NEWHAM CONNECTZ | ISSUE 2

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THE NUMBER ONE MONTHLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR NEWHAM!ne

wha

m

For FREE Distribution | August 2009 Issue 2 | Published In East London

Celebrating in the UK

[ p11, 12 & 13 ]

Dirty bertie and his

revolting habits [ p16 ]

UEL student Jeffery Balogun

a champion in the making [ p22 ]

Jenson Button posts

personal best [ p22 ]

This is my borough,this is where I choose to work.Interview with Borough Commander

Simon Letchford [Page 7]

INSIDE: TIPS TO BEAT THE CREDIT CRUNCH 2

connectzFREE

2 | UK NEWS N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 2009

The Newham Connectz Team thank everyone for their comments about the

first edition and we have taken on board the feedback.

This is a journey that we have embarked upon as a developing and learning

community. There are many things for us to learn and as a community we

can share, support and benefit each other in many ways.

Many individuals and organisations have read the paper and have thought

of ideas about how they can take advantage of all the support available to

them and also make a contribution. There are various initiatives that have

and are being designed to bring the community together and these include

Swapaskill, Legacy Now Youth Panel, Community events, Fundays and var-

ious competitions. Our message to Newhams residents is get active and

get involved.

NAJIA SAEED

Newham connectz56 - 62 CHURCH ROAD, MANOR PARK, LONDON, E12 6AF

FREEPHONE | 0800 121 6369EMAIL | [email protected]

EDITOR | NAJIA SAEEDADVERTISING AND MARKETING | KAMRAN JAHANGIREDITORIAL ASSISTANT | IRSHAD PATELOFFICE & ADMINISTRATION | VINIJA SRISKANTHARAJAHCONSULTANTS | RAY GIBSON | KELVIN JONESDESIGNER | MUHAMMAD AJMAL

FOR ADVERTISING AND MARKETING PLEASE [email protected] | PRINT RUN: 10,000

Ever wondered how people used to get the

things they needed before money was in-

vented? The answer is bartering. People

would use their skills and hobbies to make

things, trade or provide services to others and

trade them for the things they needed.

Imagine this; you need a new van to expand

the decorating business but havent got the

cash right now. By some miracle you meet

someone nearby who has a second hand van

they dont need any more who wants their

house decorating. Within a couple of weeks

youve done each other a favour; youve got

your van, your business is growing and

youve made a new friend whos thrilled with

his newly decorated apartment.

Whats more you havent had to pay for the

van with money youve earned doing a job

you dont particularly enjoy. Youve got the

things you want by doing something in return

that you actually enjoy doing.

What if at the click of a button you could in-

stantly find that person who can do you a

favour and give you what you want and you

can do them a favour in return

and give them what they want?

What if you could have the

things you want without

spending a penny?

Well, now the people of

Newham can.

Swapaskill.com is a website

where you can do exactly that

and its launching in Newham this month. Its

completely free and all you have to do is reg-

ister your skills or unwanted items and then

start searching for people who are offering

the things you need.

Once youre a member of Swapaskill you

can also get free entry to Londons first ever

SwapFest! Newham is leading the way and

hosting a swapping bonanza where you can

bring your unwanted items, tell us about your

skills and we can help match you up with

people whove got the things you want and

are interested in what you have to offer.

Have a look in your cupboards, your attic or

your garage, youre bound to have stuff you

dont use any more, or unwanted gifts that

perhaps youve never used. Someone else

will probably want it and they may have

something you want in return. You can swap

skills for items, skills for skills or even items

for items.

To start swapping go to www.swapaskill.com

its all free and there are more than 239,000

skills and items on offer!

To join the Newham SwapFest go to

www.swapaskill.com and click on the

SwapFest link at the top.

For any enquiries you can email

[email protected]

Shop till you drop without spending a penny! EDITORS NOTE

You can emai l us on editornc@gmail .com .

The representation of

Black and other minority eth-

nic (BAME) women at every

level of governance from the

Houses of Parliament to local

government is woefully low.

BAME women make up less

than 1% of the total number of

MPs and Councillors in the

country. Operation Black Vote

in partnership with the Gov-

ernment Equalities Office is

launching the countrys first

national BAME Women

Councillor Shadowing

Scheme. The aim of the proj-

ect is to ensure that BAME

communities engage with the

council in all areas and at all

levels of local governance.

We are looking for fifty

BAME women to shadow

high level councillors for a

minimum of six days over six

months. The cross-party ini-

tiative will give participants

first hand knowledge of the

roles and responsibilities of

councillors. This leadership

programme will motivate par-

ticipants to engage in party

politics and encourage them to

become Community Ambassa-

dors, explaining and promot-

ing the benefits of civic

engagement and encouraging

others to also become in-

volved in community affairs.

The scheme will also give

Councillors the opportunity to

gain a greater understanding

of BAME communities.

Applications are invited from

BAME women who live or

work in the following areas:

London: Camden, Harrow,

Islington, Lambeth/ South-

wark, Tower Hamlets

Please contact OBV to obtain

a Councillor Shadowing

Scheme application form.

Tel: 0208 983 5471

Fax: 0208 983 5492

Email:

[email protected]

Website: www.obv.org.uk

Women belong inthe House.... andthe Council Chamber too

Do you want to become a Councillor?

Operation Black Vote and the Government Equalities Office BlackAsian Minority Ethnic Women Councillor Shadowing Scheme

3 | COMMUNITY N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 2009

The London school of Tamil Lan-

guage & culture is a Supplemen-

tary school governed by THE

LONDON TAMIL SANGAM,

widely known as THE TAMIL

COMMUNITY AND EDUCA-

TION CENTRE , one of the oldest

charity organisation serving for the

deprived communities of the Lon-

don Borough of Newham.

The school hosted the annual

sports day on 12th July 2009 at

Plashet Park in East Ham. The

event kicked off with the sunshine

blessings of the nature and nur-

ture of the children... how lucky

they have been, considering the

ground had been drenched with

heavy rain only a few hours ear-

lier!

The main emphasis of the event

was fun based on Tamil Culture

blended with unfolding the hidden

talents of the children. Events in-

cluded egg and spoon, sack race,

running race, bean bag agility test

(in which participants balance

a small bag of beans on their head

while they race to the finish line).

There were also events for moth-

ers, fathers and elderly too! Drinks

(non-alcoholic!) and snacks for

the spectators and participants

were sponsored by the President,

Secretary and Treasurer of our

Sangam.

Ravi

Tamil School Sports Day

The residents of the Priory Park area

enjoyed a lovely summers bar-

beque at the end of July. The event

was organised by

the members of its

neighbourhood watch, to bring about

awareness of local issues and promote

community cohesion. The idea of the Pri-

ory Park Watch was formulated when

some local residents came together to try

and find ways to share experiences, re-

sources and work together in their estate.

The BBQ was aimed at local residents; liv-

ing in the small estate area around the Pri-

ory Park Community Centre, and had a

turn out of roughly 100 people.

This gave them a chance to have some fun

in the sizzling sun. However, it wasnt

just the sun which was sizzling, as the se-

lection of food generously donated by

local churches, shops and the local Tesco,

gave revellers a chance to stoke some

steak on the grill and eat to their fill. The

party atmosphere was topped off by some

music

and childrens entertainment in the

form of Scalectric, a face painting stand, a

sports coach and various other games. For

the young at heart however, a Tug-of-War.

nail paintings, a masseuse, a raffle draw

was their amusement of the day and to top

if off a good old karaoke sing song made

sure people left an event they wont be

forgetting for a while.

Simon

The Priory Park Neigh-bourhood Watch Event

N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 20094 | COMMUNITY

A NO-GO ZONE has been

declared on young yobs in

Stratford. Newham

Police has joined forces

with Newham Council to ban

groups of young troublemak-

ers who have been making

life a misery for residents and

businesses in Stratford.

The move follows complaints

about large groups of young

people congre-

gating in the

area, drinking

in the street and

general anti-so-

cial

behaviour.

A dispersal

notice has

been intro-

duced to all

roads con-

tained

within the

area of Chobbham Road,

Leyton Road, Angel Lane,

Great Eastern Road, The

Grove and Leytonstone Road.

The order will run from July

16th until October 16th 2009.

Officers and Police Commu-

nity Support Officers can dis-

perse groups of

morethan two people and tell

those who do not live in the

area to leave and not return

for up to 24 hours.

