HARCA LIFE Autumn 2016

AUTUMN 2016

Annual report

Summer PhotoS

Poplar authors

useful contacts

Head Office: 167A East India Dock Road, E14 0EA 0800 035 1991 Office open weekdays 9am to 5pm.

email: [email protected] From a mobile it may be cheaper to call 020 7510 0500.

estate parking enquiries 01992 764 520 If your vehicle has been ticketed or if a vehicle is parked in your bay.

Neighbourhood centres

Aberfeldy 020 7515 6794 St Pauls Way Centre 020 7510 5600
Bromley by Bow 020 8709 9700 Linc Centre 020 7538 5748
Brownfield Community Cabin 020 3069 7401 teviot 020 7987 5764
Burcham Street 020 7093 3549 trussler hall 020 7510 9770
hind Grove - please contact teviot 020 7987 5764

Poplar hArCA ASB team ANtI SoCIAL BehAvIour CoNtACtS

Safer Neighbourhood teams (SNts) 0800 035 1991 Out of hours, please call the police on 101
Bow east 9am­-­5pm­(Mon­-­Fri) Always call 999 in an emergency
Bow West
Bromley-by-Bow http://content.met.police.uk/Borough/towerhamlets/contact
east India and Lansbury 020 8721 2807 ­
Limehouse 020 8649 3521
mile end east 020 8721 2041
emergency services 020 8721 2806
020 8721 2852
020 8721 2848
999 In emergencies when a crime is happening, someone suspected of a

crime is nearby, or if someone is injured, being threatened or in danger.

Police 101 When situations do not require immediate response
[email protected] www.met.police.uk
NhS
Crimestoppers 111 When you need medical help, fast but it's not a 999 emergency

General enquiries 0800 555 111 Call anonymously with information about crime
emergency out of hours
Adult social care tower hamlets Council contacts

020 7364 5020 @towerhamletsnow www.towerhamlets.gov.uk
020 7364 7070
020 7364 5005 Information, advice and assessment for people with learning disabilities,

physical disabilities, older people and support for carers

Children’s services 020 7364 5006 Social services and education including child protection
Council tax 020 7364 5002
environmental health 020 7364 5008 Information and advice regarding food safety, health & safety, animal wardens
healthline 020 7364 5016 To find a GP and other health services
Bidding for advertised homes 0845 270 2400 www.thhs.org.uk
housing Benefit 020 7364 5001

housing Benefit fraud hotline 020 7364 7443 24 hour answer phone
Parking 020 7364 5003 Street parking, paying/appealing a fine, reporting abandoned
vehicle, permits and information on mobility services
Pest and noise nuisance 020 7364 5007
Pest control advice and get help with problems, complaints or enquiries
Streetline 020 7364 5004 concerning residential and commercial noise.

uK Power Networks – for electricity power cuts 0300 3163105 Commercial waste service, dumped rubbish, Enviro-Champions, fly-posting, graffiti, litter and
litter bins, pavements, potholes, recycling, rubbish collection, street cleaning and street lighting

0333 3232105 from a mobile

National Grid for Gas emergencies or if you smell gas 0300 111999

@poplarharca

Poplar HARCA Official

CONTENTS

8-9 Editorial 10-11
News & Events
Poplar Baths 2
Annual Report 3-11
Community 12-13
Naturewatch 14-15
Green 16-21
Your Home 22
Young People 23
Get involved 24
26-27
28

resident editorial board

WE’RE CElEbRATInG two new arrivals in this issue. Our Fran is excited by planned ecology projects which
will give her even more nature to ‘watch’.
lansbury West Estate board member Richard Caley
aka ‘Chef Richard’ and Father Christmas (but don’t tell The Editoral gang were out in force at the Chrisp
the kids!) is our new Editorial board member. Check Street Festival. Re-live the fun, or see what you
out first report on Poplar baths on pages 12&13. missed, in the photo spread on pages 8&9.

And we’re adopting a neglected stretch of the We spotted some tinsel in the market, reminding us
limehouse Cut. Working with the local scouts, canoe Christmas will be here all too soon, and Richard will
companies, the Canal & River Trust and the london swap bathers for beard. So add 10 December to your
legacy Development Corporation we will make our diary to celebrate all things Chrispmas.
stretch of waterside a cut above the rest. Fran & Richard

1

EDITORIAL

Welcome to this colourful edition of HARCA life, jam-packed
with great memories from a selection of summer events.
Huge thanks as always to everyone who makes them
possible, from our volunteers and staff to every single
person who comes down and contributes to the brilliant
atmosphere.

I’m very pleased to welcome one of our most active
residents to HARCA life. Richard Caley has had a tough year
so I’m delighted to see him join the Editorial board and look
forward to reading his reports. I will, of course, be reading
them online from the next issue. We’ve decided to go
digital with HARCA life to cut the cost of printing and
postage. The old school among us can still pick up hard
copies of the magazine from the Chrisp Street Reception
and neighbourhood centres.

