Riccardo and Martyn finishing in around an impressive hour… Amanda in (ahem…) slightly longer!

The RunKingston event took us in a loop from Kingston Town centre to Hampton Court, then 2/3 of the way to Esher, finally returning on the home stretch to Kingston.

Thank you to all who supported us and KCIL.

There is still time to donate!
www.justgiving.com/teamkingston

The Kingston Trio are Riccardo from JMP, Martyn from Kingston Council and Amanda from Soundings. Look out for the green t-shirts… designed by our very own Neil from Tonkin Liu!

Thanks to all who have supported so far, please visit http://www.justgiving.com/teamkingston and donate to KCIL, a worthy cause, helping adults with learning and physical disability to lead independent lives.

Go Team Kingston!!!

This is a place which has a proud and active community and we were fortunate enough to be able to spend a long time working with the people of North Deptford between 2008 and 2010.

It’s a place that has previously been fractured by exclusive development, and guided by the long-standing community, we were able to significantly influence the proposals to ‘open up’ and create clear links with the surroundings area to become a resource for both existing and new communities.

Section 106 agreements will contribute to a Community Development Trust, a vehicle for local aspirations to deliver a number of viable community benefits.

The ‘Wharves Deptford’ is a mixed-use development that will provide new homes, business / trade space and local retail. A waterbody following the line of the disused Grand Union canal runs through the site, the disused Victoria Pub will be reinstated and Ascot Cabs flagship site will be expanded to become a major on-site employer.

The Ancient Market Area is at the heart of the town’s historical centre. Today, the ‘once was’ riverside industry has all but disappeared, leaving a riverside and Ancient Market Area fragmented from its town, not given the prominence and opportunity of an alternative offer that many feel Kingston would benefit from.

The area is one of the Mayor’s Great Spaces and identified as a metropolitan centre in the London Plan. JMP and Tonkin Liu have been appointed to develop proposals for the area.

Before the plans are developed we are understanding how people would like to see the area improve, uncovering local stories and understanding what Kingston means to people. Our findings have informed the initial design proposals for the Ancient Market Area.

From September 17^th to October 1^st we will be displaying the design ideas for the Ancient Market Area and asking for feedback and ideas.

Thursday 7th July 2011, 8.30 to 5.15pm followed by Evening Drinks Reception
Royal Society of Medicine, No.1 Wimpole Street, London W1

The future of planning, design and development is changing, creating challenges and opportunities for everyone involved in shaping the capital. Communities are being empowered to shape and direct the future of their neighbourhoods. How will property and built environment professionals and local authorities work with communities to achieve the best outcomes?

This one-day conference brings together the market, community groups and government to create opportunities for debate and discussion about how communities and professionals can engage collaboratively with neighbourhood planning, to create new Neighbourhood Plans.

***New Speakers announced***

Speakers include;

• Joanna Averley, Interim Chief Executive, Centre for Cities
• Trevor Beatie, Chair, Land and Society Commission
• Chris Brown, Chief Executive, Igloo Regeneration
• Dave Chapman, Head of Social Action, Locality
• Cllr Michael Chater, Chairman, National Association of Local Councils
• John B. Corey Jr., Chair, Bermondsey Neighbourhood Forum
• Ros Dunn, Chief Executive, Thames Gateway London partnership
• Robert Evans, Executive Director, Argent Group PLC
• Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, Leader, LB Hammersmith & Fulham
• James Hulme, Director of Policy and Research, The Prince’s Foundation for The Built Environment
• Indy Johar, Co-founder 00:/
• Rebecca Maguire, Senior Projects Manager, Glass-House,
• Seema Manchanda, Borough Planner, LB Wandsworth
• Steve McAdam, Director, Soundings
• Alastair Moss, Chairman, City of Westminster Planning and Development Committee
• Liz Peace, Chief Executive, British Property Federation
• Michael Pyner, Chair, The Development Trust Association and Shoreditch Trust
• John Rhodes, Director, Quod and Member of the National Planning Policy Framework
• Jonathan Robinson, The Hub Kings Cross
• Juliet Rose, Community Projects Manager, Eden Project,
• Sophia de Sousa, Chief Executive, The Glass-House Community Led Design
• Nick Wates, communityplanning.net
• Gary Yardley, Investment Director, Capital & Counties Properties PLC (Capco)
• Lee Mallett, Editorial Director, Planning in London (Chair)

