Love Lambeth

“Boots On The Ground” is a new photographic exhibition in Lambeth Archives. The photographs celebrate 20 years of the St Matthews Project (SMP) football outreach project. SMP has grown from a kickabout in Brockwell Park for kids from the St Matthews Estate – the estate that faces Lambeth Archives’ new home on Brixton Hill.

Artist and curator Ellie Laycock

“For The Love” is a unique cultural event at Brixton House on 26 January marking the launch of the new NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) blood donor centre in Brixton. This special evening blends art, food, music, and a powerful purpose, shining a light on the need for more Black blood donors.

Word from the Cabinet

The Kennington man was sentenced to two years in custody, suspended for two years, in April 2023, after he was found guilty of Direct Payment fraud against Lambeth.

But the council’s counter-fraud team took further action to recover the money stolen from them through the fraud – and the courts have now ruled that the resident must pay back £82,238.68.

Minnie Kidd House in south Clapham is the new home for all the sexual health services that were previously available from the Streatham Hill clinic.

Word from the Cabinet

Cllr Jacqui Dyer, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities, said: “For STI Awareness Day on 14 January we hope to raise awareness of sexual health in Lambeth and highlight Minnie Kidd House as the newest clinic in Lambeth.

The visit which was held in December specifically evaluated ‘the experiences and progress of disabled children, children subject to child in need and protection planning and the quality of practice with children subject to the Public Law Outline’. It also looked at the quality of social work provided by the council.

The detailed findings which were shared with the council on January 13 found many areas of strength, praised the leadership in children’s services saying performance management was highly effective and also that services for disabled children are vastly improved.

People in Lambeth can join a free weight loss and exercise programme to help shed the pounds and maintain a consistently healthy weight.

Word from the Cabinet

Councillor Jacqui Dyer, Lambeth’s joint Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities, said: “Whether you’re making New Year’s resolutions or not this is a great way to boost your health in a supportive and inclusive environment. I’d encourage local people to sign up and start the year in a really positive way.”

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Your Winter 2024 Lambeth Talk features young people at one of Lambeth’s new Barbershop safe spaces on the front cover.

Your Winter Lambeth Talk news and features include:

An introduction from Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth Council, about the new Government’s first budget; welcoming the change to a government willing to work with local authorities but warning that public funding shortages are likely to mean difficult decisions at council level.

The council’s Cabinet will consider dimming streetlights during the middle of the night, renting out space in council offices, increasing income from services like parking and events in parks and consulting on reducing the number of children’s centres in a bid to save £50million.

Cllr David Amos said: “This is the worst funding crisis that the council has ever faced, and we need to be open with residents that saving this amount isn’t possible without having a major impact on the services people rely on.

This World AIDS Day, Sunday 1 December, the London-wide, Lambeth-led HIV Prevention Programme Do It London focuses on health inequalities, highlighting the needs of Black heritage communities disproportionately affected by HIV.

World AIDS Day serves as an important reminder of the progress made in addressing stigma and improving care. It also highlights the ongoing work needed to make sure everyone has equal access to testing and care

Tackling health inequalities

Vital expenses including extra help to pay household bills, and school meals during the holidays, can now be supported over the next six months through the borough’s £2.7m Household Support Fund (HSF) allocation, confirmed by the Government.

The funding will enable Lambeth to continue essential support for low-income families at a time of significant financial pressure, due to unprecedented demand for front-line services, particularly temporary accommodation.