizen who has lived in
the UK or EEA for three years, at
Birkbeck you can get a loan to
cover your certificate course fees,
and because we only teach in the
evening, you can continue to work
during the day.
12
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Thursday 6 September
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www.bbk.ac.uk

Young Islington
www.islington.gov.uk
Youth
Councillor,
Jasmine
Martins,
writes on behalf of
the Youth Council.
We have Lift off!
Celebrating Islington’s newest youth venue
Occupying a new state-of-the-art
building, Islington’s newest youth hub,
Lift, on White Lion Street N1, offers a
wide range of services and activities
for young people, with an emphasis on
healthy living.
The hub includes a gym, professional
kitchen, dance studio, healthy cafe
and garden. A range of other services
including sexual health advice,
counselling, internet access and careers
advice are also provided. Lift celebrated
Help is at
hand on exam
results days
Waiting for your GCSE and A’
Level results this August?
Whether you get the results
you want or not, choosing
the next step isn’t easy. But
Islington’s Information, Advice
and Guidance team is on hand
to help.
The team’s personal advisers
(PAs) will be out and about in
schools, colleges and youth
centres, to give advice on
college courses, apprenticeships
and job opportunities, CV
writing and interview skills.
Drop in to a session near
you. Find out more at
www.islington.gov.uk/
connexions or call
020 7527 7031.
its opening weekend with spectacular
performances and events including
aerial performances by Scarabeus
Theatre, cooking demonstrations,
dance and more.
The council has protected its budget
for youth funding until 2015.
The launch of Lift follows the
opening of Platform, the performing
arts youth hub, on Hornsey Road last
summer.
Visit www.liftislington.org.uk
New website for
young Islington
This summer sees the launch of a
new website just for Islington’s young
people – izzy-info.com.
The site is full of useful advice
on issues such as safer sex and
relationships, career choices and staying
healthy as well as info on exciting and
fun things to do in the borough.
Visit www.izzy-info.com
“
I was at the launch of
Islington’s new youth hub ‘Lift’
in May and it was really inspiring
to see such a great new facility
for young people. But there’s
still more work to do to make
sure all of Islington’s young
people have access to high
quality activities.
That’s why the Youth Council
has been working hard since our
election in February to influence
a major council review about
the future of youth services.
We’ve also set our priorities
for action during the two years
of our term as councillors and,
along with youth provision,
we’ll be looking at youth
employment, crime and safety
and equality and fairness.
We believe that all Islington
young people should have the
opportunity to undertake work
experience.
We want Islington to be a
place where young people feel
safe and we want to make sure
young people are celebrated for
their talents and skills.
In April we selected
Islington’s first Young Mayor
(Harry Tomes) and our Deputy
Young Mayor (Miriam Owusu).
We’ve launched our Facebook
and Twitter pages, so search
for Islington Youth Council and
keep in touch with our work.
”
Visit
www.islington.gov.uk/
youthcouncil
13

Summer fun
Summer
starts here
Heatwave is back! The summer activities
programme for children and young people is
in its fifth year and brings together an even
bigger selection of exciting activities to get
involved in during the holidays!
The council and its partners invite all children and
young people in the borough to take part in a range
of free and low cost activities – this includes music
and DJ workshops, free swimming at the borough’s
pools, to festivals in local parks. With so much on
offer, Heatwave promises something for everyone.
Young Mayor, Harry Tomes said:
“As Young Mayor, I am really keen that children
and young people in Islington have plenty of fun
stuff to do during the summer holidays, so I was
extremely excited when I saw what was on offer
through Heatwave.
So get out and about, bring your friends and
make the most of the summer. I might even see
you there!”
To find out about the hundreds of
activities on offer over the summer visit
www.islington.gov.uk/heatwave or
call the Family Information Service on
020 7527 5959 (9-4pm) or email
fis@islington.gov.uk
14

www.islington.gov.uk
Heatwave taster…here’s just some of
the activities on offer this summer
Islington Playday 2012
A fun-packed day of play in Islington, including
gardening, arts and crafts, den building, sports,
team games, sensory elements and much more!
1 August, 11am–4pm
Age: 5-13 year olds, but all ages welcome
Venue: Paradise Park, 164 Mackenzie Road,
N7 8SE
Cost: free
Story Lab Reading Challenge
The brainchild of Prof Cortex, the Story
Lab’s on-board computer, has gathered
stories from all over the world and sent
them spinning throughout the city – and
beyond! Read six of these books and pick up
the collectibles along the way to be in with a
chance to win a prize!
9 July-16 September
Age: 4-11 year olds
Venue: Islington libraries
Cost: free
Roller skating every Friday
Get your skates on! Whether you’re an experienced
skater or a complete beginner this is a great
course for those who want to have fun and try out
something new. You’ll have the chance to learn how
to skate, play some fun games, and learn some new
skills.
27 July-7 September
Age: 8-19 year olds
Venue: Sobell Leisure Centre, Hornsey Road, N7 7NY
Cost: free
Whitecross street party
The streetscape will be transformed into a giant
canvas featuring the coolest urban art in London.
Check out the spectacular theatre and music and
even have a go at making your own art!
21-22 July, 12noon–6pm
Age: all ages
Venues: Whitecross Street, EC1Y
Cost: free
For hundreds more free
and low cost activities visit
www.islington.gov.uk/heatwave now!
15

