Estate Newsletter December 2015

After the successful opening event in September our newly restored park is being well used, rain or shine for all sorts of activities.This is in line with the Heritage Lottery Fund requirements who, having put forward the money for the restoration along with Camden Council, have to be assured that our park can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Last month we had a wonderful display of birds of prey mostly owls which are specially bred in activity.The collection is known as the “Birds of Bray”. Under the watchful eye of the owners many of us were able to allow the magnificent birds to rest on our hand and imagine we were medieval falconers - needless to say we had to wear a very strong leather glove!The Saturday morning “boot camp” and Pilates exercise classes are going well and not even the rain and cold have discouraged those of us who have got the exercise habit.Doing an hours outdoor exercise is really different from being in

a stuffy gym and sets you up for the weekend .Bootcamp - Saturday’s 10-11 in playground 4 - all welcome.Recently “Friends of Alexandra Road park” helped plant the Spring bulbs for next year. This will be a special part of the de-sign as we have never had many spring flowering bulbs in the park before. Can’t wait for 2016 to see them.

Let’s not forget that aside from all the activities the Park is first and foremost a green place to walk in, to relax in, to watch the leaves change colour and fall and to get away from the busy city lives that we lead. How lucky we are to have the park on our doorstep.Please join “Friends of Alexandra Road Park” to keep in touch with developments and events in the Park. www.friendsofalexandraroad-parkWatch for new events taking place by reading the notice boards on Langtry Walk and Abbey Road.

Elizabeth

A Walk in the park

Eleanor, Elizabeth and I were nominated as exceptional volunteers for our work with the Park restoration by a fellow resident. 138 nominations were made to Camden Exceptional Volunteers which were judged by an independent panel. The panel were so impressed by the quality of nominations they decided to award certificates to everyone nominated. We went along to the ceremony with Gerard at the Town Hall on the 19th November. It was a really nice and very interesting evening – we had no idea that there were so many people out there doing so much voluntary work and as the Mayor said “we are all very special people and so much wouldn’t be done if it weren’t for people like us all”.

Winter Issue 1

Camden50 Awards to Exceptional Volunteers

Back in May 2015 we were invited to run a project at the Alexandra & Ainsworth Estate, working specifically with the ARC Youth Centre. Through a process of research, survey and engagement we settled upon the idea of delivering a series of workshops for the estate’s younger residents.In September and October we brought OUR Station to the estate, 5 workshops designed for anyone aged between 6 - 14 years old. We wanted to explore ideas of identity, architecture and memory, the way we thought to do this was through an a range of techniques and materials, including photography, clay and publishing. In total 32 people took part, creating a huge wealth of work and contributing endless energy.The project culminated with the launch of a publication, part documentation of our experience, part reflection of the work the kids created. An online version of the publication will be made available on our website www.cargocollective.com/OURARE soon. We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make OUR Station happen, we couldn’t have done it without your support and enthusiasm. This project has been a fantastic

OUR Station opportunity to learn, test ourselves and explore the role of our profession. It has also been endlessly fun and exciting.

All the best,

OUR ARE: Pita Arreola, Elliott Burns, Jake Charles Rees, Yuhui Liu, Ema E. Marinova, Paloma Richi, Bernard Tan, Marina Thomas, and Yiyang Wu.Central Saint Martins MA students Culture, Criticism & Curation

Nearly six months have passed since Alexandra Road Park opened its gates for everyone, after more than a year of renovation work. It’s been a great time, not only because we can now see children playing and people enjoying the welcoming green space but also because the residents of Alexandra and Ainsworth estate can be proud of their hard-work and commitment that made this great project a success.

Working as the activities co-ordinator for Alexandra Road Park has been a pleasure. All the events that have taken place have given me a better understanding of the diverse local community and the chance to meet and work with you. It’s been a learning curve for all of us and

I hope that with your continuing help and support, we will be able to keep up the momentum in this amazing green open space.

For next year, we will be looking at putting even more exciting

activities and events on in the park, together with our local partner organisations. You can keep yourself updated by

regularly visiting the TRA, Friends of Alexandra Road Park or SHAK websites or simply by looking on the park’s noticeboards, which we’ll update throughout the year.

Finally, on Thursday 17 December, as part of ARC’s talent show, I will be collecting ‘wishes’ for the types of activities and events that you’d like next year. Please look for the ‘wish box’ and make your wish. Some wishes do come true!

You are also welcome to email your ‘wishes’ to me at: jenny.kurktchieva@camden.gov.uk.

