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he founder of a local anti-violence campaign that has taken more than 500 knives off the

streets this year says he wants to replicate it across the UK. Leytonstone motorbike seller Courtney Barrett set up Binning Knives Saves Lives in spring and has since become a familiar face around the borough and beyond as he and his team of volunteers wheel around their knife amnesty bin. “Everything I do I put my heart and soul into,” Courtney told the

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Echo. “When we started we were campaigning for more police, but then we decided not to be politi-cal about it and instead just focus on taking knives off the streets. “Everyone just talks and talks about this problem but we wanted to take it into our own hands and do something that would make a difference right now. We were on ITV News and it has been non-stop since then really, I hadn't really had time to think about it.“Now I am thinking about how we could take this nationwide. You only need seven or eight peo-ple in each area to get it up and running. Yesterday I had a lady

by James Cracknellfrom Liverpool come down to find out what we're doing.” To date the campaign has received little funding, with only a vape shop in Tottenham spon-soring them so far and other people volunteering their time to help by leafleting around the borough. But Courtney is now in talks with a company that wants to help him roll out the campaign in every London borough. A friend of Courtney's, who sometimes joins him at his fort-nightly knife amnesty events, suf-fered 47 stab wounds in a single attack and needed hospital treat-ment for a year. One question that

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CommentFeatures Election Arts & Culture Sport

WALTHAM FOREST ECHO

Email [email protected] /WalthamForestEchoTweet @WFEcho Visit walthamforestecho.co.uk

P . 6 P . 5 P . 9–11 P . 12

Campaign group Waltham Forest Migrant Action makes appeal for kindness

How a health course is helping to reduce loneliness among older people

Candidates in the borough's three constituencies make their pitch for your vote

Supper club's book features tasty dishes from around the world, inspired by refugees

There's a managerial merry-go-round at Brisbane Road

FreeDec 2019, No. 57

Your independent community newspaper

Binning Knives Saves Lives volunteers (including Courtney Barrett, fourth from right) and their knife amnesty bin have become a familiar sight on the streets of Waltham Forest

Knife campaign could launch nationwide

Courtney often gets asked is how he and his team manage to per-suade so many young people to give up their knives. “You have to be genuine,” he says. “You have to show you care. If PC plod comes along it won't work, they need to have respect for you. I can talk their language and relate to them.” The total number of knife offences in London recently hit a new high, with more than 15,000 recorded in a single year, although the number of stabbings has begun to fall. Among the 131 people killed in London so far in 2019 was 14-year-old Jaden Moodie, stabbed to death in Ley-

ton last January. Courtney plans to make a statue using the knives his team has col-lected. He originally wanted to melt them down to make it but he instead now plans to encase the knives in concrete as part of its base. It is being designed by sculp-tor Tolleck Winner and should be ready to unveil next summer. Another goal is to open a youth centre, something for which the volunteers help to raise money during their knife amnesty events. Courtney believes the lack of safe spaces for young people to social-ise is one of the main drivers of knife crime. For all the campaign's success so far, a continual source of frustra-tion is Waltham Forest Council. Courtney claims the authority has tried to “block” them by issu-ing penalty notices for erecting banners – one was even stolen. “They hate us because we have embarrassed them,” says Court-ney. “They are wasting money on festivals, while nothing is happen-ing with violent crime.” A council spokesperson said: “We take fly-posting very seriously. Anyone seeking to place banners or adverts needs to apply to the council for consent. The banners at Beaumont Estate were erected without permission and removed. “The council has increased fund-ing by £800,000 over four years, on top of £2.2m allocated for our gang prevention programme to keep young people away from gangs and reduce knife crime.”

Success of 'Binning Knives Saves Lives' is inspiring other knife amnesty campaigns around UK

For more information:Visit binningknivessaveslives.com

2 No. 57 DECEMBER 2019 WALTHAM FOREST ECHO

DECEMBER 2019 – No. 57Waltham Forest Echo is an independent community newspaper. We publish monthly and distribute 10,000 free copies of each issue to libraries, cafés, pubs, and other places around Waltham Forest.

PublisherDavid Floyd

EditorJames Cracknell

DesignerJonathan Duncan

ManagerPenny Dampier

Advertising Sales ManagerKlaudia Kiss

ContributorsAdrian Stannard, Judith Burnett, Mick Bender, Saira Mir, Namgyal Samuels, Douglas Saltmarshe, Marytn Harris, Laura Myers, Vicky Ilankovan, Ellie Wilson, Jim Nichols

The member organisations of WFWellComm CIC are:Community Transport Waltham Forest, Social Spider CIC, HEET.

WFWellComm CIC Board:David Floyd (Social Spider CIC)Tom Ruxton (HEET)Helen Tredoux (Community Transport WF)

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Waltham Forest Echo is a member of IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor of The Press. For more information on the Echo’s complaints policy and how to make a complaint visit: walthamforestecho.co.uk/complaints

Contact Klaudia Kiss:Email [email protected]

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Call 020 8521 7956Email [email protected] The Mill, 7 - 11 Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow E17 7HA

'Save Our Square' campaigner Adrian Stannard is unimpressed with the latest plans for The Mall

alf-a-decade ago a deal was struck between Waltham Forest Council and

the owners of The Mall shopping centre in Walthamstow, Capital and Regional (C&R). The council was anxious not to miss out on the building boom and a plan was devised which would bring investment into the town centre, increase shopping and provide much-needed housing in four tower blocks up to 29 storeys. Unfortunately, residents were not included in these discussions, and a very poor plan was conceived.

In the adjacent Walthamstow Town Square, 81 mature trees would be felled and 32% of the open space would be built on. C&R refused to properly engage with the community, unlike pre-vious developers in the town cen-tre, and ploughed on with their unpopular scheme. The plans were presented to the planning committee in December 2017 at a huge meeting in Walthamstow Assembly Hall, where the Labour majority forced them through. Because of the size of the scheme, the mayor of London got involved and forced C&R to increase the

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Ditch these awful plans

share of affordable housing from 20% to 30% – still short of his 50% target. While full planning permission was granted for the shops and town square propos-als, only outline permission had then been granted for the tower blocks. This meant that C&R would have to come back with another consultation to seek full planning permission. Meanwhile, Save Our Square had been campaigning to stop the destruction of the town square anda range of protests were held, with more than a thousand people march-ing around the threatened space.

This autumn C&R came back with a further consultation, to say they were moving the tower blocks nearer to Selborne Road and creating an entrance off the street. They had also decided to build only three towers, but would make the highest 31 storeys, with 502 flats for rent only. Because of the overcrowding on the Victoria Line, Transport for London said they wanted another station entrance. Increasing the capacity of the station does not mean they can get more people on the existing trains, however; it just means they can get more passengers into the station. The Victoria Line itself has already reached capacity with a train every 100 seconds in peak hours. C&R, presumably egged on by the council, propose to use the 'Section 73' planning process to make their amendments instead of applying for full planning per-mission for the tower blocks. This method should be used for minor changes to a consented planning permission – yet these changes are certainly not minor. One thing that hasn't changed is that most of the avenue of lime trees will still be felled. And whatfor? According to C&R it is to “achieve level access through the site”. This doesn't make sense – there already is level access enabling wheelchairs. Is the real reason to allow passengers in the bus station to see the shops, I wonder? Residents want to know why the council is so keen for this awful scheme to go ahead.

Revised plans for The Mall's redevelopment missed the opportunity to save 81 mature trees in Walthamstow Town Square

Promoting the positivesello and welcome to Issue 57 of Waltham Forest Echo.