Check out our other money-saving initiatives and key stats
in the Annual Report snapshot on pages 14 & 15. I’m really
proud that we’re managing to keep our service levels above
target despite some really challenging Government cuts –
and impressed at the innovative ways we’re tackling fraud
and working with partners to create opportunities for
Poplar.

So, enjoy the Autumn, we hope to see you at some of our
regular clubs and events and, of course, for the Christmas
lights switch on and Chrispmas events. Wow – where did
another year go!

best wishes

Steve

Cover Photo: @stevestride_PH
By Rehan Jamil
HARCA­Life­is­published­four­times­a­year.­The next issue is due out in December
Editor 2016. If you would like to contribute something, such as a story, poem, photo,
Bree sims letter or recipe, please get in touch before 1 november 2016. Send submissions
Design and production to [email protected] or phone 020 7510 0535.
syed Pasha
Mahbub Rahman Printed­on­100%­recycled­paper.

2 HaRca life editorial group
Fran Jefcoate, Rouf Ahmed, Richard Caley

HARCA Life is published by Poplar HARCA, 167A East India Dock Road, London E14 0EA
and distributed to 8,600 homes in Poplar.
For large print, audio or braille phone 020 7510 0535
Haddaad Jeclaan lahayd akhbaar ku qoran Soomalli fadlan soo wac 020 7510 0535

NEWS & EVENTS

Up for Adoption

We Are the proud custodians of a beautiful, bouncing … canal. the Limehouse Cut,
which flows through Poplar, is feeling our love and that of a host of proud co-parents
from youth and sports groups to the London Legacy Development Corporation.
‘Friends of’ groups usually adopt 100m of canal. Being pushy parents, we’ve got the
3,000m stretch from Limehouse to three mills for ecology, education and sports projects
in the first ever canal ‘super-adoption’.

Peace of mind - or a HARCA LifeSummer 2012
piece of your mind?
MAGAZINE FOR POPLAR HARCA RESIDENTS
We’re part-way through our annual
resident survey. If you get a call from Olympic Plans The‘GREENissu’e
our independent survey company, SumRmegeenreyraotuiotnhufpudnate
The leadership Factor, please spare
10 minutes to answer questions Last time
about what you like (and what you
don’t) about what we do,how we do
it and what our priorities should be.
We want to keep improving our
services and your views are always
useful and gratefully received.

through your

LOsSTewSufamhowrtateruopa’farsnbnppdvereiaosnowSytyugwu-arw2tfsninoft7ofed-ytiiiyerhoscheoluldneehuoldtCopighsovaaeesbenbaasgam’irv-tnc:eab.wkseatieohrnvaneeart letterbox!

planet! We’re always looking at ways to offer
you the best value for money. While we
rather like the rustle of HARCA life, it costs to print and
post to all 9,000 of our homes; so this is the last issue
you’ll get on your doormat. From now on, HARCA life has
a online home via our website: www.poplarharca.co.uk.
but don’t despair. If, like us, you like the feeling of paper
you will still find copies at our Chrisp Street head office
and our neighbourhood centres.

33

NEWS & EVENTS

We’ve got your number Big News,

…or have we? Small Museum

WHO ARE WE gonna call if there’s a flood or fire in your home; or we THE lAnSbURy MICRO
need to sort out an annual gas safety check, or you’ve won the Museum is up and
colouring competition? running in the tiny unit at
the bottom of the Clock
It’s important we can contact you, so update your phone number, email Tower in Chrisp Street
or address on 0800 035 1991 or [email protected] Market. It’s curated by the
mama of all museums: the
Fashion V&A and staffed by local
consultant volunteers trained by the
national Trust.
FASHIOnInG POPlAR bRInGS a
£3.9m project to Poplar Open 10am – 4pm on
working with london College Fridays and Saturdays, the
of Fashion, UAl and The exhibition changes every
Trampery, with funding from couple of months and the
the Mayor of london. V&A is keen to get its
hands on lansbury
not very attractive, and barely memorabilia, photos or
used garages in Aberfeldy and stories. The super-lovely
Teviot will be transformed into volunteers can also get you
a fashion and makery hub – in to explore the Frederick
creating new jobs, new Gibberd Clock Tower.
workspace and bringing the rag
trade back to our bit of the It’s a
East End.
Fashioning Poplar consultation jungle
events are all-but complete -
though there are still a few days left to have your say out there
online by 16 October at
poplarharca.co.uk/ fashioningpoplar. JInGlEJUnGlE PRESCHOOl is a
Want to know more? [email protected] new nursery in Alton
Street for children aged 2-8.
Kids back at home? Open Monday–Friday 8am–
6pm there’s a breakfast
Are your children over 18, and living at home while studying at club, morning and
University or College? If you claim Housing benefit let the Housing afternoon care sessions and
benefits Team so you don’t get charged for non-dependents. Call them an after-school club.
on 0207 364 5001
Find out if your little ‘un is
eligible for a free place and
get more information on
07882146620 or
07720286524 or email

[email protected]

4

NEWS & EVENTS

ASB Jump on Boris!

