Showing posts with label local news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local news. Show all posts

Tuesday, 17 March 2026

Creative Opps presents Co:Lab with Arts Against Knives

A Collective Exhibition on Inclusion, Creativity & Community Power

Date: 20.03.2025

Time: 6:30–9:00 PM

Location: Arts Against Knives, 162 High Rd, London N2 9AS


Creative Opps is proud to present Co:Lab, a new exhibition created in partnership with Arts Against Knives and developed by young creatives from the Creative Opps Membership Programme. Bringing together nine emerging artists from across the UK, Co:Lab explores what inclusion means in today’s creative landscape — and how creativity can challenge the barriers shaping access to the arts.

Co:Lab is both an artistic and activist project. Through visual art, film, sound, writing, installation, participatory works, and interactive digital experiences, these early-career artists — many showing work publicly for the first time — offer deeply personal and politically engaged reflections on belonging, identity, community, and creative empowerment.

About Co:Lab

Co:Lab emerged from the Creative Opps Membership Programme, of which they are a part of, where young people from underrepresented and marginalised backgrounds explored their creative practices while building community, confidence and leadership. The exhibition is a culmination of this shared work: a space where disabled, neurodivergent, racialised, working-class and otherwise excluded voices are centred, nurtured and made visible.

In Partnership with Arts Against Knives

Co:Lab is delivered in collaboration with Arts Against Knives (AAK), who are providing exhibition space and supporting the involvement of young people from their community programmes. AAK’s participants will gain hands-on experience across curation, installation, production and marketing, ensuring that the exhibition creates opportunities beyond the exhibiting artists themselves.

Exhibited Work

Co:Lab will feature nine artists working across disciplines, including:

● Interactive digital installations exploring hybrid identity

● Moving-image pieces rooted in lived experience and archive transformation

● Sound and composition projects with collaborative and accessible elements

● Sculpture, mixed media and visual art examining belonging and cultural heritage

● A collective zine featuring submissions from Creative Opps and AAK communities

→ Support the Exhibition

This exhibition is made possible in part through funding from FundAction, whose support enables Co:Lab to be delivered with care, accessibility and integrity. Additional contributions will help us further resource:

● Production and material costs

● Travel and accessibility provision

● Youth training, skills development and community involvement

● Exhibition documentation

● Future Exhibitions

Your support ensures that young people can create, exhibit and lead on their own terms.

→ Attend Co:Lab

Sign up to be notified when tickets go live.

Register interest: Click here docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGEMsgGp8gSGO_k2x2FpnrHo5U7LVK3gTiNIvpvtsElTILow/viewform

→ Partner With Us

We welcome collaborations with organisations committed to youth voice, access and social impact.

About Creative Opps

Creative Opps CIO was established in 2020 to give young people who have faced socio-economic disadvantage access to the tools, networks and experience needed to independently achieve their ambitions. We deliver user-led programmes from mentoring to work placements and leadership opportunities.

Values: Inclusivity, Diversity, Youth Leadership, Reflection, Innovation, Social Impact

Find Out More creativeopps.org/event/colab-a-collective-exhibition-on-inclusion/

About Arts Against Knives

Arts Against Knives creates safe, creative spaces that support young people most at risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. Through tailored creative training and holistic support, AAK empowers young people to design hopeful futures and influence real systems change.

Art Against Knives was the Barneteye Charity of the year in 2015 and we still support their work!

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Wednesday, 7 May 2025

Peter Beal Photographer RIP - An absolute local Legend, who's work you've seen, but who you may not know

 I was genuinely upset today to see this post on X. It is a few days old, but I felt really sad, it marks the passing of an era.

I've known Peter for donkeys years. Not only that, but over the years he took many pictures of me and my band, The False Dots, as well as all manner of events which I have been involved in and that the Barnet Times covered.

Below are some of my favourite pictures of the band, taken by Peter. 

1980 - Our first outing in the press!

November 1983 - Our classic line up

2004 - Celebrating 25 years of the False Dots

There are plenty of others in my collection, but these all tell a special story for me. Peter covered all manner of events for the Barnet and Hendon Times. When I first met him, he had the look of a dapper mod, fresh out of a gig at Ronnie Scotts. We were just snotty teenagers, in a punk rock band. You might think that a local photographer, turning up at Harwood Hall in Mill Hill on a freezing night in December, to watch an unknown bands first gig would be a chore. None of it! Peter said "For all anyone knows, you lot might be the next Rolling Stones, and I'm taking your first press picture". Over the years, I got to know him far better. He was always interested in the band. When he turned up to take the picture for our 2004 gig (above), I said "I bet you don't remember our first picture". He said "Was that at Harwood Hall, you were all far more serious then!". We'd often chat about various local issues. Peter was the soul of discretion, but a wry smile would usually tell me all I needed to know. Photographers are like furniture and often people are indiscrete in their company. 