Anyone who refuses or

breaches the notice can be ar-

rested. It is punishable on

conviction of a custodial sen-

tence of up to three months

and/or a fine of up to 2,500.

Sgt Chris Mullin from Strat-

ford Safer Neighbourhoods

Team said: Dispersal orders

have proven very effective in

the past, so were

very pleased weve been able

to introduce it to this area.

This pro-active approach to

crime should help reassure

the community that we are

not willing to tolerate those

that choose to involve

themselves in anti-social or

violent behaviour.

Preventing the public feeling

intimidated or harassed in

their neighbourhoods is our

main priority.

Newham Mayor Sir Robin

Wales said: The police have

acted swiftly to address resi-

dents concerns and we are

backing them 100%.

Safety remains our residents

number one concern and so

we are investing more in

making Newham safer. Crime

and anti-social behaviour is

unacceptable and we will

never apologise for being

tough on the yobs and van-

dals who make the lives of

the hard-working majority

a misery.

Stratford troublemakers targeted in crackdown

Newhamleads theway seizinguninsured vehicles'No Insurance / No License

= No Car'

In June 2009, Newham police removed 107

unlicensed or uninsured vehicles from the

streets. This was the highest number of ve-

hicles seized in any London Borough during

June.

The activity is part of a Met-wide Operation

Operation Reclaim-, launched in Newham on

1st November 2008, in partnership with the

local council.

The operation is designed to target illegal

motor vehicles and individuals involved in

criminal activity, with over half of unlicensed

or uninsured vehicles used by active criminals.

Since the launch, over 700 motor vehicles

have been seized by Newham officers (107 in

June 2009).

Police monitor those who choose to drive ille-

gally on a 24 hour basis and use an automatic

number plate recognition (ANPR) technology

to identify suspects.

Police officers stopping vehicles will addition-

ally check if it is insured or whether the driver

is licensed to drive it.

Chief Inspector Zander Gibson said: Were

sending out a clear message that if you drive

without a license or insurance, there is a seri-

ous risk of you losing your car.

Were doing this to protect innocent road

users left with injuries or expensive damage as

a result of someone else's disregard for the

law. Over 700 people who have had their cars

taken off them since November will confirm

just how serious we are about this.

You can now talk to your

family more for less, as T-

Mobile launches Family

Booster, a new option which

gives up to five family mem-

bers unlimited calls, texts and

picture messages to each

other, in the best value deal

on the market.

One person in the group pays

5 a month on top of their

monthly T-Mobile plan, and

the rest of the family can

share the ins and outs of fam-

ily life with the other group

members without worrying

about the cost.

T-Mobiles Family Booster

can be adapted to suit indi-

vidual family needs, and the

flexible, one month rolling

contract means you dont

have to sign up for long term

commitment. Family mem-

bers can be on any T-Mobile

price plan or pay as you go

option: the group organiser

must be on Combi, Flext or

Solo deals. Easy to set-up and

manage, you can change and

add new relatives and friends

each month. Family members

can be part of up to two

groups at a time.

Steve Mitchell, head of pay

monthly at T-Mobile said:

Weve brought out a number

of family related price plans

to give our customers more

value. With Family Booster,

you can be reassured that the

people who matter to you

most will always be able to

reach you, for only 5 extra a

month. So, whether its your

daughter ringing for a lift

after school, your cousin

wanting to know the answers

to a pub quiz, or your dad

sharing his latest joke, your

family will always be able to

stay in touch for free.

Mitchell concludes, There is

no other price plan on the

market today which offers

this level of value, making it

easier and more affordable

for families to stay in touch.

We know that 85% of chil-

dren are on pay as you go

deals, so with Family Booster

they can now call their par-

ents for a lift or let them

know theyre okay even when

theyve run out of credit.

James Parker manager of mo-

biles at

moneysupermarket.com said:

"At only 5 'Family Booster'

is a great value add-on pro-

viding unlimited calls, texts

and picture messages for the

customer and up to five fam-

ily members also on the T-

Mobile network. This is

clearly the best mobile deal

for families on the market."

The familys T-Mobile

monthly allowance or pay as

you go credit will never be

used for calls, texts or MMS

to those in the family group

freeing up more allowance

and credit for calls and texts

to friends, and reducing land

line bills by using the mobile

more.

Introducing a new member of the T-Mobile

Booster Family

We all sometimes have problems with

our neighbours maybe its loud

music, an overhanging tree, noisy

children, or something else. Even

small irritations can sometimes start to

feel unbearable after a while. So what-

ever it is, its important to do some-

thing before you get to boiling point!

The first thing you can do is try to talk

with them. Dont just stick a note

through their door, or bang on the

wall, or tell them to turn down the

noise! Go round and introduce your-

self with a smile, and explain what the

problem is for you. Try to understand

their point of view, and have a discus-

sion about how you can both work to-

gether to solve the problem.

Of course you may have tried all this,

and perhaps they didnt understand

you or they werent willing to listen.

In this case, youll need to get help

from outside. You can call:

your Housing Officer (if youre a ten-

ant of Newham Homes or a Housing

Association), or

the Councils Noise Team (for noise

nuisance, 020 8430 3810 9am-6pm, or

020 8472 9624 evenings and week-

ends), or the Councils Anti-Social

Behaviour Team (0800 731 3300, 24

hours), or Conflict and Changes con-

flict resolution service (020 8552

2050).

In case you dont know about Conflict

and Change we offer a mediation

service, but (unlike what you may

have thought) you dont have to meet

with your neighbour. The only thing

we ask is that youre willing to talk

with a couple of our trained media-

tors, either in your home or at our of-

fice near the Town Hall.

Conflict and Change are an independ-

ent charity, and we are funded by the

Council to provide a free and confi-

dential service to Newham residents.

If you ask us to help with your neigh-

bour problem:

we will first send a polite letter to

your neighbour asking the neighbour

to give us a call, if theres no reply to

the letter, we may call on your neigh-

bour in person to introduce ourselves,

once weve made contact with your

neighbour, well arrange a time when

two of our mediators can visit you at

home to hear about the situation, and

then go round and talk with your

neighbour about whats been happen-

ing, after this, if you and your neigh-

bour both want to meet, we can

arrange a meeting at our office where

you can both talk safely about the

problem, otherwise we can continue to

visit you (and if possible your neigh-

bour) at home until youve found a

way forward.

To contact Conflict and Change, you

can phone us on 020 8552 2050 (ask

for Beverley or Mike), or you can

email us at

[email protected]

(our website is at www.conflictand-

change.co.uk), or you can visit us at

2A Streatfeild Avenue, East Ham E6

2LA (open Monday to Friday, 9.00am

to 5.00pm). Were waiting to hear

from you!

The Islamic Circles Supplementary

School (ICSS) in Newham catered for

over 350 visitors to its interfaith bar-

beque yesterday the biggest in its his-

tory.

The annual get-together for pupils,

teachers, parents and local residents is

an opportunity to build relations within

the community, and highlight how

Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Jews

are working together to improve the

lives of young people in Newham.

The school, based in a Christian Com-

munity Centre and run by a 15-strong

team of dedicated volunteers, cele-

brated its fifth anniversary supported by

Patrons the Rt Hon. Stephen Timms MP

and Reverend Brian Lewis. In support-

ing more than 50 Pakistani, Bengali and

Indian students, the school's primary

goals are to encourage community co-

hesion, and promote respect and aware-

ness for members of all faiths.

ICSS volunteer teacher, Samina Rai

said: Our interfaith BBQ is the biggest

in the UK. It was a fun day for the chil-

dren, and everyone else involved where

they let their hair down after working

so hard all year. Civic engagement is

encouraged under Islam so we are very

keen to encourage activities between

the different communities in

Newham. As you can see

from the turnout, our bor-

ough is as multi-ethnic and

multi-cultural as Britain is

today.

A previous visitor to the an-

nual barbeque, Hugh Dames

of School Works which

supports life-long learning

in local communities said:

Learning about different cultures and

religions is a fantastic way to help inte-

grate different parts of our society and

prevent sections of our communities

feeling marginalised. ICSS is great or-

ganisation

that is making a real difference on the

ground.

The ICSSs reach goes far beyond the

streets and back gardens of Newham.

Its important work was recently recog-

nised as a significant tool for helping

social cohesion and promoting religious

awareness and acceptance. In his recent

parliamentary report, the Rt Hon

Stephen Timms MP referred to ICSS as

an example of the important and posi-

tive contributions made by supplemen-

tary schools the MP was also in

attendance at Sundays extravaganza.

