NEW CANCER INITIATIVE GETS SUPPORT OF CRYSTAL PALACE BUSINESS / £2.49 KNIFE SALE COSTS TOWN STORE THOUSANDS / NEW LAWS ON NIPS (NICOTINE INHALING PRODUCTS) / STREET CHAMPIONS GET SUPPORT – hundreds contact council in Lambeth’s pilot scheme / NEW APPRENTICESHIPS AVAILABLE IN LEWISHAM
NEW CANCER INITIATIVE GETS SUPPORT OF CRYSTAL PALACE BUSINESS
Ellie’s Friends, a new cancer charity, is seeking the support of businesses in and around Croydon, to bring rays of sunshine into the lives of cancer sufferers.
Crystal Palace community interest company MWAH (Multicultural Wellbeing and Healing) has been the first to sign up, offering a ‘Girls’ Day Out’ for up to ten participants.
Ellie’s Friends provides free and discounted products and services to UK adults living with cancer. Founded by TV producer Tom Thostrup in memory of his fiancé Ellie Jeffery, who died of secondary breast cancer in 2012, the charity has given away a wide selection of experiences including free massages, X-Factor tickets and weekend breaks, both in the UK and overseas.
Tom was inspired by Ellie’s belief that people living with cancer could have a relatively normal, if not fabulous life.
Unlike other cancer charities, Ellie’s Friends is not seeking financial support, but is asking local business and individuals to pledge free or discounted products or services, which will help to make the lives of people with cancer more bearable.
Initially piloted on Facebook, the charity is now encouraging users and donors to sign up through its new website www.elliesfriends.org.
MWAH aims to increase community cohesion through personal wellbeing by the delivery of multi-partnership projects, using community arts activities, intergenerational workshops and community wellbeing techniques.
It works pan London with youth services, social services, schools and local community organisations on a range of innovative and tailor made programmes, for people of all ages.
MWAH has offered the Ellie’s Friends participants a choice of workshops including hand massage, choir sessions and sound therapy.
MWAH IN THEIR OWN WORDS:
MWAH (Multicultural Wellbeing and Healing) community interest company (CIC). We see ourselves as an ideal-driven community development business which exists to reduce isolation and increase community cohesion through caring for the self and, in turn, caring for the community.
“We work with a wide range of participants – from babies to elders and anyone in-between – and deliver high quality projects which use art, sound therapy, wellbeing and intergenerational activities to build social networks and increase resilience.
We are local residents of Crystal Palace and deliver our work in and around the community. At the moment we are working in partnership with Paxton Green time bank to deliver a lovely community choir.
We have also delivered a variety of creative families activities at market, in the library and also for the Crystal Palace Overground Festival. Currently we are offering Teacher Treats (soundbath) to local schools within the area.
“A soundbath is a beautiful deep meditation experience that uses ancient instruments from around the world. The unique experience can help people feel more energized,happier and uplifted.
In May (with Bamboo Studios) we ran a soundbath as a fundraiser for the Overground festival and raised £120, it was so successful that we are delivering another one at the festival on Sunday 28th June. (£10)
We (Nicola and Bronagh) began working together in a residential youth project back in 2003 and in 2010 we decided to take the plunge and start our own community business , to find out more please visit www.mwah-uk.org. or www.facebook.com/pages/Mwah_cic .
Due to the fact that we are always out and about we do not have an office so admin is done at home or in a local coffee shop (that’s why our address is unclear.) Sources: Ellie’s Friends / MWAH
£2.49 KNIFE SALE COSTS TOWN STORE THOUSANDS
A central Croydon store has been fined £3,400 after selling a knife to a person under the age of 18.
The store pleaded guilty to selling a knife to a person aged under 18 and was also ordered to pay costs of £1,840 and a victim surcharge of £120.
Croydon magistrates were told that trading standards’ offers of free staff training in relation to age-restricted goods sales had been ignored, and that, with the exception of a till prompt for staff, there were no warnings concerning the sale of age-restricted products visible in the shop.
The court heard that, as part of a test-purchasing exercise by the council’s trading standards team, a 14-year-old boy, with a 15-year-old girl, went into the shop on 30 October last year.
After selecting an eight-inch cook’s knife, priced £2.49, they presented it for payment at one of the store’s cash tills, where a sales person scanned it and several other items, without challenging the pair or enquiring their ages.
The duty manager, when approached by the trading standards officers, confirmed that an automatic till prompt displayed a warning to staff whenever age-restricted products were presented for payment.
The company later indicated that it was the responsibility of the store manager to train staff in relation to age-restricted products, and that no corporate checks are made to establish whether the training has been carried out. The company stated that, in contravention of company policy, the sales person appeared to have received no training on age-restricted products
The company did not instruct its shops on how or where to display knives and did not provide material relating to age-restricted goods to display in the shop to inform staff or customers.
Since the incident the sales person had undertaken, and passed, training on age-restricted products.
Croydon’s cabinet member for communities, safety and justice, Cllr Mark Watson said: “The imposed fine, along with the fact that this is the second such prosecution for this store, heavily underlines the necessity for local traders to ensure that they and their staff have been properly trained in the matter of the sale of age-restricted products.”
