Chris Best

The Sydenham Assembly is open to anyone to lives, works or studies in the ward. It meets quarterly at different locations in the ward to ensure residents can access the meetings.

If you would like to be added to the mailing list please email Chris.

For a number of years I was the chair of the Assembly and I now rotate with my co-councillors.

For more information about the Sydenham Assembly take a look at the web page http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/LocalAssemblies/SydenhamAssembly
Previous Sydenham Assembly Newsletters are online here

The Assembly welcomed Cllr Amanda de Ryk, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Performance to discuss Cost of Living Support and Warm Welcomes. Sheree-Marie Abraham, from Sydenham Arts talked about their Winter Welcome programme. The Community Updates from local groups included a motion from the Bell Green Neighbourhood Forum for a 3 ward Assembly.

October’s Sydenham Assembly meeting was a celebration of our community with updates from a range of local groups starting with a video from James Ross Hunter Youth Support (JRHYS). The Assembly had a presentation from Adult Learning Lewisham and heard about the result of the recent Ofsted inspection which received an overall "Good" result. Our Lady St Philip Neri School reported on the completion of the building works. Ageing Well gave an update on the programme at the Grove Centre – exercise, art and befrienders singing group are all going really well. The choir will be singing at the Christmas tree lighting on 30th November. They have also been working successfully in partnership with the Venner Road Dementia Café.

https://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=304&MId=8628&Ver=4

October’s Sydenham Assembly meeting was a celebration of our community with updates from a range of local groups including Sydenham Library, Sydenham Community Project, SEE3, Sydenham Arts, Spontaneous Productions, Ignition Brewery, Sydenham Wells Improvement Group, Sydenham Society, Bell Green Neighbourhood Forum, James Ross Hunter Youth Support (JRHYS), TNG, Grove Centre, Venner Road Community Centre, St Christopher’s, Sydenham Safer Neighbourhoods Team and a presentation from Adult Learning Lewisham..

Government cuts have hit Lewisham hard and we are no longer able to produce our quarterly Newsletter delivered door to door so we will have an online eNews - please see the first one here providing information about our June meeting and sign up for regular eNews.

We had a very positive meeting in June hearing from the groups that have received NCIL funding. The presentation was from the Environmental Enforcement Team and highlighted the progress on reducing fly tipping by issuing fines.

Agenda and minutes here

At our January meeting we agreed the funding of £88,084 allocated to Sydenham from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy. We will receive feedback on how the following projects are developing -


• High Street Happenings / SEE3 £9,800 and this will be used to support events in the high street including the Assembly meetings and Fun Palace



• Rhyme Time / Friends of Sydenham Library £1,410

• Adults' and children's crafts at Sydenham Library / Friends of Sydenham Community Library £1,650
• Ageing Well in Lewisham / Lewisham Churches Care £9,000

• Community Facilities Improvement / Venner Road Hall Community Association £9,700

*JRHYS Community Workshop 1-2-1 / James Ross Hunter Youth Support CIC £10,000
• Home Park Trim Trail / Resident applicant / Lewisham Council £13,729 (Cross ward project; £14,575 NCIL funding has also been recommended from Bellingham ward)
• Legendary Community Club/Youth First £15,000
• Street SmART: An Intergenerational Women's project, Safer Streets through Creative Awareness / Sydenham Arts Ltd £17,794.50

We are using alternative sources of funding from the Council to support the bids for Sustainable Christmas Trees £21,876 (£10,938 per ward with Forest Hill), Bell Green Neighbourhood Forum Air monitoring network £4,000, Home Park Bins £5,940 (£2,970 per ward with Bellingham) – a total of £17,908 for Sydenham ward. Unfortunately, due to the level of demand on the Sydenham ward funding we were not able to fund bids to the value of £129,321.67 in Sydenham ward - please see the Sydenham Assembly web page for more information.

Agenda and minutes here

https://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=304&MId=7652&Ver=4

I was delighted to chair our first online Sydenham Assembly meeting on Saturday 12 June.

I welcomed Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham, who spoke on #FutureLewisham including the Council’s recovery plans. Angela Hall, Chair of the Sydenham SNT Ward Panel gave a Community Safety Update and started planning this year’s Fun Palace.

We heard from local community groups on upcoming projects and events taking place in and around the ward.

I am pleased to chair the Assembly again in 2020. We agreed our six priorities for Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy for Sydenham.