The event was also backed by local re-

tail and supermarket chains in Manor

Park such as Wickes, Tesco and Morri-

sons which made respective donations

towards the event.

The ICSS mechanic has proved so suc-

cessful that it is already planning its

growth strategy and expects to build

new schools in Canary Wharf and

Birmingham in the next two years.

Following last years successful

event at the Priory Park, the theme

of Youth Involvement and Active

Citizenship was evident again on

Saturday the 1st of August.

.Newham Homes in partnership with

Newham Councils Community Ed-

ucation and Youth Services and the

Boleyn Safer Neighbourhood Team

worked together to engage with the

community in a series of activities

and practical demonstrations.

This unique partnership brought all

other services to the doorstep of our

Green Street Area residents demon-

strating how we can as a community

assist in heightening security and

safety within our environment and

support youth involvement.

There were many exhibitors, these

included the Safer Neighbourhood

Team ; Newham Victim Support;

Residents Involvement Team; Bene-

fits Agency; Terence Higgins Trust

Tech Shop; Connexions; Recycling

Team; Neighbourhood & Estates

Services; Community Adult

Education Course Informa-

tion. To name but a few!

As well as information stalls

we were also entertained by

Community Links, in the form

of face painting, the inflatable

castle and crazy bikes. Live

performances showcasing up

and coming young talent in-

cluding live singing and street

dance.

Community Education adult

tutors were on hand to provide

practical demonstrations and

workshops ranging from, head

massage, to jewellery making,

reflexology, cake decorating,

henna and facial beauty.

A taste of Africa was prominent at

Priory Park in the form of the Iroko

Theatre Company. They engaged

scores of Newham residents in

African drumming, story telling, tie

dying and drama.

The competitions and tournament

reached a thrilling climax with West

Ham Football. Clubs Kicks Pro-

gramme, the Tech Shop tyre

change and the Police Urban Cup

competition run by Green Street

East Safer Neighbourhoods Team.

Where 18 prizes and trophies were

handed out ranging from West Ham

shirts, IPODs, Argos Vouchers to

Mountain Bikes. All prizes were do-

nated by: the Police, Tech Shop, to-

gether with Newham Homes

contractors i.e Mansell, Connaught

and Lakehouse.

Even the heavens could not dampen

the enjoyment and genuine partici-

pation of all residents on the day!


How to deal with neighbour problems

Bigges t In ter fa i th BBQIn The UK Celebrates 5 Years of Community Cohesion In Newham

Youth Involvementand Active Citizenship

As we find ourselves at the tail end of the noughties, we seem to

be leading busier lives than ever. If our days aren't jam-packed

whizzing the children here, there and everywhere, they're filled

with us dashing off to the gym, hurtling out to grab a bit of shop-

ping, not to mention doing the old 9-5 to make all the ends

meet. So where do we 'old dogs' find time to learn 'new eco-

tricks' and do we really need to worry about it? Surely someone

else can just do a bit more for the environment and we won't

have to worry about it. Take the first letter from each of our top

tips - who said word games were just for kids?!

Start believing that your small and simple changes will make adifference

Try to adopt one green change a week into your usual routine

Ask your children or grandchildren what they know aboutcomposting; you might bepleasantly surprised

Rise to the challenge of being a green leader in your officeand tackle one simple task a month

Talk to three of your neighbours and set up a weekly recycling

rota for a Sunday morning trip to the civic amenity site and take

all the rubbish in one car

Never underestimate your own potential for positive change

Only throw away what's absolutely necessary, landfill is onestep away from landfull

When you start feeling the buzz from going the extra greenmile, spread the word and get a friend on board too

N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 20096 | ENVIRO PAGE

RECYCLE MORE!Greening Up for Grown Ups

ECO-FRIENDYHERE ARE A FEW TIPS ON

HOW TO RECYCLE,

SAVE MONEY AND BE

ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY

Don't fill the kettle when boiling every time, only boil

the amount you need. [ Surraiya ]

Use energy efficient appliances e.g. light bulbs. [ Emma ]

Use public transport or walk to local areas (instead of driving).

[ James ]

Put old paper in a scrap box and use for small notes before throwing away.

[ Sally ]

Have a quick shower instead of bath.

[ Ted ]

Create separate bins in your house for paper, plastics, glass etc.

[ Tazud ]

If you have any tips: please do email us and

we will try to include them in the next issue:

[email protected]

www.recycle-more.co.ukWritten by Tracey Smith as part of Valpak's initiative to help recycle-more (c) Valpak Ltd 2009

N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 20097 | THIS IS MY BOROUGH

Please tell us about yourself:

I have worked in the Police Service

for 23 years. I have had various

posts and these include working at

New Scotland Yard, Romford and

Havering Boroughs.

When did you originally come to

work in Newham?

I came to work in Newham in

1999.

What are you memories of

Newham when you first came

here?

Policing the Borough was and still

is challenging. There were differ-

ent needs in different parts of the

Borough and these have evolved

over time. There was a lot of race

hate crime and domestic violence.

Much work has been done to chal-

lenge behaviours and attitudes.

And how is it different now?

Newham is a very diverse Bor-

ough. There are various supportive

Communities and the challenge is

to get these communities working

together. There is a lot of interven-

tion work going on to engage the

youth in Newham. There is a sig-

nificant reduction in Knife Crime.

Every ward has a Safer Neighbour-

hoods Team and there are more Po-

lice officers visibly policing the

Streets.

How do you relax?

I like cycling and I enjoy watching

Rugby. Weekends I spend most of

the time with my family and

recharge the batteries. It is nice to

go with the family to Museums and

theatres and also try out delicacies

from various restaurants.

Tell us about your job and your

plans for the future.

The job is a challenge that I look

forward to every day.

We have the

Olympics around the

corner and it is a

privilege to be lead-

ing my officers to-

wards this event.

There is regeneration

taking place across

the Borough espe-

cially Canning

Town, the DLR, City

Airport and this is

making the Borough

a better place.

What made you de-

cide that you

wanted to become a

Police Officer and what

differences have you

made as you have pro-

gressed in your career?

I wanted to make a differ-

ence to peoples lives and

make society better. Look-

ing back, a lot of work has

been done to engage the

youth and minimise youth

violence by assessing the

changing needs and ensur-

ing intervention is put into

place. I was part of a team

that put policies and actions

in place to reduce race hate

crimes; this was on the back

of the Stephen Lawrence case.

Can you tell us one happy mo-

ment and one sad moment in

your career?

There are many happy moments

but one that stands out is when I

was given the opportunity to take

on the responsibility of Borough

Commander. This was a pleasure

to accept. A humbling experience

was when I was invited to South

Africa and India to share the good

practice we have in Newham. I

saw the poverty that youngsters

face in these countries and then

saw the various opportunities

available to our youngsters here.

We have much to be grateful for

here in the UK.

How do you see Newham in 2012

and 2019?

In three years, the area will be

more vibrant, many jobs on offer

and many new people coming into

the Borough to experience the

great Olympic Games. Newham

will be on the World Map and we

should all be proud of this oppor-

tunity.

In 2019, Newham will totally be

changed. There is regeneration

taking place. 48,000 new homes

will be built and policing will

change to accommodate the chang-

ing needs.

What is your advice to the young

people of Newham to make the

most of the opportunities avail-

able to them?

My advice to the youngsters is that

whatever you put into life that is

what you will get out of it. No-

body is given anything for free;

you have to earn respect. There are

many opportunities in this Bor-

ough that the youngster can tap

into and make the best use of.

Please tell us how the Police will

be supporting the needs of the

community:

Improving social behaviour

amongst the youngsters

The SNTs comprise of local offi-

cers working with the community

to strengthen links.

Building the links ensures that the

right support is provided to where

the needs are most.

Any support for the elderly

The elderly and the community as

a whole are consulted about how

best we can support the changing

needs in the Borough. Again the

SNT are always available to sup-

port and advise on the particular

needs of each ward.

To reduce the crime rate and re-

lated issues. What policies are

being put into place?

To understand the needs of the

community, we work closely with

an Independent Advisory Group.

The Group comprises of a member

of each community and are com-

monly known as our Critical

Friends. The needs of the commu-

nity are discussed and policies,

which are then revised and put into

practice. For example: new build-

ings are being designed with the

knowledge of Designing Out

Crime. Street lighting is placed to

minimise or virtually wipe out the

chances of crime.

