The Newham Mag 8 September 2007 ISSUE 128 Picture of a rugby ball Page 20 Be inspired by World Cup fever Page 10 Update on the smoking ban No smoking picture Page 16 Holy month of Ramadan Ramadan picture ADVERT MO'S BAR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT RAJ ON 020 8503 4200 EMAIL info@mosbar.co.uk 249 Green St. Forest Gate London E7 8LJ Striking Glass Bar Chic Luxurious Lounge Spacious Garden Mo’s Bar offers a quality environment serving a wide range or beers, wines, spirits and a multi choice bar menu from ‘lite-bites’ to a fully catered buffet of your choice for private functions. This ‘Chic’ rendezvous has a spacious bar area and rear garden ideal for parties of up to 240 people i.e. weddings, birthdays and anniversary celebrations. A smaller room licensed to hold up to 60 people is also available on the first floor, ideal for holding functions. Sky Sports Sound System Great food Selection Great Drinks! Great Food! Great Bar! CALL 020 8586 7808 - OPENING TIMES 12 NOON UNTIL 2AM AVAILABLE TO HIRE FOR YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. IDEAL FOR PARTIES, WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARIES. NOW OPEN Welcome to issue 128 of your Newham Mag. It’s packed with things for you to get involved in, from rugby to dancing. There’s also all you need to know about the new Stratford City development and much more. Hopefully lots of you enjoyed the free music at Under the Stars last weekend. You can see photographs in the next issue. We wish all our Muslim readers Ramadan Mubarak! EDITOR: Jen Bishop 020 8430 4533 ASSISTANT EDITOR: Ruth Elliott REPORTERS: Jo Mackie, Marie Keating DESIGN: Adam Renvoize, Khansa Ahmed STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Andrew Baker Additional photography: Steve Phillips ADVERTISING: Madison Bell Media Ltd 020 7517 9940 PRINT/REPROGRAPHICS: Woodford Litho Ltd The Newham Mag logo Regulars 04 NEWS – Two pages of news and pictures 06 UNDER THE STARS – Four-page picture special 10 MAYOR’S VIEW – The countdown to the Young Mayor elections is on 32 NEWHAM IN FOCUS – Four pages of community news from across the borough 36 KIDS’ CORNER – Puzzles, pictures and poems for our younger readers 39 WHAT’S ON – Three pages of listings to keep you busy – try something new this week! Features 12 SCHOOL TRAVEL PLANS – Newham schools’ success 14 HEALTH – How the smoking ban has gone down in Newham and where you can get help to quit 16 RAMADAN – Find out all about this Muslim holy month 18 LIVE LIFE – Go dancing in the streets in your local area! 20 WORLD CUP – Why not try rugby in Newham? 22 2012 GAMES UPDATE – Stratford City is coming 26 TRACK 12 – find out what the Track 12 members have been doing 29 CULTURE – All about Pakistan 30 NATURE RESERVE – Discover this hidden gem in East Ham Recycle logo Don’t forget to recycle your Newham Mag once you’ve read it 8 September 2007 // issue 128 Front Cover Look out for the next issue from September 22 Islamic picture For all Newham Council services call 020 8430 2000 or visit www.newham.gov.uk If you do not receive The Newham Mag at home, or know someone who doesn’t, please call 020 8430 4533, write to The Newham Mag, Newham Town Hall, East Ham, E6 2RP or email newham.mag@newham.gov.uk On the cover: Get World Cup fever at ELRFC Picture of a squirrel Published by the London Borough of Newham IN BRIEF // Cemetery is 150 years old This year marks 150 years since the first burial at West Ham Cemetery. During this time there have been more than 180,000 interments. There have been many improvements over the years including the re-laying of the paths in 2006 and the restoration of the original Victorian chapel in 2001/2. Community healthy eating champions Would you like the chance to communicate the healthy eating message to people in Newham? A free, six-week Community Healthy Eating Champions course is being run from 24 September to 7 November by Newham Food Access Partnership, supported by the council, Newham Primary Care Trust, the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and East Potential. To find out more call Shamaela Perwiz on 020 8522 2298. Find out more about sewer works in Forest Gate and Stratford Residents in parts of Forest Gate and Stratford where work is to start on a flood alleviation scheme are invited to find out more from Thames Water. There will be a drop-in session at the Durning Hall Community Centre, Earlham Grove, Forest Gate E7 9AB. Members of the project team will be available to answer any questions. It will be held on 19 September between 4pm and 8pm. All homes affected will be sent a letter explaining these changes in further detail. News Young people in Newham schools have performed extremely well in this year’s GCSE examinations. Picture of students Pupils from Forest Gate School celebrate their results with Sir Robin and Cllr Quintin Peppiatt Provisional results show that the percentage of Newham students achieving five or more GCSE or equivalent grades from A* to C, rose from 52.2 per cent in 2006 to 55.3 per cent this year. The percentage of students achieving five or more GCSE or equivalent grades from A* to C including English and mathematics in Newham rose from 41.1 per cent in 2006 to 43.7 per cent in 2007. The highest proportion of students gaining five or more grades A* to C attended St Angela’s Roman Catholic School in Forest Gate. The most improved schools in the borough were Lister School (improved by 10.5 per cent), Little Ilford School (improved by 10.9 per cent), St Bonaventure’s RC School (improved by 13.8 per cent), Sarah Bonnell School (improved by 10.5 per cent) and Rokeby School (improved by 8.2 per cent). Mayor Sir Robin Wales and Councillor Quintin Peppiatt, executive member for children and young people, celebrated with students at Forest Gate and Little Ilford Schools as they opened their examination results. At Forest Gate School, student Nadia Sultana gained five A grades and is expecting to go to NewVIc to study A Level chemistry, biology, maths and media studies. She said: “I’m really pleased with my results. They are much better than I had expected.” Margaret Wheeler, head teacher of Forest Gate School, said: “I’m very pleased for the young people, many of whom have achieved more than they had anticipated. I’m particularly proud that the students have done so well in gaining five A* to C grades in their GCSEs including maths and English, which is worthy of praise especially considering that many of the young people have English as an additional language.” Newham’s game on for the five-year countdown to the Paralympic Games Newham celebrated the five-year countdown to the 2012 Paralympic Games with the culmination of its Game On festival for disabled people. It has been running throughout the summer as part of the council’s LIVE LIFE programme. The event ended with a dance competition, sports activities and a conference on sport for disabled people on 29 August – the date of the Paralympic Games opening ceremony in 2012. Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: “We work hard to ensure that our services are inclusive and accessible for all sectors of our diverse community, and the Game On festival has attracted many disabled people from all age groups. “The London Games are already challenging perceptions and planning for disabled people and I am proud that we are going to be a part of that.” Vision of Disability was a conference encouraging charities and those working for disabled sport and local authorities, to discuss better joint working and how to improve their sport provision to disabled people. Picture of Game on New sports are tried out at the Game On festival Mayor helps deliver a crushing warning to tax evaders Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales helped show residents what could happen if they leave their untaxed vehicles on the streets. A crushed car was displayed in Meridian Square outside Stratford Station as part of a campaign by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to target car tax evaders. Its No Way Out campaign hopes to remind motorists to keep their tax disc up to date and warn them of the severe penalties for failing to do so. Sir Robin said: “We have always taken a tough stance against untaxed vehicles and since 2001 Newham Council, in partnership with the DVLA and Newham Police, has lifted almost 19,000 of them from our streets. “People should heed the warning. We do not tolerate untaxed vehicles in Newham and owners must realise their vehicles could end up crushed if they don’t show a valid tax disc if their vehicle is kept or used on the road.” For more information contact the DVLA on 0870 240 0010 or visit www.dvla.gov.uk Crushed car picture Mayor Sir Robin Wales (right) and John Moore (left) from the DVLA’s Crime Reduction Unit with a crushed Audi car Sainsbury’s goes bananas for Fairtrade Sainsbury’s has made a massive commitment to the plight of farmers across the world by switching all its bananas to Fairtrade. Products that carry the Fairtrade mark guarantee farmers in developing countries a fair price for their produce and support projects within their communities. This means that every banana bought from Sainsbury’s in Stratford, East Ham or Beckton or any other Sainsbury’s store throughout the country, will benefit the farmers in the communities who grow them, many of which are in the Caribbean. The Newham Fairtrade Steering Group has been to meet with Sainsbury’s, who are now looking at more ways to support Newham people to buy fairtrade, such as stocking more ranges and promoting these in store. Sarah Williams who manages the Newham Fairtrade Group, said: “This is great news for Fairtrade in Newham as local residents can easily show their support for fairtrade without any extra cost, while shopping at one of the three stores in the borough. We hope this will also encourage them to buy other products such as tea, coffee and chocolate.” For more information visit www.newhamfairtrade.org NEWS // IN PICTURES More than 35,000 people spent a weekend Under the Stars. Five live performances in Central Park, East Ham, culminated in a spectacular firework display. UNDER THE STARS SPECIAL NEWS // IN PICTURES 1 All ages took to the dance floor for an evening of swing. 