Celebrate the Games
On your marks,
get set, go Islington!
Join us for a spectacular day
celebrating the London 2012 Games
when the Olympic Flame comes to
Islington on Thursday 26 July. We’ve
got a stellar line up of performances,
events and activities and 19 Olympic
and Paralympic sports for you to try.
Stay up-to-date with details
about what’s happening at
www.islington.gov.uk/2012
Follow the flame
Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to see the
Olympic Flame in your community. Come out and
celebrate by lining the torch route and cheering on
the torchbearers on 26 July.
■■
7.50am
The Olympic Flame leaves Kings Cross-St Pancras.
■■
7.58am
It enters Islington via the London Canal Museum and makes
its way up Caledonian Road.
■■
8.07am
The flame travels from Offord Road to Highbury Station
Road and Highbury Corner.
■■
Around 8.20am
The relay passes down Upper Street with a short stop at
the Town Hall and then continues past Angel in to St John’s
Street and into the City.
Join in the celebrations…
There are many free sporting and cultural events happening
around the borough.
■■
Kick-off early with a free family fun day at the London
Canal Museum, from 7.30am-1pm.
■■
From 8am Islington Town Hall’s forecourt will come
alive with music from the London Symphony Orchestra,
aerial performances from Scarabeus Theatre and dance
from Sadler’s Wells and Zoonation.
■■
Highbury Fields will be lively from 10am with a whole
day of sporting events. Young people and children will be
able to try 19 different Olympic and Paralympic sports.
Olympic Mascots, Wenlock and Madeville, will add to the
entertainment along with some exciting performances and
guest appearances on stage.
See page 31 for more events taking place around
the borough.
16

www.islington.gov.uk
Come to the Town Hall from 8am
to see the torch pass down Upper
Street.
Entertainment includes the London
Symphony Orchestra, aerial
performances from Scarabeus
Theatre and dance from Sadler’s
Wells and Zoonation.
Schools’ Torch Relay Day
On Thursday 19 July – one
week before the Olympic torch
passes through Islington – 31
schools will take part in their
very own torch relay. Four pupils
from each school will run with a
torch they designed and made
themselves. The event will be
photographed as part of an
exhibition to be displayed at the
Islington Museum later this year
documenting the programme of
cultural and sporting events held
in Islington for the Games.
Head to Highbury
Fields from
10am for a
whole day of
sporting events.
You can try 19
different Olympic
and Paralympic
sports!
Bats at the ready!
Pop-up ping pong is up and
running in Finsbury Square
and Spa Fields until 26 July.
Join special tournaments
from noon-2pm on Friday
13 July at Spa Green and
Monday 23 July at Finsbury
Square. More information at
http://pingengland.co.uk/
Did you know?
The Olympic Torch was designed
by Clerkenwell-based designers
Jay Osgerby and Edward Barber
of Barber Osgerby.
17

Celebrate the Games
A snapshot of your heroes…
Islington’s Community Heroes
Islington goes for gold!
We’re delighted to have given
Olympic tickets to special Islington
residents who you told us were
your Community Heroes.
From teenagers to pensioners,
Islington’s Community Heroes,
received their awards at a
ceremony at Town Hall on 19
June.
Tim Smits, 33, of N1, was
nominated following his brave
defence of two pensioners from
abusive youths on a bus, where
he was stabbed twice. Speaking
at the award ceremony, where
he received tickets to the Closing
Ceremony of the Games, he said:
New public art
An eye-catching sculpture by
Romanian sculptor Paul Neagu is
being donated to the borough.
The Romanian Cultural Institute
will be unveiling Edgerunner on
Owen’s Fields 27 July. Paul Neagu
was a student at the Beaux Arts
Academy in the 1960s and later
had a studio in Islington, he died in
London in 2004.
“It’s been a rough year but to get this
award has really lifted my spirits. Being
around these amazing people is truly
inspirational and humbling. Going to
the Olympic Games will be awesome.”
The tickets were paid for by generous
donations from local businesses and
partners. Their generosity greatly exceeded
the cost of the initial 100 ticket allocation
meaning that 209 lucky Islington residents
get the chance to go to the Olympic and
Paralympic Games – at no cost to the
taxpayer.
Thanks to everyone who supported the
scheme and took the time to nominate
someone special.
An international welcome
The Business Design Centre on Upper Street will play
host to one of the capital’s largest indoor live sites
when the Czech House opens its doors on 27 July.
You can expect to see live music and DJs, big screens
showing sport, special events and sporting visitors and
traditional Czech beer.
Pedal power
If you’re a fan of cycling head down
to the Belgian House at the historic
Middle Temple, in Middle Temple Lane,
EC4Y, between 11-2pm daily. You
can virtually cycle through Belgium and
refuel with Belgian food and drink!
Elizabeth Jones (above)
Elizabeth, 84, is the founder of
Islington Talking News and was
awarded tickets to the closing
ceremony of the Paralymic
Games in recognition of her
service to the visually impaired.
Elizabeth lost her sight in 1980
and interestingly was at the
London Olympics in 1948.
Tahminaz Choudhury
Tahminaz has volunteered
for over four years with the
Holloway Educational and Cultural
Centre assisting an after school
club, organising activities to
combat drug and alcohol abuse
as well as fundraising activities.
She is a student governor and
peer mentor at Mount Carmel
College and a member of North
London Citizens which builds links
between the school and local
community to tackle problems in
the local area.
Billy Andreas May
Billy is a student and Badminton
Ambassador for London,
training younger students in
badminton and promoting
the sport whenever he can.
At competitions he’ll offer
to referee and score so
other students also have the
opportunity to participate and
when he receives rackets or
shuttles from successful play in
the competitions, he donates
them back to the school so other
students can experience and use
top quality equipment.
18