As I got into politics and blogging, Peter took all manner of pictures of events for the Times. Sadly, I didn't keep copies of them, as I did for the band, but I'd scour the paper for them. They always had excellent composition and he had a brilliant eye for detail. The internet is awash with pictures taken by Peter, sadly, most people posting his pictures, don't have the courtesy to credit the Times newspaper and so most are unaware that the great pictures are his work. The Barnet Times printed a wonderful obituary to Pete. Many of the Hendon Times pictures are on the wonderful Mempics site. Sadly these don't have a name on the pictures, but I am sure many are the work of Peter. They are well worth a look.

So next time you see a post on Facebook, with an uncredited picture saying "I've been doing internet research and I found this amazing picture of Mill Hill from 1983" just think for a second, it may well have been Peter who took it. He would have had to jump in his motor, go to the site, take 20-30 snaps, go back to his darkroom and develop them and then pick the best one. It took a lot of talent and a lot of time. It's just a shame that he will get no credit at all for his work from these 'Internet researchers'.

Here's a few pics from the Hendon Times website that I rather like. RIP Peter, legend and top bloke.

Borehamwood in the snow 2014

Olympic flame Harrow 2012

The Moon over Barnet 2015

All pictures courtesy of the Barnet Times

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Friday, 28 June 2024

Friday Fun, Local music roundup and local news 28th June 2024

 As ever we start with some fun. This made me smile. I'll explain why below. 



I have a firm belief that we are all getting far to angry and het up about everything. I was nearly run over on the pavement yesterday by an impatient motorist, who mounted the pavement to try and get around a car doing a three point turn in the road. Not only that, but the silly man beeped me and my dog for having the audacity to walk on the pavement. I was quite shocked and angry, but when I reflected on it, I realised just how infectious a virus anger is. There I was, not a care in the world and in an instant I was transformed into a raging lunatic, swearing at a car, driven by someone I don't know, who I will never see again, whilst they gave me the finger. And then they were gone, just leaving me raging and boiling. And then my Dog just stopped and looked at me. She wouldn't move. At first I thought she was shaken by the car, but I realised she could tell that I was stressed and angry. So I gave her a stroke and said "Don't worry, it;s alright". I realised that getting cross at such stupidity is just reducing myself to the level of an idiot who drives on the pavement and beeps at pedestrians to get out of the way. If I was dishonest, I could claim that I was cross because it upset the dog and put us in harms way, but that wouldn't be true. My dog's reaction was far more rational. Let the idiot get on with it and don't get too riled. In the dogs mind, the twat startled them, she ruffed and the threat departed rather quickly. That was the end of it. No brooding, wishing a better response had been forthcoming, wishing they'd dragged the idiot from their motor and given him a good hiding. In the dogs mind, it was done. In some ways, the tweet above is a lesson for us. If we get riled, don't react. Just replace the anger with something that is nice. My Dad, who ran a crash repair business had a great way of dealing with idiot drivers. He'd smile and say "All my best customers drive like that". Such idiots fed me for the first eighteen years of my life so maybe I should be grateful that the motor trade is still being kept in work. 

And on to the local gigs. The False Dots are delighted to be playing at The East Barnet Festival this week. We'll be onstage at 5pm tomorrow.



Here is the full music programme. There really is something for everyone and the fun starts at 6pm this evening.  Full details CLICK HERE FOR THE FESTIVAL WEBSITE - There's also a funfair, food and drink stalls and a classic car show. What is not to love!






If you fancy some post festival fun, here's a few to check out!



Harripaul gig at Butchers Arms
Harripaul (Pop / Rock / Jazz / Blues) at Butchers Arms, Barnet
info icon9pm

.



Scratch gig at The Three Wishes
Scratch (Rock Covers, 4 piece) at The Three Wishes, Edgware
info icon9pm - midnight


Road Trip gig at Ye Olde Monken Holt
Road Trip (Rock & Roll) at Ye Olde Monken Holt, High Barnet 
info icon7pm - 9pm

AND Finally, 

I don't normally do this on a Friday as Friday is a fun day, but there are a few items of local news to report.

Firstly an event of note. After two years, Mrs Angry, one of the fabulous five Barnet bloggers, and the second of our wonderful female bloggers to start a blog after the much missed Citizen Barnet, has awoken from her slumbers and given us a rather witty account of the election hustings at St John's church in Barnet. It is well worth a read - wwwbrokenbarnet.blogspot.com/2024/06/learning-how-not-to-drown-or-another.html sadly nothing from the other Barnet Bloggers recently. A real shame because the election is important and it looks like our MP's will switch from Blue to Red, a first in my lifetime.

On Wednesday night, I took my wife our for dinner for her birthday at the rather wonderful Wet Fish Cafe in West Hampstead. We were watching the rather marvellous Acantha Lang, a soul singer from Missisipi. She is really good. If you get the chance, go and see her. She's a regular at Mill Hill Music Complex Studios. It's great to put something back and support her.

What was quite amusing was to bump into one of our very top Tory Councillors having dinner there. We had a pleasant chat, he's one of the group that I get on pretty well with and he clearly has good taste in food and music. As he was munching dinner whilst his party leader was doing a debate on telly, it was clear that he was none too interested in the whole thing (proof in my mind that he's a very sensible soul). We had a quick chat and when the subject of the election came up, it was clear that he was not exactly exited by the whole thing. In May, the Tories elected a new leader and co leader to run the group. I asked how that was working out. He pointed out that two days after this tweet, Rishi Sunak called a general election and the group was thrown into chaos. As he noted "Life does bowl curveballs"


I had a look at the Twitter feeds of the new leadership teams twitter feeds, neither seem too bothered about posting. Odd really, or maybe not. I think we're all sick of it, it seems to have been going on for ages!