Our ASb team has been working HAS TEAM Gb’S VElODROME Superhighway 2 between
hard to help make our area safer, success in Rio inspired you Aldgate and Stratford, Cycle
and here are three ways they have to don your lycra and get Superhighway 3 between
been doing it: pedaling? Trusty red Santander barking and East India Dock
Cycles, still known as boris bikes Road, and the off-road
1 A young resident is trying to to most, are a great way to ‘Greenway’ from beckton to
get off drugs and is now explore. bow.
working part-time thanks to At just £2 a day, and with 120 To get started: download the
our Team and the Tower Hamlets docking stations in Tower Santander Cycles app or take
Substance Misuse Team. When he Hamlets, there are loads of your bank card to any docking
was arrested for smoking drugs, he traffic-free routes to pedal. station. Visit tfl.gov.uk/cycling
was struggling to know what to do There’s upgraded Cycle for more information.
next. but with support, and a lot need a bit more confidence
of determination, he’s turning it before tackling the routes?
around in the best possible way. Check out
www.poplarpeddlers.club
2 bow County Court granted an There’s something for everyone
injunction banning a woman on two wheels – from
from her very elderly relative’s beginners to bMX pros.
home. The Court heard evidence
about exploitation, drug dealing Be fire safe
and noise. We’re grateful for the
help lansbury Safer Did you see the pictures of • Close the door behind you
neighbourhood Police Team gave another tower block in • Warn neighbours if you
us, and we’re providing on-going flames, this time in
support to our tenant. Shepherd’s Bush? can
Fit a smoke alarm, and test it • Do not use lifts
3 A very vulnerable resident, regularly once installed. The • Leave the building and
reported by neighbours for London Fire Brigade provide a
causing them nuisance, free Home Fire Safety visit move a safe distance away
turned out to be a serious hoarder. and will fit a smoke alarm free • Ring 999 when you’re
She was struggling to keep her of charge. Don’t put it off –
tenancy, so we helped clear her call today 0800 028 4428. safely outside
home, bought her a few bits of Wherever you live, have a fire If the fire is in the block it is
furniture to replace items we had safety plan that everyone usually safer to stay inside
to dispose of, and we’re hoping knows about. If the fire is in your home where the
that she will continue to engage your home: structure can protect you
with our support. • Get everyone out BUT leave your home if heat
or smoke are affecting you,
the route is clear, and you are
able to get out safely.

Creche and cowork

Working parent trying to balance running a business with childcare? The PlayPen cowork and creche runs
out of Paper & Cup Café and the St Paul’s Way Centre creche every Thursday 9.30am – 12 noon. Crack on
with some calls, ace some admin and know that your little one is in Ofstead-registered facilities just a few
meters away. Sessions are £15 and that covers you and your child. Free taster sessions are available.
Check out playpencowork.com for more. Paper & Cup 83 St Paul’s Way E3 4AJ

55

NEWS & EVENTS

Autumn Arrivals

hibernation is for bears. Who has time to sleep when there’s so much to do?

NeW: Cabin Cinema Club the new cinema in town – FREE films in The Cabin – at the

bottom of balfron Tower. 3rd november and 1st December are the dates for your diaries and
keep an eye on HARCA Facebook and Twitter feeds for details, or contact Jayne: 020 3069 7402
Jayne.clavering@poplarharca. co.uk

Poplar Film - the Film Club hosts fab events for free at The Galvanisers Union 2 Devas Street

E3 3ll on the last Tuesday every month. Sign up and get the latest details at
www.poplarfilmpresents.com

open mic - live music collective box of Toys’ Open Mic nights offer music with your mocha and

poetry with your Panini at the new Café in Chrisp Street Market. First Wednesday every month
Kafe 1788, 4 Vesey Path. Follow @boxo_toys or Facebook: boxoftoyspoplar.

In tune - if singing’s not your thing, get in-tune with the rest of you. Instructor Esther takes you

through gentle, mindful movements that increase flexibility, improve posture and give you
thinking time about how your body moves. Difficult to describe: easy to get into! The Cabin for
Movement Exploration at 7.30pm every Wednesday.

Gym Dumbbells are for dummies. Real people as well as pavement pounding!
Gems
heroes workout at the Good Gym. If you or a neighbour is struggling with

Volunteers go for a run and stop along a wild and wonderful garden, Good

the way to clear a garden or help with Gym may be able to help. Or if you

physical tasks that our older residents fancy running rings around the manor

struggle with. They also befriend, and doing good stuff on the way,

connecting older and isolated contact the Housing Team on

residents with runners who enjoy 0800 035 1991.