Our focus is on four areas: Tack-

ling violent crimes, Property

crime, Keeping the Community in-

formed and Preventing Violence

and Extremism.

By working and being active with

the community and ensuring visi-

bility, this will ensure that we col-

lectively tackle the issues and

needs of the community.

Strategies to cater for the

Olympic Games and ideas to

carry on the good work being de-

veloped as a result of this fantas-

tic opportunity (i.e. after the

Games are over).

At the time of the Olympics, the

needs of Policing in London will

be great. Other events taking place

at the same time will be the Not-

ting Hill Carnival, the Queens Ju-

bilee and of course the summer

will be here. The policing will be

challenging but support will be

available to cater for the needs.

This is my borough, this is where I choose to work.Simon Letchford - Borough Commander of Newham


INTERVIEW with Ernest and Ivy Fenn

Ages: Ernest is 96 and Ivy is 93. They have been married for 71 years.

How long have you lived in Newham and where did you work?

Ivy: I moved to Sibley Grove when I was 11 years old, in 1927. Ernest moved here when we got married

in 1938, and we have lived on Browning Road ever since then. I used to work at the Marks and Spencers'

on the High Street.

Ernest: I used to work for the Royal Typewriter Company, based near Fenchurch Street in the City.

What are your memories of Newham?

Ivy: Well, there were very few cars back then, and people used mainly buses and trains. In fact, I re-

member that there used to be horses and carts on Browning Road, and policemen often rode horses. Peo-

ple were happier back then, and I remember that everybody used to know everybody.

How are things different now?

Ivy: Generally, people were a lot friendlier and helpful back then. Now its so individualistic. Were

lucky that we have good friendly neighbours, but the others on the street dont want to know you.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

Ernest: In East London, there used to be a lot of Jewish families. On Fridays, their Sabbath day, they

couldnt light the fires themselves and they had to have a Christian do it. As a boy, I used to get a penny

or a piece of cake for doing it. Also, if they had chicken which bled, meaning it wasnt Kosher, I could

sometimes take it home, which was a great treat!

Did you like school when you were little?

Ivy: I used to go to Kensington Primary School, and I remember I got a smack if I was naughty.

What were your favourite subjects at school?

Ivy: I used to love reading and writing, and I still read a lot now. I liked to play netball.

Ernest: I went to a school to learn carpentry, and I still keep it up. Ive made some of the furniture that

you can see here in my house, and just today, Ive finished making a giant candle holder for St Barnabas

Church.

What are your favourite TV programmes and why?

Ivy: I love The Bill. I like the fact that its realistic, and its about everyday life.

Ernest: I love documentaries, especially wildlife shows. Did you see The Lion Man when it was on re-

cently? It was amazing!

What do you children and grandchildren do?

Ivy: We have two sons. One is in America, where he is a professional linguist. He did a BA in Russian,

after attending Langdon School, which back then was the Boys Grammar School. Our other son is a

consultant.

Ernest: One of our grandchildren starts university this year, and the other is at high school.

Do you have any memories about the Blitz during the Second World War?

Ernest: There were bombs everywhere. I remember the sound of the bombs as they came whistling

down. The High Street got bombed, and an incendiary bomb fell right in our back garden. I remember

that one incendiary bomb fell on a womans shelter, and I was one of the boys that helped save the

woman. Last week, that womans grandchildren came to thank us. Another funny story, you might like

this one: during the Blitz you had to make sure there was a Blackout, that there were no lights that the

pilots of the bombers could see and target. Well, there was a really heavy raid, and there was fire every-

where. Next door, a man was holding a cigarette, and another guy shouted Put that light out now! It

was funny, because in the midst of all this fire, why would one cigarette matter?! I always remember

that incident and laugh.

Do you think people are happier now?

Ivy: No, people were happier back then. There is so much control over us and less freedom. Kids could

go outside to play and get dirty, and it didnt matter if you were poor because you made your own fun.

Nowadays, people dont appreciate the possessions they have, and they are a lot greedier and selfish.

Is it hard or scary to be old?

Ernest: No, of course not! We think ourselves lucky to have lived this long. I got to 96 by eating all the

wrong things and doing all the wrong things! But think about it, I have 96 years worth of happy memories

to look back on. Whats scary about that?

Ivy: Were lucky because we can still do things by ourselves. I feel sorry for elderly people that are

treated badly and have to be admitted into care homes.

REAL PEOPLE - REAL LIVES!SHARING EXPERIENCES AND TREASURED MEMORIES...

Whizz and TalkName: Sadiquet Mughal Age: 36 Job: Web Design Specialist in Disabled Web Access

How long have you lived here : All my life

Please tell us about yourself

I am 36 years old. I am a Web and Graphics Designer by trade. I

specialise in Disabled Access Websites due to the fact I am myself

disabled with Cerebral Palsy.

Tell us about your work and your plans for the future

I plan to go to university this year to get professional qualifica-

tions in the design field

Tell us about your relationship with Newhams community

I have lived in Newham all my life. I have lots of friends and family members living in Newham. People

recognise me because Im always whizzing around in my wheelchair. People are always caring and go out of

their way to let me pass, they will open doors for me and that is nice. The funny thing is that at times people

think that because I am disabled, I cant do much. When I tell them that I am a Web Designer, they are

shocked but then they are so proud of what I have achieved. I do like the community, it is mixed and has peo-

ple from all backgrounds living together.

What was the driving force that made you successful?

My own will power, my belief in having values which include being reliable, honest and trustworthy and my

faith in God.

Tell us a funny moment in your life?

I had to live in an old peoples home that was the funniest time of my life. I was only 18 years old at that time

and the people living with me were older than 80 years of age. It was really boring and sometimes I use to

wind some old dear up.

Tell us about a sad moment in your life?

The death of my eldest brother. He was really close to me. He was the only one who really cared about me.

When he died I was devastated.

Tell us about your relationship with God?

I always believe in Allah. I am thankful for what he has given me. Even though I am disabled, I am thankful

for all the opportunities that I have. I pray to him five times a day and he answers my prayers.

How does your faith help you with your everyday life?

All my plans are fulfilled by the guidance and encouragement from my faith

How can we work together to encourage more Community Engagement?

Through dialogue and better communication amongst ourselves. Through better understanding of each

others cultures and backgrounds. Through having activities and events that bring people together.

How do you see Newham in 2012 and 2019?

I believe that Newham is a fun place to live in. We have so many opportunities in this borough of ours. We

live in a diverse borough and I like Newham. In 2019 which is ten years away, I think we will see many posi-

tive changes in Newham. The Olympics will be very good for us and will bring people from all over the

globe to Newham. The challenge will be to keep the unemployment in Newham low and to continue the use

of the facilities that are being built specifically for the Olympics.

Thank you - Bagoo

So Newham residents: how do you feel after reading this interview?.

What actions can you take?. What actions can we take collectively to

make a stronger, healthier and happier community?.

N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 20099 | OLYMPICS UPDATE

In exactly three years, people

around the world will be cel-

ebrating the Opening Cere-

mony of the London 2012

Olympic Games. With construc-

tion now well under way on all

permanent venues on the

Olympic Park, the ODA is on

track and within

budget. The ex-

ternal structure

of the Olympic

Stadium is now

complete, the

roof structure of

the Aquatics

Centre is over

half way fin-

ished and work

is also progress-

ing well on the Olympic Village,

the Velodrome and the transport

and infrastructure projects

needed for the Games.

The London Organising Com-

mittee of the Olympic Games

(LOCOG) and Paralympics

Games has made solid progress

with its planning to stage the

Games in 2012, with its domes-

tic sponsorship programme now

passing the 500m mark.

The London 2012 Organising

Committee Chair Sebastian Coe

said:

'In exactly three years, London

and the whole of the UK will be

getting ready to stage the great-

est event on earth and we will

not disappoint. There is a tangi-

ble sense of excitement building

and a genuine sense of belief that

the Games in 2012 will not only

be a source of intense national

pride, but that the benefits will

be felt for generations to come.'

John Armitt, Chair of the ODA,

said: 'Building the venues and in-

frastructure needed for the 2012

Games and legacy is the largest

construction project in Europe

and three years out from the

Games we are on track and

within budget.

'The Olympic Park has changed

dramatically over the last year.