It's easy these days for the media to focus on running negative sto-ries when there always seems to be so much awful news to report on, but wherever possible I think it is crucial for local newspapers to highlight the positive things

An introduction from editor James Cracknell

being done in their communities. You can read about several such positive projects in this month's Echo, starting with the inspira-tional 'Binning Knives Saves Lives' campaign on Page 1, the great work of Waltham Forest Migrant Action on Page 6, and a local supper club promoting cultural dishes from refugees on Page 12. Of course it won't have escaped your attention that there is a gen-eral election looming and we have

dedicated three pages of the paper to providing you with information about the candidates in the bor-ough's three parliamentary seats. We gave each of them the same amount of space to write their own 'pitch' to you, the voter. But I did also warn them that what they wrote would be fact-checked; turn to pages 9–11 to find out what your candidates have said – and how honest they have been! I hope you enjoy reading this

Hmonth's paper – don't forget to vote on Thursday 12th December.

3No. 57 DECEMBER 2019 WALTHAM FOREST ECHO

NEWSFeaturesHow a health course is helping to reduce loneliness among older people

he Victoria Line will now be served by trains every 100 seconds for three

hours during weekday morning and evening peaks – increasing capacity on the popular tube route by 5%. The high-frequency service was previously only in operation for 90 minutes at peak times but Transport for London decided to double this period to help ease congestion. Tube trains will con-tinue to arrive every 135 seconds outside of peak times. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I’m delighted that hun-dreds of thousands of commut-ers will benefit from quicker, more comfortable journeys.”

school in Walthamstow is set to be expanded with an additional ten classrooms,

to help meet pupil demand. Waltham Forest Council has been facing a severe shortage of secondary school classrooms in the borough for the past few years, but has now won planning permission for its plans to expand Kelmscott School in Markhouse Road. The new two-storey building will allow the school’s capacity to increase from 900 to 1,200 pupils, between September 2020 and 2022. In addition, a single- storey extension will enlarge the existing dining room and create a new “activity studio”.

altham Forest Council has pledged to clear a backlog of social care

assessments by Christmas. The local authority started this year with 110 outstanding assess-ments for young people with special educational needs and dis-abilities (SEND) who were tran-sitioning into adult social care. A report presented to the council's children and families scrutiny committee revealed that the backlog had been reduced to 15 and that this remainder would be completed by 13th December. It said: “Additional agency social workers were brought in to man-age the backlog... service users have complex needs, including learning and communication needs, so it takes much longer.”

fforts to save a Waltham-stow community centre from closure are gather-

ing pace. Harmony Hall in Truro Road has been under threat for the past two years after Livability, the charity which owns it, ran into financial problems and decided to sell off its property assets. A deci-sion to put the community centre

unique plaque which marks the spot where “east meets west” has

been unveiled in Highams Park. The plaque, set into the pave-ment on the corner of Hale End Road and Beech Hall Road, marks the point of zero longi-tude. Mayor of Waltham For-est Chris Robbins unveiled the plaque and joked: “After all these years, I’m finally going to find out where I am!” A brainchild of local resident Mike Payne and organised with help from Highams Park Planning Group, the plaque is believed to be the first of its type in the world. The International Reference Meridian (IRM) lies 102 metres to the east of the Greenwich Meridian, which it replaced in 1984. “This is a little-known fact,” said Mike. “It means that

More trains

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Care plans

Fresh hope for Harmony Hall

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Rescue bid to save popular community hub

by James Cracknell

by Judith Burnett

up for sale was postponed earlier this year however, to allow com-munity groups a chance to raise the £1million needed to buy it. One group, William Morris Big Local, acts as a local distributor of National Lottery money and has tentatively agreed to provide £150,000 – subject to the sup-port of local people. Another £660,000 is being sought via the Good Growth Fund, a City Hall regeneration programme. The remaining money could be

Highams Park is framed by both Meridian lines – the original one from Greenwich is marked at the top of Selwyn Avenue and now we have this one.” Zero longitude crosses Beech Hall Road, through Jee’s Dry Cleaning, continuing across The Avenue and through Highams Park Station's gar-den. The new bronze plaque was made by Peak District foundry Leander Architectural and is engraved with the east-west line as well as a warning that the Earth’s tectonic plates “will slowly move this plaque eastwards of the IRM”. This movement can be tracked with modern technology, mak-ing it “an invitation to the curi-ous” according to Mike. Hale End and Highams Park councillor Tony Bell said: “We hope that local schools will be able to bring classes here and do some work with it.” The plaque was funded as

raised through a crowdfunding appeal, bank loan, or combina-tion of the two. Harmony Hall has been man-aged by Crest Waltham Forest for 20 years. It is used by 1,500 people per week from 70 differ-ent community organisations, including mental health support groups, young people’s clubs, faith communities, adult edu-cation workshops, health and wellbeing providers, and arts and culture classes.

part of the London Borough of Culture celebrations. Fellow ward councillor Zia-Ur Rehman

Alan Horne from Crest told the Echo: “We are trying to put together a funding 'cocktail' from different sources. I am optimistic we can do it, but it is still a bit like trying to climb Mount Everest. “For now Harmony Hall is secure until March 2020. After that we could enter another short-term arrangement, but it could still be put up for sale on the open market. “We have been heartened by the responses from the community, who have come together to try and save the hall.” A public meeting was held last month to try to generate more ideas and interest from people who want to save Harmony Hall. Local people are also invited to express their views to William Morris Big Local, to demonstrate the building's importance to the local community. Livability claims that if Har-mony Hall were ever sold it would be protected from redevel-opment by planning restrictions on community buildings.

Take part in the survey on Harmony Hall being run by William Morris Big Local:Visit wmbiglocal.org/saving-harmony-hall

added: “It’s a great legacy and I hope that it inspires local people to find out more.”

Harmony Hall is used by around 1,500 people every week

The plaque on the pavement in Highams Park

"It's a bit like trying to climb Mount Everest"


FEATURES4

Advertisement

Leading the way

It is hard to walk down a major high street without seeing people who are homeless and sleeping rough. Home-lessness is a complex problem, whether it is caused by affordable housing short-ages, unemployment, mental health problems or delayed benefit payments. Supporting people who are homeless is about more than putting a roof over some-

To get involved with PL84U AL-SUFFA:Email [email protected]

Young people are organising events to help tackle social problems

by Namgyal Samuels

am a member of Waltham Forest East London Leaders, a youth-led local group facil-

itated by the social enterprise Focus CIC. Our group’s members have been united by the charity London Youth around a shared ambition; to help young people in Waltham Forest become more politically engaged and active in their communities. A 2016 House of Commons brief-ing paper found that less than 25% of 18–24-year-olds were satisfied with the present system of govern-ing. Less than half voted at the 2017 General Election, and they were the least likely age group to say they participated in political activities. These statistics prove that young people should have more of a pres-ence in political spheres. Their dis-engagement is part of the reason why they often feel political deci-sions do not reflect their interests. They have suggestions but too few

Iserious means of expression. To achieve our ambition, we recently organised a free event called ‘Young people: Your Borough, Your Future’. This was both a celebra-tion of local political and activist organisations and an opportunity for young people to find out about how they can get involved in some of these amazing groups. Waltham Forest East London Leaders is now working with Waltham Forest Council's young advisors team to create a scrutiny group, which would give students aged 15–20 years the opportunity to question adult politicians and local businesses in the town hall chamber every fortnight. Online applications to be a member of this scrutiny group can now be made. Please email [email protected] if you would like to apply. Alternatively, if you are someone aged 12–25 years, or know someone in that age group who wants to get involved in politics or any local organisations, please reach out and we will help you.