2 Performers on Saturday included Stereo Nation and the Rishi Rich Showcase. 3 Flag waving at the classical concert 4 Cowboy hats and line dancing on Saturday afternoon. UNDER THE STARS SPECIAL 08 09 NEWS // IN PICTURES The ever-popular Sounds of Asia evening on Saturday was a great success. UNDER THE STARS SPECIAL NEWS // IN PICTURES 1 “Shooting Stars” provided an afternoon of entertainment for the very young. 2 Jazzie B brought the Soul II Soul Soundsystem to Soul Night. 3 Big band sounds at Swing Night. 4 The other Jazzy B. UNDER THE STARS SPECIAL Picture of Sir Robin Wales Mayor’s view with Sir Robin Wales Last week marked the beginning of the last school term for 2007, and the beginning of the nomination period to become the first Young Mayor of Newham. We’ll be electing a Young Mayor, along with a Youth Council, who will represent one of the youngest populations in the UK. It’s all about giving talented people the opportunity to turn their ideas and ambitions for the young people of the borough into reality, and I’ll do all that I can to help them achieve this. Once we have our candidates, the race is on to find a Young Mayor of Newham. Starting this Monday (10 September), we’ll be on the road visiting schools in the borough, equipped with a troupe of talented young dancers and singers who’ll entertain students, hand out nomination forms and answer any questions about how to become the Young Mayor. It’s going to be a really exciting time, and in a couple of weeks – once we have our candidates – the council will be running campaign training days, to help candidates write manifestos and speeches, and prepare campaign material. It’s then over to them to get the votes for the Young Mayor Election Days on 17 and 18 October. This is a chance for the young people of our borough to stand up and have their voices heard and we hope this will ignite a passion for politics in young people throughout Newham – or even just make them more aware of how democracy works. I’m passionate about providing opportunities for our younger residents to stand up for what they believe in, make a difference and create a safer, brighter community for themselves and those around them. For further information visit www.newham.gov. uk/youngmayor Young Mayor of Newham If you have a concern that you would like to share with me, please come along to the next Mayor’s Question Time. It’s on Saturday 15 September from 10–11am at Beckton ASDA, Tollgate Road, East Beckton. ADVERT For more information call 020 8430 2000or log on www.newham.gov.uk Times and films subject to change NEWHAM PRESENTS LIVE LIFE MUSIC AND DANCE MONTH SEPTEMBER 2007 A FANTASTIC MONTH OF LIVE MUSIC AND DANCE THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER DON’T MISS top local bands; the cream of UK hip hop including SHAMELESS; films in Stratford Park. PLUS free quadrille and tea dances, Bollywood and street dance and a whole load of toe tapping fun! PICK UP YOUR FREE LISTINGS PROGRAMME FROM LOCAL SERVICE CENTRES, LIBRARIES, LEISURE CENTRES AND OTHER COUNCIL OUTLETS. CHARGES APPLY FOR SOME PERFORMANCES. SEE PROGRAMME FOR FURTHER DETAILS. Part of the LIVE LIFE Music and Dance month SAFE AND GREEN Parents leave cars at home as pupils walk to school Newham children are finding their way to school in safer, greener ways thanks to the huge success of school travel plans. Almost 60 per cent of Newham schools now have school travel plans in place and have had particular success this year. Transport for London launched a London-wide accreditation scheme to recognise those schools that are going above and beyond what is required of the normal travel plan. Godwin Junior and New City Primary Schools were two of only five in London to be judged outstanding at the May awards ceremony at City Hall and were presented their awards by Jenny Jones, London Assembly member. Southern Road Primary School also received the award for higher standards. Four schools (Central Park Primary, Plaistow Primary, St Antony’s RC and The Walton Road Centre) were awarded the sustainable accreditation. Karl Bardouille, deputy headteacher and school travel plan coordinator at Godwin Junior, said: “We shared the award with the children in a whole school assembly and discussed the big impact each and every pupil had on their families and the wider community because of the school travel plan. It is now naturally embedded into school life. “The award was an excellent way of recognising all the hard work that has been put in. By actually implementing, monitoring and evaluating the events that take place through the School Travel Plan, pupils’ attendance and performance has risen as they enjoy coming to school more in an environmental way.” In order to achieve outstanding, schools had to provide evidence of a shift away from car use. School travel plans really are making a positive difference in Newham schools. New City Primary has achieved 85.9 per cent walking and 12.4 per cent cycling to school, an amazing achievement that contributed to it being awarded School of the Year at the London Sustainable Transport Awards ceremony in July. What is a school travel plan? School travel plans (STPs) look at the journey that pupils take to and from school everyday and they outline, in an action plan, various measures that schools can undertake to make that journey safer. The plans aim to reduce the number of trips made by car and break down the barriers surrounding walking, cycling and public transport. Schools can experience a myriad of benefits such as reduced congestion at the gate, more children, parents and staff being active on a daily basis, less pollution around the school and safer walking and cycling routes to school. “ Pupils’ attendance and performance has risen as they enjoy coming to school more in an environmental way” For more information on school travel plans, contact the School Travel Plan Advisors on 020 8430 2753 or email helen.mcauley@newham.gov.uk or ursula.braun@newham.gov.uk ADVERT The world of business is on your doorstep Enrol on our wide range of professional and introductory part-time courses Dates remaining include 10th and 12th September between 4.30pm - 7.30pm Courses include: Access to office skills Accounting AAT (level 2&3) SAGE (level 1&2) ILEX paralegal studies (level 2) Office administration Management ILM (level 2&3) Marketing CIM (Intermediate level) For more information call 020 7473 4110 NEWVIC www.newvic.ac.uk Plaistow - Prince Regent lane E13 8SG Stratford - 379-381 High Street E15 4QZ ADVERT COME HOME If there was one thing you could change in your life what would it be? Stratford Church of Christ meets at Sarah Bonnell School Deanery Road, Stratford, London E15 4LP Sunday: 10.30am (Deanery Road Entrance) Wednesday: 7pm (Water Lane Entrance) Phone 0207 231 7223 or 0773 0773129 email: info@comehome.me.uk Web: www.comehome.me.uk ADVERT Explore Don’t miss your opportunity to tour the London 2012 Olympic Park site as part of the London Open House architectural festival. Guided bus tours will be operating from 1pm on Saturday 15 September and all day Sunday 16 September from the SCORE Complex on Oliver Road, Leyton. An exhibition will feature sport activities, design of the Olympic Park and information from the Olympic Delivery Authority funding partners. Bus tours are limited and must be booked in advance. Phone 0203 023 6056 to secure your place or to find out more details. For safety reasons children under 12 years are not permitted. If you miss this weekend or the tours are full, don’t worry. This is the first of many opportunities for local people to visit the Olympic Park site. The construction of the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Games is funded by: the National Lottery, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Greater London Authority and the London Development Agency. © The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited 2007. Image of smoke The landlord and the quitter Two months after the smoking ban we look at the impact in Newham and tell you how to get help giving up Ban has helped trade at Plaistow pub Tom Friel, landlord of The Black Lion pub in Plaistow, supports the smoking ban. He says: “People are enjoying sitting outside and trade’s actually increased. You get the odd one having a moan but I think people have just accepted it. “I suppose publicans who don’t have outdoor facilities have responded negatively but we have one of the biggest beer gardens in East London and we’ve covered our courtyard for winter.” He adds: “I’m a non-smoker and it’s much nicer working here now. The ban has even helped a couple of chain smokers I know to cut down.” Newham Quit Julie Marlow chose to take part in the Newham NHS Quit programme after they held a session at her work. “I had wanted to give up for a while,” says Julie. “Health was a reason but really it was to do with money. “Quit came into our office and were brilliant. The girls were really nice and asked us a lot of questions to find out the best way to help us give up. “They showed us lots of leaflets about giving up smoking and gave us lots of advice. We had weekly meetings and we also had a phone number that we could call at any time. Julie is now celebrating a month of not smoking – with a holiday! “I put away £5 each day that I haven’t smoked, says Julie. “In one month I have saved up enough to take my son on holiday. “I’m really proud of myself.” Proprietor of the Black Lion Smoking and your health > Lung cancer is the commonest cancer in Newham, causing the most deaths among those over