The external structure of the Sta-

dium is complete just fourteen

months after construction started

and with work well underway on

the rest of the site people are

now able to get a sense of what

the venues will look

like in 2012.

'Though we are

making strong

progress we are not

complacent. The

year ahead is a

challenging one as

activity on site

reaches its peak.'

The ODA has also

announced that it

had delivered on

and exceeded some

of its The Big

Build: Foundations

milestones and has

published the next set of mile-

stones it will achieve by the

summer of 2010.

The Big Build: Structure mile-

stones to be achieved by next

summer, include:

The structure of the

Olympic Stadium, in-

cluding the roof will be

complete, the first seats

fitted and work on the

field of play will have

started

The Aquatic Centres

permanent structure and roof

will be complete and all 3 swim-

ming pools dug out

The Velodrome structure and

roof will be complete, with work

about to start on installing the

timber track

More than half the new bridges

and underpasses completed

The Energy Centre, primary

substation, main sewer and deep

foul sewer all in operation.

Meanwhile LOCOGs focus over

the next twelve months will be

on:

The launch of the London 2012

volunteer programme in 2010

The unveiling of London 2012

Mascots in 2010

Early details of London 2012s

ticketing strategy released in

2010, ahead of tickets going on

sale in 2011

Thus the evolution of the Brown-

field site in Stratford to Interna-

tional Olympic standards is well

under way.

Young Londonersunveil theirOlympic legacymanifesto

The Legacy Now Youth Panel

which comprises of 25 teenagers

from the five Olympic host boroughs

launched the Seven pillars of

legacy earlier this month. The panel

was set up to offer a unique voice for young people into the

planning process and encourage others to take part. They

have met regularly with master planners to advise on what

should be created after the Games.

The panel outlined their legacy manifesto in Hackney in

front of hundreds of their peers from youth groups across

London. The event also featured film screenings including

a legacy flythrough of the Olympic Park site, V-J mixing

video and sound Olympic themes and a 3D model of a pos-

sible Olympic Park of the future which was brought to life

through video and sounds.

The Legacy Now Youth Panel manifesto is:

1. Public spaces and buildings create communities where

people enjoy living and working together. Conflict and ten-

sion are a thing of the past.

2. Young people socialise and participate in a range of ac-

tivities in high quality spaces. We are inspired to learn and

achieve together.

3. People feel safe and relaxed, help is on hand when you

need it and no-one feels excluded.

4. Public facilities and activities within the community are

accessible, available and affordable for all. The open spaces

and built environment are for everyone.

5. Everyone can learn and develop. There are excellent

schools and a variety of jobs and opportunities.

6. Getting around is easy; there are lots of options for trans-

port. Travel is affordable, safe and environmentally-

friendly.

7. As a community we own, respect and enjoy this area. We

are involved in planning and developing our environment

with expert planners and architects.

Sara Gadim, 15, Youth Panel member from Greenwich,

said:

"We've given our opinions and they've been listened to. The

legacy plans are an important thing to be part of and its

great to be involved.

Eduardo Dacosta, 16, Youth Panel member from Newham,

said:

"The Legacy Now Youth Panel is one of the best things I've

done in ages and its opened my eyes to the world. Architec-

ture isn't just for architects, its for everyone!"

The manifesto has been handed to the legacy master plan-

ning team and will be used to develop the designs for the

post-2012 Olympic Park site. This work will be taken for-

ward by the newly set up Olympic Park Legacy Company

which will take over physical legacy planning and delivery

from the LDA later this year.

3 Years and CountingLondon 2012 looks ahead

N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 200910 | YOUTH AND KIDS

Two members of Newhams Youth Council re-

cently travelled to Canterbury to take part in

the 9th annual sitting of the United Kingdom

Youth Parliament.

Seyi Akiwowo and Shingirai Sibanda were

two of more than 350 young people who took

part in the event at the University of Kent.

Over four days members addressed a number

of important issues including the environment,

mental health, crime and education.

They also launched three national campaigns

on public transport, university tuition fees and

political education.

Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Can-

terbury, met with the young people and the

Speaker of the House of Commons and a

number of Government Ministers addressed

the group.

Seyi said it was a

great opportunity to

find out how young

people from other

boroughs are tack-

ling issues in their

communities.

She said: At the

moment the

Newham Youth

Council has three

key local cam-

paigns; youth on

youth crime, recy-

cling and renewable

energy.

It was really valuable being able to share our

ideas with young people from across the UK

and find out what issues theyre focussing on.

When we talked to them about their tactics for

addressing issues, it helped us to think about

developing our approach in Newham.

Shingirai explained that they both had the op-

portunity to attend training sessions to help

them improve their communication skills.

She said: At one of the training sessions we

were given a huge insight into engaging with

marginalised groups of young people.

This is really important in Newham, where

we have such a diverse population of young

people that we have to reach.

Seyi Akiwowo and Shingirai Sibanda will

continue to represent Newham Youth Council

at UK Youth Parliament events in the future,

including an event at the House of Commons

in October, where they will be two of the first

ever young people allowed to sit and debate in

the chamber which is usually used by MPs.

One day, a scorpion was by theriver bank. He saw a frog sit-ting by the bank of the stream.He decided to ask the frog forhelp getting across the stream.

"Hi Mr. Frog!" said the scor-

pion, "Would you be so kind as

to give me a ride on your back

across the river?"

"Well now, Mr. Scorpion! How

do I know that if I try to help

you, you wont try to kill me?"

asked the frog.

"Because," the scorpion replied,

"If I try to kill you, then I will

die too, for you see I cannot

swim!"

The frog agreed to take the scor-

pion across the river.

Halfway across the river, the

frog suddenly felt a sharp sting

in his back and, out of the cor-

ner of his eye, saw the scorpion

remove his stinger from the

frog's back. A deadening numb-

ness began to creep into his

limbs.

"You fool!" croaked the

frog, "Now we shall both

die! Why on earth did

you do that?"

The scorpion shrugged,

"I could not help myself.

It is in my nature."

Then they both sank into the

muddy waters of the swiftly

flowing river.

Self destruction - "Its my Na-

ture", said the Scorpion...

How do you feel about this

storyCould the Scorpion

have prevented this?

TEXT CORNER!

Newham Youth Council takes local views national!

Participants at the 9th annual sitting of the United Kingdom Youth Parliament

WOULD YOU LIKE TO EAT YOUR HOMEWORK?

Did you know the Egyptians could eat paper? They made

paper out of papyrus which is a plant that can be eaten ei-

ther raw or cooked. So if you haven't done your homework,

just tell your teacher you got hungry and ate it!

IS AN ELEPHANT REALLY SCARED OF A MOUSE?

Compared to an elephant, a mouse is so small that an ele-

phant does not even know that there is a mouse close to it.

The purpose of life is not 2 b happy but 2 matter, 2 b pro-

ductive, 2 b useful, 2 hav it, make some difference that u

have lived at all.

We cannot afford 2 wait until the storm has passed. We

must learn 2 work in rain as well.

Success is like ur own shadow, if u try 2 catch it then youll

never succeed, ignore it and walk in ur own positive wayit

will follow u.

The Scorpion and the Frog

Ms Hazel Nutt's Fun Page

PROMOTING POSITIVE VALUES: Little friends may prove to be great friends.

SODUKU WORD SEARCH

SEND YOUR JOKES AND RIDDLES TO MS HAZEL [email protected]

Please give us your name and area of residence and

we will print this too.

ANSWERS (JULY 2009)

Strawberry | Orange | Grapes | Apple | Kiwi | Peach |

Lemon | Plum | Pear | Mango | Banana

JokesQuestion: What vehicle is spelled the same backwards and forwards?

Answer: Racecar [Ibrahim - Forest Gate]

Riddle: What month has 28 days?

Answer: All of them!! [Sarah - Stratford]

Joke: Why did the cookie go to the doctor?

Answer: Because he was feeling crummy!! [Emma - Forest Gate]

Question: What gets wetter the more it dries?

Answer: A towel!! [Dominic - East Ham]

N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 200911 | CELEBRATION

On 14 August, Pakistanis across the

world celebrate Pakistan Independence

Day; the following day, those from India

mark Indian Independence Day.

The days have often been marked by

raising the flag at East Ham Town Hall

alongside the Union Flag.

The Pakistani and Indian communities in

Newham get on very well except when

the two countries are playing cricket

against each other!

Raising the flags might seem relatively

minor, but when we look at the Town

Hall on these two days we can all re-

member the ways in which these two

different communities have come to-

gether and helped make Newham the

place it is today.