www.islington.gov.uk

Local life
Benefits – know
your rights
The government is overhauling
the benefit system. If you claim
benefits, then there are changes
that may reduce the amount of
money you receive.
If you think you may be
affected, make sure you have the
right information so you can make
the decisions and choices that are
right for you and your family.
Two upcoming changes that
may affect you from April next
year:
■■
■■
Household benefit cap – if
you are not working your
total household benefits will
be capped at £500 a week
for most couples or families
and £350 a week for single
people. This includes housing
benefit and is regardless of
how many children you have.
Spare room – if you
are a council or housing
association tenant of
working age with one or
more ‘spare’ rooms you will
have your housing benefit
cut.
Where to get help
If you have money worries then
please get help now. There are
several services that can help you
with debts in Islington, see page 4
for more information.
Go to www.direct.gov.uk/
benefits for more information
on benefits changes. The
Department for Work and
Pensions has a helpline,
call 0845 6057064.
Islington Council can also help if
you are worried about housing or
paying your rent, call
020 7527 4990. Go to
www.islington.gov.uk/
benefitschanges to find out
more about the changes, advice
and support.
Fighting financial abuse
Financial abuse is the most common type of abuse
reported to our adult social services, with over 150
cases investigated during 2010-11.
This type of abuse is often carried out
by a relative or person in a position of
trust and can come in many different
forms - from the deliberate theft
of money, fraud or exploitation; to
pressure from someone regarding
wills, property, inheritance or financial
transactions.
Everyone in Islington has the right to
feel safe, and live without fear of abuse,
neglect or exploitation. Residents who
are vulnerable because of age, physical
disability, mental health or illness can be
more at risk of abuse and it can be hard
for them to seek help.
How can you help protect
vulnerable people from
financial abuse?
Look out for signs such as:
■■
unexplained or sudden inability to
pay bills
■■
■■
■■
■■
■■
unexplained or sudden withdrawal
of money from accounts
extraordinary interest by family
members and other people in the
vulnerable person’s assets
the person who manages the
financial affairs is evasive or
uncooperative
the purchase of items which the
person does not require or use
personal possessions go missing
from the person’s home.
If you are concerned that a vulnerable
adult is at risk of abuse or neglect,
please call us on 020 7527 2299 or
visit www.islington.gov.uk/
safeguardingadults
20

Taking
care of
Islington’s
carers
Do you help to care for a
friend or relative who couldn’t
manage without your help?
National Carers Week in June saw a
range of activities to recognise the
important work of Islington’s 13,000
carers, including the official launch
of Islington Carers Hub and the new
Camden and Islington Young Carers
Service.
The Islington carers hub is run by
Carers UK, a national charity that helps
millions of people who care for family
or friends. It offers a wide range of
specialist support, information and
advice for local carers through drop-in
surgeries, out of hours services, and
events and activities for carers.
The Young Carers Service, run by
charity Family Action, supports children
and young people who care for a parent
or other family member in Camden
and Islington. An estimated 800 young
people in Islington have some level of
caring responsibility, and the service aims
to ensure that they get the support they
need to get a break from caring, take
part in fun activities, do well at school,
and be healthy.
www.islington.gov.uk
For more information
about Islington Carers
Hub including surgery
times, please call
0800 085 1141 or visit
www.islingtoncarershub.org
For more information about the
Young Carers Service call
020 7272 6933 or email
islington-youngcarers@familyaction.org.uk
Supporting independent living
Do you, a family member, or friend need support to live
independently due to ill health or a disability?
Islington social services can offer a wide range of
information, advice and support, including the option to
choose and organise your own support through Direct
Payments.
With Direct Payments, money is given directly to you to
spend on support that suits you best. You can choose what
type of help you need and control who provides it, and when.
For more information please contact the Access
Service on 020 7527 2299 or visit
www.islington.gov.uk/directpayments
Unwanted vehicle?
If you have a vehicle you do not want anymore, the council can
remove it for free. We will even give you £52 worth of visitor
voucher permits for where you live. This new scheme is available to
all residents, and also helps the council save money on identifying,
monitoring and getting rid of abandoned vehicles.
It’s easy to get your vehicle removed, just email us
at vehicles.abandoned@islington.gov.uk or call
020 7527 6555.
21