NEW LAWS ON NIPS (NICOTINE INHALING PRODUCTS)
Shopkeepers could face fines of thousands of pounds, under new laws to be introduced this autumn, if they sell e-cigarettes to anybody aged under 18.
Croydon’s trading standards team, however, is reminding traders that its free Do you pass? training scheme can ensure that they and their staff are fully aware of the rules for the sale of age-restricted products, and what they can do to protect themselves and their business.
The new age restriction, coming into force on 1 October, will extend to all nicotine inhaling products (nips) and their component parts, such as replacement cartridges or refills containing nicotine.
The new laws also make a criminal offence the act of proxy purchasing – in which an adult buys tobacco or any nips product on behalf of a youngster under 18 years of age. Any adult caught making a proxy purchase will face a fixed penalty notice fine of £90.
As well as being prosecuted and fined, there could be further financial impacts on repeat offenders. They might also face either a restricted sales order or a restricted premises order, preventing them selling nips or tobacco for up to a year.
Croydon’s safety and justice cabinet member Cllr Mark Watson said: “This is an area in which unsuspecting traders – particularly small, independent businesses – could, without the appropriate training, easily fall foul of the law.
“They should bear in mind the fact that our trading standards team carries out regular test-purchasing operations, and anybody caught flouting the law could find themselves in court and thousands of pounds the poorer.
“I’d strongly recommend any small Croydon business to take advantage of the free ‘Do you pass?’ business training we offer. “It focuses on the prevention of illegal underage sales with emphasis on the requirements of the law, diligence and proxy sales.”
Do you pass? is an interactive course encouraging discussion between delegates on the issues they face when selling age-restricted products. The course ends with a short test, and successful candidates are awarded the fair trading award certificate.
The course is offered free of charge and is available only to Croydon-based businesses (SMEs). Booking enquiries can be made by calling 020 8407 1311. Please be aware spaces are limited.
(Source: Croydon council press release.)
STREET CHAMPIONS GET SUPPORT – hundreds contact council in Lambeth’s pilot scheme
A new network of champions is on a mission to improve the borough’s streets, say Lambeth council.
“Lambeth council’s Street Champions scheme aims to support people who want to improve the physical and social environment where they live” said a council spokesperson.
“Street Champions can do a whole range of things to help their community, whether it’s organising street parties, increasing greenery, encouraging others to recycle properly or even just introducing neighbours to foster a greater sense of community.
After a small pilot of the scheme in 140 randomly chosen roads saw nearly 500 people express their interest, Lambeth Street Champions is being rolled out across the whole borough.
It’s now open to everybody, whether you are renting, living in an estate or even a business owner.
Lambeth’s cabinet member for environment and sustainability Cllr Jennifer Brathwaite said: “We know there are some fantastic people out there, constantly looking at ways to help others and improve the environment for the wider community.
“We want to make it easier for those people by giving them the tools and support they need and hope that they will inspire others to do the same.
“The Street Champions scheme will give people the means to improve their own neighbourhood the way they see fit and build a wider network of people who want Lambeth to be a clean, safe and neighbourly place to live.”
Signing up to be a Street Champion couldn’t be easier, say Lambeth. “Residents just need to fill out the online form – and they can receive:
Advice and guidance on setting up community activities such as street parties and play streets;
Access to tools and equipment for cleaning and greening their street;
Opportunities to connect with fellow Street Champions on other streets;
Access to council knowledge and expertise;
The chance to increase their knowledge on subjects such as fundraising or horticulture;
Posters, stickers and letter templates
“Before the Street Champions scheme was rolled out borough-wide, the pilot scheme invited residents in 140 randomly selected roads to take part. “A staggering 470 people got in touch to show their interest.”
For more information and to sign up to be a Street Champion, please visit www.lambeth.gov.uk/become-a-street-champion, call 020 7926 3069 or e-mail [email protected] (Source: Lambeth council press release.)
NEW APPRENTICESHIPS AVAILABLE IN LEWISHAM
New apprenticeship vacancies that will give young people in the borough of Lewisham more opportunities to earn as they learn are now available.
They range from teaching assistant to digital media, and chef to project assistant, with a variety of organisations including Lewisham Council, Rhubarb and Custard, Chartwells and London Urban Arts.
The apprenticeships are a mixture of on and off the job training. On the job, apprentices will gain key transferable skills including working in a team, communication and using new technology and equipment. Off the job, they will spend time working towards a recognised qualification.
The apprenticeships last for up to two years and apprentices will be supported by an experienced manager. Once the young people have completed their apprenticeship, they’ll be in a strong position to move into a permanent job.
To apply candidates need to:
be a Lewisham resident or a looked after child between 16 and 24
have English and Maths GCSE level A-C or equivalent ability
not have completed a higher level qualification
be eligible to work in the UK.
The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 21 June 2015.
Apprenticeship TeamCivic Suite
Catford Road
SE6 4RU
Tel: 020 8314 7621
Email: [email protected] (Source: Lewisham council press release.)