the age of 35. > Smoking shortens life expectancy. It’s estimated that 50 per cent of regular cigarette smokers will die prematurely, half of these in middle age, as a result of their habit. > Smoking increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, poor circulation, reproductive problems, blocked arteries, blood clots, and emphysema. > Smoking can cause myeloid leukaemia, cancer of the upper respiratory tract, oesophagus, bladder, kidney, stomach, pancreas, mouth and cervix. > Smoking is the single biggest cause of cancer in the world and 106,000 die each year in the UK from smoking related diseases. > Smoking causes around 90 per cent of UK lung cancer cases in the UK. What’s in that cigarette? Cigarette smoke contains cancer causing chemicals and poisons, including: Arsenic: This poison is used in pest control, it causes cancer and damages the heart and blood vessels. Formaldehyde: This is a preservative for dead bodies, it causes cancer and diseases of the lungs and airways. Benzine: This solvent is used to manufacture petrol, it can cause leukaemia. Second hand smokers Non-smokers who breathe in second hand tobacco smoke get the same chemicals that a smoker inhales. Every year 17,000 under-fives are admitted to hospital suffering from the effects of passive smoking. Smoking when pregnant Smoking during pregnancy can cause problems for the baby and mum-to-be, including: bleeding, slow growth of the baby, premature birth, miscarriage, stillbirth and cot death. Do you want help to quit in Newham? Since 1 April 2003, more than 5,200 people have quit smoking for at least four weeks with help from Newham Stop Smoking Service. This NHS service helps you set a quit date and provides support, advice and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). See: www.newhampct.nhs.uk/stopsmoking or call free on 0800 013 1673 for further information. You can also speak to your GP for help and advice. Understanding Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and the holiest of the four holy months. It begins with the sighting of the new moon after which all healthy Muslims are obliged to abstain from all food, drink, tobacco and any kind of sexual contact between dawn and sunset. From a spiritual perspective, purity of thought and action is paramount. Ordained in the Qur’an, the fast is an exacting act of deeply personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of God-consciousness. The month of Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. The fasting is intended to help teach Muslims self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity. It is common to have one meal (known as the Suhoor), just before sunrise and another (known as the Iftar), directly after sunset. Did you know? > Ramadan derives from the Arabic root: ramida or ar-ramad, meaning scorching heat or dryness. Since Muslims are commanded to fast during the month of Ramadan, it is believed that the month’s name may refer to the heat of thirst and hunger, or because fasting burns away one’s past sins. > Muslims believe that God began revealing the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan (in the year 610 CE). Fasting during Ramadan did not become an obligation for Muslims until 624 CE, at which point it became the third of the Five Pillars of Islam. > When the first crescent of the new moon has been officially sighted by a reliable source, the month of Ramadan is declared over, and the month of Shawwal begins. The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid ul-Fitr, the festival of fast-breaking. It is a joyous time beginning with a special prayer, and accompanied by celebration, socialising, festive meals and sometimes very modest gift-giving, especially to children. > At the beginning of Ramadan, it is appropriate to wish Muslims “Ramadan Mubarak” which means “Blessed Ramadan”. At its conclusion, you may say “Eid Mubarak”. 1 12 Wed 4.50 5.10 7.26 7.31 9.15 2 13 Thu 4.52 5.12 7.24 7.29 9.15 ramadan 1428/2007 3 14 Fri 4.54 5.14 7.21 7.26 9.15 4 15 Sat 4.56 5.16 7.19 7.24 9.15 5 16 Sun 4.57 5.17 7.17 7.22 9.15 6 17 Mon 4.59 5.19 7.14 7.19 9.15 7 18 Tue 5.01 5.21 7.12 7.17 9.15 8 19 Wed 5.03 5.23 7.10 7.15 9.15 9 20 Thu 5.05 5.25 7.08 7.13 9.15 10 21 Fri 5.07 5.27 7.05 7.10 9.15 11 22 Sat 5.09 5.29 7.03 7.08 9.00 12 23 Sun 5.10 5.30 7.01 7.06 9.00 13 24 Mon 5.12 5.32 6.58 7.03 9.00 14 26 Tue 5.14 5.34 6.56 7.01 9.00 15 27 Wed 5.16 5.36 6.54 6.59 9.00 16 28 Thu 5.17 5.37 6.51 6.56 9.00 17 29 Fri 5.19 5.39 6.49 6.54 9.00 18 30 Sat 5.21 5.41 6.47 6.52 9.00 19 1 Sun 5.23 5.43 6.45 6.50 9.00 20 2 Mon 5.24 5.44 6.42 6.47 8.45 21 3 Tue 5.26 5.46 6.40 6.45 8.45 22 4 Wed 5.28 5.48 6.38 6.43 8.45 23 5 Thu 5.29 5.49 6.36 6.41 8.45 24 6 Fri 5.31 5.51 6.33 6.38 8.45 25 7 Sat 5.33 5.53 6.31 6.36 8.45 26 8 Sun 5.35 5.55 6.29 6.34 8.45 27 9 Mon 5.36 5.56 6.27 6.32 8.45 28 10 Tue 5.38 5.58 6.24 6.29 8.45 29 11 Wed 5.40 6.00 6.22 6.27 8.45 30 12 Thu 5.41 6.01 6.20 6.25 8.45 RAMADAN SEP / OCT DAY OF WEEK SEHRI ENDS FAJR JAMAT IFTAR TIME MAGHRIB JAMAT ISHA/TARAWI start of fast daily prayers breaking of fast Beginning & ending of Ramadan is subject to the sighting of the Moon. Dua for breaking the fast: “Thirst has gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is certain, if Allah wills.” Timetable data provided by ELM 020 7650 3000 I N T H E N A M E O F A L L A H , M O S T C O M PA S S I O N AT E , M O S T M E R C I F U L “It is He who has appointed you guardians inthe earth, and has raised some of you in rank above others, that He may try you in what He has given you. Holy Qur’an Chapter 6, Verse 165 The supporters of this calendar wish you all a rewarding Ramadan, happy Eid-ul-Fitr and a prosperous new year. CLIMATE CHANGE The effects of climate change – such as flooding and water shortages – will be felt severely in many parts of the Muslim world. By taking action now we can all make a difference. Talk to your friends and family about climate change, and get a personalised action plan to cut your Carbon emissions at http://direct.gov.uk/ActonCO2. http://www.london.gov.uk/diy/ http://www.lsx.org.uk Initiated by Myamedia • Design info@redaspect.com www.tayyabs.co.uk www.tajstores.co.uk A weekend of dance from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 September DANCING IN THE STREETS Why not get involved with some FREE toe-tapping fun at community centres throughout Newham? There’ll be free refreshments at all events. Beckton Community Centre Friday 14 September, 7-10pm Ballet and street dancing demonstrations by Moksliukas followed by music and dancing. Saturday 15 September, 3-6pm Tap, ballet, and street demonstrations by Fusion Arts Theatre School with guest appearances by Boy Blue, Amity, Caesy Jones, Ashley and TJ and Musicality. Sunday 16 September, 3-6pm Tea dancing with Barry Perry. Sunday 16 September, 7.30-9.30pm Beckton music night – a gala evening Come along to an exciting and vibrant evening of world music and melodies with sounds from professional performers, Grand Union, as well as home grown talent from Newham’s World Choir and Recycled Orchestra. For further information call 020 8430 2000 and for free tickets contact Nandita Saha on 020 7511 1214. Community Road Community Centre, Stratford Saturday 15 September, 2-4pm Tap and line dancing. Loads of toe-tapping fun! Saturday 15 September, 7.30pm till late Tea dancing with Barry Perry. Contact Pam Board on 020 8553 3270 for tickets. Field Community Centre, Forest Gate Sunday 16 September, 3-6pm Quadrille dancing and guest performances by Newham Steel Band, Fire Stead (I love Salsa), Honey’s Dance Academy and Tobago Crusoe. Contact Farzana Amer on 020 8536 2800 for tickets. Flanders Community Centre, East Ham Sunday 16 September, 4-9pm A great way to keep fit and have lots of fun at the same time! Contact Lorne Hague on 020 8472 4020. Jack Cornwell Community Centre, Manor Park Saturday 15 September, 12 noon-2pm Learn a few street dance and line dance moves as well as cheerleading skills. Contact Alan Hall on 020 8553 3459. New Hathaway Community Centre, Manor Park Saturday 15 September, 1-4pm Bollywood, African and line dancing with a guest appearance from Honey’s Dance Academy. Contact Lisa Beadle on 020 8548 4980. Newham African Caribbean Resource Centre, Plaistow Saturday 15 September, 2-6pm Even if you’ve never tried it before, come along and try traditional African and quadrille dancing. Contact David Idiabana on 020 8471 2258 for tickets. Queens Terrace Community Centre, Plaistow Saturday 15 September, 11am-3pm Dance workshops with MOJO. Contact Paula Blake on 020 7473 2270 for tickets. St John’s Community Centre, North Woolwich Saturday 15 September, 10am-5pm Step in the right direction with free street, African and tea dancing. Contact Elahe Panahi on 020 7476 1666 for tickets. Trinity Community Centre, Canning Town Saturday 15 September, 12 noon-5pm Street and tea dancing. Contact Pam Rozee on 020 7366 5577 for tickets. Upton Community Centre, Upton Park Sunday 16 September, 6-10pm Performances by Honey’s Dance Academy featuring Honey Kalaria. Contact Hemant Bakrania or Bharat Kanani on 020 8552 8647 for tickets. HAVE A GO! Beginner’s guide to the fox trot The fox trot basic or “magic step”. He steps forward, forward, side, close. The timing is slow, slow, quick, quick. The woman’s steps in the fox trot basic. R L L R 4 R 3 1 L 2 R 2 3 L 1 R L L R 4 Get inspired by the Rugby World Cup This week sees the start of the Rugby World Cup and Newham has a thriving rugby club right on its doorstep. East London Rugby Football Club (ELRFC) in West Ham is a familyorientated and popular club with three teams. The 1st XV play in the Essex 1s League and the 2nd and 3rd XVs both play in Merit Divisions. Whatever your age or experience, why not use the World Cup as your inspiration to get involved in local rugby? Training Training at ELRFC is every Tuesday and Thursday evening, where a coach and