Wednesday 9th June 2021 - A Zumba problem solved

Posted 2:35pm

We love our outdoor Zumba sessions on Sundays on Highbury Fields.  They really bring people together, we have a lot of laughs as we sweat, and we even have a picnic afterwards that is very social.  Everyone who walks passed is smiling, some are dancing, and some even join in.

Apart from one couple who live on Highbury Park road, and they have not liked us from the beginning.  Well, last week they made an official complaint to the council, and we received an email from the parks department saying that if we are playing amplified music we need to make an official event application and pay a fee.

I wrote back explaining who we are and what we do,  I also said we knew about the couple who had complained and, in fact, every week I do a sound check, which I video, from outside their property and they cannot hear the music.

Anyway, the parks people came down on Sunday to see us.  The bloke was fantastic.  He said the sound levels were fine, we had a terrific group, he loved what we were doing, and he would report back that he could see no issue with our continuing.  I got an email yesterday saying that we were fine.  No events applications, and no fees.

Absolutely delighted.  I know the good it is doing our users, and within the local community.  Fun things like this need to be encouraged, not cancelled.

Yay!!!

Wednesday 2nd June 2021: Outdoor exercise sessions going well

Posted 12:35pm

 With the good weather upon us, I am delighted at the people coming along to our outdoor exercise sessions, and our walks.

The picture above was from a circuit training we did in Highbury Fields last Saturday, with 10 separate pieces of equipment.  Was a huge amount of fun.

Outdoor exercise is really good.  It has been shown to help people work harder, push themselves further, and also help with their mental health at the same time as they are working on their physical health.

Working in a group is also fantastic.  We are always supportive.

Wednesday 2nd June 2021: Lottery Funding Application:

Posted 12:30pm

We have just completed an application for the National Lottery Awards For All Fund, asking for money to pay for six Ajani courses in four London Boroughs.

We are still waiting to hear from the DWP following our pitch in March (I have followed up a couple of times and will again after this), so what we want to do are four DWP courses, one each in Islington, Camden, Haringey, and Hackney, to demonstrate our outcomes and show we can help improve esteem, confidence, and energy levels in people who are unemployed.

The other two courses we can do with a couple of mental health organisations or local community projects, which would be fun.

We ate hopeful of success as we have people wanting to work with us, as well as the incredible feedback we have received.  But the whole purpose must be opening dialogue with the DWP about our aims and courses.  Fingers crossed.