Month: August 2015

Conversation Pieces a Beckenham Concert Band & Langley Park Boys Performance – 1.30pm Monday 14th September 2015, St Barnabas Church Beckenham

Conversation Pieces: Words and Music Uniting the Generations by Langley Park Boys School – 1.30 p.m. Monday 14th September 2015, St. Barnabas Church Beckenham.

This is a concert performed by young musicians from Langley Park Boys School playing alongside professional musicians from Everyone Matters, a charity that brings together people of all ages through music.

Tea and cakes will be served after the concert. There is no charge for this concert or for the refreshments.

This event is particularly aimed at older people in the local community but all are welcome.

Venue: St. Barnabas Church, Perth Road, Beckenham, BR3 6PP

Further information or to reserve a place please email: events@stbarnabasbeckenham.org or phone: 020 8650 3393

Please note that there is wheelchair access to the church but the toilet facilities are in the adjacent hall which has no wheelchair access and are reached via two flights of steps. The steps down to the toilets have handrails.

 

Conversation Pieces

The Foxgrove Social Club in Westgate Road is closing

A hidden gem in Westgate Road, The Foxgrove Club was funded and built by local residents in 1907 and has managed by club members ever since, is sadly due to close on 30 September 2015.

We understand that the club has been in an ongoing dispute with Lewisham Council regarding the annual rent and that recent rent increases are unaffordable for the social club.

At this point we are not aware what Lewisham Council intends to do with the building  we will let you know when we find out more.

Survey regarding Mental Health Services in the borough – have your say by Wednesday 26 August 2015

Healthwatch Bromley have asked our Residents’ Association to pass on information about this survey. They are trying to reach as a wide a cross-section of individuals in Bromley borough and are contacting many community groups.

Bromley Mental Health Survey please fill in by 26th August 2015

One in six adults is known to suffer from mental ill-health caused by mild to moderate depression and a range of anxiety disorders. In Bromley, adults can get help for mental health conditions in various ways, of which two are listed here:

a) If you are aged 18 and over, you can self-refer or get your GP to refer you to ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)’ which helps people suffering from depression and a range of anxiety disorders (including panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, excessive worry, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or phobias).

b) If you are struggling to find or stay in work due to your mental health problems and are aged 18+, you can self-refer to Bromley’s Mental Health Employment (MHE) service. They support people in recovery from mental health problems to find or stay in work, by offering personalised flexible services.

Both of these services – IAPT and MHE – are going to be under review as new contracts will be issued in 2016. The organisations that pay for theses service (NHS Bromley CCG and Bromley Council) want to know your views on current services provided by Improving Access to Psychological Therapies and Mental Health Employment. They also want you to help decide future local provision. We, Healthwatch Bromley and Lewisham, has been asked to run this survey with local residents to find out what you think about these services. Healthwatch Bromley gives people a powerful voice locally and nationally, by helping you to get the best out of your local health and social care services. So this covers people who use services now and those who might need to use services, in the future.

Who should fill in the survey? How can you do it?

Your opinion does and will matter. You could be a current IAPT or MHE user. You might have heard about the service informally. You might have a friend or family member who has used it. You might know someone with depression and anxiety who has not wanted to get help. Whatever your viewpoint, please consider filling this survey in, as long as you are aged 18 or over, live or work in Bromley, and want to change things for the better! You have until Wednesday 26th August 2015 to fill it in. We want to know what ‘good’ mental health support looks like for those suffering from depression and a range of anxiety disorders in Bromley, as well as those needing to find work.

Use this website link to fill in the Healthwatch Bromley and Lewisham survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/bromleymentalhealth

Please do pass this email and link to family and friends to complete too. It will take you from 8 to 15 minutes to complete, depending on how much you have to say. The survey provides instructions on which questions to complete, to guide you. Please complete the survey as thoroughly and honestly as possible. You can skip sections that do not apply to you.  If you prefer to attend a focus group, there is one being held at Beckenham Beacon on the 26th August 2015 – you can attend the morning 10-12pm or the afternoon 2-4pm.  Please email for more info. 