physiotherapist are available. ELRFC also fields a veterans side, whose members look to play once or twice a month. The youth side caters for ages 11 to 18 and they train on early Thursday evenings, playing their matches on Sunday mornings. The club is always on the lookout for new members, especially now, at the start of a new season. If you’re interested in joining, why not just turn up to a training session on a Tuesday or Thursday between 7.30pm and 9pm? Social members are also welcome. Husband and wife team Rob and Kelly Herbert have recently taken over running the club and are keen to promote its friendly, family atmosphere. Kelly, who grew up in Forest Gate, said: “We’re very family-orientated. There are always kids running around. Everyone’s welcome here. There’s never any trouble and everyone’s friendly.” There are lots of social events and the bar and hall at the club are available to hire for functions. Those who would rather watch the World Cup games outside of the pub, can join ELRFC as a social member and soak up the atmosphere there instead. Not a public school sport Kelly finds it hard to understand the clichéd view people sometimes have of rugby as a “toff’s” sport. “I’ve been around rugby for years and I’ve never thought of it like that. If anything, I’ve always seen it as quite a working class thing. It’s quite different to football because it’s more physical, but also because you don’t tend to get any trouble from fans at all. There certainly isn’t any snobbery about it here.” Why not join? Whatever your age or experience, you’re welcome at ELRFC. Either turn up at a training session on a Tuesday or Thursday night, or get in touch using the contact details below. Full membership is £60 a year with concessions for students. Social and youth membership is just £30 a year. Kelly and Rob Herbert Watch the Rugby World Cup at ELRFC The club will be showing all the World Cup games at the club. Go along and enjoy the games in a great social atmosphere with specials on at the bar. If you’re not yet a member and are interested in joining, see the contact details on the right. East London Rugby Football Club Holland Road West Ham London E15 3BP Tel: 020 7476 5526 http://elrfc.wordpress.com Email info@elrfc.com Nearest Tube/British Rail: West Ham The world’s first gay rugby team The Kings Cross Steelers, who claim to be the world’s first gay rugby team, also train and play at ELRFC. Last month, the club announced that it has formally expressed its intention to bid to host the 3rd Union Cup gay rugby tournament in London. For more information and fixtures, visit www.kxsrfc.com Live life logo Coach Mark Deery’s son, Alex, likes to join in Artists impression of Stratford City22 Welcome to Stratford City Plans approved for UK’s largest eco-friendly retail and urban regeneration project Newham won’t only benefit from new sporting and transport facilities when the 2012 Games come to the capital. An exciting shopping, housing and entertainment hub is being built right next door to the Olympic Park in Stratford. Planners have been given the go ahead to create a gleaming £4billion retail and leisure complex alongside modern residential and community amenities and landscaped public spaces. Stratford City will be the biggest retail and urban regeneration project in the UK and it will be the most environmentally-friendly development of its kind. Mayor Sir Robin Wales is backing the plan to turn the run-down Stratford Rail Lands site on the Lower Lea Valley into a thriving community: “Newham is changing and Stratford City is part of our vision to make sure that it is changing for the benefit of local people. Approval of the Zone 1 master plan is a crucial step in this project which will create a better environment and job opportunities ideal for our residents. “Having recently signed the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, I am particularly pleased that the development is being delivered to the highest environmental standards.” Environmentally-friendly With environmental issues firmly in focus, Stratford City will be developed in line with strict guidelines set out by The Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change. This piece of legislation is supported by 200 local authorities, including Newham Council, who have pledged to address the issues of climate change by making sure such development projects are planned and constructed in a way that will protect the environment. The project will set a new standard of excellence for urban regeneration developments of the future, which is excellent news for the environment. To save energy and natural resources, the site will have its own cooling heat and power plant, which will supply 75 per cent of Stratford City’s power and cut residential water consumption by 30 per cent. Carbon emissions (greenhouse gasses which pollute the atmosphere) will be 25 per cent less than current benchmarks, rising to 50 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050. Retail therapy It’s good news for shoppers and people looking for careers in the retail sector. Developer Westfield owns seven large shopping centres in the UK and the plans for Stratford City include a huge John Lewis department store, which will create 800 jobs for local people. The 2million square feet of retail space will also offer a Waitrose supermarket and a diverse mix of national and international fashion and lifestyle brands. Building careers Stratford City is set to create 25,000 construction jobs when building begins early next year. Affordable designer homes As well as bringing upmarket new shops and leisure facilities to the area, Stratford City will also bring thousands of homes and a school. Westfield will create 1,200 homes, 35 per cent of which will be affordable housing. A further 4,000 units in the Athlete’s Village will be converted to residential homes after the Games. Accessible for all The site will also be the hub of several major transport links. Stratford City is served by the Docklands Light Rail (DLR), Central and Jubilee lines. Local rail links will provide fast routes across the capital and the commuter belts of Ashford and Ebbsfleet in Kent. In addition to existing transport links, the new Stratford International Station connects the UK to Europe, linking East London with Paris and Brussels in two hours. Regeneration As part of the plans, Stratford Station will get a new ticket hall and the area will get new bus stations, extra parking for cars, cycle lanes and improved pedestrian access for the whole area. It’s hoped Stratford City will bring exciting opportunities and revitalise the area when it opens just before the Games in Easter 2011. ADVERTS NEWHAM SERVICES FORUM To advertise in the Newham Services Forum Please contact Jo Giles at Madison Bell Media on 0207 517 9940 Board Meeting 2pm on Tuesday 18h September 2007in: The Conference Rooms, Warehouse K, Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1DR. Discussion at the meeting will include a review of complaints made to the trustduring 2006/07. If you are interested in this or other health-related topics,please come and join us. Meeting room is accessible to disabled people. Bus Routes: 147, 241, 325 (alight at Custom House/Freemasons Road) Docklands Light Railway: Custom House (2 minute walk) For more information about the meeting, or to request sign language interpreters orlarge print papers, call: The Communications Team at Newham PCTon 020 8586 6329 All members of the public are welcome to attend Do you want to make a difference? Well you can! Help us to help you and help support a vulnerable family in the process! HOME-START NEWHAM SUPPORTING YOUNG FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS A TEN DAY ACCREDITED LEVEL ONE OR LEVEL TWO TRAINING COURSE ON GOING TRAINING ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS LOTS OF EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH FAMILIES OUT OF POCKET TRAVEL EXPENSES A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT AFTER WORKING WITH A FAMILY FOR AN INFORMATION PACK: Phone: 020 8470 2600 Or Email: hsnewham@aol.com AS ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, WE CAN OFFER YOU: We are recruiting for the next Home-Start Training Courses which start on: Tuesday 24th September to 4th December 2007 - The venue will be at ‘Grassroots Children Centre’, Memorial Avenue, North Canning Town, E16 And Thursday 4th October to 13th December 2007 - The venue will be at ‘Tollgate Children’s Centre’, Barclay Road, Plaistow, E13 Would you like to volunteer to help support someone aged 50+ who needs practical and motional support at home? Age Concern Newham Contact Jonathan Webb Volunteer Coordinator 020 8586 City of London Cemetery and Crematorium is proud to announce that we have been awarded THE GREEN FLAG AWARD for the 7th consecutive year and GREEN HERITAGE SITE AWARD for the second consecutive year. Aldersbrook Road E12 5DQ 020 8530 2151 Fax 020 8530 1563 cityoflondoncemetery@cityoflondon.gov.