team white city fanzine

fanzine

FEBRUARY 2013

@teamwhitecityteamwhitecity

teamwhitecity @lbhf.gov.uk

A BEATDON’T MISS

8

ENJOY FREE HALF TERM EVENTS AT WHITE CITY ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND >>>>>>>>>>>SEE FULL DETAILS ON PAGES 26&27

INSIDE

What’s on, what’s up in your White City?Events listed on pages 30-31

ON THE LADDERWestfield on hunt for 120 new apprenticesPages 10-11

FULL STORY PAGES 2&3

ww

Everyone has an opinion about crime and nuisance behaviour – and now Team White City is asking for YOUR views on what

might be done differently to tackle it in our neighbourhood and how you can help us do it.

We’ve posted a short survey through letterboxes across the area with this edition of the fanzine, and we’re asking local people to help us identify the most pressing issues.

Here’s your chance to have your voice heard.

Just use one of the 15 new White City postboxes!

Fill out the local crime survey and post it to us.

What do you think about crime in your area?

HALF TERM FUN!

2 3TEAM WHITE CITY FANZINE TEAM WHITE CITY FANZINE

l BBC TV CENTRE PLANS Shops and flats set for site......Pages 6-7l PLAY FOOTBALL Plans for new football pitches............Pages 8-9l BE AN APPRENTICE! How to make the first step to landing your dream job.........Pages 10-11l NEIGHBOURHOOD WARDENS Meet the eyes and ears of your community...............Pages 12-15l WHAT’S ON............Pages 30-31

TEAM WHITE CITY INDEX

l Team White City is a pilot project bringing all local people together to enjoy much greater control over how our neighbourhood is run.

It’s also about building on our great community spirit, connecting people to essential services and support, and making sure everyone benefits from the development happening all around – both now and in the future.

Our pilot project is run through Hammersmith & Fulham Council and is supported by the Department of Communities and Local Government and community groups including the White City Neighbourhood Forum and Urban Partnership Group.

The Team White City fanzine is published every two months by the council’s communications department, with 6,000 copies distributed to homes and public locations across the White City Opportunity Area.

supported by:

The Team White City fanzine is produce in association with White City Neighbourhood Forum and is

l For more details or to get involved in the Team White City fanzine email: teamwhitecity @lbhf.gov.uk or call Dan Hodges on 020 8753 2127

YOUR CHANCE TO GRILL H&F’S TOP COPWould you like to meet your local police team, and put your questions to the borough’s top cop?

Met Police borough commander Lucy D’Orsi (pictured inset right) will be at the White City Community Centre on Monday, April 15, from 7pm to 9pm, to talk directly to local people at an open meeting.

She will be joined by Greg Smith, deputy leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, along with local police, Neighbourhood Wardens and council community safety officers.

There will also be stalls where residents can get in-depth crime

DON’T BEAT AROUND THE BUSH

ABOUT US!


KEEP US POSTED!

YOUR CHANCE TO GRILL H&F’S TOP COP

l Post your crime survey – or

your suggestions about anything

else affecting our neighbourhood,

crime-related or otherwise – in one

of the new Team White City post

boxes in W12! You can find one of the new boxes at key

local locations, such as the White City

Community Centre in India Way, W12.

prevention advice.

It is one of a series of road shows staged in different parts of the borough.

ChSupt D’Orsi said: “This is a new way of working with residents. By working together we can make a huge difference in reducing crime.”

Refreshments will be offered at the free event, which is supported by the Neighbourhood Watch Association and is organised by the council with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). All are welcome.

What’s your opinion about crime and nuisance behaviour in our neighbourhood?

We’ve posted a short survey through letterboxes all across the area alongside this edition of the fanzine, and we’re asking local people to help us identify the most pressing issues.

And we’ve started placing Team White City post boxes in prominent spots throughout the White City Opportunity Area, from the south of Shepherds Bush Green to the top of the White City estate.

It’s free to post your survey in one of the boxes and the information you give will help change how the big issues in our neighbourhood are tackled.

We’ll also post the survey online on our new website, full details of which will be

set out in our next edition. If you live or work in the area, we want to hear from you.

Team White is working closely with the police, council anti-social behaviour teams and other experts to look at new ways of doing things using existing resources, and we’re developing a final plan with the community which will be ready to go in April.

Sergeant Rebecca Wells-Cole, the new lead officer for Wormholt and White City Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “The crime survey is a great opportunity for local people to tell us about any issues they might have, and anything they think we need to address in our neighbourhood.

“By working more closely together through Team White City we can

create new opportunities to tackle local

priorities, helping people feel even safer in the streets and in their homes.”

YOUR SHOUT Have your say about the crime-related issues that need to be tackled

4 TEAM WHITE CITY FANZINE

All eyes are on Bloemfontein Road next week as the final batch of concrete is poured to finish the roof of one of the neighbourhood’s most dramatic new buildings.

The completion of The Bloom development – which includes the £15m White City Collaborative Care Centre and 170 new flats – will be marked with a topping out ceremony on the afternoon of Thursday, February 28.