Feeling flush?

HOT FlUSH WHEn the sun isn’t shining? `Hot Spots’ is all about
support and remedies for the menopause. Sessions
include guest speakers experiencing the same symptons!
Turn up for free on the first Friday of every month from 4
november.
12.30-1.30pm at The Cabin, 82 St leonards Rd (in front of balfron Tower)
Want to know more? Speak to Jayne on 020 3069 7402 or
[email protected]
Supported by The Mission Practice and Tower Hamlets Public Health,
there are also regular ‘Hot Spots’ meetings in bethnal Green and
Whitechapel. Contact: [email protected]

6

NEWS & EVENTS

’s new brand

OnlInE AnD On-the-road, Poplar HARCA’s new brand poplarharca.co.uk.
is all about what we will achieve in the next five Talking of which, the website is now easier to
years. Much more than just a new logo, our five navigate, pay bills and find out what’s going on
year strategic plan is about creating opportunity. locally. Don’t keep likes or gripes to
you can read the full strategy on our new website yourself:[email protected]

77

NEWS & EVENTS

ChrISP Street
FeStIvAL

Thousands flocked to the Rio-inspired Chrisp Street Festival
at the beginning of September as we celebrated carnival
vibes and the Olympic and Paralympic games with interactive
sports, carnival-themed dancers and performers, kids
activities, delicious food and live music curated by Box of
Toys. A huge thanks to all the volunteers who helped make
the event possible and to everyone who came to party with
us on the day.

8

NEWS & EVENTS

99

NEWS & EVENTS

Swing East

CHRISP STREET MARKET was rocked back to its
‘50s roots in June for the third annual Swing
East festival. big name bands kept the crowd of
Swing dance aficionados and locals buzzing.
The event is organised by HARCA’s Estate
Services team leader nelson Piperides; with a
little help from his friends!
you can almost hear the brass in these stunning
sepia pics by photographer Helen Rimell. There
is more of her work at helenrimell.co.uk.

10

NEWS & EVENTS

1111

POPLAR BATHS

'New boy' Richard Caley's first Editorial Board assignment was to check out
the newly-opened Poplar Baths, next to All Saints DLR. Here's his report

LIKe A PhoNIeX rISING From
the ASheS … AGAIN

Did you know that there has been £11,500. In today’s terms this A comprehensive public laundry
a Public baths in Poplar since a would equate to just under £4 was located at the rear of the
Victorian Act of Parliament? In million. It was built to provide building, on Arthur Street. It
fact, the latest Grand Opening is public wash facilities for the East contained 48 wooden washing
the third iteration of such a End's poor as a result of the baths tubs, drying equipment and
facility. and Washhouses Act 1846 and ironing rooms. An uncovered
The original Poplar baths opened incorporated slipper, vapour, water tank supplied the baths and
in 1852, at the mere cost of steam and shower baths. was erected above the boiler

12

POPLAR BATHS

‘A Ballad of Poplar Baths’

Evening Standard

October 1934

I’ve had a bath at Haggerston
And one at Tooting too;
I like to sleep in steamy baths, as alligators do.
I’ve splashed about for hours and hours
In bathrooms great and small,
But the Vapour Baths at Poplar
Are the choicest baths of all.

The Wandsworth baths are empty;
At Marylebone they’re dead.
United, from the Bath Club
The Colonel Blimps have fled.
Towards the east, like pilgrims,
They walk and march and crawl
To the vapour baths at Poplar,
The smartest baths of all.

house with a capacity of 24,000 baths sustained significant bomb now in 2016, after years of
gallons. damage and was forced to close planning the new facility has been
In 1933 the iconic Art Deco until 1947. It continued to be used opened on the same site. It's
structure designed by Harley as a swimming facility, attracting on refreshing to see this wonderful
Heckford (now a Grade II listed average 225,700 bathers every year part of Poplar’s heritage, not only
building) replaced the original between 1954 and 1959, before being saved, but brought back to
baths. This design was to include a the facility's eventual closure and life in such a splendid way. This
1,400 capacity theatre, exhibition conversion to an industrial training build cost the equivalent of ten
room and dance hall which many centre in 1988. times more than the original at £36
HARCA residents will still no doubt Most people passing by will have million. In recognition of its
remember. It also housed sporting noticed the statue outside the heritage, many original features
events such as boxing and baths. but do you know who he is? have been salvaged and brought
wrestling. Richard Green was a local back to life. In the entrance foyer,
During World War II the borough’s shipowner and philanthropist, who one slipper bath remains as a
Electricity Office used the facility was instrumental in providing a memorial.
and, later still, it was used by the quality education for some 2,000 Join us in welcoming back this
Transport and General Workers local children. With him you will wonderful facility to our
Union and labour Party. see his beloved dog. neighbourhood!
It was during the War that the