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk ADVERTS Newham University Hospital Annual Public Meeting Thursday 20 September 2007 4pm - 7pm Newham University Hospital NHS Trust St Andrew’s Wing, Glen Road, Plaistow, E13 A health fair will run from 4pm - 5.30pm Question Time will begin at 5.30pm For more information about this event and to reserve a place, please contact Vanessa Fortune on 020 7363 9354. All members of the public are welcome to attend Would you like to befriend and mentor an older person in our community? Age Concern Newham Contact Jonathan Webb Volunteer Coordinator 020 8586 New Luxury Office Space and newly refurbished office available situated above 'mo's bar' @Green Street, E7. Each office is on a 3 month lease. Are you living with anxiety, Stress, emotional or relationship problems? Habits, phobias or fears that rule your life? Do you feel you could benefit from a fresh perspective on your life, someone to help you through the difficulties and challenges we all face from time to time, someone you can rely on to be completely confidential, impartial and with the expert knowledge and skills to help you? If so, give me a call, and lets start changing your life for the better right now. Hypnotherapy – Psychotherapy – Counselling Peter Phelps Dip, SACH, Hyp, GHR.Reg, SQHP. Here to help – whatever the problem. Burges Natural Therapy Centre, 7 Burges Road, E6 and Stratford Advice Arcade, The Grove, Stratford, E15 Call Now – 07855 352 947 www.changeyourmind.ltd.uk Cisco and iPRO courses Are you looking for professional qualification in networking? AAT intermediate Level 3 Do you wnat a free fast track qualification in accounting? Stifford Community Centre Contact Afzal Mahmood at Stifford Centre 2-6 Cressy Place, London E1 3JG tel: 020 7790 3632 email: info@stifford.org.uk www.stifford.org.uk Track 12 – a group of people whose individual goals The Newham Mag has been following in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Our Track 12ers have been busy over the past year working towards their goals and ambitions. We caught up with three of them to see how they’re getting on. Fire Stead 45, from Forest Gate Fire is the director of I Love Salsa and teaches Latin dance in schools. His goal is to develop salsa in schools and create an inter-school Olympic dance competition. He would like to bring the World Dance Championships to London in 2012. Fire passed his UKA Licentiate exam in October, which means he is now qualified to train dance teachers. That same month he set up his first teacher training course, with two people qualifying to teach children in schools. “It is a fantastic achievement of which I feel very proud,” says Fire. He also moved a step closer to his World Dance Championship goals by taking a group of children to the World Dance Championships in Austria. “I couldn’t be happier with the progress of my Track 12 goals,” says Fire. “I feel that people in the right places are sitting up and taking notice of the valuable work of I Love Salsa. I am delighted with the progress and development of the children we are teaching and feel that our plans for a major competition leading up to 2012 are going from strength to strength.” ‘‘ I couldn’t be happier with the progress of my Track 12 goals Fire Stead Cecelia Shaikh 26, from Stratford Cecelia is a single mother with a three-year-old daughter. Cecelia would like to be an inspiration to other single parents in Newham. As well as bringing up her daughter, she would like to write a novel, complete a degree in journalism and communications, and work for a magazine or publisher. In May last year Cecilia completed her first year at university with a 2i grade. She also put her first plans into action for a novel after completing a creative writing course. To do this she enrolled her daughter Saree into a nursery and, despite her early fears, she has seen her settle in really well. After Christmas in Sweden visiting family and friends, Cecelia worked at Newham Council for four weeks, giving her the opportunity to write articles for the Newham.com website. In March she celebrated her daughter’s third birthday. Cecelia is still keeping up teaching Finnish with the help of relatives in Sweden sending story books and games. “I’m benefiting enormously from my course,” says Cecelia. “It’s as if I’m arming myself with as much information about the different aspects of the field I wish to work in. “I’ve always loved being a mother, to be a good mum is my greatest ambition. But I now take my other aspirations seriously too.” ‘‘I’m benefiting enormously from my course Cecelia Shaikh Arfah Farooq 16, from East Ham Arfah’s goal is to volunteer at the Olympics. She would also like to become an interior designer, and present her own TV show on interior design. In December Arfah moved a step closer to her dream when she attended an Olympic design workshop. Arfah also became part of The Architecture Crew, and as part of this took part in the Open House London weekend, and also sat on the question panel at City Hall as part of London Play and Home Zones Conference. “I felt proud of myself because I was one of only two young people there,” says Arfah. This year Arfah has finished school and has been accepted into sixth form college, after taking her GCSEs in June. “I was really relieved and felt free after my exams but it also felt weird that after this summer I’ll be going to a sixth form college, not a school, and a new chapter of my life will begin.” ‘‘I was really relieved and felt free after my exams but it also felt weird that after this summer I’ll be going to a sixth form college Arfah Farooq Perhaps you have a dream or ambition that you would like to complete before 2012? Check out your LIVE LIFE directory for ideas. To find out more about track 12, visit www.newham.com ADVERT ROYAL DOCKS COMMUNITY FORUM Safer Together, Stronger Together Are you concerned about crime and anti-social behaviour in your community? Do you want to hear what’s happening to make this a safer place? Get along to this free, informal event to... • get tips about personal safety • meet your Safer Neighbourhoods Team and tell them yourconcerns at the police surgery • take part in workshops on personal safety, home security andconflict mediation PLUS for young people there’ll be fun activities including facepainting, badge making, T-shirt painting and sports taster sessions. Saturday 22 September 11am – 2pm Britannia Village Hall, 65 Evelyn Road, Silvertown E16 1TU FREE BBQ & KIDS ACTIVITIES BRING THIS ADVERT AND GET A FREE PERSONAL ALARM Numbers are limited – come early to avoid D oid disappointment Rubina, Faiza and Adeel Samar with their biryani PERFECTLY Pakistani Sixty years of independence was celebrated by Pakistanis in Newham last month. Here we give you a traditional recipe for biryani and tell you a bit more about the country. PAKISTAN FACTS Pakistan is an Islamic Republic and its capital is Islamabad. Currency The basic unit of currency is the Rupee, which is divided into 100 paisa. Economy Pakistan’s major exports include raw cotton and cotton products, rice, fish and fish products, carpets and rugs, leather and leather goods, sports and surgical goods. Languages The national language is Urdu, while the official language is English. Some of the main regional languages include Sindhi, Baluchi, Punjabi and Pushto. Population Pakistan has a population of more than 130million. The major cities are Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad and Islamabad. Religion Muslim (97%), Hindu (1.5%), Christian (1%) and several other minorities. Time Zone Pakistan Standard Time is GMT plus five hours. Biryani recipe Method 1 Fry the onions in ghee/oil until golden, add meat, garlic paste, potatoes and stir fry for ten minutes. 2 Add all but three tablespoons of the Shan Sindhi Biryani Masala, yoghurt, ginger and chillies and stir fry for five minutes. 3 Add one glass of water. Cover and cook on low heat until the meat is tender. When the meat is cooked there should be about two cups of sauce. 4 Transfer the cooked meat to a larger pot, spread tomatoes, coriander and mint leaves over the meat. Do not mix. Cover and cook on a low heat for about ten minutes. 5 Separately – In six glasses of hot water, stir in three tablespoons of Shan Sindhi Biryani Masala. Add soaked rice, boil until rice is more than half cooked, remove and thoroughly drain. Spread the rice evenly over the meat. Do not mix the rice and meat together. 6 Cover and cook on a low heat until rice is tender. Mix before serving. 7 Garnish with sliced hard boiled eggs. Serves eight Ingredients 500g beef or chicken 3 cups basmati rice Half a cup of yoghurt 2 tomatoes, sliced 2 medium onions 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed Half tbsp garlic paste 2 tbsps finely chopped ginger 10 small green chillies Half a cup of chopped coriander Half cup of chopped mint Half a cup of oil/ghee Half a packet Shan Sindhi Biryani Masala spice mix Look out for our celebration of Indian independence in the next issue. Wildlife that shies away from city life can seek refuge in East Ham Nature Reserve at St Mary Magdalene Church. A place of worship since Norman times, it’s only in recent years that the churchyard has been revealed as a wildlife haven harbouring all sorts of creatures great and small. The nine-acre site, said to be the largest churchyard in England, was written off as a wilderness until Newham Council took over its management in 1977. It is now one of the borough’s parks and offers a unique opportunity to discover nature. The Nature Reserve is open to all and parts of it are accessible to wheelchair users. The visitor centre, which was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1983, provides information on the range of activities available such as tree trails, earth walks and wildlife displays. Staff are always on hand to offer insider information and guidance. A variety of habitats including woodland, meadows and shrub thickets, support a myriad of flora and fauna, from night time visitors such as foxes and bats, to at least nine different species of butterflies, multitudes of mini-beasts and a whole host of birdlife offering an orchestra of song. The Nature Reserve is also a valuable educational centre with good provision for self-guided school visits. Activities link to the National Curriculum and a classroom on site can cater for up to 30 children. There is also the opportunity to participate in conservation projects such as traditional hedge-laying and native tree-planting, which assist learning and encourage respect for the wildlife and habitats. Many of these projects are run in partnership with volunteer groups such as The Newham Conservation Volunteers (NCV) and Newham Green Gym – an initiative that helps volunteers keep fit and improve