What happens next? I have more questions….

All the information you provide is secure and anonymous (If you provide any contact details these will be separated from survey results). All responses will come back directly to HWBL to be collated, analysed and put into a report for NHS Bromley CCG. You can ask for a copy of this at the survey end. Lastly, when you reach the end of the survey, you will find information listed on local and national support for people struggling with depression or anxiety disorders

If you want to call someone to discuss this survey or get someone to ask you the questions by phone, please email comment@healthwatchbromley.co.uk or leave a message on 07511 774613.

If you have questions about broader issues raised by this survey, please call HWBL on 020 8315 1916.

Copers Cope Police Newsletter August 2015

Hello and thank you for reading this months Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) newsletter.

The team details and ward map along with other useful information can be accessed at http://content.met.police.uk/Team/Bromley/CopersCope

Your team includes

  • PS 48py Mark Shrubsole
  • PC 128py Steve Allen, Dedicated ward Officer ( DWO )
  • PCSO 7256py Julie Oldfield, Dedicated ward Officer ( DWO )

Local Information

Information has been brought to our attention regarding the “Metro” newspaper being delivered to residential addresses. The papers have either been left on door steps or have been posted partly through letter boxes. It is not known who has been doing this and this could possibly be used as a marker to let criminals know who is in or who is out.

I therefore ask if you see any papers sticking out of letter boxes or on door steps of yours or neighbouring property to remove or push any mail completely through the letter box.

The Metro has been contacted and they have not organised any deliveries to residential addresses. They are also going to be sending a Metro representative to Beckenham Junction BR Station to see if anyone is removing quantities of newspapers.

On Thursday 23rd July Copers Cope & Shortlands safer neighbourhood team officers were involved in a speed camera operation in several roads in the Beckenham area.

I am pleased to say that the vast majority of drivers drove at the correct speed.

The roads that were picked resulted from speaking with residents whilst out on patrol and when speaking to residents during our public surgeries.

On the same day we had officers in Costa Coffee shop in the High Street where we spoke and gave crime prevention in regards to mobile phone thefts.

If there is any information you would like to share with the Copers Cope safer neighbourhood team and residents of Beckenham in relation to crime then please e-mail us using the address on the bottom of this letter.

Local Events

There has been a couple of events that have taken place at Beckenham Green which have been enjoyed by the local community.

The Harris Academy had a “Word Fest” where there was music, poetry and stalls and we most recently had the “Market on the green” where there were stalls and a fun fair.

There will be more markets taking place on Saturday 19th September and Saturday 5th December.

Crime

Our ward priorities are:

  • Burglary
    Motor vehicle crime Robbery – personal property

Our promises are:

  • ASB related to alcohol Shoplifting
    Traffic

In the month of July there has been a few burglaries and vehicle crimes, however the number of reported offences have been dropping over the last couple of months. Please be vigilant and be aware now it’s the summer holidays, keep a eye on your neighbours property if they are away and push through any post that maybe sticking out of their letter box.

In order to lower crime in the worse effective areas on the borough there has been pro active patrols and operations by Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers. This has seen crime such as burglary and motor vehicle crime fall.

Neighbourhood Watch

Copers Cope ward would like to have a neighbourhood watch co-ordinator(s) on every street. If you know of anyone who wishes to take part please find information on info@bromleynwa.org.uk

If you know anyone who has set up a neighbourhood watch please can you send me their e-mail address so I can send them our monthly letter.

Panel Members

We are looking for local residents to join our ward panel. There are 4 meetings a year and panel members help decide on the wards promises and discuss local issues.

If you would like to have your say on how your local community is policed please contact us for details.