Areas covered throughout the day will include;

• Putting communities in charge of planning
• The National Planning Policy Framework – the relationship with neighboorhood planning, local development frameworks
• The Land and Society Commission  – a Vision of Localism
• What’s happening on the ground  – The emergence of Local Groups
• Uniting business and communities to drive growth – The Business neighbourhood Frontrunners
• Presentations from the Four Neighbourhood Planning Support Groups
• How it’s going to work in the Neighbourhood
• Enabling communities to help plan their own neighbourhoods
• Providing the tools for Communities to take charge
• The positive role that local and neighbourhood planning can play in bringing about appropriate development
• Localism Question Time – a unique opportunity for the three main groups to hear and debate each others’ hopes and fears for Localism in action

Join us on Thursday July 7th to debate the key issues with developers,architects, planners, local government authorities, politicians and community organisations.

Booking details:

FULL DAY DELEGATE  PLACE PRICE  £199.00 + VAT

To secure your place please CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

Main purpose of job

Responsible for design and production of all communication material related to consultation projects, working as part of the Soundings team as an outreach and consultation assistant on projects in the built environment.

The job can be broken down into 2 main areas:

• Graphic Design
• Public Engagement & Consultation

Keywords describing the role: Innovator, Researcher, Analyst, Visualiser

Graphic Design Key Tasks:

• Identity / look and feel design for consultation projects (includes logo design, design of all communication material)
• Design of communication material (this includes designing consultation tools, research reports, newsletters, posters, leaflets and exhibition boards)
• Information visualisation – analysing and visualising comments and research material collected during consultation process
• Website design ­– layout design for basic websites related to consultation projects

Skills Required:

• Have experience in graphic design and visual communication
• Excellent working knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience in print production
• Understanding of web technologies

Public Engagement & Consultation Key Tasks:

• Conduct project research (includes conducting desk-based research and action-based research through site visits and interviews)
• Facilitate / host consultation events – work as part of the Soundings team on various consultation events related to projects (tasks include ad-hoc street interviews, conducting more focused group / one-to-one interviews and facilitating group discussions at large-scale public events).
• Database findings and analyse information – log research insights and work with the project team to interpret the data gathered and draw out relevant insights to inform the consultation process.
• Write project reports – be able to articulate research findings in a clear and concise way and write summary reports of the process.
• Idea generation – work with the Soundings team to come up with creative ways to engage the general public on projects, collect and display information and draw out stories / information from people.

Core Skills:

• Be passionate about public engagement & consultation
• Be able to work as part of a team
• Have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word
• Proficient use of English language
• Enjoy working with people and being out of the office
• Have an interest in place making and architecture

Added Value:

• Experience in workshop facilitation and outreach work
• Knowledge / experience of the planning process / urban design / masterplanning / architecture
• Website development and construction technical skills
• Graphic design professional experience over 3 years

Key qualities:

• Be Proactive – take initiative to add creativity to consultation projects / events.
• Be energetic and friendly - willing to engage with people
• Deliver projects on time - be able to complete tasks on time and able to react positively to last minute changes.
• Collaborate with others - projects often involve working as part of a larger team that consist of architects, the council/developer and various other practitioners related to a development / regeneration project.
• Be flexible with time - on select occasions be willing to work at consultation events scheduled over weekends or after hours.

