Blooming Lambeth awards

This year’s Blooming Lambeth awards have been launched with a closing date of 22 June 2018.   The categories are: 1) Best community garden in a school. 2) Best community garden on an estate. 3) The Ivor Picardo award - best food growing project on an estate. 4) Best community garden in a park. 5) Against the odds – project in adverse conditions. 6) Best community gardener. 7) Small is good – best window box/balcony. 8) Innovation award. 9) Best private garden in view. 10) Best community garden elsewhere (church etc).   Check out the Incredible Edible Lambeth website for more details of the categories and the online nomination form at www.incredibleediblelambeth.org. You can enter more than one category but will need to submit a nomination for each one with up to five pictures.  Shortlisting will take place the week after 22 June and judging in the first two weeks of July. £100 prize for the best in each category. The awards ceremony will be held in October.

Activity of the month

Vicennes Estate residents were concerned about persistent anti social behaviour on their estate. With help from the Area office, the Estate Pride team and our gardening partners Urban Growth, they agreed improvements for the area causing the problems with the installation of new play equipment and raised beds.

Over 70 residents got involved on the day 80% of whom were children who were keen to get involved with planting. So a very successful day was had by all.

Flora from Urban Growth provides planting advice

We have partnered with Urban Growth to work with residents on greening their estates. Whether food growing or community gardens we will provide help and support for residents interested in doing something in their community. Urban Growth had successfully transformed areas that residents identified as eyesores. We only need your input to make it work.

 For more details please contact gettinginvolved@lambeth.gov.uk or contact your Resident Participation Officer.

Area Board corner

All three Area Boards have now met for the second time. Amongst topics they considered were anti social behaviour and complaints management. Future topics to look at include missed appointments and major works.

At the next Coordinating Committee the communal repairs Task and Finish Group (TFG) will be set up and we will start recruiting to the TFG. We will be targeting residents who have done the CIH Level 2 Scrutiny course to join the TFG but if you’re interested please let us know by contacting gettinginvolved@lambeth.gov.uk.

The new engagement structures allow for Assemblies for consulting with residents. The first Homeowners Assembly will be held at the beginning of July and the annual Residents Assembly at the end of September.

 If you are interested in either the Area Boards, Assemblies or the Task and Finish group please contact  Erin Healy on 0207 926 8299 or email gettinginvolved@lambeth.gov.uk.

Fire safety review group Following the recent publication of the independent review of building regulations (known as the Hackett report) and ongoing findings coming from the Grenfell inquiry, we are setting up a residents panel to look at fire safety in the Borough.  If you are interested in being on this panel or knowing more about this please email gettinginvolved@lambeth.gov.uk with Fire Safety in the title.

The next Level 3 Award in Education in Training course starts Friday June 8th. This is considered a good qualification for anyone interested in training. There are still some places available but you need to be quick to register. Please contact High Trees on 020 8671 3132  or email mohammed.meho@High-trees.org  Thirteen residents recetly completed our first ever Level 2 Food Hygiene course at High Trees. The next one will be on June 22nd and we are encouraging all TRAs who provide any refreshments to undertake the day’s training. Please contact High Trees on 020 8671 3132  or email mohammed.meho@High-trees.org to enrol.