Healthy living
www.islington.gov.uk
Let’s get physical!
Exercise not only helps tackle heart and
lung problems, high blood pressure,
diabetes and weight problems but it also
makes you feel better about yourself at
the same time.
If the gym isn’t for you, you can still
add little bits of exercise into your daily
routine by:
■■
■■
■■
taking the stairs instead of the lift
getting off the bus one stop early
and walking the rest of the way
getting out in the garden or doing
a bit of DIY
Ideally, you should aim for half
an hour of physical activity a day –
something that makes your pulse go
a little faster, makes you a little out of
breath, or even feel sweaty!
Get fit this summer and take
advantage of a trial membership
at an Aquaterra leisure centre.
For just £15 for 15 days or
£30 for 30 days, you will get
unlimited access to gym, swim,
exercise classes, sauna and steam
within your trial period.
Find out more at www.
aquaterra.org/getsetgo
Keep cool
this summer
In the hope we see some
more sun this year, it is
important to keep cool.
Energy Doctor, Lucy Rees,
from the Energy Advice Team
gives us her top tips on how
to beat the heat.
Tip 1: Drink water!
carry a bottle of water with you
or make sure a glass is at hand
throughout the day and stay
hydrated!
■■
Tip 2: Try to stay indoors
between 12-3pm
■■
this is the hottest time of the
day so it’s best to stay out of
the sun during these hours
Be clear on
lung cancer
Lung cancer affects 33,000 people
every year in England – mostly
over 55s. The signs and symptoms
of lung cancer include a cough that
has lasted for three weeks or more.
If you are worried, see your doctor.
The earlier you are diagnosed, the
sooner treatment can begin.
For further information, please
visit nhs.uk/lungcancer
Islington’s stop smoking
clinics are also on hand to help.
Visit smokefree.nhs.uk
or call 0800 169 0169.
Tackling local
health issues
From April 2013 all local councils
will take on responsibility for public
health from the NHS. Islington
council plans to run a shared
public health service with Camden
Council. The innovative new plans,
among the first of their kind in
the country, will also see a shared
director of public health.
Check www.islington.
gov.uk/publichealth
for updates.
Tip 3: Hug the shade
■■
if you are outdoors, try and
stay in the shade as much
as possible
Tip 4: Dress appropriately
for the heat
■■
wear loose, light cotton
clothing. A wide brimmed hat
works well at keeping the sun
off and remember: always
wear sun cream, and be sure to
reapply regularly.
For more ways to stay cool
and save energy, call the
Energy Advice Team on
0800 953 1221 or visit www.
islington.gov.uk/energy
23

People and places
Islington
People’s
Plaques 2012 -
the votes are in!
Local resident, Margaret Brade, found full-time work after volunteering
Volunteering gets jobs
for local residents
The Volunteer Centre, run by Voluntary
Action Islington, helps hundreds of
local people to find volunteering
opportunities. For many, this is the first
step into employment.
Recently three of the volunteers
working for the centre itself found
jobs. Margaret Brade took up the post
of Office Administrator with Shared
Intelligence, a locally based organisation
working with local government to
improve their performance. And Joanna
Radziszewska took up a job with one of
the world’s leading media agencies.
Phil Boye-Anawomah, Project Officer
at Voluntary Action Islington said
“It is great news that Margaret, Joanna
and others have used experience gained
through volunteering to get jobs with
some of the leading local businesses.”
If you are interested in finding out
more about volunteering come along to
a drop-in session at 200a Pentonville
Road on Tuesdays and Thursdays
10am-4pm.
For more information
visit www.vai.org.uk/
volunteering, email
volunteer@vai.org.uk or call
0207 832 5800.
Volunteering for Stronger
Communities is a new project working
with residents to provide them with
volunteering opportunities that help
them to develop their careers. Ninety
community organisations are involved
in the project to help support with
developing CV’s and providing training.
For more information contact
Paul Stephenson at
paul.stephenson@vai.org.uk
A justice campaigner, a healthcare
founder and a figurative painter
have been confirmed as this year’s
winners of Islington People’s
Plaques.
Over 3,600 votes were
received and this is the second
year the scheme has been held
to recognise the people, events
and places that have shaped the
borough.
The three winners this
year are:
■■
Florence Keen, founder of the
North Islington Welfare Centre
- 599 votes
■■
■■
Campaigner for social justice
Jack Kennedy - 568 votes
Artist Cyril Mann - 491 votes
Plaques to all three will be erected
this year at special ceremonies
attended by the local community.
Our most recent plaque for Edith
Garrud was unveiled in June.
For details of the
unveilings visit
www.islington.gov.uk/
peoplesplaque
24