Three months probation, permanent

20 days annual holiday (and public holidays)

Application process: CV to Shanel Spence: shanel@soundingsoffice.com

Shortlisted applicants: interview with directors

Starting date: as soon as possible

A recent report from the National Ecosystem Assessment claims that health benefits of living close to a green space are worth up to £300 per person per year. Find out more on their website. The issue of lack of green space, or ‘useful’, ‘welcoming’ open space is a topic that arises in community engagement time and time again.

We just had a straw poll in the office, to find out who loves what green spaces, and what green spaces really don’t appeal. With thanks to a local community member for bringing this news item to our attention.

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Office Straw Poll – favourite and least favourite green spaces

Favourite green spaces, London (and further-a-field) in the office:

Nunhead Cemetery, London Fields, Green Park, Brockwell Park, St James’s Park, Springfield Park, Clissold Park, Hampstead Heath, The Rope Walk (Shropshire), Sunnyside Gardens – Islington, Finsbury Park.

Worst green spaces:

Red Lion Square, Holborn – too many pigeons, Jubilee Gardens – they haven’t done anything with it, London Fields – because it appeals to only one segment of the community, Hoxton Square – the ashtray.

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Love Parks Week – 23-31 July, 2011

Love Parks Week is an annual campaign, organised by parks charity GreenSpace. Founded in 2006, the campaign has grown steadily and is now established as a major event that is celebrated in parks across the country. Each year hundreds of events take place enabling thousands of people to get out and enjoy their parks and help put forward the case for reinvestment.

Did you know?

• 91% of people believe that public parks and open spaces improve their quality of life.
• Over 33 million people in England choose to use their green spaces, with around a tenth of the population visiting daily, and over half of us do so weekly.
• Air quality, air temperature, water and flood management, are all kept within manageable limits because of parks and green spaces.
• The more often a person visits urban open green spaces, the less often he or she will report stress-related illnesses.
• A brisk walk every day in your local park, can reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and diabetes by 50%, fracture of the femur by 30%, colon cancer by 30%, breast cancer by 30% and Alzheimer’s by 25%.
• Local authorities are not legally required to provide, invest in or maintain public parks and green spaces.

* Facts from the Love Parks Week website

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Green Flag Awards – a public vote for your favourite green space

You can vote for your favourite green space by awarding it a Green Flag, in the People’s Choice Award. Communities and Local Government Minister Andrew Stunell MP said:

“Despite the economic downturn, local authorities are still keen to recognise the importance of their local green spaces.  We’re delighted to see that the Green Flag Award programme is continuing to play a vital role in the efficient delivery of well managed green space.”

From their website:

This year, Green Flag Awards has seen a record 1,370 applications from parks, community gardens, cemeteries, allotments – and, for the first time, a shopping centre.

More than 150 new sites have applied for the awards this year including the Liverpool ONE shopping and leisure complex in Liverpool city centre, proving our green spaces are at the heart of where we live, work, shop and play

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A musical interlude about a village green

Link to The Kinks, Village Green Preservation Society

Why not visit 19 Princelet Street – excerpt from Time Out London below.

“The openings of the museum for 2011 take place on May 22 and May 29. Housed in a Grade II* listed building, an unrestored 1719 Huguenot silk merchant’s home which also contains a concealed synagogue dating from 1869, 19 Princelet Street (also known as the Museum of Immigration and Diversity) is London’s ‘museum of conscience’.

‘Leave to Remain’ is an exhibition of work looking at asylum in Britain, by three contemporary refugee artists. The museum is family-friendly and provides an activity trail for children. ‘Suitcases and Sanctuary’, an exhibition made by children, explores the refugee experience in Spitalfields, from French Huguenot, Irish, Jewish, Afro-Caribbean, Somali and Bangladeshi viewpoints. 19 Princelet Street is only open to the public a few times a year, although it’s sometimes possible to arrange group visits one month in advance.”

Time Out London

Find out more about 19 Princelet Street here.

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