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Think Global, Act N16

By Jenny Wight

Many people want to support local charities and voluntary groups but don't know how to find them. Local groups need this support but don't have the time or resources to carry out advertising or employ press officers. N16 Magazine is stepping up to bridge this gap to act as a link between local people and small groups active in N16.

ACT N16
Six years ago Katie Matthews's son, James, died of polycystic kidney disease when he was three days old. Katie and her partner were put in touch with a SANDS support group. SANDS is the stillbirth and neonatal death charity. 'We were in a dreadful state, even though we did have lots of support from friends and family. At first we thought, what could be worse than sitting in a group with a load of other grieving parents and boxes of Kleenex. But there is nothing like talking to be people who have been through similar things.' The only downside was that they had to travel to Lewisham.

Katie kept coming back to the idea of setting up a group in Hackney and after she met up with Joy Beishon and Emma Lundie, they thought they would go for it. Emma says, 'When my son Edwin was stillborn 8 months ago I felt very alone and tried to find a local support group. The closest one was in West London but I felt too emotionally fragile to travel that distance. A few months later when I heard that Katie and Joy were setting up a local group, I felt compelled to get involved. This is vital for bereaved parents in our area.'

SANDS advised them not to launch for six months – until they had a chance to get things organised and get some funding in place. Katie says, 'We just thought, sod it – we are just going to do it. Sometimes you have to go with the idea.' So the North East London SANDS group started in March this year. Ten people attended the fourth meeting last month and, with funding in place for the first year, they feel they are on track. They are planning to look for further funding to work with researchers from different communities within Hackney. Katie and her colleagues are very keen to make efforts to connect with groups in the local community to find out their needs and also to learn from the support they offer already. 'We feel, very strongly, that we want our group to be a resource for the whole community. Neonatal deaths are not going to go away – despite medical advances – they are part of life and we want to offer support to parents who have experienced this.'

THINK GLOBAL
* According to the City and Hackney Health Improvement and Development Plan 2002-5 Hackney has one of the highest birth rates in the country and, unusually, this is increasing. Infant mortality (death under one year) and stillbirth rates are both about 50% above the national average.
* In the UK very nearly 1 baby in every 100 is stillborn or dies within 4 weeks of birth.
 
TAKE ACTION
* NE London SANDS meet the 1st Friday of every month in the St Mary's Church rooms - behind the big church on Church Street.  All are welcome.
* They are looking for people who want to come and attend groups, and people who want to get involved behind the scenes helping with fundraising or organisation.
* For more information on SANDS go to www.uk-sands.org/
* For more information about North East London SANDS contact them on 07948 272486.

Do you run a local group or charity and would like to be featured on Think Global... Act N16? Then send an email to js@jswight.co.uk giving details of your group.
Image: left to right - Joy Beishon, Emma Lundie, Katie Matthews - the founders of North East London SANDS.
 

Wedge

By Heidi Early

Think local, shop local is the message currently circulating in Stoke Newington thanks to the introduction of the Wedge Card
.
The Wedge is a loyalty scheme being run among independent shops, restaurants and businesses. Anyone can buy a card for £20 – £5 of which is donated to a charity of the shopkeeper’s choice, or if you buy online £10 goes to a charity of your choice – and then use the card anywhere displaying the Wedge Card logo to get something for free or a discount. Each business has a unique offer and regularly changes the discount.

The brains behind the scheme is Big Issue founder, and London Mayor hopeful, John Bird. Speaking at the recent launch of the W.Edge Card magazine – think Big Issue but full of special offers – Bird explained why he was backing the independents: ‘We have to arrest the destruction of the high street otherwise we will end up with a lifeless world full of vast warehouses. Where we are encouraged to overshop and then return defeated to our homes. What a recipe for social disaster.’ He added: ‘The Wedge Card is a practical way to help you support your local high street. It gives you the means to help by giving you extra reasons to shop locally. It gives you breaks, offers and discounts only open to Wedge Card members.’
 
Bridget Pedgrift, co-owner of Bored on Board on Church Street, believes the Wedge is perfect for Stoke Newington. ‘The independent shops are a big part of the “villagey” feel that Stoke Newington is renowned for and we hope the Wedge Card will encourage more people to support their local shops and businesses and really help the community. John Bird is right, if we don’t do something now the supermarket giants will take over.’
Wedge is London-wide at the moment, (check out www.wedgecard.co.uk for details of other areas that accept the card) but plans to take the scheme nationwide are afoot. Plus, a national ‘shop local’ day is being organised for later in the year.

Daisy Greenwell, editor of W.Edge magazine, summed up why Wedge works: ‘It’s small, independent shops that give an area flavour. They give you more choice in what to buy. Chains focus only on top-selling products – not that unknown brand, vintage trainer or weirdly good cheese. Where we shop is as important as how we vote. Our local shops create our environment. Use your vote wisely.’

Stoke Newington businesses selling and accepting Wedge Cards: Askew, Blue Legume, Bored on Board, Born, Casino, Earlybird cards & gifts, Flowers N16, Frere Jacques, GK Locksmiths, Kontakt, Lemon Grass, Metal Crumble, Olive Loves Alfie, Red , Rosa, Route 73 Kids, Shmooze, Sunstone Women, The Spence , Two wheels good, Yogahome, Yum Yum

Heidi runs Earlybird on Church Street

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