Loughborough Junction chitter-chatter
- Thread starter teuchter
- Start date
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
BusLanes CH1
Got the email today from local Green Cllr. Its public meeting anyone can attend:
RE: Community Safety in the Loughborough Junction area [Public meeting 21/03/2019 @ 6:30pm, SW9 7PD]
On February 21st a young man named Glendon Spence lost his life.
Any act of violence is a traumatic event. However, this incident has created not just victims of Glendon Spence’s family and friends, but also of a significant number of children and adults who witnessed the event whilst innocently playing in the Marcus Lipton Youth Centre.
Police have charged two people with murder and investigations are ongoing. Following sound medical advice, the council has deployed social and other support workers to help those who have been traumatised – be it children or adults. This approach to trauma is now a key part of our ‘reactive response’ after significant acts of violence in the borough.
Serious youth violence is a complex and long-standing issue in Lambeth. Initiatives in the past have had mixed results and arguably due to funding cuts have not remained sustainable. But we believe that we can make a real difference using our own community’s expertise & assistance, as well as using evidence from elsewhere.
The council has allocated extra funding for preventative violence-reduction work and even more importantly the council is adapting as an organisation so that it is able to meet this challenge effectively.
As it stands Marcus Lipton is closed and services paused whilst support staff, witnesses and the family come to terms with this tragedy. However, we are determined to re-open the centre over the coming weeks.
In readiness for that, and as part of our standard ‘reactive response’, there will be a community-led public meeting to allow local residents affected by this incident to engage and voice concerns with senior leaders.
The meeting will be held at 6:30pm on Thursday 21st March at the Loughborough Community Centre (105 Angell Road, SW9 7PD).
It will be chaired by Abdul-Karim Abdullah, the new chair of the Lambeth Safer Neighbourhood Board. In addition to Cllr Jack Hopkins, the panel will consist of Helen Hayes MP, a senior Lambeth police officer, a Loughborough Estate management board representative and potentially a young voice via the YLC.
Yours faithfully,
Councillor Mohammed Seedat
Cabinet member for the Voluntary Sector, Partnerships & Community Safety (job-share)
Got the email today from local Green Cllr. Its public meeting anyone can attend:
RE: Community Safety in the Loughborough Junction area [Public meeting 21/03/2019 @ 6:30pm, SW9 7PD]
On February 21st a young man named Glendon Spence lost his life.
Any act of violence is a traumatic event. However, this incident has created not just victims of Glendon Spence’s family and friends, but also of a significant number of children and adults who witnessed the event whilst innocently playing in the Marcus Lipton Youth Centre.
Police have charged two people with murder and investigations are ongoing. Following sound medical advice, the council has deployed social and other support workers to help those who have been traumatised – be it children or adults. This approach to trauma is now a key part of our ‘reactive response’ after significant acts of violence in the borough.
Serious youth violence is a complex and long-standing issue in Lambeth. Initiatives in the past have had mixed results and arguably due to funding cuts have not remained sustainable. But we believe that we can make a real difference using our own community’s expertise & assistance, as well as using evidence from elsewhere.
The council has allocated extra funding for preventative violence-reduction work and even more importantly the council is adapting as an organisation so that it is able to meet this challenge effectively.
As it stands Marcus Lipton is closed and services paused whilst support staff, witnesses and the family come to terms with this tragedy. However, we are determined to re-open the centre over the coming weeks.
In readiness for that, and as part of our standard ‘reactive response’, there will be a community-led public meeting to allow local residents affected by this incident to engage and voice concerns with senior leaders.
The meeting will be held at 6:30pm on Thursday 21st March at the Loughborough Community Centre (105 Angell Road, SW9 7PD).
It will be chaired by Abdul-Karim Abdullah, the new chair of the Lambeth Safer Neighbourhood Board. In addition to Cllr Jack Hopkins, the panel will consist of Helen Hayes MP, a senior Lambeth police officer, a Loughborough Estate management board representative and potentially a young voice via the YLC.
Yours faithfully,
Councillor Mohammed Seedat
Cabinet member for the Voluntary Sector, Partnerships & Community Safety (job-share)
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I passed the email on to my local contacts. Will try to go.
Marcus Lipton are right next to to playground. I know that that this is a very difficult time for them.
IMO services for young people have been cut to the bone. A lot of recent media attention has been on cuts to policing.
Cuts to youth work / Adventure playground trained staff have meant that services to Young people that are not "statutory" have effectively ceased to exist. Expect for exceptional efforts by locals and workers in that sector.