It will take another year to fit out all the different parts of the building, but the end of major construction is a key milestone that will be witnessed by members of all the community groups and organisations who will ultimately be based there.

The final concrete pouring will be led by Nicholas Botterill, leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, and Dr Tim Spicer, chair of the H&F Clinical Commissioning Group, who will both talk about the importance of the flagship development.

The Collaborative Care

Flats in White City’s hottest new development will go on sale for local residents through shared ownership schemes

W e’re delighted to present the second edition of the Team

White City fanzine, brimming with detail about all the things going on in our neighbourhood.

We’ve been out on the beat with the Neighbourhood Wardens, interviewed some inspiring local people, and looked carefully at major local developments, including the plans for BBC Televison Centre and PlayFootball’s proposals for Hammersmith Park.

The fanzine is also designed to keep you up to date about Team White City, which is bringing local people together to enjoy much greater control over how our neighbourhood is run. We’re making good progress and need more people to help us write our final plan for the coming year – particularly through an open session we’re planning at the White City Adventure Playground on March 2.

We’ll continue publishing fanzine every two months, and we need people to help produce it – by taking pictures, interviewing their neighbours or coming up with other creative ideas.

Team White City is led by White City Neighbourhood Forum and Urban Partnership Group, and the fanzine is produced through the communications department at H&F Council.

Tell us what you think by emailing: [email protected], visiting our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/teamwhitecity, or following us on Twitter: @teamwhitecity.

And keep an eye out for the Team White City post boxes going up around the area – please use them to post us your crime surveys!

‘‘THE FANZINE WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE

Dan Hodges

EditorTeam White City Fanzine

Centre will become a hub for the community, with GPs and community health teams working alongside social services to offer connected care for local people.

Invited guests will head over to a reception at the White City Community Centre after the ceremony. The development is being built by Galliford Try Partnerships, on behalf of Fulcrum and Notting Hill Housing.

The new flats will have one, two or three-bedrooms – and they will all be available for local people to buy through shared ownership or a discount market sale scheme. To find our more call 020 8357 4444 or visit: www.the-bloom.co.uk

Blooming

marvellous!

The White City Collaborative Care

Centre is going up in style

5TEAM WHITE CITY FANZINE

MY WHITE CITYW12

Meet 26-year-old Mahmudul HassamHe’s new to the estate and likes how quiet it is, while enjoying Westfield and the public transport links. And he has a few ideas on how to improve the area

Can you describe your typical day?Well, when I’m not working I like going out with my family. I like going to Westfield with my wife. And I like to hit the gym!

What are the best things about living here?It’s nice and quiet and close to the city, it has good transport links and good amenities, such as Westfield shopping centre.

What would you like to change about the area?I would have more shops – there’s only a small row of shops in Bloemfontein Road and if you want something in particular you have to go to Tesco or down to Shepherds Bush.

Who are the most important people in the local community and why?That’s a tough question. I don’t really know.

If you were the Prime Minister of White City what’s the first thing you’d do?I would like to try to encourage a better lifestyle for the people who live here. There are a lot of drunk people making noise at night. I think we also need more security.

How do you relax and unwind?There are a couple of good restaurants at Westfield that I really like. Soho is also a good place to visit.

What are your own personal hopes for the future?I play cricket for the London Tigers so I would like to become more professional.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?My wife always tells me to listen to myself and not care what others may say and also if you try hard at anything then you can do it, and if you don’t try then you won’t.

qSopHIE GArrod

lookS AT dAIlY

lIfE In our

nEIGHbourHoodBlooming

marvellous!

w


Bold new lifeplanned for BBC TV Centre site

Have your say! For more details visit: www.television-centre.com

THE most famous landmark in White City, BBC Television

Centre, is in line for a radical makeover – and the whole site could soon be opened up to the community for the first time.

Developer Stanhope,

which has bought the historic site for a reported £200m, revealed its master plan in a series of public exhibitions around the neighbourhood earlier this month, inviting local people to have their say.

Under the plans, the BBC will continue to film

shows in the refurbished studios and one building will be converted into a new headquarters for its commercial arm, BBC Worldwide.

But the mixed use site would also house 1,000 new homes, offices, a hotel,

l Homes, hotel, shops and restaurants planned for White City

Story ContinueS on page 8


Even a cinema? The new-look BBC Television Centre will boast 1,000 new homes and look something like this, below and inset left


shops, restaurants, cafes and perhaps a cinema and health club.

And for the first time, people will be able to wander through the new public space, with new entrances to Hammersmith Park and new routes through to Shepherds Bush and the White City estate.

David Camp, chief executive of Stanhope, said: “The BBC will continue to have a significant presence at Television Centre and we will be bringing new life into the site with new public routes, spaces and uses.

“We will be introducing a vibrant and exciting mix of new retail, leisure, office and residential uses while keeping and enhancing the famous original BBC buildings and retaining key operational BBC studio and office facilities on site. Television Centre will be a great place to live, work and visit.”

The listed ‘inner ring’ of Television Centre will be used for a hotel and flats, but the outside of the building – and the famous BBC sign – will remain much as they are today.