www.islington.gov.uk
IslingtonLife Spring 2012
Celebrations at OPRG’s intercultural day
Serving Islington’s
older people
The Older People’s Reference Group (OPRG) held its
first AGM on 15 June 2012 and became a constituted
organisation to serve Islington’s older people. The group
carries out consultations, focus groups and surveys to
facilitate improvement of services for the older community
in Islington.
The AGM was followed by an intercultural day that
brought Islington’s diverse communities to come together
to share culture, food and friendship.
OPRG was supported and launched by Age UK Islington
in September 2011. Since its launch it has held a number
of public meetings on issues such as safety and personal
budgets and it also has a reading sub-group that feedback
on council and other publications in terms of accessibility for
the older community.
If you would like to be involved with
the OPRG please contact Suj Ahmed
on 020 7281 6018 or email
suj.ahmed@ageukislington.org.uk
350 yearold
bible
returned
to family
Holloway
- in focus
Holloway ward covers the west side of
Holloway Road between Market Road and
Camden Road. Around 17,000 people live in
Holloway, and this accounts for around 8% of
Islington’s population.
PIC of
landmark
in
Holloway
Did you know?
■■The company that created the original Lara Croft
games was based at a studio in North Road next to The
Pleasance Theatre.
■■The Cally Market was designed by the architect of
Billingsgate and Holloway Prison. Over three million blue
Staffordshire bricks were used to construct the market
and over 13,000 feet of rail was used to pen in 6,000
cattle and 1,800 pens to accommodate 35,000 sheep!
■■In 1958 the London County Council introduced a Welsh
language class for children who wished to learn it at
Hungerford Infants’ School – there were 27 students
in the class.
Schools & children’s centres
■■Paradise Park Children’s Centre
■■Hungerford Primary School and Children’s Centre
■■Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School
■■The Bridge School - Primary Department
■■The Gower School
Community centres
Ringcross Goodinge
The arts
Angel Shed Theatre Company Islington Arts Factory
Creative Islington The Pleasance Theatre
Artistes Collective Busworks United Workspace Ltd
Centre for Business, Arts and Technology City and
Islington College Evoke Arts Film and Video Workshop
Prevista
The council’s housing staff
recently found a bible,
which looked very old and
possibly valuable whilst they
were cleaning the flat of a
deceased council tenant.
On further investigations
they discovered the author
was John Durel – the
Chaplin of King Charles
II during his exile in Paris
over 350 years ago. A
similar book by John Durel
had recently been sold for
£630.
Staff contacted the
deceased tenant’s 90 year
-old brother who lives in
Plymouth and the bible has
since been returned to the
family.
Parks and open spaces
Biddestone Park Caledonian Park Paradise Park
Camden Road Verge Penn Road Gardens
Rakhia Ismail
Holloway councillors
Paul Smith – Labour
Rakhia Ismail – Labour, our newest councilor,
elected at the by-election on 3 May
Barry Edwards – Labour
25

Noticeboard
Join our
online
citizen’s
panel
Would you be willing to spend
five minutes telling us what you
think about local services and
topical issues? If so, join our online
citizen’s panel. Panel members
are sent a short online survey
– usually about six questions -
every couple of months.
To sign up or for more
information visit the
online panel web page at
www.islington.gov.uk/
consultation
Your opinion
matters
The NHS would love to hear from
you if you are interested in advising
local GPs and managers
on improving services.
You’ll need:
■■
good communication and
team-working skills
■■
a spare two hours a month
to attend meetings
■■
some knowledge or experience
of NHS services or issues.
Find out more, email
islington.ccg@nhs.net, call
020 7527 1361 or write
to Commissioning Development
Team, 338-346 Goswell Road,
London, EC1V 7LQ.
Register for free
school meals
Free school meals are available to
all children in Islington nursery and
primary schools and eligible
secondary school pupils in Islington.
To take advantage of free school
meals you will need to register.
And the
winner is….
Congratulations to Chris of N5
who won the £50 supermarket
voucher from completing the
IslingtonLife Reader Survey. Happy
shopping! Thanks to everyone who
completed the survey in March,
your comments and feedback
are greatly appreciated.
New library
opening hours
From September library
opening hours are changing
in Islington – look out for
more information at your
local library or check the website at
www.islington.gov.uk/libraries
Simply pick up a form from
your child’s school or
download one from
www.islington.gov.uk/freemeals
Safety
contacts
Islington Police
For non-emergencies you can call
the Metropolitan Police for
assistance, 0300 123 1212, or visit
www.met.police.uk/islington
London Fire Brigade Pic of
www.london-fire.gov.uk sandwich
smokealarms@london-fire.gov.uk
0800 028 4428
Safer Neighbourhood Team
Find out more about your local
ward team.
http://content.met.police.uk/
Team/Islington
020 7421 0181
26