their health while working to improve the environment. So why not leave your car at home, jump off the bus at the bottom Of High Street South and take a walk on the wild side of Newham? You never know what you might discover... Picture of Wild flowers TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE The Comma (Polygonia calbum) is a species of butterfly, common in the UK and also found across Europe, Japan and Morocco. Similar species are found in the United States and Canada. It has a white marking on its underwings resembling a comma. The wings have a distinctive ragged edge to make the butterfly resemble a fallen leaf and be less obvious to predators. The caterpillars are also cryptic, resembling bird droppings. In the 19th Century, the British population of comma butterflies crashed, and by 1920 there were only two sightings. The cause for this decline is unknown, and from about 1930 the population recovered and it is now one of the more familiar butterflies in Southern England, Scotland and North Wales. The caterpillars will feed up on hops, and they will also eat stinging nettle or elm or currant leaves. Picture of a Comma ButterflyTHE COMMA BUTTERFLY Can be found at East Ham Nature Reserve Monday – Closed Tuesday to Friday – 10am-5pm (summer) 10am-4pm (winter) Saturday and Sunday – 2-5pm (summer) 1-4pm (winter) Teachers interested in organising school trips should call to find out availability. East Ham Nature Reserve Norman Road, East Ham E6 4HN Tel: 020 8470 4525 Email: Nature.Reserve @newham.gov.uk Opening Times Find out more about Newham Conservation Volunteers or the Newham Green Gym by calling 020 8471 4257 or visit www.btcv.org/greengym NEWHAM IN FOCUS Learn while you earn People in Newham will soon have the opportunity to study for a prestigious University of London qualification debt-free, when Birkbeck STRATFORD begins its part-time evening courses aimed at people living and working in East London this month. Following the success of its first open evening, which attracted more than 500 prospective students, Birkbeck Stratford is holding its second open evening on Thursday 20 September from 4-7.30pm at the Old Town Hall, Stratford. You can chat to teaching and administrative staff about the range of courses on offer. There will also be talks on how to finance your studies, returning to learning and developing learning skills. Birkbeck can help some East Londoners to qualify debt free through a range of financial support packages. Birkbeck Stratford is also running drop-in sessions every Monday from 4-7pm at the Stratford Advice Arcade, 107–109 The Grove, Stratford E15 1HP. Mayor’s Question Time in Beckton Mayor Sir Robin Wales will be at Asda in Tollgate Road, BECKTON, on 15 September for a question time session in the café area from 10-11am. Second ipod winner in LIVE LIFE competition Marie Zadigue (pictured with her son Keiron Charles) from EAST HAM was the second winner of an ipod from the prize draw at the Mayor’s Newham Show in Central Park. She was entered into the draw after signing up to try something new in the LIVE LIFE Big Top. YOUR HEALTH, YOUR CHOICE Newham University Hospital NHS Trust will be holding its Annual Public Meeting at Newham General Hospital, Glen Road, PLAISTOW E13 8SL on Thursday 20 September from 4-7pm. This year the theme of the meeting is Your Health, Your Choice and a question time session will be held where residents will be able to quiz health chiefs on local services. Visitors can access a wide range of health service information including new health facilities, the Community Enhancement Programme and the work of matrons. You can also pre-book a tour of the site with a staff guide by contacting the Trust on the number below. Refreshments will be provided after Question Time, which begins at 5.30pm. Michael Smith, Trust chairman, said: “The Annual Public Meeting presents highlights of the past year’s work and provides an opportunity for staff, patients and residents to ask us questions. We encourage residents to come along to the meeting to look ahead to the coming year, in particular to the challenges and opportunities facing their local hospital.” To book a place on a tour, contact Vanessa Fortune on 020 7363 9354. We encourage residents to come along to the meeting to look ahead to the coming year, in particular to the challenges and opportunities facing their local hospital. A series of free sports fundays continued to impress when more than 450 people headed to New BECKTON Park on 18 August for an event hosted by the council. The fifth sports funday this year saw people of all ages take part in Olympic sports like football, volleyball, athletics, martial arts and trampolining. Community lead councillor for Beckton, Patrick Murphy, said: “It was great to see so many people turn up, even though it was cold and windy. The funday was very successful, with lots of people from all walks of life taking part in a variety of sports and fitness activities.” The event promoted healthy living with free body MOTs from Newham Fit Club along with fresh fruit and water. People over 16 also had the opportunity to learn about the borough’s youth training and employment opportunities. Look out for more sports fundays during the autumn months. Fun for all at Beckton funday Community lead councillor for Beckton, Patrick Murphy, enjoyedthe action at the Beckton funday. SUNDAY SCHOOL GETS EMERGENCY VISIT The Islamic Circle Supplementary School (ICSS), a Sunday School based at the Froud Centre in MANOR PARK, invited the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade to its annual summer fete. The ICSS caters for children aged between seven and 17 and aims to provide positive role models for young Muslims in Newham. It is staffed purely by volunteers who come from a variety of professions, and works closely with other local religious organisations such as St Michael and All Angels Church, to promote and instil religious tolerance amongst pupils. PC Omar Zakariya from Forest Gate Police Station, represented the Met and gave a talk. The children also had the opportunity to see the inside of a police car, ambulanceand fire engine. London and Essex sixth formers given golden opportunity Fulcrum Challenge has secured a grant of just under £1m over two years thanks to generous support from the the Jack Petchey Foundation. Fulcrum is a registered charity which organises nine-month personal developmentprogrammes for Year 12 sixth formers, aged 16-17 years. Fulcrum is now offering every state education school in London and Essex the chance to put forward the names of students to take part in its personal development programmes. These experiential programmes aim to build students’ confidence, team skills, leadership potential and volunteering attitudes through taking part in extra-mural activities on both a local and global basis. Any student interested in taking part should contact their head of sixth form or head of school to have their name put forward. The first intake of students will start in October 2007. YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BOTHERED A recent report reveals that young people care passionately about local and global issues and would take action if given the right opportunity. That’s why Weston Spirit - the national youth charity, co-founded by Falklands War veteran Simon Weston OBE – is launching a new programme called Vi and they are looking for young people aged 16-25 to get involved. It’s a volunteering programme with a difference. It puts young people in the driving seat, providing them with a unique opportunity to develop a project or campaign about issues that are important to them and the chance to make a positive difference - at home or abroad. If you’re aged 16-25 and would like to take part in Weston Spirit’s Vi programme in Newham, you can find out more by calling 020 7474 7565 or 020 7511 1700. NEWHAM IN FOCUS BIFF IS GOING EAST! The bfm (black filmmaker) International Film Festival in Newham (BIFF EAST) is an extension of the main festival, presenting a week of screenings from yesterday (7 September) until 14 September at the STRATFORD Picturehouse and Stratford Circus. There will be features, shorts, animation, documentaries and comedy, plus a range of seminars, workshops and Q&A sessions to give an insight into the film industry. Supported by Newham Council, this event will give a platform to black World Cinema from Africa, Caribbean, Latin America, US and the UK as well as showcasing British talent. It will also highlight the themes of faith and hiphop. BIFF is one of the premier black events held in London each year. The festival was established in 1999 with the aim of filling a void within London’s film exhibition scene. Menelik Shabazz, BIFF founder, says: “There was a complete absence of black world cinema both in terms of the multiplexes and existingfestivals like London or Edinburgh, which would show the occasional film but this was a long way short of the wealth and depth of work available.” For more information: please email festival@bfmmedia.com, call 020 7540 0550 or visit www.bfmmedia.com Women learn to defend yourself. First class free! Experienced martial artist Jane Frew is running a women only Kung Fu class in STRATFORD. Kung Fu is a practical, effective and adaptable self-defence system that does not rely on physical strength. Jane has won gold and silver medals for semi and full-contact martial arts competitions around the UK and in Europe. She is an experienced Kung Fu and T’ai Chi instructor and certified coach, judge and referee for the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA) and the Taoist Arts Organisation (TAO). The class is held at Sarah Bonnell School, Deanery Road E15 4LP. Classes are on Thursdays from 7–8.30pm, followed by women-only Qing Da from 8.30–9.15pm. Bring along a copy of this magazine to get your first lesson free! For more information, call