If you love singing then why not go along to the 'Sing Away' workshop on Saturday 28 January? This two-hour workshop is for both confident and less confident singers to enjoy the collective experience of learning songs and harmonies by ear. 10.30am - 12.30pm at Orford House Social Club, Orford Road.
On Sunday 29 January Amnesty International Waltham Forest and Waltham Forest Unite Against Fascism will host 'Holocaust and Genocide Never Again!' – an afternoon of reflection and discussion, remembering the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides, and highlighting the real threat that fascism poses today. 3-6pm, at Harmony Hall on Truro Road. Entry: £4 / £2 to cover costs. Email Joel.
On Tuesday 31 January at 7pm a public meeting on the Low Hall Olympics camp site proposal will be held at the Council Chamber in the Waltham Forest Town Hall. The Council are planning a campsite for Olympics visitors at the Low Hall sports ground. Council officers and the owner of the company organising the camp site will be leading the meeting.
On Wednesday 1 February the William Morris Gallery are presenting a new exhibition at Leyton Library on Leyton High Road: 'William Morris: Designer, Craftsman, Local Celebrity'. The exhibition will introduce visitors to William Morris and his work whilst exploring his historical connection to the local area. Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
On Wednesday 1 February the Poetry at the Mill poetry reading group will be exploring the theme 'Early Valentines'. Bring along a poem, by anyone, including yourself, to read aloud. From 7.30pm to 9pm at the Mill Community Centre on Coppermill Lane.
On Thursday 2 February Voluntary Action Waltham Forest are holding training to helping voluntary sector organisation manage their volunteers most effectively. For more details and to register visit the website.
On Friday 3 February I will be visiting the Waltham Forest Pensioners Convention to enable me to listen to the views of pensioners and pensioners' organisations on matters of concern. From 3pm in the William Morris Community Centre on Greenleaf Road. More details on this event are available by calling 020 8531 6275.
On Sunday 5 February Screen17 cinema's Kids' Film Club will be screening 'Despicable Me' at the Orford House Social Club. Doors open 10am/ Craft 10-10.30am/ Film 10.45am/ Close 12.30pm. Tickets £5.50 child, £4 adults, under 2s free, and available on the door or online.
Riots Panel to visit Walthamstow : 15 February
Following the report produced by Walthamstow Labour Party into the Summer 2011 Riots, the national panel investigating these events has requested a visit to Walthamstow. This will be on Wednesday 15 February. The team behind the report are now planning a series of visits for this day - if you would like to participate to give your views on this issue or to help organise local residents to have their say please do get in touch.
Thank you to all those who took part in this powerful report about our community and to those who helped produce it.
Last Chance to See William Morris Exhibition
This weekend is your last chance to see the collection that was in the William Morris Gallery which has been moved during the refurbishment. It is currently at 2 Temple Place, WC2R 3BD and is now on display there along with a lot of other William Morris material that is normally in private collections. This exhibition is free and is open until 29 January.
Community Sessions at Waltham Forest College Pool
The Friends Group at Waltham Forest College Pool are now running several sessions for residents at this community managed swimming pool. These include a weekly Wednesday Water Work-Out, from 12:45pm - 13:30pm which involves shallow water exercise to music with no swimming ability necessary and costs £5 per session. Future activities include a Women only RLSS lifeguard course from 20 February - 19 March, Rookie Lifeguard courses, and swimming lessons. Find out more at the Tritons websiteor by emailing.
Where to find me this week..
• Saturday 28 January helping with collecting food for local families as part of the 'eat or heat' scheme in Walthamstow town centre. Join us between 11.30am and 2pm – see below for details.
• Monday 30 January dropping into an event at Parliament highlighting work against gangs in the Waltham Forest.
• Tuesday 31 January speaking at a conference on Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour and Violence.
• Thursday 2 February visiting Lambeth to discuss the August riots and to find out about their work with young people.
• Friday 3 February dropping into a financial education session at George Monoux College before visiting the Waltham Forest Pensioners Convention. See left hand column for details.
Defeating Debt in E17: Please Support Eat or Heat Day !
On Saturday 28 January I will be collecting food for local families as part of the 'eat or heat' scheme in Walthamstow town centre between 11.30am and 2pm. This is a project we are running in partnership with a local Surestart Children's Centre which will then distribute the food. If we recieve enough donations we will also be able to help families in a second area of Walthamstow. If you can donate non perishable foods e.g. pasta, tinned vegetables, rice or baby food please bring these to the stall. I would also welcome volunteers to help hand out leaflets about this project and encourage Saturday shoppers to donate. Our stall will be outside Selbourne Walk Shopping Centre near the entrance.
Significant Seams: E17 Neighbourly Quilt
Significant Seams is a local sewing group which is leading a community project in partnership with Penny Fielding Interiors, The Mill Community Centre, The E17 Designers Forum, The High St Ward Forum and the E17 Art Trail to create a patchwork quilt representing the neighbourliness of Walthamstow. They are asking residents to create squares for this project which reflect something they love about our area. If you would like to participate in this project please visit their Facebook page or sign up for their email to find out more
Waltham Forest Small Business Competition
Waltham Forest Women In Business Network are running a Small Business Competition,
Small businesses are being given the opportunity to win prizes totalling £2,500 for their business. They can win prizes that include a selection of top businessbooks from Waterstones, business gift vouchers from Ryman and a tailored three month business advice package.
The competition organisers are aiming to raise the profile of the independent shops in the borough. Business categories include: Start Up Business, Retail Business and Creative Business, Social Enterprise, Professional Service, Food and Drinks Business. Nominations must be in by 30 March – all the details of the categories and how to nominate are on their website.
Reminder: Save our Cinema and Save our Stow!
The clock is ticking to make your voice heard about two local landmarks -the EMD cinema and the Walthamstow Dog Track. You have until the 21 February to object to 'change of use' for the EMD cinema. Find the reasons to object on the campaign's website.
You can find out about the housing proposals for the Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium online here and the council state they will accept comments about the proposals until the end of February.
Stella Creasy, Labour and Co-Operative MP for Walthamstow
23 Orford Road Walthamstow E17 9NL 020 8521 1223
www.workingforwalthamstow.org.uk