Helping the homelessone’s head, it is about supporting them with their health and dignity. Homeless people die on average 30 years younger and it is estimated that 40% of rough sleepers have a long-term physical health problem, such as heart disease or diabetes. PL84U AL-SUFFA has been running a non-profit charity in East London since 2013 and relies on volunteers to provide hot meals to some of Waltham Forest’s most vulnerable residents. As part of World

Homelessness Day in October, we were able to bring together healthcare services and take them directly to where they are needed to support homeless people’s dental problems, hygiene and diabetes. More than 100 people received care; we would like to thank all who organised the event and those who participated.

Some of the people involved with PL84U AL-SUFFA's event held on World Homeless Day

by Saira Mir


FEATURESCommentCampaign group Waltham Forest Migrant Action makes appeal for kindness P . 6

Leyton Great Hall L eyton Great Hall is a historic function room suitable

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It's good to walkWalthamstow health course reduces loneliness, writes Nick Bender

t may or may not surprise you, but walking and exercise is a well-established treatment for

depression. Some studies even show regular physical activity to be more effective than anti- depressant medications. Given the similarities lone-liness shares with depression, researchers at Middlesex Uni-versity in London set out to dis-cover whether a group exercise and socialising course could reduce loneliness in older adults. The study, entitled ‘Walk and Talk for Your Life’, recruited 48 participants from Waltham Forest and found that, after ten weeks, participants’ loneliness scores fell by 22% compared to a control group. Four months after the initial study, participants continue to meet and walk together infor-mally, having built friendships within the group. Walthamstow resident Wayne said: “The course

I was an exceptionally positive expe-rience, from learning exercises to interacting with other members on our walks and group discus-sions. This course has inspired me to take more control of my health as I move into my 60s.” Walk and Talk for Your Life continues to run courses for older adults (typically for over 50s) at Priory Court Community Cen-tre. Sessions begin with flexibil-ity, balance and tailored strength exercises, followed by a 30-min-ute walk to Lloyd Park. The final part is a 45-minute discussion on a health topic over tea and coffee, with topics ranging from holistic themes such as becoming con-nected in a disconnected world and finding purpose in retire-ment, to the latest research into nutrition for older adults, how to exercise, and tips on improving sleep and reducing stress. The next ten-week course will begin on Tuesday 7th January on

Tuesdays and Fridays, 1pm-3pm. Many participants have at least one health issue but as long as you are able to walk at a slow to mod-erate pace and are recommended by your GP to exercise, we’d love to have you join. Classes are £2 per session, but fees can be waived

For more information:Call 07562 475 706Email [email protected]

if needed. Lastly, if you are a health pro-fessional and would like to host a course in your area, we’d love to chat with you! We provide free resources and training, and can help apply for funding to subsi-dise the costs of hiring a space.

Walk and Talk for Your Life has been supported by William Mor-ris Big Local, the Walk and Cycle Fund and AgeUK Waltham Forest.

Exercise classes for the over-50s can help reduce depression and loneliness


he death of 39 peo-ple locked in a lorry in an Essex port is a desperate matter that

highlights the extreme peril to which people seeking asylum, safety or economic security are exposed in their negotiation of national borders. Events such as these are hap-pening because of the failure of governments to humanely and properly address the pressures of migrants, refugees and asy-lum seekers. Barriers to safety, be they walls or bureaucracy, pro-vide gangs and traffickers with opportunities for exploitation – the consequence is tragedies such as the one at Grays in October. People move because they have to; very few want to leave their home and roots. People flee fromconflicts, repressive regimes, dis-crimination and the consequences of climate change. It is the duty of governments to organise a safe and fair means by which migrants can enter a country and, having done so, ensure these people are treated in a decent and humane manner.

In recent years the UK government has systematically developed a so-called 'hostile environment' policy, resulting in migrants having to prove their status not just when they enter the country but whenever they rent a room, open a bank account, or access health services. The hostile environment is designed to deter anyone wishing to come here and also encourage migrants to leave by making their lives in Britain more difficult.

The system is underpinned by large numbers of forced removals, often brutally conducted, many of which we know nothing about. This situation, along with the con-sequences of economic austerity and reduction in legal aid, forms the background to the activities of our campaign group, Waltham

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Migrants deserve fair treatmentThe chair of campaign group Waltham Forest Migrant Action makes an appeal for kindness

Forest Migrant Action (WFMA). At our weekly drop-in centre in Walthamstow every Friday, almost two-thirds of visitors are women – and most of them have children. Of particular con-cern is the denial of free school meals to children whose parents are deemed by the government to have “no recourse to public funds”. They need advice in negotiating the welfare system, filling out forms, and dealing with housing and immigration. We also refer some people to local foodbanks. Last year, we saw visitors from 47 different countries. We have seen a steady normalisation of abusive standards towards those who seek to enter the country for legitimate reasons, such as asy-lum, family unification, and work. Remember that the NHS is only able to continue thanks to recruit-ing staff from across the world. Another major concern of WFMA is Brexit. There are storm clouds whichever direction we head in; if we leave the European Union (EU) under a hard-right government, we can only expect a tightening of legislation against migrants and the introduction of

COMMENT

a discriminatory points-based immigration system; if we end up remaining in the EU, we have to expect an upsurge of dark forces emanating from the far right. Such groups are already focusing their attentions on incomers, to

Volunteers at Waltham Forest Migrant Action's weekly support centre in Walthamstow

an even greater extent than they did in 2016. What is clear is that liberal val-ues are crumbling in many places across the world. To counteract the powerful anti-liberal forces in Britain, we need to champion the values that are important to us and by which we consent to be governed. Politicians have failed us miserably and continue to do so. Yet we must look at the positives. For example, MPs are signing up to the 'Global Justice' pledge not to report migrants to the Home Office; while a campaign called 'Docs Not Cops' encourages the NHS to ask patients “how are you?” not “who are you?”. There is also cause for optimism when we look at the way people inter-act on a daily basis. In Waltham Forest we are blessed by being part of a mosaic of cultures that offer diverse forms of welcome to outsiders and those in need – there are at least six foodbanks in the borough and welfare and legal counselling is made freely available. Nevertheless, without an increase in state resources to reduce this dependency, the outlook is bleak.

For more information about Waltham Forest Migrant Action:Visit wfma.org.uk

by Douglas Saltmarshe

"We have seen a steady normalisation

of abusive standards"

ElectionCandidates in the borough's three constituencies make their pitch P . 9–11

Licensing Act 2003:Application for the Grant of a Premises LicenceNotice of application for the grant of a Premises Licence under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003

Notice is hereby given that Café De Melo Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Waltham Forest for the grant of a Premises Licence at: Café De Melo, 216 High Road Leyton, London E10 5PS.

The nature of the application is to permit the following:• Sale of alcohol consumed on & off the premises:

09:00–23:00 (Sun–Wed), 09:00–00:30 (Thu–Sat)

• Recorded music (indoors) 06:00–23:30 (Mon–Wed), 06:00–01:00 (Thu–Sat), 07:00–23:30 (Sun)

• Live music & performance of dance (indoors): 19:00–01:00 (Thu–Sat), 16:00–20:00 (Sun), and anything of a similar description

• Late night refreshments on & off premises: 23:00–01:00 (Thu–Sat)

• Opening hours: 06:00–23:30 (Mon–Wed), 06:00–01:00 (Thu–Sat), 07:00–23:30 (Sun)

Interested parties or responsible authorities can make written representations regarding this application and must give notice in writing to:• London Borough of Waltham Forest, Licensing Service, 3 The Square E10 5NR• Email: [email protected]

The date by which an interested party may make representations to the relevant licensing authority: 24 December 2019.