Jane on 01375 391642 or 07989 661263 or email jfrew2001@yahoo.co.uk New Newham - opportunities for creative businesses Have you considered what effect the regeneration of Newham could have on you? Are you aware of what is planned, and how to take advantage of the opportunities? With the developments at Stratford City, Canning Town, Royal Docks and of course the Olympics, the borough is expecting to provide 95,000 new jobs, attract 70,000 new residents and build 30,000 new homes over the next decade or so. CIDA, The Cultural Industries Development Agency, has arranged a briefing event with all you need to know to prepare for a new Newham on Thursday 13 September from 6-9pm at Stratford Circus. The event is free for creative individuals, businesses and cultural organisations based in East London and registered for over 18 months. To book a place at this FREE event, visit www.cida.co.uk or call 020 7247 4710. The Boleyn ward Safer Neighbourhoods Team has taken action to tackle pickpocketers in Queens Market. The GREEN STREET market attracts hundreds of shoppers on a daily basis. Unfortunately, a small minority go there with a view to pickpocketing from vulnerable and elderly shoppers. Police have put in place high visibility and plain clothes patrols, as well as council CCTV systems to target and deal with offenders. The Boleyn Safer Neighbourhoods Team also led a two-day crime prevention initiative at the market to highlight the potential dangers of leaving handbags and purses on display to visitors of the market whilst they were shopping. Tony Patten, Queens Market Inspector, said: “The presence of the Boleyn SNT in Queens Market has not only made a visible impact, it has also attracted a positive response from both traders and members of the public.” Boleyn SNT tackle PICKPOCKETS Age Concern Newham launches Well at Home service Age Concern Newham has launched its new Well at Home service. It is designed to help 50+ residents who need extra support on returning home from a hospital stay or where additional help is needed after medical support is no longer required. The aim of the service is to help with building confi dence and independence as well as improve general wellbeing. Well at Home offers up to six weeks of emotional and practical support to resettle older people into their homes after a hospital stay and provides such things as help with shopping, visits to medical appointments as well as emotional support. Well at Home Befriending/Mentoring offers up to six weeks of home visits or telephone support to provide older isolated people with emotional support and companionship to enable them to make the best of their everyday lives and achieve their goals. Home visits are usually once a week for about an hour. If you’d like more information or to volunteer, contact Jonathan Webb on 020 8586 8855. MANOR PARK teenager honoured by Tessa Sanderson A young unemployed person from MANOR PARK was honoured by Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson CBE at a special presentation for completing a new Prince’s Trust sports course. Get Into Sports gives disadvantaged 16-24 year olds the chance to learn about working in the community as a competent sports coach and gain recognised coaching qualifi cations at the same time. Paul Abery, 18, from Manor Park, took part in the Get Into Sports course. He said: “At school I studied for a Football Association Level 1 Leadership Award. I realised from doing this that I wanted to learn more about coaching and so came on the Get Into Sports course. I can now see myself working as a coach in football or basketball.” If you would like to participate in the next Get Into Sports course in October, contact Johnathon Gallagher on 020 7543 1400 or email johnathon.gallagher@princes-trust.org.uk Less than three months since opening, Newham Council’s flagship employment service Workplace is nearing its first milestone. The scheme is close to assisting 100 people to find work, alongside those who, with the help of Workplace, have undertaken training to improve their employment prospects. During a visit to Workplace, Deputy Mayor Councillor Christine Bowden described the scheme as being “all about solutions not problems”. She said: “The uniqueness and the success of Workplace is largely due to the management of the scheme. The first area tackled is any potential barriers to work, which could be training, childcare commitments or simply being out of touch with the recruitment process.” All services at Workplace are free, including the range of courses on offer. The Stratford Workplace is based at Boardman House, 64 Broadway, near St John’s Church. A second Workplace is due to open in Canning Town early next year. For further information call 020 8430 4331 or visit www.newhamworkplace.co.uk New jobs and training service nears key milestone KIDS CORNER Gallery Ojasvi Abhiluv, 5 Aafiya, 8 Morsal Naweed, 7 Morsal Sultani, 10 Mahnoor Malik Vital Ramdya Sudoku answer PLEASE SEND YOUR DRAWINGS, JOKES AND POEMS TO: KIDS’ CORNER, NEWHAM TOWN HALL, EAST HAM E6 2RP Sponsored by Thames Barrier Park, North Woolwich Road, London E16 www.thamesbarrierpark.org.uk Thames Barrier Park is open from 7am-7.30pm The Prime Coffee Shop is open from 10am daily Friendship by Bhavi Joshi, 11 When you are heartbreaking, I will dry your tears. When you are afraid, I will shelter you for 24 hours. When you are anxious, I will support you and give you hope. When you are confused, I will tell you the way to go. When you are lost, And I can’t see anything, I will advise you to follow the moon for a route, Shining ever so bright. This is my promise to you, And till this day it remains like this. ADVERT EAST HAM COMMUNITY FORUM Put your health in the hot seat at the East Ham Health Event Get a free health check-up and massage and learn how to improve your fitness levels. Check out the wide range of stalls – with information about cancer awareness, circulatory diseases ,complementary therapies, Newham Fit Club, smoking cessation, diabetes and more. PLUS take part in fun exercise and sports taster sessions. Getting there: buses: 5, 58, 115, 147 Saturday 15 September 11am – 3pm The Hartley Centre, 267 Barking Road, East Ham, E6 1LB BRING THIS ADVERT AND GET A FREE MASSAGE! Massages must be booked on the day. Early booking is advised to avoid disappointment. “ VOUCHER FREE HEALTHY REFRESHMENTS & FACE PAINTING Health event health event LIBRARIES Beckton Globe 1 Kingsford Way, E6 5JQ. 020 8430 4063 Canning Town Barking Road, E16 4HQ. 020 7476 2696 Custom House Prince Regent Lane, E16 3JJ. 020 7476 1565 East Ham High Street South, E6 6EL. 020 8430 3647 The Gate 4-20 Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate E7 0QH. 020 8430 3838 Green Street 337-341 Green Street, E13 9AR. 020 8472 4101 Manor Park Romford Road, E12 5JY. 020 8430 2207 North Woolwich 5 Pier Parade, E16 2LJ. 020 8430 5900 Plaistow North Street, E13 9HL. 020 8472 0420 Stratford 3 The Grove, E15 1EL. 020 8430 6890 Archives and Local Studies: 020 8430 6881 Storytelling – Stories, rhymes and crafts for children under five with their parents and carers. Beckton Globe Every Friday 10-11am Canning Town Every Monday 10.30-11.30am Custom House Every Tuesday 10.30-11.30am East Ham Every Wednesday 2-3pm The Gate Every Friday 11am-12noon Green Street Every Thursday 10.30-11.30am Manor Park Every Thursday 10.30-11.30am North Woolwich Every Friday 11am-12noon Plaistow Every Tuesday 11am-12noon Stratford Every Tuesday 11am-12noon and every Friday 2-3pm Crafts Club – Open to children under five with their parents and carers. Manor Park Every Tuesday 10.30-11.30am Stratford Every Monday 10.30-11.30am Toy Library – Open to children under five with their parents and carers. Beckton Globe Every Monday 10am-12noon and every Thursday 1-3pm East Ham Every Tuesday 10am-12noon and every Thursday 10am-12noon Imaginative Play – Open to children under five with their parents and carers. East Ham Every Friday 10.30-11.30am Messy Play – Open to children under five with their parents and carers. Beckton Tuesdays during school term 1.30-2.30pm Adult Reading Group – Explore the pleasure of reading in a friendly environment. East Ham Monday 17 September 6.15-7.45pm Stratford Monday 10 September 6.30-7.30pm Tamil Reading Group – Discover more about the range of books available in the Tamil language. East Ham Wednesday 12 September 11am-1pm Women-Only Urdu Reading Group – Read novels, short stories and poetry and enjoy the delights of the Urdu language. The Gate Tuesday 11 September 5.30-7.30pm Over 50s Club – Enjoy a range of activities for the over 50s. Beckton Every Tuesday 9.45-11.45am Click-On – Free introduction to computers for the over 50s. East Ham Friday 21 September 10am-12noon and 2-4pm Plaistow Friday 14 September 10am-12noon and 2-4pm Writers Group The Gate Tuesday 18 September 5.30-7.45pm Open Doors – Free computer training on disability access suite and software. Canning Town Tuesday 18 September 10am-12noon Homework Club – Homework support and advice for young people aged seven to 14. School term only. Beckton Every Tuesday 4-6pm Canning Town Every Saturday 10-12noon Custom House Every Saturday 10-12noon East Ham Every Monday 4-6pm The Gate Every Thursday 4-6pm Green Street Every Tuesday 4-6pm Manor Park Every Saturday 10-12noon North Woolwich Every Thursday 3.30-5.30pm Plaistow Every Thursday 4-6pm Stratford Every Monday 4-6pm Deaf Children’s Homework Club – Homework support and advice for young people aged five to 12 with hearing impairment. The sessions are supported by a BSL signer. School term only The Gate Saturday 15 September 10am-12noon Congolese Women’s Association Saturday School – This is a children’s French -speaking group. Term time only. LIBRARY ADDRESSES UNDER 5s GROUPS OTHER GROUPS YOUNG PEOPLE ADULT READING 8 – 22 SEPTEMBER WHAT’S ON? Don’t forget that you can borrow movies and music as well as books