Our diverse community in Newham is an

inspiration to others around the world.

Both the Pakistani and Indian communi-

ties have made huge contributions to our

part of London. The independence days

are a chance for those of us from differ-

ent backgrounds to reflect on and appre-

ciate those contributions.

62 INDEPENDENCE DAYA PERSONAL MESSAGE FROMStephen Timms MPMember of Parliament for East Ham

PAKISTAN & INDIAINDEPENDENCE

The days of 14 and 15 August hold great

significance for many people in Newham.


On 15th of August 1947 India became in-

dependent and the Indian Tricolor was

hoisted at the Red Fort by the first Prime

Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.

Every year, the largest democracy of the

world celebrates the Independence Day

and remembers the sacrifices of its forefa-

thers. For the last 62 years India has ad-

vanced rapidly in technology, education,

health and all other sectors and maintains

good relations with all countries, especially

with Great Britain.

15th August is a national holiday and every

school, office and organisation raises the

national flag. In Delhi, the Prime Minister

of India delivers the Independence Day

speech after hoisting the flag at the Red

Fort. The parades by all three defence units

and the cultural shows make the celebra-

tions attractive and proud. Indian em-

bassies all over the world celebrate the In-

dependence Day by flying the flag. This is

a nostalgic day for all non-resident Indians

and people of Indian origin. Indian associa-

tions and cultural centres celebrate the day

with various functions and cultural activi-

ties. India with her rich resources, spiritual-

ity, culture and values continues its journey

towards the vision of a better peaceful

world.

DR. RAJESH BAMS

This is a day of celebration, a day to be

happy. A day to share your happiness with

others, a day to show what is good about

India and Indians. Texts, friends meeting

up, cousins sharing gifts, programmes on

TV are all part of the celebrations of this

special day.

Newham ConnectZ

AT the age of 18 he travelled to London to study law at University

College London. He returned to India as a qualified barrister on

June 12, 1891. He preached non violence, he worked day and night

for his people and he is officially honoured in India

as the Father of the Nation.

Mohandas Karamchand

Gandhi.

Pre-eminent political

and spiritual leader of

India.

You must be the changethat You wish to see in the

THE FIRST PM OF INDIAPandit Nehru, the first and the longest-serving Prime Minister of India helped to shape and lead the

Indian independence movement. A natural and gifted leader who had vision to develop a success-

ful nation.

Citizenship consists in the service of the country.

INDIAN INDEPENDENCE DAYOn 15th of August 1947 India became

independent and the Indian Tricolor was raised at the Red Fort by the first

Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.

FATHER OF INDIAMahatma Gandhi was born in Porbandar

on October 2, 1869.


On this day, youngsters dress up in

green and white and will paint their

faces with a crescent and star. At

home sweet dishes are eaten and

the fragrance of lit mumbathis is in the

air and cousins will either come over

or phone to congratulate each other.

Texts will be passed amongst friends,

sharing the happiness of celebrating

the Day of Independence from where

their parents originated from.

Programmes will be dedicated to

Muhammed Ali Jinnah and a speech

by the President. You will hear the

Pakistani National Anthem and poems

by Alaama Iqbal.

Young boys drive through Green

Street in sports cars with their heads

sticking out of the window beeping

their horns. Occasionally, you see a

few people wearing their Pakistani

cricket team shirt.

Muhammad

This is a day of celebration, a day to

be happy. A day to share your happi-

ness with others, a day to show what is

good about Pakistan and Pakistanis.

Newham ConnnectZ

AT the age of 16 he moved to England to study at the Bar.

He returned to Pakistan as a qualified barrister.

He worked day and night and on 14th August

1947,

Pakistan was created.

Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

Founder of Pakistan.

No nation can rise to the height ofglory unless your women are side by sidewith you.

THE THINKER OF PAKISTANALLAMA IQBAL was known as "The Thinker of Pakistan.

He is officially recognised as the National poet of Pakistan.

Arise, and soar with the suns new-born rays, To breathe newlife into dying nights and days.

PAKISTANI INDEPENDENCE DAYThe importance of 14th August - the

day Pakistan was founded.FATHER OF PAKISTANThe founder of Pakistan, Muhammed Ali

Jinnah, was born in Karachi on December 25, 1876.

N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 200914 | ADVERTISMENT

The University of East London

(UEL) hosted a womens dele-

gation from the British Univer-

sity in Dubai (BUiD), the

Middle Easts first research

based postgraduate university

on Wednesday 29 July.

The Dubai-based student group

from Knowledge Village in

Dubai are professionals from

across the business and public

sector in the Arabian Gulf. They

were in East London for the

first time to learn more about

the role of UEL as a major East

London university along with

the culture and history of the

East End and the forthcoming

London 2012 Games.

As part of their tour of UEL,

which was organised by Dr Naz

Awan from BUiD, the students

visited UELs prestigious Cass

School of Education in Stratford

which will be officially

launched in October. The

School is one of London's lead-

ing centres for teacher training

offering highly successful pro-

grammes for Primary, Second-

ary and Post-Compulsory

levels.

At the Cass School of Educa-

tion, the group discussed the

differing and similar role of

women in both societies

with Dr Rania Hafez, Di-

rector of Post Compulsory

Education and Training at

UEL.

There was also an official

tour of the developing

Olympic site in Stratford

to see how plans for the

Games were unfolding and

learn more about the legacy of

the Olympics.

Dr Graham Barnfield, Pro-

gramme Leader in Journalism at

UELs School of Humanities

and Social Sciences said: This

is a great event that helps stu-

dents abroad understand UEL

and the East London environ-

ment better. We are encouraging

open dialogue and discussions

about cultural and other impor-

tant issues and that helps us cel-

ebrate our differences.

Ive worked in Dubais media

industries and Dr Awan grew up

in Walthamstow. We are now

building bridges and helping the

students appreciate what a

global university UEL is and the

important links we are creating

in the local community and be-

yond.

Student Aamna Al Mansoori is

studying for a Masters in Edu-

cation, Information and Com-

munication in Dubai and is an

IT teacher. She said: We are on

a cultural visit to see how

higher education works in Lon-

don. I think the Stratford site is

modern and UEL is trying to

connect the past with the future

and thats important.

The Mayor of London, Boris John-

son, has launched a brand new em-

ployment and careers website for

Londoners, initially aimed at the

100,000 graduates in the capital

who will be looking for work this

summer.

Helping Graduates into Work has

been developed in conjunction

with The Careers Group, Univer-

sity of London and offers an ex-

tremely wide range of information

and advice to students leaving the

capitals universities.

A unique feature on the site allows

graduates to enter their degree sub-

ject and access a range of job and

career results including names of

employers who typically recruit in

that area and the salaries they pay.

The site offers extensive advice on

the best approaches to finding and

applying for work, preparing CVs,

and attending interviews. It also in-

cludes information on job fairs in

London, internship schemes and

many other post-graduate opportu-

nities that are available.

The Mayor is particularly keen to

see more internships created across

London. Recognising that the capi-

tals firms already make internship

programmes an integral part of

their business strategy, the Mayor

will promote good practice and

support it with public sector in-

vestment.

The Mayor said:

London will lead the way out of

this recession but our longer term

prosperity depends on nurturing

the extraordinary pool of talent we

have on our doorstep. Much of that

talent emerges each summer from

Londons renowned universities,

and we cannot afford to see our

graduates futures blighted by un-

employment as they leave study.

With a lack of opportunities in the

capital, many may leave for good

and that would be a disaster.

There is no denying its tough out

there, but I am reliably informed

that there are still plenty of gradu-

ate opportunities to be had if you

know where to look. That is why,

with the excellent support of The

Careers Group, we have developed

this key initiative from my Eco-

nomic Recovery Plan - a careers

site with clear sign posts to the di-

verse range of work opportunities

that exist in this city.

London is undoubtedly the place

to be for young people and gradu-

ates and my clear message is that

we want you, we

need you and I

will work end-

lessly to keep you

here, in the

worlds greatest

city.

Anne-Marie Mar-

tin, Director of

The Careers

Group, University

of London said:

"The portal helps graduates expand

their career thinking, an essential

pre-requisite in these difficult eco-

nomic times. It has been a truly

collaborative project bringing to-

gether information and expertise

from the Mayors Office and from

across the Higher Education sector

in London. An activity that the

University of London, through The

Careers Group, has been proud to

facilitate.