This application and register held under the Licensing Act 2003 may be inspected during normal office hours at the above address.

It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. A person is liable to an unlimited fine on conviction should such a false statement be made.


I quickly realised that everywhere I went people were excited by my enthusiasm and determination. I was consistently the top seller, promoted to manager and opened offices for other people.

However, I was professionally unfulfilled. I wanted to try to do it alone and to be my own boss. I’d just had my first son and I was spending long stretches of time at work. I hardly saw my family. But I didn’t have the money to set up my own office, so I began to think of alternatives.

Online agents like Purplebricks were just starting to take off and I came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t need an office and could set up from home.

I figured that where other online agents were unable to deliver a service-led model, I could. It should just be me, looking after the client from the start to the end of the process. I would be there with them, for the emotional rollercoaster.

After four years running my business, I now find I’m consistently achieving great results and I have a very low rate of sales falling through. Perhaps it’s this connection I’m able to build that makes this possible. I’m not sure. But it’s working.

Although it can be hard handling all these pressures, I wouldn’t change the fact that I can be my own boss, strive to provide the best service possible, watch my kids grow up and

hang out in my lovely home.I’ve recently been reading Paul Jarvis' book 'Company of One – Why Staying Small Is The Next Big Thing For Business'. Paul challenges the traditional business model of growth and instead suggests that staying small and increasing productivity and resilience can really help to focus on the values that keep us motivated and keep life meaningful, and in turn to do better in business.

Perhaps it becomes increasingly necessary to resist traditional business moves, like taking on extra staff, because of all the additional complications that go with these. So now I’m here… I think I’ll try to stay here.

Linus Jackson Property Agent Community Conscious Ethical Estate Agent

My name is Linus. I am an estate agent, but doing something a little bit different. Here’s a bit about me.

I was involved in the music industry prior to becoming an estate agent. My father had been a successful composer in 70s Ireland and I grew up thinking it would be easy to forge a living by being in bands and releasing my own records.

At some point I realised that it wasn’t; I looked at my skillset and interests (sales, mediation, crea-tive problem solving, architecture, other people’s houses) and came to the conclusion that I wanted to work in property.

I took to estate agency well and found it rewarding and exciting.

We Offer a Bespoke Service For Property Sales/Lettings/Management

Tel: 020 8281 9699 Email: [email protected] Web: linusjackson.co.uk

Instagram: @linusjacksonproperty Facebook: @linusjackson.co.uk


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ELECTION

I would sooner have been campaigning in a referendum on the single issue of Brexit than fighting a general election that conf lates many policy issues. However, I will use the opportunity to make a positive case for remaining in the EU while also promoting an exciting

I will be fighting to champion your issues locally but also change laws and policy nationally. I grew up here and went to Chingford Foundation School. I’ve worked on our high streets and still live here today. After listening to your concerns, these are the key issues I plan to focus on:

As your MP in Chingford and Woodford Green for the last 27 years, I have always put the needs of my constituents first and foremost. From securing £400million to rebuild Whipps Cross

programme of government under our young, dynamic leader, Jo Swinson.

Our manifesto offers:· A fully-costed investment in sustainable

economic and physical regeneration of infrastructure from high streets and housing;

· A commitment to introduce measures to achieve better physical and mental health for all and to provide resources for the NHS, funded by just one extra penny in the pound on income tax;

· Funded support for research and development of advanced green technologies to combat climate change and help save our planet;

· Reform of our political processes.

Our plans will be boosted by a £50billion bonus over the coming five years from remaining in the EU [Fact check: This forecast is based on expected GDP growth and has a high degree of

· On crime; huge cuts in police, youth and early intervention have led to an increase in crime across our constituency. Tory plans to replace officers they previously cut won’t be enough. Labour proposes to invest in policing.

· On healthcare; Whipps Cross Hospital desperately requires redeveloping and our NHS must see an end to private finance initiatives (PFIs) and privatisation. Current plans for the hospital show fewer beds than now, despite expected population growth [Fact check: Hospital bosses have not decided how many beds it will have]. I will fight for a health and social care system suited to our needs.

· On education; a Labour government will reverse years of school cuts and create a 'National Education Service',

Hospital [Fact check: Hospital bosses have not been told how much government money they will receive], getting extra funding for our schools [Fact check: Analysis of government data by London Councils showed schools in Chingford and Woodford Green are £4.4million worse off compared to 2016] and supporting the plan to put 20,000 more police on the streets, your needs have been at the heart of all I have done. Now, as we face an election, I am right behind our prime minister, Boris Johnson, in being committed to honour our original commitment to respect the 2016 EU referendum result, get Brexit done, and deliver democracy. Once we have left the EU we can move on and focus on the things that matter to the people of Chingford and Woodford Green. Since 2010 we have

investing from preschool to university. Schools across our constituency have had huge cuts and some have experienced damaging academisation, undermining the ability of our children to flourish.

· On Brexit; after three years of going around in circles, it is time we brought a credible deal alongside a remain option for you to have a final say.

We need urgent green investment and to tackle air pollution. I have pushed for Sadiq Khan to put forward a better scrappage scheme and I will continue to fight for a fairer low-emission zone which doesn’t unfairly affect working-class families and business owners. Finally, as someone who runs a small company, I know how difficult it can be. Locally, we can adopt initiatives such as a 'buy local' reward scheme and I will be fighting for business rates to be redrawn nationally.

delivered record levels of employment, cut income tax for 31 million people, and reformed the welfare system to make sure that work pays. We inherited a failing education system where children were struggling with basic numeracy and literacy, but now 85% of children are in schools that are good or outstanding. That hard-won success is at risk from any government other than a Conservative majority government. Voting for any other party here in Chingford and Woodford Green risks Jeremy Corbyn getting into Number 10. The damage of that would wreak havoc on our economy and would put at risk the 20,000 more police, higher funding for schools and colleges, and vitally the rebuilding of our hospital, which is dependent on the extra £33.9billion for the NHS the Conservatives pledge to deliver.

Liberal Democrats

Labour Party

Conservative Party

Geoff Seeff

Faiza Shaheen

Iain Duncan Smith

Voters in three Waltham Forest constituencies will head to the polls on Thursday 12th December for a third general election in less than five years. While the Walthamstow and Leyton and Wanstead constituencies are safe Labour seats, Chingford and Woodford Green could swing either way. The area has been represented by a Conservative MP for half-a-century but has recently seen a surge in Labour support. Changing demographics combined with anger over incumbent Iain Duncan Smith's record as the former work and pensions secretary – being the architect of Universal Credit, the controversial new all-in-one benefit payments system – have put the Tories under pressure. The former Conservative Party leader's majority was squeezed from 8,386 votes in 2015 to 2,438 votes in 2017 and the constituency is now one of Labour's key targets nationwide. Faiza Shaheen is the Labour candidate hoping to usurp Duncan Smith. She is already a familiar face in Chingford having grown up locally and her campaign has been boosted by the hundreds of party members who have travelled from far and wide to help her canvass. Another crucial factor in Chingford and Woodford Green is that two smaller parties have decided to step aside. The Brexit Party stood down its candidate David Axe after leader Nigel Farage agreed to give the Conservatives a clear run in seats they already held. It was the local branch of the Green Party, meanwhile, that made the decision to stand down its candidate John Tyne to boost the chances of toppling Duncan Smith. In Walthamstow, Labour's Stella Creasy has been busy campaigning across the constituency despite being pregnant – she gave birth on 27th November. The campaign has been overshadowed, however, by an ongoing controversy in the seat. An anti-abortion party, the Christian People's Alliance, has targeted Creasy by sending literature to voters containing very personal attacks. It has turned what should have been a simple re-election bid into an ugly and divisive battle. In Leyton and Wanstead, John Cryer looks likely to cruise to victory. The Labour candidate, who has represented the area since 2010, voted to leave the EU in 2016 but has since expressed support for a second referendum. Not to be outdone by his Labour colleague in Walthamstow, Cryer also became a parent during the election campaign. His partner, the Lewisham West and Penge candidate Ellie Reeves, gave birth to a baby boy. Among Cryer's opponents is 18-year-old independent Henry Scott, believed to be the youngest election candidate in the country.