Jenny KurktchievaActivities CoordinatorHeritage Lottery Fund

Although I have not had as much involvement with our TRA as I would have hoped this year due to various committments it has been my pleasure to take a lead role in our Filming sub group.We work very closely with Camden’s fantastic team FilmFixer ensuring that all shoots taking place on our estate are properly licensed.We carefully vet all applications and generally only select those we feel are of artistic merit, reflect our estate in a positive manner and are willing to reimburse us for the inconvenience caused.We also like to support art or community projects and student collaborations, but still insist they are licensed first, this ensures they adhere to our guidelines. Hopefully meaning that no shoot disturbs our daily lives (too much)!Some residents let their property to the film crews as a location. We understand that occasionally this can disrupt our regular routines but hope that the fun that can be had and the spectacles to be observed, along with the financial reward more than make up for it.The TRA receive 50% of fees charged by the FilmFixer unit and get 100% of any fee charged for using the tenants hall and this money in turn helps to fund community events in our hall and park, as well as our annual Fireworks Party (I thought this years was amazing).This year’s shoots and enquiries have included:A music video for FoalsTV drama London Spy with Ben Whishawan Adidas commercialAnnie Liebovitz photo shootNick Ballon shooting Dancer

Maeva Berthelot for Riposte Magazine an Educational Video for Spanish people learning EnglishNike shoot

Filming on the Estate Direct Line with Harvey Kietel,and a new Nick Hornby Project involving Helena Bonham-Carter.I bet there aren’t many, if any estates in the UK with quite such a distinguished guest list!

Luke

Judo and women only self-defense Classes in the tenants hallShinbudo, our community judo club runs its activities from our Tenants’ Hall every Friday afternoon, it has gone from strength to strength this year. We now have some 45 members training regularly, and are contemplating the happy prospect of introducing a second weekly class on Thursdays, including a ‘women only’ self-defense class, taught by a qualified female instructor, Jacqui Lloyd - see more at shinbudo.wordpress.com. But if you thought that was great, then listen to this. In June 2015 we launched a campaign for acquiring the use of a permanent and full-time training facility in the area. A full-time gym would allow us to offer a wider range of grappling sports, beyond judo, and in particular to provide high-level tuition in Olympic wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and possibly sambo. We would also offer specific Paralympic judo classes and cater for other non-contact activities such as yoga, pilates, and functional training, and act as a hub for the physical activities currently taking place in our Park. In this context we approached Camden with a view of securing a lease for The Hive, the little, rather unloved, concrete building at the Abbey Rd end of our estate. It is a beautiful venue, designed by a famous Japanese architectlled TLC would make for a terrific community gym. We have launched an on-line petition which you can find at

www.ipetitions.com/petition/future-dojo-shinbudo-londonWe are gathering support and traction for this project, and in a few weeks ago we comfortably exceeded our target of on-line supporters. But please keep supporting us! You can do this in several ways, by signing our petition, and following us on Facebook and twitter - more details about our social media on our website shinbudo.wordpress.com.

We should be able to submit a formal bid to Camden early in 2016. So watch this space!

Nicola

Tenants Hall Calendar

Monday: KidsClub3.30-5pmTuesday: Yoga7-8pmThursday: Yoga10-11am TableTennis 7.30-9pmFriday: SomaliCreche 10-12pm BrazilianJiuJitsuand Judo5-8yrs: 4.30-5.15pm8-12yrs: 5.15-6.15pm13-adults:6.15-7.30

Please check Hall classes on ourwebsiteforchangesoradditions:alexandraandainsworth.org

Free Courses at the SHELL Centre Linnell House Boundary Road starting in January 2016Computers: Your Choice Wed & Fri 10-12amLearn basic computer skills. Use online services, send emails, browse the web, shop online, download and share photos and much more - follow your own programme of learning. Join any week.Create your first website Tuesdays 1-3pmLearn how to use free software to create a website for work or personal interest. You need to be able to use the mouse and the keyboard.Introduction to Childcare Thursdays 1-3pmFind out about different jobs in childcare and learn the basic values and principles of childcare.Enrolment & Information Day Tuesday the 5th January 10am - 2pm

ARC Youth Club is currently undergoing a face-lift. We have recently had a new floor installed; walls redecorated and new computers and

DJ PA system, projector and white board for Youth Club members to enjoy.In 2016 the ARC will be hosting DJ sessions, Homework Club, General Youth Club, IAG support for young people needing support with jobs, college and training, trips and music sessions.Music & MentorsThe ARC Youth Club will be running new Music and Mentors and drop in Sessions starting in January 16. The Music & Mentors programme gives young people the opportunity to write, record and perform their music. The Music & Mentors programme also offers young people the opportunity to gain AQA’s in Music Production and Sound Engineering. Young people will also get the chance to put on and put together their own events that will be supported by the ARC Staff.

SHAK AGM Thursday 17th December 2015, 6pm in the Tenants Hall

and Music and Mentors young people and staff will be hosting the ARC’s Got Talentat 7pm and all are welcome to come and enjoy the comptetition and party!

Employability NewsThe Shell Centre, runs ‘Preparing for Employment’ classes, supporting learners with various aspects of going into work. Some of the topics we cover are:

• Learning how to create a winning CV and Covering Letter

• Creating an email account• Search Skills with some IT

support– How to attach a CV to an email and send to an employer

• How to complete application forms – Is your supporting statement enough to get you an interview?

• Interview Preparation – making the best first Impression.

• Mock Interview support – looking at commonly asked interview questions.

We also run Employability workshops, which everyone is welcomed to.

Next one will be held on Tuesday 1st December 2015 at 10am-1pm, at Shell 1. For more information please call Olabisi on 02073727021 or email olabisi@shakonline.co.uk

Alexandra & Ainsworth TRAFriends of Alexandra Road Park

and SHAK would like to wish you allSeasonal Greetings

and we’re loving the lights!!