Other parts of the site will be used as office space for the media and creative industries, and the current tower block will be pulled down and replaced with a new, thinner block of flats in a slightly different location.

There will be a mix of different kinds of homes including affordable housing and a ‘village green’ of town houses for families with private gardens.

An outline planning application for the redevelopment of most of Television Centre is due to be submitted in April, and building work is expected to start in 2014.

continues FRoM page 6

Have your say! For more details visit: www.television-centre.com

Bold new plans for BBC site

GREEN SHOOTSPlans unveiled for new football pitches in Hammersmith Park

Have your say!

For details on how to support or oppose the plans for Hammersmith Park look

out for notices in the park or visit: www.lbhf.gov.uk/

planning


ImmedIately next door to television Centre, plans have

also been drawn up for a comprehensive redevelopment of the sports facilities at Hammersmith Park.

The dilapidated Astroturf pitch, along with the tennis courts and bowling green, could be replaced with around 12 smaller pitches run by private operator PlayFootball, along with a small basketball practice court.

At least two football pitches – one five-a-side and one seven-a-side – would

be made available to the community to use free of charge at any time.

The rest would be available to hire by the hour, with some discounts available for local groups.

PlayFootball has committed to providing free community use for the full length of its 35-year contract to run the site.

A planning application was expected to be submitted this month. There would also be a car park on an area currently used as a service yard, and a café/bar next to the path leading into the park from South Africa Road.

Steve Bennett, Play Football’s head of commercial development, said: “In January, PlayFootball spent some considerable time consulting with the various community groups that live in the Shepherds Bush area and particularly White City.

“The purpose of the consultation was to ensure that the new facilities meet the needs of the local community.

“PlayFootball is now discussing the requirements of these groups and working on a plan which will be submitted as part of the planning application.”

GREEN SHOOTS

Above, big plans for new Astroturf football pitches

at Hammersmith Park. Left, the poor state of pitches today


Lesley Grant grew up on the White City estate. She landed a job with H&F Council after she signed up to be an apprentice last year

Lesley Grant is proud of growing up on the White City estate. Her life was transformed when she began an apprenticeship last year – and now she hopes her story can inspire others to take up more than 120 new opportunities at Westfield

“Some people think the White City estate has a bad reputation, but I’ve lived here all my life and I have never experienced anything other warmth and friendliness.

“There is a real community spirit here. My nan passed away a couple of years ago and all the neighbours rallied round and helped us.

“After leaving sixth form college I found myself unemployed, and as my mother couldn’t cope financially, I had to claim Income Support to help pay the bills.

“I’d studied health and social care and planned to be a teaching assistant, but without experience I found it impossible to get a job.

“After signing on for a year I was asked to go on a two week course. I spent my time calling companies and applying for jobs online. We also had help with CVs and interview skills.

“It seemed hard but looking back now I can see it increased my confidence.

“As the course came to an end, the Job Centre told me about an apprenticeship in business administration at Hammersmith Town Hall. I applied and within a week I was sent an email asking me to write about myself, which I found difficult. When I heard that I would have to go along for an assessment, I panicked.

“I had to do customer service, ICT, English and maths. I’m okay with maths but felt very anxious

about the rest. I needn’t have worried, everyone was very friendly and most of the assessment was common sense.

“I was asked to list my three strengths and weaknesses. I’m patient, always punctual and I like meeting deadlines. If I’m honest my handwriting isn’t good, I lack confidence and I’m not good with eye contact.

“Even once I’d said that, I still got the post. I’ve been an apprentice for seven months now and my weaknesses have all but disappeared.

“Not only do I get paid but I’ve been attending college one day a week. I’ve just completed a level 2 course in business administration and I plan to progress to level 3, which will give me management skills.

“If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be standing up and giving presentations to managers, I wouldn’t have believed them. But I am, and I now feel very confident about my future.”


all in a day’s work

l If you live locally and you are unemployed, or have you just left school or college – fancy a job in retail, hospitality or catering?

At least 120 apprenticeships will be offered at Westfield from March – and local people have the chance to take them up.

If you’re inspired by the high street, you could learn how to work the sales floor of a flagship store, become a beauty specialist, arrange creative window displays or work behind the scenes in the stockroom.

Or if you’re interested in catering and hospitality, you could learn essential skills in table waiting, drinks service, as a hotel worker or in a restaurant kitchen.

Before anyone chooses to apply for an apprenticeship, the team at Hammersmith & Fulham Council will help with interview skills and wider support.

To find out more, call Lesley on 020 8753 6548 or email: [email protected]

Learn while you earn!


your eyes earsWhat‘s the difference between a police officer and a Neighbourhood Warden? Team White City found out first hand with an afternoon on the beat in W12

&Building trust among people is a delicate process, and it can be the little details that make a difference.In the pocket of Maria Adams’ Neighbourhood Warden uniform is a list of handy phrases headed up by ‘chesh-ch’ – the Polish word for ‘hello’.

It works as a simple but effective ice-breaker on the streets of Shepherds Bush, where the wardens must be able to connect quickly with people from all kinds of backgrounds, in all types of situations.