Chingford and Woodford Green

Campaign is heating up

uncertainty] which would be available for spending on childcare, education and environmental protection. I am a chartered accountant with a doctorate for research into the field of corporate social responsibility. A personal aim is to bring about improvements in the governance, transparency reporting and conduct of business to ensure fairness in the relationships between the various stakeholders in commercial companies. Without the Liberal Democrats the choice for voters in this constituency would be dire. The Conservative candidate would be happy to crash out of Europe without a deal and the Labour candidate admits her party’s position on Brexit “is tricky” and is not sure how the absurdity of negotiating a new deal and then campaigning against it can be resolved. Chingford and Woodford Green residents deserve better.


ELECTION Leyton and Wanstead

John Cryer, Labour Party

Ashley Gunstock, Green Party

Zulf Jannaty, Brexit Party

Nosh

aba Khiljee, Conservative Party

Be

njamin Sims, Liberal Democrats

espite Brexit dominating, general elections are about more than just one issue.

The winning party will govern for five years and be responsible for health, education, rights at work, transport and more. Naturally, Brexit touches on all these issues and it will rightly be high on residents’ agendas whenthey vote. Labour is the only major national party pledging a second referendum, with an option to 'remain'. Even as a

n this historic election the Green Party will be promoting solutions to

the important matters of the day, with an increased focus on the climate emergency.· Education; comprehensive in

the truest sense of the word, with no division of intakes on the grounds of religion, race, gender, disability or social status. Pupils will be taught a curriculum to encourage them to respect and protect all forms of life in the world.

· Healthcare; provided by

ike many, I believe the established parties of yesterday are no longer fit

to serve us today. I joined the Brexit Party to change not just our relationship with the EU, but reset the relationship between people and parliament. This is all part of rebuilding our democratic foundations and delivering electoral reform so that parliament and government serve us all, whatever our backgrounds and lifestyles and across all generations. To do

was raised in Walthamstow and have many friends and family in the Leyton and

Wanstead area. I understand that there are a number of issues that voters here are concerned about. Ending uncertainty over Brexit; more than three years after the referendum we need to move on. A Conservative government will implement the new deal negotiated with the EU, and we can then fully focus on our agenda for improving

ur politics is broken. The Conservatives have abandoned any claim to

economic competence for an ever-harder Brexit. Labour spend their time squabbling rather than opposing Brexit. Both are stuck in the past, failing to deliver a better future. Re-electing a Brexit-backing, Corbyn-supporting MP means more of the same. Thankfully, things are changing. In May, the Liberal Democrats won the EU elections in London.

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Eurosceptic, the deadlock and division since 2016 has convinced me that the only way for us to come back together as a country is to ask the public to vote again. Johnson’s Brexit proposals pose a threat to our NHS, which the Trump administration is currently eyeing like a pig on a spit. Labour would reverse privatisations in the health service and restore confidence in our most precious institution. Labour is committed to tackling

fully-funded centres, health would be holistic, being based on prevention, a good diet and regular exercise, as well as cure. The need for medication would be kept to a minimum. With more personal responsibility, some weight could be taken off the overburdened NHS.

· Transport; public mobility and haulage needs to be upgraded, better integrated and affordable to encourage usage. We have to drastically reduce our dependency on

this we must see the largest democratic referendum result for Brexit delivered. It is a matter of trust and democracy! The Brexit Party is in a unique position to drive this change because we are not part of the political status quo. Our policies include; reforming the voting system as ‘first past the post’ has failed to deliver representative government and ignores the voices of millions; investing in young people by scrapping interest on student loans;

people’s lives. Improving the NHS; I am a practising hospital consultant and am fully committed to the principles and values of the NHS. I understand the challenges the NHS faces but am sure it can continue to deliver world-class healthcare in the 21st Century. I will be a strong advocate in a Conservative government to protect NHS patients and staff and was pleased to hear that Whipps Cross Hospital has

We can stop Brexit and use the £50billion 'remain' bonus to rebuild our country [Fact check: This forecast is based on expected GDP growth and has a high degree of uncertainty]. Once Brexit is stopped, my priority will be the climate emergency. We will generate 80% of electricity from renewables by 2030 and commit to insulating all low-income homes by 2035. I will lead the fight against the ridiculous plans to expand London City

the climate emergency with a green industrial revolution. Labour will back the police to do their job. Too many times this year I have had to ask the home secretary to set out the government’s strategy to address knife crime and it has been clear they have no answer. Cuts to police numbers make it impossible for them to do their job and deter knife crime. As well as supporting this agenda I will continue working

fossil-fuelled vehicles.· Waste; goods to supply our

needs rather than our wants, minimal packaging using recycled materials, made to last longer and be recyclable in a circular economy.

· Economy; the 'Green New Deal' would see a rise in employment in the building of a renewable-friendly infrastructure to drastically reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. Businesses would be encouraged to

invest in education.

abolishing the inheritance tax ‘double taxation’; and scrapping HS2 to avoid its destructive impact on our countryside while investing in the environment and recycling. Importantly, we will be focused on long-term strategic investment in our vital public services such as the NHS and social care. Born and raised in East London and a local resident for two decades, I want to fight for a community where we can all build successful lives while also

been awarded £400million for its rebuild [Fact check: Hospital bosses have not been told how much government money they will receive]. Making streets safer; residents have a right to feel safe on our streets. I will promise to fight for our fair share of the 20,000 extra police officers being recruited under the next Conservative government. Funding for schools; I attended school locally and understand how much our residents value

Airport; it is senseless to inflict noise and air pollution across East London for the benefit of the few that use it. I continue to oppose school cuts; we will make sure that every child has the best start in life by recruiting 20,000 more teachers and committing an extra £10bn a year to our schools. We will transform mental health funding, giving mental health the same priority as physical health. We will put one penny in every pound on

on issues that matter to you. I have been fighting with local campaigners on issues like London City Airport expansion, Whipps Cross Hospital, step-free access at stations and more. I successfully argued to delay the roll-out of Universal Credit locally. This zombie Tory government is too stymied by its inability to resolve Brexit to deliver any legislation at all. I hope you will place your faith in me and Labour to move forward with an agenda for real change.

· Taxation; centred on land ownership – its size, location and usage – as well as a ‘polluter pays’ principle and a person’s ability to pay.