Cuts to Youth services should be ultimately put at the door of the Tories. As part of what the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said was the "political choice"of austerity. ( Correct imo) Where the less well off pay for the mistakes of the City of London/ Wall Street.
editor
hiraethified
editor
hiraethified
You'd think that they'd be sure to get in touch with the biggest local news website to ensure as much of the community as possible hears about the meeting, but I have to thank Gramsci for tipping me off about this.
xsunnysuex
Life is a horizontal fall.
This just came through my door. With two leaflets with support contacts ect.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Ive heard that Lambeth Tigers, who are mentioned in letter, have put out a crowdfunding appeal. Some very young people and their parents were their when the murder happened,
Help Tigers respond to horrific incident - Online Social Fundraising Donation Platform | Givey
https://www.lambethtigersfc.org/
After a horrific tragedy witnessed in Brixton by some of our 8-year-old kids and younger, please help Lambeth Tigers respond with assistance to the children and their families and help secure and fund alternative safe training facilities for our youngest players: the Tiger Cubs (3+), FUTSAL, and girl’s football. Read more about the incident, in which a young man was stabbed to death, here: Toddlers present at killing 'need help' The money raised here will be split 50% to helping the families of children affected. We hope to organise some special events to lift their spirits and help fund any necessary treatment or therapy that is not otherwise made available by the NHS and other authorities. The other 50% will be used to fund alternative safe facilities for continuing our programme of Tiger Cubs (3-5 year olds), FUTSAL and Wildcats girls football that were previously held in the youth club affected. Thanks to Nike and to Lambeth Council we have covered the extra cost for new facilities for the next few weeks, but we need to secure these safe facilities for the next season. Lambeth Tigers works with a diverse group of young people. More than 2/3 of Lambeth Tigers players live in neighbourhoods in the top 20% for crime in Britain; about 40-50% live in neighbourhoods ranked in the top 10%. ". When you make your donation through Givey, the Charity receives 100% of the donation. Your details are safe with Givey and donating is completely secure. Whatsmore, they never share your email address with any third parties except the Charity you donate to.
Help Tigers respond to horrific incident - Online Social Fundraising Donation Platform | Givey
https://www.lambethtigersfc.org/
After a horrific tragedy witnessed in Brixton by some of our 8-year-old kids and younger, please help Lambeth Tigers respond with assistance to the children and their families and help secure and fund alternative safe training facilities for our youngest players: the Tiger Cubs (3+), FUTSAL, and girl’s football. Read more about the incident, in which a young man was stabbed to death, here: Toddlers present at killing 'need help' The money raised here will be split 50% to helping the families of children affected. We hope to organise some special events to lift their spirits and help fund any necessary treatment or therapy that is not otherwise made available by the NHS and other authorities. The other 50% will be used to fund alternative safe facilities for continuing our programme of Tiger Cubs (3-5 year olds), FUTSAL and Wildcats girls football that were previously held in the youth club affected. Thanks to Nike and to Lambeth Council we have covered the extra cost for new facilities for the next few weeks, but we need to secure these safe facilities for the next season. Lambeth Tigers works with a diverse group of young people. More than 2/3 of Lambeth Tigers players live in neighbourhoods in the top 20% for crime in Britain; about 40-50% live in neighbourhoods ranked in the top 10%. ". When you make your donation through Givey, the Charity receives 100% of the donation. Your details are safe with Givey and donating is completely secure. Whatsmore, they never share your email address with any third parties except the Charity you donate to.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I was somewhat confused by this letter.
Had to re read it. The Youth Centre does not get much funding by Lambeth. Accepting Tory cuts they withdrew from provision.
The centre is now run by MLYC themselves as some kind of social enterprise.
The letter gives false impression that Lambeth Council are 100% behind youth provision.
Not blaming Marcus Lipton ( of Ira ) for this.
Between Tory cuts and New Labour Youth Centre like Marcus Lipton struggle.
Council see the land that Marcus Lipton/ Grove Adventure playground as development site. For housing with a new centre pushed to the back. Smaller imo.
The Council want to see a Youth Centre on the redeveloped site that is "self sustaining" ie a centre that does not get any money from Council.
IMO likely to be smaller with less facilities.
So where in practise is Hopkins support of the Youth centre?
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I sent the info to LJAG. They hadn't been informed about it. Anthea told me she would put it out today.