And by making a little effort to speak to speak to people on their own level, the wardens are finding there is a growing willingness among the community to open up about some of the issues which affect them.

“We’re non-confrontational and we try to engage with the young people,” said Maria. “We might say to them, ‘do you realise that by congregating in large groups, you can be intimidating to the residents? It could be your mum or your nan. You wouldn’t like it if this was

STORY CONTINUES ON PAGE 14


your eyes ears

Neighbourhood Wardens Maria Adams

(left) and Jacqui Sando, on patrol in

Shepherds Bush

&


happening outside your house’. “We try to lead by example. We never shout, scream or swear. You have to break the ice, because if you go up to the youth and try to be authoritative it just won’t work. You need to take a softer approach.”

Where police officers have to make a priority of attending serious incidents and pursuing criminals, the borough’s 12 Neighbourhood Wardens concentrate on environmental nuisances and anti-social behaviour, giving them more freedom to follow their own instinct when out on patrol.

“You learn to read people,” said Maria. “I took my boss out yesterday and as we were walking along I said to him, ‘that person over there is about to throw a cigarette’. A few seconds later they did.

“It’s second nature now. We’re constantly being trained and reviewing our skills, and that’s what helps us out on the streets.”

The wardens have the power to hand out fixed penalty notices for offences such as flicking away a cigarette butt or urinating in the street, and to report something more serious to the police or emergency services. But they also work hard to help people they encounter on their rounds, such as by finding support for someone who has been sleeping rough in a bin cupboard, or checking on the welfare of a resident who they know may be feeling vulnerable.

The wardens are usually given a warm welcome – but they also have to be prepared to deal with unpredictable, hostile situations.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

1

2

3

1. Maria and Jacqui inspect a storage

area behind flats in Shepherds Bush, known to be used by rough sleepers

2. A wooden palette, a ragged

blanket and a stashed suitcase are evidence of recent activity3. The wardens make sure the storage area is secure before

writing up a report of their findings

14 15TEAM WHITE CITY FANZINE TEAM WHITE CITY FANZINEMaria said: “You have to be calm – you can be called

everything under the sun on one hand, and on the other hand, I’ve given fixed penalty notices and been given a kiss on the cheek, a warm hand shake and smile.

“If you’ve had a row with your husband, you’ve kicked the cat and the house is falling down, you have to put all that aside – you need to come in with a clear mind and be focused.”

The wardens are trained to act as professional witnesses so they can record evidence which is admissible in court, and must be careful not to make assumptions about anything that they see.

On patrol with Team White City, they spot a suspicious van with blacked-out windows pull up in front of a housing block, and watch a little girl knock on the door of a home before jumping in the back of the van. They take care to note the details of the incident and the vehicle registration, to write up later in a report.

Maria was the first woman to become one of the borough’s street wardens, six years ago, before that team was merged with the estate wardens to form the Neighbourhood Wardens.

She and colleague Jacqui Sando both previously worked as receptionists – in a marketing agency and an upmarket gym, respectively – and both say they love their work and could never go back to a desk job.

Maria said: “Everyone brings something different – for me, I wanted to give something back. My sister was a Neighbourhood Warden, and I always thought how I’d love to get my teeth into something like that.

“It’s a very challenging job and you’ve got to be strong to handle the abuse side of it, but I love it and I wouldn’t change it.”

Jacqui has four children and seven grandchildren, and brings a rich depth of experience to the role – including running two pubs and two hair salons in the East End.

“Each of the things that you’ve done before is a string to your bow when you’re doing this job,” said Jacqui.

“We deal with problems and we don’t just move people on elsewhere. We try to help.”

Each day brings a different set of particular challenges, and Maria and Jacqui’s wider ambition remains the same as ever – to help the people they come across, and keep on making a difference.

“It’s taken a long time to turn things around, but since we’ve become Neighbourhood Wardens, people aren’t afraid to come and talk to us any more,” said Maria.

Jaqui added: “White City is going through a vast change. It’s a very multicultural place, and we want people to realise that our presence makes a difference on their estate. We want them to talk to us.”l The Neighbourhood Wardens are available from 8am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, and from 8am to 10pm on Sunday. To reach them in confidence call 020 8753 2645 or email: [email protected]

‘‘IT’S A VERY CHALLENGING JOB AND YOU’VE

GOT TO BE STRONG TO HANDLE THE ABUSE. BUT I LOVE IT

AND WOULDN’T CHANGE IT


6SUPER

Tell us what you want! Here are six ways to help build a better White City!

Email us! [email protected] us!@teamwhitecity on TwitterVisit us! www.facebook.com teamwhitecity

Six ways we’re working together to build an even stronger communityTeam White City has been working with local people for months to find new ways of doing things in our area – and together we’re making great progress.

Now we’re planning to get people together on one day to help shape a new direction for our neighbourhood, and decide what we’re going to do in the coming months and years.

We’ll be at the Fatima Centre in Commonwealth Avenue on March 2, from 9.30am to 2pm, when local people will be able to contribute to our final plan and help make decisions about local services and the way money is spent, now and in the future.