www.islington.gov.uk
Contact Islington
Islington’s customer service centre is located on
the ground floor of 222 Upper Street, N1.
Pop in to speak to one of the team or call
8am-6pm Monday to Friday
(8.30am-6pm Wednesdays).
Phone: 020 7527 2000
Email: contact@islington.gov.uk
Stay informed and updated and be the
first to hear about the latest news –
follow us on twitter @IslingtonLife.
Send your letter and comments
on the magazine to:
IslingtonLife
Room G16
Town Hall, Upper Street, N1 2UD
Email: Islingtonlife@islington.gov.uk
Phone: 020 7527 3416
27

Arsenal Players Launch
The Arsenal Foundation
at The Annual Charity Ball
Arsenal is delighted to have a regular
spot in IslingtonLife which keeps
residents up to date with all the
Club’s latest community initiatives.
This regular feature also keeps local
residents informed of events and
issues surrounding Arsenal and
Emirates Stadium such as fixtures,
road closures and transport updates.
In this edition
At the end of Arsenal’s 125th
anniversary year, we’re taking a look
at Arsenal’s long tradition of giving
back to its community and how
the Club celebrated the 125 year
milestone by creating a legacy for
young people for years to come.
Arsenal Football Club was born
out of community when a group of
munitions workers came together
in 1886 to form a football team to
escape the monotony of factory life.
Even in its earliest days Arsenal
wanted to serve its community –
always aware of the crowd, the
attention it drew and how this could
be used to positive effect.
Arsenal’s early matchday
programme cards were sold for a
penny to raise money for Homes for
Working Boys in Beresford Street,
Woolwich, when the Club was located
in its original home in south London.
Just before the Club’s relocation to
north London, in April 1912, Woolwich
Arsenal organised a special match
at which fans of the Club raised over
£100 for the Titanic Disaster Fund.
When the Club relocated to north
London, it swiftly began supporting
the Great Northern Hospital,
with regular contributions and an
endowment of a bed and donations
towards the Islington War Memorial
Fund.
Giving back to its community
remained at the beating heart of
Arsenal Football Club and with this
ever growing demand and awareness
that the Club could reach people in a
way nobody else could, Arsenal in the
Community was born in the 1980s.
Over the years, society and issues
may have changed, but Arsenal in the
Community has been the constant
– a continued and trusted presence
for many young people in its local
community.
In the Club’s 125th year, Arsenal
made a pledge to engage more
young people than ever before and
continually move forward and grow
its community work. With this in
mind, Arsenal Football Club launched
The Arsenal Foundation in May at
the Annual Arsenal Charity Ball
with the manager and first-team in
attendance.
The Arsenal Foundation is a
fundraising and grant-making
organisation designed to grow the
reach and effect of the programmes
the Club supports to help an
increasing number of young people
across the globe to be the best they
can be and help their communities
thrive.
The Foundation will work hard to
raise funds and help charity partners
deliver projects which help young
people fulfil potential. This year,
Arsenal’s first ever global charity
partnership with Save the Children
has seen projects undertaken here in
Islington and a project in China which
will coincide with Arsenal’s preseason
tour to the Far East in July.
The main focus of the work of The
Arsenal Foundation will be helping
young people through education
projects, an area where Arsenal has
made a difference over many years
with community-led and charitable
initiatives that motivate and engage
young people using the power of the
Arsenal name.
Arsenal in the Community’s first
education and training project, Action
Sport, began in the mid-1980s and
over the past quarter of a century,
Arsenal has extended its educational
offering to include numeracy, literacy