BusLanes
Pedestrian
Wow that seems a bit of an oversight from the organisers
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I'm definitely going. Be interesting to see how the new leader Cllr Jacko deals with having to visit LJ. Its outside his comfort zone of Pop Brixton and Squires. He will actually have to visit a working class area. Not part of the New Labour project.
Loughborough Junction isn't like Brixton.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
CH1
"Red Guard"(NLYL)
I feel tempted to go. But surely this is a meeting for parents worried about the safety of their teenage children above all else.
This is the sort of thing that used to be dealt with by the Police Consultative Committee on routine basis - until it was abolished by Mayor Boris Johnson.
I remember the abolition "consultation" at what was then the Fridge, where the community was asked about their views on abolishing the Consultative group. Cllr Rachel Heywood was clear in her disbelief and disapproval, as was councillor Ed Davie - who made an impassioned speech referring to what happened to Sean Rigg (starting in his own Thornton Ward).
If I went to the meeting tomorrow I'd feel tempted to ask if it had been good to scrap Lord Scarman's Community/Police Consultative group, and to cut police spending to the present extent - including moving Lambeth police under the command of Southwark Police force.
But this is hardly any comfort to those who have lost children over the last several years. Or helping parents with fears fro their children's future safety.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I think you should go and say this.
This is a meeting called by local politicians.
Cuts to police , cuts to youth service, etc are all relevant issues.
All these things affect safety.
And even If one is not a parent, like me, I live in neighbourhood and I don't want to see things like this happen.
critical1
All views expressed are definitely my own.
I’d really like to see how Hopkins deals with this his predecessor Lib Peck was instrumental in reducing the funding of services and introducing cuts and is now an expert in anti violence in particulare knife crime across the city as yet no one has heard any thing from her publicly or via any other means on her watch....
“Cllr Lib Peck announced her resignation from the authority to take a job running City Hall's new violence reduction unit.”
Sadiq Khan unveils new anti-violence boss
You could not make this up.
Lambeth council leader Lib Peck quitting to be head of Sadiq Khan’s Violence Reduction Unit
Last edited:
critical1
All views expressed are definitely my own.
No ones ever seen her that’s probably why...
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I went to the meeting. Was about twenty minutes late. Got there when Helen Hayes MP was speaking.
One thing that was on the agenda we all got given was this:
"Council support for youth and play provision in the borough including Grove and Marcus Lipton being off the redevelopment Masterplan options."
This is a result for the Grove Adventure playground.
One thing that was on the agenda we all got given was this:
"Council support for youth and play provision in the borough including Grove and Marcus Lipton being off the redevelopment Masterplan options."
This is a result for the Grove Adventure playground.
critical1
All views expressed are definitely my own.
That's good news for the Grove playground... But did they mention Lib Peck and the millions being spent to combat knife crime, or any additional funding, or was it a fact finding mission?
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Start of my notes of meeting. I missed intros by Helen Hayes MP and Jacko Hopkins the new leader of the Council.
It was packed meeting. With plenty of locals laying into the Cops, Lambeth Council and politicians in general.
A good meeting. Jack didn't do badly. For first visit to the working class of LJ he looked a bit shell shocked by the end. This is not part of the New Labour project so did him good imo.
I got there when PC Plod was telling locals about whats been happening. 2 arrested and charged with murder, others on bail. The court process will take a long time.
He also said that knife crime was national issue. Understand that relationship with local community wasn't that good. That cops had to work collaboratively with local community.
After this Q&A with residents making comments and questions.
This started off with parent saying that parents can't discipline children now. As they get in trouble with social workers and police.
The role of parents came up in meeting several time. That people feel they can't bring up there children without the authorities interfering.
Why are Council shutting down places that provide for young people?
Complaints about policing of young people. One person who works in Marcus Lipton said the police regard Marcus Lipton Youth centre as a "holding place" for youth. They use it as place to go and arrest youth. He said they treat youth badly. Said one Cop had told youth to "go and suck your mother", told and another to drop his trousers and said you are not "a big guy". Cops intimidate local youth.
Issue of children being excluded from school came up. Children are excluded / expelled rather than engaged with.
There is not adequate police numbers for the area. Police do not engage with local community.
Parents need support mechanisms. Resources essential. Some people may be single parents or parents with mental health problems.
Criticism of police response to the murder. The police kept even young children from leaving centre for two and a half hours.
The Counselling the Council offered after the murder was inadequate and not appropriate. Such as offering group counselling. When people needed one to one. And also counselling by emails.
Many compliants that local community initiatives to provide services for young people are done by volunteers. That the authorities ( Council) now little of them and don't give enough support.