from libraries I’m looking forward to the dance classes NEWHAM GOLD CARD ACTIVITIES ADULT EVENTS The Gate Every Saturday 1-4pm Children’s Games Club – Board games and activities for children aged five to 12. Canning Town Thursday 13 and 20 September 4-6pm Games Club – PS2 and Xbox games and music for young people aged eight to 13. Custom House Every Tuesday 3.30-5.30pm Manor Park Every Thursday 4-6pm East Ham Every Tuesday 3.30-5.30pm Teenage Games Club – PS2 and Xbox games, music, board games and many more activities for young people aged 12 to 16. Beckton Every Monday and every Wednesday 3-5pm Teen Xtra Evenings – Free activities for young people aged 12 to 21. The Gate Every Friday 6-8pm There is a great new programme of FREE sports available for 8-17 year olds starting this month. Whether you’re into handball, cricket, football, dance or basketball, there is a free session near you to try. For more information and listings call Newham Council on 020 8430 2484 or visit www.newham.com/ 2012games Dance Every Monday 7–8.30pm The Froud Centre Every Tuesday 7-8.30pm The Hartley Centre Every Tuesday 7–8.30pm Priory Park Every Thursday 7-8.30pm St John’s Community Centre Twilight Football Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 6.30-8.30pm Kingsford Community School These times may be subject to change, for further information contact the Newham Council on 020 8430 2484 Venues Froud Centre Toronto Avenue, Manor Park E12 5JS Hartley Centre 267 Barking Road, East Ham E6 1LB Kingsford Community School Kingsford Way, Beckton E6 5JG St John’s Community Centre Albert Road, North Woolwich E16 2JB Community Centre Open Day Come and see what is available at your local community centre. Manor Park Community Centre Saturday 22 September 1-5pm Kids’ Activities in Community Centres Play With Us Parenting class for residents with children age five and above Beckton Community Centre Tuesdays 1-3pm Baby and Toddler Group for children aged four and under Beckton Community Centre Tuesdays 9.30-11.30am Nursery Childcare facilities for babies and toddlers Field Community Centre Monday to Friday 8am-6.30pm Kids’ World Hathaway Community Centre Fridays 1-3pm After School Club Hathaway Community Centre Weekdays after school Kids’ Club Activities for children aged three to 18 Chatsworth Community Centre Fridays 6-9pm Mother and Toddler Drop in for local mothers Chatsworth Community Centres Thursdays 10am-1pm Rhyme, Stories and Songs Beckton Community Centre Thursdays 10am-2pm Hobby and Interest Groups Arts and Crafts Group for residents aged 50+ Beckton Community Centre Fridays 12.30-3.30pm Internet and Email Katherine Road Community Centre Thursdays 10am-12noon and 1-3pm Prince’s Trust Courses and meeting group for teenagers aged 16 and over. Beckton Community Centre Mondays 9.30am-4.30pm Fishing Club Community Road Centre Tuesdays 1pm onwards Darts Club Community Road Centre Fridays 1pm onwards Diet Group Diet and nutrition support with members of Newham Fit Club Field Community Centre Wednesdays 6-10pm Domino Club Field Community Centre Fridays 6-10pm Pigeon Club Cundy Community Centre Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday evenings Venues Hathaway Community Centre Hathaway Crescent, Manor Park E12 6LR 020 8548 4980 Plaistow Park Community Centre Queens Road West, Plaistow E13 0PE 020 8552 1334 Cundy Community Centre Hartington Road E16 3NP 020 7474 6056 Field Community Centre 147 Station Road, Forest Gate E7 0AE 020 8536 2800 Chatsworth Community Centre Chatsworth Road, E15 1SP 020 8555 4477 Katherine Road Community Centre 254 Katherine Road, Forest Gate E7 8PN 020 8548 9825 Beckton Community Centre 14 East Manor Way, Beckton E6 5NG 020 7511 1214 Community Road Centre Community Road Stratford E15 1JT 020 8430 2000 Hundreds of services, just one number – for all council enquiries For questions about councillor surgeries or to find out which ward you live in, call 020 8430 2000 or visit www.newham.gov. uk/yourcouncillor Write to Mayor Sir Robin Wales at Newham Town Hall, Barking Road, East Ham E6 2RP or email mayor@newham.gov.uk For information about Community Forums freephone 0800 519 4015 or email community. forums@newham.gov.uk For information about the 2012 Games and how it will affect Newham, visit www. newham.com/2012Games To report anti-social behaviour call Newham’s 24-hour hotline on 0800 731 3300 To speak to the editor of The Newham Mag, call Jen Bishop on 020 8430 2000 or email newham. mag@newham.gov.uk ADVERT Roll up your sleeves and help make Britannia Village cleaner and greener • Improve your front garden with free plants provided! • Clean up communal areas • Get rid of unwanted bulky items Free bouncy castle, face painting, craft workshops for the kids and barbecue. To join and for further information please contact Liz Whitworth, member services, on 020 8430 6245 or liz.whitworth@newham.gov.uk Community Lead Councillor Royal Docks Cllr Patrick Murphy Royal Docks Cllr Anthony McAlmont Royal Docks Cllr Simon Tucker Meet the Docklands Riders BRITANNIA VILLAGE Community Pride Day BRITANNIA VILLAGE Community Pride Day Saturday 15 September Britannia Village Green 11am–3pm This is just the beginning! Join the civic pride residents’ group to have your say on how our village looks and you could win an iPod shuffle! ROYAL DOCKS COMMUNITY FORUM AREA COUNCILLORS © 2007 Newham Council Communications 1541CHE Britannia Village hall raffle Advert Madison Bell For all advertisement sales and enquires for the Newham Mag please contact Joanne Giles at Madison Bell Media on 0207 517 9940 or email on newhamsales@madisonbellmedia.com Madison Bell media also provide a full media and repro service • design • digital delivery of artwork to all local, national and international publishers • Magazine Page layouts • leaflets • brochure and picture management • CD-Burning • proofing • posters • exhibition graphics and more. For more information on out other services please call one of our operators on 0207 517 9940. ADVERT CONTACT US CALL 020 8475 8080 (During office hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) CALL 0800 107 0161 (Until Midnight) Write to us at: Newham Psychological Treatment Centre Passmore Edwards Building, Shrewsbury Road, Forest Gate, London E7 8QR We also offer help in other languages (after 5pm). To speak to someone in a different language call 0800 107 0161 and press: 1 for English, 2 for Bengali, 3 for Punjabi, 4 for Urdu, 5 for Hindi, 6 for Arabic or 7 for Gujarati.If you are unsure what to do next you can discuss this with us or speak with your GP who will be able to advise you further. COME ALONG AND TALK TO OUR TEAM OF JOB COACHES AND THERAPISTS Talking Therapy Talking Therapy helps people experiencing problems with stress, anxiety or depression. These difficulties can come in many shapes or sizes. If any of the problems below sound like your difficulties we can offer you talking therapy that is effective and will help you feel better. • Feeling anxious or panicky • Worrying about things a lot of the time (including worries about your health or safety) • Feeling very depressed or sad • Feeling hopeless or that life is not worth living • Having thoughts, pictures or impulses that come into your mind that you can’t get rid of (obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) • Severe shyness or social anxiety • Believing that your body or face is so odd or strange that it stops you getting on with your life • Having difficulty coming to terms with a trauma (for example a road traffic accident, a street robbery, physical or emotional abuse) • Fears and Phobias of for example of spiders, flying, needles, blood, dogs, cats, open or closed spaces etc. • Difficulty managing your anger • Difficulty with sleep that is not caused by physical illness and that is so bad it stops you getting on with your life. (First, please ask your GP if they think this option is the right one for you.) • Unable to carry on with life after the death of a loved one. • Problems in your relationship with your partner or in relationships with family members. • Feeling depressed or stressed because of a long term health condition. If you would like to talk to us about the sort of help available please call us on 0800 107 0161. When you call us please say that you would like talking therapy and the items from the list that you want help with. We will take your details and arrange for a therapist to call you. When you call us please say if there are good times for us to call you back. We look forward to hearing from you. DO YOU EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTIES WITH WORRY, FEELING DOWN,ANXIETY, PANIC, PHOBIAS, ANGER, SEVERE SHYNESS, THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA, INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS OR COMPULSIONS? EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT Job hunting can be a difficult task when you’re not getting the results you want and you’ve nobody to support you. If you work alongside others you could make things a lot easier. The National Charity ‘ Mental Health Matters’ provides an employment support and advice service. The employment coaches offer support to individuals who are having difficulties at work (for example bullying or work stress) or who want support in finding and keeping a job. To contact Mental Health Matters telephone 0800 107 0161 and ask to speak with an employment coach. A FREE CONFIDENTIAL NHS SERVICE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN NEWHAM Newham Primary Care Trust East London and The City University Mental Health Trust ADVERT Birkbeck University of London Stratford Part tine, evening university Courses starting September Find out more at our Open Evening: Thursday 20 September 2007 4-7.30pm, Old Town Hall, Stratford E15 To book your place and to order a prospectus: call 0845 602 4169 text: UNI 4 to84880 visit www.birkbeckstratford.ac.uk