Unfortunately, much of what needs to be urgently done continues to be delayed by the divisive distraction that is Brexit. Greens believe that unity is the key to best achieving what needs to done through co-operation, not confrontation. This is not an ‘us and them’ but a ‘we’ moment in time. We should not try to foolishly go it alone.

taking care of those who need help. This means delivering the best possible local healthcare, education, social care and safe streets for our families. I am married to a Spanish national and am a father of dual-national children, so I know there is absolutely no contradiction between having a positive international outlook and wanting the UK to be independent and free of undemocratic EU political rule. I urge you to vote Brexit Party and finally change politics for good.

their children’s education. Every child in our community deserves a good education and that starts with investing in schools. Adequate social care; I have a disabled mother and brother. I know how crucial it is to provide the social care required to look after our most vulnerable residents and how frustrating it can be to access these services. I will strongly advocate for a fairer system of social care.

income tax to give our NHS the cash injection it needs. If you elect me, I will listen to you on the issues that matter and work hard to be a great constituency MP. I'm not a career politician; I run a small business and can bring skills and ideas from the real world to parliament. I will be Leyton’s representative at Westminster, not Westminster’s representative in Leyton. Don't vote for more of the same, vote to stop Brexit and build a brighter future.

* Independent candidate Henry Scott had not responded to requests for an election pitch at time of going to press


ELECTION WalthamstowSh

ade Adoh, Conservative Party

Paul Campbell, Brexit Party

Meera Chadha, Liberal Democrats

Stel

la

Creasy, Labour & Co-operative Party

Andrew Johns, Green Party

Deb

or

ah Longe, Christian People's Alliance

have close family friends in Walthamstow. I have spent the last few months getting

to know the area and understand there are some issues you are concerned about.· Mini Holland: I will work with

residents to find solutions to the unintended consequences caused by the scheme.

· Crime: Everyone should feel safe when out in the streets.

here are six candidates standing to be your MP but only one who, like

you, lives here – me. Walthamstow has been my home for over 20 years. I dedicate everything to this community. It's my passion and will always be my priority. I worked hard to support residents and businesses affected by The Mall fire; I brought the Met Police commissioner here to see

nvironmental concerns are at an all-time high, but voting is just as important

as protesting. Politicians show no consistency on the environment; declaring climate emergencies while backing airport expansion, fracking, tree-culling, and new incinerators. Voting Green is a call to action, demanding politicians put the environment at the heart of policy-making. That means immediate action. Greens propose £100billion a year to tackle the

rowing up in a deprived area of East London allowed me to understand

the problems we face. I have a passion for law and politics and in 2016 wrote a report for Big Voice London on law reform, concerning hate crime. I am now training to be a lawyer and was shortlisted for the 'Future Legal Mind' competition. I am part of the music team at my church and participate in

am not a politician. Just like you I’m an ordinary person, who is standing at the election

because of more than three years of betrayal and incompetence from our MPs of all parties. For decades now our politicians have routinely made promises to us with no intention of keeping them. Ask yourself; if someone lies to you repeatedly, would you trust their words next

would be immensely proud to represent Walthamstow. I want to help everyone to lead

a happy, secure and fulfilling life. For too many, things aren’t working; inequality is rising, pollution is cutting short lives, homes are unaffordable, rents are insecure and knife crime has increased 80% since 2014. Leaving the EU doesn’t address any of this – it just ties us up in decades of trade

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I will work with local groups and young people to seek local solutions and fight for our fair share of the promised extra police officers.

· Schools: Every child in Walthamstow deserves a good education. Investing more in schools is a promise I will ensure works for our children. I will work with schools and the council to support a youth council.

how badly we need extra police; I’m working with community groups to set up mentoring schemes for young people and to end plastic use in Walthamstow; plus I’m campaigning for the green revolution we need to hit Labour’s 2030 zero-carbon target [Fact check: This pledge was omitted from the Labour manifesto]. I am fearless in fighting for Walthamstow. My track record on

climate emergency, a figure that pales in comparison to the cost of not acting decisively. A 'Green New Deal', tax reforms and eco-subsidies will create new jobs, increase tax returns and lower energy bills. I back a 'People’s Vote' and would campaign to remain in the EU, but we also need to fix thedemocratic and socio-economic problems that led to Brexit in the first place.· Homes: Build 100,000 energy-

ballet and contemporary dance, having a strong interest in acting. I have been chosen to be the voice for the voiceless, the unborn. My party has five key pledges:Uphold democracy and leave the EU as soon as possible: Allow a second referendum five to ten years after we’ve left, when there is evidence of what’s happened, to bring the country back together again.

time around? Why do we keep believing our politicians every time they jingle 30 pieces of silver in front of us at election time? Parties promised to respect and deliver the result of the referendum; they have not. The same parties almost all promised in 2017 to deliver Brexit; they have not! The Lib Dems seek to totally ignore the referendum result and

negotiation and legislation. By revoking Article 50, we can focus on building a brighter future for everyone in Britain. The resulting £50billion ‘remain bonus’ [Fact check: This forecast is based on expected GDP growth and has a high degree of uncertainty] would be invested in our NHS, schools and infrastructure. I would ensure new and low-income homes in Walthamstow

· NHS: I am a registered nurse with a strong belief in advocating for patients and I am committed to ensuring our NHS continues to meet the needs of everyone.

· Adult social care: Working in the community has shown me how crucial it is to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities and the difficulties of accessing the service sometimes. I will strongly advocate for an

protecting our NHS and lobbying for investment in healthcare and schools – which face an average funding cut of £467 per pupil next year – is clear. And I’ll stand up to those who want to make Brexit happen at any cost; I voted against triggering Article 50, I campaigned for a 'People’s Vote', and I believe we're better off in the EU. At a time when Johnson’s hard Brexit threatens jobs and

efficient homes every year for social renting.

· NHS: Reverse cuts to services and cut private sector involvement. Expand provision to dentistry, prescriptions and increased mental health services.

· Education: Abolish Ofsted and restore local authority control.

· Welfare: Introduce a universal basic income.

· Jobs: Tackle zero-hour contracts, unpaid internships, and introduce 10:1 pay ratios

· Support marriage and families: Grant £12,000 to people who get married for the first time and £6,000 when they have their first child, backed up with training and support.

· Protect the unborn: Reduce abortion and aim to get rid of it entirely.

· Make tax fair: Introduce a turnover tax of 5% targeted at overseas companies who

overturn Brexit. This is definitely neither liberal nor democratic. It follows a notorious betrayal where a high-profile manifesto promise – scrapping tuition fees – was not just ignored but overturned by raising fees instead. Labour doesn't have a clear Brexit policy. They are great at promising to spend money on all kinds of pet projects, in an effort to buy your vote. As a former

are zero-carbon and end sales of the most polluting vehicles. I want to keep young people safe; I’ve worked with knife crime charities and would tackle root causes. I work with schools in disadvantaged parts of the city; they are chronically under-funded and struggling to recruit teachers. We need to invest in the school system, not spend

open and fair system. I am able to represent a diverse community by getting different communities to work together and appreciate their positive contributions. I am not a career politician; I am a nurse with a ‘real world’ perspective developed through relationships with patients, parents and service providers in the health and social care sector.

our relationship with our partners in Europe, it’s never been more important to have someone you can trust to fight for 'remain'. Britain is crying out for the positive change only a Labour government can bring. Walthamstow needs someone who understands and cares about what this community needs. Vote for me so we can champion the causes we care about.

in organisations.· Transport: Invest £15bn a year

and give local authorities more power over bus and rail services.

· Crime: Legalise drugs and treat serious youth violence as a public health crisis.

· Democracy: Introduce proportional representation.

Greens have a clear vision; environmentally, economically and socially. Vote for a party that says 'yes' to Europe and 'no' to climate chaos.

send all their profits abroad. We would use some of the estimated £32billion proceeds to restore the £12bn cuts to benefits and guarantee a night shelter for everyone sleeping rough.