My impression of the meeting is that there are a lot of local people doing voluntary work for young people. Filling the gaps left by cuts by Council.
That this unpaid work used to be funded by local Councils/ GLC/ ILEA. As funding has been gradually cut over the years many things have been lost. What remains is mainly been done by unpaid volunteers.
Several people in audience pointed out that those at the table at head of meeting- the MP and Councillors -get paid whilst us volunteers get nothing. That politicians are only interested when it comes to election time.
One remark by Cllr Jack Hopkins stood out. Lambeth is "not poor , plenty of resources".
It was packed meeting. With plenty of locals laying into the Cops, Lambeth Council and politicians in general.
A good meeting. Jack didn't do badly. For first visit to the working class of LJ he looked a bit shell shocked by the end. This is not part of the New Labour project so did him good imo.
I got there when PC Plod was telling locals about whats been happening. 2 arrested and charged with murder, others on bail. The court process will take a long time.
He also said that knife crime was national issue. Understand that relationship with local community wasn't that good. That cops had to work collaboratively with local community.
After this Q&A with residents making comments and questions.
This started off with parent saying that parents can't discipline children now. As they get in trouble with social workers and police.
The role of parents came up in meeting several time. That people feel they can't bring up there children without the authorities interfering.
Why are Council shutting down places that provide for young people?
Complaints about policing of young people. One person who works in Marcus Lipton said the police regard Marcus Lipton Youth centre as a "holding place" for youth. They use it as place to go and arrest youth. He said they treat youth badly. Said one Cop had told youth to "go and suck your mother", told and another to drop his trousers and said you are not "a big guy". Cops intimidate local youth.
Issue of children being excluded from school came up. Children are excluded / expelled rather than engaged with.
There is not adequate police numbers for the area. Police do not engage with local community.
Parents need support mechanisms. Resources essential. Some people may be single parents or parents with mental health problems.
Criticism of police response to the murder. The police kept even young children from leaving centre for two and a half hours.
The Counselling the Council offered after the murder was inadequate and not appropriate. Such as offering group counselling. When people needed one to one. And also counselling by emails.
Many compliants that local community initiatives to provide services for young people are done by volunteers. That the authorities ( Council) now little of them and don't give enough support.
My impression of the meeting is that there are a lot of local people doing voluntary work for young people. Filling the gaps left by cuts by Council.
That this unpaid work used to be funded by local Councils/ GLC/ ILEA. As funding has been gradually cut over the years many things have been lost. What remains is mainly been done by unpaid volunteers.
Several people in audience pointed out that those at the table at head of meeting- the MP and Councillors -get paid whilst us volunteers get nothing. That politicians are only interested when it comes to election time.
One remark by Cllr Jack Hopkins stood out. Lambeth is "not poor , plenty of resources".
Last edited:
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Lib Peck didn't come up. I guess not many are aware she has the new job for the Mayor.
IMO the good news is also for the Marcus Lipton centre as well. Someone at meeting was complaining that the Council wanted to get rid of MLYC and build flats on it. ( not me). So this decision of the Council also protects the MLYC.
The Regeneration dept plans for the site was for smaller Youth centre with rest of site as flats.
After all the months of arguments with Regen officers to be told at meeting one was right all along and treating the GroveAPG/ MLYC site as development opportunity was crap idea is great.
I really want to meet Regen officers who told me I was being "not sensible" for saying that land should be kept for youth provision.
Last edited:
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
On additional funding.
Well Labour party ( Jacko and Helen) said Tory cuts were to blame.
Both Jacko and Helen said they would help local community try to raise funds.
What I thought was concrete step forward was that seeing the Grove APG/ MLYC as no longer a development site. Grove volunteers had seen Helen Hayes last week. At her instigation. I think she persuaded Council to do this. To her credit.
Even if funding is not available I think keeping Council owned land in public ownership is important. We all know this particular Council see virtue in disposing of land. This decision may be temporary but its important change of direction by Council.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Second part on the meeting last night.
Stuck in my mind that residents are complaining that MP/ Cllr/ Police are all paid to do there jobs. Residents didn't feel that they doing much for it. Whilst some residents are filling gaps left by cuts as volunteers.
Reminds me of disagreement I had recently with a Cllr who said they didn't have time to meet community group. Didnt like it when I told them that they got paid to do this. Cabinet members are on over £28 000 a year. Cllrs get laptop and mobile phone expenses as well.