The Mayors Economic Recovery

Action Plan published last Decem-

ber, set out a range of measures to

help support the capital during the

economic downturn, including the

GLA group providing at least

1,000 apprenticeships a year until

2012. However, in February the

Mayor announced that the GLA

group is well on its way to provid-

ing more than 3,000 apprentice-

ships over the next three years.

This is in addition to the Collabo-

ration Tasters project, launched last

year by the London Development

Agency which involves placing

200 undergraduates and post grad-

uates with London based small

businesses on short-term, innova-

tion related projects.

'Helping graduates into work' is the

first phase of our work to help

Londoners through the economic

downturn and the website will

soon be expanded with advice and

information targeted at other

groups Londoners to help them

find work and training opportuni-

ties.

N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 200915 | EDUCATION

Nurturing

All of us need love and atten-

tion. Children are no different.

Parents need to ensure that:

1. Children enjoy nurturing

from all adults so that they are

happy and contented.

2. Nurturing ensures confi-

dence, maturity, love and the

ability to enjoy life.

3. Children take time and do not

rush any stage of development.

It is so easy to try and run be-

fore you can walk, read before

you can speak and hence fail to

enjoy children and their grow-

ing up!

4. Children should have firm

foundations.

5. With nurturing, care and at-

tention to detail, time spent on a

one to one basis children feel

respected, happy, content and

ready to take the next step.

Children grow up so quickly

that you, as parents, need to

enjoy every moment.

6. They spend time and enjoy

each others company. These

children will be secure, happy

and confident people.

Goals

Parents have aspirations for all

their children. This is great but

sometimes these have to be

modified to suit each individual.

Parents need to ensure that:

1. Each individual child is able

to succeed in their own field.

Not everyone is an academic

nor do they need to be.

2. The individual strengths and

weaknesses of each child are

identified.

3. Each child is succeeding as a

happy, fulfilled person. For

young people today there are so

many opportunities and fields

that although it may take time to

find the right one for your child

it is always worth finding it.

A STRONG family background

and support are essential to

every child. Parents will feel a

sense of achievement when they

are able to see their child suc-

cessful and flourishing. It is

worth the hard work and the

time spent on it!

www.parentsintouch.co.uk

Do you want to learn the Chinese language and

fun facts about the country?. Well, youve come

to the right place, every month we will teach

how to write some simple Chinese words.

Beijing has been the capital of China for over

600 years. What would you do if you had one

day in Beijing? Where could you go?.

The Temple of Heaven: One of the most spec-

tacular buildings in Beiijing, the temple of

heaven is also part of a huge park where people

practice Tai Chi and fly kites. Some of these

kites can be as long as 15 metres.

The Great Wall: The great wall is only 50 miles

from Beijing

Beijing duck: Beijing duck is Beijings most fa-

mous dish. The duck is roasted in an oven and

the crispy skin and meat are eaten together

Language corner

Tintn Temple of Heaven

Chngchng The Great Wall

Bijng koy Beijing Duck

Follow these steps to write Great Wall:

Did You

Know?The great wall was started as early as 1500

years ago and protected china from the tribes

that lived in the north. At one

point almost a million men

guarded the wall, and lived in the

watchtowers for weeks at a time.A strongstart

Dubai Students visitUEL and the multicultural East End

Helping Graduates into WorkMayor launches new employment website for London's summer graduates

www.london.gov.uk/graduates

LANGUAGE EXERCISE!

N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 200916 | HEALTH

Pregnant women coming to

Newham are now being offered

access to the new Healthy Preg-

nancy Clinic to help them with

their dietary needs throughout

pregnancy.

The service has been set up as

there are many women who

could minimise and possibly pre-

vent the risk of complications

during pregnancy and childbirth

by establishing a healthier diet.

Maryan Shiqow, who has been

using the service and recently

given birth to a healthy baby boy,

said: I found the clinic really

helpful. When I first visited I

was having trouble gaining

weight but I was given advice

and support to eat healthily and

managed to gain some weight.

Its made such a difference to me

as I felt much healthier after ac-

cessing the clinic and that has

continued since giving birth. I

would advise any women who

get the chance to access the

clinic to go along and learn

about how to keep healthy

through pregnancy.

The service supports pregnant

women who are identified to

have a higher risk, for exam-

ple, being either underweight

or overweight which can lead

to complications in pregnancy

and childbirth. Pregnant

women are offered support

from a specialist Maternity Dieti-

tian who provides a dietary as-

sessment and give mums the best

nutritional advice and recom-

mendations for achieving a

healthy weight during pregnancy.

Fran Nethersole, Maternity Die-

titian and clinic lead, comments:

There are many benefits for

women at risk accessing this

service. The assessment and ad-

vice may reduce the risk of com-

plications through the pregnancy

and evidence suggests that ba-

bies that are born to healthier

mums may have less risk of de-

veloping health problems such as

childhood obesity and heart dis-

ease later in life. Some women

are unaware of these risks and all

parents referred should be en-

couraged to attend the healthy

pregnancy clinic for an assess-

ment and expert advice.

CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?Laughter sharpens your wits and boosts your health, its true!

In the book A Better Brain at Any Age: The Holistic Way to Improve Your Memory, Re-

duce Stress, and Sharpen Your Wits (Conari Press, 2009), author Sondra Kornblatt writes

about the 8 Health Benefits of Laughterbut what if we dont live with Jim Carrey or we

forgot to save our old Bill Cosby tapes? No problem, Kornblatt has these 7 laughter ex-

ercises to give your brain a giggle workout:

JOIN A LAUGHTER CLUB OR A LAUGHTER YOGA CLASS.Participants playfully imitate breathing and sounds of laughter, until simulated laughter turns into the real thing.

They receive healing, company, humour, and the physical sensation of deep laughs.

If you would like to find out more information about care to make a difference.

Please check out their website: www.care2.com

Healthy diet = healthy pregnancy

Dirty

Bertie

CA

TC

H IT

, BIN

IT, K

ILL

IT.

FIND OUT WHATS FUNNY.

Somethings funny when you snort milk out of your nose but

what makes you laugh? Absurd humour replaces the familiar

with the unexpected. Coyote chases Road Runner after being

smashed by a piano. Superior humour like lawyer jokes re-

arranges lifes hierarchies. In dark humour, you laugh at

what scares you.

FIND OUT WHATS FUNNY.

Laughter may also be about relationships, says Robert

Provine, professor at the University of Maryland. In

fact, you may be tuned for laughter from family

and culture. It helps you cope with life or a rude in-

law by relieving mental and physical tensions.

IMMTERSE YOURSELF IN HUMOUR.

Check out comedy books, movies, and tapes at

the library or stores.

TRIGGER LAUGHTER.

Our mirror neurons trigger humour by hearing others

laugh. Just like yawning, but more fun. Ha.

READ THE COMICS IN A NEWSPAPAER

From the traditional to the olde.g. Beano, theyre a

daily dose of humour.

LAUGHTER TRANSFORMATION.

Try laughter meditation, consisting of stretching, laughing,

and silence. It can transform your energy and mood.

N E W H A M C O N N E C T Z August 200917 | LIFESTYLE

Mayor of London Boris Johnson

and Film London has launched

the largest ever London Borough

Film Fund Challenge (LBFFC)

plus a brand new element of the

scheme: Film London in 90 Sec-

onds. This year more boroughs

than ever before will be involved

in the LBFFC with 23 boroughs,

up from 15 in 2008. The LBFFC

has grown following the Mayors

pledge in October 2008 to in-

crease its reach; with the aim it

will ultimately be available in all

33 London boroughs giving

every London resident an oppor-

tunity to access a local film fund.

Online application forms for the

2009 round of the LBFFC and

more information about the Film

London in 90 Seconds competi-

tion are available at: www.film-

london.org.uk/boroughfilmfunds.

The LBFFC will be run in the

boroughs of Barking & Dagen-

ham, Bexley, Camden, Enfield,

Hackney, Haringey, Kensington

& Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham,

Newham, Redbridge, Southwark,

Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest,

Wandsworth and Westminster.

Barnet, Havering, Hounslow, Is-

lington, Merton, Richmond-

upon-Thames and Sutton will

run the LBFFC Film London in

90 Second competition.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson

said: Film is incredibly impor-

tant to Londons economy, as

well as its cultural life. It's vital

that we nurture talent and find

ways to open up opportunities

for Londoners wanting to get

into the industry. We hope this

brilliant scheme will help dis-

cover the next Hitchcocks and

Spielbergs and ensure London

retains its position as one of the

key centres for film.