1133

ANNUAL REPORT 2015/2016

Creating Opportunity

in Challenging Times

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ŚŝŐŚƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ͘ ǁŝƚŚLJŽƵ͕ǁŝƚŚƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐ͕ǁŝƚŚůŽĐĂůďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĂŶĚ
^ĂƟƐĨĂĐƟŽŶǁŝƚŚƌĞƉĂŝƌƐŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚLJĞĂƌͲŽŶͲLJĞĂƌ ĞǀĞƌLJŽŶĞǁŚŽůŽǀĞƐƚŚŝƐĂƌĞĂĂƐŵƵĐŚĂƐǁĞĚŽ͕
ĂŶĚŝƐŶŽǁϵϮй͕ǁŝƚŚϵϵйŽĨĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐLJƌĞƉĂŝƌƐ we will rise to the challenge and create more and
ĐĂƌƌŝĞĚŽƵƚǁŝƚŚŝŶϮϰŚŽƵƌƐ͘ ŵŽƌĞŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƟŶŐŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘

^ƚĞǀĞ^ƚƌŝĚĞKWŽƉůĂƌ,Z

Here are just a £140K £3.4m
few examples of
how we have been annual saving created savings generated by
saving money: by our organisational our dedicated counter

restructure fraud resource

£100K £900K £144K

saved by re-tendering worth of people hours of annual rental
our insurance contract generated by our generated by
transforming empty
volunteering network unused spaces

RENTED STOCK 3 Bedroom 1,660 OTHER MANAGED HOMES
OWNED AT 1/04/16 4 Bedroom 351 OWNED AT 1/04/16
5 Bedroom 63
Total Rented 6+ Bedroom 16 Total Homes
Homes 5,970 Bedsit 168 Managed 9,136
1 Bedroom 1,370

2 Bedroom 2,342 Leasehold 2,763
Shared Ownership 83
RENTED STOCK
AVERAGE RENTS Intermediate Rent 27
īŽƌĚĂďůĞZĞŶƚ110
Market Rent 183

Bedsits 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4 Bedroom 5 Bedroom 6+ Bedroom

£86.18 £106.76 £119.85 £134.15 £145.74 £165.87 £164.96

REPAIRS COMPLETED 100% 21 Days
ON TARGET 2015-16
of tenanted homes Average time to re-let
99.3% Emergency with a valid gas empty homes during
(Within 24 hours)
safety certificate at 2015-16
99.8% Urgent 31/03/16
(Within 3 days)

99.1% Routine
(within 28 days)

92% 96% 92%

satisfaction with of repair of correspondence
completed repair appointments kept answered on target

COMMUNITY

SUMMER

FUN

1,500 flocked to the fun-packed Langdon
Park Festival which this year featured a
climbing wall, bouncy castle, tennis courts
and performances by community
groups. Big thanks to Langdon
Park School and a whole host of
other friends and partners for
making the day so special.

16

COMMUNITY

1177

COMMUNITY

POPLAR
prose-rs

EASTENDERS ARE (in)famous storytellers. One of caught-up with Oliver Cato, originally from
the best known is Jennifer Worth’s 1950s Australia’s Gold Coast, to get the low down on
memoir Call the Midwife. his novel RESISTAnCE. Much of the action is set
in limehouse Cut.
Further back in time Poplar’s Arthur Morrison, us: How long have you been a HARCA resident?
born in 1863, wrote A Child of the Jago – a oliver: Four years. I live in bow, a stone’s throw
bestseller in its day. from the limehouse Cut.
Author and historian Peter Ackroyd’s Clerkenwell us: What was the inspiration for the book?
Tales and Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem oliver: The central theme of RESISTAnCE is
transport readers to the East End of the 14th ideological conflict. When groups of people hold
Century and the Victorian era respectively. views that conflict with one another, whether
political, religious, ethnic, nationalist or
limehouse also features in Thomas burke’s something else, the result throughout history
Limehouse Nights (1916) and Sax Rohmer’s Fu has been violence. Our media and
Manchu books feature limehouse’s opium dens entertainment outlets have constantly
– the same dens visited by Charles Dickens; presented us, the general public, with the idea
inspiring scenes in his final novel, The Mystery of that the violence, such as terrorism or war, is
Edwin Drood.

Sticking with the limehouse location, HARCA life

“I am lucky to live in a
borough full of diversity.
That was my inspiration and
hope for RESISTANCE...”