And finally, do you want to own a little bit of music history and help a very good cause.

Have a great weekend! Lets finish with an invocation to England!



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Sunday, 17 November 2019

The Tweets of the week in the London Borough of Barnet - 17/11/2019

Whilst the local Twitter feeds are largely full of people trying to explain why their particular brand of politics is marvellous and everyone else are really axe murderers in disguise (if you know what I mean), there have actually been some rather interesting tweets in amongst all of the chaff. I'm really not quite sure political activists think pictures of groups of people holding leaflets would persuade anyone to do anything, except unfollow them. I have a radical suggestion. Why not actually spell out some positive benefits of your proposals and how they affect real people. Rant over, and on with our selection, which is free of such nonsense.


1. Lets start with an excellent series of Tweets from one of our favourite local Tweeters. A holiday in Brent Cross in the 1930's? If you had a Tardis, would that appeal?

2. Who knew that Edgware was a hotbed of Fascism in the 1930's????

3. Good to see locals bigging up shops that give good service

4. Seems like there was some interesting skills being taught in Cricklewood yesterday

5. This is perhaps my favourite picture on twitter this week. When I think Finchley, this isn't always the image I imaging

6. The BBC were in Mill Hill for the unveiling of a new telescope this week!

7. Fair play to Ilford FC for putting out this video of the mauling they received from our local team Hadley FC. Best wishes for their centre forward whobroke his fibia. Hadley is a great place to experience non league football

8. Fancy some high quality Jazz in Mill Hill this week?

9. If these marvellous young people can support the local litter pickers, so can you! Join your local group

10. The next generation of Rock and Rollers are making a name for themselves and it all started in Mill Hill for a fiver!



That's all folks!
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Please join us on Friday 13th December at 8pm at The Midland Hotel, Hendon, for the Barnet Eye Community awards and annual Xmas party. We are also looking for nominations for our community awards, click here for details. Free admission


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Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Edgware local News - Larches Community Market - launch details


Larches Community Market


Every Friday-11am to 3pm.


Opening date : Friday 1st March 2013

Larches House, No 1 Rectory Lane, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7LF
www.larchescommunity.org.uk

“Larches Community for people with learning disabilities and autism are passionate about building Inclusive Communities.  We are continually looking for people with ideas to create and develop exciting opportunities that will encourage everyone to learn skills, make new friends and have fun together!   We are especially keen to help develop all this and more, in Our London Borough of Barnet.”
Linda Edwards 

Everyone Welcome!


If you would like to be a stallholder, please email:
Kathryn.michael@larchestrust.org.uk

Larches Community Market is a locally organised and managed market aiming to include quality, ethically produced food and original crafts to our community. Stallholders are chosen for their proximity to the market, their sustainable food production methods, and interest in quality produce and products.

We will be steered by the wishes of the local community, and encourage local people, producers and community groups to participate.  Larches Community is particularly keen to encourage craft makers and other unusual items.  We will be selling our own Social Enterprise crafts made by people with learning disabilities and autism.

Stalls will include:
  • Smoothies - made from a bicycle driven smoothie maker.
  • Woods bakery - breads and scones and pastry
  • Local honey and beeswax products
  • Ballentye farm bio dynamic soft fruits, vegetables and eggs
  • Blackwater - a coffee cart to die for!
  • Cheese and cakes
  • Craft Stalls
  • Vintage clothes and handbags
  • Cookery Demonstration
Please let us know what other stalls would you like to see?

 Our Aims
  • We want to give budding entrepreneurs a chance to try out their retail ideas and to help bring communities more opportunities.
·         We are keen to encourage local people to come together with mutually beneficial aims.
·         We want to encourage the West side of Barnet Borough to be more of a hub of the community.
·         We want to support community cohesion and provide a living model of an alternative, more sustainable way to feed ourselves.

Additional Support

We would like to offer to support your craft and to provide a chance for the people you support to see how a market place works and maybe to get involved.

Do you or someone you know have a craft product that you are looking to promote and develop? We would like to support you in your exciting venture.

We have a business entrepreneur who has offered his business support to local budding entrepreneurs.  Book yourself a stall & see where your business goes!

Our Future
We believe there are endless possibilities depending on what people can do, and that most people can do more than they think they can!

We hope Larches Community Market will help to inspire people to think ‘outside the box’, to learn more about where our food comes from, gain experience of how to develop business ideas, and enjoy a sense of community and belonging. 

With support of local people, we hope that the market will thrive and grow. Many traders have expressed an interest in having a stall and we are planning to encourage more local traders to get involved. If you are one of these people, please do get in touch. 
Kathryn.michael@larchescommunity.org.uk

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 The Barnet Eye is always pleased to support local groups and events. Send us the details and we'll share it with the tens of thousands of people who look at our blog every month. 
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