· Fight crime: Support people leaving prison. Reoffending rates average 30% but we can get them below 10%. We will also create more youth activities.

soldier, I can recall the IRA murdering 644 civilians – Corbyn has sympathised with terrorist organisations. The Conservatives tried to deliver Brexit but failed, thanks to the incompetence of May’s leadership and radical 'remain' elements in her party, with only their own interests at heart. Change politics for good – vote for the Brexit Party.

millions on restructuring it. Neither Labour nor the Conservatives are being honest about how long Brexit will take to conclude, or its negative impact. Many will tell you these parties are the only two choices – but the Liberal Democrats won over 700 council seats in May and overtook both at the EU election. Lend me your support and I'll ensure your voice is heard.


ARTS & CULTURE

For more information and to order your copy of 'More Than A Recipe Book':Email [email protected] storiesandsupper.co.uk/buy

aunched in 2017, Stories and Supper is a supper- club project based in Walthamstow that aims to

challenge the myths surrounding the migration crisis. Refugee and non-refugee vol-unteers work in partnership to produce great food and inspiring stories. Now with 'Fellowship Funding' from London Borough of Culture 2019, we are creat-ing a cookbook! More Than a Recipe Book contains recipes that have been written, tested and refined by a team of refu-gees, asylum seekers and local volunteers. More than just a collection of recipes, the book also features the stories of ref-ugees and migrants involved in the project, with first-person accounts of migration experi-ences and personal journeys. The book production has

Linvolved a team of professional creatives, including award- winning photographer John Nassari, alongside chefs and food stylists Oliver Rowe and Sanchia Lovell. Portrait photo-graphs in the book have been taken by Laura Martinez, and the book has been designed by local designer Angela Lyons. This is the perfect Christmas present for your loved ones. Helen Taylor, co-founder of Stories and Supper, says: “It's not a book from a celebrity chef or a fancy restau-rant, but each and every recipe means a huge amount to the per-son who donated it. “They are recipes that speak of friends and family, of home and belonging.” At a time of relentless negative press about migrants, many peo-ple are keen to establish genuine change through a more positive dialogue. Purchasing a copy of More Than A Recipe Book can help facilitate that change.

The book will be launched at an event on Wednesday 4th December, from 7pm at One Hoe Street. Please come along to sample some of the delicious food and listen to some powerful and moving stories, all taken from the pages of the book. This is your opportunity to pick it up hot off the press! Our signature aprons and statement T-shirts will also be on sale. Stories and Supper operates with an excellent core of volun-teers, participants and advocates who support the work we do towards our aims – a positive narrative of migration, alongside a more welcoming and support-ive environment for those who need to make the journey.

by Laura Myers

Recipes from refugeesSupper club's book features tasty dishes from around the world

"They are recipes that speak of friends and family, of home and belonging"

Mary from Ghana Credit Laura Martinez

Arepas, by Laura from Venezuela Credit John Nassari

Czech fruit cake by Eva and Karel from Czech Republic Credit John Nassari

Shahnaz from India Credit Laura Martinez

LISTINGS13No. 57 DECEMBER 2019 WALTHAM FOREST ECHO

Local Businesses Christmas PartyThursday 5th December, 7pm–11pmSignature Brew, Unit 15, Uplands Business Park, Walthamstow E17 5QJ

Horsemeat Pudding Xmas Turkey Curry Sandwich CrackerFriday 6th December, 7.30pm–11pmSinbin at The Plough and Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU

In a Cold Winter's NightSaturday 7th Dec, 7.30pm–9.30pm184 Selwyn Avenue, Highams Park E4 9NE

Hoe Street Christmas MarketSunday 8th Dec, 12pm–5pmWalthamstow Trades Hall & Institute, 61-63 Tower Hamlets Road, Walthamstow E17 4RQ

Sing17 ShindigMonday 9th Dec, 8pm–9pmWalthamstow Trades Hall & Institute, 61-63 Tower Hamlets Road, Walthamstow E17 4RQ

Waltham Forest Community Choir's Christmas ConcertSaturday 16th December, 7.30pmSt Mary’s Church, 8 Church End, Walthamstow E17 9RJ

Reading Books on Digital Devices Over-50s ClassThursday 19th Dec, 10am–12.30pmWaltham Forest Resource Hub North, 58 Hall Lane, Chingford E4 8EU

Christingle ServiceSunday 22nd December, 6pm–7.15pmLighthouse Methodist Church, 120 Markhouse Road E17 8BQ

Chanukah PartySunday 29th December, 4pmJunction of Filiebrook, Fairlop & Grove Green roads, Leytonstone E11 4AT

The Bollywood WorkoutSaturdays, 10am–11amFrederick Bremer School, Siddeley Road, Walthamstow E17 4EY

Lunchtime Tai ChiFridays, 12.15pmLotus Health and Fitness, 479 Hale End Road, Chingford E4 9PT

We are literally organising a piss up in a brewery! This is a party for business owners and freelancers.

Hosted by Santa Vis the Spoon with VoodooRays, FleshTetris, AmesburyBanks and CowboyFlyingSaucer.

Felicitas Chamber Choir presents a programme of festive music, including works by Warlock, Lauridsen, Rutter and Tavener. Also launching our new CD of Christmas music in aid of blood cancer charity Bloodwise.

Shop local this Christmas! Find art, gifts, cards, cakes, homeware, jewellery, ceramics and more from artists, makers and bakers. Streetfood will be served.

Join Sing17 Community Choir for our seasonal shindig. Sit back and enjoy favourite tunes, mash-ups and harmonies with a sprinkle of Christmas cheer.

Traditional carols, solo pieces, readings and excerpts from Handel’s Messiah will delight you as we celebrate the season.

Love to read? This is your chance to expe-rience using digital devices – we will show you useful features such as the adjustable text size and lighting.

A delightful, warm, feel-good carol by Christingle light service. Come and claim your candle and join our friendly lighthouse congregation for refreshments afterwards.

Lighting a huge candelabra to celebrate the eighth night of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Foot-tapping music to the sounds of Menashe and The Shul-hoppers. Free food and hot chocolate.

BollyX is a Bollywood-inspired cardio dance-fitness program that combines dynamic choreography with the hottest music from around the world.

Tai chi is an excellent and holistic system of training for health and wellbeing. Join us at Lotus Studio and give it a try.

£9 tickets (including one drink)Visit hivecollectivelondon.com/events

Free entryVisit facebook.com/horsemeatsandwich

£15 tickets, £12 advance, children and students freeVisit felicitas.org.uk

Free entryTwitter @HoeStMarket

£1 entryVisit sing17.com

Free entryEmail [email protected] singwithus.net

Tickets £5Call 0208 558 5512Email [email protected]

Free entryEmail lighthouse [email protected]

Free entryEmail [email protected] lawssynagogue.org

£5 entryEmail [email protected] facebook.com/BollyXwithMevy

£8.50 drop-inVisit lotushealthandfitness.co.uk

Submit your listing online at waltamstuff.com/echo

'Echoes: Unearthing Stories of the Forest' runs until Sunday 5th January 2020 at The View, Rangers Road, Chingford E4 7QH. For more information:Visit wfculture19.co.uk/events/Echoes-Unearthing-Stories-of- the-Forest

The Big Community Chill Out and Performance takes place on Sunday 8th December, 3pm-6pm, at Leyton Great Hall, 1 Adelaide Road, Leyton E10 5NN. Email [email protected] wiilma.org/workshops