18

COMMUNITY

caused by the unethical and dangerous ideas and you capture that – what was it about the area
beliefs of those on the other side of the conflict. that inspired you to focus on it?
RESISTAnCE shows through its story arc how this
is not at all true. Most readers have told me how Mainly because I live here and know the place so
much they sympathise with the main character, well. The Cut is a fantastic place to walk with the
Jason, and got right behind his efforts to obtain kids, and lots of playgrounds and parks are easily
truth and justice by any means. My aim was to accessible from it, which is important to families.
expose the reader to the fact that if a person The way the older buildings look, the authentic
finds an ideology sympathetic enough, then any industrial feel of them, makes it a really
violence which it causes seems suddenly and fascinating visual place and I hope I did it some
miraculously justified and indeed good. justice. I love living in E3 and wanted to share our
neighbourhood and my other favourite places in
I am lucky to live in a borough full of diversity. london with my readers.
That was my inspiration and hope for us: Are you still writing?
RESISTAnCE, namely to express that it is oliver: Writing is something I am compelled to
ideological fundamentalism that causes war and do every day, seven days a week. Often the next
violence, not the content of any particular novel or story is forming inside me before the
ideology itself, and that the answer for peace and current one is finished. So yes, my next novel is
prosperity is embracing a plurality of views and a well under way. Some readers have asked for a
diversity of culture. I think that Tower Hamlets sequel to RESISTAnCE as they are desperate to
itself is a wonderful endorsement of this idea. find out if there is a next stage to Jason’s
us: The book has a great sense of place. I think desperate fate and it is a possibility down the
most people will recognise limehouse! How do line.

Closer to home, HARCA Vice Chair,
Reverend James, has authored six
books on Christian topics. Another
local Christian writer is Augustina
Samuel. ‘Tina’ serves- up Caribbean
food in Chrisp Street Market every
Thursday, Friday and Saturday. She
has written My Journey: Faith
Uncovered and Laid Bare and is
working on the follow-up: Scars and
Flaws. She has also edited Poetic
Voices: Voices from the Community
– penned by a collective of
previously unpublished writers.

All three books are available from Amazon and other outlets.

1199

CONTENTS

FLU VACCINATION 2016/17

Seasonal InFlUEnZA (FlU) is an unpredictable but recurring pressure that the nHS faces
every winter. Vaccination offers the best protection. And it is not only people in at risk
groups who should have the flu vaccination. If your daily life or your job involves being
in contact with people who are in at risk groups, then having the vaccination will not only
protect you, but also those around you.

REMEMBER THAT THE VACCINE DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE FLU AND DO NOT ASSUME THAT
YOU ARE STILL PROTECTED JUST BECAUSE YOU HAD THE FLU VACCINE LAST YEAR!

Benefits of the flu vaccination: the flu jab is Free for all at risk patients:

• Reduces the risk of getting the flu • Over 65
• Protects against other serious health conditions • All 2, 3 & 4 year olds (nasal spray)
• Reduces the risk of flu-related deaths among the • Pregnant women
• Main carers for elderly or disabled people
elderly • People with weakened immune systems
• Protects against more than one strain of flu virus • People who live in a residential or nursing home
• Reduces the possibility of pregnancy • People with long term health conditions.

complications.

FLu CLINICS AvAILABLe For PAtIeNtS reGIStereD At the FoLLoWING PrACtICeS IN toWer hAmLetS

ChrISP Street heALth CeNtre You do not need an appointment to attend our walk-in flu clinics on:
100 Chrisp Street, E14 6PG • Saturday 1 October 2016 (9am - 12 noon)
Tel: 020 7515 4860 • Saturday 29 October 2016 (9am - 12 noon)
www.chrispstreet.org We also have plenty of pre-bookable appointments available for our flu
clinics in October 2016. Call now or book online.
LImehouSe PrACtICe Follow us on twitter: @ChrispStreet.
11 Gill Street, E14 8HQ
Tel: 020 7515 2211 You do not need an appointment to attend our walk-in flu clinic on
www.limehousepractice.co.uk Saturday 1 october 2016 (Am)
We also have plenty of pre-bookable appointments available for our
ABerFeLDY PrACtICe afternoon flu clinics.
2a Ettrick Street, E14 0PU Call now or book online.
Tel: 020 7515 5622
www.aberfeldypractice.nhs.uk Aberfeldy Practice is running a drop-in flu vaccination service until
February 2017.
GouGh WALK SurGerY Adults and children, who are eligible for the flu vaccination, can drop in
21 newby Place, E14 0Ey without booking an appointment.
Tel: 020 7515 4701 our drop-in service runs monday – Friday, 8:30am - 5:45pm.
www.goughwalksurgery.nhs.uk
You do not need an appointment to attend our
ALL SAINtS PrACtICe walk-in flu clinics in october 2016:
21 newby Place, E14 0FZ • Tuesday 4 & Tuesday 11 October – 12 noon-2:30pm & 4:30-6:30pm
Tel: 020 7093 3895 • Wednesday 5 & Wednesday 12 October – 10am-12:30pm & 2:30-4pm
www.allsaintspractice.org.uk • Monday 10 & Monday 17 October – 11am-2:30pm & 3:30-7pm
• Thursday 13 & Thursday 20 October – 11am-2:30pm & 3:30-7pm.

All Saints Practice offers plenty of pre-bookable flu appointments and
organises walk-in flu clinics (no appointment needed) for the duration of the
whole 2016-17 Flu Season.
Call now or go online for more information.