For the first time, decisions about local services and resources can guided by local people instead of politicians and bureaucrats.

Team White City is one of 12 pilot projects running around the country, supported by the government and Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

We now have six ideas which could make it into our final plan, which we need to give to the government at the end of March. So please take a look and tell us what you think, in person, by email or by through the free Team White City post boxes going up around the area – see pages 2 and 3 for full details.

We’re looking forward to hearding from you!


6SUPER

1

2

A locAl APPRoAch to SERvicES

An EASiER wAy to movE into A homE thAt SUitS yoUR nEEdS

Local people will have more control over services in the neighbourhood.

The community will be able to oversee, manage and deliver some public services, beginning with a ‘handyman’ programme in which people are trained and paid to carry out small repairs and maintenance jobs.

It will start this year and run for at least two years – and a similar approach could follow with other services. Between now and April we’ll work hard to find local people who want to be involved.

In our neighbourhood, some people live in homes that are too big for them and want to move into a smaller space nearby, while others are looking to move out of overcrowded homes.

By working closely with local residents, we can make it easier for people to move while addressing some of the changes that are happening to welfare and benefits payments.

We’ll also help tenants who are not in work look for new opportunities for employment and training. If residents like our ideas, we’ll start encouraging people to take part from April.


3

4Better joB support on the doorstep

BuILd A pArent netWorK

Being a parent is always a tough job – but a good level of support and understanding can make life a lot easier.

We’ll help parents work together to share their experience and knowledge, building a network of families who are trained and supported to make sure all local children have the best start in life.

There is already lots of great work happening in the neighbourhood, and we want to work even more closely with parents, young people, schools, parenting experts and others so we have an even stronger community in the future.

We’re making good progress working with local specialists to develop our ideas and we’ll ask the community if we should continue pushing ahead to launch the programme this year.

Local people need better support to connect them to job and training opportunities now and in the future.

There is a lot of development happening in and around White City and Shepherds Bush, and we need to make sure people of all ages and abilities can benefit from it.

By getting all the employers, jobs and skills agencies, schools and colleges to work closer together, and by focusing attention on our neighbourhood, we can help lots more local people build on their ambitions and realise their potential.

And we hope to establish a Team White City Business Family, encouraging employers to create opportunities for local people and to invest in our project.

We’ll work on this programme for the next two years, building up to a full launch in 2015.


SUPER

5

6

A nEw wAy to tAcklE cRimE

tURn nEw hEAlth cEntRE into A commUnity hUb

At the moment there are lots of different police, council and neighbourhood teams all working hard to deal with local issues like drug dealing, graffiti, noise and other nuisances.

By bringing them closer together, expanding what they do and involving local people more closely, we hope to help them work even more effectively together and make everyone feel safer and happier in our neighbourhood.

We’ll help create a Neighbourhood Panel this year, with support from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime.

We’re planning a Team White City crime and policing event on April 15th, and we need you to fill out our quick crime survey – see pages 2 & 3 for more details.

The White City Collaborative Care Centre is being built in Bloemfontein Road, to open early in 2014. It will have the health needs of local people at its heart.

We’ll work closely with the NHS and local care groups to make sure the centre becomes a hub for the community, with a full range of connected health and wellbeing services that are well-used.

If local people see this as one of our priorities, we’ll push ahead in 2014.

Do you want to make White City a vibrant and fun place to live? Do you want to increase your skills and better serve your community?

If you live on the White City estate, you could become a Community Champion – and learn confidence-boosting skills while supporting local people.

There are already more than 20 at work around the estate, and the plan is now to recruit at least one volunteer for each of the 32 different blocks.

Community Champions act as a link between residents and local services, listening to people’s concerns, passing on any issues to the professionals and helping residents access local services.

Onyeka Ezenagu, volunteer coordinator for the Community Champions, said: “When our Community Champions


The search is on for Community Champions to represent residents throughout the White City estate

First out of the blocks!

Above, the Community Champions get together for a session at the White City Community Centre. Top, Communities minister Don Foster (centre) pictured last year when visiting with Community Champions (pictured left to right) Hellen Atim, Koss Mohammed, Kissu Denton Savage and Onyeka Ezenagu

20 21TEAM WHITE CITY FANZINE TEAM WHITE CITY FANZINEdevelop their self-confidence and self-esteem, they often find a job and move on, so we’re continuously recruiting.

“If we have a representative in every block and they’re empowered to become a hub of information for the community, hopefully they can continue to do that work even when they have found a job.

“One of the issues in White City is that a lot of people

don’t know where to go or what to do

with whatever issue or concern that they have. Expanding the Community Champions further will help reach those hard-

to-reach people who

might be stuck in their homes with

nowhere to go.”There are no strict

rules about who can or can’t be Community Champion – anyone can join as long as you are willing to listen to people, give up a little of your time and learn new skills.

Onyeka said: “We want to empower you to serve your community by helping you be an effective message bearer, giving a voice to he voiceless.”

Become a Community Champion!