I had a fantastic time at the 2nd annual Fun Palace; taking place in the Sydenham TNG. There were wonderful activities for all members of the community to take part in, including drumming lessons, learning rock climbing, jewellery making, dance, digital photography, laughter yoga, and so many more. Special activities designated for the kids included slime making and children's craft.

A new gardening project to teach kids how to grow their own fruits, vegetables and herbs was set up in memory of James Ross Hunter. This will provide a safe and relaxing environment for all members of the community; young and old; to engage with

We were even lucky enough to receive a performance from Sam Wilkins; winner of ITV's 'The Voice Kids 2019'.

Looking forward to next years event.

Today we were joined by some fantastic local employers, training and further education providers. These providers showcased their wide range of opportunities they had open for 13-25 year olds.
Providers including: Capital Hoist

Croydon College

Lewisham Construction Hub

Lewisham College

Lewisham Homes

Southwark College

Baseline

Goldsmiths

Serious About Youth (SAY) Construkt Programme

LB Lewisham Apprentices: Che Stott, Effie Tierney

Sydenham Arts

We were also joined by Nike Ajijola, Deputy Young Mayor of Lewisham, who shared with us her motivation for running for deputy young mayor and her passion to better her community. Ranging from tackling knife crime to broadening extra curricular activities offered by schools to help inspire young people.

I also had the opportunity to talk about the councils new public health stance on tackling violent crime, It was suggested that the Safe Havens project, in which shops agree to provide a safe space for anyone not feeling safe on the high street, could receive renewed support and promotion.

The assembly welcomed many new, local businesses including:

Zigghy’s Café:
Zigghy’s is at 90 Sydenham Road and serves a range of food including cooked English and Mediterranean breakfasts. Julia and her husband extended an invitation to all to try the café out.

Totu Polish Deli:
Just along from Zigghy’s at number 104, this amazing deli stocks a wide range of delicious Polish specialities. Manager Anna Maka thanked the Assembly for inviting her to showcase the shop, which also stocks Polish bread!

South London therapy Group:
They are now based in Regent’s Building, where they have a great space to be used for therapy sessions. They accept self-referrals.

Other new businesses offered their business offerings such as Bottle Cave, Cobbs Corner Café, UR-ID embroidery and printing service, and, Cherry and Ice café.

The assembly also discussed the possibility of taking part in the annual Fun Palace on the 5th and 6th of October. Many who took part in it, previously in 2018 expressed how valuable the experience was and why its worth it.
It was later proposed that the assembly set aside £1,395 to help fund the Fun Palace 2019; this was then approved.

At this meeting, local organisations set out bids for parts of the assembles funds.
These included:

Friends of Sydenham Library projects: Adults Crafts, Children's Crafts, Rhyme Time for under 5's - They received £2,570

Sydenham Arts - #Sixty Project - They received £1,500

SEE 3 Portas Pilot - High Street Happenings - They received £2,000

James Ross Hunter Youth Support - SAFE Project - They received £2,000

Voluntary Services Lewisham Christmas Project - They received £2,000

Lockwood Close Community Garden - They received £575

The total of all allocated money was £10,605
This left over remaining funds of £1,395.

During this meeting, members were encouraged to take part in Fun Palace events that were taking place over the next two days in four locations around Syndenham. These places were: Sydenham Centre, Sydenham Library, Grove Centre, and of course TNG where the Assembly was held.

Updates from the community were also addressed.

In this meeting an explanation of the planned Fun Palace events was given along with the suggestion of the four locations; around Sydenham; in which these activities would talk place.
The assembly announced that £500; from the assembly funds; would be provided towards the Fun Palace events.

The use of smart water was also discussed and how it has been successfully designated to 75% of target groups.

At this meeting we discussed a Sydenham Fun Palace - a weekend of arts, activities and knowledge created by the people of Sydenham; Neighbourhood Community Development Partnerships; Bakerloo Line resolution calling on Transport for London to bring the line to Lower Sydenham and on to Hayes; community updates on a range of local issues.

Voting on the Sydenham Assembly Fund

Performance by Poetry Town winner - Erika Alba

Presentation by London Wildlife Trust about the Great North Wood

Updates on SNT, Planning, SEE3, Sydenham Arts, Westwood Hill Safety measures, Car Clubs and flytipping hot spots.