20

COMMUNITY

FITFACTORY now I am 16 stone, size large shirt,
34in waist, I am so happy, feel fit,
WE’VE bEEn InVOlVED with Factory Before After feel healthy, confident, smiling all
East for a while now – helping the time on top of the world, feel
them raise funds and introducing felt like my life was over, almost lost so positive, the best I’ve ever felt
them to our network - including my career due to drinking and felt and back with my wife for the last
Spotlight and our Employment and like I was never going to get back to couple of months and our
Training team. a good place in my life. relationship is at it’s all time best. I
still got a way to go I believe but
Factory East supports young people Jack Ramadan, who I have known never felt better in all my life.
and unemployed adults to get into for years, told me about Factory
training and employment; they also East and my journey began.... Thanks especially to Factory East
provide a variety of sporting Charity, Jack Ramadan who I feel
activities including boxing, saved my life also not forgetting the
athletics, gymnastics and a lot Factory Team Rachael Jones,
more. Chenzina “Twinny” buttegieg, nicky
Jarvis, Vitaliy Makarov and
Freddie Rogers told us how Factory everyone at the gym who have kept
East helped him. me motivated, positive, happy and
pushing me all the time and are all
“I was 24.5 stone, wore a XXXl shirt fantastic to work with. What a
size, had a 44in waist. I hated fantastic place and team we have
myself, was depressed, down and up there. I am now a Trustee to the
out, couldn’t look myself in the Charity and one of the children’s
mirror, couldn’t be seen with my support boxing trainers on the
clothes off and extremely sad for children’s classes on Tuesday and
ages, had no confidence, no self Thursdays.”
esteem, split up from my wife and
Freddie did it with a bit of support,
go on, just take a look at
FactoryEastCharity.co.uk

SAY IT... SAY IT... SAY IT!

CREATES INFORMS, Free monthly e-newsletter
THE FUTURE LISTENS & l Competitions
ASKS l news & events

SAY IT... l looking for volunteer writers
& photographers
TELLS STORIES,
PLAYS GAMES Subscribe:
& OFFERS www.sayitpoplar.co.uk
PRIZES

2211

NATUREWATCH

By Fran Jefcoate AS THE nIGHTS get longer, daylight hours are a flurry of activity for our native
22 birds and animals. Everything is busy fattening up, storing food and
preparing burrows and bolt holes in preparation for the winter ahead.

nuts, fruit and seeds are abundant during these autumn months and leaves are
gradually changing from green to a variety of wonderful colours and, of course,
the thinning of foliage makes bird spotting much easier.

Unfortunately for many people, autumn is also spider season. They too are
looking for nooks and crannies to call home during the cooler weather and
many make their way into our homes. Personally, I’m fascinated by our eight-
legged interlopers and leave them to their own devices unless I have to rescue
on from my cats. I’ll deal with their webs later!

Warm autumn afternoons are idea for a gentle stroll through the Cemetary Park
or Mile End Park, even though our summer visitors such as swifts and martins
are making their way to Africa with this years young. There is still so much
native wildlife to spot. If you were to take a walk at dusk, there’s a very good
chance of seeing pipistrelle bats with the young before
they go in to hibernation for the winter.

Autumn is also the season for bonfires and fireworks, when
we celebrate Diwali and Guy Fawkes
night. There are
many organised
events to attend,
but if you are
holding your
own celebration,
please be animal
aware. Hedgehogs are
becoming very rare in town but
there are still a few to be found in our
area. If you are planning a bonfire, build it
on the day. A pile of wood and twigs is an inviting
refuge for many small mammals. Please keep pets
indoors during the festivities; they hate fireworks!

Enjoy your autumn – it’s a beautiful season.

GREEN

Power surge

WE’RE BUSY INSTALLING 2,500 solar panels which will generate 638,833 kWh
each year on 21 of our largest roofs. That’s enough energy to:

Watch a plasma tv Run a power shower Use a laptop for

218for years for 2662 days 1750 years.

Over the next 20 years, the panels will also generate about £500,000 of much-
needed income to be reinvested into services and building new homes.

lOCAl COMMUnITy GARDEnERS have been busy looking healthy competition
after their veggies and herbs all summer – with a
helping hand from WEn (Women’s Environmental Kodu-growers are eagerly awaiting
network) and leaders in Community. 70 volunteers judgement day in the annual
from Morgan Stanley, the national Citizens’ Service Poplar Kodu Competition.
and The breakfast Club worked on gardens at Oban Want to take part? Contact
House, limborough Green, Flowerpot (Teviot Green) [email protected]
and lincoln Garden. As well as getting stuck-in, they
also helped with funding for irrigation, extra beds, 2233
creating a willow shed and extra signage.