ARSENAL MATCHES
AT EMIRATES STADIUM
As always, up to date Arsenal news
and developments can be found on
the Club’s official website
www.arsenal.com.
Arsenal is also offering Islington
residents a dedicated e-mail service
to communicate fixture changes,
road closures, events at Emirates
Stadium and important tube/travel
information. To register, send a
blank email to sub-localresidents@
list.arsenal.co.uk and you will
immediately be added to the Club’s
Residents email list.
Information concerning events at
Emirates Stadium can also be found
on the Arsenal Football Club match
day and event information line on
0844 931 22 11. Calls cost 3p per
minute from a landline. Mobile and
other providers’ charges may vary.
FIXTURES AT EMIRATES
STADIUM DURING AUGUST
AND SEPTEMBER 2012
Saturday 18th August
Arsenal v Sunderland
15.00 Kick-off
Saturday 15th September
Arsenal v Southampton
15.00 Kick-off
Saturday 29th September
Arsenal v Chelsea
15.00 Kick-off
Please note, all fixtures can be subject
to change due to television selection.
Fixtures for UEFA Champions League
Group Stages will be determined on
30th August. There will be three home
games between September 18/19 and
December 20/21.
and language programmes, and a
number of social inclusion projects
which often lead to accredited
qualifications.
Since 2003, Arsenal has helped
a number of charities such as
Teenage Cancer Trust, TreeHouse
and Centrepoint, which all supported
education projects to help young
people fulfil their potential in
challenging times.
With the help of The Arsenal
Foundation, the Club will ensure that
this long legacy of helping young
people to become the best they
can be continues to go from strength
to strength.
Watch out for details of the Families
and Schools Together (FAST) project
in Islington Primary Schools in
partnership with Save the Children
in the next edition of IslingtonLife.
Local families come together
through football
Emirates Stadium recently played
host to an innovative community
project designed to strengthen family
relationships in Islington and Camden
using the power of football.
The Family Skills Project, run
in conjunction with Arsenal in the
Community, Family Lives and the
National Children’s Football Alliance
(NCFA), consisted of a week-long
programme with ten families, using
principles of football to improve
parenting skills through the teaching
of non-aggressive communication
and behaviour.
Using the link to the Club as a
means of boosting engagement, the
project’s aim was to bring the families
together and use football as a force
to improve communication and intergenerational
support.
As part of the activity, parents joined
their children for fun practical football
sessions, while parents took part in
a number of smaller workshops and
activities focusing on communication,
anti-bullying and child support.
Ernie Brennan, Director, NCFA, said
of the scheme: “The Family Skills
Project puts the feel good factor back
into family football and reinforces
inter-generational relationships.”
The project also received a glowing
testimonial from those involved with
one parent saying that she now ‘loves
playing football’ and another parent
describing it as ‘fun, informative and
helpful’.
By encouraging better discipline and
positive behaviour, it is hoped that the
families will take their learnings away
into their domestic life, enabling their
children to achieve greater things at
school and fulfill their true potential.
For more information on the
Family Skills Project or the National
Children’s Football Alliance visit:
www.childrensfootballalliance.com
For more information on Family Lives
visit: www.familylives.org.uk
Participants
on The Family
Skills Project
at Emirates
Stadium

What’s on
COMpetition
Win tickets to see
Rock of Ages
IslingtonLife is giving away a pair of tickets
to see ‘Rock of Ages’ at the Shaftsbury
Theatre. This worldwide smash hit musical
pulls its score from the greatest rock
anthems of the 1980s featuring Don’t
Stop Believin’, We Built This City, The Final
Countdown, Wanted Dead or Alive, Here I
Go Again, Can’t Fight This Feeling and I Want
To Know What Love Is. The five-time Tony
Award nominated musical has now also been
made into a movie starring Tom Cruise.
For your chance to win a pair of tickets to
see this West-End production this summer,
simply answer this question correctly:
Who originally recorded
the hit ‘Don’t Stop Believin’?
a) Bon Jovi
b) Journey
c) Glee
Email your answer to Islingtonlife@
islington.gov.uk or write to us at
IslingtonLife, Room G16, Town
Hall, Upper Street, N1 2UD by 7
August.
There is no cash alternative to the prize, the
tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable
and not for re-sale. Tickets must be used
before 30 September 2012.
COMMUNITy events
Rose Bowl big open day
Start your summer with a local open
day at the Rose Bowl youth hub. Enjoy
a range of performances by young
people, workshops, taster sessions and
of course the ultimate BBQ!
When: 21 July 2012, 2-8pm
Where: The Rose Bowl Centre, St
Paul’s Open Space, New River Green
Estate, N1 2PY
How much: free
Angel Canal Festival 2012
Enjoy a range of events and activities
for the whole family – this event is
sure to close Islington’s 2012 festival
programme with a bang!
When: 2 September 2012,
11am-6pm
Where: City Road Basin, Graham
Street, N1
How much: free
Gillespie Festival
It’s time for the annual community
festival in the lovely surroundings of
Gillespie Park. Come and enjoy live
music, children’s activities, food, Morris
30
dancing, stalls and more.
When: Sunday 9 September 1-5pm
Where: Gillespie Park, N5
How much: free
CULTURE
Matthew Bourne’s Play
Without Words
Sexy, chic and thrillingly original, this
dance drama is a spellbinding carnival
of seduction, intrigue and power.
Returning for its first revival as part
of New Adventures’ 25th anniversary
celebration, the production now makes
its debut at Sadler’s Wells in a limited
four week season.
When: 12 July–5 August 2012
Where: Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery
Avenue, EC1R
How much: from £12
For more information and to book visit
www.sadlerswells.com
Summer Salon open exhibition
Summer Salon is part of Islington
Exhibits, a borough wide arts festival
and open studios event. Inspired by
the 18th Century French Salons the
exhibition welcomes a diverse range
of contributions from up and coming
artists from a variety of backgrounds.
When: 20 July, 7-9pm
Where: Islington Arts Factory,
Parkhurst Road, N7 0SF
How much: free
Medieval Meets Modern exhibition
The City of London and Cripplegate
Photographic Society have been
documenting the area around where
it has met since 1899 – the result
is an absorbing exhibition where the
historic characteristics of Clerkenwell,
Cripplegate and Finsbury meet their
modern-day counterparts.
When: now until 25 August 2012
Where: Islington Museum,
St John Street, EC1V 4NB
How much: free
For more information, call
020 7527 2837 or email
islington.museum@islington.gov.uk
World Shakespeare festival
The Almeida’s Artistic Director, Michael
Attenborough, brings Shakespeare’s
greatest tragedy, King Lear, to the
intimacy of the Almeida stage.
When: 31 August–3 November
2012
Where: Almeida Theatre, Almeida
Street, N1 1TA
How much: tickets from £8
For more information and to book visit
www.almeida.co.uk