The Community Champions team is based at the White City

Community Centre in India Way. Call volunteer coordinator

Onyeka Ezenagu on 020 8811 2494 or 07432

499 444, or email: [email protected]

What does a Community Champion do?

l Volunteers to give up some of their time to work with local people

l Listens to people to find out about their concerns

l Points their friends, families, neighbours and families in the right direction for health care, social care, children’s services and housing services

l Gives feedback to professionals working in the neighbourhood

l Promotes campaigns and projects that encourage awareness on specific projects affecting the community

The Community Champions are planning an information and fun day for local families at

the White City Community Centre, India Way, on April 4 from 11am to 4pm. There will be

free food and activities and all are welcome. For details, call Onyeka on 020 8811 2494

JOIN US!


IT WAS while working behind the counter at a bookmaker’s that Melissa Thompson

Adjei-Mensah realised something drastic had to be done.

Although only in her mid-20s, a lack of exercise and a poor diet meant the mother of two had put on weight and was suffering from a general lack of energy.

But weeks after taking the plunge and signing up for a free exercise class, her fitness and enthusiasm levels rocketed – so much so that she decided to quit job behind to become a health trainer.

Melissa said: “I was working in a betting shop where it was quite difficult to eat properly, and I was struggling a bit with my weight.

“There was a free aerobics class being offered to residents on the

One White City estate resident who turned her own life around is helping others to do the same. Meet the inspiring Melissa Thompson Adjei-Mensah

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Exercise classes like Zumba can help

keep you fit, says White City’s Melissa

Thompson Adjei-Mensah, pictured right


White City estate so I thought ‘OK, I’m going to try this out’.

“I realised that it was helping me to improve my health and wellbeing, and I started educating myself about what I eat and pushing myself to exercise.

“Now I’m on the other side, working as a health trainer and listening to other people’s stories, which is fantastic.”

Melissa, now in her 30s, is the only health trainer working full time at the White City Health Centre, running Zumba sessions in the community in her spare time.

She said: “It doesn’t really feel like I’m working. Providing a service and seeing people make positive changes is priceless.

“One lady I saw lost three stone because she wanted her wedding ring to fit her again, and she came back in to tell me that it now fits.

“I’ve got two kids and when they see me doing all this exercise, it’s amazing how much information they take from it.

“My daughter can do a head- stand now.

“The transformation people

can go through is incredible.”Melissa’s Zumba classes

run at the Fatima Centre, in Commonwealth Avenue, W12, from 6.30-7.30pm on Fridays, and at Egyptian House, in

Bloemfontein Road, W12, from 11.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays (women only).

Each session costs £4. Call her on 07966 767 106 for more information.

+ Focus on whatever it is you really want – not the problems – then think about how you’re going to do it, and how it will make you feel. It will push you out of your comfort zone to try something new

+ Always have a goal to work forward to every day when you get up. It might be a challenge, but you need

a clear, concise mental picture to carry you through the day

+ Take control of your own life. I was quite negative, blaming other people for everything, so I just started being more positive and taking responsibility

+ Attitude is everything; your attitude to life is your altitude

MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

MELISSA’S TOP TIPS HOW TO GET FIT


Room seRvice!

Adult learning and skills service

Come and sample some of our subjects in our FREE beginners taster sessions. Find out what you and your child will learn and the range of classes on offer. Or try one of our classes for adults. Taster sessions fall within the class times but are shorter than our usual classes.

February half term activities start on 19 February.

All classes take place at Macbeth Centre, Macbeth Street Hammersmith W6 9JJ

For the full details on classes and times call 0845 839 7912 or visit www.hfals.co.uk

FREE TASTER SESSIONSTaster sessions run during half term break, come along and try a class –

Arts Crafts Food studies Family and adult learning DramaIT Languages

We called 100 residents who live all around the White City Opportunity Area to see what you made of our first edition in December – and received an overwhelmingly positive response.

Among those of you who received the Team White City fanzine, 87 per cent said you found it informative.

We hope you feel the same way about this edition, and we really want to hear from you – about what you think, and more importantly, how you want to be involved.

We need people to carry out interviews and be interviewed, and to talk to us about all the good things that are going on locally.

The fanzine is printed every two months, with 6,000 copies delivered to all homes around the White City estate and neighbouring estates, along with roads immediately surrounding Shepherds Bush Green.

It is also available to pick up from local schools, health centres and more around the White City Opportunity Area, including the West12 Shopping Centre, Bush Theatre, Fatima Community Centre, White City Community Centre and Shepherds Bush Library at Westfield.

Call 020 8753 2127, email: [email protected], find us and ‘like’ us at www.facebook.com/teamwhitecity or follow us on Twitter @teamwhitecity to join the team!