Street Surgery

Our next surgeries are on the following dates:

  • Wednesday 5th August 2015 between 3.00 p.m & 4 p.m at Waitrose Southend Road.
  • Saturday 12th September 2015 between 10.00 a.m & 11.00 at Waitrose Southend Road.
  • Saturday 17th October 2015 between 10.00 a.m & 11.00 a.m at Waitrose Southend Road.

Come and talk to your local Officers and discuss your concerns and for crime prevention information.

Crime Prevention Burglary

Front Door Security: Doors should be solid timber, not hollow, a minimum of 44mm thick, supported by three 100mm ( 4” ) hinges. The frame to be of sound timber, securely bolted or screwed to the walls every 600mm ( 23” ) around the whole frame.

– Fit a good automatic deadlocking latch cylinder lock a third of the way down the door.

– Fit a British Standard 3621 mortise deadlock with boxed staple a third of the way up the door ( avoiding joints in the timber ).

– Strengthen the door frame with metal reinforcement. A “ London Bar “ on the lock side and a “ Birmingham Bar “ on the hinge side.

– Fit a letterbox cowl / basket to prevent fishing for keys or access to lock handles.

Back Doors: Fit a British Standard 3621 mortise sash lock halfway up the door ( avoiding joints in the timber ).

– Fit key operated bolts to top ( max height 1.5m ( 4’ 11” ) and bottom of the door.

– Reinforce any weak door panels with either sheet metal or 9mm plywood.

Double French Doors: Fit key operated bolts to the top and bottom of each door securing it to the frame.

– Fit hinge bolts or interlocking hinges to any outward opening door.

Patio Doors: Fit patio door locks at the top and bottom of the opening section of the patio door.

– Fit an anti-lifting device to prevent the door being lifted and moved.

Window Security:

Sash Windows: Fit 2 key operated sash stops to the upper window. The maximum window opening should be 100mm ( 4” ) to allow ventilation when the house is occupied.

Casement ( Hinged ) Windows: Fit key operated locks on the opening side. If replacing windows fit those that have achieved British Standard 7950 and have laminated glass 6.4mm thick in ground floor and accessible windows.

Gardens: Secure your rear gardens by locking gates and fixing trellis to the top of fences. Trellis should support climbing plants but not climbing intruders.

Sheds: Secure your shed or ensure that tools that may prove useful for breaking in ( e.g. forks and spades ) are secured elsewhere.

Please if you can take simple steps to help prevent these offences take place, lock all windows and doors of your house even if you leave for just a few minutes. If you have an alarm please use it.

When you leave your car please lock it and use your alarm or immobiliser if you have one and take any valuables with you.

Further information is available from http://www.met.police.uk/bromley and follow the link to Crime Prevention.

Mobile Phones

Please consider using the immobilise website to register your mobile phone. It only takes a couple of minutes and it’s completely free. If your phone is lost or stolen you’re much more likely to get it back and possibly help catch a thief as well. http://www.immobilise.com

Cash Point Machines

Please be aware of your surroundings if and when you use a cash point machine. Be vigilant of people near you when entering your PIN and don’t allow yourself to be distracted if some body tries to talk to you whilst you are using the cash point. If uncertain, use another machine.

Pedal Cycles

With summer here many people will be using their bikes more often. Please remember to lock your bikes and consider getting it security etched and registered.

Scams

Copers Cope work closely with Trading Standards if you have been or know someone who may have been a victim of a rogue trader or any mass marketing scam then please report this to the Police.

If you think you have a rogue trader at your front door call Bromley Trading Standards on their rapid response number 07903852090.

 

Thank you for your time reading this letter, if we can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to call or e-mail us and we will get back to you as soon as possible and we will be more than happy to help.

If you need police for an urgent matter where you are in danger or fear always dial 999. If you wish to see a police officer for a non emergency matter, then please dial 101

Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Team Telephone 0208 721 2772
E-Mail Coperscope.snt@met.police.uk