www.islington.gov.uk
Olympic
inspired events
Green living
Tufnell Park food market
Start your weekend with a gourmet
breakfast, then leisurely mooch around
the market to stock up on some quality
food including organic and biodynamic
fruit and vegetables, meat, cheese,
bread, honey, cakes, jams and chutneys,
and more.
When: Saturdays 11am-3pm
Where: Tufnell Park Tavern, 162
Tufnell Park Road, N7
How much: free
Follow us on Twitter
@transitiontp or at facebook.com/
transitiontufnellpark
Sunday Cafe at the Ecology Centre
This is run by Highbury Timebank and
is open to anyone who would like to
enjoy some refreshments on a Sunday
and find out more about the Timebank’s
activities.
When: every Sunday 11am-5pm
Where: Islington Ecology Centre,
Gillespie Park, N5 1PH
How much: free
Family fun day
Celebrate Love Parks week and take
the family out for an afternoon of fun
including archery, wall climbing, martial
arts workshops, and more!
When: 24 July and 27 July 2012,
12.30-4.30pm
Where: 24 July at Kings Square
Park, Central Street, EC1V 8DE
and 27 July at Rosemary Gardens,
Southgate Road, N1 3BG
How much: free
assembly hall events
Neville Staple in concert
This is a rare chance to catch Neville
Staple (lead singer of The Specials)
perform with his band, playing a mixture
of Ska classics and songs from The
Specials’ repertoire.
When: 7 September, 7pm
Where: Islington Assembly Hall, Upper
Street, N1 2UD
How much: £17.50
The John Miller Orchestra
Come and experience a special swing
event with a 22-strong orchestra,
playing the music of Glenn Miller.
Featuring Glenn Miller’s nephew, it’s an
event not to be missed.
When: 22 September, 7pm
Where: Islington Assembly Hall, Upper
Street, N1 2UD
How much: £20
To book these events or other gigs
at the Islington Assembly Hall, visit
https://assemblyhall.ticketabc.com
Vintage pop-up fair
Enjoy a day of vintage shopping with
over 40 of the best vintage traders
from around the country, selling ladies’
and men’s vintage fashion, accessories,
jewellery, homeware, and more.
When: 7 October, 11am-4pm
Where: Islington Assembly Hall, Upper
Street, N1 2UD
How much: £3/£2 NUS
For more information about
the Islington Assembly Hall, visit
http://assemblyhall.islington.gov.uk
99 Tiny Games
99 Tiny Games are a collection
of very small, very quick-tounderstand
games which will be
pasted on to locations around
London for you to play!
When: July and August
Where: Whittington Park N19
4RS, Archway Library N19 5PH
How much: free
For more information visit
www.hideandseek.net/2012
Whitecross Street Party
The two-day festival features new
and unusual art, theatre, dance and
music, family events and lots of
lovely food and great music.
When: 21-22 July 2012
Where: Whitecross Street, EC1
How much: free
For more information visit
www.wxstreetparty.co.uk
Owl and the Pussycat
Royal Opera House is producing
a water-themed opera on
a decorated pontoon with
community choirs.
When: 29 July 2012, 6-9pm
Where: City Road Basin, N1 8GJ
How much: free
For more information visit
http://festival.london2012.com
31

Talk about great opportunities
Talk about Islington
secondary schools
Great teaching,
exciting curriculum
and excellent facilities.
Why not see for yourself?
For a list of open days please visit
www.islington.gov.uk/admissions
Apply online for an Islington secondary
school by 31 October 2012
www.islington.gov.uk/admissions