YOUR HOME

Leasehold Service Charges

Service charge actual get an invoice for the leasehold property you must
adjustments are hitting home difference. If the amount is tell us. There is a form
owners’ doormats about now. less than we estimates, you’ll included in the pack. If you
In April 2015, we estimated see a credit on your account. are a tenant subletting – that’s
costs for April 2015 – March The pack sent with the actual illegal and our Counter Fraud
2016. now we know the information includes Manager will be on to you!
actual costs of services bills explanations of how charges Call 0800 035 1991 or email
have been adjusted. If the are worked out, and how [email protected] if you
amount we spent was higher much each service costs. have questions about service
than we estimated, you will If you’re subletting your charges.

£66,000 cost of Independent advice about your lease and service
sub-letting charges is available at www.lease-advice.org/

Ex bromley-by-bow said ‘Illegally sub- Challenge our charges?
tenant Kamal Ali is letting a social
counting the cost of tenancy will mean In a recent First Tier Tribunal case, a leaseholder
illegally sub-letting you not only lose the challenged 15 years' worth of service charges despite
what was his home in property, but you also Poplar HARCA trying to resolve concerns by
Munden House, and have to pay back the demonstrating that the charges were reasonable. The
adding insult to injury money you have Tribunal found for Poplar HARCA, and awarded costs
by trying to claim the made. Mr Ali against the leaseholder which will run to many
£102,000 Right to buy thought he had found thousands of pounds.
discount. a risk-free way to
make money. He was leaseholders have a right to ask for information about
When Counter-Fraud very wrong.’ service charges, and challenge when they feel that we
Manager Avril have got something wrong. However, for us to try to help
Drummond got a tip bow County Court we need to know specifics. So please speak with one of
she made it her awarded an Unlawful our team as soon as you are worried about the
business to get the Profit Order for reasonableness of any of our bills.
case to Court. Avril £58,885.58, plus rent
arrears and costs Stop before you swap!
leaving Mr Ali with a
bill for £66,601.38. One tenant was asked for a large amount of cash by the
And Poplar HARCA person she was arranging a mutual exchange with. This
means to collect is illegal – and won’t guarantee you the swap you want.
every penny. If someone tries to cheat you, let Homeswapper know
and save yourself or someone else from coming a
Help us make sure our homes go to those Homeswapper cropper!
who most need them. In the past year,
HARCA has recovered 17 illegally sub-let Money in the bank!
properties now let to households who were
waiting on the housing list. If you suspect If you pay your rent by
sub-letting tell us on 0800 035 1991 or email direct debit for 12 months,
[email protected]. You and your account is in good
can report anonymously, or claim £500 if the order, we’ll give you £30
property is recovered. cash back.

Have you checked out the free and impartial
money advice service, set up by government?
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en

24



AUTUMN
PROGRAMME

12 SEP–21 OCT 2016

TABLE TENNIS / FOOTBALL / BOXING / GIRLS BOXING /
ZUMBA / BMX OPEN SESSIONS / #OWNINGIT GIRLS BMX

GET
ACTIVE

SPOTLIGHT RADIO / ART CLUB / BHANGRA BOYS / FILM ACADEMY /
SPOTLIGHT SOUNDS / SPOTLIGHT SESSIONS / FREESTYLE DANCE /
YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE BOOTH / YOUTH THEATRE / HIP HOP DANCE

GET
CREATIVE

Find out more at
wearespotlight.com

GRIME CULTURE / SPOTLIGHT ON YOU /
GIRLS CLUB / THE LOUNGE 16–19 / DINNER TIME

GET
INSPIRED
Spotlight is a multi–million pound creative arts youth
space designed to inspire. Shaped by young people open
for young people, and it’s all free! to
inspire:
Become a member and sign up online at: wearespotlight.com

Spotlight 020 30 111 333
30 Hay Currie Street [email protected]
E14 6GN
(next to Langdon Park DLR)

GET INVOLVED

here is another chance for under 7s to have fun and colour in this picture. Please send to HARCA
life colouring competition, 167a East India Dock Road, E14 0EA by 1st November 2016. The prize
is a £20 voucher for the Early learning Centre. Please let us know if you want your entry returned.
the winner of the Summer competition was Burhanudin Salem. Well done!

Name: Age: Phone (parent/carer)
Address:

28

Find the words in our grid below to win £25 worth of love2Shop high street vouchers which can
be spent at 85 leading retailers.
Send this page to the address below with your circled answers no later than 1st November 2016.
hArCA Life word search competition; C/O Communications Team, 167a East India Dock Road, london E14 0EA

Find and circle the following hidden words in the grid above

AUTUMn APPlE POTATO
lEAVES COnKER RAInCOAT
SQUIRREl SyCAMORE bOnFIRE
PUMPKIn HARVEST
SPIDER

Name: Phone:
Address: Postcode:

Christmas lights switch on Friday 25th November and
CHRISPMAS in Chrisp Street Saturday 10th December.