've spent hours wandering around Epping Forest this year, and when I’ve not been

there I’ve mainly been thinking about the forest, reading about its incredible history, and enthusing about it to anyone who shows the vaguest interest. This is not a new pastime. I grew up in Highams Park and the forest has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I learned to ride my bike at Connaught Water, went on school trips to the Suntrap Centre and hung out there with my teenage friends. Now it’s a place I go to escape the speed of the city for a few hours and enjoy nature. A collection of new compositions, written as part of my artist residency at Epping Forest, was inspired by the human impact on our ancient forest through the centuries; Iron Age hill forts, Second World War bomb craters that are now ponds, and my ancestor Thomas Willingale – a local labourer who helped save the forest during the enclosures of the 1800s. The work explores themes of lost and fragmented memories, lingering traces of the past and spirit of place, and includes a self-penned folk song, field

rassroots mental health charity WIILMA encour-ages members of all ages,

races, cultures, heritage, genders, abilities, religions, backgrounds and sexualities to find their voice and free their imagination through music and the arts. Its ethos is that everyone has the right to self-expression, but perhaps not the tools to make it so. The last nine weeks has seen WIILMA team up with local professional artists, musicians and performers to share their skills with their community and lead on a journey of self-discovery and expression through fine art, animation, heritage, international song, dance, crafts and more. On Sunday 8th December the

Forest stories

Showcasing diversity

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Musician Ellie Wilson on her new sound installation inspired by Epping Forest

Ellie Wilson Credit Michelle Foulser

recordings, and a graphic score based on a 19th Century map of the Iron Age Loughton Camp. You can experience my new work Echoes: Unearthing Stories of the Forest as a free sound installation at The View visitor centre in Chingford, on the edge of Epping Forest. This project is linked to the London Borough of Culture season,

products of these workshops will be showcased at WIILMA’s 'Big Community Chill Out and Performance', an intimate event featuring an art exhibition, international community choir, dance recital, fashion show, variety performance and professional music hall performances. There will also be tea, coffee and cakes available and a raffle with exciting prizes to be won. The evening will end with an international community disco for all ages, br ing ing people f rom a l l backgrounds together for a fun-filled boogie. Many of WIILMA’s workshop participants deal daily with various personal challenges; working as carers they give so much to others but never consider themselves. Most have never been on stage or had their artwork exhibited.

The People’s Forest, curated by Luke Turner and Kirsteen McNish.

Their achievements have been truly phenomenal and we look forward to sharing these with you, our new friends in the community. Openness, kindness, support and friendship are at the heart of everything WIILMA does and we would like to be a part of your journey towards creative expression and con-fidence. Come cheer these remarkable individuals on and celebrate the real people and diverse international cultures that make our Waltham Forest community great!

by Vicky Ilankovan

Christmas Pickle PartySaturday 14th December, 2:30–5pmThe Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow E17 7HA

There will be a pickle contest and a Christmas café with homemade cakes by our Mill bakers. We will also have a range of handmade gifts to buy.

Donations welcomeEmail [email protected]


Festive Social: Enterprise in e17We want to create a future where enterprising people are transforming our world for good and creating organic economic growth within their communities.

At UnLtd, we find, fund, and support social entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life and build sustainable social ventures.

Come and join us for panel discussions with experts, social entrepreneur presentations and seasonal refreshments:

Thursday 12th December6 – 9pm

Walthamstow Library

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wo months ago I wrote about Ross Embleton's decision to step aside as Leyton

Orient manager, and last month about the appointment of Carl Fletcher as his replacement. This month Embleton is now back in charge, once again on an interim basis. It has been a very strange period. Fletcher was sacked having failed to win any of the fixtures during his tenure, lasting just 29 days in the role. The speed with which the Orient leadership team made the decision to let Fletcher go was a huge surprise, but the fact they came to the conclusion that he had to go was not. There were rumours of player unrest from early on and neither the performances on the pitch, nor the interviews provided by Fletcher after disappoint-ing results, inspired any confi-dence that he would be able to instigate an upturn in the club's

fortunes. The shock FA Cup defeat to non-league Maldon and Tiptree, a team four tiers below Orient, was clearly the final straw. Both chairman Nigel Travis and director of football Martin Ling have been open about their thought process and have admit-ted their mistake in appointing Fletcher in the first place, citing an inability for the new man to fit into the club's unique culture. One thing it does raise is whether anybody will be able to fit into the evidently strong cul-ture that was forged during Jus-tin Edinburgh's time in charge, prior to his sudden death in June. For this reason, it is likely that Embleton’s interim spell on this occasion will be for an extended period. There are clear issues to be resolved on the pitch. The defence has struggled throughout the season, while under Fletcher the team suddenly seemed unable

TBack to square oneJim Nichols on another month of changes at Brisbane Road

to create nearly enough chances. A few players that were part of last season’s successful side have not found the step up to league football as easy as they would have liked. It now seems more likely than ever that this will be a season of transition for the O’s. It is a tight league from top to bottom, but any promotion prospects seem a long way off. The plight of two or three other teams in the divi-sion should ensure that Orient can steer clear of any relegation worries, despite the poor run of recent form. Embleton’s role now will be to improve the results while also helping to form a strategy and basis from which to build a squad that can challenge for promotion next season. This will require some tough deci-sions, but if he can make it a success, it may be him rather than a new recruit that will lead the team on a permanent basis.

Wins have been hard to come by at The Breyer Group Stadium this season

"It now seems more likely than ever that this will be a season of

transition for the O’s"

Are you ready to escape the norm?Escape rooms, locked rooms, exit games, live escapes – ‘Escape Games’ have many names and are becoming one of the world’s fastest growing leisure events.

What is an Escape game?You are dropped into a story and given one hour to escape, find the clues and solve the puzzles. Imagine the Crystal Maze mashed with the Da Vinci Code and you are the cast – that’s an escape room game.

Who can play?Friends, family, colleagues, students, gamers . . . you got it pretty much anyone! Well the guys from Clue Adventures have just launched their brand-new Leyton Studio E10 with four amazing escape rooms.

· ‘Gangsters Treasure’ is a murder mystery and escape room game rolled into one, set in an underground New York bar in 1935. This is a very well written game with a real attention to detail that makes you feel like you are back in 1935.

The answer is the discount code to be used when booking:clueadventures.com

Clue Adventures Launches New Leyton Studio E10 ?

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· ‘The Lodger’ is a thriller of an escape game. A game of murder and paranormal activity that is certainly not for the faint hearted. This game will immerse you in a world of tension, leaving you questioning what is real and what is not. . . you have been warned!

· ‘Fantasma - The Magic Machine' is an adventure filled with magic and illusions, some of which will transport you (literally) to another world. A game packed with fun challenges from their award-winning team.

On top of this they have London’s only escape room games designed just for 2 players

· ‘Jet2Space’ is the game just for two and it really is a blast (excuse the pun). Set in the future on a low budget tourist spaceship, it's a hysterical innuendo filled ride through space, this really is a must play escape room.

· ‘2 Tickets 2 Ride’ – A mad man is threatening to sink London into the ground, unless two special people can solve the puzzles he has set them. You only have one hour. One hour to save London!

This new Leyton Studio E10 is set above the wonderfully restored Coach & Horses on Leyton High Road, who recently teamed up with the guys from Crafty Burger. We highly recommend the ‘Going Loco’ with the skinny skin on fries (bit a of mouthful that), and the Crafty Cheeseburger is simply outstanding!!

*Hin

t: t

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And if you fancy a cheeky discount of £5 per player simply solve this riddle:

Many have heard me, nobody has seen me and I will not speak back until spoken to.*

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No. 57 DECEMBER 2019 WALTHAM FOREST ECHO

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