JOIN THE TEAM!

l More than 2,000 residents turned out for the Wormholt and White City by-election on February 7, which was held following the death of Cllr Jean Campbell last year. Labour candidate Max Schmid was elected with 66 per cent of the vote (1419 votes). He now represents the ward alongside fellow Labour councillors Colin Aherne and Sally Powell. Conservative candidate Jamie McKittrick came second with 12 per cent of the vote (251 votes), followed by Chris Whittaker for the Liberal Democrats with 10 per cent (209 votes); UKIP candidate Andrew Elston with six per cent (122 votes); independent candidate Jeffrey Boateng with four per cent (75 votes), and Andrew Donald for the British National Party with two per cent (45 votes). And 27 ballots were spoiled. The overall turnout was 25 per cent.

White City voters head to the polls

fanzine

DECEMBER 2012

@teamwhitecity

teamwhitecity

teamwhitecity @lbhf.gov.uk

170 new flats, a supermarket & a pharmacy

40% of new flats set to be affordable housing Revamped Wormholt Park & market space

Bloemfontein Road care centre plans include:

PARK LIFE

WORMHOLT

WIN! FREE QPR

TICKETS! SEE PAGE 8 >>>>>>>

INSIDE

Meet the ‘pop-up’ fruit and veg teamPages 6&7

The best local listings to have a top W12 Christmas!Pages 22&23

FULL STORY PAGES 2&3

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Plans to transform Wormholt Park

into a thriving new public space

have been revealed. All of the

details are inside this launch edition

of your new Team White City

Fanzine, a bi-monthly magazine

jammed full of news, features

and information about what’s

going on in the area.

Team White City fanzine wants you to share your views, get involved or just get reading to help improve our W12

Check out the free! half term events at the White City Adventure Playground


It’s smiles all round at White City Adventure Playground, where free

open access half-term play sessions are running all this

week (February 19-22).Along with an exciting

collection of slides, swings and walkways, creative play opportunities include den building, making fire, using tools, large arts and crafts, painting and sport.

All children aged eight to 12 are welcome each day between 12.30pm and 3.15pm, and the free sessions run until Friday, February 22.

Come dressed for the outdoors and be prepared to get wet and messy!

The open access

project means children are not restricted in their movements and are free to come and go.

Play workers do not have a responsibility to keep them on site, and it is up to individual parents or carers and their children to agree arrangements between themselves.

All children do need to be registered by an adult.

More free sessions are planned over Easter, from April 3 to 12.

A range of play opportunities are also offered after school at the White City Adventure Playground, where children from three local schools can be registered to attend the sessions.l For more information speak to the play workers in person or call Rich on 020 8749 0909.

HALF TERM ADVENTUREs!

Clockwise from left, Cecila Ogyiri on the slide; Eunique Dominique prepares a tasty dish; Natahlia Cork takes a swing; artists dabble with a bit of paint; and boys build a fort with palette

White City Adventure Playground February 19-22

Room seRvice!

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BUSH HALL310 Uxbridge Road www.bushhallmusic.co.uk Box Office: 020 8932 2652

Kristina Train Tuesday, March 5l Born in New York and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Kristina Train’s sound is a melody-rich mix of organic and synthetic sounds, as set out on her debut album Dark Black. Doors 7.30pm, tickets £13.50.

Cody ChestnuTTMonday, March 18l One of the last performers to play on Later… with Jools Holland before it moved out of Television Centre in November, soul troubadour Cody ChesnuTT (pictured inset right) is set to return to W12 with his nine-piece band. Tickets cost £17.50 and are available from: www.livenation.co.uk. Doors 7.30pm.

2 CellosTuesday, March 19l Croatian duo Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser were personally chosen to join Elton John on his UK tour in 2011, and the singer provides vocals on their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Oh, Well. Doors 7.30pm, tickets £17.50.

KioskWednesday, March 27l This Persian bues / rock / jazz outfit was set up by a group of friends some years ago in a basement in Tehran. Catch them live in a gig supported by the British Arts Council. Doors 7.30pm, tickets £25.

GINGLIK1 Shepherds Bush Green www.ginglik.co.uk

Billy Bunter, AGT Rave-Cru & Placid Saturday, February 23 l Revel in the old skool sounds of acid house, techno, house, rave and electro at this all-nighter, featuring club veterans who have been at the decks since the late 80s and early 90s. Free to full members, advance tickets £4 for pay as you go members and guests, £6 before midnight or £8 afterwards. Till 4am. Sketchercise Wednesday, February 27 l Sketch and character comedy curated by

W12 WHAT’S ON

the double act of Allnut and Simpson, featuring up and coming comics including Horse & Louis, Jigsaw, Holly Burn, Wittank, Trodd En Bratt, Kneel Before Zod, David McNeill and Tom Williams. £3 full members, advance tickets £7 for pay as you go members and guests, £7 on the door. Doors 7pm, show runs 8pm to 11pm.

02 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIREShepherd’s Bush Green www.02shepherdsbushempire.co.uk Box Office: 0844 477 2000

War Child Comedy Night

Friday, March 8 l Veteran stand-up comedian Stewart Lee (pictured inset left) heads up the launch of an annual comedy extravaganza in support of the War Child charity. Joining him are Tony Law, Seann Walsh, Ava Vidal, Alistair Barrie, Hal Cruttenden, Kevin Eldon

and Greg Burns. Doors 6.30pm. Tickets from £22.50. Jessie Ware Thursday, March 14 l Playing the second of two nights – the first is sold out – Jessie,

qLianneLa Havas

qStewart Lee

of high stake games that demonstrate how the world’s economic system came to the brink of collapse. Tickets from £10 (concs and under-26s) .