Film Londons LBFFC is a suc-

cessful short film-making

scheme open to all residents of

the participating boroughs. New

this year is Film London in 90

Seconds, an additional competi-

tion offering 300 for the best 90

second film from each participat-

ing borough. The film has to be

about the film-makers home bor-

ough and can be shot on any-

thing from the latest high-end

technology to a mobile phone.

The competition will open later

this year.

Working in partnership with the

capitals local authorities the

LBFFC aims to discover grass-

roots talent, stimulate local film-

making and develop new skills.

Since its launch in 2006 the fund

has produced over 100 short

films. Many up-and-coming

film-makers have used the fund

to launch a career in the produc-

tion industries and several have

been shortlisted for prestigious

international awards, such as

Ralitza Petrova from Tower

Hamlets picking up the best

short film award at the Berlin

Film Festival.

The LBFFC offers 500-4,000

towards the production of a short

film. Film London provides fi-

nancial support plus dedicated

advice and resources while each

fund is run and financed by the

participating boroughs, which

are best placed to reach their as-

piring film-makers. All com-

pleted films have the opportunity

to be shortlisted for Film Lon-

dons Best of Borough Film

Awards (BoBs), an an-

nual prize to find the

best shorts produced

through the fund of-

fering two cash prizes

for the winners of a Jury Award

and an Audience Award.

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive

of Film London said: Training

and nurturing Londons next

generation of film-makers is at

the heart of all Film Londons

production schemes. The fact the

London Borough Film Fund

Challenge can now reach more

people across the capital is fan-

tastic news and more boroughs

are set to join the Film Fund next

year. With the ongoing support

from the Mayor and the London

Development Agency Film Lon-

don are able to deliver one of the

UKs biggest and best short film

schemes, offering a unique op-

portunity for Londoners to take

their first steps within the indus-

try.

Patron of the LBFFC, film-

maker Gurinder Chadha, said: "I

started my career through a short

film competition with the BFI.

The BoBs and the London Bor-

ough Film Fund Challenge are

invaluable in helping other Lon-

don kids, like me back then, find

their cinematic voice. Best of all

the reach of the film fund is

growing and will soon be open to

anyone who has something to

say."

Film London is supported by:

FILM LONDONLAUNCHES ITS BIGGESTEVER BOROUGH FILMFUND CHALLENGE

Capital set for an explosion of filmmaking as moreboroughs join successful fund

I am a Londoner born and bred, though I only moved to Newham in my 20s.

My father who was an actor was also born in London (though neither of his

parents were born here) and my mother, also an actress, came from South

Wales.

I have been a professional performer since 18. Professionally I now de-

scribe my self as an Opera Singer, though I started off in Musical Theatre,

then doing straight plays and only coming to Classical music in my 30s. I

now also teach, I have an elders choir in the borough The Wells Belles, am

involved in Newhams NYPC project, and last year I helped create a musi-

cal from scratch for the Green St. Community forum called Green St. The Musical!

What are you memories of Newham when you came here.(when did you come here)

I moved to Newham in the September 1988. I discovered Wanstead Flats; then all the interesting shops in the

East Ham High Road & the Romford Rd; The Elvis Shop, now gone and of course the Dr. Who shop. I have also

loved watching the area change, Stratford now is a great place to go out to eat, take in a play or go to the cinema.

Please tell us what you have been doing recently...

For the last 3 years I have been singing regularly in a restaurant in Dalston / Hackney. I work on a couple of

music projects in the borough and I run my own business The Food of Love supplying opera singers for wed-

dings and corporate

events.

Tell us about your first experience of singing in public.

Do you know I cant remember the first time I sang in public. It was probably at Primary School. All I know is

that I have always felt very comfortable performing in public. Infact, singing to a large audience is much easier

than singing to a few people. Singing at Under the Stars back in 2003 was a real buzz.

What are the most important influences that have moved you as an artist?

Originally I wanted to be another Julie Andrews! I do also remember being a bit fixated on Judy Garland, but I

suppose my family helped influence me with the work they did. Acting wise I was inspired by the work of such

actors as Dame Judy Dench & Imelda Stuanton. They all have simplicity of performance on stage that draws you

right in. It might sound strange but I fell into classical singing, but once I had my first experience of performing

opera I realised it was a coming together of everything I had been working toward.

To get the best when you are singing, what do you do to relax and get ready

To prepare for an operatic work the preparation starts months before. It isnt just a question of knowing the notes

and the words, but knowing how to get the best out of our voice for that role or aria, so I working slowly and

thoroughly.

I am naturally lazy so getting up slowly and having a leisurely breakfast comes easily. But food is important to

me I can only sing on a full stomach, but obviously I try not to eat too close to actually singing because of diges-

tion.

How do you see Newham in 2012

I was really thrilled when I learnt that we were having the Olympic Games, and really hope that it brings pros-

perity, and fun, to the borough. Needless to say I would love to be involved in arts part of the Games. I like

swimming so I cant wait until the new pool is open to the public. It is really interesting watching it all being

built.

Do you think anyone can get involved in singing and what advice would you give them

Yes. Everyone can sing. It has much to do with confidence and how much to heart we take what our friends and

family say about our attempts at singing. I always amazed at how critical people will be about someone elses

singing, when they wouldnt be about their ability to dance, for example.

The Food of LoveNAME: SOVRA NEWMAN [Classical Singer/Actess]

Transport

Just as we were beginning to get

used to lower fuel costs, they have

begun to creep up again. For this

reason it is important to re-priori-

tise your trips and the means of

transport you intend to take, to en-

sure you dont lose out. While a

litre of petrol currently hovers

around the pound mark, there is

no doubt it will only get higher in

the coming months. So whats the

remedy for the oil blues we are all

currently singing?

Well for one, theres the old fash-

ion method of transportation

known as walking. While it is

probably unfeasible over longer

distances, there is no reason why

you cant swap your driving boots

for your walking ones for those

shorter journeys. In these months

of warm weather, it isnt only

cheaper and environmentally

friendly to practice the lost art of

pedestrianism, but its also great

for your health. So my tip here is,

drop your car keys and take a

walk, literally, because its good

for you, for the environment and

most importantly, your wallet.

The second money saving method

of transport requires a bit of down

payment upfront but offers great

mileage, no road-tax or MOT and

more impressively no fuel costs.

Yes, thats right, the bicycle is also

another great, environmentally

friendly, money saving alternative.

The 2 main advantages cycling of-

fers over walking are quicker jour-

ney times and longer distance

travelling. However, being in the

mist of some erratic drivers, be

sure to wear a helmet around

some bright colours for safety. In

the centre of London, many com-

panies offer cycle services that

allow you to pedal between cycle

stands located in many convenient

places.

The next cheap (and I say that re-

luctantly) alternative to cars is

public transport, namely in the

form of tubes, trains, trams and

buses. Despite the fact prices have

been rising above inflation year on

year for the past decade, this

method of transport edges out mo-

toring. Regardless of the constant

delays, monthly strikes and the

occasional jumper, the service in

general is still fairly solid and reli-

able. No doubt improvements and

expansion of all public transport

services are required, but in the

context of this article, Londons

(and other places) transport serv-

ice is highly effective in getting

from A to B and in a way thats

not as harsh as your pocket.

If youre born to be wild, then this

next money saving tip is for you.

Motorcycling, for 1 or 2 riders, is

a very fuel efficient mode of trans-

portation. The smaller fuel tank

along with the ability to weave in

and out of rush hour traffic makes

this a very attractive alternative to

the car. Although you will need to

get a motorcycle license, you will

save bucket loads in the long run

on fuel and look as cool as Arnie

in the Terminator in the process.

The future of motoring is defi-

nitely to be found in hybrid vehi-

cles and smart cars. With an ever

greater emphasis on environmen-

tally friendly vehicles, these cars

are at the forefront of that move-

ment over the past few years. Hy-

brid vehicles are a mesh of

electrical power combined with a

traditional combustion engine.

Upon starting the car, the electri-

cal engine provides initial acceler-

ation up to a speed of around

30MPH, after which the petrol en-

gine kicks in and takes you

the rest of the way. This is

great for individuals who

spend a lot of time in traf-

NEWHAM CONNECTZ | ISSUE 2

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