REGENERATING THE CLAPHAM PARK AREA

On behalf of our Board and Staff we would like to wish all of our residents, partners and key stakeholders a Happy New Year and best wishes for 2008.

Our achievements for 2007 have included:

• Board approval of the organisations Forward Strategy
• Shop for Jobs Achieving the Matrix Standard
• 9 Residents Winning Community Champion Awards
• 24 Residents Graduating from the 2012 Pre Volunteering Programme
• Setting up the Project Performance Sub Committee to take over from Theme Group Meetings
• Funding Two New Sports Pitches at Agnes Riley Gardens in partnership with Lambeth Council
• Generation Radio’s Successful FM Broadcast – www.generationradio.co.uk
• Funding a Brand New £1million Learning Centre for Richard Atkins School
• Arranging Successful Holiday Programmes for young people
• The Clapham Park Fun Day attracting over 500 residents
• 9 Residents Graduating from the School for Social Entrepreneurs
• Combating Prostitution and Drugs in Partnership with the Police

This year we will continue to achieve our outcome targets and begin to implement our Forward Strategy which will see CPP become a registered charity and a significant voluntary/community sector organisation.

We look forward to greater partnership working throughout 2008.

Congratulations to Sue Bowman, Vice Chair of Clapham Park Project, who has been awarded an MBE for her services to the community. A resident of Clapham Park since 1979, Sue has spent many years giving up her time to work with the community.  This has included volunteering at local schools and youth centres, running a lone parents group, getting involved with her local tenants and residents association, working with local residents to ensure that Clapham Park became Lambeth’s New Deal for Communities area, gaining a place on CPPs Shadow Board and being elected as a Board Member in October 2002 and as Vice Chair in May 2005.

Of her services to the community Sue said:  “I’ve had financial, emotional and health problems in my life, as well as being a lone parent; but when things got difficult people have always stepped in to help me, so I began volunteering because I wanted to give something back to the community.  I would like to thank my children, without whose encouragement I could not have got this far.  I would also like to thank Clapham Park Project staff, current and former board members and of course my community for their continued support.”

The next Neighbourhood Forum will take place on Thursday 28th February, 6.30-8.30pm, at Richard Atkins School, New Park Road SW2.  The topic for this meeting will be anti-social behaviour.  The election for the Clapham Park Neighbourhood Forum’s Vice Chair will also be held at this meeting. If you know any residents who might be interested in standing for the Vice Chair position, please contact Patricia Poorman on 020 8678 5933 or ppoorman@claphampark.org.uk

Clapham Park Project is working on the Personal Best contract (originally the Pre-Olympic Volunteering Programme).  The programme is designed to provide volunteers for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, as well as opportunities for the volunteers to gain the experience needed to help them back into employment.
Last year 24 volunteers achieved a qualification through training and volunteer placements delivered by Clapham Park Project and its partners.  This year Clapham Park Project is working in partnership with a number of local organisations to recruit, train and provide placements for volunteers on the programme.  Partners include High Trees Community Development Trust, Stockwell Community Resource Centre, the Employment Café and Lambeth College, in association with Lambeth’s Adult Learning Services. 
Earlier this month the partners worked together to begin recruiting to the next phase of the programme.
If you are unemployed and interested in signing up to the Personal Best Programme or if you would like to find out more information, contact Everstina Musamabik, Clapham Park Volunteer Scheme, 020 8671 9248 or emusamabik@claphampark.org.uk.

In 2007 the Neighbourhood Wardens reported over 2600 incidents to relevant agencies within Lambeth.  The overwhelming majority of these were related to fly tipping, however other incidents included anti social behaviour, prostitution, noise nuisance and drug related issues, all of which can have a negative impact on individuals and communities.  In 2008 the Wardens will continue to act as the eyes and the ears of the community, patrolling the Clapham Park NDC area, working with the Police, local authority, local housing associations and others, to ensure that problems within the area are reported and resolved, and that feedback is given to the community where appropriate.