In a poor community like in LJ £28 000 sounds a lot.
Cllr Jack response to comments from the residents:
Jacko said he had been brought up by single mother. He said good stuff was happening like LJ Works. Which would bring in support from organisations like Tree Shepherd. Council gets inward investment into Lambeth.
He then went off on one about millionaire footballers who get into big money then forget there roots. I think this was reference to the Lambeth Tigers coach saying he was a top coach and could go off and make more money elsewhere. But he stayed in community doing voluntary work. Jack made feeble attempt to show his left wing credentials to the working class audience. A crass attempt. Trying to whip up resentment. Didn't work.
Local residents at meeting were articulate about the problems in their area. Major ones relevent to Council being policing and cuts to youth services. Also the lack of interest by authorities to the problems they face until there is a murder.
( to add. The road closure debacle. Really resented by Loughborough Estate residents should have made politicians wake up to the fact that local working class people felt alienated and ignored by authorities. I would have thought that Labour Council could have gone and listened to Loughborough Estate residents about the underlying issues. They didn't. They went back to ignoring them until this murder)
Ira from Marcus Lipton Youth Centre then spoke.
Said where are the young people? Need to talk to young people. Only time people are listened to is when someone dies. Some young people have no hope or opportunities. They are damaged at different levels. Proper engagement is needed. He also said that the Centre provides space for free for some local groups. ( that it is a community resource)
The head Cop spoke in reply to criticism:
He said a load of stuff about police restructuring neighbour teams etc. Sounded to me like meaningless waffle.
He then said community didn't want to engage with Ward Panels and Safer Neighbourhood Panels. Said police were trying to make community engagement work.
From audience further complaints about lack of officers compared to population.
Use of Tasers came up at meeting. The Police chief said there are mixed views on use of tasers.
The Police chief said that there are two police officers per Council Ward. This was criticised for not being enough.
The Police chief said that as part of the restructuring the police would do more youth engagement.
( I felt that police simply don't have resources to do much of this.)
( Last part will be Helen Hayes and summing up)
Stuck in my mind that residents are complaining that MP/ Cllr/ Police are all paid to do there jobs. Residents didn't feel that they doing much for it. Whilst some residents are filling gaps left by cuts as volunteers.
Reminds me of disagreement I had recently with a Cllr who said they didn't have time to meet community group. Didnt like it when I told them that they got paid to do this. Cabinet members are on over £28 000 a year. Cllrs get laptop and mobile phone expenses as well.
In a poor community like in LJ £28 000 sounds a lot.
Cllr Jack response to comments from the residents:
Jacko said he had been brought up by single mother. He said good stuff was happening like LJ Works. Which would bring in support from organisations like Tree Shepherd. Council gets inward investment into Lambeth.
He then went off on one about millionaire footballers who get into big money then forget there roots. I think this was reference to the Lambeth Tigers coach saying he was a top coach and could go off and make more money elsewhere. But he stayed in community doing voluntary work. Jack made feeble attempt to show his left wing credentials to the working class audience. A crass attempt. Trying to whip up resentment. Didn't work.
Local residents at meeting were articulate about the problems in their area. Major ones relevent to Council being policing and cuts to youth services. Also the lack of interest by authorities to the problems they face until there is a murder.
( to add. The road closure debacle. Really resented by Loughborough Estate residents should have made politicians wake up to the fact that local working class people felt alienated and ignored by authorities. I would have thought that Labour Council could have gone and listened to Loughborough Estate residents about the underlying issues. They didn't. They went back to ignoring them until this murder)
Ira from Marcus Lipton Youth Centre then spoke.
Said where are the young people? Need to talk to young people. Only time people are listened to is when someone dies. Some young people have no hope or opportunities. They are damaged at different levels. Proper engagement is needed. He also said that the Centre provides space for free for some local groups. ( that it is a community resource)
The head Cop spoke in reply to criticism:
He said a load of stuff about police restructuring neighbour teams etc. Sounded to me like meaningless waffle.
He then said community didn't want to engage with Ward Panels and Safer Neighbourhood Panels. Said police were trying to make community engagement work.
From audience further complaints about lack of officers compared to population.
Use of Tasers came up at meeting. The Police chief said there are mixed views on use of tasers.
The Police chief said that there are two police officers per Council Ward. This was criticised for not being enough.
The Police chief said that as part of the restructuring the police would do more youth engagement.
( I felt that police simply don't have resources to do much of this.)
( Last part will be Helen Hayes and summing up)
Last edited:
Similar threads