Three Birds March 20 to April 20 l Three siblings are at home alone in south east London. Tiana’s taking charge of housework and homework, but Tionne’s experiments are getting stranger and Tanika’s starting to act up. As the outside world begins to press in, the three will do anything to keep their secret safe from the adults who come to call. Janice Okoh’s darkly comic drama about childhood, family and fantasy won the 2011 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting. Tickets from £10 (concessions and under-26s).

SHEPHERDS BUSH MARKETBetween Uxbridge Road and Goldhawk Road

Shop Locall Support your local stallholders over Easter and explore historic Shepherds Bush Market, with popular food kiosks and grocers nestled alongside stalls selling clothes, unusual fabrics and almost everything else. Open

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8.30am to 6pm, and

Thursdays from 8.30am to 1pm.

SHEPHERDS BUSH LIBRARY6 Wood Lane www.lbhf.gov.uk/libraries 020 8753 3842

Homework Clubl Thursdays 3.45pm-5.15pm (Term-time only, starts March 14)

Craft Clubl Tuesdays 3.45pm-4.45pm

(term time only) For children aged three to 11 and their parents. There is a charge of 50p per child to cover the

cost of art materials.

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TOPCHOICE

LIANNELA HAVAS02 Shepherds Bush Empire Tuesday, March 12

l South Londoner Lianne La Havas – still only 23 - has been building a healthy following after a star-making appearance on Later with Jools Holland in 2011, and her debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough, was named iTunes album of the year in 2012. Tickets are still available for this second of two dates at the Shepherds Bush Empire, from £16.87, doors 7pm.

who brings a clubland feel to pop music, will play tunes from her debut album Devotion, which was nominated for last year’s Mercury Prize. Tickets from £18.56, doors 7pm. Johnny Marr Friday, March 15 l The celebrated former Smiths guitarist is set to follow the release of his debut solo album The Messenger with his first ever solo tour. Tickets from £25.31. Doors 7pm.

BUSH THEATRE7 Uxbridge Road www.bushtheatre.co.uk Box Office: 020 8743 5050

MONEY: The Game Show Until Saturday, March 2l Casino and Queenie used to be hedge fund managers, before the financial crisis. Now they’ve turned to performance art to share their stories of how to make (and lose) billions. Playing with £10,000 in real pound coins, you are invited to take part in a series

qThree Birds

qCody ChestnuTT

W12 DirectoryYour essential neighbourhood contacts at a glance

EMERGENCY – CALL 999Call 999 if you are witnessing a crime and suspects are still around, if you have been a victim of crime and need police straight away, or if there is a fire or a medical emergency

POLICE NON-EMERGENCY LINE – CALL 101 Call 101 if you need to report a crime but don’t need police to attend straight away

LOCAL POLICE TEAMSCall your local police safer neighbourhood team to make them aware of any local issues, for crime prevention advice or to give them information. Callers can choose to stay anonymous.

d Shepherds Bush Green Safer Neighbourhood Team 020 8246 20568 ShepherdsBushGreen.SNT @met.police.ukd Wormholt & White City Safer Neighbourhood Team020 8246 27088 wormholt.whitecity.SNT @met.police.ukd Old Oak & College Park Safer Neighbourhoods Team 020 8246 27478 OldOak.CollegePark.SNT @met.police.uk

CRIMESTOPPERSTo give information about crime anonymously, call 0800 555 111

HOUSING ISSUESIf you are a council tenant or leaseholder and need to speak

to someone about low-level anti-social behaviour speak to a tenancy management officer on 020 8753 4808To report more serious anti-social behaviour issues call ASB coordinator Gemma Lightfoot on 020 8753 2139

To report a noise nuisance call 0208 753 1081 during the day or 0208 748 8588 out of hoursCouncil tenants with questions about repairs, maintenance, rents, rehousing or other related issues should call the Hammersmith Area North Housing Office on 020 8753 4400

NEIGHBOURHOOD WARDENSCall 020 8753 2645 8 [email protected] Neighbourhood Wardens patrol the borough, seven-days-a-week, to challenge anti-social behaviour and environmental nuisance. They are available from 8am-11pm, Monday-Saturday, and 8am-10pm Sunday. If you leave contact details, you will get a call back

WHITE CITY HEALTH CENTREIf you live in W12 and are not registered with a GP, you can sign up with one of the doctors at the White City Health Centre:Reception020 8846 6464Dr Dandapat & Dr Canisius020 8846 6403Dr Kukar 020 8749 4141Dr Uppal 020 8749 4145

The centre in Australia Road offers a wide range of services. Open 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday, Closed Saturday and Sunday

CANBERRA HEALTH CENTRETo register to see a doctor, call the Canberra Health Centre in South Africa Road on 020 3313 9010. Open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm Saturday, closed Sunday

team white city fanzine - february 2013

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